Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Q: Who is eligible to apply for CLUSA 2022 Civic Leadership Grants? ( Who can apply?)

A: Relevant 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations or incorporated nonprofits with a fiscal agent with a current 501 (c)(3) and a signed MOU between all parties.

Q: Must the proposer submit the “Intent to Submit a Proposal” (Appendix A) to the CLUSA before starting to draft the proposals?
A: No. Intent to Submit a Proposal is only optional as we stated in the RFP and it will not preclude qualified organizations to submit their proposal.

Q: How can applicants contact CLUSA with any questions?
A: CLUSA ONLY accepts inquiry related to the RFP in writing which submit to grants@clusaproto.ccdfx.com on or before Dec 3, 2021, All answers will be replied in writing and post on our website FAQ & Answers section within 48 hours in here.

Q: Can the proposer partner with other ethnic organizations from the US or from other countries? Any specific requirements that the partner organizations should fulfill?
A: Yes. As long as the lead applicant has a current 501 (c)(3) certificate and a signed MOU from all parties.

Q: What kinds of grant programs can our organization apply from the Civic Leadership USA (CLUSA)?
A: Please refer to CLUSA RFP – Appendix C (Highlights of our grantees, projects funded and their impact) for reference.

Q: How should the proposers set reasonable and measurable benchmarks to evaluate their grant program performances?
A: Please refer to the Benchmarks section of the RFP.

Q: What does ‘sliding scale’ mean in the last sentence of the “FUNDING” paragraph?
A: For example, CLUSA Funding for year 1 (100%); Year 2; (75%); Year 3; (50%) While the matching from grantee for year 1 (0%); Year 2 (25%); Year 3 (50%)…etc.

Q: Who will evaluate those final grant proposals, and where can the proposers find those evaluation committee members’ information?
A: A group of recognized civic and business leaders from around the country will compose the evaluation committee for submitted proposals. These individuals are representative of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities as well as other ethnic communities engaged in supporting or promoting civic leadership at all levels of government and organizations. The names of the Evaluation team members will be announced after the final selection of grantees.

Q: Do all the proposers need to answer all the questions with the given order that is listed in the “PROPOSAL PACKAGE CONTENT”? Or, the proposers can decide all the content and its order based on their desired layout.
A: The Proposer is advised to adhere to a maximum of twelve (12) submitted pages in 12-point font single spaced for the “Response Section” only and to respond to all listed elements in the order given. This Response Section is intended to draw out the experience, leadership qualities, and philosophical directions of the Proposer as it pertains to Civic Leadership and civil society.

Q: Can we submit more than 12 pages of writing for the “Response Section” (a maximum of twelve (12) submitted pages)? Because we have many outstanding experiences to demonstrate.
A: No. Maximum is 12 pages as stated in the RFP. If there is pertinent and supporting information desired for review and consideration it should be attached electronically as an Addenda to the Proposal Content section. In no case shall any part of a Proposal make reference to any portion of documents in the Addenda section. The Proposal is intended to stand on its own as governed by the stated requirements.

Q: How can the proposers get notifications about their selected and awarded grant programs from the CLUSA?
A: All communications will be in writing directly to each applicant/proposer with the announcement of the awarded grantee organizations. The awarded organizations will be listed on our website and special media platform after March 21st, 2022.

Q: Will we get an extra score on that? If our organization has any existence matching funds already committed to our proposed civic leadership development activities.
A: It will not necessarily have an extra score but a committed matching fund is one of the indicators of financial health & capability of the proposer organization to be evaluated.

Q: You have said that we should provide a Development Plan and Budget and other attachments but that we cannot refer to these attachments. Does that mean that within the 12 allocated pages, we cannot refer to these docs, but need to put all pertinent material into the 12 pages? For example, if we use diagrams or charts in the attachments and we want to refer to these in the write-up should we just put the same diagrams in the 12-page proposal?
A: The RFP provides Proposers with two options. If they have a Development Plan it can be included in the body of the Proposal and will not be counted among the 12 pages. If none exists, the RFP states that this task will be completed by the successful firms as part of their contract work. The RFP also states that there is to be no cross-communication or reference between the Proposal body and the Proposer’s Addenda. However, internal referencing is permitted within the Proposal body itself but should be minimally employed.

Q: We also have an Implementation Plan which sets forth our plans and needs. Should we submit this as an attachment as well and pull pieces out of this for our 12-page proposal or just submit the 12-page proposal. The Implementation Plan is much more detailed and will include many of the elements in our proposal.
A: The RFP does not require the submission of an Implementation Plan. It may be submitted as part of your Addenda. Please note that scoring will only be applied to those elements contained in the Proposal Package.

Q: We may have a plan to partner with other orgs to execute certain programs, but haven’t yet settled on the right partner so we cannot provide an MOU. Can we propose the project without the partner being identified, but list potential partners? For example, we may think of ways to assist other orgs by working together (eg DDTV, AAUC, UCA, or NAAFAA), but may still be in investigation or discussion stages.
A: Proposers may include a partner if such a partner is known at the time of Proposal submission. If the intention is to work with a partner, please provide information in your Proposal indicating such intent. If no partner has been settled upon, there is no need to submit an MOU.

Q: Is submission of our latest Form 990 sufficient past financial information?
A: Submission of the latest Form 990 is sufficient. However, additional notations by the Proposer is required in case the Proposer’s financial position has changed in a major way since its filing.

Q. If we have further questions as we write our proposal this month, is it ok to ask further clarifying questions?
A: Please see Addenda Number 1 for details.

Q: We plan to make a number of videos and do podcasts. Can we provide categories of content for these or do you want more specificity?
A: Proposers are required to respond to those elements specifically stated in the Proposal Content section as this section will be evaluated. Specifics as to what tasks will be performed by any Proposer are not being evaluated at this time.M