1PFT opens new grant cycle

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

By JH Weekly Staff

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Valley nonprofit benefactor 1% for the Tetons on Monday opened the door for its fourth grant cycle, also announcing a revised grant process.

Grant applications are now available at www.1percenttetons.org for projects geared toward sustaining or rehabilitating the Grand Teton area’s natural resources and other “related qualities.”

The 2010 grants cycle will include some notable changes from the way grants were awarded in previous years, said 1% executive director Jonathan Schechter. This year 1% member businesses, which pledge one percent of sales to the organization, will have a say in what applicants they want to award money to, and how much.

In the past, a committee decided how to use the money and members had no official say. All projects that qualify to receive funding will still be vetted first by a selection committee. However, members who prefer to let the committee decide altogether how to award their pledge may do so again this year, Schechter said.
“The difference is you as a member will be able to choose among any of the projects that are submitted and screened,” Schechter said.

He explained that successful applicants must still receive the full amount they requested, or they receive nothing at all.

“We only fund projects at 100 percent of what they ask for,” Schechter said.
Another key change to this year’s grants cycle allows non-members to pledge money to applicants.

“We have been giving out a lot of money but we realize we can get more by leveraging member grants with non-member grants.” Schechter said.

During a Sustainability Grants Conference planned for May 8, applicants will present five-minute proposals detailing their projects. This will give 1% members an opportunity to learn about each applicant. Yet the proposals will also be video-recorded and posted on the Web, allowing anyone, anywhere (with a Web connection) to learn more about, and potentially pledge grant money to, each qualified applicant. 

Applicants must submit two-page descriptions of their project proposals by Feb. 22 for an initial review by board members of 1%’s parent organization, the Charture Institute.

Over the last three years, 1% has provided 27 projects with a total of more than $370,000.

Previous grant-winning projects include a wetland wastewater treatment demonstration, vegitation mapping, town energy sustainability projects, replacing lead bullets with copper bullets, stream flow restoration and a stormwater wetland project. JHW

COURTESY CRAIGHEAD BERINGIA SOUTH
Past grant recipients include Beringia South.

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1PFT opens new grant cycle | Planet JH News Article: General News

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