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Community Opportunities Fund Cycle Four (4) - Organizational Capacity Building

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Community Opportunities Fund 

In 2007, First 5 LA established COF in order to support organizational capacity building and policy and advocacy efforts by community organizations to improve conditions for children, families and communities. To date COF has made it possible to provide grants on a range of capacity building activities across Los Angeles County. First 5 LA recognizes that community agencies are critical partners in helping to create a society where children are valued and given the best start possible in life.

In the previous COF cycle, First 5 LA invested in policy and advocacy projects. In our continued efforts to create effective and sustainable change for young children and their families, grants through COF's fourth cycle will solely fund organizational capacity building activities. Funding these activities will contribute to the long-term vision of the Commission.

Request for Proposals

First 5 LA seeks eligible organizations or collaboratives with a level of readiness to implement organizational capacity building activities that contribute to one of the First 5 LA goals from the FY2009-2015 Strategic Plan. Applicants may select only one goal, which can be viewed on page seven (7) of this RFP. Please state the goal using the same wording

In the interest of distributing First 5 LA funding to a broader number of agencies in Los Angeles County, at least 60% of funding will be allocated to applicants who 1) have not received a prior grant from First 5 LA, or 2) are partnering with an organization without First 5 LA funding history. 

Proposal Workshop

A Proposal Workshop will be held on Monday, March 15, 2010 at the Metropolitan Water District Building, located in Downtown Los Angeles at 700 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.   Applicants may register up to two participants from each organization at the COF website. To register, email the name and title of each attendee as well as the organization's name to William F. Rowel, Program Officer at cof@first5la.org no later than 12:00 p.m. Noon on March 12, 2010. A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) received at this proposal workshop will be compiled and can be accessed at this website.

How to Apply 

In response to this RFP, applicants are requested to submit an online application to First 5 LA no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, April 16, 2010 (no hard copy or emailed submissions will be accepted). For on-line application and instructions, please click here

Important Documents 

In addition to completing the application and submitting the project narrative online, the following documents are also required to be submitted online.

In addition, these contractual documents will be required by approved grantees.

*If audited financial statements are not available for your organization, provide a written explanation as to the reason along with IRS 990 Forms for the last three fiscal years. Your organization may also be subject to additional financial reporting requirements and conditions if a grant is awarded.
** In addition to the electronic version of the Signature Authorization form and Disclosure Regarding Involvement in Litigation and/or Professional Contractual Difficulties, please mail two original copies signed in blue ink.

Evelyn V. Martinez, Executive Director
First 5 LA
750 N. Alameda St., Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Attn: Community Opportunity Fund - Cycle 4

Documents must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. ON APRIL 16, 2010

Help:  For questions regarding the online application, please direct emails to Online_Application@first5la.org  

Contact Us

For additional information or further questions, please email COF@first5la.org.