Empowering Rural and Tribal Communities: Request for Proposals from Local Nonprofits in San Juan County and Grand County, Utah

The Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation (RTNF) is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) aimed at identifying mission-aligned nonprofit organizations in San Juan County and Grand County, Utah. RTNF is committed to fostering local initiatives that address critical needs and enhance the well-being of residents in these areas.

Objectives:

RTNF is particularly interested in proposals from local organizations and leadership teams that have a deep understanding of their communities. Applicants should demonstrate a history of successfully implementing programs or projects that have positively impacted the lives of individuals and families in San Juan County and/or Grand County.

Proposals should demonstrate a clear understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges within the local communities and highlight how the organization’s work addresses root causes and empowers the communities they serve. This RFP hopes to identify catalytic opportunities to bolster the strong leadership and initiatives that are already operating in this area.

Eligibility & Criteria

1. Nonprofit (501c3) organizations based in San Juan County or Grand County, Utah, are eligible to apply. Organizations based elsewhere with services reaching these counties are also eligible, but preference will be given to organizations led by individuals residing in San Juan County and Grand County who have lived experience with the problems they are trying to solve, as well as those that follow the principles of self-determination and actively involve community members in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of projects.

2. Applicant organizations should have a clear strategic direction, and proposals should focus on expanding successful programming that addresses pressing issues and priorities identified by San Juan County and Grand County communities, such as but not limited to: access to basic needs; public health; education; economic development, tribal economic development, and livelihood generation; social services; and environmental conservation and native-led land protection development. This expansion may be increasing the breadth or depth of services.

3. Applicants must have a demonstrated track record of successful community engagement and impact, with a minimum of 2 years operating in this area.

Application Process:

Interested organizations are invited to submit their proposals electronically via this application link no later than May 2, 2025. Proposals should include the following:

1. Organization Mission and Vision: Introduction to the organization, briefly summarizing its mission, history, and community involvement.

2. Proposal: Detailed overview of the proposed initiative, including objectives, anticipated outcomes, organizational strengths, and barriers to success. Applicants should also provide evidence of past successes, including data on outputs and outcomes achieved, testimonials from beneficiaries, and partnerships with other local stakeholders.

3. Organization Assets: Description of the organization's capacity to successfully implement the proposed initiative, including relevant experience and qualifications of key personnel.

4. Budget: Detailed budget for the organization. Please include a list of current funding and other potential funding sources.

We strongly encourage organizations to briefly define the problem or need and focus the bulk of their applications on how their organization is alleviating the problem and why they are the right organization to address this problem.

Evaluation and Selection:

Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with the objectives and criteria outlined in this RFP. All submissions will be reviewed and the most aligned proposals will be selected for funding. Applicants may be invited to participate in a follow up call, site visit, or to provide additional information as part of the evaluation process.

Funding:

Selected organizations will receive a general operating grant of $5,000 to $50,000 per year for up to two years from RTNF to support program implementation. The amount of funding awarded will be determined based on the scope of work and budget of the organization. Annual milestone reporting and regular check-in calls will be required.

We encourage all eligible nonprofit organizations in San Juan County and Grand County to submit proposals that reflect their commitment to strengthening our communities. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of residents and contribute to the long-term prosperity of our region.