Transcript Document

LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
LCIF Grants:
An Introduction for Multiple District
and District Coordinators
Seminar
Objectives
Gain an understanding of the
LCIF grants process
Learn the roles and
responsibilities of LCIF MDCs
and DCs regarding grants
Acquire the necessary tools to
become an important resource
for Lions in your MD or District
Seminar Agenda
Overview of LCIF grants
Review of the grants process
Roles and responsibilities
Grants by type
Review and group discussion
LCIF Grants at a Glance

Grants fund large-scale Lions humanitarian projects for
sight, youth, disaster, and humanitarian needs. In fiscal year
2011-2012, LCIF awarded US$55.6 million for 513 projects.

Since 1968, LCIF has awarded more than
9,300 grants totaling more than US$789
million.
LCIF / Development
Four Pillars of Service
The Foundation…

Serves Youth

Provides Disaster Relief

Meets Humanitarian Needs

Saves Sight
LCIF / Development
LCIF Serves Youth
Lions Quest

Teaches life skills, character education, civic
values, drug prevention and servicelearning education

Active in 73 countries serving more
than 12 million youth, materials in 35
languages

Costs as little as US$7 per student
LCIF / Development
LCIF Provides Disaster Relief
LCIF provides emergency assistance when natural disasters
strike:

First grant LCIF awarded was for disaster flooding

LCIF provides short term and long term relief

More than 3,000 emergency grants

Awarded US$85 million over the past 10 years for
disaster relief

A few examples are:

US$21 million for Japan earthquake

US$15 million for South Asian Tsunami

US$5 million Hurricane Katrina
LCIF / Development
LCIF Meets Humanitarian Needs
Empowering those with disabilities
•
Special Olympics Opening Eyes Program
•
Vocational training services and programs for
people with disabilities
Addressing global health issues
•
Diabetes prevention, education and awareness
•
Measles vaccinations
LCIF / Development
LCIF Saves Sight
In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to be
“Knights of the Blind”

SightFirst program
– Awarded 1,051 grants in 102 countries totaling more
than US$274 million
– Sight restored to 7.84 million people through
cataract surgeries

Preschool Vision Screenings

Sight For Kids
– Partnership with Johnson and Johnson

General eye-care services
LCIF / Development
The Process
Steps through the Grant Application Process
Tips for a Successful Application
Steps through the Grant Application Process
Project Idea
• LCIF-funded projects are initiated by Lions at the zone,
region, district or multiple district level.
District or
Multiple District
Support
• All LCIF grant applications must have the support of the
District or Multiple District leadership – including
financial support (District-level applications require the
signature of the District leadership only.)
Submit
Application
LCIF / Development
• Applications must be signed by the District
Governor/Council Chair and endorsed by the District
Cabinet/MD Council. To be placed on the agenda of a
Board of Trustees meeting, an application must be
received 60 days prior to that meeting.
Steps through the Grant Application Process
Review of
Application
• Applications are reviewed by the LCIF Grants
Department and additional information may be
requested from the applicants.
Board
Decision
• The LCIF Board of Trustees may approve, deny or table
the application. A tabled application has not been
approved, nor has it been denied. In most cases, LCIF
simply needs more information or the project may
need to be revised before it can be reconsidered.
Lion
Follow-Up
• The grant administrator must send a final report to the
LCIF Grants Department upon completion of the
project.
LCIF / Development
10 Tips for a Successful Application
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Contact LCIF before applying to verify the
eligibility of the project
Consider submitting a draft before applying, if
time permits
Clearly lay out the project’s objectives, including
number of beneficiaries, financial support and a
plan for long term sustainability
Funding not provided on a reimbursement basis
No funding granted for completed projects
LCIF / Development
10 Tips for a Successful Application
6. An income and expense budget is
required; the more income collected,
the better
7.
Income should equal expenses;
present the budget in US dollars
8.
Provide full contact information and
designate a project coordinator
9.
Fill out the application in its entirety
10. Maintain communication with LCIF
staff throughout the application
process
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
LCIF Multiple District and District Coordinators
District Governors and Council Chairpersons
Special Advisors: SightFirst and Lions Quest
LCIF Staff
The Board of Trustees
Roles and Responsibilities
As an LCIF Coordinator, you should:

Know what projects are currently going on in your
district or multiple district

Talk to Lions accurately about the different kinds of
grants that are available and how they can work on
their own project

Be able to direct Lions and Clubs to appropriate
sources for further information, such as LCIF staff and
District and Multiple District officers

Help to publicize successful projects

Know the history of LCIF grants and funding in your
area
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
An LCIF Coordinator should NOT:

Endorse a grant proposal or persuade
district leadership to do so

Take over the role of filling out grant
applications on behalf of Districts or Clubs

Publicize some successful projects at the
expense of others
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
Teamwork is essential!

In many Districts and MDs, there are already Lions who have expertise in
LCIF grant programs

These Lions may have formal titles (SightFirst Chairperson, Lions Quest
Country Director) or they may be successful Local Project Administrators,
with long-standing experience working on local projects

Remember to work with these Lions, as well as your District and Multiple
District officers

Only through cooperation can we be successful!
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
District Governor and Council Chairperson

Is responsible for endorsing all grant applications put forward by the
District or Multiple District, by resolution of the District Cabinet or
Council of Governors, respectively

Must submit regular progress reports and a final report, no later
than 45 days after the completion of the project

The District Governor or Council Chairperson in office when a grant
is approved serves as the Grant Administrator
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
Special Advisors: SightFirst

Regional Technical Advisors are the first
resource for all Lions interested in pursuing a
SightFirst Grant

SightFirst Chairpersons are trained by LCIF
and are knowledgeable and experienced
enough to be able to provide technical
assistance to any Lion considering submitting
a SightFirst grant proposal

A SightFirst proposal for funding must be
signed and certified by the regional SightFirst
Technical Advisor, the SightFirst Chairperson,
and the Council Chairperson/ District
Governor
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
Special Advisors: Lions Quest

According to the custom in each local area, either
the Lions Quest Country Director or Lions Quest
Chairperson (at MD level) can act as a first resource
for Lions who would like to initiate the Lions Quest
program in their area

They can assist interested Lions with Lions Quest
Core 4 grant applications and with the US$1,000
Lions Quest Promotional Grant
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
LCIF Program Staff

Advise Lions on project eligibility

Work with Lions to make sure applications are properly completed

Prepare project summaries for the LCI Board

Distribute funds for approved projects

Collect final project reports from Lions to ensure that the project is
properly completed
LCIF / Development
Roles and Responsibilities
The Board of Trustees

Approves, denies or tables grant requests

May ask for specific information to be supplied, so that a tabled
grant could be approved in the future

Forms special committees to approve and oversee Lions Quest,
SightFirst, and other specialized grants and projects, such as for
major disasters

Votes on priorities for programs such as SightFirst and Core 4

Enters into agreements with partner organizations for specialized
programs, such as Special Olympics Opening Eyes
LCIF / Development
LCIF Grants by Type
LCIF Grant Programs
Standard Grants
• Matching grants of up to US$75,000 for local humanitarian service
projects; Two open grants allowed per district or MD at one time
Core 4 Grants
• Funds special projects in eyesight, disability, health and youth (1
per district); Grants up to US$200,000, except in the case of Lions
Quest (US$100,000)
International Assistance Grants (IAG)
• Supports club twinning projects; US$5,000 to US$30,000 (1 per
district and/or club per year)
LCIF / Development
LCIF Grant Programs
Emergency Grants
• Provides up to US$10,000 for districts impacted by natural
disasters
Major Catastrophe Grants
• Provides between US$50,000 – US$250,000 for catastrophic
disasters; Awarded at the discretion of the International
President and LCIF Chairperson and cannot be requested by
Lions
SightFirst Grants
• Blindness prevention and sight restoration projects in neediest
areas
LCIF / Development
A Closer Look at Standard Grants

Matching grants of up to US$75,000 for local humanitarian service
projects

A minimum of two Lions clubs are required to apply

Support “large-scale” Lion projects, usually comprised of equipment
and construction costs (no operating costs, salaries, etc)

Bottom-Up: Lions identify and develop the project

Standard Grants must provide local impact and visibility for Lions

In the 2011-2012 Lions year, LCIF awarded US$7.74 million in
Standard Grants
LCIF / Development
Core 4 Grants: Overview
Supports special initiatives under four primary
service commitments of Lions:
LCIF / Development
Promoting
Health
Serving
Youth
Combating
Disability
Preserving
Sight
Core 4 Grants: Promoting Health
Core 4 Diabetes initiative:

Public Awareness/Prevention (community-based education to
promote diabetes-awareness among at-risk populations)

Patient Education (programs to promote behavior changes among
those diagnosed with diabetes, including self-management
education and camps for diabetic children)

Treatment (programs that improve access to diabetes treatment,
especially for under-served populations)
LCIF / Development
Core 4 Grants: Serving Youth
Core 4 Lions Quest grants:

Expand coverage of Lions Quest in multiple, sub or single districts
where the program is active but not reaching a considerable
number of schools or implement a pilot of one of the three Lions
Quest programs not yet available in that county or district. Grant
funding may be awarded up to US$100,000 for expansion projects.

Implement the Lions Quest program in a country or region for the
first time. Grant funding may be awarded up to US$25,000 for
implementation projects.
LCIF / Development
International Assistant Grants (IAGs)
IAGs Support projects between US$5,000 and
US$30,000 that:

Address an important humanitarian need in a developing country

Involve at least two Lions clubs or districts from different countries (a
sponsor club and a host club)

Provide long-term benefits

Serve a large or particularly needy population

Have a strong Lions identity and involvement from both the sponsor
club and the host club

Raise at least 50 percent of project funding through Lions or other
sources

May involve a local, non-Lion implementing organization
LCIF / Development
IAGs: Sponsors and Hosts
The IAG Sponsor:

Raises funds and support

Submits IAG Application to LCIF

Responsible for creating the relationship with the host club

Administers the grant and completes the final report
The IAG Host:

Has a significant role in the local coordination of the project

Host club or district must sign the application
LCIF / Development
IAGs: Rules and Regulations

Sponsor Lions must raise at least 50% of the necessary project
funding

Grants are between US$5,000 and US$30,000. For grants of
US$10,000 or less, an application can be submitted at any time and
approved by an internal committee at LCIF. In the case of missions,
these requests should be submitted at least 6 – 8 weeks before the
mission date

Grants over US$10,000 must be submitted and approved by the LCI
Board of Trustees at regular meetings

Grant funds are disbursed to the sponsor club or district

A district or club may apply for only one IAG project each year
LCIF / Development
Major Catastrophe Grants

Provide up to US$1 million each year for
catastrophic disasters (between
US$50,000 and US$250,000 per disaster)

Provided in cases of extreme damage,
destruction and massive loss of life

Are initiated at the discretion of the LCIF
Chairperson and the International
President

Lions may not request Major Catastrophe
Grants
LCIF / Development
Emergency Grants

Immediate response to natural disasters

Up to US$10,000 available to districts

Lions purchase & distribute supplies to meet
immediate needs:
-
food, water
-
clothing, bedding
-
first aid supplies
-
hygiene products
-
infant supplies
-
cleaning supplies
LCIF / Development
Emergency Grant Regulations

Disaster must be large in scope, displacing or
affecting 100 or more people

LCIF funds Lions-led relief activities only

Grant must be requested by the District Governor
within 30 days of disaster

One grant per disaster, per district

Final reports to be submitted to LCIF with receipts
for goods purchased by Lions

Outstanding final reports for Emergency Grants
awarded in the past may limit a district’s eligibility
to apply for a new Emergency Grant
LCIF / Development
SightFirst Grants
Support the development of comprehensive eye care systems that
provide prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services
for leading eye diseases and vision loss.
Projects should do one or more of the following:
•
Deliver eye care services
•
Train eye care professionals and management
•
Upgrade eye care infrastructure
•
Improve access to education & training for low vision persons
•
Increase public awareness about eye health
Lions, District and Multiple Districts interested in SightFirst projects
should contact LCIF staff and their local SightFirst Technical Advisor
LCIF / Development
Review and
Group
Discussion