The Deadline to apply for this grant has been extended to Monday, December 10, 2018.
The link to the application form was incorrect in one of our earlier announcements. Our application links will always lead directly to a form. You should never have to login to complete anything. Please make sure to use the links below to access the application form.
NCIL is excited to announce that we have received continued funding from the Craig Neilsen Foundation for Path to Empowerment projects! NCIL is seeking five (5) to ten (10) Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), or Independent Living Associations that are interested in providing programs to enhance the quality of life for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Eligibility – Applicants must:
- Be a current NCIL member;
- Be a Center for Independent Living (CIL), Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), or Independent Living Association; and,
- Provide matching funds of at least 5% of the total funds requested from NCIL.
NCIL will provide funding ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 to support Independent Living; Rehabilitation; Employment; Assistive Technology; Arts, Sports, & Recreation; or Education programs. Examples include:
- Independent Living – one-to-one or group IL skills training; one-to-one visits to people with SCI in rehab facilities, one-to-one assistance to individuals wanting to leave nursing homes for more independent living arrangements;
- Rehabilitation – patient assistance funds to offset costs of rehab for individuals with SCI, educating newly injured individuals and their families on SCI;
- Employment – assistance with resume and interview preparation, applying for jobs and learning how to handle disability issues or concerns during the interviewing, hiring and employment process;
- Assistive technology – assisting consumers in identifying and acquiring necessary technology to enhance independence and quality of life;
- Arts, Sports, & Recreation – programs that teach wheelchair sports, provide fitness, wellness and nutrition opportunities and exercise classes, visual, written, and performing arts classes, exhibitions, and performances for people with SCI;
- Education – one-to-one or group tutoring, preparing newly injured students with SCI to return to school/university; GED classes for consumers.
NCIL will select the applicants that best demonstrate the capacity and resources necessary to make the greatest impact for consumers with SCI. All program applicants in each focus category must demonstrate the capacity to enhance quality of life for people with SCI. Additionally, applicants should document how they will fulfill the Neilsen Foundation evaluation criteria including impact, innovation, and relevance to the area of focus on traumatic and chronic spinal cord injury; feasibility based on documented experience, expertise, available resources, and organizational commitment; sustainability of proposed project or program; collaboration and demonstration of meaningful community partnerships including the avoidance of duplication of services and demonstration of shared community resources; and clear project evaluation methods. While applicants must communicate how their proposed activities will improve outcomes for consumers with SCI, NCIL acknowledges and appreciates that programs funded under this grant will serve consumers with all types of disabilities.
The application and project timeline is as follows:
- November 7 2018: 2019 Path to Empowerment RFP opens
- December 10, 2018: 2019 Path to Empowerment RFP closes
- January 5, 2019: Grantees selected
- January 15, 2019: Pass-through money distributed to Grantees
- February 1, 2019: Grantee programs begin
- October 30, 2019: Project ends
- November 12, 2019: Grantee final reports due
To apply, interested parties must use the Application Form, which is available online. We are also providing Word and plain text formats in case you want to look through the application or experience any access issues with the online form.
The application deadline is 11:59 PM EST, Monday, December 10, 2018.
