Best Buy Foundation- Community Grants

Description

Best Buy Foundation
Community Grant Request for Proposals 
May 1, 2015

Best Buy Ignites Teen Potential through Technology
For decades people have turned to Best Buy for answers to their technology questions. As a company, we aim to ignite human potential. To support these efforts, the Best Buy Foundation provides underserved teens with access to technology to build 21st century skills and bridge the digital divide. As technology becomes ore ingrained in our society, it is critical for youth to develop the necessary skills for future college and career success. Sixty percent of the jobs that will be available in 10 years don't even exist today. 

As experts in technology, our goal is to leverage our knowledge, resources, and talented Best Buy and Geek Squad employees to empower underserved youth and help prepare them for the future.

Community Grant Overview
Best Buy Foundation will donate up to $2 million in Community Grants to local and regional nonprofit partners that create hands-on learning opportunities for underserved teens to engage them in learning, experimenting, and interacting with teh latest technologies to build 21st century skills. The overall goals is to provide youth with access to new technologies and help them become interested and fluent in digital learning while developing skills to help better prepare them for future education and career sucess.

Programs should help teens build 21st century skills by utilizing cutting-edge technology such as computers, digital cameras, video cameras, and professional software in a wide range of areas including (but not limited to): 

• Audio production (including music mixing and recording)
• Coding/3D printing
• Computer maintenance and repair
• Digital photography/graphic design
• Filmmaking and videography
• Maker faires/hack-a-thons
• Mobile and game app development
• Programming
• Robotics
• Web site design

• Providing staff and curriculum for the out-of-school time programming. May  include volunteer instructors. 
• Where the opportunity exists, working with schools and other community-based organizations to build awareness of the program to drive teen participation.
• Ensuring access to youth from underserved communities. 
• Developing financial and community support to help sustain the program beyond the grant funding from Best Buy.
• Submitting an annual report on program components such as participant engagement, program activities, desired outcomes, challenges, successes, and participant survey results.
• Where possible, enabling participation of Best Buy employees to serve as volunteers.

• Eligible nonprofits may be a public or nonprofit community-based organization (e.g., community center, school or library) with existing local or regional out-of-school time program and a proven track record of serving youth ages 13-18.
• Program located within a nonprofit organization targeting teens in undeserved communities.
• Program must operate within 50 miles of a Best Buy store or other Best Buy center of operations (e.g., warehouse, corporate headquarters, Geek Squad Service Center, etc.) to allow for Best Buy employee volunteer participation (if appropriate). To find store locations, visit www.bestbuy.com and click on "Store Locator."
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Organizations that have engaged Best Buy employee volunteers will receive special consideration.
• Organizations within the Twin Cities seven-county metro area are eligible and can apply for Best Buy Foundation support through the Community Grants Program or Twin Cities Fund, but not both. 
• Previous grantees must submit a report before applying for subsequent funding.

• Statement of nonprofit  organization's mission and strategic direction.

• Describe how your organization reaches and supports young people. Include number of youth served, related demographic data (e.g., ages served, gender mix, ethnicity, % on free and reduced lunch program), hours of operation, and schedule of activities.
• Specifically, describe successful engagement with economically disadvantaged and diverse populations.

• Describe the geographic area served by your organization/program.

• Describe how a grant from Best Buy can help achieve your current and future objectives.
• Describe how a grant would support the development of youth- increasing 21st century sklils and bridging the digital divide. 

• Describe experience with informal learning environments.
• Describe your experience with using technology as a learning tool for teens.
• Give examples of prior experience with program evaluation.

• Describe leadership opportunities for youth, as well as the role of youth in planning and implementing programs and activities.
• Include examples of any collaboration with organizations in the community.
• Outline any proposed or existing Best Buy employee volunteer activities. 

• Describe your volunteerism program.
• Describe your reputation in the community and give examples of a demonstrated history of success.

• Outline, in a bulleted format, the specific metrics used to track program success in areas of developing 21st century skills and bridging the digital divide (e.g., types of skills and level of proficiency, amount of interest in digital learning, technology access provided to underserved youth).
• Provide a brief explanation of your program evaluation process

• List corporate funders, levels of support and any funding received from Best Buy previously.

• Include total program budget, identifying how funds from Best Buy would be used.

• List of other funders of the program and levels of support, for which you're requesting funds.