Now Open: Jobs & Opportunity Community Challenge

The Promise is excited to release its year two Community Challenge focused on record sealing and employment access.

Through this year’s Community Challenge, we plan to fund a minimum of 15 clinics and community events from July 2023-June 2024, while also connecting these clinics to high-quality workforce and research partners.

These partnerships will be innovative and large-scale, and we look forward to contributing to the body of research connecting record sealing and clearance to increased employment access and opportunity. We are inviting organizations with legal expertise and/or deep community reach to apply for this funding.

There are two separate applications to choose from depending on your organization’s area(s) of expertise. If you are unsure which application is a better fit for your organization, you can reach out to Sarah Hutton at shutton@unitedforimpact.org for input.

If you feel your organization is a fit for either application, you are welcome to apply for both but if you happened to be selected for funding it would only be in the category that reviewers felt was a better fit for your organization.

Key Dates

February 1, 2023: Proposals launched

March 1, 2023: Informational Webinar

March 31, 2023: Proposals due end of day

May 2023: Awards announced

July 2023 through June 2024: Grant period

Application One: Community Partnerships

Anticipated Number of Awards: 7-15

Amount: $30,000 or $60,000 Amount awarded will depend on number of applications and capacity of applicants. Applicants may propose budgets of either $30,000 for one event or $60,000 for two events. Final funding awards will be subject to change based on review. Some applicants who apply to host two events for $60,000 might be invited to instead host one for $30,000 in order to ensure geographic and organizational diversity around the city. Applicants who applied in year one and did not receive funding are encouraged to apply again. The Promise is seeking a mix of new and repeat community hubs.

Scope of Work: The Promise is seeking proposals from nonprofits that can: (1) provide outreach to community members and (2) to host record sealing clinics that double as community events. Nonprofits that have a strong track record for effective marketing and facilitation of community-facing events are encouraged to apply. Through this funding, trusted community organizations will leverage local partnerships to maximize legal, financial, and employment opportunities for local residents. Selected organizations will manage record sealing and clearing clinics across the city (each grantee must commit to either one or two clinics/events), facilitating collaborations between legal service providers, community organizations, and additional partners that may provide employment services, workforce development resources, benefits access, basic needs, and/or community referrals.

Application Two: Legal Services

Anticipated Number of Awards: 2-5

Amount: $200,000 – $400,000. Amount awarded will depend on number of applications and capacity of applicants. Final funding awards will be subject to change based on review.

Scope of Work: The Promise is seeking proposals from nonprofits to provide the personnel and legal expertise necessary to execute effective record sealing and expungement clinics. Selected grantees will work closely with local community organizations and host sites to coordinate and deliver services to community members.

Information Webinar

There will be an Informational Webinar about these RFPs, including time for Q&A, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, from 1pm-2pm. This webinar is not mandatory, but it is encouraged. Webinar attendance will not impact your application score.

To register for this webinar, click here and fill out the form. If you register, you will be emailed the zoom link before the meeting; in the meantime, please place a hold on your calendar for March 1 from 1-2pm.

Click Here for the Community Hubs Application

Click here for the legal services application 

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document can be found below. We will periodically update this document as we receive more questions.