Request for Proposals
OCAN is administering a grant application process (see attached Request for Proposals document for details) for eligible Ohio organizations to apply for two-year funding within two broad categories:  

• Last dollar scholarships and on-going retention activities that will encourage more students to enter postsecondary education institutions; remain in their school; complete their degree programs; and ultimately become part of Ohio’s economic future.
• Internships, co-ops and similar initiatives will provide students who plan to enroll in postsecondary education and those who are already attending college with valuable work experience necessary for strengthening and filling the gaps in Ohio’s future workforce.

Grant awards will be made on the merits for each independent proposal. Applicants who succeed in becoming grantees should be able to advance their mission to: 1) increase the number of Ohio students participating in education beyond high school, 2) help those students persist through graduation from Ohio institutions, and 3) encourage graduates to remain in our state to live and work.

Application Guidelines
The below RFP document provides full information for applying to Ohio Can!  Please review it carefully to determine if your organization’s mission coincides with this funding opportunity. Basic grant requirements are listed below.

Collaborations
Each lead applicant will be required to partner with at least one other entity (OCAN member organization, college, university, corporation, economic development organization, foundation, or another non-profit whose mission includes college access).  Academic institutions competing for Ohio Can! funding must coordinate their campus-wide efforts to ensure that only one request is submitted. By working in collaboratives, each lead grantee will be able to further leverage the expertise and resources of its partner. 

Letters of Inquiry
All applicants will be required to submit a two-page Letter of Inquiry (LOI) prior to submitting a formal grant application. However, those who submit their LOI by January 31, 2008 will be eligible to request up to $5,000 in advanced funds to use for planning and grant writing activities. The LOI must include:

    -    Expected program outcomes
    -    Plans for collaborative efforts
    -    Capacity to leverage additional funds to supplement proposed Ohio Can! dollars

A one-page provisional budget for the project must be attached to the LOI (reference the RFP Budget Attachment B - Budget Request as a guideline).  Responses will be turned around within two weeks.

Deadlines
The Ohio Can! Go to College campaign is slated to run for two years.  Funding will be distributed over the course of the campaign but once all grant funds are exhausted no further awards will be made.  Below are deadlines that have been established for the first portion of the campaign. 

• January 31, 2008:  LOI deadline to receive $5,000 in advanced funds, if approved.
• March 17, 2008:  Priority deadline for full proposals. Those applying through the RFP process by this date will receive first consideration.
• April 15, 2008: Second round deadline, full proposals.  Funds will be awarded based on available dollars.
• May 15, 2008: Third round deadline, full proposals. Funds awarded will be based on the declining balance of dollars after previous rounds.

Applicants will be notified within four weeks about their funding status.

For more information about the Ohio Can! Go to College Campaign, please visit our www.ohiocan.org/campaign.  If you have specific questions about the grant request process please submit your inquiry by email to ocan@ohiocan.org.  We will respond within two business days.

Download Request for Proposals