11-2SG Bountiful Brookline
Grant Round:
2011 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,500.00
Grant amount awarded:
$1,500.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
As the 'Nexus of Local Food Issues in Brookline*', Bountiful Brookline is evolving from a small volunteer initiative into a town wide organization. Created just two years ago, Bountiful Brookline has successfully engaged the community through innovative events, gardening opportunities and youth programs and has increased access to and awareness of the benefits of fresh local food for several thousand youth and adults throughout Brookline. To continue to grow and better serve the community, we must develop our operational capacity. We are seeking capacity building funds to support the efforts of a part-time staff to strengthen membership, community collaborations and programs. These three priorities serve key components of our mission and support our goal of a sustainable organization. We have grown beyond our ability to function as a wholly volunteer effort. Operating a multi-faceted organization dependent on pro bono service is not sustainable. A dedicated staff with responsibility for day-to- day operations will enhance our ability to build the organization's leadership to better guide Bountiful Brookline and support its growth. Your support at this time will enable us to leverage our resources and provide a visible measure of commitment to our work. A dynamic, grassroots organization we have consistently demonstrated our commitment to community building and engagement by facilitating resource sharing between neighbors and youth, across agencies and throughout Brookline. Our work with Brookline's agencies including Public Health, Public Housing and Recreation showcases our ability to provide a valuable service; creatively addressing critical issues of healthy diets, youth engagement and empowerment of those less fortunate through growing local sustainable foods. With implementation of our fund raising plan and strategic planning process our goal is to become a sustainable organization within the next three years. This grant will provide a meaningful catalyst towards that goal. * Alan Balsam, Director, Brookline Public Health Department
Project Summary
The group received a grant in 2011 to support the efforts of a part-time staff to strengthen membership, community collaborations and programs. These three priorities serve key components of Bountiful Brookline's mission and support the goal of a sustainable organization.
Primary Issue Area:
Food
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? | Type Of Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Stipends | $30,000.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Intern Stipends | $6,000.00 | Materials | |
| Equipment | $1,000.00 | Materials | |
| Telephone/Internet | $750.00 | Materials | |
| Supplies and Material | $1,200.00 | Materials | |
| Community Outreach/Membership | $1,000.00 | Materials | |
| Fundraising/Membership Development | $1,000.00 | Materials | |
| Graphic Design | $2,500.00 | Materials | |
| Food/Catering | $600.00 | Materials | |
| Travel | $450.00 | Materials | |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | $1,200.00 | Materials | |
| Printing and Promotional Material | $2,500.00 | Materials |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
Bountiful Brookline already has broad appeal as evidenced by the 700 plus people who have registered to receive our monthly online newsletter and the hundreds who follow us through Facebook, Twitter and our website as well as the hundreds who have attended events and directly benefited from our work. Increasing membership, enhancing programs and strengthening partnerships will enable us to better engage our community to improve the general quality of life in Brookline. With this support we will have the capacity to deepen existing partnerships and develop new ones to reach a broad cross section of the community; • Brookline Housing Authority Since our start in 2009 we have supported the creation of community gardens at Family and Senior/Disabled complexes. Additional opportunities include additional community garden sites and greenhouse growing year round at BHA property. • Brookline Emergency Food Pantry Greenside Out Garden at BCF continues to serve the pantry. We have tripled the volume of food donated from this garden since assuming stewardship in 2010. We hope to further increase our deliveries through construction of season extenders. • Brookline Public Health Our most active community partner BPH has supported Teens Grow Food with funds and programming, participated in events, funded a summer intern and promoted BB through print and web media. An on-site garden, year round programs and collaborative fund raising are opportunities under consideration. • Brookline Recreation Department During the 2011 season we successfully piloted a hands on experience for summer campers. We are poised to become a regular feature of their youth programming and to pursue Rec. Dept. funding to support Teens Grow Food (TGF) • Steps To Success , a program for underserved youth To date STS has supported our TGF program with outreach to potential participants. The Director wants to establish a recruitment process that will best serve her clients and our goals of a dynamic summer program. With the ability to devote sufficient time to planning ahead we look forward to an active partnership with STS. • Brookline Teen Center Initiative The Director of the Teen Center initiative also supports our efforts and welcomes any opportunity to work together to best serve Brookline Teens. Paul has helped in recruitment efforts for TGF. With the facility slated to become another Brookline Village neighbor, we anticipate greater collaborations. • Brookline Public Schools Bountiful Brookline informally supports schools with advice, program support and at events. We hope to establish formal avenues for student participation though community service and student groups.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $15,000.00 | Brookline Community Foundation Grant |
| $10,000.00 | Other Grants |
| $7,500.00 | Earned Income (fees, programs, services) |
| $6,000.00 | Other Income |
| $8,000.00 | Individual Contributions/Sponsorships |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount |
|---|
| $3,000.00 |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
This summer we conducted the first phase of a market survey to assess the community's awareness of and involvement in Bountiful Brookline. The results confirmed that although we have been relatively successful in promoting opportunities to grow in Brookline there is a high level of unmet need in all sectors of our community. Strengthening partnerships with Brookline Public Health, Brookline Housing Authority and other local agencies and institutions will facilitate the development of more programs and collaborations. As evidenced by general feedback from community partners and from preliminary results of this recent market survey, the desire for increased access to gardens and local healthy food as well as improved opportunities for youth and underserved constituencies in town are of key importance. To complete our survey effort we are committed to soliciting directed input from agencies, local business, and institutions to investigate optimal strategies for partnerships, funding, and future programming. With appropriate staff support we can complete this assessment and utilize the results to deepen and expand collaborative efforts. Bountiful Brookline has accomplished an impressive amount in two years through the effort and commitment of hundreds of volunteers including a dedicated steering committee, interns from local colleges and universities, professional services, and a garden crew. With a dedicated staff to facilitate day-to-day operations and program development we can devote the time and attention necessary for Bountiful Brookline to best serve Brookline.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
2 000
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
The current members of our steering committee bring a broad range of strong skills to coordinate and facilitate our work. We continue to interview qualified candidates from across the community to meet our broader needs. Based upon our needs as defined in the matrix of mission and means expertise, additional demonstrated skills and experience in community outreach, fund-raising and administration will be beneficial. Since our inception the Steering Committee, and outstanding efforts of several key people and volunteers have been responsible for our day to day operations. We have outgrown our capacity to operate as a fully volunteer endeavor. Bountiful Brookline has accomplished an impressive amount in two years through the effort and commitment of hundreds of volunteers including a dedicated steering committee, interns from local colleges and universities, pro bono professional services and a garden crew. With a dedicated staff to facilitate day-to-day operations and program development we can devote the time and attention necessary for Bountiful Brookline to best serve Brookline.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
Our steering committee is growing. We have successfully implemented a thoughtful process to expand our leadership to address needs for mission and means expertise. We are in the process of interviewing additional candidates towards the goal of a fifteen member committee overall. The Steering Committee, organized into five subcommittees bring a wealth of relevant skills and community based experience; Peter Ames, Governance Committee Chair - Consultant to non-profits, town meeting member. Raymond Coderre - Assistant director of faculty and academic affairs, Harvard University Jenny Lavigne, Garden Director, Programs Committee Chair - BNAN garden coordinator, experienced urban gardener and educator Amie Lindenbolm - Social justice and environmental attorney, experienced urban gardener Cathy Neal, Director - Landscape architect, urban design educator, Bountiful Brookline founder Michael Rafferty, Admin/Finance Committee Chair - Non-profit development consultant Elizabeth Theriault, Communications/Marketing and Membership Outreach Committee Chair - Community health specialist, Regional Center for Healthy Communities (Metrowest) Peggy Ueda - Retired physician, Co-chair for Aspinwall Neighborhood Association, town meeting member. Kristen Uekermann, Fundraising and Membership Development Committee Chair - Department administrator, Harvard University, town meeting member. Joyce Walsh - Graphic design/social media professor, Boston University We also have support from skilled and respected members of the Brookline community who make up our Advisory Board: Chobee Hoy - Chobee Hoy Real Estate Abe Faber - co-owner Clear Flour Bakery John Lee - General Manager, Allandale Farm Randolph Meiklejohn - Brookline Conservation Commission, landscape architect