Update of the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant ProgramCity of Dubuque
City Council
ACTION ITEMS # 4.
Copyrighted
September 15, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Update of the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant
Program
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval of
changes to the guidelines and application process for
Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant program, to comply
with Iowa State Law (House File 856, Chapter 19, passed in
May 2025), effective immediately.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Memo —SD Community Grant Application and Guidelines Update _09092025
3. 2025 SD Community Grant Guidelines-Application-Rubric_REDLINE
4. 2025 SD Community Grant Guidelines -Application -Rubric —CLEAN
Page 1153 of 1171
THE CITY OF
DUBE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Update of the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program
DATE: September 9, 2025
Dubuque
AI WIN av
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Director of Sustainability Gina Bell is recommending City Council approval of changes
to the guidelines and application process for Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant
program, to comply with Iowa State Law (House File 856, Chapter 19, passed in May
2025), effective immediately.
A redline version is attached for your review.
The Resilient Community Advisory Commission received a redlined copy of proposed
updates and reviewed and voted at the September meeting to forward this to City
Council for approval.
The City's Legal Department has reviewed the changes and approved them.
The recommended changes would go into effect for the next round, due in March 2026.
Staff will continue to support any application questions and provide technical assistance
to applicants requesting assistance.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
Page 1154 of 1171
THE CITY OF
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
SUBJECT: Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program Update
DATE: September 9, 2025
Dubuque
kwrwl
AII•Ameriee Oily
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to recommend changes to the guidelines and application process
for Sustainable Dubuque Community Grants program, to comply with Iowa State Law (House
File 856, Chapter 19, passed in May 2025), effective immediately.
BACKGROUND
In 2013, the City Council approved the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant program to
catalyze community leaders in the Sustainable Dubuque initiative. The grants are available to
any residents, non -profits or businesses who propose a project that addresses at least one of
the twelve sustainability principles and includes an element of community engagement or
education in their project.
Since then, thirty-two (32) rounds of grants have been approved for disbursement in the
community. In early 2018, Council approved updates to the Sustainable Dubuque Grant
application to better reflect City Council goals and priorities and to address recommendations by
the Resilient Community Advisory Commission regarding impact of the program. Much of that
update is still reflected in the grant application process and guidelines.
Due to an increased focus on equity at the City of Dubuque at that time, as well as
consideration of staff time and program clarity, the changes to the application included an
additional focus on equity and inclusion, better alignment with City plans, and a simpler budget
form.
DISCUSSION
In May 2025, the State of Iowa passed a law prohibiting cities from having diversity, equity and
inclusion offices or officers. Additionally, under this new law, the City cannot have an official
policy or position related to these concepts. Due to past work to focus on these now prohibited
topics, we've updated the guidelines and application to better reflect the spirit of the grant to
focus on projects using the 12 principles of sustainability and to have a positive impact on
residents and households who have low -incomes, energy burden, lack access to greenspace
and other factors in alignment with the 50% by 2030 Plan. We are committed to remaining in
compliance with this law while also remaining committed to staying in compliance with civil
rights laws.
The Resilient Community Advisory Commission received a redlined copy of proposed updates
and reviewed and voted at the September meeting to forward this to City Council for approval.
The City's Legal Department has reviewed the changes and approved them.
Page 1155 of 1171
The recommended changes would go into effect for the next round, due in March 2026. Staff
will continue to support any application questions and provide technical assistance to applicants
requesting assistance.
Once approval is received, staff will update online application forms to reflect these changes.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully request City Council approval to move forward with the updated Sustainable
Dubuque Community Grant program guidelines and application for the March 2026 round of
grants.
Attachments
1. Redline of SD Community Grant Guidelines and Application
2. Clean copy of SD Community Grant Guidelines and Application
2
Page 1156 of 1171
!� S USTAI NABLE
DUBU UE
SUSTAINABLE
DUBUQUE
viable • livable • equitable
What would you do with $2,500 to make a more Sustainable Dubuque?
Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program
In 2006, a community task force was created to define a vision to make Dubuque a more Sustainable
community. After nearly two years of work, they delivered to the City Council and greater community this
definition of sustainability:
"Dubuque is a viable, livable and equitable community. We embrace economic prosperity, environmental
integrity, and social/cultural vibrancy to create a sustainable legacy for generations to come. *"
Helping to -define that vision are 12 sustainability principles:
• Regional Economy
• Smart Energy Use
• Resource Management
• Community Design
• Green Buildings
• Healthy Local Foods
• Community Knowledge
• Reasonable Mobility
• Healthy Air
• Clean Water
• Community Health & Safety
• Native Plants & Animals
For more information on the Sustainable Dubuque initiative, please visit www.sustainabledubugue
Since then, numerous community -led initiatives have helped us move toward our goals, including programs
led by the public and private sector and actions taking place in individual homes and businesses.
About the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program
The goal of the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program is to provide small amounts of funding to
assist non -profits, businesses, clubs, organizations, and groups of passionate residents in implementing
their ideas to make Dubuque a more sustainable place and to support community leadership in the
Sustainable Dubuque initiative.
Grants may be awarded to any group of individuals to implement a project that helps to achieve the
Sustainable Dubuque vision and includes a component of community education and/or engagement. We
encourage new groups or individuals to use this funding!
Amount of Award
Grants will be awarded up to a maximum of $2,500 per project. Grants are reimbursement -based.
Grant Availability & Application Timeline
Page 1157 of 1171
Grants can be submitted at any time during the year, although they will be reviewed on a bi-annual basis
and application deadlines are available at www.cityofdubuque.org/sustainability and listed below.
Applications will be reviewed and scored by the Resilient Community Advisory Commission, which then
forwards their recommendation to City Council for approval and funding. Recipients generally are notified
of their status within five weeks of the grant deadline.
Funding for this program is based on the City's fiscal year, with new funds becoming available on July 1
each year. However, grant applications are reviewed in two cycles —once in September and again in March.
Because funds are awarded on a first -come, first -served basis, it is possible that all available funding could
be allocated during the September cycle. If this occurs, no additional funding will be available until the next
fiscal vear begins on July 1.
Action
Date
Grant application open
Ongoing, rolling basis
Spring grant application deadline
March 15th
Spring grant awards made
April 20th (2nd city council meeting in April)
Fall grant application deadline
September 15th
Fall grant application awards made
October 201" (2"d city council meeting inef October)
Grant Guidelines
1. Grant must align with a City Council Priority and address one of the Sustainable Dubuque
principles.
2. Grant must include an education and/or engagement component.
3. Any marketing, advertising or educational materials produced should acknowledge Sustainable
Dubuque support by including the Sustainable Dubuque logo or a "Powered by Sustainable
Dubuque" sticker (provided by City).
Grant Preference
The Resilient Community Advisory Commission has identified the following area as a priority for
grantmaking:
• Projects that address specific actions identified in the 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action &
Resiliency Plan and/or Imagine Dubuque Plan (or another City of Dubuque plan) and can
demonstrate alignment will be given preference during the scoring process.
Eligibility
Any person or group of individuals located within Dubuque city limits is eligible to apply. "Group" can refer
to a non-profit, business, club, organization, neighborhood association, or group of individuals, provided
one individual is willing to be the primary contact who is responsible for fiscal interactions and
measurement of impact.
Prior applicantstions: Applicants who have received funding are not eligible for additional funding for one
calendar year from the date of their application. Additionally, prior grantees' ability to fulfill grant
2
Page 1158 of 1171
requirements (reporting/reimbursements/Sustainable Dubuque acknowledgement) will be considered
during scoring process. Groups who were unsuccessful in previous applications cycles may compete in
future eunds cycles, with the project originally proposed, or with new projects.
Target Audience
Proposals must target, at a minimum, residents or businesses located in Dubuque. It is acceptable to target
individuals in addition to this audience, such as Dubuque County residents. Proposed projects that target a
traditionally unengaged or „nderse"vedl persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low
greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy population
a�eburden are encouraged.
Grant Budget
Grant applications should clearly indicate how the funds will be used. A partial match is required and can
be cash or in -kind.
Reimbursement Method
The preference of the City is to reimburse grant recipient for approved expenses following the completion
of the project. All receipts and a copy of the required performance report must be submitted in order to
receive the final payment. If this financial arrangement is a challenge, please contact Sustainability
Director, Gina Bell, to discuss other options. Inability to pay for reimbursable grant expenses should not be
a barrier to applying, and we are able to work with recipients to identify alternatives within reason.
Required Measurement of Impact/Success + Reporting
We want to share your successes and lessons learned with others! One requirement of this program is to
measure the impact of your project. Recipients will be required to complete a final report or present the
information to the Resilient Community Advisory Commission.
In addition to the required reporting metrics, applicants are encouraged to define yeertheir own measure
of success in the application. You can tell your story through numbers, stories, photos, or video. This could
mean calculating the greenhouse gases avoided when individuals biked instead of driving their cars to an
event or asking attendees at an event to complete a pre- and post -survey to identify increased knowledge
of a topic. We can help guide you to determine what information to collect, and final reimbursement will
not be made until this information has been received. Let us know if you would like assistance in measuring
your impact.
How to Apply
Only online applications are accepted and should be complete by 11:59 p.m. on the relevant deadline.
APPLY HERE or visit www.cityofdubugue.org/sustainability and scroll to Community Grants section and click
apply now.
Additional Grant Information
For more information or questions, please contact Sustainability Director, Gina Bell at
gbell@citvofdubuque.org or 563.690.6038.
*This statement was recommended by resident stakeholders in 2006, prior to the passage of House Bill 856
amending Chapter 19 of the Iowa State Code.
3
Page 1159 of 1171
S U S T A I N A B L E
DUBUQUE
SUSTAINABLE
DUBUQUE
viable livable equitable
Sustainable Dubuque Grant Application
PLEASE NOTE: This pdf version of the grant application is provided for grant application planning purposes
only. All applications should be submitted through the electronic form at
www.cityofdubuque.orq/sustainability. Click on the APPLY NOW button to ensure they are received and
reviewed. Paper copies or scanned versions of this pdf will not be accepted nor considered for funding.
We are excited to read about your idea! The questions below will help us better understand what you want
to do, why and with whom. Please be as specific as possible.
Lead person/community group/organization(s):
Have you received prior Sustainable Dubuque Grant funding? Y/N
Project leader / Grant contact:
Phone:
Email:
Mailing Address:
Project Title: 7 words or less
Grant Purpose: In 50 words or less, describe how the Sustainable Dubuque Grant will be used.
SD Grant Narrative: In 400 words or less, briefly describe the project/idea, the goals of the project, who will
benefit, your experience impacting your community, your capacity to complete this project and why you are
confident you will be able to produce results if awarded an SD grant.
Primary City Council Goal & Sustainable Dubuque Principle: Indicate which City Council Goal best fits your
project as well as the Sustainable Dubuque Principle which your project addresses.
Project Location: Physical address or intersection or neighborhood in Dubuque city limits (if
applicable):
Amount of Sustainable Dubuque Grant Request: Name an amount up to $2,500 that is requested from
Sustainable Dubuque.
4
Page 1160 of 1171
Total Grant Budget, Deliverables, and Timeline: The total budgeted amount can be higher than $2,500 if any
matching fund leverage is present. A match is required for SD grants and we do track matching resources for
all awards. The match does not have to be 100% of requested funds and can be in -kind (volunteer time,
supplies, etc.) or a cash match. Complete Table 1. Use $0.00 in any SD or other sources line item that is not
being asked to cover an expense item. Once complete, this table should show a clear record of total projected
budget by funding source and a project timeline. Add explanatory text after the table if needed.
Table 1. Project Budget by Deliverables and Timeline.
Amount
Delivery
Total Cost
Amount
from Other
Expense Item
Deliverable
from SD
Date(s)
of Expense
Sources
grant
(Match)
Example: wood,
Example: create a
May 2021
$638.00
$500.00
$138.00
screws and
produce stand to
other supplies
share food grown in
community garden
with the neighbors
Project Totals:
$
$0*
$
*not to exceed $2500
Does your project align or address an action identified in the 50% by 2030 Plan, Imagine Dubuque Plan or
another adopted City plan?
❑
Help to meet the 50% by 2030 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan goals to reduce community -wide
greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate, and grow a sustainable, resilient
community by addressing an action from the plan.
❑
Help to further actions or in direct alignment with the Imagine Dubuque Plan.
❑
Help to further actions or in direct alignment with another adopted City of Dubuque plan.
*Plan:
❑
It does not align or support a City of Dubuque plan.
Explain how your project is in alignment with the plan(s) above: (50-word max)
Minority Impact Statement: Please choose the statement(s) that pertains to this grant application.
Complete all the information requested for the chosen statement(s). (300-word max)
❑The proposed grant project programs or policies could have a disproportionate or unique POSITIVE
impact on minoritypersons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low greenspace access,
high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden.
5
Page 1161 of 1171
Describe the positive impact expected from this project:
Indicate which groups are impacted: (persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low
greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden. `^
Persons with a Disability, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Pacific islanders, American Indians, Alaskan Native
emirs, Other )
❑ The proposed grant project programs or policies could have a NEGATIVE
impact on y-persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low greenspace access,
high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden.persees.
Describe the negative impact expected from this project:
Present the rationale for the existence of the proposed program or policy:
Provide evidence of consultation with representatives of the person or groups impacted:
Indicate which groups are impacted: (persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low
greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden, Women.
Persons with a Disability, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Pacific islanders, AFneFican Indians, Alaskan Native
Arner-ieairTOther )
❑ The proposed grant project programs or policies are not expected to have a disprepeFtienate or unique
impact on persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low greenspace access,
high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden. persee,.
Present the rationale for determining no impact:
All projects must include community engagement and/or community education. Please explain how you
will incorporate one or both in your project. (100-word maximum)
How will you measure your impact and what does project success look like? All grantees will be required
to complete a performance report summarizing basic impacts, such as number and demographics of people
reached through the project. Who will be better off? What change will you see? How will you measure
impact of your project? Good performance measures include not only who was served but how it impacted
their life/experience/situation. (300-word maximum)
Experience Applying for this Grant — Please help us continue to improve the Sustainable Dubuque Grant
Program. Please check the box that best describes your experience filling out this form and use the
additional space to explain anything else we should know about your experience filling out this grant
application.
❑
Delightfully easy! Clear, concise and I was able to share my idea without being over -burdened. (Positive)
❑
Pretty typical grant application. If you've done one, you've done them all. (Neutral)
❑
That was awful. I needed help, it didn't make any sense, and the application isn't worth the funding. (Negative)
Additional explanation:
0
Page 1162 of 1171
Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Proposal Evaluation Rubric
Project title:
Scoring Criteria
5 = Very Good, 4 = Good, 3= Acceptable, 2= Poor, 1= Very Poor, 0 = Not Answered
'Y' replaces "0" for essential criteria. Selecting 'Y' disqualifies an application.
Grant Narrative
Project description and goals are clear and achievable:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Project addresses a need in the community:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Applicant demonstrates experience and/or clearly explains capacity
to complete the project:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Proposed project aligns with a City Council Priority and Sustainable
Dubuque Principle(s):
5
4
3
2
1
X
Budget
Timeline and workplan demonstrate planning to produce proposed
deliverables:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Budget is clear, reasonable, and detailed:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Project match (in -kind or financial) is planned and explained:
5
4
3
2
1
X
City Priorities
Proposed project aligns with a city plan:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Proposed project aligns with the Climate Action Plan:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Proposal anticipates a positive or neutral impact on identified
groups —with a clear explanation to support this expectation:
5
4
3
2
1
X
Community Education/Engagement
Proposed project incorporates community education and/or
community engagement:
5
4
3
2
1
X
Impact
Plans to measure impact are planned and explained:
5
4
3
2
1
X
Performance measures are meaningful and relevant:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Notes:
7
Page 1163 of 1171
SUSTAINABLE
DUBUQUE
What would you do with $2,500 to make a more Sustainable Dubuque?
Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program
In 2006, a community task force was created to define a vision to make Dubuque a more Sustainable
community. After nearly two years of work, they delivered to the City Council and greater community this
definition of sustainability:
"Dubuque is a viable, livable and equitable community. We embrace economic prosperity, environmental
integrity, and social/cultural vibrancy to create a sustainable legacy for generations to come. *"
Helping define that vision are 12 sustainability principles:
• Regional Economy
• Smart Energy Use
• Resource Management
• Community Design
• Green Buildings
• Healthy Local Foods
• Community Knowledge
• Reasonable Mobility
• Healthy Air
• Clean Water
• Community Health & Safety
• Native Plants & Animals
For more information on the Sustainable Dubuque initiative, please visit www.sustainabledubugue.org.
Since then, numerous community -led initiatives have helped us move toward our goals, including programs
led by the public and private sector and actions taking place in individual homes and businesses.
About the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program
The goal of the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program is to provide small amounts of funding to
assist non -profits, businesses, clubs, organizations, and groups of passionate residents in implementing
their ideas to make Dubuque a more sustainable place and to support community leadership in the
Sustainable Dubuque initiative.
Grants may be awarded to any group of individuals to implement a project that helps to achieve the
Sustainable Dubuque vision and includes a component of community education and/or engagement. We
encourage new groups or individuals to use this funding!
Amount of Award
Grants will be awarded up to a maximum of $2,500 per project. Grants are reimbursement -based.
Grant Availability & Application Timeline
Page 1164 of 1171
Grants can be submitted at any time during the year, although they will be reviewed on a bi-annual basis
and application deadlines are available at www.citvofdubugue.org/sustainabiIitV and listed below.
Applications will be reviewed and scored by the Resilient Community Advisory Commission, which then
forwards their recommendation to City Council for approval and funding. Recipients generally are notified
of their status within five weeks of the grant deadline.
Funding for this program is based on the City's fiscal year, with new funds becoming available on July 1
each year. However, grant applications are reviewed in two cycles —once in September and again in March.
Because funds are awarded on a first -come, first -served basis, it is possible that all available funding could
be allocated during the September cycle. If this occurs, no additional funding will be available until the next
fiscal year begins on July 1.
Action
Date
Grant application open
Ongoing, rolling basis
Spring grant application deadline
March 15th
Spring grant awards made
April 20tn (2nd city council meeting in April)
Fall grant application deadline
September 15th
Fall grant application awards made
October 201h (2nd city council meeting in October)
Grant Guidelines
1. Grant must align with a City Council Priority and address one of the Sustainable Dubuque
principles.
2. Grant must include an education and/or engagement component.
3. Any marketing, advertising or educational materials produced should acknowledge Sustainable
Dubuque support by including the Sustainable Dubuque logo or a "Powered by Sustainable
Dubuque" sticker (provided by City).
Grant Preference
The Resilient Community Advisory Commission has identified the following area as a priority for
grantmaking:
• Projects that address specific actions identified in the 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action &
Resiliency Plan and/or Imagine Dubuque Plan (or another City of Dubuque plan) and can
demonstrate alignment will be given preference during the scoring process.
Eligibility
Any person or group of individuals located within Dubuque city limits is eligible to apply. "Group" can refer
to a non-profit, business, club, organization, neighborhood association, or group of individuals, provided
one individual is willing to be the primary contact who is responsible for fiscal interactions and
measurement of impact.
Prior applicants: Applicants who have received funding are not eligible for additional funding for one
calendar year from the date of their application. Additionally, prior grantees' ability to fulfill grant
requirements (reporting/reimbursements/Sustainable Dubuque acknowledgement) will be considered
during scoring process. Groups who were unsuccessful in previous cycles may compete in future cycles,
with the project originally proposed, or with new projects.
2
Page 1165 of 1171
Target Audience
Proposals must target, at a minimum, residents or businesses located in Dubuque. It is acceptable to target
individuals in addition to this audience, such as Dubuque County residents. Proposed projects that target I
persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low greenspace access, high heat impacts,
low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden are encouraged.
Grant Budget
Grant applications should clearly indicate how the funds will be used. A partial match is required and can
be cash or in -kind.
Reimbursement Method
The preference of the City is to reimburse grant recipient for approved expenses following the completion
of the project. All receipts and a copy of the required performance report must be submitted in order to
receive the final payment. If this financial arrangement is a challenge, please contact Sustainability
Director, Gina Bell, to discuss other options. Inability to pay for reimbursable grant expenses should not be
a barrier to applying, and we are able to work with recipients to identify alternatives within reason.
Required Measurement of Impact/Success + Reporting
We want to share your successes and lessons learned with others! One requirement of this program is to
measure the impact of your project. Recipients will be required to complete a final report or present the
information to the Resilient Community Advisory Commission.
In addition to the required reporting metrics, applicants are encouraged to define their own measure of
success in the application. You can tell your story through numbers, stories, photos, or video. This could
mean calculating the greenhouse gases avoided when individuals biked instead of driving their cars to an
event or asking attendees at an event to complete a pre- and post -survey to identify increased knowledge
of a topic. We can help guide you to determine what information to collect, and final reimbursement will
not be made until this information has been received. Let us know if you would like assistance in measuring
your impact.
How to Apply
Only online applications are accepted and should be complete by 11:59 p.m. on the relevant deadline.
APPLY HERE or visit www.citvofdubugue.org/sustainability and scroll to Community Grants section and click
apply now.
Additional Grant Information
For more information or questions, please contact Sustainability Director, Gina Bell at
gbell@cityofdubuque.org or 563.690.6038.
*This statement was recommended by resident stakeholders in 2006, prior to the passage of House Bill 856
amending Chapter 19 of the Iowa State Code.
3
Page 1166 of 1171
� SUSTAINABLE
LDUBUQUE
Sustainable Dubuque Grant Application
PLEASE NOTE. This pdf version of the grant application is provided for grant application planning purposes
only. All applications should be submitted through the electronic form at
www.cityofdubugue.org/sustainability. Click on the APPLY NOW button to ensure they are received and
reviewed. Paper copies or scanned versions of this pdf will not be accepted nor considered for funding.
We are excited to read about your idea! The questions below will help us better understand what you want
to do, why and with whom. Please be as specific as possible.
Lead person/community group/organization(s):
Have you received prior Sustainable Dubuque Grant funding? Y/N
Project leader / Grant contact:
Phone:
Email:
Mailing Address:
Project Title: 7 words or less
Grant Purpose: In 50 words or less, describe how the Sustainable Dubuque Grant will be used.
SD Grant Narrative: In 400 words or less, briefly describe the project/idea, the goals of the project, who will
benefit, your experience impacting your community, your capacity to complete this project and why you are
confident you will be able to produce results if awarded an SD grant.
Primary City Council Goal & Sustainable Dubuque Principle: Indicate which City Council Goal best fits your
project as well as the Sustainable Dubuque Principle which your project addresses.
Project Location: Physical address or intersection or neighborhood in Dubuque city limits (if
applicable):
Amount of Sustainable Dubuque Grant Request: Name an amount up to $2,500 that is requested from
Sustainable Dubuque.
4
Page 1167 of 1171
Total Grant Budget, Deliverables, and Timeline: The total budgeted amount can be higher than $2,500 if any
matching fund leverage is present. A match is required for SD grants, and we do track matching resources
for all awards. The match does not have to be 100% of requested funds and can be in -kind (volunteer time,
supplies, etc.) or a cash match. Complete Table 1. Use $0.00 in any SD or other sources line item that is not
being asked to cover an expense item. Once complete, this table should show a clear record of total projected
budget by funding source and a project timeline. Add explanatory text after the table if needed.
Table 1. Project Budget by Deliverables and Timeline.
Amount
Delivery
Total Cost
Amount
from Other
Expense Item
Deliverable
from SD
Date(s)
of Expense
Sources
grant
(Match)
Example: wood,
Example: create a
May 2021
$638.00
$500.00
$138.00
screws and
produce stand to
other supplies
share food grown in
community garden
with the neighbors
Project Totals:
$
$0*
$
*not to exceed $2500
Does your project align or address an action identified in the 50% by 2030 Plan, Imagine Dubuque Plan or
another adopted City plan?
❑
Help to meet the 50% by 2030 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan goals to reduce community -wide
greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate, and grow a sustainable, resilient
community by addressing an action from the plan.
❑
Help to further actions or in direct alignment with the Imagine Dubuque Plan.
❑
Help to further actions or in direct alignment with another adopted City of Dubuque plan.
*Plan:
❑
It does not align or support a City of Dubuque plan.
Explain how your project is in alignment with the plan(s) above: (50-word max)
Impact Statement: Please choose the statement(s) that pertains to this grant application. Complete all the
information requested for the chosen statement(s). (300-word max)
❑The proposed grant project programs or policies could have a unique POSITIVE impact on persons or
households with low incomes, low mobility access, low greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food
access, aging in place, or high energy burden.
5
Page 1168 of 1171
Describe the positive impact expected from this project:
Indicate which groups are impacted: (persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low
greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden. ,
Other )
❑ The proposed grant project programs or policies could have a NEGATIVE impact on persons or
households with low incomes, low mobility access, low greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food
access, aging in place, or high energy burden.
Describe the negative impact expected from this project:
Present the rationale for the existence of the proposed program or policy:
Provide evidence of consultation with representatives of the person or groups impacted:
Indicate which groups are impacted: (persons or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low
greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food access, aging in place, or high energy burden,
Other )
❑ The proposed grant project programs or policies are not expected to have a unique impact on persons
or households with low incomes, low mobility access, low greenspace access, high heat impacts, low food
access, aging in place, or high energy burden.
Present the rationale for determining no impact:
All projects must include community engagement and/or community education. Please explain how you
will incorporate one or both in your project. (100-word maximum)
How will you measure your impact and what does project success look like? All grantees will be required
to complete a performance report summarizing basic impacts, such as number and demographics of people
reached through the project. Who will be better off? What change will you see? How will you measure
impact of your project? Good performance measures include not only who was served but how it impacted
their life/experience/situation. (300-word maximum)
Experience Applying for this Grant — Please help us continue to improve the Sustainable Dubuque Grant
Program. Please check the box that best describes your experience filling out this form and use the
additional space to explain anything else we should know about your experience filling out this grant
application.
❑
Delightfully easy! Clear, concise and I was able to share my idea without being over -burdened. (Positive)
❑
Pretty typical grant application. If you've done one, you've done them all. (Neutral)
❑
That was awful. I needed help, it didn't make any sense, and the application isn't worth the funding. (Negative)
Additional explanation:
0
Page 1169 of 1171
Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Proposal Evaluation Rubric
Project title:
Scoring Criteria
5 = Very Good, 4 = Good, 3= Acceptable, 2= Poor, 1= Very Poor, 0 = Not Answered
'Y' replaces "0" for essential criteria. Selecting 'Y' disqualifies an application.
Grant Narrative
Project description and goals are clear and achievable:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Project addresses a need in the community:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Applicant demonstrates experience and/or clearly explains capacity
to complete the project:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Proposed project aligns with a City Council Priority and Sustainable
Dubuque Principle(s):
5
4
3
2
1
X
Budget
Timeline and workplan demonstrate planning to produce proposed
deliverables:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Budget is clear, reasonable, and detailed:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Project match (in -kind or financial) is planned and explained:
5
4
3
2
1
X
City Priorities
Proposed project aligns with a city plan:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Proposed project aligns with the Climate Action Plan:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Proposal anticipates a positive or neutral impact on identified groups
with a clear explanation to support this expectation:
5
4
3
2
1
X
Community Education/Engagement
Proposed project incorporates community education and/or
community engagement:
5
4
3
2
1
X
Impact
Plans to measure impact are planned and explained:
5
4
3
2
1
X
Performance measures are meaningful and relevant:
5
4
3
2
1
0
Notes:
7
Page 1170 of 1171