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BOLD Funding Program

The application for the 2024 BOLD Funding Program has now closed. If you would like to receive updates on upcoming opportunities, sign up here. The details for last year’s application cycle can be reviewed below for your awareness. Contact bold@birminghamal.gov if you have any questions.

2024 BOLD Application

Applications Open: Friday, July 7, 2023

Deadline: Monday, August 7, 2023 at 5pm CT

Performance Period: January 8, 2024 – January 6, 2025

The City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO) is soliciting proposals from any organization, firm, corporation, or other business entity, public or private, that provides programming or services to Birmingham residents to promote economic development. IEO is working to fuel an ecosystem that allows innovation and opportunity to thrive by providing resources to nurture talent; by establishing infrastructure that supports the growth of women-, minority-, and disadvantaged businesses; and by focusing on developing our small businesses. Now in its sixth year, the BOLD funding program seeks to develop partnerships with community organizations that share IEO’s vision of making Birmingham the model of an inclusive and resilient economy. This funding is authorized under Mayor Woodfin’s FY 2024-2025 budget, which allocates up to $1 million total to IEO for this funding program.

BOLD proposals are evaluated based on providing programming and/or services that advance one or more of the following objectives and in one or more of the following geographic priority areas.

BOLD Objectives

  • Small businesses: provide resources to Birmingham small business owners so they can sustain and grow their businesses
  • Minority-, women-, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBEs): identify and address barriers for MWDBEs within the City of Birmingham
  • Workforce development: develop and implement a reskilling strategy for Birmingham workers to gain upward mobility and to close the gap between employer needs and the skills our institutions produce
  • Overcoming barriers: improve access to education, training, or employment opportunities through innovations in transportation, childcare, food access, housing, and/or the elimination of other critical barriers
  • Birmingham’s neighborhoods: advance economic resilience, mobility, and inclusive growth in Birmingham’s neighborhoods
  • Data-driven Innovation: use data-driven and innovative approaches to advance sustainable development in Birmingham

Geographic Priority Areas

  • East Lake
  • Ensley
  • Five Points West
  • Fourth Avenue Business District / Civil Rights District
  • North Birmingham
  • Smithfield/Elyton
  • Titusville
  • Woodlawn

 

Read the RFP Apply Budget Narrative Template Partner MOU Template

 

To support applicants in the development of their proposals, IEO is pleased to present the following series of workshops and office hours. Please see registration details below. Additionally, if you have any questions regarding the application process or your proposal, feel free to contact IEO at bold@birminghamal.gov.

  • BOLD Public Information Session featuring IEO Director Cornell Wesley
  • BOLD Proposal Workshop #1: What does it mean to be a BOLD awardee?
  • BOLD Proposal Workshop #2: How to complete the technical aspects of the BOLD application
  • BOLD Proposal Workshop #3: How to make your application competitive
  • BOLD Office Hourswith Key IEO Staff Fridays, June 14-August 4, from 9am-12pm

 

BOLD Eligibility & Funding Restrictions

To qualify for BOLD funding, applicants must:

  • Be a firm, corporation, or other business entity, public or private (documentation required in application for verification). No individuals may apply. Applications are encouraged from Alabama-recognized non-profit organizations (IRC Section 501(c)(3) entities preferred), post-secondary education institutions, and relevant for-profit enterprises, particularly those with a social impact focus. Minority-, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBEs) are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • Provide a cost matching plan, with matching funds secured at a rate of 20% of the total project budget (not 20% of the amount of funds requested from BOLD). For example, if an application has a total project budget of $250,000, the proposal may request up to $200,000 from BOLD and provide the other $50,000 toward the project as leveraged funding. Proposals that do not meet the 20% leveraged funding requirement of the total project budget will not be eligible for consideration.
  • Demonstrate organizational fiscal sustainability by uploading financial documentation to the application, including 1) a Profit and Loss Statement, and 2) IRS form 990 or 990-N (if tax-exempt entity) OR a recent audit report (if for-profit entity).

Funding Restrictions:

  • Funding for construction will not be provided.
  • Any equipment over $5,000 will require prior approval from IEO.
  • Most BOLD awards range from $50,000 to $150,000, though compelling proposals for other funding amounts will be considered.
  • The specific project that is proposed for BOLD funding cannot be supported by other City funding sources (i.e. the budget narrative for the proposal should not include other City of Birmingham funding sources). See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

 

BOLD Application Process

Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process that provides transparency and performance-driven accountability in the distribution of BOLD funds to strategic partners.

Competitive applicants will demonstrate:

  • A mission-oriented focus on building and growing a more inclusive economy in Birmingham
  • Alignment with one or more BOLD objectives with a track record of working on the proposed objective(s)
  • A focus on one or more of the BOLD geographic priority areas with a track record of success in the communities the applicants propose to serve
  • Intimate understanding of the city’s economic landscape, including a data-defined problem and solution with measurable standards for success
  • A compelling project plan to meet the proposal’s objectives, including work plan, budget narrative, and leveraged resources to complement any grant funding that could be awarded
  • Demonstrated fiscal sustainability and capacity to execute on the scope of objectives outlined in the project narrative and project work plan

The full application is available at the link above with applications closing on Monday, August 7th, 2023 at 5PM CST. The application includes submitting 1) a series of short response questions; 2) a budget narrative; 3) organizational status documentation; 4) organizational fiscal sustainability documentation; and 5) partner memorandums of understanding (MOUs), if applicable. Applicants are encouraged to start their application early by reviewing the link above and drafting their proposal in a separate document to ensure progress on the application is safeguarded against technical difficulties. Template documents for the budget narrative and partner MOUs can be found at the links above, and instructions for the organizational status and fiscal sustainability documentation are within the application form.

Semifinalists are expected to receive invitations to present their proposals in-person to the City of Birmingham by early September 2023. Finalists are expected to be notified by October 2023, upon which, organizations will work with the Office of City Attorney to finalize an agreement, including a budget with clearly defined performance metrics and data sharing agreements. Such finalized agreements may require City Council approval prior to execution. The project performance period is expected to run between January 8, 2024 to January 6, 2025, including reporting quarterly progress updates and presenting a mid-way status update to the Economic Development Committee of the Birmingham City Council.

 

Key Dates

The City reserves the right to modify the following schedule at its discretion. Notification of changes in connection with this RFP will be posted here.

  • July 7, 2023| RFP Released 
  • July 13, 2023| RFP Information Session
  • July 20, 2023| Proposal Workshop #1
  • July 27, 2023| Proposal Workshop #2
  • August 3, 2023| Proposal Workshop #3
  • August 7, 2023| Application Deadline

Application Phase Key Dates

  • August 8-30, 2023| Review of Written Application
  • September 13, 2023 (tentatively)| Semifinalist In-person Presentation
  • September 20-22, 2023| Finalist Agreement Negotiations
  • September 25-October 31, 2023 | Agreement Drafting with Office of City Attorney
  • November 2023| Review by Birmingham City Council Committee(s)
  • December 2023| Review by full Birmingham City Council
  • December 2023| Awardee Announcement
  • January – December 2024| Performance Period

Selections will not be final until approved by City Council. Selected projects will be reviewed by both the Economic Development Committee and Budget and Finance Committee of City Council for approval, followed by approval by the full City Council.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there information on the impact of the BOLD funding program and the work of previous BOLD awardees?

A: Yes. The City of Birmingham is pleased to share the 5-year impact report of the BOLD funding program. You can access the report here.

 

Q: Does IEO have a definition of inclusive development?

A: The City of Birmingham is committed to continuing to build a fairer, more equitable, and inclusive Birmingham. Birmingham has always been at the vanguard of human rights, and that history extends to the City of Birmingham’s posture toward every community in Birmingham – and particularly the communities that are the most vulnerable and historically marginalized, such as women, people with disabilities, and Black, LBGTQ, homeless, and justice-involved Birmingham residents. As a result, the City of Birmingham, as a matter of public policy, encourages the participation, access, and service of minority-, women-, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBEs) and communities to the maximum extent possible.

The Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO) shares this vision in our pursuit of a resilient and inclusive economy in Birmingham. Informed by Nobel Prize winning economist and philosopher Amartya Sen, IEO sees development as the removal of major sources on unfreedom: poverty as well as tyranny, poor economic opportunities as well as systemic deprivation, neglect of public facilities as well as intolerance or overactivity of repressive governments. This means that development in general, and economic development in particular, starts by recognizing that some populations have been marginalized and “unfree” throughout history. IEO sets and tracks goals for supporting these communities and advancing an inclusive economy, reflecting a commitment to intergenerational and social mobility, equity-driven human capital formation and strategic investments for innovation and productivity. Through the Office of Business Diversity and Opportunity, IEO also engages in place-based development to grow small business; support minority-, women-led, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBEs); and spur neighborhood investment to ensure inclusive growth in Birmingham.

 

Q: Can I apply if my organization is currently receiving BOLD funding and/or other City of Birmingham funding, or if my organization has in the past?

A: Yes. Organizations that currently receive or have received BOLD funding or other City of Birmingham funding are eligible to apply. However, BOLD is intended to encourage new ideas, ensure wide impact across Birmingham’s diverse organizations, and foster investment in organizations for which a small amount of funding can allow organizations to scale and create a larger impact. Therefore, organizations that do not currently receive funding from City of Birmingham sources may be considered more competitive in the application process. It is also important to note that the specific project that is proposed for BOLD funding cannot be supported by other City funding sources (i.e. the budget narrative for the proposal should not include other City of Birmingham funding sources).

Additionally, new BOLD awardees may be considered more competitive in the application process. If applicants have received BOLD funding previously, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate in their proposals any new and innovative ideas that build on previous BOLD programming to demonstrate how they will better serve Birmingham residents with more BOLD funding.

 

Q: Are there any limitations towards the use of funds in regards to programmatic costs versus operational costs?

A: The BOLD funding program is intended to support programs, projects, and services that advance one or more BOLD objectives in Birmingham communities and that support Birmingham residents as directly as possible. It is also intended to support programs that are sustainable beyond the BOLD performance period. Therefore, proposals that utilize the majority (60% or more) of the funding request to support programming and direct services to Birmingham residents, rather that staff and operational costs, may be considered more competitive.

 

Q: Can I apply if my project doesn’t align with an objective?

A: Objectives #4 and #6 are the broadest in nature, aimed at surfacing community needs and new solutions for addressing them. These categories are a good fit for proposals that do not fit clearly within other objectives. But remember: projects must provide programming and/or services to Birmingham residents that address barriers to economic opportunity and social mobility. Additionally, organizational track record and community impact related to the selected objective will be considered when reviewing applications.

 

Q: Can I select multiple objectives if my program aims to accomplish more than one? 

A: Yes.  However, keep in mind that competitive proposals will demonstrate a clear focus on and track record in each objective selected. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to only select the objective(s) for which they can demonstrate clear focus and track record.

 

Q: Can I select multiple geographic priority areas if my program aims to accomplish more than one? 

A: Yes.  However, keep in mind that competitive proposals will demonstrate a clear focus on and track record in each geographic priority area selected. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to only select the geographic priority area(s) for which they can demonstrate clear track record and a plan for intentional impact. Applicants are discouraged from selecting all geographic priority areas, even if proposals are generally open to all of Birmingham, unless applicants have a specific plan for reaching and track record of serving every geographic priority area.

 

Q: What is considered “leveraged funding”?

A: “Leveraged” funds are simply a financial commitment toward the overall project budget from a source other than the awarding organization (I.e. the City of Birmingham). Leveraging can be achieved by a commitment from the applicant or through various partnerships, public or private. However, leveraged funds cannot be sourced from other City of Birmingham funding.

The required leveraged funding for the BOLD funding program is 20% or more of the entire project budget (NOT the BOLD funding request amount). For example, if a proposal’s entire project budget is $250,000, the application may seek up to $200,000 from BOLD and should clearly indicate in the budget narrative how it will provide $50,000 toward the project objectives. Proposals that do not meet the 20% leveraged funding requirement of the entire project budget will not be eligible for consideration.

Eligible leveraged funding can be in the form of cash, in-kind, or donated materials. Construction costs can count toward the overall leveraged costs. IEO will accept technical platforms as a leveraged resource. Existing staff salaries can count toward leveraged funding if a portion of their work is allocated to the proposed BOLD project and if the organization pays the employee with funds that are specifically used to run the proposed program. IEO will also accept the quantified value of volunteer hours to the project. However, all leveraged funding for a proposal cannot be exclusively through personnel costs, overhead costs, or volunteer hours.

 

Q: What types of resources are not allowable as leverage?

A: The purchase of facilities or buildings are unallowable as leverage. The donation of a building or property as a third party in-kind contribution is unallowable as leverage. Funding from other City of Birmingham sources is unallowable as leveraged funding.

 

Q: If you have multiple companies, can you apply with three separate companies?

A: Yes, you can propose multiple projects for BOLD funding from one organization and/or a single proprietor with multiple organizations – so long as the activities and goals associated with the proposed projects are distinct from each other. Consideration of BOLD funding allocation is based on the eligibility of the organization and the quality of the proposal(s).

 

Q: Can startups apply?

A: Yes, startups are encouraged to apply. It is important to note that track record, fiscal sustainability, and organizational capacity to execute the proposed project are considered in the BOLD application review process, however. Startups are encouraged to particularly emphasize these aspects of their projects, where applicable, therefore, even if these aspects are demonstrated creatively (e.g. track record at the staff level, rather than at the organizational level).

 

Q: Can new non-profits apply?

A: Yes, new non-profits are encouraged to apply. It is important to note that track record, fiscal sustainability, and organizational capacity to execute the proposed project are considered in the BOLD application review process, however. New organizations are encouraged to particularly emphasize these aspects of their projects, where applicable, therefore, even if these aspects are demonstrated creatively (e.g. track record at the staff level, rather than at the organizational level).

 

Q: Can a non-profit start a new project in one of the geographic priority areas?

A: Yes, an organization can propose a new project in one of the geographic priority areas. It is important to note that previous track record and engagement with the geographic priority area will be considered, however, including the location of the organization, staff experience in the locale, civic engagement, and a history of success with the community that projects propose to serve. This can be demonstrated by the lead applicant and/or project partnerships.