LVRR Grant Program
FOCUS & MISSION
The purpose of the Lehigh Valley Road Runners is to develop and promote distance running and racing in the greater Lehigh Valley area, to provide information and social activities, and to enhance training opportunities in a supportive atmosphere for all runners of all abilities.
Lehigh Valley Road Runners has a longstanding Grant Program that supports the local Greater Lehigh Valley community as it relates to health and fitness through running. Much of our grant requests come from local schools, from elementary to high school level, to cover things such as uniforms, team shirts, equipment and transportation costs. The Grant Committee has also approved grants to assist with operating costs at the Allentown YMCA, bring the prestigious USATF Club Cross Country Championships to the Lehigh Valley twice, and support trail signage and trail maintenance to the D&L Heritage Trail, among others.
The absence of grant requests from entities other than local schools and the occasional non-school related organization could partly be due to the lack in LVRR outreach. For this reason, in March 2021, the LVRR Board of Directors met and decided that outreach activity and cooperation with local trail groups is consistent with both the LVRR mission as outlined above, as well as the RRCA purpose. It was agreed that this stance should be publicized.
Verbiage for publication was approved in an email vote by the Board of Directors and the size of Trail Requests was approved by an unanimous vote for a ceiling of $25,000. This is a sizable increase in grant request funding and a rubric was developed by the Grant Committee for all grant requests moving forward, regardless of request size.
GRANT REQUEST CRITERIA
For Grant Requests the criteria is as follows:
The group or organization must present a need and present the following criteria in order to be considered.
Is application fully filled out?
Does check payable to and destination match the organization’s main address?
How will the requester recognize LVRR’s contribution?
Is the applicant’s mission clearly stated? Does it align with the LVRR mission?
Are the programs goals, strategies and timeline detailed and clearly outlined?
Does the proposal define the impact of the program, such as number of people reached, etc?
Do their goals and strategies meet the needs of their target area?
Does the applicant’s plans/methods, timeline, and measurable impact give a level of evidence commensurate with their funding request level?
What portion of the funding request addresses their need?
Does the budget match the program priorities?
Are the descriptions sufficient?
All grant requests must meet a majority rule in order to pass. Majority currently consists of 3/5 votes as of August 2021.
GRANT COMMITTEE DECISION PROCESS
The Grant Committee receives grant applications via email as soon as each request is submitted through the LVRR website. The Committee which currently consists of five club members, reviews each request and submits an email vote to the Committee Chairperson. A Grant request requires a majority rule to pass (currently 3/5 votes.) The committee occasionally meets in person when necessary.
The following decision-making criteria are used by committee members:
Benefits the Greater Lehigh Valley Region (Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, or as decided by Grant Committee), both adult and/or youth runners.
Cannot ask more than once in a calendar year.
Discriminate within school districts whether funds are for school district-wide or individual schools.
In-line with LVRR or RRCA mission.
Related to running and athletic endeavors as a means to health and fitness.
Reasons for denial of a grant request:
Not in-line with the LVRR or RRCA mission.
Outside of our regional area.
Not related to running as it relates to health & fitness.
We will not fund salaries, stipends, insurance, costs relating to 501c3, startup costs, fundraiser events*, equipment such as popup tents.
* Exceptions: Women’s 5K Classic, or committee approval