FY 2018 Community Conversations | CNCS 03 08 18

FY 2018 Community Conversations (CNCS) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the FY 2018 Community Conversations grant opportunity?

The FY 2018 Community Conversations opportunity is a discretionary funding competition from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). It supports participatory, community-engaged research designed to strengthen civic life through structured "community conversations" about civic health.

2) What does CNCS mean by "community conversations" about civic health?

In this opportunity, "community conversations" refers to structured, locally grounded dialogue and inquiry that helps residents understand community conditions, elevate local priorities, and build the relationships and skills needed to address shared problems through collective action.

3) What is the main purpose of this funding?

The purpose is to strengthen civic life by increasing civic engagement and expanding a community's capacity to take collective action on local issues. CNCS positions this work as closely tied to its mission because it builds engagement, relationships, and shared understanding that support practical, locally driven solutions.

4) What type of award is being offered?

Funding is offered through cooperative agreements. This typically means awardees should expect an active federal role in the project, rather than a simple pass-through grant arrangement.

5) How much total funding is available under this competition?

CNCS indicates that up to $500,000 total is available for the competition.

6) How many awards does CNCS expect to make?

The competition anticipates five awards.

7) What is the expected award size?

Individual awards are expected to range from $50,000 to $100,000 per year.

8) How long can a project be funded?

Projects may be supported for up to two years.

9) What is the maximum potential total funding for a single awardee?

If an applicant is funded at the top end ($100,000 per year) for the full two-year period, the total could be as much as $200,000 across two years.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education, specifically public and state-controlled universities and colleges, as well as private institutions of higher education.

11) Are non-university community organizations eligible to apply directly?

Based on the eligibility statement provided, applicants must be institutions of higher education. Other organizations are not listed as eligible applicants in the information provided.

12) What kind of applicant is CNCS trying to fund through this opportunity?

The intent is to fund academics and applied researchers who work with and in local communities, rather than researchers operating at a distance.

13) What does "participatory, community-engaged research" mean in this program?

The emphasis on participatory research signals that community members are meant to be partners in the research process. This includes helping shape the research questions, contributing to data collection and interpretation, and using findings in ways that are meaningful locally.

14) What is the program's funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed as Community Development, with an additional "Other" designation.

15) Does CNCS prioritize certain types of communities or settings?

Yes. CNCS gives equal priority to participatory research efforts in three settings: (1) communities already collaborating on a locally identified issue, (2) communities that have experienced a disaster, and (3) communities in social crisis.

16) What does it mean that CNCS gives "equal priority" to three settings?

It means CNCS does not elevate one of the three settings above the others in stated priority. Proposals aligned with any of the three settings are treated as equally prioritized, based on the information provided.

17) What is the first priority setting described by CNCS?

The first setting is communities already working collaboratively to tackle a locally identified issue, where the research can strengthen ongoing collective efforts with better information, engagement, and shared understanding.

18) What is the second priority setting described by CNCS?

The second setting is communities that have experienced a disaster, where conversations and participatory inquiry can support recovery by surfacing needs, reconnecting residents, and coordinating action.

19) What is the third priority setting described by CNCS?

The third setting is communities in social crisis, where civic trust and social cohesion may be strained, and structured engagement and shared research can help communities navigate conflict, instability, or urgent social challenges.

20) What kinds of outcomes is CNCS trying to achieve through community conversations?

The described outcomes include helping residents understand community conditions, elevating local priorities, building relationships and civic skills, increasing civic engagement, and strengthening a community's capacity to take collective action on local issues.

21) What are the key identifiers for this funding opportunity?

The opportunity title is "FY 2018 Community Conversations." The funding opportunity number is CNCS 03 08 18, and the CFDA number is 94.026.

22) When was this funding notice created?

The notice was created on March 9, 2018.

23) What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is Tuesday, April 10, 2018, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

24) What is the overall program summary in plain language?

This opportunity funds higher-education-led, community-partnered research that uses inclusive dialogue and participatory methods to assess civic health, increase engagement, and support locally driven solutions, especially in communities facing ongoing challenges, disaster impacts, or social crisis.