2025 Community Grant Application
Please Note: Only online applications will be accepted for 2025.
Questions: If you have any questions, email Stephanie Hall at stephanie@rackjd.com.
The Spirit of Construction Outreach Committee is only accepting electronically filed applications for its 2025 grant funding. The maximum amount of grants allocated each year will not exceed an amount approved by the Spirit of Construction Board of Directors.
Deadline to Apply: All applications must be completed and submitted no later than February 14, 2025. Applicants may apply by completing the form below and uploading all proper documents. You may email supporting documentation to Stephanie Hall, but Spirit of Construction Foundation prefers that you upload appropriate documents through the application on this page if possible. Submit prior to the deadline to ensure we receive your application in a timely fashion.
Spirit of Construction Outreach Committee Mission Statement
“Celebrating the impact of the construction industry and creating career opportunities through charitable giving, education programs, advocacy, and professional guidance.”
Guidelines
The Grant Application should speak to the following metrics where appropriate:
- Focused age group
- Number of children and young adults served
- Number of Construction Trades involved
- Types of construction trades involved
- Number of volunteers involved
- Program duration
- Brief program summary
- Community engagement
- Business partners involved
- Other funding sources
Applicants must engage young people in hands-on activities as a requirement. Engagement of middle school children is encouraged. Grant Recipients will be meeting with the Spirit of Construction Outreach Committee to ensure a sharing of knowledge and resources, identify synergies, discuss measurement criteria, and provide any support to help their program become a success. The meeting is scheduled for May 22, 2025. Grant Recipients will be required to report on the appropriate project metrics in a final report due in October 2025.
Please attach additional sheets detailing your grant proposal. See below for details.
Answer the following questions in the order presented here. Please limit the length of your grant request to no more than 3 pages.
Rationale and Context
Please describe in detail what you hope to accomplish in receiving this grant and the expected return on investment to the construction industry provided by your organization.
Design and Activities
Please describe the proposed project activities in detail. Include the following information:
- Timetable for completion.
- Describe your organization’s capacity to implement and administer proposed activities.
- Describe the status of the work and accomplishments to date, if applicable.
Summary
In one paragraph, please explain why your organization is worthy of this grant. Articulate your passion for the organization.
Letters of Recommendation
Please attach at least one but no more than 3 Letters of Recommendation from construction industry professionals who advocate your program or project.
Annual Report
Please attach one copy of your organization’s most recent annual report and a listing of your board members to each copy of your application.
Schedule
January 2nd, 2025 – February 14th, 2025
Grant Guidelines and Applications are available online at the Spirit of Construction website. To be eligible, candidates must submit applications electronically by February 14th, 2025.
February 17th, 2025 – March 3rd, 2025
Each committee member will review grant applications to familiarize themselves with each applicant.
March 17th, 2025 – March 28th, 2025
Members of the grant committee will meet as a group, evaluate the applicants, rank candidates, and develop a shortlist. As necessary, interviews will be scheduled with applicants to obtain any further information needed to make our decision.
April 3rd, 2025
Outreach Committee approval of the Grant Review Committee recommendations. These will be submitted to the Spirit Board for approval (electronically) with notification to the recipients no later than April 11th, 2025.
May 7th, 2025
Spirit of Construction will introduce Grant Recipients and present them with checks at the annual Spring Fling.
May 22nd, 2025
Outreach Committee will meet with all Grant Recipients (SOC Outreach Collaborative Meeting) to ensure the sharing of knowledge and resources, identify synergies, discuss measurement criteria, and provide any support to help their program become a success.
June 1st, 2025 – August 29th, 2025
Outreach Committee members will follow up with all Grant Recipients to see where they are, provide any support they may need for their programs, and discuss final reporting.
October 13th, 2025 – October 31st, 2025
The final reports of grant recipients are due. The Outreach Committee will meet with all Grant Recipients for the final wrap-up meeting of their programs.
Communication Criteria for Qualifying Organizations
Qualifications
To qualify (or not qualify) for Spirit of Construction grant funding through the Outreach Committee, the organization must be:
- Community-based 501(c) (3) or other proof of non-profit status.
- Qualified educational institutions and organizations that reflect the Spirit of Construction values and focus their efforts in a positive way.
- Controversial organizations or ones that require significant transfer of local funds to national or international parent organizations will not be considered.
- Applicants must engage youth and young adults in hands-on activities as a requirement.
Funding Priorities
Construction Education (not intended for scholarship purposes)
Supports students or construction-related programs at the following institutions of higher learning:
- Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
- Northern Kentucky
- University University of Cincinnati
- Trade and vocational programs in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana will also be considered.
Workforce Development
- Programs or projects advocating the construction industry as the favorable career option to middle school, secondary school, and vocational/technical school students in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Southeastern Indiana regions. All grant requests are evaluated on merit.
Local Interest Projects
- Organizations directly or indirectly affiliated with the construction industry that have projects that enhance our city, create educational opportunities, or engage in other activities that advocate our mission will be considered.
In addition to the annual grants that the Outreach Committee awards, special grant requests will also be considered for recommendation to the Spirit of Construction Board for approval. These grant requests are not intended to be limited in dollar amount. They are subject to the Spirit of Construction Board’s approval and funds available within the organization to support such requests. An example of a special grant request would be the funding that Spirit of Construction has provided in the past for our Construction Advocate/Middle School Construction Careers Outreach Program.