General Guidelines

ISSUE

The CCP Foundation invites risk takers and bold thinkers to step outside of the ordinary to create new possibilities for people with developmental disabilities so they can prosper in their communities.

OUR GOAL

That people in Minnesota with developmental disabilities will have the support they need to pursue satisfying lives.

MISSION AND PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

The mission of The CCP Foundation: we seek to instigate action that leads to better opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.  The CCP Foundation wishes to be a catalyst for:

• Innovative thinking about how to get more service, better service, even free service for people with developmental disabilities.

• Stimulating thinking about actual change through education and sharing of ideas.

• Providing technical assistance to those wanting to advance useful ideas.

• Providing a limited amount of grant money to support promising endeavors

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

While we’re waiting around for that grand idea that will transform the way services are made available to people with developmental disabilities, we think that we should start making modest changes to get more and better support into the hands of people who need it.

The CCP Foundation believes that small initiatives working outside of the system can make change happen.  The Foundation works to promote innovation and participation in community programs and services, increased opportunities for individuals, and increased public support to ensure that individuals with disabilities are valued, contributing members of their communities.  We believe that replicable foundation projects could serve as an inspiration and model for others to consider.

On the most immediate level, better services could be available for some people directly involved in projects sparked by the Foundation.  Then, others might benefit by replication of ideas that work.  If enough ideas work, perhaps policy makers will take note and positive system change would result. 

We believe that there are thinkers and doers who have ideas about how to make small changes for big impact in the lives of people with developmental disabilities.  We seek to encourage risk-takers who have the vision and ability to make these changes happen.

SPECIFIC CRITERIA

To qualify for funding, a request must primarily serve persons with developmental disabilities.  Proposals funded need to be:

• New, innovative, or advance the field of service delivery

• Sustainable without reliance on ongoing funding from the CCP Foundation

• Likely to generate significant long-term impact, or have the ability to be replicated

• Proposals that offer a practical solution for actual change

Our Funding Categories

1. modest Grant supported-efforts to provide more or better services 

2. Technical assistance to advance ideas (through in-kind services) or stipends for assistance, project planning, or micro-enterprise

3. Educational, conference, or symposium sponsorships

2008 Initiatives

Bright Ideas

We are seeking simple bright ideas to provide more, better, or free services to people with developmental disabilities.

Get us your bright idea- it can be a sentence, a paragraph, an email, a postcard, or a phone call!  We will review ideas periodically and select a few to work on.  (Ongoing deadlines throughout the year.)  We'll choose a few great ideas to develop...by offering money to here help to flush out your idea or by offering money to reimburse staff time for those helping to build a bright idea.  And lastly, we can provide financial assistance to see if the idea will work!

Earning A Living

We want to support potential entrepreneurs, those with an idea about how to advance their career- or how to advance the creation of careers for those with disabilities.

Self-directed Supports

We believe that people have ideas that would improve the value of their government provided support.

What We Fund

Programs or projects that focus on providing more, better or unpaid services or natural supports for persons with developmental disabilities, including:

• Seed money or start up funds

• Micro-enterprise creation

• Equipment, housing and employment programs

• Transportation

• Direct support services and staff training

• Children, youth, school, outdoor adventure or recreational programs

• Programs that may take longer than one calendar year

Particularly interested in:

• Simple, creative ideas

• Innovative ideas, proposals, and service delivery models

• Community alliances with non-traditional systems of support

• Projects with community interest: the ability to combine our efforts with other types of community support

We do not fund:

• Lobbying, advocacy, or political activities

• Ongoing general operating expenses or existing deficits

• Endowments or fundraising events

• Programs outside Minnesota

• Applicants that do not have a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsor with a 501 ( c ) 3 status.