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Community Event

Support Grants

First 5 Kern has invested over $200 million into the community since our founding by Proposition 10 in 1998. The majority of those dollars were provided to programs that deliver key services for children and families. However, operating a year-round program isn’t the only way to receive support.

Each year, tens of thousands of dollars are awarded for other means of supporting programs and the youngest in our county. Events like educational conferences, community health fairs, family events, and car seat giveaways are great ways to show your support for young children and their families, and may be eligible to receive funding.

In order to receive consideration for funding, you must complete the event form below. The summary should include details about the event and a clear breakdown of how the funds from First 5 Kern will be utilized. Your event must demonstrate a targeted approach to benefit children 0-5 and their families. All requests for this funding have a maximum award of $5,000.

If approved, all events must follow our contractor information guidelines.

Organizations and Events that received
community support grants from First 5 Kern in 2023-24:

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS

First 5 Kern receives dozens of requests for funding each year, under our Community Support Policy. Funding is awarded based on the educational and service value, the number of children (aged 0-5) and their families that will be served, how the event/project/conference aligns with the mission and vision of First 5 Kern, and the availability of funds. A Community Support and Sponsorship Funding Policy is in place for the purpose of a fair and consistent way to respond to sponsorship requests.

Community Event Support Grant funding request

Organization or event logo(Required)
Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.
Type of Organization(Required)

Tell us about the event or program for which you are requesting funding

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Budget

Describe specifically how First 5 Kern dollars will be spent. Include items that will be purchased, a description of those items, quantities and cost.
Has First 5 Kern funded this event in the past?(Required)
Has First 5 Kern funded your agency in the past?(Required)
Max. file size: 250 MB.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Grant Application Procedures

PROCEDURE

Complete the above online form.  Fill in all fields, and include any information you think would properly demonstrate the impact on the lives of children 0-5 and their families. ALL REQUESTS MUST BE MADE A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE EVENT DATE. All applicants will be notified within 30 days of submission.

Requests for Commission support for community and educational events and activities will be evaluated according to the following guidelines:

  • The requesting organization must be a legally constituted 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or government agency.
  • The purpose of the event or activity must be consistent with the First 5 Kern's mission and vision.
  • The event or activity must benefit children ages 0 to 5 and their families.
  • The requested funds must be available in the current operating budget.
  • The requested funds must be used to supplement and not supplant other funding.
  • The requested funds must not be used for advocacy for a political cause, legislative position, or lobbying local, state or federal legislators.
  • The event or activity must not be used to benefit an individual.
  • The event or activity must not be used for fundraising purposes.
  • The First 5 Kern attribution logo must be used on printed materials relating to the event or activity.

APPROVAL PROCESS

The Communications Manager will contact the requestor to inform them if the request is approved or denied upon direction of the Executive Director.

First 5 Kern will verify if an ACH Vendor Packet (with W9) is current and on file (this is mandatory).
Upon approval requestors must email the Vendor Packet to First 5 Kern Finance Manager Crystal Gardner (cgardner@first5kern.org) and Communications Manager Kevin Bartl (kbartl@first5kern.org).
Requestors will be provided with the Attribution Policy regarding proper logo usage. Promotional materials for the event/project/conference must acknowledge First 5 Kern as a sponsor using the attribution logo.

The Communications Manager is required to approve all materials before printing to ensure appropriate attribution.

The Executive Director will submit a letter of approval to the First 5 Kern Commission for their record and notification (see meeting schedule: http://first5kern.org/meetings/).

PROMOTING THE EVENT

Please share with First 5 Kern any flyers, social media posts, printed items, etc., so that (if the requestor desires) we can also help promote the event/project/conference on social media or First 5 Kern’s Handprints Newsletter.

AFTER EVENT COMPLETION

Once your event or project is completed, grantees are required to complete the below Event Grant Summary Form within 30 days.

NOTE: Due to Proposition 10 reporting and evaluation guidelines, this follow up step is very important. Failure to provide adequate information summarizing how First 5 Kern funding helped support your project or event can hinder your ability to be considered for future requests.

This policy is necessary to provide a fair and consistent way to respond to requests for financial support. Commission support for these events is desirable if such support aligns with the Commission’s mission and vision. In making determinations about such support, consideration will also be given to the educational and service value of the event or activity, the number of young children and their families served and the availability of funds.

Guidelines for receiving Community Support funds are based on Kern County Children and Families Commission Administrative Bulletin No. 4 (dated June, 2011).

Community Event Support Grant summary form (TO BE COMPLETED AFTER THE EVENT)

Applicant Information

Name(Required)
Address(Required)

Project Description

Type of Organization(Required)

Did you utilize the entire grant award?(Required)
Number of attendees or persons served by the event/project(Required)
Children 0-5
Parents or other caregivers
Child care providers
 
Would this event/project have been completed without the First 5 Kern community grant funding?(Required)

Final Expenses

Please provide ACTUAL expenses that were covered by this mini-grant.
Please provide any details regarding your expenditures (e.g., vendors, in-kind expenses, etc.)
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 250 MB.
    Please upload copies of receipts showing that purchases were made in relation to your request from First 5 Kern. Please blackout or cover any unrelated expenditures or irrelevant information.

    Who was responsible for keeping financial records of the mini-grant?

    Name(Required)

    Final Project pictures

    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 250 MB.
      First 5 Kern reserves the right to utilize any and all submitted images in digital and/or print publications. It is recommended that you submit photos that do not include children, or if images of children are used, they cannot be identified in the photos.
      Drop files here or
      Max. file size: 250 MB.
        These may include social media graphics, fliers, website buttons, etc.

        Additional Information

        Do you anticipate hosting this event or project again in the future?(Required)
        Do you anticipate seeking First 5 Kern community event funds again for this event in the future?(Required)
        Consent(Required)
        This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

        Further information

        Please feel free to contact Kevin Bartl, Communications Manager, with any questions:

        Kevin Bartl
        661.328.7034
        kbartl@first5kern.org