CHALLENGE GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA 

What is the aim of the AWS Community Builders Fund?

The aim of the AWS Community Builders Fund, sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS), is to support existing groups and individuals (once they form a team) operating in Central Ohio to either start a new project from a selection of available projects or to expand an existing project, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for communities. Applicants submit the project they want to start or expand based on their community’s needs, once it meets the criteria outlined in the following section. Once the applicant has demonstrated their commitment and ability to start or expand the chosen community project by successfully completing a 30 Day Challenge on the ChangeX website, ChangeX will provide funding, information guides and support to give the applicant the best chance of success. In addition, once the applicant has demonstrated the impact the new project is having in their community, they will receive a further installment of funding to support the maintenance of the project. All projects should be managed in an inclusive and welcoming manner and any events organized as part of your project should comply with any relevant public health guidance.

Criteria 

The following criteria must be met by all applicants:

• The project must address at least one of the following themes:  Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM) and/or environmental stewardship.
• Projects must take place in one or more of the following Counties in Ohio including: Franklin, Union, Delaware, Marion, Morrow, Crawford, Pickaway, Licking, Madison, Logan, Knox, Fairfield.
• If applying for a grant greater than $1,000, the applicant must be a registered charity in the United States (EIN number will need to be provided).
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old or have the permission of a guardian to apply for funding.

Opening date

The challenge opens for applications on April 15, 2023. Registrations for projects will close on May 31, 2023. Applicants will be notified by June 30, 2023 as to whether they have been allocated funding and can progress with the 30 Day Challenge or whether they have been unsuccessful.

What can the funding be used for?

The AWS Community Builders Fund can be used to cover direct costs relating to the set-up or maintenance of the new or existing project. For example, funds can be used for space rental, insurance fees, seeds and planting materials, technology (hardware or software), tools, training fees; pretty much any materials you might need for a project that benefits your community. 

ChangeX shall not be held liable to reimburse any costs that are incurred by applicants, prior to the release of funds by ChangeX. In exceptional circumstances, applicants may seek written approval from ChangeX to incur costs ahead of the release of funds. Written approval will be granted at the sole discretion of ChangeX. Payments will only be made if ChangeX finds that all relevant requirements are met.

Any potential tax consequences, reporting requirements, and consents from third parties are solely the responsibility and liability of the recipient of the funding.

What can the funding not be used for? 

Funds may not be used to promote or engage in criminal acts of violence, terrorism, hate crimes, the destruction of any state, or discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, religion, military and veteran status, disability, sex, age, gender identity or sexual orientation, or support of any entity that engages in these activities.

The fund cannot be used to cover costs of work that has already been carried out and can’t be used for anything that is not related to the set up and maintenance of the new or existing community project. It cannot be used to cover the promotion of religious causes, non-charitable activities, sponsorship or fundraising events. 

Reporting Requirements and Funding 

In return for any funding you may receive, you are required to share the outcomes of your new project with ChangeX and AWS.

The funding allocated to your new project is divided into two stages. The first payment (70% of total funding amount) can be accessed once your application is approved. The second payment (30% of total funding amount) will be issued to you after you have completed an impact survey demonstrating the outcomes of your project and shared photos and a narrative description of the activities carried out.

It is very important that you keep all receipts and records of how any funding you might receive is spent. If receipts cannot be shown, if the funds are found to have been spent on costs other than those relating to the set-up or maintenance of the new community project, or if the project has not met the requirements of the initial project plan, no further funds will be allocated to this project and ChangeX reserves the right to retrieve the funds that have already been distributed. The applicant will be indefinitely ineligible to apply for any subsequent grants through ChangeX.

ChangeX, at its sole discretion, decides which applicants will be accepted, what the funds can be used for, documentation requirements, and whether the relevant criteria for payment have been met, prior to the approval of a project. ChangeX may request further information and documentation as it reasonably deems necessary, and can set further reasonable requirements or criteria during the application process or throughout the project.

Multiple applications

Each individual or organization is only eligible to submit one grant application to receive funding.

Family

Family and close relatives of ChangeX employees or of AWS are not eligible to apply for funding.

How to apply

Once you have ensured that you meet all of the criteria above, you can go to www.changex.org/funds/awscommunitybuilders, and select the option to submit your own project. There are three available price points, of $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000, or the ability to enter your project's specific budget, depending on need. Once you have completed the application form, you will receive an email confirmation. Our team will reach out to inform you whether your project will receive funding by June 30, 2023.

In order to receive the funding, you must have a bank account. Once you’ve successfully unlocked your funding, you will be asked to enter your bank details on the ChangeX website to facilitate the bank transfer. In some cases, you will be asked to provide a scanned copy of your driver’s license or passport for additional verification purposes in addition to your bank details. ChangeX will not share or store any applicant banking or driver’s license/passport data; this process will all be managed by Stripe. Stripe’s privacy policy can be viewed here: https://stripe.com/privacy. 

Once you have completed all required steps, ChangeX will review your application and reach out for any additional steps or information required and once all requirements have been satisifed, payment will then be made, and the transfer will take an average of 4 working days to reach the applicant’s bank account. 

When the final impact survey has been completed (between three and six months after the original application was made) it will also be reviewed, to ensure the project is active and the second installment of funding is necessary. Payment will then be made, and the transfer will take an average of 4 working days to reach the applicant’s bank account. 

Supports Available

In order to give you the best chance of success to get your new project active, ChangeX will provide you with a number of supports, resources and tools. These include email and Zoom support, a local webpage to manage your team, and previous starter stories to provide information and inspiration.

Accessibility

If you require any additional support to complete the application process or access resources please contact [email protected] and we will do everything in our power to help.

Where is this funding coming from?

This fund is sponsored by AWS. ChangeX is solely responsible for the management of the fund, including the selection of applicants, starter support, fund distribution and impact tracking.

Sharing your project with media or on social 

We encourage you to share news about your community project through your local media or on social media in order to find people to join and support your project, or just to share some positive news with your wider community. When talking to media, we kindly ask you to mention the source of the funding for your project. For example, you can say: “The project received funding through the AWS Community Builders Fund, run by ChangeX.” OR “The project has been made possible thanks to funding from AWS and support from ChangeX.” On social media, please use the following hashtags when announcing your project: #AWSInCommunities

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the eligibility criteria for the fund?

The following criteria must be met by all applicants:

• The project must address at least one of the following themes:  Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM) and/or environmental stewardship.
• Projects must take place in one or more of the following Counties in Ohio including: Franklin, Union, Delaware, Marion, Morrow, Crawford, Pickaway, Licking, Madison, Logan, Knox, Fairfield.
• If applying for a grant greater than $1,000, the applicant must be a registered charity in the United States (EIN number will need to be provided).
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old or have the permission of a guardian to apply for funding.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

The AWS Community Builders Fund is open to organizations which are delivering experiences in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM) and/or environmental stewardship. These organizations should deliver educational program or events which support greater access and equity for youth and families in Central Ohio.

What can funds NOT be used for?

Funds may not be used to promote or engage in criminal acts of violence, terrorism, hate crimes, the destruction of any state, or discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, religion, military and veteran status, disability, sex, age, gender identity or sexual orientation, or support of any entity that engages in these activities.

The fund cannot be used to cover costs of work that has already been carried out and can’t be used for anything that is not related to the setup and maintenance of the new or existing community project. It cannot be used to cover the promotion of religious causes, non-charitable activities, sponsorship or fundraising events. Funds cannot be used as payment to group members for their work on the project. 

Could a grant be used for a set of ongoing events/projects? 

Yes, a series of events or multiple projects can be submitted under the same open grant application. However, the open grants are a one time funding opportunity therefore all costs for ongoing events or projects should be considered in the funding amount applied for.

Are the grants renewable? 

This fund is currently offered once per year in Central Ohio. Funds provided are for the current year and would not expect to be renewed.

Can a minor apply for a grant? 

Applicants should be at least 18 years old to apply but teams can include minors to carry out the project.

Can funds be used for capital projects like building improvements? 

No, this funding is specifically focused on educational programs and events.

Who will be reviewing applications and allocating funding? 

ChangeX is solely responsible for the management of the fund, including the selection of applicants, starter support, fund distribution and impact tracking.

What criteria will be used to evaluate applications? 

ChangeX uses three main criteria in an equally weighted scoring system to evaluate all applications - 1) Overall strength of application, 2) How well it speaks to one or more of the themes & 3) The potential social and/or environmental impact of the project.

How long will it take for project applications to be approved? 

Applications are due on May 31, 2023 and decisions will be sent out by June 30, 2023. Extensions to the deadline may be given at the discretion of ChangeX, which might in turn affect the decision date. Any changes will be communicated with applicants.

Can I turn in my draft for ChangeX to review? 

We want to ensure that the application process is fair and therefore can’t offer to review your draft application prior to the application deadline. We would encourage you to seek out mentors or organizations in the community who would be able to help review and provide feedback on your application prior to the deadline.