RAD funds many programs, events, and places enjoyed by the people of Allegheny County. District grants support and enhance regional assets in the areas of libraries, parks, cultural, sports and civic facilities and programs.
RAD has an annual budget process that begins with the application process (applications are typically available in June) and ends with a budget adoption in December for the following year. Each proposed allocation requires the support of six members. All meetings and votes of the Board are conducted under the provisions of the Sunshine Act which requires public meetings and opportunities for public comment. All applications are public record. From time to time RAD will offer special project based grants. Currently the District is offering Connection Grants to encourage assets to share resources and lower overhead costs.
The deadline submitting applications for year 2011 annual grants is July 14, 2010. Funding for Connections Grants is on-going. Both applications can be found on the Forms section of our web site (under "Work with Us).
District Goals
The annual grants program has the following goals:
- To sustain and enhance the growth and quality of a diverse group of well-managed and financially sound District-based regional assets, programming in areas funded by the District.
- To extend the benefits of asset programming to the widest possible audience.
- To encourage the involvement of young people as both audience and participants in asset activities.
Funding Categories
Category A - Operating support for ongoing activities of the organization. Support is typically unrestricted.
Category B - Capital maintenance for repair of existing facilities; accessibility improvements; new equipment or repairs to equipment.
Eligibility
Applicants must be governmental entities or non-profit, tax-exempt corporations, duly organized and in good standing under Pennsylvania laws, and provide programming or services of a regional nature in Allegheny County. Additional restrictions apply.
Act 77 prohibits the District from funding: any health care facility; institutions of elementary, secondary or higher education; any park less than 200 acres except for linear parks located in more than one municipality; any asset which fails to serve a significant number of residents outside of the municipality in which the asset is located; any library which is not part of a library system serving multiple municipalities.
In addition, the Annual Grants Program in the past has not provided funding for: governmental-type services other than qualifying parks (examples include public safety and public works programs); local recreation programs, such as teams and leagues; economic and housing development agencies and programs; social/human service agencies and programs; parades, single or short term events or festivals; project grants for planning or feasibility studies; historical monuments unless part of an otherwise eligible regional asset.
Eligibility criteria are reviewed each year by the RAD Board, and are subject to change.
New for Year 2011 Grants
Beginning with year 2011 funding, for which applications will be due in the summer of 2010, ALL applications must submit a Board-approved Diversity Plan. Recently, the District Board approved its own Diversity Plan.