Earlier this year, the Facebook Altoona Data Center wrapped up a successful Community Action Grant Program. As a result of this program, the Data Center awarded grants totaling $103,000 to 25 local non-profit organizations that implemented programs and projects that put the power of technology to use for community benefit, connecting people online or off, improving education, and promoting local economic development.
Facebook is excited to be able to bring this program back for another year. This year, they will award competitive grants in February of 2016 for projects that positively impact the community in Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Mitchellville, Runnells, Bondurant, and Farrar in Iowa and/or any areas served by Southeast Polk Community School District or Bondurant Farrar Community School District.
The grant application opens on Monday, October 12, and closes on Friday, December 11.
The application form can be found here.
Grant applications will be reviewed by a committee of Facebook employees and awarded based on their merit and adherence to the guidelines outlined below.
- Grants are available for projects that address critical community needs by putting the power of technology to use for community benefit, connecting people online or off, improving education and promoting local economic development.
- Groups may apply for one grant per 501(c)(3) registration.
- Grant applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday December 11, 2015. Grants will be awarded in February 2016.
- Facebook community grants are intended for nonprofit and certain public organizations such as public schools, public safety and other functions of public municipalities. We cannot fund for-profit companies through this program.
- Eligible organizations must have a Facebook page. This requirement does not extend to personal pages. To create a Facebook page for your organization prior to submitting your grant applications, please visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php
The funds allocated should be used during a specific time period and have demonstrable metrics that can be publicly reported. We will ask for a semi-annual report of how the funds are being used and their impact. 2015 grant recipients must file mid-cycle reports by October 30, 2015, in order to be eligible for the 2016 grant cycle.
The following types of organizations are not eligible for Facebook community grants:
- Organizations whose mission or activities include proselytizing on behalf of any religion.
- Organizations that make hiring choices based on race, gender, faith, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.
- Organizations that promote or support specific political ideologies, doctrines, candidates, or issues.
Since breaking ground on our first data center building in Altoona in the summer of 2013, we have found the City of Altoona to be a great place to live and work. The Altoona data center now has approximately 100 full-time employees, and about 350 construction workers are on the site daily as we continue work toward completion of buildings two and three.
Follow the Altoona Data Center Facebook page for updates on the 2016 Community Action Grant cycle. Should you have any questions, contact Melissa Wilder at mwilder@fb.com.
