The ICMA Center for Management Strategies leading practice provider, The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, is involved in two grant programs in which local governments in California that are interested in civic engagement should have an interest!  Take a look at the grant programs below  to see if they can help your local government in its engagement efforts.

Davenport Institute Public Engagement Grant Program

The Davenport Institute for  Public Engagement and Civic Leadership is now accepting applications for our sixth annual Public Engagement Grant Program.     This grant program is geared to communities that have a specific policy decisioni n mind on which they would like to enage residents.  The application deadline is Friday, September 12 and decisions will be announced by October 1.

The Davenport Institute's Public Engagement Grants are service grants, funding well-qualified consultants selected jointly by grantees and the Institute to work with grantees on facilitated public forums. 

This year the Davenport Institute will be awarding 2-4 grants, offering up to $10,000 per grant to be paid directly by the Institute to an approved consultant.  The total amount of grant awards for 2014 will be around $25,000 in funded consulting services. 

Prior to beginning their public engagement campaign, grantees will receive training and consultation from the Davenport Institute to build understanding and support for the civic engagement effort among administrative and elected officials. 

Davenport senior staff and consultants will then work with grantees to design public forum sessions and will facilitate deliberations among residents, stakeholders, and government representatives. 

For more information on this grant program, visit  http://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/davenport-institute/grants/

Village Square Grant Program

Is your community impacted by a contentious decision? Has your community been split along ideological lines? Are there factions in your community that have had problems finding common ground?

The Village Square is a nationally-recognized organization that has worked in such environments, and the Davenport Institute is excited to announce a Village Square Grant Program that will bring their consulting services to your city. The application deadline is Friday, October 17 and decisions will be announced by December 1.   For more information on this grant program, visit  http://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/davenport-institute/village-square-grant/

The Center for Management Strategies is proud to be a partner of the Davenport Institute in delivering quality citizen engagement and public participation programs to local governments.  For more information on how our partnership can assist your efforts, visit www.icma.org/strategies  or email us at managementstrategies@icma.org