Thank you for participating in the Next 100 Years Challenge. This challenge is designed to inspire and attract specific plans for infrastructure improvements in the thirteen parishes of Southeast Louisiana that address the threat of storms and other natural or man-made disasters and have a high probability of earning substantial infrastructure dollars from the state, federal government and other funders.
To help prepare you to compete for other sources of funds, the following questions or prompts include adaptations of application requirements from programs administered or provided by the State of Louisiana and federal programs.
We encourage teams to take this opportunity to further understand the level of requirements and use this exercise to improve your chances of success to secure other funding, resources, and support.
We recommend reading all requirements for this application before you begin and encourage you to review the rules, resources, and scoring rubric that will be used to assess all valid applications.
Your entire application will be shared with others during the evaluation process. Portions of your applications may be published online and may be shared with the general public to promote your proposal or to highlight results. Those portions may include, but are not limited to: Lead Organization, Project Title, Project Statement, Executive Summary, Project Description, and Video Pitch.
Please contact us with questions or technical issues. The application saves automatically and the status of your application is available to view on your dashboard (you will not receive any automated emails). Applications must be submitted in English.
Prior to submission, confirm the information provided on the Registration Form is correct. Be sure to review your application as it will appear after it has been submitted (link at bottom of page). When you have completed all application requirements, a message will display on the screen with the option to submit your application. Once you have submitted the application, you will no longer be able to make changes.
You must submit your application no later than 5:00 PM CT on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Offer a brief and compelling overview of your project-based proposal.
Project Title (up to 10 words)
Provide a title for your project that easily identifies and distinguishes it from others.
Project Statement (up to 25 words)
Provide a short description of your project in one sentence.
Executive Summary (up to 75 words)
Provide a concise summary of the most powerful aspects of your project. This should be a stand-alone statement of the problem and the solution that the project represents.
You are required to submit a video that captures your project and describes why it should be funded. The video is an opportunity to showcase your passion and to pitch your story in a succinct format. We want you to share your vision in a way that is different from the written proposal. This DOES NOT need to be a professionally produced video – a video shot on a smartphone is acceptable.
In order to complete this part of your application, upload a short digital film using YouTube. Video submissions should follow these guidelines, or it will render the application ineligible:
Here are general suggestions for delivering a high-quality video pitch:
Explain the core capabilities, partners, and structure of the team working on this proposal. Should you receive funding, you must designate a Lead Organization with significant presence in Southeast Louisiana that will be responsible for taking accountability for award funds, as well as providing project direction, control, and supervision. Note: Government-nonprofit partnerships are required. Review the Rules for details. If your Lead Organization has changed since you registered, select Edit Registration Form from the Profile menu to update.
Core Capabilities (up to 150 words)
Describe your team’s skills, capacity, and experience to manage and deliver the proposed project. Focus on core capabilities of the government partner(s) most relevant to the project and that will be used to not only implement the proposed project, but also to strengthen future applications to other funding sources should you receive a $100,000 award. Explain how your team reflects the benefiting communities and is positioned to authentically understand the needs of disadvantaged, vulnerable populations. Include information on your capacity and experience with government contracting and procurement processes.
Partners
List the legal name of each partner on the proposed project, including government partners. If your team has more than five partners, you may identify them in other responses in this application. Note that at least one government partner is required, and engagement with local leaders who understand and represent the benefiting communities is strongly encouraged. If your team does not consist of two or more organizations, enter NOT APPLICABLE.
Team Structure (up to 150 words)
Describe who will manage and complete activities related to use of the $100,000 Next 100 Years Challenge award. Include the role of each partner to implement the proposed project and deliver results should your team receive full funding from state, federal, and other funding sources. Explain how the team will work together, including any reporting structures between the partners and Lead Organization.
Here is your opportunity to more fully explain the problem you intend to solve. Your definition of the problem must link directly to the need for infrastructure improvements (including green infrastructure) in the communities where you are proposing implementation of the full project. It is helpful to understand the larger challenges that those communities face, and your description should emphasize the need for building or improving fixed installations and/or physical components of the built environment in those communities.
Challenge Statement (up to 150 words)
Set the stage for your project by illustrating your understanding of the problems you are committed to solving. Describe the general needs your solution will address. It is critical that your explanation reflects a genuine and authentic understanding of local conditions and how the beneficiaries of your solution perceive the problem and opportunity.
The Next 100 Years Challenge seeks game-changing solutions that build strong and equitable communities in Southeast Louisiana through innovative physical infrastructure and hazard mitigation projects, including green infrastructure. Showcase your strategic approach and scope of work. Be sure to emphasize how your solution aligns with the four criteria used to assess each valid application (see scoring rubric).
Project Description (up to 250 words)
Provide a clear and detailed description of proposed project and planned activities. All projects must include a plan to minimize damage from future environmental hazards and natural disasters in one or more of the thirteen eligible parishes.
Describe the implementation of project activities and ways your project meaningfully contributes to solving challenges previously described. Summarize the project’s short- and long-term impact, benefits and outcomes (including, but not limited to, health, socioeconomic and other benefits), and who will benefit most from your solution. Include information on how funds from the Next 100 Years Challenge will help your team and its government partners to complete competitive applications for other funding, particularly state and federal funding.
Project Visual
Upload a single PDF that includes a visual representation of your proposal. This may include flowcharts, organizational charts, maps of the proposed project areas, diagrams, preliminary schematic or engineering drawings/design, hydrologic/hydraulic information, etc.
PDF cannot exceed 10MB and a total of five pages and should not contain additional text explanations or be used to circumvent word counts in this application. Brief labels or basic text descriptions are permitted. Pages beyond the five-page limit and any unrelated content will render the application ineligible.
Feasibility (up to 200 words)
Describe how the project is feasible and will be effective in reducing risk by limiting or eliminating damage to property or loss of life in the benefiting communities. You may include applicable building codes, engineering practices, best practices, and level of protection.
Barrier Assessment & Risk Mitigation (up to 200 words)
Describe any barriers to success, unintended consequences, and your plan to address those barriers. Discuss the experience and capacity of your team and government partners to manage risk.
Alignment (up to 200 words)
Explain how you’ll build upon and integrate within existing systems serving the most impacted and vulnerable areas and populations. Show your efforts to understand current local conditions and a future state that includes your projected benefits. Include how your project fits into parish plans and bolsters past and current efforts.
Long-term Operations (up to 200 words)
Detail the long-term maintenance and operations required after project completion, as well as how it will be funded and who will perform these activities. Often the government partner or owner of the area to be mitigated is responsible for maintenance, including long-term costs.
Alternatives (up to 100 words)
Explain your consideration of alternatives to address this hazard and why this proposed project is the best approach.
Acquisitions (up to 50 words)
Describe any acquisitions required for this project, including parcel number(s). If there are no acquisitions, enter NOT APPLICABLE.
Strong proposals will present nature-based, community-centered, and cost-effective projects that protect against, and reduce the risks from disasters and other hazards in vulnerable, disadvantaged communities throughout the region. Shine a light on the communities that will benefit from your solution.
Community Description (up to 200 words)
Describe beneficiaries of the project and where they live. Discuss how the project benefits the community and how the plan and data will be used to promote resiliency. Include any secondary or other populations who may engage with and benefit from the project.
Community Demographics
Select the communities your team aims to specifically and directly benefit through the project. You may select more than one.
Population Impacted (percent)
Enter the estimated percentage of the parish population that will be affected by your project once it is implemented.
Disadvantaged, Vulnerable Communities (up to 100 words)
Consistent with state and federal guidance, the Next 100 Years Challenge prioritizes projects that principally benefit disadvantaged, vulnerable populations, including historically disadvantaged communities, low- and moderate- income individuals (LMI) as described by the US Department of Transportation and areas with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) of greater than or equal to 0.6.
Describe how your team plans to meet these requirements. If available and applicable, include CDC SVI numbers and identify specific project boundaries (latitude and longitude). Additionally, describe any disproportionate and adverse effects of the proposed project on underserved, disadvantaged populations, and specific efforts to address adverse impacts.
Community & Stakeholder Engagement (up to 150 words)
We expect teams to be strategic about working with a range of stakeholders and to actively plan for and include the most marginalized or vulnerable residents in project design, planning, and ongoing work.
Exhibit your understanding of the community and key stakeholders, and share how your project design plans to engage and work with them throughout the process to authentically embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects, including persons with disabilities, religious or ethnic minorities, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ+, women, rural, urban, and other geographically-diverse populations, and low-to-moderate income (LMI) populations. Articulate any negative externalities or costs/burdens absorbed by stakeholders.
Government partners are encouraged to conduct or plan at least one (1) public meeting in the development of their proposal. Describe any public meetings already conducted or planned.
Location of Current or Relevant Work (up to 50 words)
List the location(s) where your proposed project has already been implemented. If your project has not yet been implemented at another site or region, then you may identify a project of similar type or scale, where your team may not have been responsible but where the similarities are significant. If there has been no other project of similar type or scale, enter NOT APPLICABLE.
Project Area
Select up to three parishes where you plan to implement your project if awarded full funding from state and federal sources. Name those parishes in order of priority with the first parish as your primary intended location. While you are required only to propose your project in at least one of the thirteen eligible parishes, you may offer additional locations where you plan to expand or scale your project in the region.
Demonstrate how your project will build a stronger, resilient, and more equitable Southeast Louisiana by reducing risk. Focus on providing measurable indicators of your future success.
Metrics & Results (up to 250 words)
Explain how the project addresses the impact of disasters. Identify the projected goals and objectives and describe your methodology for measuring overall performance of the proposed strategy, including the means through which you will track results or milestones to indicate success. Share how the project addresses the hazards identified and what risks will remain after project implementation (residual risk). Discuss how anticipated future conditions are addressed by this project. If appropriate, explain how you will tailor and adapt your project for scaling or amplifying impact.
Total Project Benefits (up to 50 words)
Provide a total dollar amount of projected benefits or value to the community. Some government funders require grantees to adopt an appropriate method of accounting for those ascribed financial benefits. If this is in progress or you plan to use the Next 100 Years Challenge award to calculate this, include a description of how you plan to arrive at the total dollar amount of projected benefits.
Evidence of Effectiveness (up to 150 words)
Provide evidence to show that the solution will work and share data or reasons why your results could be replicated or scaled. Present any internal (e.g., informal studies, observations, or other indicators of change) or formal academic evidence, including any results from complementary or previous work.
Bibliography (up to 150 words)
If you included citations [#s] in the Evidence of Effectiveness section, provide a bibliography with a corresponding bracketed number [#] for each citation. If you do not have citations, offer a list of resources that may be used to validate general claims made in your application. You may link to articles that may be accessed online. We do not enforce any particular format for this bibliography. It is your responsibility to make citations easy to understand. If not applicable, enter NOT APPLICABLE.
Communications (up to 150 words)
Briefly describe plans to promote your solution and share results, key findings, lessons learned, and other helpful information with others. Illustrate your commitment to collaborate with the Greater New Orleans Foundation even after the project period ends. If applicable, explain how your solution could serve as a model for other communities/populations throughout Southeast Louisiana and beyond.
Other Considerations (up to 100 words)
This is your final opportunity to raise any other considerations, including how your team will leverage Next 100 Years Challenge funding for further support. Here, you may emphasize or expand upon a previous point or provide new information, as necessary.
If awarded $100,000 from the Next 100 Years Challenge, funds will be used to refine and adapt your proposal to suit requirements of other funders, particularly state and federal governments. While some general questions related to your larger proposed project are specifically identified below, focus your responses to describe plans to use the $100,000 award to strengthen your overall proposal.
Technical Assistance (up to 200 words)
Specify your needs for technical assistance, staffing, resources, tools, and other support necessary to overcome roadblocks, barriers, and gaps that have historically inhibited progress.
Other Funding Requests
Select funding opportunities that are a fit for your proposed project. You may select more than one.
Funding Request Description (up to 150 words)
Briefly describe how your proposed project is a strong fit and effectively meets the requirements of each of the funding opportunities selected above.
Timeline & Milestones
Describe your expected timeline and milestones over a three-month period to strengthen the proposal and approach for your project and to best position it to secure additional funds, particularly state and federal funds. For each task, provide a brief description, start date, and end date. As part of your description, explain milestones you intend to achieve and any key activities critical to reaching those milestones to know if you are successful or on track to be successful.
Budget Narrative (up to 150 words)
Offer a general overview of how you will use the $100,000 award, including projected needs by category. You may include any explanations of existing resources you have already secured.
Budget
To help us understand your priorities, provide a detailed budget and specific line items for how the $100,000 award would be spent. Make sure that any funds identified in this table reflect and clarify your general explanations provided in the Budget Narrative above.
Total Preparation Costs (up to 50 words)
Share and explain the total cost to strengthen your proposal and strategic approach to secure additional funds, particularly state and federal funds. This can include costs beyond the total $100,000 award from the Next 100 Years Challenge. If you do not need more than $100,000 to strengthen your proposal, insert NOT APPLICABLE.
Total Project Costs (up to 100 words)
Share and briefly explain the total estimated cost for which you will be seeking additional funds, particularly state and federal funds, to implement your proposed project in its entirety. If your team has secured some funding to implement the proposed project, include the amount received and how the funds were used.
Cost Share & Other Resources (up to 150 words)
Some applications for government funding will require projects to be fully funded in order to be eligible and a non-federal cost share at generally 75% federal / 25% non-federal (where 25% of the project budget must be paid for by non-federal funds).
Confirm acknowledgement of these requirements and that you have plans to secure the necessary partners and resources to fully fund the project and account for the 25% cost share. Include the estimated dollar amount of total project costs not currently planned to be paid by federal funds and identify the partners and other resources you have confirmed or plan to secure to meet these requirements. If not applicable, enter NOT APPLICABLE.
Cost-Effectiveness
Applications for government funding will require an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of your project. Select the primary method you plan to use to determine cost-effectiveness for your proposed project.
Provide additional information about the Lead Organization.
Lead Organization Identification Number
Provide Federal tax ID number. If this is in progress, insert PENDING APPROVAL.
Number of Full-time Employees
Enter the number of full-time employees employed by the Lead Organization.
Number of Part-time Employees
Enter the number of part-time employees employed by the Lead Organization.
Number of Volunteers
Enter the number of volunteers engaged by the Lead Organization in the past year.
Lobbying Activities (up to 50 words)
Explain how the project may involve any lobbying activities and if the project can be accomplished without lobbying. NOTE: No federal funds may be used to pay any person or organization for influencing or attempting to influence an officer of any agency, a member of Congress, officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with obtaining any Federal contract, grant or any other award covered by 31 U.S.C. 1352. Workforce partnerships shall disclose any lobbying with non-Federal funds that takes place in connection with obtaining any Federal award. If your project does not involve any lobbying activities, enter NOT APPLICABLE.
If your team is invited to participate in any future phases of this competition or plans to apply to other funders, you may be required to provide additional information, including but not limited to:
The Next 100 Years Challenge Team reserves the right to perform background checks on key individuals associated with the project, and the refusal by the key individuals to provide necessary authorizations will give reason to reject any application for further consideration. Background information and the results of any background checks will be kept confidential.
