Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works

New applications are no longer being accepted. Check this page for updates about this initiative.

Focus:

Community Engagement, Digital, Education, Veterans

Eligibility:

Open to CSG-qualified TV and Radio Stations.

Deadline:

March 2, 2018

Related Documents:

Request for Grant Proposals

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is seeking proposals from public media stations to participate in phase three of Veterans Coming Home™, a digital-first content and engagement project that is helping address and identify successful examples of veterans “Finding What Works” as they transition to civilian life. Priority will be given to stations serving areas with a high veteran population and rural communities where challenges persist. To be eligible for funding, stations must currently receive a CPB Community Service Grant and be in good standing.

CPB expects to fund up to 12 public media stations at $25,000 per grant. Selected station grantees will be required to produce a minimum of three digital-content pieces in collaboration with the national series and engagement producer, The Kindling Group, and lead station, Wisconsin Public Broadcasting for distribution across their varied media platforms. In addition, stations will convene local organizations, leaders, and engaged citizens to increase dialogue around “what works” for post 9/11 veterans’ reintegration.

The Kindling Group will provide management and executive production oversight of the national digital series “Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works.” Kindling Group will also manage a public engagement and social media campaign, and the Veterans Coming Home website. Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) will act as Lead Station in organizing and coordinating efforts for Veterans Coming Home by providing support to participating stations through webinars and consultations, and by contributing to local content and community engagement activities as part of the national project. Station grantees will serve as co-producers and co-curators of “Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works.” Station produced content will be used locally and will be considered by Kindling Group for part of the national series and social media campaign.

Video distribution strategy and timelines will be coordinated across station grantees, in partnership with Kindling Group, to achieve maximum reach and engagement around Veterans Day 2018.

Please download the Request for Grant Proposals below for detailed information, including application requirements.
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PDF icon Request for Grant Proposals167.05 KB

Questions from Potential Respondents, with CPB Answers:

FAQ Topic: 
General
FAQ: 

Can stations provide in-kind contributions to this work?

Station budgets can reflect in-kind contributions to this work. The CPB portion of the budget will be for $25,000.

Are food/drinks (non-alcoholic) considered an allowable expense if we are proposing a community service event with volunteers?

Yes, food/drink are allowable expenses related to community events.

Our station has a fiscal agency agreement with the state Community Foundation. May I submit for this grant through the Community Foundation, on behalf of our station? Or would that render us ineleigible to apply for this grant?

You may submit your grant application through your state Community Foundation, making it clear that this grant application is on behalf of your station.

Please provide more information about convening in-person meetings?

We require that grantees host a gathering of people in their community for an event focused on the content produced. The event should occur on or near Veterans Day.

Can you provide any guidance on story ideas?

The Communications Act prohibits CPB from making editorial decisions. Submissions must be consistent with the requirements set forth in the RFP and will be evaluated on the criteria therein.

Please clarify what is meant by “solutions-based, data-based storytelling”.

The stories must focus on “what works” and highlight innovative approaches that communities are employing to address these challenges. More information on solutions-based journalism can be found here: https://solutionsjournalism.org.

Will grantees be able to distribute content on our radio stream?

Yes, you will be able to air any content that you produce on your own distribution channels – audio and/or video. Kindling Group will consult with grantees on when and how content is released.

Are radio stations eligible to participate?

Yes, any public television and radio station that receives a Community Service Grant (CSG) from CPB, and is in good standing, is eligible to apply.

Will grantees be able to access each other’s material?

Although not required, grantees may use Wavelength from WNET to share their content. You may access it at: http://wavelengthpublicmedia.org. Wavelength will host one-on-one training sessions with new users upon request.

When will the content air on digital platforms? How will Kindling Group distribute content?

We anticipate rolling out the digital content on social media platforms in late September and prior to that, short teaser pieces.

Will there be a common graphics package available that can provide visual continuity for all accepted projects?

Yes - Kindling Group will provide grantees with a Production Bible that includes graphics, logos, and other branding elements.

Are there specifications about the quality of video equipment needed to participate?

All video/sound should be captured on professional-grade equipment. Kindling Group will provide the projects we fund with technical specifications outlined in the “Production Bible”.

In the webinar, Kindling Group mentioned long-form documentary style content. For clarification, what is a grantee required to produce?

The 3 digital pieces should be 3-5 minutes in length. The primary distribution pathway for this content is digital with the potential that content may be packaged for broadcast distribution later.

Can grantees create additional content collected during this project for local distribution with material not included in the national project?

Yes, however, the project requires that each grantee produce a minimum of three digital content pieces. Anything beyond these pieces is at the grantee’s discretion, timeline and budget.

Does the grantee or Kindling Group have final editorial control on the content?

The grantee retains editorial control.

Do grantee production teams provide Kindling Group with the content, and is the content then edited or further produced by Kindling Group?

Grantees are responsible for all production and editing. Grantees will collaborate with Kindling Group on story ideas.

Will grantee production teams be responsible for creating the digital shorts?

Yes. Grantees are required to produce a minimum of three digital pieces.

Can I view a recording of the Veterans Coming Home RFP Informational Webinar?

The webinar can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/256005398/949e71229c

The RFP refers to veterans post-9/11. Should the profiled veterans be connected to 9/11 in some way?

The focus of this grant is contemporary veterans who have served after 9/11 and have successful stories about “what works” for them, specifically around employment. The term “post 9/11 veteran” is the term used to define U.S. service men and women who have served since 9/11. It is a common term used within the VA, veteran service organizations, veteran educational benefits (post 9/11 G.I. Bill) and veterans as they identify their time of service among their peers.

The RFP indicates that stations should produce 3 pieces of digital-first content. Is there an ideal length for that content?

One of the three pieces of content should be between 3-5 minutes in length; the other two can be shorter/sharable content (short clips/motion graphics etc.)

Does the project incorporate audio-only content, or is this strictly a video-driven project?

The project may be either audio or video content.