VPIS COMMUNITY GRANTS

Community Improvement & Preservation Grants Awarded by the
Village Preservation and Improvement Society Falls Church, Virginia

First founded in 1885, the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) is an active non-profit citizen volunteer organization in the City of Falls Church, Virginia.  The Society continues to be comprised of concerned citizens who address many important issues that face our community. As our Statement of Purpose indicates, the Society works to preserve our natural and built environment, historic structures and landmarks, and promotes cultural activities.  More information on VPIS and our activities can be found at our website:  http://www.vpis.org/.

Occasionally, VPIS makes grant funding available for projects and activities that are consistent with the VPIS mission,  as stated in the VPIS Bylaws:

1.      To preserve the historic and predominantly single family residential character of the City of Falls Church. 

2.      To preserve the historic structures and landmarks of Falls Church. 

3.      To promote community appreciation of this historic significance and to encourage construction and renovation of residences and commercial buildings in architectural harmony with this background, in order to give Falls Church a unique and distinctive style.

4.      To encourage the planned and continuous beautification of the community in its public, residential, commercial and industrial areas through appropriate planting, preservation and maintenance of trees, shrubbery and flowers. 

5.      To promote the development of aesthetic values and cultural activities which will contribute to making Falls Church an interesting, unique, and stimulating community in which to live. 

6.      To work with governmental bodies and community groups to encourage them in measures conducive to the fulfillment of the above purposes.

VPIS has also adopted supporting policies over the years (e.g. Affordable Housing Policy) and will consider requests that support these policies.  In addition to supporting projects that will be implemented within the City of Falls Church, VPIS will consider projects implemented in surrounding jurisdictions having a direct impact on the City, or projects located in other communities within the U.S. or abroad with which the City has entered into non-profit partnerships (e.g., a sister city).  

When we receive a request for funding we will evaluate it on the following basis.  Please submit your proposal in this format: 

      Proposed project consistency with the above purpose:  Clarify the purpose of the proposed project and explain how it will support and fulfill one or more VPIS aims as defined above.  The geographic area in which grant-funded activities will be carried out should be clearly defined as well.  Please explain this in 2  5 paragraphs.  

      Demonstration of proposed project need:  Provide evidence of the need for the project, explain how VPIS funding is uniquely needed to meet this need, and explain how the impact of funded activities will be measured and reported.  Please explain this in 3  6 paragraphs.

      Clarity of proposed project workplan:  In tabular or bullet format, provide a project workplan that shows the specific activities that will be undertaken and completed on a monthly basis for the life of the grant.

      Adequacy of proposed project budget:  Provide a line item explanation of how anticipated funding will be expended along with any needed justification of amounts and/or explanation of expenditures.  

These criteria will be rated individually by the following scale.

Criterion Review Scoring
Explanation of criterion as presented in application is non-responsive or inconsistent with grant program       0 - 5 points
Explanation is insufficient as presented and further clarification is needed      6 - 10 points
Explanation is sufficient and adequate as presented      11 - 15 points
Explanation is outstanding and no further information is needed      16 - 20 points

Should you have any additional questions, please contact Karl Ensign, Vice President at (703) 532-6942 KarlEnsign@msn.com. 


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Should you have any additional questions, please contact Karl Ensign, Vice President at karlensign@msn.com or (703) 532-6942.