2023 Spread Good Energy Hometown Grants Official Rules
Eligibility:
Nonprofit agencies designated as 501c3, located within the Evergy service area are eligible, and the projects must take place within Evergy service area to be eligible for funding.
Start/End Dates:
Grant applications will be taken beginning at 9 a.m. (CST) on Feb. 14, 2023. The submission period ends at 5 p.m. (CST) on March 2, 2023. The Top 10 finalists will be notified on or before March 7, 2023. Public voting will take place beginning at 9 a.m. (CST) on March 10, 2023, and end at 5 p.m. (CST) on March 24, 2023. Winning projects will be announced on March 28, 2023.
Program Rules:
- A completed application must be submitted at evergy.com/hometown-grant for each potential project/nomination.
- Each submission must have a contact person who will be responsible for oversight of the project. This person must be 18 years or older.
- Evergy employees are allowed to be affiliated with organizations that apply for funding, however the application needs to be completed by another entity besides the Evergy employee.
- Organizations that receive regular funding from Evergy are eligible to apply.
- Organizations that receive funding from this program are eligible to apply for grants in the future, however there is no guarantee of future funding.
- Applicants are responsible for any preapprovals, permits, permissions needed for projects submitted for grant opportunities. Evergy is not responsible for any aspect of the project and any delay, omission, or denial of these items may result in forfeiture of the grant.
- Winning applicants must agree to a volunteer event day/session with Evergy employees between April 14, 2023, and April 30, 2023. Failure to execute and host the volunteering event may result in forfeiture of the grant.
- By submitting a project, applicant agrees to provide status updates on the project as well as provide photos and/or videos of the project as it progresses, if it is approved. Applicant also grants Evergy the opportunity to talk about the project on social media, with media outlets, on evergy.com and other channels.
- Applicant grants Evergy an unlimited license to use all photos for marketing, publicity, and advertising purposes without any compensation.
- Entries must be entered by 5:00 p.m. on March 2, 2023. The winning projects will be announced on March 28, 2023.
- Evergy must be mentioned in any communications or promotional materials that you create about the project.
- Grant funds must be used for the specific purpose of the program/project.
- Changes in the project or program must have prior approval before grant funds are spent.
Judging Criteria
Evergy’s Spread Good Energy Hometown Grants Program (the “Grant Program”) Committee will review all submissions to pick the top 10 finalists. The Top 10 finalists will then move to the Public Voting Round. The decisions of the committee on all matters relating to the program are final and not open to review. All entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
- Agency Alignment with Evergy Community Impact Focus areas of Community Vitality and Environmental Leadership
- Feasibility of project implementation
- Ability to conduct an Evergy employee volunteer event with the organization in connection with the project to be done between April 14-30, 2023
- Number of people and communities impacted
- Project location
- Total cost of project
- Agency/entity stability
- Creativity
Public Voting Round and Winner Selection
The Top 10 finalists will compete for votes by the general public during a Public Voting Round beginning at 9 a.m. (CST) on March 10, 2023 and ending at 5 p.m. (CST) on March 24, 2023. The top 4 projects with the most votes will be declared the winners.
How to Vote
Once the Top 10 finalists have been selected by the Committee, a public voting session will take place beginning at 9 a.m. (CST) on March 10, 2023, and end at 5 p.m. (CST) on March 24, 2023. During the voting period, a Voter must visit Evergy’s Facebook page and follow the Hometown Grants Facebook post instructions to vote.
Winner Selection
The top 4 agency projects with the most “likes” on the designated Hometown Grants Facebook post at 5 p.m. (CST) on March 24, 2023, will each be declared winners. (This includes all Facebook “Like” reactions.) Evergy will not provide audits of the voting.
Grant & Payment Descriptions:
- Grants will be up to $10,000 depending on the cost of the project and the committee’s judgment.
- Depending on the award, Evergy reserves the right to pay either in full or make periodic payments.
- In addition to the Grant, Evergy will work with the organization to develop a volunteer day for Evergy employee volunteers to help with the project.
Project Approval Notification
- The winning projects will be announced on as indicated previously.
- If selected as a Top 10 finalist or a winner you will have two business days to accept your award before we move on to the next applicant.
- Be sure to provide an email address and phone number that is monitored on a regular basis.
General Conditions
Awarded grants are not transferrable to a non-winning person or entity. Entry in the Grant Program constitutes the winner's (1) permission for Evergy to collect and use any information submitted and (2) permission for the use of the agencies name, logo for advertising and promotional purposes for this and similar promotions without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. Federal, state and local taxes and other fees that may be associated with the receipt of the grant are the sole responsibility of the winner. By participating, entrants agree (1) to be bound by and comply with these Official Rules, and (2) that all decisions of the Grant Program Committee and of Evergy with regard to the Grant Program are final and binding in all respects.
Limitation of Liability
By submitting a grant application, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Evergy and their employees and directors from any liability, damages or claims arising from (1) the awarding, acceptance, receipt, possession, use and/or misuse of any grant awarded herein; and/or (2) participation in the Grant Program. Under no circumstances will entrants be permitted to obtain grants for, and entrants hereby waive all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, and entrants further waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. Evergy is not responsible for printing or typographical errors in any Grant Program related materials; for stolen, lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, or illegible entries.
Administrative Conditions
Evergy reserves the right to interpret, apply, amend, supplement or revoke, retroactively or otherwise, these Official Rules at any time. Evergy may suspend or terminate the Grant Program at any time.
Evergy also reserves the right to determine whether an organization qualifies for a grant and not to provide a grant to any organization that it may determine in its sole discretion is not an appropriate recipient for charitable funds and/or that violates these guidelines.
Evergy reserves the right to grant or deny an organization's participation at any time, for any reason. Decisions of Evergy regarding the interpretation and administration of these guidelines and the eligibility of organizations are final and are not subject to further review.
Choice of Law
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants and Evergy in connection with the Grant Program, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of Missouri, without regard to conflict of law principles. EACH PARTY WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN ANY COURT ACTION ARISING BETWEEN AN ENTRANT AND EVERGY, WHETHER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE RELATED TO THE GRANT PROGRAM, AND WHETHER MADE BY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM, THIRD PARTY CLAIM OR OTHERWISE
Send all comments and questions to hometowngrant@evergy.com.
