He urged us to take charge of our own public lives, as the only way we can all be secure and free. There is no alternative in America. As hard as it sometimes seems, we only survive if we participate. It starts in local communities, where people tend to involve themselves because private and public concerns are so intimately related around needs in schools, housing, jobs, law enforcement and health and welfare. When we do that, we win not only the victories of better schools and neighborhoods more secure against crime, but also confidence and self respect, handling our own affairs, becoming part of the American democratic system.
Foundations are in a unique position to show their usefulness as an American institution.
Many prosperous communities already have the funds and other resources necessary to help make participation happen. But other communities of poor and working class people don't have such resources. Foundation grants become an essential enabling contribution. Evaluation Criteria Four criteria have been especially useful in evaluating community organization applications. Many of the answers should be either in the application itself or in a follow-up letter you can ask for.