Submission Guidelines

2017 This Place Matters Competition

Submission Guidelines

THIS PLACE MATTERS

Saving places and increasing pride – one community at a time.   

OVERVIEW

The goal of the 2017 THIS PLACE MATTERS crowdfunding competition is to bring communities, partners and young people together to renew and improve the vitality of their historic places.

Since launching in spring 2015, sixty-four communities have won or crowdfunded over $725,000 through THIS PLACE MATTERS. From this process, communities have also benefited from fundraising, social media and storytelling training and resources from the National Trust. Crowdfunding is a fun and exciting way to raise money, reach new audiences and raise awareness for great historic places.

The 2017 THIS PLACE MATTERS COMPETITION 

During the 2017 THIS PLACE MATTERS competition, communities compete for cash prizes and votes, while raising funds for their historic places. The 2017 THIS PLACE MATTERS competition launches on June 15, 2017 at 12PM ET and ends on July 17, 2017 at 12PM ET.

A national Grand Prize of $60,000 will be awarded, as well as four first place Regional Prizes of $30,000 each, and four second place regional prizes of $15,000 each. In addition there will be a special Community Builder $10,000 prize (the project that obtains the highest number of individual votes cast, irrespective of votes earned through donations*).

There will be three regions: West (British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba), Central Canada (Ontario & Quebec), and East (Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia & New Brunswick).

PROJECT GROUP & PROJECT PARTNER ELIGIBILITY:

  1. Projects must be submitted by a Lead Project Group that is a not-for–profit organization, registered charity or First Nations government.
  2. The Lead Project Group must own the historic place or have a written agreement in place with the owner or appropriate governing body, giving the Lead Project Group the responsibility and authority to carry out the proposed project.
  3. Lead Project Groups must have at least one Project Partner that will take on a defined role during the THIS PLACE MATTERS competition or during the implementation of the project. Project Partners can be any of the organizations eligible as Lead Project Groups as well as downtown business improvement organizations and municipal governments.

Please note that Lead Project Groups must provide a letter of support from the Project Partner confirming their involvement in and endorsement of the project as part of the application process.

PROJECT IDEA ELIGIBILITY:

  1. The following types of project ideas are eligible:
    1. Projects that will protect, restore or adapt a historic place.
    2. Projects that will connect the community and visitors to the history, heritage and cultural diversity of a historic place, through new visitor experience tools or amenities.

A “historic place” is any place with local cultural or historical value to the community.  Formal heritage designation is not a requirement for THIS PLACE MATTERS.

  1. Projects that involve protecting, restoring or adapting a historic place will be expected to respect heritage character. Please refer to the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.
  1. Projects such as apps and visitor amenities will only be eligible for THIS PLACE MATTERS if the project gives priority to essential work required to secure the health and preservation of the historic places. (For example, if the roof is failing, the Project Group should focus attention there).
  1. Projects must take place in Canada.
  1. Project Groups must be in a position to demonstrate progress on the project within six months following announcement of prize winnings by the National Trust, and projects must completed by December 31, 2018 .

SELECTION OF COMPETITION PROJECTS:

Submissions to the THIS PLACE MATTERS competition will be assessed using the following criteria:

  1. The Lead Project Group’s capacity to crowdfund (e.g. demonstrated experience, or a credible plan to develop, social media presence, networks and enthusiasm).
  2. The Lead Project Group’s capacity to implement the project (e.g. track record, team skills, partners).
  3. Meaningful engagement of young people in the crowdfunding campaign and/or in the implementation of the Project Idea.
  4. The Project Idea’s potential social, economic, or cultural benefit for the community.
  5. The Project Idea’s protection and promotion of the place’s heritage values.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  • All Project Ideas must be submitted by May 18, 2017 no later than 5:00 PM ET.
  • Project Ideas will be selected to participate in the competition based on their eligibility and the evaluation of their submission using the criteria noted above. The National Trust reserves the right to decline Project Ideas and Project Groups based this assessment.
  • No more than 40 Project Ideas will move forward to the 2017 THIS PLACE MATTERS Competition – a maximum of 10 per region.
  • The Project Groups admitted to compete in THIS PLACE MATTERS 2017 will be informed on June 1, 2017, and will be announced publicly on June 15, 2017.

After Project Groups have been notified, and before the competition launch: 

  • The National Trust will host a webinar for competing Project Groups to provide competition advice and crowdfunding tips, and to answer any questions about the competition process.
  • The National Trust will match a youth volunteer to each Project Group to help with social media and the implementation of the project’s communications strategy.
  • The Project Group will have the opportunity to update their project page on thisplacematters.ca and add additional text, photos and video.

 

KEY ASPECTS OF THE COMPETITION:

  • The competition launches on June 15, 2017 at 12PM ET. At that time individuals will be able to vote and donate for their favourite projects.
  • Every dollar donated to a project will count as one additional vote for that project.
  • The competition (both voting and donating) ends on July 17, 2017 at 12PM ET.
  • National and Regional Prizes will be awarded to Project Ideas that obtain the highest numbers of total combined votes (the sum of individual votes plus votes earned through donations)
  • Winning Project groups will be expected to sign a Project Agreement establishing the project reporting requirements and prize payout schedule, before funds are released.
  • Prize winnings will be paid out in the following manner: 50% of the total value will be transferred to the winning project groups upon execution of the Project Agreement. The remaining 50% will be transferred according to the payout schedule specified in the Project Agreement.

 

See the Rules & Regulations for more information.

For information contact

Julie Normandeau
Email: jnormandeau@nationaltrustcanada.ca

Telephone: (613) 237-1066 ext. 234
Toll free inside Canada: 1-866-964-1066 ext. 234
Fax: (613) 237-5987