PURPOSE

The KEYPOPPY Catholic Fund helps Catholic communities retrieve from their own heritage, and from the larger culture in which they subsist, those resources that are best able to bring their mission to bear on daily living. More specifically, the Catholic Fund seeks to enhance and expand Catholic communities by building or modifying community-based websites and online social networking tools with the intention of bolstering evangelization, improving day-to-day communication/operations, and bringing Catholics together through the Internet.

AWARDS

Scholarship awards are up to $5000 per applicant and are awarded monthly through a competitive selection process. Scholarships are awarded in the form of credit toward qualified KEYPOPPY web development or consulting services. Award values depend on the viability of the fund and the number of qualified applicants competing during any given month. Scholarship monies may not be used toward the “Starter” plan, monthly server and support fees, KEYPOPPY tangible goods (such as books, bibles, music, video, and so forth), products from Amazon.com, or any other products from KEYPOPPY affiliates or third-party venders.

ELIGIBILITY

Any non-profit 501(c)3 Catholic organization officially recognized as serving the Church in some capacity (for example, churches, professional organizations, schools, and so forth). Individuals and sole proprietors are NOT eligible for scholarships. Preference will be given to communities with economic hardships and those who demonstrate a commitment to using technology to promote their community. Previous awardees are not eligible for subsequent grants.

EXPECTATIONS

Awardees are expected to participate fully in the development process as prescribed in their web development or consulting services contract. Recipients must be prepared to submit pertinent community data, such as text, images, or other electronic files, related to the development of their web system or consulting services. All data must be submitted within the timeline prescribed in the development contract (typically within 90 days of signing). Recipients are expected to participate in interviews, surveys, or other promotional programs that promote the KEYPOPPY Catholic Fund. Scholarship winners and their new websites will be showcased on KEYPOPPY.COM.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE

Applications must be completed as prescribed on the KEYPOPPY scholarship application form. Click here to access the application. Applications and modifications to applications must be received no later than the fifteenth (15^th) day of each month in order to be considered for that month. All applicants will have an online account where they may monitor and edit their own profile and application. As long as an applicant has never received a KEYPOPPY scholarship, applicants may reapply by notifying KEYPOPPY of their intent to reapply and by making changes (if any) to their original online applications (available via their KEYPOPPY profile).

NOTIFICATION

Awardees will be notified of KEYPOPPY’s decision by the fifteenth (15^th) day of the month following the month of application.

REVIEW PROCESS

KEYPOPPY Catholic Fund scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. Applications will be peer reviewed by officers of KEYPOPPY and a select team of Catholic advisors. Applications will be evaluated based on the following:

1. Overall merits of the project.
2. Clarity, focus, and coherence of the project. 
3. How the proposed project advances the goals of the KEYPOPPY Catholic Fund. 
4. Likelihood of success in the time available. 
5. How the project would contribute to the recipient’s continued work in and contributions to the development of technology in the Catholic Church.