Application Parameters
1. The VRMA Advocacy fund provides financial assistance to support state, local and regional VRMA-affiliated coalitions or organizations to successfully deal with a legislative, regulatory, or ballot issue which could set a national precedent and requires financial support from VRMA to succeed. The Fund seeks to help a variety of groups and coalitions, especially those facing a new issue or who have just created a group, in order to get them started on larger and more robust advocacy efforts.
The most important criteria which the committee will evaluate includes:
• Winnability and potential positive outcomes
• Potential to set an important precedent
• Other funds raised
• Specific and detailed plans for the funding
• Existing advocacy work and/or a strategy to continue the work into the future
• Amount of VRMA members in the local coalition
• Data and background provided in the application
2. The maximum VRMA Advocacy Fund financial assistance for the normal Collaborative Committee application process shall not exceed $20,000 unless the committee passes a motion to increase the amount awarded.
Outside of the normal application windows for the Collaborative Committee, if a local organization faces an urgent issue which requires support, they can utilize the VRMA Advocacy Fund Opportunity Fund by notifying staff and completing the same application. The maximum financial assistance is $10,000 and all the below parameters and conditions apply.
3. The committee will only award funding to the same group and/or issue on a case by case basis in rare circumstances.
4. The appropriate state, local or regional affiliated coalition affected by the issue must make the request for funding, submitted in writing via the application, and accompanied by any relevant documentation.
5. Applicants can only use VRMA Advocacy Fund grants for specific, budgeted items outlined in their application. Requests should also have a professional, accurate estimate or price from a vendor or company.
Acceptable budget items should directly relate to achieving success on the issue, such as:
• Studies
• Reports
• Polling
• Research data
• Draft/model legislation
• Public relations (PR) campaign and materials including mailers, text, advertising, media production, etc
• Consultants tasked with a specific function such as developing PR campaign materials
• Seed funding for a multi-year, sustained lobbyist.
- Applicants will need to show additional funding to support the lobbyist beyond the scope of the grant
The funds may not be used for:
• Staff salaries
• General operating expenses
• Other overhead costs by the organization
• Litigation or lawsuits
• Campaigns by individual political candidates
• Issues which VRMA has already awarded funds for
• Membership drives
6. VRMA members in good standing must make up a majority of the applying coalition to apply for a grant from the Advocacy Fund. Applications should come from an organized short-term vacation rental (STVR) alliance and not from a singular member.
7. The coalition’s position on an issue cannot conflict with any VRMA Policies.
8. The Collaborative Committee reviews applications who will then submit their recommendations to the VRMA Executive Committee to vote on and approve final funding.
Award Conditions
9. Upon notification of VRMA award, the coalition will need to sign VRMA’s Memorandum of Understanding within thirty days (provided by staff). Once the MOU is signed, the funds must be used within one year of the signing date. The MOU details the conditions of the award, outlined below.
10. The VRMA affiliated coalition receiving financial assistance under these guidelines shall, until the issue is finalized, provide VRMA with a minimum of two (2) written updates per calendar year on how the funds are being utilized, other VRMA resources the coalition has used, and how other affiliated coalitions facing similar issues can replicate their efforts. If the coalition has ongoing calls or remote meetings, they should add VRMA staff onto those calls to both ensure compliance with parameters of the award and receive additional advice to help their efforts.
11. The VRMA affiliated coalition receiving funds shall provide VRMA the opportunity to be recognized as a Partner. The coalition must provide VRMA with copies of any collateral materials developed as part of their overall campaign so VRMA can make them available to other affiliated coalitions facing similar issues/situations. The materials will be property of VRMA.
12. Recipient shall spend the Grant within a period of one calendar year commencing at the date of their signed MOU. If there are funds remaining after one calendar year, they will be automatically relinquished back to the VRMA Advocacy Fund.
13. Any press release or other public announcement of the grant by the recipient shall be submitted to, and approved by, VRMA in advance.
14. Unless otherwise noted in writing and approved by the VRMA Executive Committee, funding will be distributed directly to the consulting, lobbying or other appropriate vendors and not to the affiliated coalition’s operating bank account.
15. The applying affiliated coalition is solely responsible for any and all reporting requirements, which may apply as a result of receiving monies from the VRMA Advocacy Fund for taxation and political/lobbying or state ethics purposes.
16. If the applicant makes substantive changes to the initial application after approval by the Collaborative Committee, staff reserves the right to determine whether the request must go back to the Collaborative Committee for reapproval.
For more information, please watch the latest VRMA Advocacy Town Hall webinar and download the informational slides.