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Thank you for your interest in Indiana Solar for All. Applications for grants will be accepted online from May 16 to June 30, 2023. We hope to complete our selection of grant recipients by the end of August. Successful candidates will receive training in time to participate in the Fall installations.

Process for New Applicants: 

  1. Apply online.  Please review qualification requirements first to see how eligibility is defined.
  2. Interview/site visit.  As semifinalists are identified, ISFA and SIREN volunteers will arrange to meet applicants in their homes to collect additional information, review the process, and conduct a preliminary solar site assessment.  If you receive a site visit request, please provide your electric bill to the volunteer. Those requesting a grant for solar equipment or other expenses must provide a copy of their most recent 1040 tax return.
  3. Orientation meeting.  Qualified candidates will be invited to a mandatory meeting to learn about details of the program.  Following the Orientation meeting, those who can commit to the program’s expectations (see below) will be asked to indicate their availability for installations and preferences for volunteer roles.
  4. Cohort assignment.  SFA assigns each household to a cohort for installation (the current Fall and the following Spring).
  5. Commitment Contract.  Candidates sign Commitment Contract. See what it involves in the Volunteer Commitment section below.
  6. Fulfill obligations.  Households fulfill all obligations as specified in the Commitment Contract in the weeks before, during, and after their scheduled installation time.

Expectations for Participating Households:

Participation in ISFA requires a significant commitment of time, energy, and skills.  This is because:

  1. The addition of a solar array to your home is a significant benefit.  It adds value to your home, and saves you money on your electric bills.  Our expectations of  “sweat equity”  provide an opportunity for recipients to give back to the program in line with the benefits received.
  2. Our aim is to keep our program as self-sustaining as possible, so we ask all participants to contribute their skills and experience to help it continue.  Participants help sustain the organization by running it, through such roles as Volunteer Coordinator, Project Manager, Fundraising Lead, Media Coordinator, etc., and by recruiting others to join.  As the saying goes, many hands make light work.
  3. Our vision is to enable access to solar for ALL, so we rely on our participants to help grow our program through fundraising, volunteer recruitment, program development, and raising awareness.

Volunteer Commitment 

Grant recipients commit to personally contributing 80 hours of sweat-equity to the program or recruiting friends to help them reach that level. This commitment can be satisfied in various ways but in screening applications, we give priority to those who have relevant construction or electrical skills and want to work on the installation crews. For those persons, every attempt will be made to structure the time as follows:

  • On-the-job training: work on up to 3 installations prior to your cohort of installations;
  • Participate in your installation and at least 2 others in your cohort; lead a crew if appropriate;
  • Current cohorts will mentor/teach the next cohorts on the skills/tasks they have facilitated.

We recognize that not everyone can get up on a roof. There are other roles that must be filled, including:

  • Contribute food for installation crews, especially during the installation seasons BEFORE, DURING and AFTER your own installation takes place
  • Commit to at least one Organizational role (fundraising, publicity, food coordinator, volunteer coordinator, project manager, etc.)

Program Participation

  • Participate online via Google Docs, Google Groups, and Google Calendar to communicate, share documents, and keep track of important dates.  Google training will be provided as needed.
  • Attend all SFA meetings during your “active” period (training season plus installation season).
  • Remain on list of  “back-up” volunteers in case help is needed on an occasional basis in the future.
  • Covid 19 has changed the way we do trainings, meetings, fundraisers, and events.  We will continue to communicate with everyone and figure out the best ways for us all to do in person and social gatherings.

Organization-building

  • Share your personal story for publication on our website, print media, social media, podcasts, etc.  Consent to use of photographs and video for promotional purposes.
  • Participate in at least one Orientation meeting for new participants besides your own.
  • Serve as a mentor for a household receiving panels in the next cohort.
  • Promote SFA on social media by following, inviting friends to follow, sharing/liking posts, sharing fundraising and other events.
  • (Optional) Attend future SFA events (orientations, fundraisers, etc.).
  • (Optional but strongly encouraged) Attend future annual SFA potlucks with other past, present, and future SFA households.
  • (Optional but much appreciated) Remain on list of  “back-up” food providers in case of shortages in future installations.