2017 Inspire Mountain View Community Challenge
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. NO ENTRY FEE.
These are the Official Rules (“Official Rules”) that govern an applicant’s participation in the
Inspire Mountain View Challenge (the “Contest). BY PARTICIPATING IN THE CONTEST, THE
APPLICANT BECOMES A PARTICIPANT AND AGREES TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES SO IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THE APPLICANT READS AND UNDERSTANDS THEM PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING
IN THE CONTEST. IN ADDITION, THE APPLICANT UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT THE
APPLICANT’S APPLICATION AND THE PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM THE
APPLICANT ARE GOVERNED BY THE LOS ALTOS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PRIVACY POLICY,
AVAILABLE AT www.losaltoscf.org.
1. Contest Description
The Contest is a grant contest for three grants, one at $25,000, one at $50,000, and one for
$100,000 to address issues and/or improve the quality of life in Mountain View, California. The
Contest is managed by Los Altos Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization,
headquartered at 183 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022 (“LACF”). Judging will be done by a
panel of Mountain View community members and through voting by the public. In order to
participate in the Contest, applicants must submit ideas, concepts, images, designs, and/or
other materials and information, as described in detail below (collectively, the “Application”), to
Los Altos Community Foundation in accordance with the terms and conditions specified herein
(such applicants become “Participants”).
The object of this Contest is to select Mountain View, California based projects. These projects
can address a particular issue or improve the quality of life in the community of Mountain View.
The contest will have three levels of grants awards, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000. Applicants
specify the level of grant they are seeking when applying.
All eligible Applications received will be judged using the criteria described below to determine
which Applications will be posted on InspireMV.org (the “Contest Site”) for online voting. Up to
10 applications may be posted for each level for public voting. Of approved Applications which
receive the most online votes in their respective level, Los Altos Community Foundation will
select one Application to receive a grant as outlined in the Application by the Participant to
implement their proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of directors of Los Altos Community Foundation
retains final control and authority regarding approval of such grants.
2. Eligibility
The Contest is open to:
• Nonprofit organizations
• Another nonprofit, individual, government agency, or for-profit organization that is
teamed up with a nonprofit (grants must be given to a nonprofit)
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• An organization that is fiscally sponsored by a nonprofit.
Grants awards must be given to a nonprofit. All applying nonprofits must operate in the State of
California and be currently designated by the IRS to be a 501(c)(3). Any person submitting an
Application on behalf of an eligible organization must have the express permission of that
organization to enter this Contest, bind the organization to these Official Rules, and accept grant
money on behalf of the organization.
Employees, directors, and officers of Los Altos Community Foundation, their respective
advertising, promotion, fulfillment, or other coordinating agencies (collectively, the “Contest
Entities”), and their respective immediate family members and persons living in their same
household, whether related or not, are not eligible to submit an Application. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, organizations that are fiscally sponsored by the Los Altos Community Foundation
remain eligible to submit an Application. Although Los Altos Community Foundation may use
mechanisms to verify the eligibility of Participants, voters, and Winners (defined below), Los
Altos Community Foundation is under no obligation to verify the eligibility of any particular
Participant, voter, or Winner or to take any corrective action as a result of such verification of
eligibility.
There can be multiple entries from the same organization for grants at different levels. For
example, an applicant may submit a proposal for a $25k grant and another one for a $100k
grant. Applicants cannot, however, submit more than one proposal for a specific grant level.
Regardless of how many proposals are submitted, only one proposal can win per organization.
Los Altos Community Foundation, in its sole and absolute discretion, will make the final
determination as to which Participants and Applications are accepted and are eligible to take
part in the Contest, to be considered for inclusion in the Public Voting Period and on the Site,
and/or to receive any grant.
3. Contest Stages
As set forth below, the Contest includes:
1. “Application Period”: When Applications can be submitted
2. “Judging Period”: When a panel of community members will judge and select applications for
public voting
3. “Public Voting Period”: When the general public can vote on the entries in each level
4. “Review Period”: When Los Altos Community Foundation will review the proposal that
received the top number of public votes at each level. It will confirm that each of these is a
winner.
5. “Announcement Period”: When the three winners will be announced and publicized.
4. How to Submit an Application
The application period begins at 12:00 PM PT on February 14, 2017 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on
March 15, 2017. Time and eligibility of entry will be determined by Los Altos Community
Foundation in its sole and absolute discretion.
During the Application Period, prospective applicants will visit the Site and follow the directions
to submit an Application to become a Participant in the Contest. In the event of a dispute
regarding who submitted an Application, Los Altos Community Foundation, in its sole and
absolute discretion, will determine the identity of the Participant. By submitting an Application
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on behalf of an organization, the applicant represents and warrants that he or she has the full
authority to bind the organization. It is the sole responsibility of the Participant to notify the Los
Altos Community Foundation in writing if the Participant changes his or her e-mail or postal
address during the Contest Period.
Los Altos Community Foundation may showcase Applications on social media channels. Due to
limited social media calendar availability, Los Altos Community Foundation cannot guarantee to
showcase any particular Application.
Los Altos Community Foundation is not responsible for late, lost, delayed, damaged, incomplete,
or unintelligible Applications. Such Applications are not eligible for this Contest.
5. Application Requirements
Applications MUST:
• be Participant’s own original work, exclusively created by Participant;
• be in English;
• describe a project that would be implemented in its entirety in Mountain View;
• be capable of being implemented with the monetary amount awarded in the grant;
• be capable of being implemented within 12 months of grant award; and
• provide a level of detail sufficient to show each of the specific activities to be carried out by
the applicant and others, if any, necessary to achieve the principal goal(s) of the project.
Applications MUST NOT:
• be inconsistent with these Official Rules;
• suggest legalization of any illegal drugs/activity, alcohol, tobacco, firearms/weapons,
prostitution or pornography, or other illegal activities or goods;
• attempt to influence legislation within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(h)
or to influence the outcome of any specific election, or overthrow any government;
• suggest or encourage the taking up of arms against any person, government, or entity;
• discriminate against, disparage, or denigrate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin,
color, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, record of offenses, marital
status, family status, physical or mental disability, language, or any other ground prohibited
by applicable legislation;
• disparage or denigrate a product, service, person, company, or organization including, but
not limited to Los Altos Foundation or any other Contest Entity;
• encourage the cessation of or act to negatively impact a business or enterprise;
• contain any profanities, be overtly sexual, suggest an intent to abuse, or contain suggestions
of violence;
• involve religious advocacy or proselytizing, defined as acts and intentions to advance a
religious denomination or expand membership or encourage conversion;
• involve political advocacy such as acts and intentions to advance a particular political party,
candidate or to support any particular party, candidate and/or cause, or to expand
membership or to encourage membership for a particular political party, candidate or
lobbying effort or voter registration drive feature or reference any third party;
• describe a project that directly or principally benefits the Participant or any other specific
individual (as opposed to the identified community as a whole);
• describe a project with a purpose of re-granting potential grant funds to another
organization(s);
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• infringe the intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third party, including, without
limitation, any third-party patents, copyrights, or trademarks;
• feature any third-party commercial products and/or company trademarks, logos, brands, or
endorsements (including but not limited to third-party logos on street scenes, panoramic
views, vehicle license plates, or clothing, such as t- shirts or hats); an Application may contain
the name and trademark of an organization to be benefited by a grant, provided prior
permission has been obtained from such organization;
• use individuals’ names, in whole or in part, without permission;
• contain materials embodying the names, likenesses, photographs, or other identifying
elements of any person, living or dead, without permission;
• contain information considered by the Participant, its employees or personnel, or any other
third party to be confidential; or
• Encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or
violate any law.
By submitting an entry, Participant agrees to at all times comply with these Official Rules.
Participant also represents and warrants that Participant has all rights and permissions
necessary to create and submit the entry.
Once submitted, Applications may be returned and removed from the Contest at the discretion
of Los Altos Community Foundation. Los Altos Community Foundation may, in their sole and
absolute discretion, reject, refuse, remove, delete, and/or disqualify or disallow any Application
that Los Altos Community Foundation deems inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant with
these Official Rules.
If Los Altos Community Foundation or any Contest Entity, at any time during the Contest Period,
receives a complaint (including but not limited to a cease-and desist letter, general letter of
complaint, etc.) alleging intellectual property infringement in an Application, Los Altos
Community Foundation may, in their sole and absolute discretion, remove such Application
from the Site and disqualify the Application without prior notice to Participant.
6. Application Judging
During the Judging Period, the panel of judges, the membership in which is subject to change
without notice, will select applications for each level based on overall quality of submission,
feasibility, and collaborative spirit (“Finalists”). Judging criteria includes:
 Innovation and creativity – How is this project different from others? Is this an
innovative, creative, new way to address an issue and/or improve the quality of life of
Mountain View? What makes the project unique?
 Feasibility of project to be completed within 1 year and within proposed budget – Is
there a well-developed, realistic plan to execute on the proposal? Have they identified
the right partner(s) for implementation?
 Measurable impact – How will the proposed project impact lives? How many people will
be affected if successful and to what extent? Does the proposal identify the size of the
problem and how the proposed idea will help solve it?
 Could this be replicated and used in other communities?
Los Altos Community Foundation, in its sole and absolute discretion, will make the final
determination as to which Participants and Applications are accepted and are eligible to take
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part in the Contest, to be considered for inclusion in the Voting Period and on the Site, and/or to
receive any grant.
7. Public Voting
To be eligible for consideration for posting to the Site for voting, an Application must (i) be
submitted through the Site by the end of the Application Period; and (ii) comply with these
Official Rules.
Individuals who wish to vote for the Contest will be required to follow the directions on the Site
in order to place a vote. All voters in the Contest must reside and/or work in Mountain View
who are fourteen (14) years of age or older as of the beginning of the Public Voting Period.
Each public voter may vote only once per grant level (three votes total). Participants may not
pay or otherwise compensate others, or engage or encourage automated voting, to vote for
their Application. If Los Altos Community Foundation determines, in their sole and absolute
discretion, that any voter or Participant has not complied with these Official Rules in any way,
then Los Altos Community Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any Application(s) or
vote(s) that such Participant or voter has submitted and disallow any further participation or
voting by such Participant or voter in the Contest.
8. Winner Selection
After the Public Voting Period has ended, Los Altos Community Foundation, in its sole and
absolute discretion, will review the results of the public voting and select one (1) Application for
each level (the “Winner”).
Each Winner, subject to the terms and conditions described herein, will be awarded one (1)
grant in the amount for which they applied ($25,000, $50,000, or $100,000).
The Winner(s) will be announced by Los Altos Community Foundation. The Winners will be
notified through the email address and the phone number provided in their Application. Failure
to respond to a Finalist or Winner notification within the specified time period or to follow the
terms and conditions of these Official Rules may cause Los Altos Community Foundation to
disqualify a Finalist or Winner (with the Finalist or Winner forfeiting any eligibility for a grant). In
such case, Los Altos Community Foundation may select an alternate Winner from the remaining
Finalists.
Los Altos Community Foundation may use any information, whether or not provided in the
Applications, to select the Winners, and Los Altos Community Foundation's decisions regarding
Winner selection shall be based solely on Los Altos Community Foundation’s discretion.
Additional stipulations:
• It is possible that two (2) or more Participants will submit Applications that may contain the
same or similar ideas. The Los Altos Community Foundation is under no obligation to review
or consider the similarity of other Applications in determining whether or not to accept an
Application or in determining the Winner.
• If there is a tie among the Applications after the Public Voting Period has ended, Los Altos
Community Foundation, in their sole and absolute discretion, will review the tied
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Applications and will break the tie based on the Application that first in time received the
highest number of votes during the Voting Period.
If the judges determine there are no viable Applicants for a particular grant level, LACF may
award additional Winners in another level and/or at a different dollar amount.
Los Altos Community Foundation reserves the right not to award the prize money if doing so
would violate any applicable laws or regulations or compromise LACF’s tax-exempt status.
Winning grants will typically be given in one lump sum during the announcement phase.
However, LACF reserves the right to disburse grant awards to a Winner in two or more
payments during the 12 month period following winner selection.
The grant must be used for the purpose described in applicant’s grant application. The
grantee must inform LACF if there are significant changes in the purposes of the grant, the
use of grant funds, or personnel who are important to accomplishing the purposes of the
grant or if the grant funds cannot be expended in the time period set forth in the grant
proposal.
Any portion of the grant funds not committed to the purposes of the grant must be returned
to LACF.
The grantee confirms that it retains full discretion and control over the process of selecting
any persons or organizations (secondary grantees, employees, or independent contractors)
to carry out the purposes of this grant, completely independent of LACF. The grantee
confirms that there is no agreement, either written or oral, that LACF can cause the selection
of particular persons or organizations or direct the use of grant funds for any particular
expenditure.
Organizational Tax Status: Each winning grantee certifies that it is tax-exempt under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or that it is fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3
organization. Each winning grantee must advise LACF immediately if its tax-exempt status
classification changes at any time before the grant funds are expended.
Payment and Reporting Schedules:
o LACF reserves the right to ask for one or more interim “check-in” meetings and/or
reports during the 12 month project cycle.
o All grantees will submit a final report on the use and impact of the grant no later
than 13 months after receiving the grant. LACF will provide a template for the
report.
The grantee will maintain books and records of the grant funds received and the expenses
incurred, as required by the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations, until all grant
requirements have been fulfilled. The grantee will make its books and records available to
LACF on request, within a reasonable time.
Acknowledgements: The grantee will acknowledge the grant in their annual report and their
other usual means of acknowledging donors and in appropriate media releases. Where
appropriate, the acknowledgment should include the LACF logo. The source of the grant
should be described as a grant from “Inspire Mountain View, managed by the Los Altos
Community Foundation.”
Grantor's Rights: LACF may include information on this grant in its periodic public reports
and may also refer to this grant in a press release. By accepting these grant funds, the
grantee agrees to such disclosure. LACF reserves the right to discontinue, modify, or withhold
any payments due under this grant, or to require repayment of any unexpended grant funds
if necessary, in LACF's judgment, to comply with any law or regulation applicable to this
grant. In this event, LACF will notify the grantee in writing and provide an opportunity to
respond.
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Los Altos Community Foundation will require a Winner to:
• Complete a grant agreement (“Grant Agreement”), as a pre-condition to receiving any
grant and to avoid disqualification as a Winner. The grant agreement includes an affidavit
that the Participant has followed, and will continue to follow through the project, the
Official Rules of the Inspire Mountain View contest.
• Submit a final project plan (with key personnel named) and budget for the project before
receiving the grant award.
Los Altos Community Foundation may request additional information from each Winner.
Winners will respond to additional inquiries in a timely manner.
No substitution of a grant is offered, except at the sole and absolute discretion of Los Altos
Community Foundation. Any grant is non-transferable. Neither Los Altos Community Foundation
nor any other Contest Entity is responsible for a lost or stolen grant.
Los Altos Community Foundation’s decisions, in their sole and absolute discretion, are final and
binding in all matters relating to the Contest.
9. Taxes
There may be some tax implications for the Winner(s). Los Altos Community Foundation
recommends that Participants review their Application with their legal/tax advisor to determine
their potential tax liability, if any, in connection with receiving a grant as part of the Contest. If
there is any tax liability, it will be the sole responsibility of the Winner(s).
10. General Conditions
Nothing herein will constitute an employment, joint venture, or partnership relationship
between Participant and Los Altos Community Foundation.
Participant grants to Los Altos Community Foundation and the Contest Entities, and their
respective successors and assigns, a non-exclusive, worldwide, fully paid, royalty free, perpetual,
irrevocable, transferable license to reproduce, display, distribute, and perform the Application
and materials and information submitted in connection with the Contest or use or receipt of the
grant for the purpose of administering and promoting the contest. Participant also grants Los
Altos Community Foundation and the Contest Entities, and their respective successors and
assigns, where not prohibited by law, an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, fully
paid, royalty-free, and transferable license and right to use the name, voice, likeness, and
biographical material of Participant or (if Participant is a group or organization) members of
Participant, in any merchandising, advertising, marketing, promotion, press releases, social
media, or any other purpose related to the Application and/or Contest. Without limitation, this
includes the right to use photographs and videos of the Participant either submitted by the
Participant or taken by the Los Altos Community Foundation in connection with the Contest.
Participant also grants Los Altos Community Foundation and the Contest Entities, and their
respective successors and assigns, an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, fully
paid, royalty free, and transferable license to use Participant’s trademarks and logos in the
promotion and publicity of the Contest. Los Altos Community Foundation may also request an
in-person appearance at the Inspire Mountain View awards ceremony by a representative of
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Participant. Participant acknowledges that Participant has no right of approval or consultation
with respect to Los Altos Community Foundation or any other Contest Entity's use of the
Application or the licenses and rights granted above.
By entering the Contest, Participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules. LOS ALTOS
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING ANY PRIZE OR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST. Participants
further agree to release, indemnify, defend and hold Los Altos Community Foundation, the
other Contest Entities, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees,
shareholders, sponsors and agents, including advertising and promotion agencies, assigns, and
any other organizations related to the Contest (collectively, the “Released Parties”), harmless
from any and all claims, injuries, damages, expenses, or losses to person or property and/or
liabilities of any nature that in any way arise from participation in the Contest or acceptance or
use of a grant, or parts thereof, including, without limitation, (i) any and all claims, demands,
causes of action and judgments arising out of relating to any breach by Participant of the Official
Rules, including any representations and warranties; and (ii) any injuries, losses, or damages
(compensatory, direct, incidental, consequential, or otherwise) of any kind arising in connection
with or as a result of a grant, or acceptance, possession, or use of a grant, or from participation
in the Contest, including without limitation, personal injury, death, and property damage, and
claims based on publicity rights, intellectual property, defamation, or invasion of privacy. The
Released Parties are not responsible for: (i) any condition caused by events beyond the control
of Los Altos Community Foundation that may cause the Contest to be disrupted or corrupted,
including without limitation the functioning or lack thereof of the Site; (ii) any unauthorized
human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; and (iii) any printing,
typographical, or substantive errors in any materials associated with the Contest. Winners agree
to be bound by these Official Rules, and Los Altos Community Foundation’s decisions in all
respects relative to the Contest are final.
IN NO EVENT WILL LACF OR CONTEST ENTITIES BE LIABLE TO THE APPLICANT OR ANY
PARTICIPANT, VOTER, WINNER, OR PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION, AS APPLICABLE, FOR ANY
DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS OR PROFITS) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE APPLICANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, WHETHER SUCH LIABILITY ARISES
FROM ANY CLAIM BASED UPON CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE),
STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT ANY CONTEST ENTITY HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE.
APPLICATIONS ARE THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTICIPANT, AND DO NOT
NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OR OPINIONS OF LOS ALTOS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OR
ANY OTHER CONTEST ENTITY IN ANY MANNER.
Any waiver of any obligation hereunder by Los Altos Community Foundation or any other
Contest Entity does not constitute a general waiver of any obligation in favor of Participant(s). If
any provision, license, or right in these Official Guidelines is restricted or invalidated by an
applicable law or legal judgment, the remainder of these Official Guidelines will be construed so
that all other legally permitted provisions, licenses, or rights in these Official Guidelines remain
valid and enforceable.
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All Applications become property of Los Altos Community Foundation.
Los Altos Community Foundation reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, or
suspend the Contest, in whole or in part, in the event of fraud, technical or other difficulties, or
if the integrity of the Contest is compromised, without liability to Participants or voters. Los
Altos Community Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any Participant or Winner in their
sole and absolute discretion.
The Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. The Contest is subject to these Official
Rules and all applicable federal, state, provincial, and local laws and regulations. By participating
in the Contest, Participants acknowledge that they have read these Official Rules and agree to
abide by them and by the decisions of the Los Altos Community Foundation, which are final and
binding on all matters pertaining to the Contest.
These Official Rules are governed by the law of the State of California, excluding rules governing
the choice of laws. Any action, suit, or case arising out of, or in connection with, the Contest or
these Official Rules must be brought in either the federal or state courts located in Santa Clara
County, California.
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