Wednesday, July 30, 2008

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grants

Applications are due online October 3,2008.

A great opportunity to build a strong STEM Service-learning proposal.

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a diverse group of 30 students aged 17-20 who have been selected from nearly 650 applicants. They play a leadership role in creating and overseeing a $5 million-a-year State Farm funded service-learning initiative. The Youth Advisory Board grants funds for student-led service-learning projects in the United States and in the Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario provinces of Canada. These grants address in a structural way the issues of disaster preparedness, driver safety, accessing higher education/closing the achievement gap, and financial education. The minimum grant amount is $25,000 and the maximum grant amount is $100,000.

For more information go to www.statefarmyab.com/Youthboard%20Application.doc

Monday, July 28, 2008

Mentoring Programs for At-Risk Tribal Youth

All applications are due by 8:00 p.m. E.T., on August 4, 2008.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding under its Mentoring Programs for At-Risk Tribal Youth. This program will provide support to programs that have a national scope and impact on combating juvenile delinquency, reducing the victimization of children, or improving the juvenile justice system through mentoring related activities in Native American and Alaskan Native communities. This solicitation invites applicants to propose the continuation, expansion or enhancement of initiatives that will assist in the development and maturity of community programs to provide mentoring services to populations that are underserved due to locations, shortage of mentors, or emotional behavioral challenges of the targeted population, or other such situations identified by the community in need of mentoring services.

For more information see ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2008/TribalMentoring.pdf

Merck Family Fund Grants

Deadline for full proposals will be March 1 and August 1, 2008.

The Merck Family Fund was established in 1954 by George W. Merck, President of Merck & Co. The goals of the Merck Family Fund are to restore and protect the natural environment and ensure a healthy planet for generations to come; and to strengthen the social fabric and the physical landscape of the urban community.

New requests for support to the Merck Family Fund should be made by a letter of inquiry rather than with a full proposal or a request for a personal meeting. The letter should not exceed two pages and should concisely describe the project, its purpose, its likely impact, and the amount being requested. The letter should also briefly describe the organization and the overall budget. The Fund's staff will review the letter and decide whether to invite a full proposal. Letters of inquiry are acknowledged as soon as possible.

For more information go to www.merckff.org

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

PepsiCo Foundation Grants

Deadline: September 15

The PepsiCo Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations located in U.S. communities where company employees live and work. The Foundation's Health and Wellness grant category encourages healthy lifestyles and positive behavior changes. Through the Diversity and Inclusion category support is provided to organizations that focus on minority-owned businesses, workplace equality, or skill development for low-income high school students. The emphasis of the Environment category is water resource management in developing nations. The Thought Leadership category supports research initiatives that address issues critical to the betterment of society. Grant requests of up to $100,000 may be submitted throughout the year. The next deadline for grant requests over $100,000 is September 15, 2008. Visit this website to take an eligibility quiz and submit an online application. www.pepsico.com/PEP_Citizenship/Contributions/GrantGuidelines/index.cfm

Mini-Grants for Public Schools and Public Libraries

Deadline: Sept. 15

Ezra Jack Keats Mini-grant Program for Public Schools and Public Libraries supports educators, parents and children in their efforts to spread literacy and love of learning. Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: public schools and libraries anywhere in the United States and its protectorates.
www.ezra-jack-keats.org/programs/minigrant.html

Open Meadows Foundation Grants

Deadline: August 15

Open Meadows Foundation is a grant-making organization for projects that are led by and benefit women and girls. It offers grants up to $2,000 to projects that: are designed and implemented by women and girls; reflect the diversity of the co mmunity served by the project in both its leadership and organization; promote building community power; promote racial, social, economic and environmental justice; have limited financial access or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding. Organizational budget should not exceed $150,000. For more information please visit Open Meadows Foundation at: www.openmeadows.org

RESIST Funds Progressive Grassroots Groups

Deadline: August 1

RESIST provides grants and loans to grassroots groups engaged in activist organizing and educational work within movements for social change. RESIST supports strategies that build community, encourage collaborations with other organizations, increase skills and access to resources, and produce leadership from the constituency being most directly affected. High priority is given to groups that fall outside of mainstream funding sources. A sample of RESIST's interests include: community organizing and anti-racism projects, economic and environmental justice, civil rights, progressive media, and p eace/anti-militarism. The upcoming application deadlines for general support grants, accessibility grants, and loans are August 1 and October 3, 2008. Emergency grant requests may be submitted at any time. Visit the RESIST website for details on each of RESIST's grant programs: www.resistinc.org

Friday, July 11, 2008

Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Outstanding Commitments Awards

Deadline: July 28, 2008

Later this year, we will distribute 35 awards totaling $150,000. Students can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 for each project. CGI U is a new project of the Clinton Global Initiative seeking to create a community of university students taking action to address the world's most pressing issues. The CGI U Outstanding Commitments Awards will provide recognition and financial support for a select number of CGI U commitments.

Commitments to Action will be judged on the following criteria:

Sustainability:
How well does the commitment integrate principles of sustainability? CGI U assumes a broad approach to sustainability that incorporates economic, social, and environmental components.

Innovation: Does the commitment approach social issues in novel and interesting ways?

Replication: Can the project be replicated in different locations by new groups?

Impact: Does this commitment demonstrate a real and lasting impact in addressing global and/or local challenges? During the selection process both depth and scale of impact will be considered.

Leveraging Available Resources: Can this project effectively capitalize on the specific resources available to students?
We would welcome your assistance in sharing this information with students in your network.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.cgiu.org.

Grants for California Schools to Become Ocean Guardians

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has announced it is offering "Ocean Guardian” grants of up to $6,000 to a number of California schools whose students create a school or community-based conservation project that protects their local watershed and the ocean. Kindergarten through high schools are eligible in the California counties of Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. A total of $100,000 is being made available through the grant program.

Interested schools can contact Seaberry Nachbar by e-mail at seaberry.nachbar@noaa.gov to receive an application and guidelines on how to create an action plan for implementing an Ocean Guardian School. You can find additional information on the Ocean Guardian School Web page sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/become.html

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Northeast Utilities Offers Environmental Community Grant Program (CT, NH, & MA only)

Deadline: October 15, 2008

The Environmental Community Grant Program provides community based groups with funding for local projects that benefit the environment. Northeast Utilities' goal is to sponsor local grassroots-type efforts that are frequently overlooked by large grant programs.

The program awards grants of between $250 and $1,000 each in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Grant applications must be from organizations served by Connecticut Light and Power, Western Massachusetts Electric Company, or Public Service of New Hampshire.

Eligible projects protect or preserve the environment or teach others the value of doing so. Examples include providing education on environmental issues of local interest to adults or children, improving the environment through organized cleanup projects (such as cleaning up a park, part of a stream, or a vacant lot) or by reclaiming and rehabilitating damaged environments; improving a local wildlife habitat; and starting and maintaining a recycling program.

Complete program guidelines and application are available at the Northeast Utilities Web site: www.nu.com/environmental/grant.asp

Caring Institute Accepting Nominations for the Caring Award

Deadline: September 28, 2008

The Caring Institute is now accepting nominations of individuals of all ages for the Caring Award. Nominations should describe, in at least 500 words, individuals who personify caring, and would be a worthy role model to be emulated by others. Letters of recommendation should be included to give testimony to a long-standing commitment to public service.

Nominations should give consideration to: length of service; scope and impact of work; degree of difficulty and obstacles encountered; and imagination and innovation. Award recipients are flown to Washington, D.C., and honored at a special ceremony. Young adult recipients receive educational monies for college tuition.

Complete award program information and nomination form are available at the Caring Institute Web site: www.caringinstitute.org/caringawards.html

U.S. Cellular Grants

Deadline: August 15

U.S. Cellular's corporate giving program, Connecting with Our Communities, is currently accepting applications from nonprofit organizations in company communities. U.S. Cellular focuses its charitable contributions on programs that serve economically disadvantaged youth, families, and seniors. Company communities are located in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma City, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Grants generally range between $5,000 and $35,000. The upcoming application deadline is August 15, 2008. The final 2008 deadline is November 1. For additional information, including a list of company communities, visit: www.uscc.com/uscellular/SilverStream/Pages/x_page.html?p=a_charitable

Gannett Foundation Grants

Deadline: August 15

The Gannett Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that serve the communities across the United States where Gannett Co., Inc., owns a newspaper or broadcast station. (For a list of Gannett communities go to www.gannettfoundation.org/contacts.htm.) The Foundation generally supports projects that take a creative approach to such fundamental issues as education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation, and cultural enrichment. However, each local Gannett operation establishes its own funding priorities, depending upon local needs. Applications should be submitted to the local newspaper publisher or TV station general manager by August 15, 2008. Application FAQs and forms are available on the Foundation's website at:
www.gannettfoundation.org/