GrantStation Insider - February 1, 2018

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National Funding
Opportunities Throughout the U.S.

Support for Racial Dialogue Initiatives in Higher Education
Lumina Foundation: Lumina Fund for Racial Justice and Equity
Lumina Foundation, in partnership with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, has announced a request for proposals (RFP) for grants that are designed to support postsecondary institutions that are implementing significant work to advance equity on campus and in the broader community. This one-time investment of $1 million will be used to support colleges and universities that are working to improve their campus climates by providing opportunities for constructive racial dialogue. Four to five grants of up to $100,000 are reserved for colleges and universities that can document their existing comprehensive efforts to advance equity on their campuses and in their communities. Additional grants of up to $25,000 will support colleges and universities that propose significant work to enhance efforts focused on issues related to equity and racial justice on campuses. Online applications must be submitted by February 26, 2018. Visit Lumina Foundation’s website to download the RFP forms.

Awards Recognize Local Economic Development Efforts
United States Conference of Mayors: CommunityWINS Grant Program
The CommunityWINS (Working/Investing in Neighborhood Stabilization) Grant Program, administered by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and funded by Wells Fargo, supports local nonprofits in promoting long-term economic prosperity and quality of life for their community. The awards recognize outstanding mayoral-based initiatives that can assist their city in promoting economic growth and aim to share these best practices to assist other cities in developing local programs in their market. USCM members may nominate up to three programs run by nonprofit organizations that address one of the following categories: Neighborhood Stabilization, Economic Development, and Job Creation. Two awards in each of the following three population categories will be given in 2018: Large Cities (one $300,000 and one $75,000 award); Medium Cities (one $150,000 and one $50,000 award); and Small Cities (one $150,000 and one $50,000 award). All programs must be initiated with the full support of the mayor to be eligible, including those developed and implemented in collaboration with the private sector, community groups, and other partners. The application deadline is March 16, 2018. Visit the USCM website to learn more about the program.

Native Language Programs Supported
First Nations Development Institute: Native Language Immersion Initiative
The Native Language Immersion Initiative, a program of First Nations Development Institute, seeks to stem the loss of Indigenous languages and cultures by supporting new generations of Native American language speakers, and establishing infrastructure and models for Native language-immersion programs that may be replicated in other communities. First Nations will award approximately 12 grants of up to $90,000 each to build the capacity of and directly support Native language-immersion and culture-retention programs. Eligible applicants must be Native-controlled intuitions and organizations with an existing language-immersion program providing at least 20 hours per week per school year of Native American language instruction with at least ten students. The application deadline is March 23, 2018. Visit the First Nations website to review the request for proposals and submit an online application.

Grants Promote Natural Foods and Cooperative Development
Blooming Prairie Foundation
The Blooming Prairie Foundation is dedicated to promoting innovative ideas and practices in the area of organic and natural foods in order to further the health of the people, the health of the environment, and cooperative ideals. The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that conduct any of the following activities: developmental, research, and educational efforts in the organic industry and the cooperative community; the development of organic and natural products; and cooperative development in the natural products industry. The application deadline is March 1, 2018. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the grant guidelines.

Regional Funding
Opportunities for Specific Areas

Programs for At-Risk Youth in Oregon and Washington Supported
Silver Family Foundation
The Silver Family Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Oregon and Washington that work with at-risk youth. The Foundation's Transitional Youth Development Grant Program provides funds to organizations that offer in-depth, long-term investments and opportunities for motivated, low-income youth. Priority is given to organizations that work in the areas of mentorship, high school completion, college and post-secondary preparation, and experiential education. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year; invited proposals are due March 31 and September 30, annually. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the grant guidelines.

Funds for Rural Arts and Environmental Projects in Five States
Laura Jane Musser Fund
The Laura Jane Musser Fund will begin accepting applications for the Rural Arts and Environmental grant programs in February. The Fund’s Rural Arts Program assists arts organizations in targeted states that offer artistic opportunities for adults and children in the areas of literary, visual, music, and performing arts. Grants of up to $10,000 are provided to organizations in rural communities with a population of 20,000 or under throughout Colorado, Hawaii, and Wyoming, as well as rural communities in selected counties in Minnesota and Texas. The Fund’s Environmental Initiative Program supports projects that enhance the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces, while encouraging compatible human activities. Organizations throughout Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Wyoming, as well as organizations in selected counties in Texas, are eligible to apply for planning grants up to $8,000 and implementation grants up to $35,000. Applications for the Environmental Initiative Program must be submitted by March 9, 2018; applications for the Rural Arts Program must be submitted by March 16, 2018. Visit the Fund’s website to review the application guidelines.

Grants Strengthen Employment Options for New Jersey Citizens with Disabilities
Kessler Foundation: Community Employment Grant Program
The Kessler Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, injuries to the brain and spinal cord, and other chronic conditions. Through the Community Employment Grant Program, the Foundation supports employment solutions that increase employment and career outcomes for New Jersey citizens with disabilities. Specific areas of interest include transition-to-work for youth and adults, employment-related transportation issues, vocational training, workplace preparation, and strategies to support recruitment, hiring, placement, and retention. Nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. The application deadline is April 9, 2018. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about the application process.

Support for Water Protection Initiatives in Company Communities
American Water Environmental Grant Program
The American Water Environmental Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations that address a watershed or source water protection need in local communities within American Water service areas in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Source water protection projects should result in the protection or improvement of the community’s public drinking water supplies. Watershed protection projects should focus on activities that improve, restore, or protect one or more watersheds. Grants of up to $10,000 will be provided for environmental sustainability activities such as watershed cleanups, reforestation efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects, hazardous waste collection efforts, community education, etc. Applications must be postmarked by March 26, 2018. Visit the company’s website to download the 2018 Program Brochure and the Grant Application Form, and to access contact information for each state.

Federal Funding
Opportunities from the U.S. Government

Environmental Education Supported
Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Education Grant program supports environmental education projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship and help provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. The application deadline is March 15, 2018. 

Program Funds Arts for the Underserved
National Endowment for the Arts
The Challenge America program support projects that extend the reach of the arts to populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. The grants.gov application deadline is April 12, 2018.

PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional.
 

Nonprofit Quarterly
In a rapidly changing world, keeping on top of industry trends is a must. Geared towards nonprofit leaders, educators, foundations, independent activists, and other civil society professionals, the Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) is a reliable nonprofit news outlet covering a range of topics of interest to their target audience. NPQ’s guiding philosophy is that “an active, engaged, and sometimes disruptive civil sector is critical to a healthy democracy in the same way that a free and independent press is.”

Upcoming Online Education Trainings
Live Webinars

Unless otherwise noted, all Online Education Trainings are webinars,
are 90 minutes in duration, and are scheduled to begin at 2 PM Eastern Time.

How to Secure Funding from Foundations
Foundations are mysterious institutions to those not familiar with them. In this webinar, Judith Margolin demystifies the process of securing foundation funding. The webinar provides a thorough grounding in what foundations are all about, including how many there are, who runs them, and trends in foundation giving. The focus is on what motivates foundations to give and how you can determine why they might or might not support your organization. Topics include types of foundations and styles of approach, determining your organization's funding needs, finding the best prospect, what makes a winning grant proposal, introducing your agency to a foundation, and proposal submission techniques. This webinar will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2018.

Grantwriting 101
If you are new to grantwriting, this webinar is for you! During this 90-minute webinar, Alice Ruhnke, founder and owner of the Grant Advantage, will teach you how to use a Program Planning Framework to plan your grant applications so they tell a strong, consistent story. As we go through the Framework, each section of a typical grant application will be highlighted with information on what funders are looking for and tips on how to write that section. By the time the webinar is over, you will (1) understand what funders are looking for in grant applications; (2) be able to decipher confusing grant-related terminology; (3) have a usable system to connect all the pieces of an application together; and (4) have strategies to infuse your organization's strengths in your proposal to make it strong and competitive. This webinar will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2018.

Logic Models: More Than Just Extra Work!
Logic models are not a passing fad. If you need to create a logic model for your program, but don't know where to start, this webinar is for you! Using the Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach from the United Way of America, Alice Ruhnke will demonstrate why logic models are critical for program planning and evaluation. During this webinar, you will learn how to create and use a logic model to help you improve services and your impact on your community. Executive directors, program managers, and grantwriters from a broad range of nonprofit organizations will benefit from this 90-minute presentation.This webinar will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2018.

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Editor: Julie Kaufman
Contributing Writer: Kevin Peters
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons