GrantStation Insider: February 1, 2024

Application deadline: March 6, 2024
Description: The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities in the United States become more livable for people of all ages—especially those age 50 and older. In 2024, the AARP Community Challenge will accept applications for three grant opportunities: Flagship Grants of $500 to $50,000 focus on improving vibrant public places, transportation and mobility, housing, digital connections, community resilience, and community health and economic empowerment. Capacity-Building Microgrants of $2,500 plus additional resources support bike audit, HomeFit® modification, and walk audit projects. Demonstration Grants, usually in the range of $10,000 to $20,000, support projects that encourage the replication of promising efforts in digital connectivity to prepare and respond to disasters, equitable engagement to reconnect communities divided by infrastructure, and housing choice design competitions. Nonprofit organizations and government entities may apply. Other organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application deadline: March 25, 2024 for letters of intent
Grant amount: Seven grants of $100,000 will be provided.
Description: The WES Mariam Assefa Fund, the philanthropic arm of World Education Services, is committed to building an inclusive economy that works for immigrants and refugees. The Fund’s Elevating Migrant Leadership: Building Inclusive Futures Funding Opportunity seeks proposals from organizations in the United States that are elevating the voices and leadership of immigrants and refugees. Support will be provided to organizations that work with immigrants and refugees who are seeking to develop civic leadership and advocacy skills so they can more effectively influence the development of programs and policies that affect them and their communities. Supported programs must focus on two out of three of the following areas: narrative building, experiential learning, and mentorship. Selected awardees will receive $100,000 grants and have access to peer-learning, capacity building, and other programming. Nonprofit organizations in the U.S., or organizations with a fiscal sponsor, that have a mission and vision explicitly focused on serving immigrants and refugees and have an operating budget equal to or less than $3 million are eligible to apply.

Application deadline: March 4, 2024
Geographic scope: United States, including U.S. territories
Grant amount: Ten grants of $45,000 to $75,000 will be awarded.
Description: The mission of First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) is to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities. First Nations’ Native Language Immersion Initiative provides grants to build the capacity of and directly support Native-controlled nonprofit organizations and tribal government programs actively advancing Native language immersion programs in tribal communities.  Funding will support capacity-building activities designed to improve and enhance the language immersion program’s ability to achieve its mission, including curriculum development, technology access, instructional courses and materials, mentorships, teacher training, and other kinds of organizational infrastructure. Tribes, Native-controlled nonprofits, and Native-controlled community organizations with active Native language immersion programs located in the United States or U.S. territories are eligible to apply.

Application deadline: March 14, 2024, for U.S. applicants, and March 15, 2024, for applicants in India
Geographic scope: United States, including U.S. territories, and India
Description: The Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator, powered in partnership with Ashoka and funded by Yum!’s Unlocking Opportunity initiative, supports young people in the United States, including U.S. territories, and India to share their most ambitious social impact ideas. The Ambition Accelerator connects young changemakers to resources such as funding, a network of peers and mentors who are leaders in the social impact space, and personalized feedback on their idea or venture. Support will be provided to young people ages 16 to 26 whose ideas are enacting positive change in their communities. The Ambition Accelerator is dedicated to fueling innovators at any stage—whether the idea is brand new or already in the works. 250 awards of $500 will be provided, plus additional awards up to $25,000 for the Grand Prize winner. In addition, awardees could potentially receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Taco Bell headquarters for the Ambition Accelerator Summit, mentorship by industry experts, virtual skill building and networking, and other benefits. Check out live support sessions here to join an upcoming info session or application support session.

Application deadlines: March 7, 2024, for the Rural Arts Initiative, and March 14, 2024, for the Environmental Initiative
Geographic scope: Varies by program to include Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and specific areas of New York and Texas
Grant amount: Rural Arts Initiative grants range up to $12,000. Environmental Initiative grants range up to $8,000 for planning and up to $35,000 for implementation.
Description: The Laura Jane Musser Fund will accept applications through the Rural Arts Initiative and the Environmental Initiative beginning in February 2024. The Rural Arts Initiative provides general operating support to nonprofit arts organizations in rural communities to develop, implement, or sustain exceptional artistic opportunities for adults and children in the areas of literary, visual, music, and performing arts. Organizations must be physically located in rural communities (population 20,000 or less) in Colorado, Hawaii, Wyoming, and specific areas of New York and Texas. The Environmental Initiative assists public and nonprofit entities to initiate or implement projects that enhance the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces, while encouraging compatible human activities. The goal is to promote public use of open space that improves a community’s quality of life and public health, while also ensuring the protection of healthy, viable, and sustainable ecosystems. Programs in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and limited counties in New York and Texas may apply. 

Application deadline: March 30, 2024
Geographic scope: Wisconsin, with some emphasis on Racine
Grant amount: $50,000
Description: The 2024 Racine Dominicans Mission Grant Program, a partnership between the Racine Dominicans and Forward Community Investments, will provide ten grants to nonprofit organizations for projects based in and focused on Wisconsin. Support will be provided for projects in the following areas: 1) immigration and migration, including services to directly support and assist the immigrant or migrant population; 2) affordable homeownership solutions, including programs that will increase individual ownership or help provide pathways to ownership amongst disadvantaged persons and families; and 3) climate equity, including environmental projects that mitigate damage to air, water, and soil that serve disadvantaged populations. (Proximity to Racine, WI, will be given preference between projects of equal merit.)

Application deadline: March 29, 2024
Geographic scope: Georgia
Grant amount: $500 to $2,000
Description: The mission of the GAWL Foundation, Inc., created by the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL), is to encourage philanthropy by women lawyers in Georgia for the benefit of the greater community. The Foundation provides grants to Georgia 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving women and children, especially those in the legal system. Preference is given to organizations in the following order of priority: organizations that provide free legal services to disadvantaged women and girls, organizations that provide free services to disadvantaged women and girls in the legal system, and organizations that provide free services to disadvantaged women and girls.

Application deadlines: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1, annually
Geographic scope: New Jersey and New York City and Long Island, NY
Description: Investors Foundation is dedicated to supporting impactful initiatives of diverse community organizations in communities the former Investors Bank served, including New Jersey and New York City and Long Island in New York. Areas of interest include arts, education, health and human services, youth, and affordable housing. 

Grants.gov deadline: March 25, 2024
Applicant portal deadline: April 4, 2024
Description: The Research Grants in the Arts program supports research that investigates the value or impact of the arts, either as individual components of the U.S. arts ecology or as they interact with each other or with other domains of American life. Priority topics include investigating the measurable impacts of the arts on health and wellness for individuals, cognition and learning, and U.S. economic growth and innovation; analyzing the ways the arts contribute to the healing and revitalization of communities; evaluating the state of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the arts; and researching how the U.S. arts ecosystem (e.g., arts organizations and venues, artists and arts workers, and participants and learners) is adapting and responding to social, economic, and technological changes and challenges to the sector, including trends accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Application deadline: March 5, 2024
Description: The Semiquincentennial Grant Program seeks to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States by restoring and preserving state-owned sites and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation. Historic resources supported by this program may include those associated with the political ideas, well-known individuals, pivotal events, or sites of conflict typically thought of in conjunction with this period of American history. However, archeological sites, cultural landscapes, and built resources can all successfully illustrate concepts of "nationhood" and "America" regardless of where they are located. Such resources may reflect what people thought and did and lived, and thus illustrate the lifeways, folkways, foodways, people, places, events, and condition of culture and society during the formation of the country.

Are you a nonprofit founder 50 and older?

The AARP Purpose Prize® award celebrates people 50 and older who are using their life experience to make a difference. Through this annual award, AARP celebrates a new story of aging—one full of meaningful impact and limitless possibilities.

Winners who have founded a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization will win $50,000 for their organization. They will also have access to a number of technical supports and resources to help broaden their organizations’ impact. The call for applications ends February 29, 2024. See rules and apply.

$7 million in grants is being awarded to affordable housing providers or other nonprofit organizations across the Bank’s footprint that support initiatives aiming to increase access to independent living for marginalized community members. 

Some examples of preferred programs include (but are not limited to) Rapid Re-housing, Housing First, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Transitional Housing. 

Grants ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 will be available to eligible organizations with competitive proposals that demonstrate positive impact and sustainable long-term solutions towards addressing affordable housing for the most disadvantaged populations. 

For more information, visit our website.  

Are you a changemaker working to promote economic justice in the United States? If so, you may want to attend the Just Economy Conference taking place in Washington, DC, from April 2 to 4, 2024. Hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, this conference is a national event for community, policy, government, and business leaders who want a nation that not only promises but delivers opportunities for all Americans to build wealth and live well. National and local luminaries, visionaries, and changemakers gather to network, share ideas, learn, and ask hard questions to chart out a better future.

Webinar date: February 6 and 7, 2024, 2:00 to 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Description: Do you want to help your nonprofit use QuickBooks to its fullest potential? If so, QuickBooks Made Easy for Nonprofits and GrantStation are presenting an event just for you: nonprofits and the accounting firms that serve them. Join Gregg Bossen, CPA PC, for this two-day workshop (120 minutes each day) as he addresses special topics, including advanced budgeting, tracking restricted grants, and reports/board reporting.

Webinar date: February 12, 2024, 2:00 to 2:45 PM Eastern Time
Description: Evaluations are essential for your nonprofit’s success. They ensure your organization remains accountable and can continuously improve. Beyond that, they help show the real impact of your programs. Unfortunately, many organizations lack the time and resources needed to effectively evaluate their programs. AI tools have the potential to revolutionize the way you evaluate your programs, making the process more efficient and effective. During this TargetED, Alice Ruhnke and David Gates will show you ways you can use AI throughout the evaluation process so you can measure and enhance your organization’s impact.

Webinar date: February 14, 2024, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Description: Are you thinking about jumping into federal grants? Every year the federal government releases millions of dollars to help nonprofit organizations serve their communities. However, federal grants are extremely competitive. The application process is cumbersome and often requires a high level of work investment. There are two essential ingredients of every successful federal grant proposal: preparation and early planning. During this webinar, Alice Ruhnke will show you how to research federal funding opportunities and develop the initial strategies needed to craft competitive federal grant applications.

You're invited to join me at the FREE, all-virtual Nonprofit Fundraising Summit 2024 for the nonprofit sector—powered by The Nonprofit Cooperative and Nonprofit Collective Foundation!

I'm excited to share insights during my session, "How to Find and Organize Your Funding," on Thursday, February 8, 2024, 12:00 - 2:00 PM EST. Join me to discover practical ways your nonprofit can implement impactful fundraising strategies for 2024. Learn more and save your FREE seat now! 

Your free ticket includes access to my session and 23 others taught by top thought leaders. We are all working together to provide you with the education, resources, and tools needed to drive success this year. Get your free ticket.

I can't wait to see you at this event, where we'll explore a dynamic array of topics, spark innovation, and foster community spirit. Don't miss out on this opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, gain invaluable insights, and be part of a vibrant community.

– Alice Ruhnke, GS President

GrantStation shares database profiles of local, national, Canadian, and international grantmakers with upcoming deadlines each week. Current opportunities include the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust (U.S. national), the Joseph Robert Foundation (U.S. local: DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, and DC), the Paul Barber Foundation (Canada national), and T4 Education: World's Best School Prizes (global).