GrantStation Insider: February 8, 2024

Application deadline: The registration period to participate in the Challenge will be open from February 26 to March 6, 2024. The Challenge runs during the month of April 2024.
Description: The mission of Maddie's Fund is to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals. The Fund’s 2024 Open Arms Challenge is open to animal shelters, foster-based organizations, and public charities focused on keeping pets and people together who want to increase inclusivity and provide a welcoming environment. The Challenge is an opportunity for organizations to pilot a new practice or expand upon a current program that has already been started, with the goal of increasing inclusivity and providing a welcoming environment for all staff (paid and unpaid) and community members. Welcoming practices that will be considered are those that actively make an organization’s culture more open, equitable, and inclusive for the community. If accepted to participate in the Open Arms Challenge, an organization will implement the new or expanded activity it has chosen during the Challenge month. After submitting a participation report, organizations are considered to win a grant from the Challenge’s funding partners. U.S.-based government agencies or public charities that focus on dogs and cats and are a member of Shelter Animals Count are eligible to apply.

Application deadline: Applications will be accepted from February 12 through March 15, 2024.
Grant amount: $100,000 to $300,000 (for up to two years)
Description: The Jensen Project is dedicated to ending sexual violence. The Jensen Project’s GrantTank program is a funding opportunity and a think tank for anti-trafficking nonprofits in the United States that serve adult female survivors of sex trafficking. GrantTank will fund selected programs and host gatherings for the leadership of chosen organizations. The focus for 2024 is on organizations that serve adult female survivors of sex trafficking through housing or economic empowerment, have proprietary technology to advance the movement, or are working on Equality Model policymaking. Nonprofit organizations headquartered in the United States that have been established for at least two years and have a core mission of contributing to the fight against sex trafficking are eligible to apply. Visit thejensenproject.org/granttank for full details on qualifications and application information.

Application deadline: None for concept notes
Description: The Henry Luce Foundation’s American Art Program aims to advance the role of the visual arts in a more open and equitable society, and supports museum projects that foreground diverse experiences and perspectives ​​to challenge accepted histories, elevate underrepresented voices, and promote critical conversations. Through its Responsive Grants, the American Art Program supports a wide range of collection-based projects that advance the understanding and presentation of art of the United States. Eligible collection areas include paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, decorative arts, naïve and outsider art, traditional and studio crafts, architecture, design, and all aspects of Native American arts. Applicants should consider the reinvigoration of collections for new and established audiences as a primary goal, and initiate or apply new research or fresh approaches to collection-focused documentation, publications, reinterpretation, reinstallations, and in-house or touring exhibitions. 

Application deadline: March 8, 2024
Grant amount: Up to $10,000
Description:  The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) and the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) are currently jointly accepting letters of inquiry from Arab American nonprofits for general operating support. Support will be provided to Arab American organizations that fall within the following two focus areas: 1) Arts, Culture, and Media and 2) Human Services, Education, and Advocacy. Eligible applicants must be a U.S.-based Arab American nonprofit serving the Arab American community and have valid 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. (NNAAC’s funding will only support NNAAC member organizations, while CAAP’s funding will support both NNAAC member organizations and other Arab American organizations.)

Application deadline: March 5, 2024, for letters of inquiry
Geographic scope: New York
Grant amount: $50,000 to $300,000
Description: The New York Health Foundation (NYHealth) has a broad mission to improve the health of all New Yorkers, especially people of color and others who have been historically marginalized. NYHealth is currently accepting applications through the Special Projects Fund for projects addressing important and emerging healthcare and public health issues that fall outside of the Foundation’s three priority areas of primary care, healthy food-healthy lives, and veterans’ health. The Foundation seeks to partner with a wide range of organizations implementing innovative projects that can improve health at the local, regional, or statewide levels. Grants may support an organization’s efforts to replicate and expand successful project models, broaden the scope of its work, deepen knowledge in the health field, improve healthcare practices, or address a timely health-related issue affecting a significant number of individuals living in New York. Although projects that have impact within one organization or community are eligible, this request for proposals places emphasis on initiatives that have a large-scale regional or statewide impact on New York’s health system.

Application deadline: March 31 and September 30, annually
Geographic scope: Indiana
Grant amount: $1,000 to $15,000
Description: The SIA Foundation, a charitable foundation funded by Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations and entities within Indiana that improve the quality of life and help meet the needs of Indiana’s residents. The Foundation provides grants for specific capital projects in the areas of arts and culture, education, and health and welfare. Funding must be used for capital investments in facilities, equipment, or real estate (non-operating expenses). Nonprofit organizations, education institutions, and governmental or quasi-governmental entities based in Indiana are eligible to apply.

Application deadline: March 9, 2024
Geographic scope: New Mexico
Grant amount: Up to $10,000
Description: The New Mexico Children’s Foundation (NMCF) provides funding to small, community-based nonprofit programs designed to foster the physical, emotional, educational, and social development of New Mexico’s children and their families. This granting cycle, NMCF is prioritizing funding for programs that help to address and support social and emotional development and diminish barriers to educational opportunities and literacy attainment. New Mexican 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve children and have annual total budgets under $400,000 are eligible to apply. Priority is on, but not limited to, rural New Mexican community programs addressing unmet needs for children 18 or younger. Organizations may request support for a new or existing program serving an unmet need, as well as for operating expenses.

Application deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for events occurring on or before December 31, 2024.
Geographic scope: Louisiana
Grant amount: The maximum award is $25,000, with an average award of $5,000.
Description: Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) invests in communities and ideas, builds partnerships, and transforms policies and systems for an equitable, stronger Louisiana. With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, FFL’s Solidarity Fund aims to empower Louisiana-based nonprofits, focusing on those excluded from access to flexible funding due to systemic barriers prevalent in the Deep South, such as racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and heterosexism. The Fund is a critical part of FFL's strategy to dismantle racial hierarchies and promote collective liberation and self-determination for People of the Global Majority. Louisiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, or those with a fiscal sponsorship, can apply for funds to be used for a variety of initiatives, including fundraisers, learning opportunities, convenings, community events, and awareness campaigns. Proposed activities should align with FFL’s mission, vision, and program areas (climate justice, racial justice, and criminal justice), as well as the strategic priorities of arts and culture, economic opportunity, and community leadership and wisdom.

Application deadline: February 21, 2024
Description: The People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Program highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative technology-based projects that achieve the mutual goals of improved quality of life, economic prosperity, and environmental protection. P3 encourages interdisciplinary collaborations across academic departments and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines to devise innovative solutions to environmental and public health challenges in the U.S., including those in small, rural, tribal, or underserved communities. P3 supports STEM education through hands-on experience and training that brings classroom learning to life, while also allowing student teams to create tangible changes in their communities. Research areas include clean and healthy air, clean and safe water, safeguarding and revitalizing communities, and ensuring safety of chemicals.

Application deadline: February 28, 2024
Description: The Rural Business Development Grant program promotes economic development and job creation projects that serve rural areas. The program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for projects that benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Additional fund uses include acquisition or development of property, buildings, and related equipment and infrastructure; pollution control and abatement; capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for startups and working capital; distance adult learning for job training and advancement; rural transportation improvement; community economic development; technology-based economic development; feasibility studies and business plans; leadership and entrepreneur training; rural business incubators; and long-term business strategic planning.

$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 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.

Join us for the #LearnGrants Online Summit on March 8 from 12 to 2 PM EST as our lineup of trainers shares some of their best tips and strategies to support your grant-related work. What better way is there to celebrate International Grant Professionals Day (#IGPD) than by spending time polishing your knowledge with grant professionals from around the world?!

If you have been in the grantseeking space for a while, you’ve probably had stakeholders approach you with a grant application and say, “We need to apply for this . . .” Taking your grant strategy to the next level requires you to identify and prioritize the opportunities with the highest return on investment.

Join Foundant Technologies and GrantStation President Alice Ruhnke to see how to create a customized Decision-Making Matrix to help your nonprofit determine the best funding opportunities to pursue.

Learn more or register now for this free education webinar on Thursday, February 22, at 10 AM MT. 

Are you curious about how recent developments will affect nonprofits in the coming year? If so, the article “Nonprofit Trends That Will Dominate 2024” may be of interest. Written by 19 Forbes Nonprofit Council members, this article shares their predictions on the top trends that will affect the nonprofit sector in 2024. 

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.

Webinar date: February 15, 2024, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Description: A donor-approved case for support is a powerful tool that can drive your messaging and improve fundraising results. During this webinar, Melissa Sais and Kevin Wallace from CampaignCounsel.org will show you how to craft a donor-approved case for support which combines both internal insights and external viewpoints. This approach will help you develop a comprehensive document that encapsulates your role in your community and articulates persuasive reasons for donors to contribute to your cause.

Don’t forget to check out the additional Funding Spotlights on our homepage—you don't want to miss them! Current opportunities include the Earth Rising Foundation (U.S.-based organizations and individuals working around the globe), the Diverse City Fund (U.S. local: Washington, DC), the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation: Inclusive Local Economies (Canada local: Toronto, ON), and the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program (low- and middle-income countries).