GrantStation Insider: November 2, 2023

Application deadline: December 19, 2023
Geographic scope: United States, including U.S. territories and tribal nations
Grant amount: Each grantee will receive a $25,000 grant for the creation and development of a new, live performance project, a $5,000 unrestricted general operating grant, and a $1,000 microgrant to redistribute to another artist in their community.
Description: The MAP Fund invests in artistic production as the critical foundation of imagining and co-creating a more equitable and vibrant society. The 2024 grant cycle will provide grants to more than 90 new, live performance projects across the United States, including U.S. territories and Indigenous tribal nations. Support is provided for dance, theater, and music projects, as well as multi-disciplinary and experimental projects that may be difficult to categorize but are clearly intended to result in new, live performance work. Applications are encouraged from artists whose performance-making is radical, bold, experimental, and risky in its design, execution, and community resonance.

Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Grant amount: Up to $1 million
Description: The Google Cybersecurity Clinics Fund, a Google initiative in collaboration with the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, will support U.S.-based colleges, universities, and community colleges with up to $1 million each in funding to increase access and opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in cybersecurity. Support will be provided to selected institutions to host cybersecurity clinics that train students from diverse backgrounds to strengthen the digital defenses of under-resourced critical public infrastructure organizations, like small hospitals, nonprofits, local governments, small businesses, and other community organizations. The supported clinics will address two simultaneous needs: building cybersecurity capacity and resilience in their communities and training the next generation of cybersecurity talent with real-world job experience. In addition to funding, selected organizations will also receive access to Google’s technical expertise and certificates. Any nonprofit or public higher education institution is eligible to apply.

Application deadline: December 15, annually
Grant amount: $5,000 to $15,000
Description: Temper of the Times Foundation promotes the use of standard marketing concepts for increasing awareness about wildland conservation and restoration initiatives. The Foundation provides funds to underwrite advertising designed to promote the conservation and restoration of native wildlife, plants, and ecosystems in the United States. Grants may be used to fund the production of print, radio, or television ads; to pay for advertising space or airtime; or to produce or distribute pamphlets, books, videos, or press packets. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

Application deadline: The REDF Accelerator reviews applications on a rolling basis to fill its two annual cohorts. (Applications are no longer being considered for the winter 2024 cohort, but are still being accepted for the summer 2024 cohort.)
Geographic scope: United States, including U.S. territories
Description: REDF provides grantmaking, lending, and leadership development to employment social enterprises—businesses achieving transformative social impact by providing jobs, training, and support to people breaking through barriers to employment. The REDF Accelerator, designed specifically for the leaders of employment social enterprises, is a five-month, hands-on program to learn and put into practice the methods, skills, and tools needed to define and reach key goals in the enterprise’s business. At the end of the program, participant organizations receive an unrestricted grant of $20,000 to help implement their learning. Mission-driven, revenue-generating businesses (both nonprofit and for-profit) that serve individuals striving to build a better life and overcome employment barriers may apply. The first step in the application process is to complete the Accelerator’s interest form. (REDF also provides grant funding opportunities through its Growth Portfolio to employment social enterprises that have participated in the REDF Accelerator.)

Application deadline: December 6, 2023
Geographic scope: Oregon
Grant amount: $100,000 to $200,000, for up to two years
Description: The Oregon Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative (OIRFC), a partnership between The Collins Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, and Meyer Memorial Trust, supports local organizations responding to emerging and urgent issues impacting immigrants and refugees across Oregon. OIRFC is currently accepting applications through the Collaborative Movement Building Call for Proposals, which aims to better support immigrant and refugee communities in building a movement that makes Oregon a more welcoming and just place for all. The call for proposals supports movement building efforts including amplifying voices, challenging and changing narratives, building collaboration capacity, changing laws and policy, developing new structures, and leveraging partnerships and relationships. Types of support include capacity building, project support, and general operating support. (Applications are also accepted on a rolling basis through OIRFC’s general application, which supports basic services and legal services.)

Application deadline: None for letters of inquiry
Geographic scope: Mississippi
Description: The mission of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is to improve the health and wellness of all Mississippians, with a focus on healthy eating and exercise. The Foundation provides support for health and wellness initiatives offered by nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and municipalities throughout the state. Specific areas of interest include health promotion programs targeting increased health literacy, healthy eating, and exercise; community-based programs that promote health, quality of life, and well-being; and school-based programs that promote health learning and healthy lifestyles among students and their families and school personnel.

Application deadline: None
Geographic scope: Communities served by the company in FL, IN, KY, NC, OH, and SC
Grant amount: Up to $20,000
Description: The Duke Energy Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in communities served by the company, including communities in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The Foundation’s Local Impact Grants provide support in the following areas: Vibrant economies grants focus on workforce development training for jobs vital to the energy economy, community revitalization and local economic development efforts, economic recovery, and energy and engineering education for K-12 students and teachers. Climate resiliency grants focus on environmental projects supporting land conservation, clean water, and biodiversity of plant and animal species; environmental resiliency projects that prepare communities for and mitigate against the effects of climate change; and natural disaster preparedness and response. Justice, equity, and inclusion grants focus on thriving natural environments in historically underserved communities, programs supporting a “just transition” for communities transitioning to cleaner energy generation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives supporting upward mobility.

Application deadline: None for letters of inquiry
Geographic scope: Connecticut
Grant amount: $25,000 to $135,000
Description: The mission of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund is to achieve equity in education in Connecticut by working with those affected and inspiring all to end racism and poverty. The Fund’s Equity Grants support organizations working to transform key systems by building community power and disrupting institutional inequity. Priority is given to the following work to advance educational equity: anti-racism curriculum work and teacher training, equitable early childhood education systems, equitable school climates, equitable school financing, and recruiting teachers of color. Given the broader ecosystem in which education operates, support is also provided to groups working to advance equity in criminal justice, economic justice, health equity, housing equity, and immigration justice. Supported organizations should be led by BIPOC individuals and by people with lived experience in the community they serve.

Application deadline: December 19, 2023
Description: Save America’s Treasures grants from the Historic Preservation Fund provide preservation or conservation assistance to nationally significant historic properties and collections. Properties can include historic districts, buildings, sites, structures, and objects, and collections can include artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art. Grants are awarded through a competitive process and require a dollar-for-dollar, non-federal match.

Application deadline: December 7, 2023
Description: The purpose of the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is to increase the knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. The Program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only increase access to school meals for low-income children, but also to dramatically improve their quality.

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 Foundant Technologies and Darian Rodriguez Heyman for an interactive workshop to ensure that more than half of your proposals are accepted and funded in full! 

In this session, you will learn how to:

• convey the impact of your work;
• write compelling proposals;
• identify your best prospects; and,
• avoid common pitfalls that nonprofit grantseekers encounter.

Whether you’re an experienced executive director or an emerging professional new to the field, this webinar is for you! Learn more or register now for this free education webinar on Wednesday, November 15 at 10 AM MT. 

Are you a fundraiser in the U.S. who is curious about giving trends among wealthy individuals? If so, you may want to read The 2023 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households, which was recently released by Bank of America in partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. This biennial report looks at the philanthropic behaviors of affluent households in the United States in 2022. It examines what motivates affluent Americans to donate their time and money and looks at standout data on affluent women, religious organizations, and generational philanthropy.

Webinar date: November 6, 2023, 2:00 to 2:45 PM Eastern Time
Description: As a grant professional, you have a challenging job. The details, tasks, and scope of work to write successful applications can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s vital you don’t try to do everything yourself. Building a team can help you increase the number of applications you can submit, improve your applications by using the expertise and perspectives of various stakeholders, and reduce burnout. During this TargetEd session, Alice Ruhnke will provide practical tools and resources you can use to build a successful proposal writing team.

Webinar date: November 8, 2023, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Description: When you dedicate your career to seeking grants, you’re bound to consider approaching the most well-known foundations. You may wonder what it takes, if your organization will be competitive, and when is the right time to apply. During this webinar, Susan Schaefer of Resource Partners will lay out a roadmap that creates momentum toward those most elusive foundations. With a career dedicated to securing major grants and helping many others do the same, Susan will provide you with insights built on years of observing what works best in making it to your industry’s most sought-after prospects.

Webinar date: November 9, 2023, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Description: If the most active member of your team were to walk away tomorrow, would your organization come to a screeching halt or begin a chaotic scramble to figure out the next steps? Are you prepared to guide your organization through expected and unexpected team member transitions? If the thought of losing and replacing essential team members makes you nervous, this session is for you. Succession planning is the best way to avoid leadership gaps and ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your mission. During this webinar, Marie Palacios of Funding for Good will show you strategies to ensure that your mission can move forward productively, even during transitions.

Does your organization struggle with the grant application process? Do you spend too much time writing proposals that do not get funded? Do you want to take your grantwriting to the next level? If so, then GrantStation’s new online course, Turbocharge Your Grantwriting Skills, is right for you! GrantStation’s President Alice Ruhnke will introduce the proposal writing framework that will help save you time, write better proposals, and get funded more frequently. Alice will guide you through the entire grant proposal process, step-by-step. You’ll learn how to craft an organizational background, a compelling statement of need, a process and outcome evaluation, an approach, and a budget—while learning from detailed videos, downloads, examples, and other resources. 

There are two ways to take Turbocharge Your Grantwriting Skills: an individual, self-paced learning track and a collaborative-learning track. You’ll have access to:

• seven complete units with over four hours of short, detailed video lessons breaking down every section you’ll find in a typical grant proposal;
• downloads, examples, and other resources you can use to streamline your proposal writing process based on best practices; and, 
• facilitated small-group sessions where you can ask questions, work with other nonprofit professionals, and reinforce what you’ve learned (collaborative learning track only).

The upcoming collaborative learning session begins on November 10, 2023; the individual self-paced track is always available. All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and five CFRE credits. Questions? Contact David.Gates@GrantStation.com.

As a child, I had this weird obsession with typing. My parents would pick up old typewriters for me to play around with. It was something about the tactile experience of the keys—the give and take of that downward push—along with the resounding click of a letter being committed to posterity. As I grew older, I became more fascinated in the words produced, and with the idea that they had to be the right words. Eventually, this helped lead me to become a transcriptionist.

And from there, I found my way to GrantStation. As I work through our funder profiles, I use that same mentality I used with the typewriters of my youth. I want the information to be right, so that our Members can find the right leads for their programs and organizations. I came to GrantStation about six years ago. I was working part-time while finishing my degree in environmental science and came aboard full-time after I graduated. GrantStation was an early adopter of the telecommuting model, and I enjoyed the ability to work with my chinchilla, Chewie, nearby.

I work in our U.S. database, where I maintain our funder profiles and search for new funders to add. I also oversee the profiles of funders that do not have websites. In addition, I help with our monthly webinar tours of the GrantStation website and research federal opportunities for the GrantStation Insider newsletter. Contact me if you want to talk about fluffy animals or the funders in our database. I particularly enjoy questions about the IRS Form 990. Until then, I'll be over here, typing away (not on a typewriter, thankfully).

Have you visited our homepage this week? Additional local, national, Canadian, and international funding opportunities are featured there weekly! Current opportunities include Tee It Up for the Troops (U.S. national), Trees Forever (U.S. local: IL, IA, and WI), Toronto Pearson International Airport: Propeller Project (Canada: the Toronto, ON, area), and the Yves Rocher Foundation: Women of the Earth Awards (international).