Foundation Center - Funding Information Network
Welcome to Springfield City Library - Funding Information Network Newsletter
 
"Find the knowledge you need to make a difference."
- Foundation Center
 
 
Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday
and a very happy New Year!
Recent RFP & Grant Announcements
A Little HOPE
Supports organizations that provide bereavement support services and grief counseling to children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or loved one.To be considered, applicants must e-mail (no telephone calls) the name of their program, website address, names of executive director and program director, and location of the program. No other information is needed or will be processed. Strong preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to the use of community trained volunteers. Grant award amounts are based on the scope and budget of the project. Deadline: Introductory e-mails are accepted year round. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a complete application. More Information
 
ASM Materials Education Foundation
Through its Living in a Material World program, the foundation will award twenty grants of $500 each to hands-on, curriculum-based K-12 projects that enhance student awareness of the materials around them. The purpose of the grants is to enhance awareness of materials science and the role that materials scientists play in society. Any K-12 teacher in the United States is eligible to apply. Deadline: May 25 More Information
 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation
Accepting applications for organizational capacity building - the Catalyst Fund supports the efforts of community-based health care organizations to strengthen their capacity to expand access to health care in Massachusetts. The fund awards one-year, nonrenewable grants of up to $5,000 to cover the capacity-building expenses of community health centers, clinics, mobile health units, and community-based organizations in Massachusetts. Grant amounts will be determined by the size and scope of the proposed project. Examples of activities that could be supported include but are not limited to hiring a grant writer, technology enhancements (automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, are not eligible), hosting community meetings to engage stakeholders and constituents, engaging in leadership development opportunities for staff or board members, and the production of marketing or outreach materials. Requests for other types of capacity-building activities will be considered. Grants will only be made to Massachusetts-based organizations that serve the healthcare needs of uninsured and low-income residents of the state. No grants will be made to individuals, for-profit entities, or hospitals. Grants also will not be made to support social service programming. Preference is given to organizations and health centers with limited resources. Deadline: Rolling More Information
 
Boulware Foundation
Seeks to Increase Economic Opportunities for Women and Girls. The foundation's goal is to fund domestic and international programs aimed at empowering women economically and moving them toward financial freedom. The foundation awards grants of up to $10,000 in support of projects or programs aligned with the foundation's areas of interest, including financial literacy education, workforce and vocational skill development, microfinance, and entrepreneurship. In every case, women and girls must be the targeted beneficiary population. Deadline: Rolling More Information
 
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Mission Grants 2019 - Mission grants provide support for a wide range of programs and projects, administered by nonprofit organizations that address the diverse needs of residents of the Pioneer Valley. Program will open early January 2019 All applicants must schedule a phone call discussion or attend a small group in-person session with the Mission Program Officer by February 8, 2019. The opportunity to sign-up for a session will take place starting January 2, 2019 and will close on February 8, 2019. More Information
 
Crayola
In collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, is accepting applications for the 2019 Creative Leadership Grant program. The program will award up to twenty grants of $2,500 each for innovative, creative leadership team-building programs in elementary schools. In addition, each program will receive an in-kind grant of Crayola products valued at $1,000. Applications will only be accepted from principals who are members of NAESP. Deadline: June 21 Crayola will begin accepting applications on December 1, 2018. More Information
 
Eos Foundation
Accepting applications from Massachusetts schools/districts and charter public schools for its After the Bell (ATB), Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program, which aims to combat childhood hunger and improve student learning. ATB BIC is proven to increase access in and participation in school breakfast. Benefits of the program include lower absentee and tardy rates, fewer morning nurses visits and behavioral problems, and higher academic achievement. The majority of Massachusetts schools operating ATB BIC maintain 80 percent or more participation rates, drawing down USDA reimbursements that sustain the program beyond grants from private funders like Eos. 
Through the program, Eos provides one-time grants of up to $10,000 to eligible Massachusetts schools/districts and charter public schools interested in making breakfast part of their school day by launching or expanding ATB BIC programming. Grant amounts are based on school enrollment: 1) $5,000 for schools with up to 300 students; 2) $7,500 for schools with between 301 and 600 students; and $10,000 for schools with more than 601 students.Deadline: February 25  More Information
 
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Accepting applications from public schools and public libraries anywhere in the United States and its territories to its mini-grants program, which supports projects that foster creative expression, collaboration, and interaction with a diverse community. Through the program, mini-grants of up to $500 will be awarded to educators in support of special activities and events outside the standard curriculum. Projects funded in the past have included murals, pen pal groups, quilts, theater productions, student newspapers and other publications, intergenerational activities, and programs that bring disparate communities together. Any public school or library is eligible to apply, as are preschool Head Start programs, Private and parochial schools and charter schools are not eligible. Applicants must be located in the U.S. or one of its commonwealths or territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam. Only one application from a library or school will be considered. Deadline: March 31 More Information
 
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
Accepting Applications - Established in 2001 by author T.A. Barron, the Barron Prize honors outstanding young leaders the ages of 8 and 18 who have had a significant positive impact on people, their communities, and the environment. Each year, up to twenty winners each receive $10,000 to support their service work or higher education. Since its inception, the Barron Prize has awarded more than half a million dollars to hundreds of young leaders and has won the support of the National Geographic Education Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the National Youth Leadership Council, among other organizations. The Barron Prize welcomes applications from public-spirited young people who are between the ages of 8 and 18; a permanent resident of and currently residing in the United States or Canada; currently working on an inspiring service project or have done so within the past twelve months; and working as an individual. The Barron Prize does not accept applications from large groups of young people. Deadline: The prize will begin accepting applications on January 7, 2019. More Information
 
J.M. Kaplan Fund
Supports nonfiction book publishing about the urban experience; natural and historic resources; art, architecture, and design; cultural history; and civil liberties and other public issues. The program seeks work that appeals to an informed general audience; demonstrates evidence of high standards in editing, design, and production; promises a reasonable shelf life; might not otherwise achieve top quality or even come into being; and "represents a contribution without which we would be the poorer."
Individual grants will range from $1,500 to $15,000 and may be used to support writing, research, editing, design, indexing, photography, illustration, and/or printing and binding. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations. Trade publishers and public agencies may apply for grants in partnership with an eligible nonprofit sponsor. Deadline: March 1  More Information
 
Kessler Foundation 
Accepting Concept Applications from nonprofit organizations for its annual Signature Employment grants program, which supports new pilot initiatives, demonstration projects, and social ventures that lead to the generation of new ideas that help solve the high unemployment and underemployment of individuals with disabilities. For 2019, Kessler Foundation has a special interest in use-benefit planning, workforce incentives, and part-time employment aimed at helping people with disabilities obtain employment or re-enter into the job market following injury. The foundation hopes that a better understanding of how to manage current benefits and coordination with other public benefit systems (e.g., housing vouchers, SNAP, TANF) will dispel the myths around the disabled and increase their employment participation. Any innovative concept is eligible for funding. Grants of up to $500,000 over two years will be awarded in support of qualified pilot projects. Signature grants are not intended to fund project expansions or bring proven projects to new communities. Innovation lies at the core of all Signature Employment grants. A 15 percent match of the total request amount is required, with the additional percentage added to the total project budget. Matching funds must be newly acquired and available for the grant project. Any organization recognized as tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code may apply for funding. This includes nonprofit agencies, public or private schools, and public institutions such as universities and government agencies (state, local, federal) in the United States or any of its territories. Deadline: All interested candidates must submit an online concept application no later than February 22, 2019. Upon review, select candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal. More Information
 
Lead2Feed Challenge
Student teams from public, private, or charter middle or high schools are invited to enter. Each team must create and execute a service-learning project that raises awareness of hunger by establishing a goal that attempts to solve a local, statewide, or national hunger-related issue (i.e., helping an existing charity or creating a project whose aim is to address or solve a hunger-related problem locally or nationally); develop an action plan to achieve the goal; and demonstrate leadership. Each entry also must include a written summary or video overview of the project as well as quantifiable results. First-, second-, and third-place prizes as well as honorable mentions in the amounts of $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000, respectively, will be awarded. In addition, technology grants in the amount of $2,000 (first place), $1,000 (second place), and $1,000 (third place) will be awarded. To be eligible, entrants must be located in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Guam and be full-time students in grades 6 to 12 at a public, private, or charter middle school or high school. Each team must comprise at least three students and a sponsoring teacher or adult adviser. Deadline: May 31 More Information
 
LEF Foundation
Through is Production Grants program, the foundation is accepting Letters of Inquiry for its Moving Image Fund from New England-based film projects in the production phase of development. Grants of up to $15,000 may be used for shooting footage and sound, early stage editing, equipment costs, materials, travel, and staffing (creative, technical, or otherwise). To be eligible, projects must be long format (forty minutes or more) and the primary creative personnel (director and/or producer) must reside in New England. Priority will be given to smaller scale projects with budgets under $400,000. Deadline: LOIs must be received no later than January 25, 2019. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application. More Information
 
Mary Kay Foundation
Accepting Applications for Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program. The foundation makes grants to organizations in the United States that assist survivors of domestic violence by operating emergency shelters.To that end, the foundation will award a grant to at least one domestic violence shelter in every state. Any remaining funds will be distributed based on state population. Funds awarded by the foundation may be applied to the applicant's operating budget (with the exception of staff travel). Only applicants operating an emergency shelter (immediate overnight housing) for survivors of domestic violence are eligible for a grant. Applicants must be recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) under the Internal Revenue Code. Deadline: Grant applications will be available at the Mary Kay Foundation website from January 15 to April 30, 2019. Grants will be announced October in observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. More Information
 
Mass Cultural Council
Apply Now - Big Yellow School Bus - Grants to help schools meet the transportation costs of educational field trips to non-profit cultural institutions and activities in the arts, sciences, and humanities across Massachusetts. Deadline: Rolling
 
January 5 (Applications Open) - Festivals Program - Applications reviewed on a "first-received, first-reviewed" basis. Regional diversity will be taken into consideration as part of the application review process. Funding for festivals taking place between March 1, 2019  and August 31, 2019.
 
January 28 (Deadline) - Artist Fellowship - Applications in the categories of Film & Video, Music Composition, and Photography
 
May 1 (Deadline) - Cultural Investment Portfolio – Project Grants - One year grants for specific cultural public programming.
 
Mass Humanities
March 25  (Inquiry Form Deadline) - Project Grant - Supports public humanities programming in almost all formats, including lectures, reading-and-discussion series, exhibits, walking tours, film pre-production and distribution projects, and oral history projects.
 
April 1 (Inquiry Form Deadline) - Local History Grant - Grants to support small Massachusetts organizations in working with their historical collections: Research Inventory Grants and Scholar in Residence Grants.
 
April 1 (Inquiry Form Deadline) - Discussion Grants - Grants are made for public humanities projects that center around moderated discussions—along with any other humanities-based project format.
 
Massachusetts Service Alliance
Accepting Applications for 2019-2020 Host Site Partners
MSA partners with nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and public entities to reinvigorate civic involvement to help address the Commonwealth's most urgent needs. Agencies can apply to host 2-4 full-time members or 3-6 half-time members for a 10.5 month term of service in one of our designated focus areas: economic opportunity, education (early or K-12), health/nutrition, veterans' support, and youth development/youth violence prevention.  
 
Commonwealth Corps Members make a difference in Massachusetts by:
  • Providing direct service,
  • Building capacity of local organizations, and
  • Recruiting and mobilizing additional volunteers.
 
The 2019-2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) can be found here. 
  • Click here to access the online application system. Applications must be submitted online by Wednesday, January 23, 2019 by 5 p.m. (EST).
  • Interested applicants are also encouraged to submit an intent to apply (here) by Monday, January 7, 2019 (not required but strongly encouraged).
 
New England Foundation for the Arts
Accepting applications from performing arts presenters for its New England States Touring grant program. The program is designed to support presentations by New England-based performing artists from outside a presenter’s state. Grants are available in amounts of up to 50 percent of the artists' fees and typically range from $400 to $4,000. (Requests for less than $400 will not be considered.) Artists' fees may include costs associated with creating new work, travel, and per diem. To be eligible, applicants must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, school, federally-recognized Indian tribal government, or unit of state or local government. (Nonprofit organizations do not have to be an arts organization. Organizations that do not have a federal tax identification number may apply if part of an official government agency.) In addition, applicant organizations must be based in one of the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont). Deadline: Applications must be received no later than April 1, 2019, for projects beginning on or after July 1, 2019. More Information
 
New England Grassroots Environment Fund
Accepting applications for its 2019 Grow Grant program. Through the program, Grow grants of up to $3,500 will be awarded to established groups that are ready to expand the scope of their work. Grants are intended to support community groups in New England that represent the most exciting energy in the environmental movement and are not being reached by traditional funders. Examples of Grow grant projects include a community garden looking to initiate a food policy council and take on food security challenges in a community; a local energy committee planning to implement a community-wide energy plan; or a sustainability committee working to establish an initiative to support local resources. To be eligible, applicants must be a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont with no more than two full-time paid staff and an operating budget of under $100,000. Deadline: March 15 More Information
 
PeopleForBikes
Accepting Letters of Interest for its Community Grant Program. Through the annual program, grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to important and influential projects that leverage federal funding to build momentum for bicycling in communities across the United States. Projects can include bike paths and rail trails, as well as mountain bike trails, bike parks, BMX facilities, and large-scale bicycle advocacy initiatives. To be eligible, applicants must be a nonprofit organization with a focus on bicycling, active transportation, or community development; a city or county agency or department; or a state or federal agency working locally. PeopleForBikes only funds projects in the United States. Deadline: Letters of Interest must be received no later than January 18. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by April 5. PeopleForBikes will begin accepting LOIs on December 10. More Information
 
Steelcase Education
Invites applications for Active Learning Center Grants program. Each grant includes furniture, design review, installation, onsite training, and a Learning Environment Evaluation measurement tool to elevate connection, improve engagement, and spur collective success of students and staff. Applicants may choose from four classroom styles for up to thirty students. Eligible classrooms include those in grades 6-12, colleges, and universities. Deadline: Feb 1, 2019 More Information
 
Tufts Health Plan Foundation
Accepting applications for its James Roosevelt, Jr., Leadership Fund.Grants will be awarded in support of community leaders working with multiple stakeholders toward a common goal in communities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Projects can include current or new activities that directly or indirectly lead to more age-friendly communities and address barriers to success in the most vulnerable communities. The foundation will consider the intersection between policy and practice as well as collaborative community work in areas of the built environment, transportation, housing, social and civic participation and inclusion, employment, communication and information, and community support and health services. To be eligible, organizations must be considered tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and serve communities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Deadline: Letters of Intent must be received no later than January 23. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by March 29. More Information
 
United Bank Foundation
Grant Application for Grants of $5,000 or more - The United Bank Foundation Massachusetts is committed to improving the quality of life for individuals and families in the communities served by United Bank in Massachusetts. Special consideration is given to organizations and programs which promote and support community development and benefit disadvantaged or low to moderate income individuals and families in the areas of: Affordable Housing, Community Service, economic Development, Neighborhood Revitalization or Stabilization. Deadline: January 15 More Information
 
Verizon
Provides grants to eligible recipients. Our funding priorities are STEM education for K-12 youth and domestic violence education and prevention for youth, women and older adults. New applications are by invitation only.  You can contact your local community relations manager to see whether you are eligible to apply or learn other ways to get involved in your community. Stephanie Lee - stephanie.s.lee@verizon.com
 
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Accepting applications from military service members who have been deployed in the last six years and have run into unexpected financial difficulties as a result of deployment or other military-related activity. Since the program's inception, Unmet Needs has distributed over $6.75 million in assistance to more than 4,300 qualified military families, with nearly half of those funds going directly toward basic housing needs. The program provides financial assistance of up to $1,500 to assist with basic life needs in the form of a grant — not a loan — so no repayment is required. Eligible expenses include housing and vehicle payments; utility or phone bills; food and incidentals; children's clothing, food, diapers, school, and childcare; and medical bills, prescriptions, and eyeglasses. The hardship must be the result of deployment, a military pay issue, or military-related illness or injury (not civil legal, domestic, misconduct, or any other issue that is the result of spousal separation or divorce; or financial mismanagement by self or others, or due to bankruptcy). To be eligible, the applicant must be a service member or eligible dependent listed under the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Deadline: Open More Information
 
  
Do you know of an organization that could benefit from any of this information? Please share and support our community!


 
Upcoming Events, Classes & Workshops
Nonprofit Tech For Good
WEBINAR - 10 Website & Email Marketing Best Practices for Small Nonprofits - Packed with practical, how-to advice and customized for small nonprofits on a limited budget, this webinar will stress the importance of professional website design and strategic email marketing and fundraising.
 
Date: January 8, 2019 | 1-2 PM
Location: Online
Cost: Free - Register Online
 
The Women's Fund
YWI Mentor Match - January is national mentoring month, and we’re happy to announce our 2nd Annual Mentor Match for the Young Women’s Initiative (YWI). This event engages emerging young leaders in our YWI program with seasoned professionals. The Mentor Match is designed to connect member of the Women’s Fund community to share resources, experiences, and advice – integral to achieving leadership and personal goals. The Mentor Match is a networking event with round-table discussions and we’re looking for professional women in all industries who would like to share their experiences and meet young women between the ages of 14 and 24. All members of the Women’s Fund community are invited to attend.
 
Date: January 15, 2019 | 5:30 - 8:00 PM 
Location: Community Room, 3rd Floor 1350 Main Street, Springfield MA
Cost:  Free but please pre-register as seating is limited
 
The Foundation Center
WEBINAR - Catalysts for Change: Non Governing Boards as Pipelines for Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Leadership - Join us to learn how to leverage non-governing boards (such as junior boards, young professional boards, or advisory councils) to build pipelines for diversity and cultivate the next generation of talented leaders at your nonprofit.
 
Date: January 31, 2019 | 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Location: Online
Cost: Free - Register Online
 
WEBINAR - Introduction to Project Budgets - Are you ready to start fundraising for your project or idea, but don't know what and how much to ask for? If preparing a budget for your foundation grant is holding you back, come learn the basic elements of how to draft a project budget with confidence.
 
Date: February 13, 2019 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Location: Online
Cost: Free - Register Online
 
Resources
Foundation Directory
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Springfield City Library
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GrantSpace.org
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Material contained in this newsletter is intended for informational purposes only. Please check with each organization for specific details.
 
 

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