Foundation Center - Funding Information Network
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Global Day of Unicorn Unity - Livestream
Tuesday, August 28, 2018 | 1:00 pm EST | FREE
 
The newly released book Unicorns Unite is a playful, whimsical journey through a challenging conversation about the way foundations and nonprofits relate today, and why we're stuck in the status quo. Foundation Center's west coast office will host an interactive live discussion with social sector professionals in conversation with two of Unicorns Unite's authors, covering the sector's hard work and shared aspirations for a vibrant, thriving planet and communities.
 
Register
 
 
Recent RFP & Grant Announcements
AARP Foundation
Has issued a Request for Proposals from organizations with innovative, evidence-based solutions positioned to boost social connectedness and food security among hundreds of thousands of older low-income adults.The foundation has established key objectives for increasing the number of people it serves and achieving specific outcomes by 2020, including working to improve food security for 770,000 older, low-income adults as measured by the USDA Adult Food Security Survey, and sustained improvement in social connectedness over twelve months for 55 percent of 500,000 low-income 50+ older adults as measured by the Duke Social Support Index.Grant amounts will be determined on a program-by-program basis. All grant recipients must be able to match their grant on a one-to-one basis (cash or in-kind) from one or more funding sources. Applicants should be a national or regional organization with built-in distribution channels such as affiliates, members, chapters, or collaborative partnerships. Deadline: September 28 More Information
  
Ben & Jerry's Foundation
Seeks proposals for Social and Environmental Justice Projects. One-year grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to nonprofit grassroots community-organizing groups in the United States to advance social and environmental justice and support sustainable and just food systems. Grants can be used to support both programming or operational costs. The foundation will only consider proposals from grassroots constituent-led organizations with annual budgets under $500,000 that are using direct action, grassroots, and community-organizing strategies to accomplish their goals. The foundation will begin accepting applications on August 2. Deadline: Pre-proposals must be received no later than October 15. Upon review, select applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. More Information
 
Borealis Philanthropy
Invites proposals for Immigration Litigation Funds. In 2018, priority will be given to impact litigation that focuses on immigrants targeted by enforcement efforts, including but not limited to those who have entered or re-entered without documentation; overstayed visas or failed to adjust their status; have had prior criminal convictions; have used a false Social Security number to secure work; are seeking humanitarian protection (asylum, protection from torture, TPS, or as refugees); and/or are from countries or regions deemed to be threats to the United States.Deadline: Rolling basis until December 1  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
2018 Overview of CFWM Grant Program
 
CAPACITY -  Competitive grants to provide internal organizational capacity building activities and initiatives that increase effectiveness of non-profits in the Pioneer Valley. For 501c3 organizations with projects directly benefiting residents of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. Most grants expected to be $10,000; maximum grants up to $15,000. Opens: 7/9/18 Deadline: 9/7/18
 
CAPITAL - Competitive grants to support: a) capital projects with a life span of (3) years or more.
b) capital campaigns for new building construction or renovations. c) land purchases for public benefit. For 501c3 organizations with projects directly benefiting residents of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. Capital Projects: Requests from $2,500 up to 20,000.
Capital Campaigns: Up to $30,000. Opens: 7/9/18 Deadline: 9/14/18
 
CRITICAL - To provide support on a temporary basis to organizations experiencing operating issues.  For 501c3 organizations with projects directly benefiting residents of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. Requests from $5,000-$20,000 to support up to a 3 month timeframe. Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis annually.
 
More Information - Contact the Program Manager
 
Farm Credit East
Accepting applications for AgEnhancement Grant Program. Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to help organizations promote awareness of and strengthen agriculture, commercial fishing, and forest products in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. Eligible projects include those that promote the development of young and beginning farmers; encourage leadership; develop a greater understanding of agriculture; recognize the accomplishments of ag leaders; study the economic viability of agriculture; promote interest in the industry; and/or affect the Northeast. Deadline: December 1, 2018 More Information
 
Green Education Foundation
The Green Education Foundation, in partnership with Gardener's Supply Company, is accepting applications from schools and youth groups for its Green Thumb Challenge. A prize of $500 will be awarded to a school or youth group to advance the sustainability of a successful youth garden program that has impacted the lives of kids and their community. Applicants must submit a chronicle of their project, including photographs and descriptions.To be eligible, applicants must be a school or youth group with existing garden program involving youth in grades K-12. The program will not consider proposals for gardens that do not yet exist. Deadline: September 30, 2018 More Information
 
Harpo Foundation
The foundation's Emerging Artist Fellowship at the Santa Fe Art Institute provides an annual opportunity to an emerging visual artist age 25 or older who needs time and space to explore an idea or start a new project. Fellows will receive a one-month residency at the Santa Fe Art Institute that includes a room with private bath, well-lit studio space, and a $500 travel stipend.One fellowship is awarded annually to an emerging artist who demonstrates strong artistic ability and promise as well as an evolving practice at a pivotal moment in its development. Deadline: Will begin accepting applications on August 1. More Information
 
Levitt Foundation
Call for Applications for the Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards program. Through the program, grants of up to $25,000 in matching funds will be awarded to a minimum of fifteen U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, or municipalities partnering with a nonprofit, to present a minimum of ten free outdoor concerts presented over ten consecutive weeks between May 1 and November 15, 2019. To be eligible, all proposed Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series must take place in the United States, in small to mid-sized towns and cities with a population of up to 400,000 people, or within a metropolitan area with a population of no more than 1 million. For towns or cities located within a metropolitan area with a population that exceeds 1 million, the town or city must be at least twenty-five miles from the anchor city of the metropolitan area. Application: Due September 25 More Information
 
Mass Cultural Council 
Big Yellow School Bus provides $200 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. Field trips improve students’ knowledge, critical thinking skills, and ability to retain information. For many children in poor or rural communities, field trips may be the only chance they have to experience a science museum, live theatre or music in a concert hall. Any K-12 school in Massachusetts is eligible to apply for a $200 grant to be used during the 2018-2019 school year. Application: Opens September 20 at 4:00 pm More Information
 
The Festivals Program is designed to provide funding to help festival programmers meet the needs of producing, promoting, and developing audiences. Since its inception, the  program has funded over 220 festivals with awards of $500 each. Grant recipients also have access to webinars on  social media, data collection and sustainability.
 
Application Instructions for Festivals Taking Place September 1, 2018 - February 28, 2019
Online application available: June 15
Preliminary funding decisions begin: September 1, 2018
Application deadline: September 15, 2018 - 5:00pm ET
Grants announced: October, 2018
 
Applications to the Festivals Program will be reviewed on a "first-received, first-reviewed" basis. Regional diversity will be taken into consideration as part of the application review process.
More Information
 
Massachusetts Service Alliance
Announces a Request for Proposals for two grant funding opportunities - the MLK Day of Service and the Youth Development Volunteer Initiative.
 
MLK Day of Service Grant Overview
MSA is pleased to release a Request for Proposals for the 2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service grant. MSA seeks to award matching grants of up to $3,500 to support volunteer service projects honoring the MLK Day of Service.
 
General Scope of Project
MLK Day of Service projects should:
1) Be based in Massachusetts and engage Massachusetts residents as volunteers; 2) Include meaningful service that addresses an identified community need; 3) Occur during the week of the MLK Day of Service (January 20-26, 2019). Priority will be given to proposals that include a project taking place on the actual MLK Day of Service, Monday, January 21, 2019; 4) Recruit a diverse cross-section of the community as volunteers, and be open to volunteers from the general public; 5) Engage volunteers in a minimum of 3 hours of service;
6) Incorporate education on the life and work of Dr. King; and 7) Provide volunteers with opportunities for sustained service and ongoing community involvement.  
 
Funding Priorities
1) Organizations that will engage volunteers in youth development service projects or within a program that serves youth; 2) Organizations that will provide family or intergenerational volunteer opportunities to community members (these service projects intentionally engage volunteers who are family members and/or represent a diverse age range); and 3) Volunteer Connector Organizations (VCOs) across the state (VCOs include agencies that connect individuals with volunteer opportunities and support organizations in effectively using those volunteers to create meaningful change in local communities).
Deadline:  Friday, August 31 More Information
 
Youth Development Volunteer Initiative Grant Overview
MSA is also pleased to release a Request for Proposals for the 2018-2019 Youth Development Volunteer Initiative grant. The overall goal of the Youth Development Volunteer Initiative is to strengthen and sustain nonprofits and Volunteer Connector Organizations (VCOs) in new and existing youth development programming as they recruit, retain, manage, and support increased numbers of volunteers. MSA seeks to award matching grants of up to $10,000 to provide capacity-building opportunities to nonprofits and VCOs to better engage volunteers in youth development programming by creating or expanding and replicating promising models. 
 
General Scope of Initiative
Youth Development Volunteer Initiative funds are available for the:
1) Establishment of a new youth development program within a youth-serving agency that will utilize new or existing volunteers; 2) Expansion of a current youth development program within a youth-serving agency to serve a new population or geographic area not currently served by the program, while increasing the number of youth served through the engagement of volunteers; 3) Enhancing the volunteer program through the creation of systems and recruitment efforts to support new youth-serving volunteer positions impacting at-risk youth; and/or 4) Creation or enhancement of a youth development program at a Volunteer Connector Organization that utilizes and expands the current volunteer base.
 
RFP Technical Assistance Webinar
MSA will provide a technical assistance webinar for this RFP on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 11 a.m. This webinar will be recorded and posted on www.mass-service.org. Click here to register for the TA webinar.
 
Intent to Apply
While not required, MSA strongly encourages interested applicants to complete this Intent to Apply Form by Friday, August 31, 2018. 
 
Deadline: Friday, September 14  More Information
 
NEA Foundation 
Through its Learning and Leadership program, the foundation awards grants of up to $2,000 to public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff at public institutions of higher education for participation in high-quality professional development experiences such as summer institutes or action research.To be eligible, applicants must be a public school educator in grades pre-K-12, public school education support professionals, or faculty and staff at public higher education institutions. The foundation encourages applications from education support professionals; preference will be given to members of the National Education Association. Deadline: October 15  More Information
 
Society of Aviation & Flight Educators
Accepting applications for its 2018 K-12 Classroom Teacher Grant program. Grants of up to $250 will be awarded to K-12 classroom teachers to incorporate aviation-themed lessons into their regular curriculum. An individual teacher or a group of teachers from the same school may apply for a grant to support the design of an aviation-themed classroom unit or complete an aviation-themed project. For example, a SAFE grant could be used to pay for a bus and admission fees for students to visit an aviation museum, go on a field trip to the local airport, buy materials to build a balsa wood glider or model rocket, or fund another type of project with an aviation or aerospace theme. Any credentialed teacher in a public, private, or charter school may apply for a grant. Local STEM coordinators and homeschooling cooperatives may also apply for a grant Deadline: August 31 More Information
 
Target Corporation
Accepting applications for K-12 Field Trip Grants Program, an annual program designed to support field trips for K-12 students.Grants of up to $700 are intended to fund visits to art, science, and cultural museums, community service or civic projects, career enrichment opportunities, and other events or activities beyond school grounds. Funds may be used to cover field trip-related costs such as transportation, ticket fees, food, resource materials, and supplies.Education professionals who are at least 18 years old and employed by an accredited K-12 public, private, or charter school in the U.S. that maintains 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) tax-exempt status are eligible to apply. Deadline: October 1 More Information
 
TD Charitable Foundation
Accepting Applications for the Nonprofit Employee Training Program. Through the fund, grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to eligible community-based organizations so that employees can attend an approved class/course that enhances their job performance. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and have a mission/focus that promotes affordable housing for low- to moderate-income individuals, increased economic (small business) development, financial literacy for low- and moderate-income people, or afterschool or extracurricular programming for low- and moderate-income children. Deadline: Rolling More Information
 
U.S. Soccer Foundation
Is accepting Letters of Inquiry for its Safe Places to Play program, which provides grants to organizations to help them build or enhance a field space in their communities. Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded for the installation of field surfaces, lighting, and irrigation for field space in urban settings.To be eligible, an applicant must apply on behalf of a program or project operating in the U.S., and be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, school, municipality, college or university, or sovereign tribal nation. Deadline: September 3, 2018 (Letters of Inquiry) More Information
 
 
Do you know of an organization that could benefit from any of this information? Please share and support our community!
Upcoming Conferences, Classes & Workshops
 
Women's Fund
Leading Out Loud: Public Speaking Course - FREE, online, public speaking course for women and teens girls. The course begins on August 20th and the deadline to register is August 17th.
Register: https://www.mywomensfund.org/leading-out-loud-public-speaking-course/
 
Soujourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership
Fundraising: Focusing Your Questions - Register
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2018, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Forest Park Branch, Springfield City Library 380 Belmont Street, Springfield
 
In collaboration with the Springfield City Library's Funding Information Network:
 
Is It a Good Match? Learning How to Approach and Write the Right Funders for Your Project - Register
Date: Thursday, Oct 11, 12:00-2:00pm
Location: Central Library, Springfield City Library, 220 State Street, Springfield
 
The Grant Proposal - Register
Date: Thursday, Oct 18, 12:00-2:00pm
Location: Central Library, Springfield City Library, 220 State Street, Springfield
 
Dress For Success Western Massachusetts
Volunteer request for August Tag Sale Event - Register
Date: August 13 - 20
Location: Eastfield Mall
Time: Various
 
 
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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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