GrantStation Announcements
Tracks
to Success
How to Increase Office Productivity Using Free Software
How to Increase Office Productivity Using Free Software is an eight-part series that covers everything nonprofits need to know about moving from costly desktop office software to Google's free online office tools suite. This series offers tutorials for getting started with Google – using and configuring Google Mail (Gmail); Google Calendar; and Google Docs, including the spreadsheet and presentation functions – as well as a host of other free applications that increase productivity and are fun to learn. This series will show you how your organization can easily make use of Google's tools to achieve organizational objectives for both novice and experienced computer users. To read "Introducing Google's Free Online Suite of Tools," the first article in the series, visit the GrantStation website.
GrantStation Webinars Scheduled for March
Getting Started: Grant Writing Basics
If you are new to grant writing, this 90-minute webinar will help you identify the information you need to collect, and the files you should establish, to begin developing compelling grant proposals. The webinar will be led by Cynthia M. Adams, CEO of GrantStation, and held on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at 2 p.m. EST. The registration fee is $89 per person. Visit the website listed above to register.
Free Tour of the GrantStation Website
Join Cynthia M. Adams, CEO of GrantStation, for a free webinar that offers a short tour of the GrantStation website. Learn how to use the tools that GrantStation provides to help you identify the right grantmaker for any program or project. If you've just joined GrantStation, this tour will help you determine the most effective way to use the valuable resources the website provides. If you haven't joined yet, this tour will help you determine if a GrantStation Membership fits your needs. This free tour of the GrantStation website will be offered on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 2 p.m. EST. Visit the website listed above to register.
Please register early, as space is limited.
Funding Opportunities
Funds for Animal Companion Programs
PETCO Foundation
The PETCO Foundation's mission is to raise the quality of life for pets and people who love and need them. Grants are provided to local nonprofit organizations in communities with PETCO stores throughout the United States. The Foundation dedicates its resources to serving the Four Rs: Reduce (spay/neuter programs), Rescue (adoption programs), Rehabilitate (behavior training programs), Rejoice (humane education programs). Applying organizations receive priority when they enlist their local PETCO store in recommending their programs. Requests are accepted throughout the year. Visit the PETCO website for more information about the Foundation's priorities.
Grants Promote Secondary School Newspapers
Newspaper Association of America Foundation: Student/Newspaper Partnership Grant Program
The Newspaper Association of America Foundation was established to advance informed and intelligent media use by all citizens, especially young people, and to encourage them to value the people's right to know and their right to a free and unfettered press. The Foundation's Student/Newspaper Partnership Grant Program provides support to collaborative proposals between middle and high schools and their local newspapers to start, relaunch, or revitalize student newspapers, whether online or in print. Schools are also encouraged to seek a university or a college as an additional partner. Applications from minority-majority, urban, and rural schools and their local newspapers are of special interest. Each partnership may receive up to $5,000 in Year One, plus an additional $2,500 in Year Two. Applications must be submitted by April 15, 2009. Visit the Foundation's website to review the funding guidelines.
International Theatre Partnerships Supported
Theatre Communications Group/International Theatre Institute Travel Grants
The Theatre Communications Group (TCG)/International Theatre Institute Travel Grants are designed to support cultural exchange and artistic partnerships between professionals in the United States and their counterparts in Russia and Eastern and Central Europe. The program awards theatre professionals (artists, administrators, or educators) $3,000 grants, which may cover transportation and living expenses essential to the project, including research materials, communication costs, theatre tickets, and/or the services of an interpreter. Applying theatres must have nonprofit status and hire professional artists and administrators. Individual applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who wish to initiate or deepen relationships with artists and/or theatre companies in Russia and/or Eastern and Central Europe. The application deadline is March 23, 2009. Visit the TCG website to download the application guidelines.
Manufactured Homes Projects Funded
CFED: Innovations in Manufactured Homes
The mission of Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I'M HOME), a program of Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), is to ensure that families who choose to purchase manufactured homes reap comparable benefits from the homeownership experience as do buyers of site-built homes. For 2009, the I'M HOME Request for Proposals is focusing on new and replacement development projects and public policy activities. Development grants of up to $150,000 will support manufactured homes projects in the construction phase. In addition, policy grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded to advance the goals of the I'M HOME agenda. Concept papers must be submitted online by March 20, 2009. Visit the website listed above to learn more about the I'M HOME initiative.
Grants Promote Active Lifestyles
Women's Sports Foundation: GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards
The Women's Sports Foundation's GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards recognize high school teams that demonstrate leadership in their communities by inspiring girls to get involved in sports and physical activities. School, amateur, community, and nonprofit affiliated teams whose members are female; enrolled in grades 9-12; and residents of the United States, its territories, or protectorates are eligible to apply. A total of 20 grants of $2,500 each will be awarded in recognition of the outstanding efforts of teams throughout the country. The first step in the application process is to sign up the team at the
GoGirlGo! Ambassadors website. Final entry forms must be submitted by July 17, 2009. Complete program guidelines are available on the website listed above.
Support for Arts Presentations in the West
Western States Arts Federation: TourWest
The Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) is a nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to the creative advancement and preservation of the arts in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. WESTAF provides TourWest grants of up to $2,500 for the presentation of out-of-state touring performers and literary artists in underserved communities within the 13-state WESTAF region. Projects should include at least one outreach activity, such as lecture-demonstrations, master classes, in-school educational activities involving students with the artist, etc. Applications must be submitted online through the WESTAF website by April 1, 2009.
Grantmaker Updates
National and Regional Awards, Fellowships, and Requests for Proposals
Federal Deadlines
Excerpts from GrantStation's
Listings of Federal Notices
Conferences & Trainings
Gathering for Afterschool Professionals
National AfterSchool Association 2009 Convention
The National AfterSchool Association 2009 Convention, "Jazzing It Up Afterschool Style: Leadership, Learning and Creativity in New Orleans," will bring together afterschool professionals and stakeholders from throughout the United States. Participants will learn how to enhance their careers and the programs they represent as well as meet with fellow professionals who face similar opportunities and challenges. A number of workshops will be offered, including Leading a Learning Day for All Children: Working with School Principals, Afterschool Workforce Development, Arts and Creativity in Afterschool, and Learning in Afterschool. The convention will be held in New Orleans, LA, on April 2-4, 2009. Registration information is available on the website listed above.
Conference Promotes Philanthropy in the Black Community
National Center for Black Philanthropy: National Conference on Black Philanthropy
The Seventh National Conference on Black Philanthropy, "Strengthening Black Communities through Time, Talent and Treasure," will address how philanthropy can strengthen Black communities by helping to solve long-term, seemingly intractable problems. This year's conference will emphasize the National Center for Black Philanthropy's new focus on actively working with Black communities using philanthropy (time, talent, and treasure) to address lingering social justice issues. The conference will be held in New Orleans, LA, on March 29-April 1, 2009. Visit the Center's website for conference details.
Industry News
Free Services for Struggling Arts Organizations
Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative
Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative is a response to the emergency facing arts organizations throughout the United States. The program is designed to provide planning assistance and consulting to struggling U.S. arts organizations. The program will provide counsel from Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser and the Kennedy Center executive staff in the areas of fundraising, building more effective Boards of Trustees, budgeting, marketing, technology, and other areas pertinent to maintaining a vital performing arts organization during a troubled economy. The program is open to nonprofit performing arts organizations throughout the country. Visit the website listed above to learn how to participate.
