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COVID-19 Related Funding
Opportunities related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Program Addresses Isolation Issues for People Living With Paralysis Nationwide
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Quality of Life Grants Program
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's Quality of Life Grants Program is offering a COVID-19: Addressing Social Isolation track, which is designed to address social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of enhancing connectedness of people living with paralysis and their caregivers to their communities and preventing adverse health outcomes. Grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 will be provided. The application deadline is March 16, 2021.
Giving Circle in NYC Funds Projects Reflecting COVID-19 Issues
Asian Women Giving Circle
The Asian Women Giving Circle, a donor-advised fund of the Ms. Foundation for Women, supports Asian women-led projects in New York City that use the transformative power of arts and culture to fuel progressive change. For the 2021 grants cycle, priority will be given to projects that reflect on, or intervene in, the multiple pandemics of COVID-19 and the deepening rifts in inequality affecting vulnerable communities. Grants range up to $15,000. The application deadline is March 12, 2021.
Community Groups in Detroit Eligible for Pandemic Funding
Community Connections: Bridging the Gap Rapid Response COVID-19 Fund
The Bridging the Gap Rapid Response COVID-19 Fund, offered by Community Connections, recognizes that leaders and groups throughout Detroit, MI, are especially equipped to understand the unique challenges experienced in the community. Grants provide resources to grassroots and community groups to respond to immediate needs, implement activities, and design bridges to quickly address gaps faced by Detroit families as a result of the pandemic. Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis.
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For more grant opportunities, visit our COVID-19 Related Funding page.
National Funding
Opportunities throughout the U.S.
Support for Recovery Programs for Veterans
Disabled Veterans National Foundation: Capacity Building Grant Program
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation provides critically needed support to disabled and at-risk veterans who leave the military wounded, physically or psychologically, after defending our safety and our freedom. The Foundation's Capacity Building Grant Program is intended for nonprofit organizations throughout the country that offer support to veterans and disabled veterans alike. These grants of up to $25,000 are awarded to organizations that are addressing the mental and physical recovery of veterans in unique ways. Service dogs, equine therapy, yoga, art therapy, and recreational therapy are just a few of the innovative programs that the Foundation supports. The spring 2021 deadline for letters of intent is February 28; invited applications will be due March 31. Visit the Foundation's website to review the Capacity Building Grant Program guidelines.
Projects Initiated by Native Artists and Collectives Funded
Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) is dedicated to the perpetuation of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian arts and cultures nationwide. NACF is currently offering support to Native artists through the following new programs: The SHIFT–Transformative Change and Indigenous Arts program supports artist and community-driven projects responding to social, environmental, or economic justice issues through a Native lens. Up to ten projects will receive two-year grants totaling $100,000 as well as other support services. Native artists or Native artist collectives, in partnership with partner organizations (nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, or tribal agencies), are eligible to apply. In addition, LIFT–Early Career Support for Native Artists provides one-year grants of up to $10,000 to early career Native artists to help them develop and realize new projects. Letters of interest for the SHIFT program and applications for the LIFT program are due March 16, 2021. Details on both programs are available on the NACF website.
Grants Foster the Organic Industry and the Development of Cooperatives
Blooming Prairie Foundation
The Blooming Prairie Foundation is dedicated to promoting innovative ideas and practices in the area of organic and natural foods in order to further the health of people, the planet, and the cooperative business model. The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide that conduct any of the following activities: developmental, research, and educational efforts in the organic industry and the cooperative community; the development of organic and natural products; and cooperative development in the natural products industry. The application deadline is March 1, 2021. Visit the Foundation's website to review the grant guidelines.
Workshops Encourage Rural Design Efforts
Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design
The goal of the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) is to enhance the quality of life and economic viability of rural America through planning, design, and creative placemaking. For 2021, the CIRD program consists of two different opportunities. Through the Local Design Workshops track, up to four communities will be selected to participate in an on-site rural design workshop. The workshops will bring together local residents and leaders from nonprofits, community organizations, and government agencies to develop actionable solutions to the community’s specific design challenge. Each workshop includes a $6,000 stipend to the host community. In addition, up to 15 rural communities will be selected to participate in the Design Learning Cohort track. Rural community leaders from government, nonprofits, local businesses, and civic organizations will be invited to gather together for learning, training, and support to make their community’s vision a reality. The application deadline for both tracks is March 12, 2021. Visit the CIRD website to download the Request for Applications.
Regional Funding
Opportunities for specific geographic areas
Healthcare and Education Initiatives in Northern California and Hawaii Supported
The Joseph & Vera Long Foundation
The Joseph & Vera Long Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Northern California and the state of Hawaii that focus on healthcare, education, and the environment. In 2021, the Foundation will accept requests for invitations (RFIs) for grants in the healthcare and education categories only. RFIs for grants ranging between $50,000 and $150,000 will be accepted from February 1 through February 22, 2021. RFIs for grants ranging between $10,000 and $49,000 will be accepted from July 5 through July 26, 2021. (Organizations new to the Foundation are strongly encouraged to apply during this cycle.) After the Foundation staff reviews the RFI forms, selected organizations will be invited to apply for grants. Visit the Foundation's website to learn more about the grant guidelines and application process.
Funds for Organizations Enhancing the Lives of Washington, DC, Region Residents
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for residents of the Washington, DC, area. Grants are provided to nonprofit organizations in the District of Columbia; Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland; and Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia. The Foundation's program areas include the following: arts and humanities, community services, education, environment, and health. The application deadlines are March 1, July 1, and November 1, annually. Visit the Foundation's website to find out more about each program area and to take the eligibility quiz.
Community Health Grants Available for Nonprofits in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma
Telligen Community Initiative
The mission of the Telligen Community Initiative (TCI) is to support innovative and forward-looking health-related projects aimed at improving health, social well-being, and educational attainment. Grants of up to $50,000 are provided to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies serving communities in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma. TCI's funding priorities include the following: Health Innovation, with a focus on Telehealth and Innovative Care Management; Social Determinants of Health/Health Equity, with a focus on Coordination Care and Housing/Health Intersection; and Healthcare Workforce Development, with a focus on Para-Professional Development and Youth Health Career Exploration. Within each of the funding priorities there is a COVID-19 subcategory that addresses the reality of navigating the pandemic. Grants will range up to $50,000. The application deadline for applicants in Iowa and Oklahoma is March 1, 2021; the deadline for Colorado and Illinois applicants is June 15, 2021. Visit the TCI website to download the 2021 Request for Proposals.
Support for Environmental Efforts in New England
The William P. Wharton Trust
The William P. Wharton Trust supports nonprofit organizations that promote the conservation, study, and appreciation of nature. The Trust's funding objectives in order of priority are as follows: conservation of renewable resources in Massachusetts and New England, including funding acquisition of land for conservation purposes; management techniques designed to improve environmental quality and species diversity; bird and forestry research and management, especially at the applied level rather than the theoretical or molecular level; and creation of materials or projects designed to foster an appreciation of and a concern for wildlife and natural systems. Grants are generally less than $15,000. The upcoming deadline for preliminary applications is March 1, 2021. Visit the Trust's website to review the application instructions.
Federal Funding
Opportunities from the U.S. government
Funds Available to Help Homeless Veterans
Department of Labor
The Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program, Incarcerated Veterans' Transition Program, and the Homeless Female Veterans' and Veterans' with Families Program support services to reintegrate homeless veterans into the labor force by placing them into family-sustaining employment and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. Grant recipients will provide an array of client-centered services utilizing a case management approach that directly assists homeless veterans and provides critical linkages to a variety of support services available in their local communities. The application deadline is March 1, 2021.
Program Addresses Childhood Violence
Department of Justice
The Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence program provides funding for communities to address violence against children. Funds may be used to develop support services for children exposed to violence in their homes, schools, and communities, and to develop, enhance, and implement violent crime reduction strategies that focus on violent juvenile offenders. Support is also available for training and technical assistance to assist with program implementation and direct service activities. Applications must be submitted to grants.gov by March 8 and to JustGrants by March 22, 2021.
Tracks to Success
Feature articles focused on a particular grantmaker or philanthropic trend
Nonprofits in an Era of Growing Challenges
by Sid Davis
GrantStation has formed a 2021 partnership with the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) to publish six papers written by respected researchers in fields related to the nonprofit sector. The first of those papers is by Jon Van Til. His ARNOVA paper is titled "Confronting Pandemia Amidst the Other Crises of Our Times" and discusses the role of the nonprofit sector in times of upheaval, with particular focus on where it stands in relation to the other sectors of society—government, business, and core culture. Read more...
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional
Future of Good
Are you a Canadian nonprofit professional looking for a new source of news and inspiration? If so, you might want to check out Future of Good, a newsletter that covers stories, innovations, and trends shaping social impact in Canada. From social finance to philanthropy, and nonprofits to global issues, Future of Good's content equips you with the insights you need to adapt to a world of impact that's changing faster than ever before. Visit the Future of Good website to sign up for a free 14-day trial.
Upcoming Online Education Trainings
Live Webinars
Unless otherwise noted, all Online Education Trainings are webinars,
are 90 minutes in duration, and are scheduled to begin at 2 PM Eastern Time.
Building the "Total Value" Proposal Budget: A Step-by-Step Framework
An A+ proposal budget provides an honest, complete, and clear picture of the total value of everything it takes to do our work successfully. It also stands as an invaluable management and evaluation tool when it comes to running the grant-funded program. So…how do we get there from here? That's the question Maryn Boess will explore in this down-to-earth, myth-busting session. What you'll take away from this session: You'll understand the importance of taking a "total value" approach to budget-building, to clearly and compellingly show the value of everything it takes to do our work successfully. You'll learn why the form the grantmaker gives you is (almost always) the wrong tool for planning your budget—and what you can use instead. You'll have the chance to whip out your calculator and try your hand at thinking through some of the "total-value" challenges in our real-life scenario—some are pretty tricky! You'll get a behind-the-scenes view of how grantmakers evaluate your proposal budget and what your budget tells them about your organization. And we'll clear away the confusion around the value of volunteer time, accounting for "match," handling administrative/indirect costs, and other perennially perplexing budget issues. BONUS: In this session, you'll be introduced to GrantsMagic U's exclusive Master Budget Planning Checklist and Worksheet, a powerful planning tool to help you craft a budget that is comprehensive, realistic, and bullet-proof—and that will work for you, your organization, and your grantmaking partners. The webinar will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2021.
Strategic Planning 101
This course offers a step-by-step guide on how to develop a strategic plan for a nonprofit organization. Discover how to pull the right team together, brainstorm effectively, develop the vision, and articulate a plan that can be implemented over time. Mindy Muller, President/CEO of Community Development Professionals, LLC, will review the key concepts of external and internal vision, mission, and core values and how those concepts set the foundation for identifying activities for the next three to five years. Participants will be challenged to develop action items to apply learned concepts within their respective organizations. During this webinar, participants will 1) understand the need for planning for long-term sustainability; 2) identify concepts of vision, mission, core values, and strategic plan and application toward long-term growth and sustainability; 3) acquire knowledge of methodology to develop a long-term strategy for the organization; and 4) recognize the value of the planning team and how to convene the right team for the organization. The webinar will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2021.
FREE Tour of the GrantStation Website
Join Jeremy Smith, Communications and Technology Director, and Kerry Glauser, Research Specialist, for a quick tour of the GrantStation website. This tour will cover all of the features in GrantStation.com, including navigation, search interfaces, and charitable database search criteria. This tour will provide tips on the most effective way to use all of the valuable resources the website offers, including the extensive funder databases that can help you identify the grantmakers most likely to fund your programs or projects. By using GrantStation's databases and resource tools, you can begin to develop a successful grantseeking strategy for the next 12 to 18 months. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021.
GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation
You Have a Hammer: Building Grant Proposals for Social Change
Want to drive social change? Change the way you think about grants!
This is not another how-to book on crafting grant proposals. It's a why-to book challenging grantseekers to embrace their power as social activists. Barbara Floersch has won millions of grant dollars, written hundreds of articles, and shared her skills and insights with thousands throughout the U.S. and internationally. In 1949, Pete Seeger's song "If I Had a Hammer" summoned us to repurpose everyday work tools into tools for social justice. That call still resonates today. You Have a Hammer: Building Grant Proposals for Social Change urges you to build proposals from a perspective of activism, transforming the work from the mundane pursuit of dollars to the life-altering pursuit of lasting change. It's not about how to write grant proposals. It's about how to use grantseeking as a tool for building a better world.
Funding Alerts
Don't forget to check out the additional Funding Alerts on our homepage—you don't want to miss them!
Information contained in the GrantStation Insider may not be
posted, reprinted, redistributed, or sold without permission.
Editor: Julie Kaufman
Copy Editor: Ashlyn Simmons
Contributing Writer: Kevin Peters
COVID-19 Related Funding
Program Addresses Isolation Issues for People Living With Paralysis Nationwide
Giving Circle in NYC Funds Projects Reflecting COVID-19 Issues
Community Groups in Detroit Eligible for Pandemic Funding
National Funding Opportunities
Support for Recovery Programs for Veterans
Projects Initiated by Native Artists and Collectives Funded
Grants Foster the Organic Industry and the Development of Cooperatives
Workshops Encourage Rural Design Efforts
Regional Funding Opportunities
Healthcare and Education Initiatives in Northern California and Hawaii Supported
Funds for Organizations Enhancing the Lives of Washington, DC, Region Residents
Community Health Grants Available for Nonprofits in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma
Support for Environmental Efforts in New England
Federal Funding Opportunities
Funds Available to Help Homeless Veterans
Program Addresses Childhood Violence