GrantStation Insider: March 24, 2022

COVID-19 | National | Regional | Federal | Partner Depot | PathFinder | Online Education | Announcements | Subscribe

COVID-19 Related Funding
Opportunities related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Current COVID-19 funding opportunities are available on our website.

National Funding
Opportunities throughout the U.S.

Program Offers Community Revitalization Support
Kubota Hometown Proud
The Kubota Hometown Proud grant program aims to support local municipalities and nonprofit organizations across the country that work together to help keep our communities strong. The program will provide five $100,000 community grants to local municipalities and nonprofit organizations within a 50-mile radius of an authorized Kubota dealer. Project applications can be as diverse and imaginative as the communities themselves, such as cultivating a community garden, creating a new playground area, beautifying a community park, adding landscaping to a town square or open space, and modernizing a fairground or rodeo arena. Each of the five grant winners will also have a chance to win an additional $100,000 Kubota Community Choice Award, which will be selected by public vote in the summer of 2022. The application deadline is April 15, 2022. Visit the Kubota website to learn more about the Hometown Proud application process.

Green Job Development in Native Communities Funded
First Nations Development Institute: Stewarding Native Lands
The First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) is dedicated to strengthening American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities. The Stewarding Native Lands program, an initiative of First Nations, will provide financial and technical assistance to support Native ecological stewardship and improve Native control of and access to ancestral lands and resources. First Nations plans to award ten grants averaging $100,000 each to Native communities that are in the early stages of developing and/or expanding programs that support green job development in response to climate change. Tribal governments and Native-controlled nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. The application deadline is April 20, 2022. Visit the First Nations website to review the request for proposals.

Grants Promote Fair Elections and Democratic Principles
Gaia Fund: Effective Democracy
The Gaia Fund values the democratic principles that govern and guide our country's political process: fair elections, representation for all, and equal opportunity for political participation. Through the Effective Democracy program area, the Fund addresses the disproportionate influence of corporate and individual wealth in American politics. Grants are provided for initiatives that promote small donor and public financing of political campaigns, full disclosure of the sources of money in political campaigns and reasonable limits on campaign contributions and expenditures, and renewal of Constitutional values that support rather than undermine political equality and that protect the Constitutional rights of human beings rather than empowering corporations with human rights. Grants are provided to organizations that have national scope; however, the Fund occasionally considers local or state programs operating in California. Letters of inquiry for the upcoming funding cycle will be accepted from May 22 through June 3, 2022. More information about the Effective Democracy program is available on the Gaia Fund website.

Projects to Aid Low-Income Seniors Supported
AARP Foundation: Advancing Economic Opportunity Among Older Adults
The AARP Foundation supports sustainable, real-world solutions to the fundamental challenges facing low-income older adults throughout the United States. The Foundation has issued a Requests for Applications (RFA), Advancing Economic Opportunity Among Older Adults, that is focusing on direct-service projects that deploy program models with evidence of effectiveness for helping older adults with low income increase income/earnings or secure benefits. Priority will be given to applications that serve populations disproportionately impacted by systemic barriers, racial and ethnic disparities, and other biases in programs and policies. Priority will also be given to applications that serve older adults in at least one of the following states and territories: AL, AZ, AR, CA, DC, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MI, MS, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, WV, and Puerto Rico. Grants will range from $100,000 per year for Ready to Pilot projects to $250,000 per year for Ready for Outcomes projects, for up to three years. The pre-application deadline is April 15, 2022; invited full applications will be due May 31, 2022. Visit the Foundation's website to download the RFA.

Regional Funding
Opportunities for specific geographic areas

Funds for Environmental Protection Efforts in the Rocky Mountain Region
Maki Foundation
The Maki Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that promote environmental protection in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. In particular, the Foundation is concerned with the preservation of the Rocky Mountain West's remaining wild lands, rivers, and wilderness, as well as the wildlife that depends on these lands. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 are generally provided to small local and regional grassroots organizations working to protect public lands and rivers from threats such as mineral development, unconstrained off-road vehicle use, and poorly planned water projects. The Foundation does not consider requests for the acquisition or construction of community recreation facilities, buildings, municipal parks, reservoirs, and similar projects. Limited resources preclude consideration of funding for wildlife rehabilitation centers, zoos, recycling programs, tree planting projects, toxic waste cleanup, film productions, and fellowships. The application deadline is April 29, 2022. (Organizations that have not previously received Foundation support should submit a one-page letter of inquiry prior to applying.) Visit the Foundation's website to learn more about the Foundation's priorities.

Grants Improve Quality of Life in Company Communities on the East Coast
Highmark Corporate Giving Program
The Highmark Corporate Giving Program offers grants and sponsorships to nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life in the communities served by Highmark in Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The focus is on programs and services that have compelling potential impact on the health and well-being of individuals, national organizations seeking support for local programs, and grassroots and faith-based organizations. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, health and social services; physical fitness, sports, and recreation; children, youth, and seniors; and people with disabilities. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Visit the Highmark website to submit an online application.

Support for Youth Programs in Oregon and SW Washington
Trail Blazers Foundation Fund
The Trail Blazers Foundation Fund, administered by the Oregon Community Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations throughout Oregon and southwest Washington that provide programs for youth and families from historically underserved and marginalized communities. Grants are offered through three funding streams: LIVE Greener Grants focus on organizations connecting youth with the environment for education, preservation, and employment. LEARN Grants focus on organizations supporting youth in their journey to and through high school. PLAY Grants focus on organizations getting kids and their families active. General operating support and program funding are available. Applications will be accepted through April 28, 2022. Funding guidelines and online application information are available on the Oregon Community Foundation's website.

Community Initiatives in Minnesota and the Dakotas Funded
Bush Foundation: Community Innovation Grants
The mission of the Bush Foundation is to be a catalyst for the courageous leadership necessary to create sustainable solutions to tough public problems and ensure community vitality. The Foundation works in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography. The Foundation's Community Innovation Grants support nonprofit organizations and government entities coming together to solve community challenges, and efforts that help people lead in strong, equitable, and connected ways. Priority is given to proposals that will make the region more equitable in opportunities and outcomes, especially for Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, and/or people from rural communities. In order to support big transformation in the region, the Foundation provides Community Innovation Grants above $20,000 with no set limit. The Foundation is also open to ideas for Program Related Investments (PRIs). Applications are accepted year-round. (The Foundation strongly suggests that all potential applicants schedule a call with its team prior to applying.) Further details about the Community Innovation Grants program are available on the Foundation's website.

Federal Funding
Opportunities from the U.S. government

Program Addresses AIDS and Mental Health for Minorities
Department of Health and Human Services
The Minority AIDS Initiative—Service Integration program seeks to help reduce the co-occurring epidemics of HIV, hepatitis, and mental health disorders through accessible, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate mental and co-occurring disorder treatment that is integrated with HIV primary care and prevention services. The population of focus is individuals ages 18 and over of racial and ethnic minorities (e.g., Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Asian and Pacific Islander populations, etc.) with a mental health disorder or co-occurring disorder living with or at risk for HIV or hepatitis. The application deadline is April 25, 2022.

Workforce Readiness for Youth Supported
Department of Labor
The Workforce Pathways for Youth demonstration grants program supports national out-of-school-time organizations that serve historically underserved and marginalized youth ages 14 to 21. The emphasis is on age-appropriate workforce readiness programming to expand job training and workforce pathways for youth, including soft skill development, career exploration, job readiness and certification, summer jobs, year-round job opportunities, and apprenticeships. Funding also supports partnerships between workforce boards and youth-serving organizations. The application deadline is April 25, 2022.

Partner Depot

Thinking About Getting Your Grant Credential?
Are you an experienced grant professional and thinking about getting your GPC credential?

Come join an informal 'Fireside Chat' for anyone who is interested in learning more about becoming Grant Professional Certified (GPC). Our next fireside is on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET. You can just sit and listen in or come with your list of questions! We will have a panel of GPCs who will cover why you would want to pursue the GPC credential—as well as answer questions about eligibility criteria and the registration process. We will end up talking about it all! Please register and join us to see if earning your GPC could be the next step in your career!

PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional

KIT
Are you looking to tap into the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance your organization's fundraising efforts? If so, you might want to check out KIT. This tool is a fundraising analytics platform, powered by AI, that identifies opportunities within an organization's data and delivers predictions on its donors, and their giving behavior. It helps fundraisers turn their raw data into insights that increase average gift size, donor retention rates, lifetime giving, and more.

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.

Five Essential Storytelling Secrets (NEW)
Why do some stories inspire and others feel boring? Is there a secret to crafting stories that stand out in all the nonprofit communication noise? The short answer: YES! This fast-paced interactive session, presented by Lori L. Jacobwith, Master Storyteller at Ignited Fundraising, will teach you how to craft a story that knocks the socks off your listeners or readers. The webinar will utilize current communication and storytelling examples from your organization and other nonprofits. You'll see first-hand how small changes in crafting and sharing a story have a significant impact in your donor engagement and fundraising revenue. During the webinar, you will learn Lori's five storytelling "secrets" to raise more money, learn how to edit the stories you share to cause a bigger impact, and learn the most overlooked part of storytelling. Executive directors, fundraising and communication staff, and board members will benefit from this session. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

Quick Funding Strategies
Nonprofits sometimes need a reboot or refresh to bring in a quick buck. Perhaps the fundraising event fell flat. Staff turnover or expansion may have left you with depleted resources. This webinar, presented by Mindy Muller from Community Development Professionals, offers nonprofit fundraising staff some innovative strategies to overcome an economic pinch with best practices used by nonprofit organizations to create new ways of generating income. This webinar is appropriate for board members, executive directors, volunteers, or others involved in fundraising activities. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.

Grant Consulting: Is It Right For You?
Maybe you're exploring options for starting a grant consulting business, or maybe you're already dabbling in consulting and proposal writing and want to know how to turn your side-hustle into a business. If this sounds familiar, you should consider taking this webinar. Where should you start? With so many issues to consider, from marketing to determining services and fee structures, this process can be overwhelming. Let us help you get the ball rolling. This webinar will cover the questions you need to answer before diving in full-time, how to create your initial services list and price points, how working for yourself differs from working for others, and how to diversify your income to create sustainability. If you are ready to explore taking your passion to the next level and learning the details of what’s involved in a grant consulting gig, join Amanda Pearce of Funding for Good for this 90-minute webinar. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation

What's Your World Like?
The State of Grantseeking Survey spotlights recent developments in funding so that organizations can be more strategic in their grantseeking. We continue to offer a special section specific to the pandemic and its effect on your world.

The resulting—free—State of Grantseeking reports, published in May and June, serve as valuable analytic tools for organizations to review their grantseeking efforts, report on performance, and plan for the future. The benchmarks suggest reasonable levels of funding to expect for an organization based on median awards by organizational budget and mission. This leading-edge information is key data for all organizations.

Please join thousands of others who find value in the free State of Grantseeking reports and Benchmarker comparative resource. Complete this survey by March 31, 2022, to offer your insights for the latest report.

Funding Alerts
More funding opportunities are featured on the GrantStation homepage. Click here to see the grantmakers spotlighted this week!

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