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COVID-19 Related Funding
Opportunities Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Peace First’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants
Peace First's COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants program is a coaching and grant process to help young people around the world lead projects that address community impacts of COVID-19. Project ideas range from providing meals to elderly neighbors to launching digital mental health campaigns to support youth feeling isolated. Rapid response grants are open to young people between the ages of 13-25, anywhere in the world. The application form is available here.
CcHUB Funding and Design Support for COVID-19 Projects
Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) is providing research and design support, via their Design Lab, for COVID-19 related projects. These include, but are not limited to, projects in the following areas: educating the public and ensuring the right information reaches even remote locations; support for the infected and the most vulnerable in society; local production of essential medical supplies; and support for the food value chain, from producers to consumers, in the event of movement restrictions. Projects can be focused on a particular African country, the African continent, or the world at large. Organizations and individuals working on a project or with project ideas, with the capability to build out the solution with available resources from CcHUB, are encouraged to fill out this form.
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: Coronavirus News Collaboration Challenge
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is seeking proposals that develop innovative approaches to reporting on the novel coronavirus crisis using collaboration among journalists and newsrooms across state lines or national borders. Priority is given to proposals that focus on systemic, under-reported issues underlying the coronavirus crisis; use data-driven or interdisciplinary approaches to reporting on coronavirus; and hold the powerful accountable. This opportunity is open to all newsrooms and independent journalists in the United States and abroad. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
For more grant opportunities, visit our COVID-19 Related Funding page.
National Funding
Opportunities Throughout the U.S.
Support for Efforts to Advance Economic Opportunity for Older Adults
AARP Foundation
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 the following two Requests for Applications (RFAs): The Direct Service, Evidence-Based Projects RFA seeks to support direct-service projects that provide participating low-income older adults an increase in economic opportunity (increased income or reduced expenditures). The Education, Outreach, and Field-Building Projects RFA seeks to support projects that advance economic opportunity among low-income older adults on a systemic level. The application deadline for both RFAs is April 22, 2020. Visit the AARP website to review the funding guidelines for each RFA.
Domestic Violence Shelters in Every State Funded
The Mary Kay Foundation: Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program
The Mary Kay Foundation is committed to ending the epidemic of domestic violence by providing grants to women's shelters throughout the United States. Each year, the Foundation's Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program awards grants of $20,000 to at least one domestic violence shelter in every state; remaining funds are distributed based on state population. Applying organizations must offer immediate overnight housing to women and children affected by domestic violence. The application deadline is April 30, 2020. Visit the Foundation's website and scroll down the page to access the 2020 shelter application.
Grants Promote Cultural Experiences Engaging U.S. Muslims and Their Neighbors
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Building Bridges Grants Program
The Building Bridges Grants Program, an initiative of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations in the planning and implementation of projects that engage U.S.-based Muslims and their neighbors in arts- and media-based experiences designed to advance relationships and understanding for mutual well-being. Proposed projects should offer engaging, immersive, and interactive experiences that foster relationships and understanding between communities. Grants will range from $25,000 to $300,000 over one to three years. Applying organizations must have at least three years of professional experience producing or presenting literary, multimedia, or performing arts-based programs, or partner with an organization that does. Letters of interest are due April 17, 2020; invited full proposals will be due July 10, 2020. Visit the Foundation's website to learn more about the Building Bridges Grants Program and to submit an online letter of interest.
Wilderness Protection Projects Supported
The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor businesses that support efforts to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values. Funded projects should seek to secure lasting and quantifiable protection of a specific wild land or waterway. Priority is given to landscape-scale projects that have a clear benefit for habitat. All funded projects must have a clear recreational benefit. Grants of up to $50,000 are provided. Before applying for funding, an organization must be nominated by one of the Alliance's member companies. The upcoming nomination deadline is May 1, 2020. The Alliance will send each nominated organization a request for proposal, including instructions on submitting a full proposal, which will be due June 1, 2020. Funding criteria and application guidelines are available on the Conservation Alliance website.
Regional Funding
Opportunities for Specific Areas
Funds for Oregon Organizations Fostering Opportunity and Equity
Meyer Memorial Trust
Meyer Memorial Trust works with and invests in organizations, communities, ideas, and efforts that contribute to a flourishing and equitable Oregon. The Trust's 2020 Annual Funding Opportunity is now accepting applications in the following portfolios: Equitable Education is focused on eliminating the predictable gaps in public education and ensuring increased opportunity for priority students. Healthy Environment is focused on nurturing a resilient natural environment, while supporting the well-being of Oregon's diverse cultures and communities. Housing Opportunities is focused on opening doors to opportunity and strengthening communities through safe and affordable housing. Building Community is focused on promoting community vitality through shared responsibility. The deadline to apply is April 13, 2020. Visit the Trust's website to review the funding guidelines for each portfolio.
Grants Address Health and Youth Development in Tennessee
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust supports nonprofit organizations, state colleges and universities, and government agencies in the communities served by the company throughout Tennessee. The Trust is primarily focused on supporting charitable health clinics and organizations that focus on youth development or disease-specific research and advocacy. Organizations promoting diversity and inclusion are also considered. The application deadlines are May 1 and November 1, annually. Visit the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee's website to learn more about the Community Trust's application process.
Support for Local Organizations in Railway Communities
Union Pacific Foundation: Community Ties Giving Program
The Union Pacific Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities served by Union Pacific Railroad, primarily in the midwestern and western United States. Through the Community Ties Giving Program, the Foundation provides Local Grants to nonprofit organizations that address the following categories: Safety, Workforce Development, and Community Spaces. In 2020, additional funds will be allocated to organizations to address critical community needs associated with COVID-19. Grants generally range from $2,500 to $25,000. Organizations interested in receiving a grant must complete an online survey to determine eligibility from April 1 through May 31, 2020, which is also the last day that eligible organizations may submit an online application. Visit the Foundation's website for detailed information about the funding priorities and application process.
Conservation Efforts in Six States Funded
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Conservation Partners Program—State Based Initiatives
The Conservation Partners Program—State Based Initiatives (CPP) is a partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the state offices of the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Tennessee. The CPP program will support efforts to deliver technical assistance to advance the implementation of shared conservation efforts in each state. Funding will be based on the following priorities: Prescribed Burning and Watershed Planning, Landowner Technical Assistance, Water Conservation and Rangeland Management, Nutrient and Sediment Runoff, Forest and Wetlands Restoration and Management, and Natural Resource Planning. The application deadline for Hawaii proposals is April 13, 2020; the deadline for the remaining states is May 6, 2020. Nonprofit organizations, farmer and commodity-led organizations, educational institutions, tribal governments, and state and local units of governments are eligible to apply. Visit the NFWF website to review the CPP 2020 request for proposals.
Federal Funding
Opportunities from the U.S. Government
Support Available to Repair Rural Housing
Department of Agriculture
The Rural Housing Preservation Grant program provides support to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. In addition, the program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing complexes in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to make such units available to low- and very low-income persons. The application deadline is May 7, 2020.
Program Helps Refugees
Department of Health and Human Services
The Ethnic Community Self Help Program seeks to provide refugee populations with critical services to assist them in becoming integrated members of American society. Objectives include strengthening Ethnic Community-Based Organizations' (ECBOs) provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services to refugees, supporting ECBOs' organizational development and engagement in capacity building by encouraging their collaboration with established refugee service providers and mainstream organizations, and supporting ECBOs in promoting community building and civic participation by refugees. The application deadline is May 11, 2020.
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional.
Coronavirus and Your Message to Donors
Not sure how to reach out to your donors during this time of crisis? The free recorded webinar "Coronavirus and Your Message to Donors" provides insights on mail and digital messaging to donors during the coronavirus pandemic.
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.
The Power of 3—Capital Campaigns With CampaignCounsel.org (NEW)
Is a capital campaign in your future? You're not alone, as 74% of nonprofits recently indicated they were in a campaign or planning one. These three webinars, presented by Kevin Wallace and Carlyn Runnels of CampaignCounsel.org, are designed to help your nonprofit organization understand and prepare for the process of raising big dollars for capital projects. The first webinar, Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign?, will help you ask and answer six questions vital to preparing for the pre-campaign process and the campaign itself. In the second webinar, Essential Capital Campaign Preparations, learn about the pre-campaign steps of needs assessments and feasibility studies, what to expect from these tools, and how they can help you understand the financial capacity of your organization and its donors. The third webinar, The Stages and Challenges to Expect During a Capital Campaign, will help you understand the five phases typical to most capital campaigns and the stages and challenges that come with each phase. These webinars can be taken together to methodically build your organization’s readiness to take on a capital campaign or as stand-alone learning opportunities. Executive directors, development directors, and board leaders from a broad range of nonprofit organizations will benefit from these 90-minute presentations. The deadline to register for the Power of 3 is Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
The Power of 3—Storytelling With Lori L. Jacobwith
Do you wish there was a simple tool to help you raise more money? Would you like to know exactly what to talk about to encourage your community to do more and give more? During the upcoming Power of 3 series, Lori L. Jacobwith, an internationally-recognized master storyteller, will take you on a deep dive into the world of using storytelling to raise more money. You'll learn the science behind why storytelling is the most powerful communication tool you can use. Lori will also walk you through a step-by-step process on how to write and share stories that raise significantly more money. First, in How to Find and Craft Powerful Stories, you'll learn the key questions to ask others to help you uncover powerful stories. You'll also receive a template to use when you begin to build your story. Second, in Advanced Storytelling, you'll learn about the power of transparency when telling your money story. What you discover in this session may change how you talk about your fundraising needs forever. Third, in The Power of Visual Storytelling, you'll learn why adding visuals to your storytelling will help your fundraising messages stand out and increase gift size. Join us for all three workshops in the Power of 3 series or as stand-alone learning opportunities. The deadline to register for all three is Thursday, April 9, 2020.
LIVE Workshop: Tracking In-Kind Contributions in QuickBooks (DESKTOP and ONLINE Versions)
Do you get in-kind contributions of stuff (computers, furniture, food, clothing, household items for clients, auction items, etc…)? What about services (IT help, advertising, graphic design, professional services, rent, etc….)? In-kind gifts are an important way nonprofits receive support from donors and are REQUIRED to be booked by nonprofits. More than that, they can frequently count towards meeting the matching requirements of traditional grants and when booked more accurately reflect the true cost of running your nonprofit. Figuring out what can be booked, how to value them, and how to get them into your QuickBooks file can be challenging. If you receive in-kind donations of either stuff or services, then this webinar is for you! We are very excited to have Gregg Bossen, a CPA specializing in nonprofits and president of QuickBooks Made Easy for Nonprofits, deliver one of his most popular webinars exclusively for us! In this webinar, we will first explore everything you ever wanted to know about in-kind gifts but didn't know who to ask. Topics include the following: What kinds of goods and services received can I book as in-kind gifts? What are the rules for when I can book services received? How do I determine the value I book? How do I book these things in QuickBooks? What am I required to report to the donor? Don't miss this opportunity! You will be VERY glad you came! The webinar for the DESKTOP version of QuickBooks will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. The webinar for the ONLINE version will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2020.
GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation.
COVID-19 Related Funding
We understand the challenges being faced by nonprofits, educational organizations, and individuals across the globe. To help during this unprecedented time we have launched a COVID-19 Related Funding page. Plus, as a longstanding cloud company, we are fully resourced to serve our Members who may be focusing on grantseeking instead of event fundraising due to the growing needs in communities in the U.S. and abroad. As always, our staff is working diligently to provide you with high quality and accurate information about grantmakers across the globe.
Please know that GrantStation Members, as well as our partners and subscribers, are foremost in our minds.
The GS Team
Fundraising Innovation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Nonprofit organizations are moving quickly to recoup funds lost from cancelled events while maintaining or transitioning programs and services during this time of social distancing. Please tell us what and how your organization is doing by answering this short survey. Thank you!
Why is it so difficult to find the time to write and submit strong grant requests?
Do you prefer to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule? If so, GrantStation's Online Education option—the On Demand Course—is right for you! Our library of courses is growing all the time, and includes:
- The Art of Raising Funds From Local Businesses
- Building Your Annual Grants Strategy
- The Golden Key to Successful Grantwriting
Have your priorities changed, or are you trying to acclimate to a work-from-home reality?
Try our FREE course: Creating Time. (It's in the same format as our paid courses.)
Funding Alerts
GrantStation shares database profiles of Local, National, Canadian, and International grantmakers with upcoming deadlines each week. Check out the current Funding Alerts for more grant opportunities!
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
Peace First’s COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants
CcHUB Funding and Design Support for COVID-19 Projects
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: Coronavirus News Collaboration Challenge
National Funding Opportunities
Support for Efforts to Advance Economic Opportunity for Older Adults
Domestic Violence Shelters in Every State Funded
Grants Promote Cultural Experiences Engaging U.S. Muslims and Their Neighbors
Wilderness Protection Projects Supported
Regional Funding Opportunities
Support for Efforts to Advance Economic Opportunity for Older Adults
Domestic Violence Shelters in Every State Funded
Grants Promote Cultural Experiences Engaging U.S. Muslims and Their Neighbors
Wilderness Protection Projects Supported
Federal Funding Opportunities
Support Available to Repair Rural Housing
Program Helps Refugees