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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.
Support for Social Justice Efforts in the U.S. and Canada
Unitarian Universalist Association: Fund for a Just Society
The Fund for a Just Society, a program of the Unitarian Universalist Association, provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada that address issues of social and economic justice. The Fund supports organizations that meet all three of the following criteria: 1) use community organizing to bring about systemic change leading to a more just society; 2) mobilize with those who have been disenfranchised and excluded from resources, power, and the right to self-determination; and 3) have an active focused campaign to create systemic change. Consideration is given to projects that are less likely to receive conventional funding because of the innovative or challenging nature of the work or the economic and social status of the constituency. The maximum grant amount is $15,000; however, most grants range between $6,000 and $8,000. Requests are reviewed two times per year; the next application deadline is September 30, 2021. Visit the Unitarian Universalist Association website to review the funding guidelines and take the online eligibility quiz.
Oral Healthcare Programs for Children Funded
AAPD Foundation: Access to Care Grants
The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) Foundation is committed to supporting community-based initiatives throughout the United States and its territories that provide Dental Homes to children whose families cannot afford dental care. The Foundation offers Access to Care Grants of up to $20,000 to organizations that effectively demonstrate their ability to provide Dental Homes to children. (The AAPD defines a Dental Home as the ongoing relationship between the dentist and the patient, inclusive of all aspects of oral healthcare, delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated, and family-centered way.) Special consideration will be given to initiatives that provide care for children ages eight and younger. Online proposals may be submitted through October 1, 2021. Visit the Foundation's website to review the grant guidelines.
Grants Defend Wildlife and Wild Places in the U.S. and Canada
Fund for Wild Nature
The Fund for Wild Nature provides grants to grassroots nonprofit organizations in the United States and Canada for campaigns to save native species and wild ecosystems, with particular emphasis on actions to defend threatened wilderness and biological diversity. Priority is given to ecological issues that are not receiving sufficient public attention or funding. Grants, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, are provided for advocacy, litigation, public policy work, and similar endeavors. The Fund does not support proposals from organizations with budgets of over $250,000 annually. The application deadlines are May 1 and October 1 of each year. Application guidelines and forms are available on the Fund's website.
Youth Community Service Projects Supported
Karma for Cara Foundation: Microgrant Program
Karma for Cara Foundation supports young people nationwide in their efforts to contribute to our society and help repair the world through volunteerism and community service. Through the Foundation's Microgrant Program, youth 18 years of age or younger may apply for grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. Examples of funded projects include turning a vacant lot into a community garden, rebuilding a school playground, and helping senior citizens get their homes ready for winter. It is the Foundation's intent that grants support the nuts and bolts of projects so stipends, facility rentals, and transportation costs are not funded. Application deadlines are quarterly throughout the year, and the final deadline for 2021 is October 1. Visit Karma for Cara Foundation's website to apply online: https://karmaforcara.org/microgrant-application.
Regional Funding
Opportunities for specific geographic areas
Funds for New England Coalitions to Address Racial Equity in Education
Nellie Mae Education Foundation: Strengthening Partnerships, Coalitions and Movements
The mission of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation is to champion efforts that prioritize community goals that challenge racial inequities and advance excellent, student-centered public education for all New England youth. The Foundation's Strengthening Partnerships, Coalitions and Movements request for proposals (RFP) will support coalitions and partnerships focused on advancing racial equity in the public education system at both the state and national levels. Through this RFP, the Foundation will provide funding for up to ten New England-based (and one or two national) coalitions that play an important role in amplifying the collective power of their members. For the purposes of this opportunity, "coalition" is defined as a strategic alliance of community-based groups formed to work together to advocate for a common goal that centers consensus building, leadership development, and a racial justice analysis. Grants of $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000 are available. The application deadline is October 4, 2021. Visit the Foundation's website to download the Strengthening Partnerships, Coalitions and Movements RFP.
Grants Advance Environmental Projects in the Pacific Northwest
The Lazar Foundation
The Lazar Foundation is dedicated to supporting innovative and strategic projects that protect the environment in the Pacific Northwest, including Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The Foundation's specific grantmaking areas of interest include the conservation of large, biologically significant terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; the preservation of biological diversity; initiatives that broaden the environmental movement; and projects that strengthen the capacity of the environmental movement's ability to develop, shape, and communicate its message. Letters of interest may be submitted at any time; invited full proposals are due April 15 and October 15, annually. Application guidelines are available on the Foundation's website.
Support for Art Education Programs in CT, FL, NY, and DC
Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation: P/Arts Program
The P/Arts (Philanthropic Arts) Program, an initiative of the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations, accredited schools, universities, government agencies, and public agencies in Connecticut, Florida, New York, and Washington, DC. The focus is on organizations that implement or enhance programs utilizing art and art education in daily curricula and early childhood education, and that assist disadvantaged learners. Proposed programs must impact at least 30 children or students within the first six months of implementation and no less than 60 by the due date of the annual report. Online requests will be accepted through November 2021. Visit the Foundation's website to learn more about the P/Arts Program.
Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Initiatives Funded
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Restoration and Stewardship of Outdoor Resources and Environment Colorado Program
The Restoration and Stewardship of Outdoor Resources and Environment (RESTORE) Colorado Program, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), focuses on the restoration, enhancement, and expansion of wildlife habitat throughout the state of Colorado. In 2022, RESTORE Colorado is offering up to $3 million to fund projects focusing on the following habitats and statewide priorities: river corridors, riparian areas, and wetlands; eastern Colorado grasslands; sagebrush rangelands; big game winter range and migration routes; and forestland projects in specific geographies. Priority will be given to projects that implement conservation practices directly on-the-ground or which increase organizational capacity to implement conservation activities. The proposal deadline is October 28, 2021. Visit the NFWF website to download the RESTORE Colorado RFP.
Federal Funding
Opportunities from the U.S. government
Support Available for Economic Development in Communities Affected by the Pandemic
Department of Commerce
The American Rescue Plan Act Build Back Better Regional Challenge aims to assist communities and regions impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The program seeks to help regions develop transformational economic development strategies and fund the implementation of those strategies that will create and grow regional growth clusters. Such efforts will help regional economies recover from the pandemic and build economic diversity and resiliency to mitigate impacts of future economic disasters. The deadline for Phase 1 Concept Proposals is October 19, 2021.
Competition Addresses Environmental Challenges
Environmental Protection Agency
The People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Student Design Competition is open to teams of college and university students working to design solutions for a sustainable future. The program challenges students to research, develop, and design innovative projects that address real world challenges involving all areas of environmental protection and public health. Specific areas of interest include air quality, safe and sustainable water resources, sustainable and healthy communities, and chemical safety. The application deadline is October 27, 2021.
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional
Eastern Grants Forum 2021
Are you looking to keep up with the evolving requirements for federal grants? Do you want to learn more about the post-pandemic environment facing grant-funded organizations? If so, you may want to attend the Eastern Grants Forum 2021, which examines key requirements for managing federal grants, current issues for grant-funded organizations, and what to expect for the coming year. This conference is hosted by Federal Grants Training and will take place in Philadelphia from October 5 to 6, 2021.
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.
FREE Tour of the GrantStation Website
Curious to know exactly what resources are at your fingertips when you enter the GrantStation website? Join Jeremy Smith, Director of Communications Technology, and Kerry Glauser, Research Specialist, for a quick tour of the GrantStation website. Jeremy will demonstrate all of the GrantStation features including how to best use the searchable databases of private funders, how to navigate government funding sources, and how to set up and use your personal dashboard. This quick overview is a great way for current Members to ensure that they are getting the most out of their Membership, and for potential Members to see GrantStation in action! The webinar will be held on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.
The Power of 3: Storytelling
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'll 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 September 9, 2021.
The Power of 3: Jump-Start Your Grants Success
Are you ready to jump-start your grants success with fresh perspectives, brand-new tools, and powerful new ways of approaching familiar tasks and challenges? Ready to bust a few big myths and misunderstandings that may be sabotaging your success without your even knowing it? Join long-time grants professional and grantmaking program officer Maryn Boess for a Power of 3 series designed to help you finish 2021 strong and get 2022 off to a high-energy, practical and inspiring start! In Power Writing for Grants, you'll fill your writing toolkit with a host of simple, powerful techniques that will have you writing more clearly, quickly, and confidently, right away—so you can get the results you want! In Building the "Total-Value" Proposal Budget, you'll learn step-by-step how to end the 'Nonprofit Starvation Cycle' and build budgets that clearly and compellingly show the total value of everything it takes to do your work successfully (with plenty of opportunity for hands-on practice). And in our ground-breaking final session, Inside the Grantmaker's Black Box, you'll travel with Maryn through a real-life grant review process, from start to finish, tracking proposals through the eight key “qualifying rounds” and busting some big myths about what really happens in the finals! Come with an open mind, and be ready for inspiration as well as great takeaways you and your team can put to work right away! 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 Wednesday, September 15, 2021.
GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation
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Funding Alerts
Don't forget to check out the additional Funding Alerts on our homepage—you don't want to miss them!
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Editor: Julie Kaufman
Copy Editor: Ashlyn Simmons
Contributing Writer: Kevin Peters
National Funding Opportunities
Support for Social Justice Efforts in the U.S. and Canada
Oral Healthcare Programs for Children Funded
Grants Defend Wildlife and Wild Places in the U.S. and Canada
Youth Community Service Projects Supported
Regional Funding Opportunities
Funds for New England Coalitions to Address Racial Equity in Education
Grants Advance Environmental Projects in the Pacific Northwest
Support for Art Education Programs in CT, FL, NY, and DC
Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Initiatives Funded
Federal Funding Opportunities
Support Available for Economic Development in Communities Affected by the Pandemic
Competition Addresses Environmental Challenges