GrantStation Insider - September 7, 2017

National | Regional | Federal | PathFinder | Online Education | Announcements

National Funding
Opportunities Throughout the U.S.

Support for New Live Performing Arts Work
MAP Fund
The MAP (Multi-Arts Production) Fund supports original live performance projects throughout the United States that embody a spirit of deep inquiry. MAP is particularly interested in supporting artists that question, disrupt, complicate, and challenge inherited notions of social and cultural hierarchy across the current American landscape, including issues of class, sexual orientation, gender, generation, faith, and other aspects of cultural difference. Up to 40 grants ranging from $10,000 to $45,000 will be awarded in the upcoming grant cycle. Round One applications are due October 30, 2017; Round Two applications must be submitted by February 26, 2018. (MAP is offering support to applicants who would like staff to respond to the project description of their 2018 Round One applications through October 16, 2017.) Visit the MAP website for eligibility information and application guidelines.

Technology Programs for Underserved Teens Funded
Best Buy Foundation: National Partnership Request for Proposals
The Best Buy Foundation is committed to giving underserved teens hands-on access to the tech education and tools they need to be prepared for the tech-reliant jobs of the future. The Foundation’s National Partnership Request for Proposals seeks nonprofit partners that generate interest and awareness in tech-related careers; improve access to training, credentialing, and employment; and support tech career progression. Program grants, generally ranging from $100,000 to $350,000, are provided. Nonprofit organizations with a proven track record of serving youth, ages 13 to 21, are eligible to apply. Organizations must be located within 25 miles of a Best Buy store or operation center, and have the ability to conduct programming in at least one to five cities across the country (preferred locations are listed in the RFP). The application deadline is October 1, 2017. Interested applicants should carefully review the RFP, including the eligibility criteria. (Best Buy will host a webinar to provide an overview on the National Partnership RFP on Thursday, September 14, 2017, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm CST.) Visit the Best Buy website to learn more about the National Partnership RFP.

Grants Promote the Protection of Wild Places
The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots citizen-action groups and their 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. 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 November 1, 2017. The Alliance will send each nominated organization a request for proposal, including instructions on submitting a full proposal, which is due December 1, 2017. Funding criteria and application guidelines are available on the Conservation Alliance website.

Youth Volunteers Nationwide Recognized
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a nationwide program that honors young people in grades five to twelve who are volunteering in their communities. The program's goals are to applaud young people who already are making a positive difference in their towns and neighborhoods, and to inspire others to think about how they might contribute to their communities. Youth who have engaged in a volunteer activity that occurred during the 12 months prior to the date of application are eligible to apply. Local Honorees are selected in late fall and from those winners two State Honorees (one middle level school student and one high school student) are chosen in each state and the District of Columbia. State Honorees receive an award of $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, for national recognition events. Out of the State Honorees, ten National Honorees are selected to receive an additional award of $5,000 as well as a $5,000 grant for a nonprofit organization of their choice. The application deadline is November 7, 2017. Visit the Prudential website for online application information.

Regional Funding
Opportunities for Specific Areas

Grassroots Projects in Company Communities Supported
Baltimore Life Companies Community Grants Program
The Baltimore Life Companies Community Grants Program supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations that benefit the communities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC, where the company has offices. The program provides grants of up to $500 to fund community-based organizations addressing family, safety, and community enhancement issues. Examples of eligible programs include child safety education, community cleanup campaigns, neighborhood watch activities, etc. Priority is given to ambitious organizations that already have “volunteer power” in place, but need financial support to implement their specific home-grown projects. Applications must be returned to local Baltimore Life agencies by October 16, 2017. Visit the company’s website to download the grant guidelines and application form.

Funds for Environmental Efforts 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 inquiry may be submitted at any time; invited proposals are due April 15 and October 15, annually. Application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.

Grants Enhance Football Fields in NFL Target Markets
NFL Foundation Grassroots Program
The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, administered by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and funded by the National Football League Foundation, provides support for nonprofit neighborhood-based organizations and middle or high schools to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields. Matching Field Surface Grants of up to $250,000 are available to help finance the resurfacing of community, middle school, or high school football fields. General Field Support Grants of up to $50,000 are available for capital projects not associated with the actual field surface, such as the installation/refurbishment of bleachers, concession stands, lights, etc. All organizations applying for funds must be located within NFL Target Markets and serve low- to moderate-income areas within those markets. A list of eligible communities is included in the Request for Proposals (RFP). The application deadline is October 16, 2017. Visit the LISC website to download the RFP.

Support for Organizations Working to Enhance Arizona Communities
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Corporate Giving Program
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Corporate Giving Program supports nonprofit organizations that strive to enhance the quality of life in company communities throughout the state. The Corporate Giving Program provides grants to organizations that focus on the following issues: arts and cultural programs, economic development and civic initiatives, youth and education, and health, wellness, and human services initiatives. Requests for funding and sponsorship support may be submitted throughout the year. Visit the company’s website to learn more about the program and submit an online application.

Federal Funding
Opportunities from the U.S. Government

Wetlands Conservation Funded
Fish and Wildlife Service
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants Program supports the long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, or establishment of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. The application deadline is October 19, 2017. 

Program Helps Public Housing Residents
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinator program provides support to enable public and Indian housing residents to increase earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. The application deadline is October 23, 2017. 

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

Getting Started with Corporate Partnerships
Federal budget cuts loom large, and many nonprofits are on the lookout for alternative sources of funding. The webinar entitled “Getting Started with Corporate Partnerships,” offered by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, may help you to diversify your funding pool through corporate partnerships. This webinar will provide insights into how to approach a company, pitch a project and cause, identify ways to help meet business goals, and manage the relationship for long-term success. The webinar will take place on Thursday, September 28, 2017.

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 a Powerful Grants Strategy for 2017-2018
This webinar will take participants through the process of establishing a grants calendar for the next 12 to 18 months. Fast-paced, and filled with action steps, Cynthia Adams, CEO of GrantStation, will discuss how to design and adopt a Grant Decision Matrix before beginning the process of building a specific grants strategy for each project. All participants will also receive a set of worksheets that they can use to create their own approach to building an overall grantseeking strategy for their organization. This presentation is geared towards beginning and intermediate grantwriters. Advanced grantwriters may also find it useful as a refresher course.

Maximizing Online Fundraising (NEW)
Compared with less than 2% growth in overall U.S. fundraising, online giving surged another 10 to 20% in both 2015 and 2016, while email fundraising increased by 25%. Join us for a practical, tactical workshop focused on sharing the tips, tools, and how-to steps for success your nonprofit needs to know to make the most of your digital presence. Darian Rodriguez Heyman will share tips designed to help you double online giving in just two months, plus a wide range of helpful resources and strategies for taking your organization into the future.

Building a Stellar Grantseeking Team
One of the most time consuming tasks for an Executive Director of a nonprofit organization is the research, writing, and submission of grant requests. And, unfortunately, it is often a task that is both daunting and isolating. This webinar taught by GrantStation's CEO, Cynthia Adams, takes you through a step-by-step process to develop a grantseeking team, all working toward a common vision: to strengthen and build your grants program. This online training focuses on a step-by-step process to craft the perfect committee, develop a process to energize your team, and discover ways to create a sustainable program. Ms. Adams' unique approach will help you develop a team that will generate stellar results.

Announcements
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Editor: Julie Kaufman
Contributing Writer: Kevin Peters
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons