Funding Opportunities

MLK Collegiate Challenge 2010

Noth Carolina Campus Compact
We are now accepting in-network applications for the 2010 MLK Day of Service, January 18, 2010. Only Campus Compact state offices are eligible to apply. Grants are available in increments of $2500 and $5000. The application deadline is July 10, 2009. The RFP and application are available on our website at http://org.elon.edu/nccc/resources/In-Network2010MLK.html. For more information about the national MLK Day of Service visit www.mlkday.gov.

Scholarship Opportunity for Incoming Freshman

Our Voice Our Country
Our Voice Our Country, a non-partisan nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce a $1,000 scholarship competition for incoming college freshmen. Applying students will be asked to share their insight about America's greatest underlying problems and nominate those who may be able to solve them. The award can be used for expenses associated with attending an accredited two- or four-year college this coming fall, anywhere in the United States. The application deadline is August 17, 2009; the winner will be announced in September.
For submission criteria and other information, visit http://www.ourvoiceourcountry.org/.

Support for Communities in the United States, Canada, and the UK

Bank of America Charitable Foundation
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation creates neighborhood excellence in communities served by the bank in the United States, Canada, and the UK. While local community priorities drive how funding is determined, giving at the national and local levels typically falls into four main categories: Community Development, Education, Health and Human Services, and Arts and Culture. Each of the company's markets, in partnership with local community leaders, sets specific priorities within these major categories. There are no deadlines for grant applications. Visit the website listed above to determine eligibility for funding.

Economic and Environmental Justice Programs Funding

CS Fund and Warsh/Mott Legacy
The CS Fund and Warsh/Mott Legacy are private foundations that are linked by common interests and boards of directors. The Foundations are dedicated to preserving biodiversity, defending democracy, preventing the commodification of life, and protecting human and environmental health throughout the world. The Foundations' grant categories include Economic Globalization, Food Sovereignty, Civil Liberties, and Emerging Technologies. Proposals to the CS Fund and Warsh/Mott Legacy are considered together. Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. For 2008 only, the fall funding cycle deadline for invited proposals is July 28. Visit the website listed above for a full description of each the Foundations' grant categories as well as letter of inquiry guidelines.

Grants for Complex Problems Worldwide

Ford Foundation
The goals of the Ford Foundation are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement throughout the world. The Foundation works mainly by making rants or loans through three major program areas: Asset Building and Community Development; Peace and Social Justice; and Knowledge, creativity, and Freedom. Support is generally directed to activities that are likely to have wide effect rather than local programs with limited scope. Letters of inquiry are considered throughout the year. For a detailed description of the Foundation's program areas and funding policies, visit the website listed above.

State and Regional Programs Supported

Wal-Mart Foundation State Giving Program
The Wal-Mart Foundation's State Giving Program awards grants at the state and regional level to programs that have a strong impact within the communities the company serves. Advisory Councils in all 50 states and the District of Columbia will determine how best to distribute State Giving Program funds. The program's priority funding categories include: Education, targeting the needs of underserved young people ages 12-30; Job Skills Training, specifically support services to help people improve their work-related skills; Health, with a focus on access to healthcare and the promotion of healthy lifestyles; and Environmental Sustainability, including recycling programs, outdoor classrooms, etc. The minimum grant size for this program is $5,000. The remaining application deadlines for this year are September 25 and December 19. Visit the website listed above to submit an online application.

Community Improvement Programs in the U.S. and Canada Supported

Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States and Canada that improve communities and positively impact lives. The grantmaking emphasis is on programs that help children and families, animals, or the environment. The Foundation's grants range between $1,000 and $10,000 with an average grant of approximately $2,500. Requests are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed quarterly. Online applications may be submitted through the website listed above.

Grants for Child-led Service Projects

Disney Minnie Grants
The Walt Disney Company and Youth Service America are excited to announce grants of up to $500 to support child-led service projects. These grants support children (ages 5-14) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Teachers, older youth (15-25), and youth-serving organizations are also eligible to apply, if they engage younger children in planning and implementing the project. A significant part of the service must take place on GYSD 2009, April 24-26. We particularly encourage applicants to address the environmental issues and to seek to empower children as young citizens through their projects. Applicants can use the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a reference and review past grantees’ projects from all over the world at: http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/DisneyMinnieGrants/DisneyMinnieGrantees2008/tabid/292/Default.aspx

Environmental Education Grants

This document solicits grant proposals to support environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques as described in this notice. To read the full Grant Solicitation, see the attached pdf, Environmental Education Grants.pdf

Grants Promoting Native Cultural Traditions

Ringing Rocks Foundation www.ringingrocks.org
Ringing Rocks Foundation believes that it is critically important to help protect and conserve cultural and healing practices, as well as to facilitate learning about diverse wisdom ways. The Foundation's Discretionary Fund Grants Program provides support to grassroots nonprofit organizations around the world that work to promote indigenous healing practices and cultural traditions. Grants of $500 to $5,000 are provided for start-up costs and program development. Funded projects must have support from the indigenous community served. Letters of intent are due by February 2, 2009. Application guidelines and forms are available on the Foundation's website listed above.

Funds for Affordable Housing Programs in the U.S. and Canada

Home Depot Foundation http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/grants.html
The Home Depot Foundation supports nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada located in communities served by the company. Through the Affordable Housing Built Responsibly grant program, the Foundation funds organizations whose missions align with the Foundation's interests in supporting the production and preservation of affordable, efficient, and healthy housing. Preference is given to proposals that result in the production, preservation, or financing of housing units for low- to moderate-income families. The most promising proposals incorporate a number of "green" building design practices. Also, in 2009 preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate how urban forestry strategies will be utilized to create healthier, more vibrant communities. Requests are reviewed three times per year; the next deadline for letters of inquiry is March 1, 2009. Visit the Foundation's website to review the grant criteria and take the eligibility test.

True Hero to Grant $20,000 for Student Service Projects

We have recently learned about a grant opportunity for student service projects. A non-profit organization, "True Hero," provides a number of grants for campus and for school service projects. Awards are made in an interesting way--an online voting process. Details are below; submission is relatively simple. Several Campus Compact members from across the nation have entered their projects. For more inforamtion go to http://truehero.org/

Potential FUNDING OPPORTUNITY for School-Based Service-Learning Research and Development

U.S. Department of Education
Institute of Education Sciences
National Center for Education Research

Through its Social and Behavioral Context for Academic Learning (Social/Behavioral) research program, the Institute of Education Sciences supports research on interventions designed to improve social skills and behaviors that support academic and other important school-related outcomes (e.g. attendance, high school graduation rates) for K-12 students. Funding for development projects can provide up to $500K per year for 3 years. Funding for efficacy research or replication projects can provide up to $750K per year for 4 years. Proposals are due in either June or October. For more information, please view the current Request For Applications available.

If you have questions, or want to schedule a call to discuss your plans, please contact the program officer for the Social/Behavioral program, Emily Doolittle at Emily.Doolittle@ed.gov.
IES/NCER Website: http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/

Funding Opportunity for Community Colleges

The Community College National Center for Community Engagement is a leader in advancing programs and innovations that stimulate active participation of institutions in community engagement for the attainment of a vital citizenry. Applications due by July 9, 2009. Visit http://www.mesacc.edu/other/engagement/ for guidelines about applying.