ACET, Inc. Blog

In conjunction with the Toyota Family Learning initiative, the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL)is accepting applications for five three-year grants of $175,000, along with NCFL communications support and training, to develop services that engage or mentor families in learning together, as well as family service learning projects. Applicants may be schools (public or charter), libraries, community-based organizations, or any other organization that provides services to educational services to families, including children from 4 to 18 years of age, grandparents, parents, and legal guardians, as well as a high percentage of minority and/or low-income families in two or three unique sites. Preferred projects will adapt existing family engagement in education efforts to include family mentoring, interactive literacy activities between children and parents, service learning components, and parental training. Activities and experiences from these projects will be shared on the Toyota Family Learning Web site.

For complete information, please see the full RFP. Applications are due June 24, and successful grantees will be notified in July.

Energy company Westinghouse Electric is offering $1,000 grants to three schools for projects with a STEM-centered focus through its N-Visioning a Brighter Future initiative. Successful grantees will also receive an additional $2,000 for their respective science departments for general needs. Successful projects will directly involve students, incorporate community resources, and/or employ team-teaching or interdisciplinary strategies. Eligible applicants must be located in the United States and may be elementary, middle, or high schools. For complete information, please see the full RFP [opens PDF]. The deadline for applications is November 15.

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ACET Staff

St. Paul nonprofit Bush Foundation invites nonprofit organizations and government entities of all sizes to apply for its Community Innovation Grants. Ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 (expect to be used within 2 years), these grants are intended to support innovation through inclusive, collaborative, community powered problem solving, allowing communities to build and test new solutions to community issues. Communities may be racial, geographic, or ethnic in nature. No particular issue or issues will be given priority, and projects at all stages, from idea generation to capacity building to solution testing, are eligible for funding. The first round of applications is due July 11. The second round will open in December. For more information and to view example projects, please see the Community Innovation Grants Web page.

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ACET Staff

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Justice Programs currently has two grants available.

Grants of $50,000 to $200,000 are available through Minnesota Statute to fund community-based programming designed to improve community safety and crime prevention efforts based on most promising or best practices. Applicants may be public or private nonprofit organizations. Applicant organizations may submit more than one proposal, but only one award will be provided to any given agency. Priority will be given to projects that work with underserved populations, that serve areas with the highest crime rate or concentration of economically disadvantaged youth, or that can demonstrate significant involvement by served community members in planning, service implementation, and evaluation. Applications for this funding stream are due by June 17.

The DPS is also offering awards of $100,000 to $300,000 through a federal Justice Assistance Grant to public and private nonprofits. Eligible applicants need to be currently implementing juvenile or adult justice offenders’ re-entry services, addressing the needs of juvenile or adult offenders through problem-solving courts, or looking to improve or expand on existing services to offenders with mental illnesses. Successful projects will have tangible evidence of community support, simultaneously address both individual mental health management and criminogenic risk factors, and employ best practices. Funding cannot be used for program start-ups. Applications are due June 28.

For the full RFPs and other information, please see the Office of Justice Programs’ Grants Web page. All applications must be submitted through the DPS E-grants site.

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ACET Staff

Up to $25,000 in grants are now available through the United Methodist Women’s Living Stewardship: Creating Financial Literacy program. Grants will be awarded to 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations working to educate and empower people through the development of financial literacy skills. Preference will be given to initiatives that prioritize individual self-sufficiency and the involvement of women in the initiative’s initiation, implementation, and evaluation. Grants may be used for new or ongoing programming. For complete information, please see the United Methodist Women’s Grants Web page. The deadline for submissions is June 3.

A single grant of $100,000 is available through Ribbons of Hope – Invest in Women, an Atlanta, Georgia-based foundation dedicate to improving the lives of women and girls. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations promoting economic independence, health, education, human rights, and/or social well-being of girls and women. Applicants must also have an annual operating budget of at least $500,000 (which can include in-kind donations) and have been in operation for at least 3 years. For applications, please see the Ribbons of Hope Grants page. The deadline for applications is August 1.

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ACET Staff

Partnering with education materials companies Pitsco/Hearlihy & Company, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s Foundation for Technology (ITEEA) and Engineering Educators is offering grants of $2,000 to K-12 engineering and technology teachers to encourage quality technology/engineering programming within their schools’ curriculums. Eligible applicants are elementary or secondary teachers who are already successfully working engineering and technology education into their schools’ curriculums, and who are also ITEEA members registered for the annual conference, to be held this year in Orlando, Florida. Membership materials may be enclosed along with scholarship applications. For more information, please see the ITEEA’s grant Web page. The deadline for submissions is December 1.

Together with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is accepting applications for its Program Challenge Fund grants. This funding will allow a station, person, or entity to produce a limited, high-visibility, and high-impact series as a part of PBS’ national television schedule. A successful program is expected to be the highlight of a season’s schedule and to drive new audiences to the broadcast and to online content. Award amounts will be approved by the CPB based on the program’s budget. Finishing expenses, children’s programming, how-to programs, and programs regarding fitness or travel are not supported by this grant. For complete information, please see the Program Challenge Fund Web page linked above. The deadline for submissions is August 1.

In partnership with the New York Life Foundation, the National Alliance for Grieving Children will award five grants of $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, and $100,000 ($50,000 a year for 2 years) to organizations that offer grief support services directly to youth from ethnically diverse or low-income/underserved communities as part of its Grief Reach program. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, and 50% of youth served must be from minority communities or low-income families. An informational webinar will be held on May 15, 2013 at 2:00 EST regarding this opportunity. Please see the Grief Reach Web page for complete information. Applications are due July 8.

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ACET Staff

Service member support organization Wounded Warrior Project is accepting Letters of Interest from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations providing direct services and programming to the current generation of injured service members. Awards ranging between $5,000 and $250,000 are available for projects enhancing the lives of service members and their families in 4 major areas:

• Engagement: Connecting service members and their peers with community service opportunities.

• Empowerment: Providing programs or services that enhance economic empowerment through employment, financial literacy, higher education, or other areas.

• Body: Engaging service members and facilitating peer mentorship and leadership opportunities through unique wellness, sporting, and fitness activities for service members and their families.

• Mind: Providing programs that promote healthy readjustment to civilian life and enhanced mental health for wounded service members.

Priority shall be given to projects offering innovative and/or unique programming, projects that fill service gaps or assist service members and their families in underserved areas, and activities that foster a sense of purpose, mentorship, and leadership amongst injured service members.

Eligible organizations must be able to show evidence of their tax exempt status and be committed to empowering service members and veterans injured on or after September 11, 2001, as well as their families. Applicant organizations must also show a clear plan for recruitment and provide services at no cost to the individuals served.

The deadline for Letters of Interest is June 1. Selected organizations will then be asked to submit complete applications by July 8.

A partnership between the National Football League and the National Dairy Council, Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school physical activity and nutrition program promoting healthier eating and increased physical activity in K-12 schools. Awards of up to $4,000 are available to help adults and students implement activities that result in long-term changes in student physical activity and nutrition, either developed within the school or from the Fuel Up to Play 60 Playbook. Funds may not be used to purchase computer hardware, organized sports teams equipment, or food sold at school to students. Funds may also not be used to subsidize school meal programs.

Qualifying schools must be enrolled in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program and have a program advisor within the school. The selected or designed program must also have the support of the school’s principal, nutrition professional, and lead physical education teacher in addition to the program advisor, and must contain both physical activity and healthy eating planning.

For full eligibility and application information, please see the Fuel Up to Play 60 Web site.  Applications are due June 4.

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ACET Staff

Retailer Best Buy has announced community awards of up to $10,000 for local and regional nonprofit organizations through its Children’s Foundation Youth Technology Grants. Intended to support local activities, grants will be given to organizations that provide direct services to teens ages 13 to 18, providing opportunities to explore field such as mobile app development, computer programming, robotics, or digital imaging, inspiring career and education choices. The average grant amount is $5,000.

Eligible organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofits located within 50 miles of a Best Buy Service Center, Distribution Center, Mobile location, store, or corporate campus. Additionally, applicants must complete an eligibility quiz prior to submitting a full application. Applications will be accepted until July 1. Please see Best Buy’s Community Relations page for more information.

Established in 1996 by the composer for the film of the same name, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation exists to donate used and new musical instruments to school music programs that either cannot furnish all participating students with instruments of their own, or that lack resources to replace instruments due to factors such as wear over time. The foundation’s Keeping Music Alive program is now accepting applications for in-kind donations of instruments from charter, public, and private schools that are eligible for funds under Title I or that serve populations where a minimum of 50% of the student body qualifies for the National Lunch Program. Applicant schools must have established (at least three years old) instrumental musical program that takes place during the school day. This includes marching bands, concert bands, and orchestras. Schools solely offering Orff or classroom music are not eligible to apply.

To apply, schools must fill out a pre-qualification form by August 1. Selected schools will then be invited to submit full applications. For more information, please see the foundation’s application guidelines page.

Through partnership with a variety of community, nonprofit, educational, and faith-based organizations, The World We Want Foundation seeks to support “Young Global Citizens” as they work for change in their communities. These citizens are defined as youth ages 13 to 25 that are pursuing social action through activities such as service-learning, community service, and other such projects. Awards of up to $5,000 will be made available to applicants with project teams that have one or more youths, a project mentor, and a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt partner organization that sponsors or supports the team. For application guidelines and materials, please see the foundation’s Start Your Project Web page. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

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ACET Staff

Grants of $750 are now available through the National Weather Association for projects intended to improve K-12 education related to meteorology and similar sciences through the Sol Hirsch Education Fund. There will be four grants awarded in all. Funds may be used to purchase classroom, school, or community materials, attending accredited workshops, courses, or conferences, or to begin or expand existing community science outreach or meteorology or science education programs. Priority will be given to projects that have the greatest potential for impact and that exhibit the most creativity. Eligible applicants are school district supervisors, program directors, teachers, and other groups or individuals working to improve meteorology education for K-12 students. For full application information and a list of previous award recipients, please see the Sol Hirsch Fund Web page above. Applications will be accepted no later than June 1.

“How can private and public investment activities be harnessed to benefit low-income people and communities in Minnesota?” This is the question that the McKnight Foundation desires addressed by grant seekers to its Region & Communities program. A total of $750,000 in grants will be awarded to three market-based improvement initiatives in the state designed to strengthen neighborhoods,  support distinctive places to play, live, and work, engage historically underrepresented communities, stimulate regional economic development, and provide people regardless of background with better access to opportunities. Applications from projects that promote alignment, integration and balanced participation from multiple sectors (e.g. private, civic, and government) are especially encouraged. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations. Government agencies may apply for funding for special projects that are complementary to their customary functions to the public, but the foundation will not fund activities that are traditionally government responsibilities.

Applications are due June 28. An information meeting will take place on May 14 for this opportunity. Before submitting a proposal, applicants are advised to contact Program Administrator Renee Richie at rrichie@mcknight.org.

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ACET Staff

The Blandin Foundation, committed to building up rural Minnesota communities and the Grand Rapids area in particular, has announced scholarships of up to $4,000 for Itasca County, Minnesota students who are pursuing higher education in the 2013-14 school year. To be eligible, students must be no older than 25 as of September 1, 2013, registered as a full-time student at an accredited trade school at a 2-year or 4-year college or university, and must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress (with a minimum 2.0 GPA) toward their degree program. Students must attend or have attended a high school in Bigfork, Bug-o-Nay-ge-Shig, Greenway, Grand Rapids, DeerRiver, Blackduck, Northern Lights Community, HillCity, Northome, Remer, or Nashwauk-Keewatin, though home schooled students in the greater ItascaCounty area are also eligible to apply.

For more information, please see the news release posted on the Blandin Foundation Web site. The deadline for applications is May 1.

Founded in 1937 to support lifelong arts learning opportunities and serving 1.2 million students every year, the National Guild for Community Arts Education is making grant funds for programming partnerships during the 2013-14 school year. Through the MetLife Foundation Partners in Arts Education Program, matching grants of up to $20,000 are available for qualifying projects that demonstrate the best practices in effective arts education partnerships, serve significant numbers of public school students throughout the school day, provide high quality arts learning experiences in line with local, state, or national standards, and exhibits joint design and execution of professional development, curricula, programming, and evaluation.

Eligible organizations must be full members of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and in good standing.  Organizations must be recognized as 501(c)(3) tax exempt. Nonmember organizations should submit a membership application and first-year dues payments at a minimum of one week prior to submitting a grant application.

Eligible programs must provide students with a minimum of 20 sessions of arts instruction sequentially and a minimum of 10 sessions per semester. All sessions must be conducted by professional teaching artists and must serve a minimum of 100 students. Priority will be given to programs that provide arts instruction at least once a week for at least 10 weeks per semester.

For application forms, complete eligibility information, and instructions for joining an online orientation event taking place on April 22 regarding this opportunity, please see the program page here. Applications are due May 16.

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ACET Staff

A range of grants is now available through the National Art Education Association (NAEA)’s philanthropic arm, the National Art Education Foundation. They are as follows:

• SHIP Grants: Up to $500 for arts educators in need of instructional resources and/or equipment to advance student learning per the National Visual Arts Standards.

• Teacher Incentive Grants: Up to $2,500 in scholarships for art educators to participate in training and education programming that promotes the teaching of art, student learning or assessment, instructional process, classroom management, and other practices related to student learning.

• Mary McMullan Grants: Up to $2,500 for projects promoting arts education as an integral component of the curriculum, or improving the instruction of art in public and private schools, including U.S. institutions of higher education.

• Ruth Halvorsen Professional Development Grants: Up to $2,500 in scholarships for qualified art educators whose proposals focus on issues related to the improvement of art instruction, as well as the understanding and implementation of the National Visual Arts Standards and related subjects.

• NAEF Research Grants: Up to $10,000 to support arts education research, advancing knowledge in the field and working towards the goals outlined in Creating a Visual Arts Research Agenda Toward the 21^st Century.

Grants are only made to NAEA members (including retired members and students), state associations, and recognized NAEA affiliates. Eligible applications must have been active NAEA members for at least one year prior to the date of application.

The deadline for applications is October 1. For a list of past recipients and a calendar of important grant-related dates, please see the NAEA Foundation Web page.

Good Luck!

ACET Staff