Thursday, March 31, 2011

Youth Opportunities and Agency Resources 4/11

Did you know that your non-profit organization may quality for free Subway passes from the Department of Youth and Community Development? Check out www.dydc.org

Did you know that High 5 offers youth ages 13-18 tickets to plays, ballets, music and other shows for just $5. Check out www.highfivetix.org


Grants for Youth Programs and Services:

The mission of BJ’s Foundation is to enhance and enrich community programs that primarily benefit children and families. Funding goes to community organizations that provide services (in the form of hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, health care and education) to those in need in the 15 states where BJ’s Clubs are located. Educational support will be given to nonprofits that provide academic and vocational opportunities for the disadvantaged and includes the purchase of supplies for literacy skills, mentoring, tutoring and career development. The deadline for submission is April 8, July 9 and October 8. The maximum award is $5,000 for new applicants. For additional information, visit: http://www.bjs.com/about/community/charity.shtml .

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, to promote the growth of youth baseball/softball in the United States and throughout the world by funding programs that encourage youth participation in the game. Letters of Inquiry may be submitted throughout 2011. Invited grant applications are due April 1, July 1, and October 1, annually. Visit the BTF website for more information http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/btf.jsp.

Mitsubishi Electric American Foundation accepts proposals for grants that target children and youth with disabilities, and that have a national scope and impact. They are also looking for programs with potential to be replicated elsewhere and that represent an innovative approach that involves technology. Mitsubishi deadlines are rolling, however, concept papers must be submitted by June 1, 2011. Grants are up to $100,000 each. Applicants are strongly discouraged from phoning in during the application process. Instead, the Foundation suggests that you visit the Frequently Asked Questions link on the website for answers. For more information, contact the Foundation at http://www.meaf.org/grants.php .

GTECH's After-School Advantage program provides state-of-the-art computer labs to organizations in inner-city communities. GTECH supports after-school programs by targeting disadvantaged youth and at-risk children aged 5-15 with multiple awards, ranging up to $15,000 each. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with existing after-school programs in need of a computer lab Awards include up to $15,000 worth of computers, online technology and computer software. More than 90 After School Advantage computer centers already are operating successfully since 1999. More than 20,000 children between the ages of 5-18 have gained access to computers. There is a rolling deadline for applications. Go to the GTECH website for guidelines and additional information: http://www.gtech.com/about_gtech/proposal_guidelines.asp.

Office Depot supports local non-profit organizations that directly affect the health, education and welfare of children. Office Depot is accepting applications for its Taking Care of Kids & Schools grants program. Funds should be used to directly provide services. For financial donations, organizations must be a nonprofit with an established track record of community advocacy. The maximum award is $10,000. Special consideration will be given to programs that serve a diverse population in local or regional communities; build social, academic, leadership, and/or life skills in early adolescents (primarily ages 13-18); show positive results against a demonstrated community need; and reach at-risk children in working families. The application deadlines are rolling. For more information, go to: http://www.community.officedepot.com/local.asp .

WaysToHelp.org invites teens in the United States to apply for grants to fund their community service ideas across any one of 16 issue areas. Apply for a grant by visiting any issue area. Select "See Ways to Help" followed by "Apply for a Grant." Applications are short - just 5,000 words or less - and should summarize: how the project will involve others, who it will help, what effect it's expected to have, when it will start and how the funds will be used. The deadline is open - grant requests are reviewed and responded to on a monthly basis. Topic areas include: Environment, Democracy & Equality, Health, and Community Issues. For more information, go to: www.waystohelp.org.

The National Inclusion Project funds education, special needs children and recreation on a nationwide basis under their Let's ALL Play Grants. Nonprofits are eligible and awards are up to $20,000 for 12 months. The National Inclusion Project supports recreation programs for children with special needs. The grants also support community outreach for the disabled and underserved in the community. Funding supports inclusive-specific training, hiring of staff to serve more children with disabilities, scholarships to families who are financially strapped due to disability-related expenses, as well as access to a national network of resources for questions and concerns. Applications should be designed to promote the inclusion of children with special needs in school and community settings. The deadline is October 31, 2011. Only online applications are accepted--emailed or mailed applications are not accepted. For additional information, go to: http://www.inclusionproject.org/ .

The RGK Foundation is committed to supporting innovative projects in the areas of health, education, human services and community affairs. The foundation strives to advance knowledge, improve society and help realize human potential. Non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for funds. Letters of Inquiry are accepted on an ongoing basis. Contact: The RGK Foundation, 1301 W. 25th St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78705, 512-474-9298 or go to the website: http://www.rgkfoundation.org .

The Merck Family Fund supports work by communities with few resources who are confronting significant social, economic and environmental challenges. The two areas of focus for the fund are to a) create green and open space, and b) support youth as agents of social change. Suggested programs include: involving youth in the design, operation, and evaluation of a project; training youth to learn skills, develop relationships, and gain experience while making a positive impact on the community; supporting youth to research issues of concern, design strategies for change, and implement action plans; and identifying youth as important stakeholders in the health and well-being of the community. The deadline is rolling and new requests for support should be made by a letter of inquiry. For additional information and guidelines, go to: http://www.merckff.org/grantguidelines.html .

Friday, March 18, 2011

Nutrition Grant, Hunger Grant, Running Program Funding, and Computers for After-schools, Health Grant,

The Dannon Company has announced the opening of the sixth annual Dannon Next Generation Nutrition Grants program, which is designed to support programs that help children develop good life-long nutrition and exercise habits. Dannon will award grants of $30,000 to four non-profit organizations working to promote healthy eating and nutrition education for children in each of the four communities where a Dannon facility is located, including New York. To qualify for funding, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and must already be engaged in a nutrition education program for children up to age 18, or be able to launch such an initiative in 2011. The application is due March 29, 2011. Complete program guidelines and application forms can be downloaded at the Dannon Company Web site http://dannon.com/ .

ING Run For Something Better, in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, has announced that it will provide a minimum of fifty grants of up to $2,500 each to U.S. public elementary and middle schools planning to establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one. Awards are available to programs with at least twenty-five kindergarten to eighth-grade students who have committed to participate. To be eligible, programs must be at least eight weeks in duration. Programs can take place in physical education class, during recess, before school, after school, or any combination of these, and may be facilitated by a physical education teacher, coach, classroom teacher, or school administrator. The application is due May 1, 2011. Visit the NASPE Web site for the complete school award program guidelines and application: http://www.ingrfsb.com/ .

The mission of BJ’s Foundation is to enhance and enrich community programs that primarily benefit children and families. Funding goes to community organizations that provide services (in the form of hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, health care and education) to those in need in the 15 states where BJ’s Clubs are located. Educational support will be given to nonprofits that provide academic and vocational opportunities for the disadvantaged and includes the purchase of supplies for literacy skills, mentoring, tutoring and career development. The deadline for submission is April 8, July 9 and October 8. The maximum award is $5,000 for new applicants. For additional information, visit: http://www.bjs.com/about/community/charity.shtml .


GTECH's After-School Advantage program provides state-of-the-art computer labs to organizations in inner-city communities. GTECH supports after-school programs by targeting disadvantaged youth and at-risk children aged 5-15 with multiple awards, ranging up to $15,000 each. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with existing after-school programs in need of a computer lab Awards include up to $15,000 worth of computers, online technology and computer software. More than 90 After School Advantage computer centers already are operating successfully since 1999. More than 20,000 children between the ages of 5-18 have gained access to computers. There is a rolling deadline for applications. Go to the GTECH website for guidelines and additional information: http://www.gtech.com/about_gtech/proposal_guidelines.asp.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

BJ's Foundation--Educational Supports

The mission of BJ’s Foundation is to enhance and enrich community programs that primarily benefit children and families. Funding goes to community organizations that provide services (in the form of hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, health care and education) to those in need in the 15 states where BJ’s Clubs are located. Educational support will be given to nonprofits that provide academic and vocational opportunities for the disadvantaged and includes the purchase of supplies for literacy skills, mentoring, tutoring and career development. The deadline for submission is April 8, July 9 and October 8. The maximum award is $5,000 for new applicants. For additional information, visit: http://www.bjs.com/about/community/charity.shtml


The William T. Grant Foundation--Youth Service Grants
The William T. Grant Foundation is pleased to release the updated funding guidelines for the spring 2011 cycle of their Youth Service Improvement Grants (YSIG) program. The YSIG program supports activities intended to improve the quality of services for young people (ages 8 to 25) in the five boroughs of New York City. Applications for the spring cycle are now being accepted through their online application system. Applications are due by 3:00 PM on March 16, 2011. Please see the guidelines for more information: http://www.wtgrantfoundation.org/funding_opportunities/how_to_apply/youth_service_improvement_grants/applying_for_a_youth_service_improvement_grant .