COMMON GROUND CONSULTING LLC

Grants & Awards

MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards

Deadline: May 15

 

The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation need your help identifying exemplary afterschool programs serving middle school youth to win a $10,000 MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Award and to be featured in our 2012 series of issue briefs. The MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards aim to identify potentially lesser-known, yet highly effective programs and the individuals running them. Nominees will be judged by the innovative nature of their approach and demonstrated effectiveness. Each of the five award winners will receive $10,000 for their program. http://bit.ly/kKQCIl     

 

SparkOpportunity Challenge

Deadline: May 15

 

The SparkOpportunity Challenge calls on young people to submit videos or text detailing their solutions and use social media to campaign for the ideas that they think can really work. The top-voted winners will receive an iPad, start-up grants of $1,500, and mentoring from recognized business and policy leaders to see their ideas brought to life locally. Organizers are launching this online effort in response to the White House Council for Community Solutions' call for the nation to do more to reconnect young people with the education, training and comprehensive social supports critical for long-term employment and lifelong economic independence. http://bit.ly/HvA70A     

 

100 Best Communities for Young People

Deadline: May 17

 

The 100 Best Communities for Young People competition rewards and recognizes communities making extraordinary efforts to reduce dropout rates and provide outstanding services and supports to their youth. A grant of $2,500 will be given to every community that is named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People.  The $2,500 grant can be used to help fund a local program or service, within certain parameters, or be used for a local event to celebrate the win. This grant is part of the winning communities' awards package that includes national and local media exposure, a commemorative trophy, road signs, a media relations toolkit and on-call support to help in announcing your win to the community, a one-year subscription to a leading online grant search service, and much more. http://bit.ly/wrAkCF        

 

L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth Awards

Deadline: May 31

 

Through Women of Worth, L'Oréal Paris will award 10 Women of Worth Honorees a $10,000 donation toward the nonprofit of their choice, as well as national exposure for their efforts. One Honoree will be selected via public vote as the National Women of Worth Honoree and will receive an additional $25,000. Nominees must be a woman 18 years or older, have a record of exemplary service within her community and the community at large, and be able to demonstrate the impact of her work within her community. http://bit.ly/HkVVhM      

 

KaBOOM! Let's Play Maintenance Grants

Deadline: May 31

 

Thanks to generous support from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, KaBOOM! will be awarding grants of $750 each to communities this year who wish to make their playgrounds cleaner, safer and more inviting. The Let's Play Spruce grants are designed to reward communities that have maintained and spruced their playspaces since their playground build. If you've done a "spruce up" project at your playground that involved volunteers in the last 6 months, you are eligible to apply. Alternatively, if you are a community that needs to refill the wood fiber playground surfacing at the playground, you can apply for  $750 to be used towards the purchase of the surfacing. http://bit.ly/IIzZfN     

 

WKCD Graduation Speech Contest

Deadline: June 1

 

What do you think makes a nation strong? A strong economy and a strong military - these are among the most common answers. This year's WKCD Graduation Speech Contest challenges you to dig deeper - and speak of other factors that make a nation healthy. Think hard, and then send us your answers in the form of a speech you'd like to give. You don't have to be a graduating senior to enter the contest. Whether you are a senior or a freshman - or middle-schooler - WKCD wants to hear from you! Winners will be announced in early June. Each of the five winning entries will receive a $100 gift certificate from Amazon.com and their speeches will appear on www.whatkidscando.org. Honorable Mention speeches will also appear on the WKCD website. http://bit.ly/IDvfXL   

 

Banking on Youth Competition

Deadline: June 10

 

The Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) Foundation and Ashoka's Youth Venture bring you the Banking on Youth competition! Banking on Youth is an exciting opportunity to showcase your great idea for a venture that directly benefits society.  If you are age 13-20, show your venture idea through a creative and fun 90-second video and entry form to compete to win one of 49 different $1,000 seed money prizes provided by sponsoring banks to bring your idea to life. The top six entrants, chosen by the CBA Foundation and Youth Venture, will win an all-expenses-paid trip to the annual Global Youth Venture Summit in Washington, D.C. in July to compete in a "pitch-off" for the chance to win the Audience Choice Award of $5,000 or the grand prize of $15,000! http://bit.ly/JhSDtR           

 

4th Annual Clifford Be Big In Your Community Contest

Deadline: June 22

 

BE BIG™ is a national campaign that invites everyone, big and small, to take action and raise awareness for how Clifford's BIG Ideas (Share, Be Kind, Help Others, Be a Good Friend, Play Fair, Have Respect, Be Truthful, Believe in Yourself, Work Together and Be Responsible) can make the world a better place. As part of the BE BIG campaign, the contest will award $10,000 in community grants (one $5,000 grant and five $1,000 grants) to the BIGGEST ideas that best demonstrate Clifford's BIG Ideas! Scholastic and HandsOn Network will work with the winners to bring their Big Ideas to life!  Parents, kids, teachers, and community leaders are invited to submit their ideas. http://bit.ly/eSU7Om     

 

Afterschool Awards (Scholarship)

Deadline: June 25

 

The Afterschool Awards is a nationwide contest spotlighting after school achievements for Elementary, Middle School and Junior High students. IZOD, JCPenney and NOW Music have teamed up to bring students a chance to turn their afterschool passion into cash for their future education. Students are invited to enter Afterschool Awards between now and June 25th for a chance to win up to $10,000 in scholarship money! Students can enter in up to four categories: Sports, Community Service, Science and Music & Arts to show everyone what they've got going on after the bell rings! Last year's winners were a wave-catching surfer, a fund-raising philanthropist, a star mathlete and a pop-lock dancer!  http://bit.ly/I3bGtP   

 

Chevrolet Green Educator Award

Deadline: June 30

 

Earth Force and the General Motors Foundation are looking for inspirational educators who engage youth in innovative and interactive environmental learning. Ten educators from across the United States will be chosen to receive this prestigious award. You may nominate yourself or a GREEN educator who exemplifies the criteria listed below. Winners will be announced on September 1, 2012. The Award recognizes educators who encourage youth to lead their own learning, support learning beyond the classroom to improve their communities, and create and sustain local partnerships that connect young people to their community. A GREEN Educator may work in a formal or non-formal education setting. http://bit.ly/J1PNHy  

 

Best Buy Community Grants

Deadline: July 1

 

Through the Community Grants program, Best Buy teams across the United States select non-profit organizations that give teens access to opportunities through technology to help them excel in school and develop 21st century skills. This year, the Best Buy Children's Foundation will give $2.8 million in Community Grants. Grant amounts will average $4,000 - $6,000 and will not exceed $10,000. Best Buy seeks applications from 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and public agencies that have tax-exempt status and are giving teens access to opportunities through technology. Location must be with 50 miles of a Best Buy store or other Best Buy center of operations (e.g., corporate headquarters) to allow for Best Buy employee volunteers. http://bit.ly/JzSi5S  

 

Home Depot Community Impact Grants

Deadline: August 13

 

Grants, up to $5,000, are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools, or tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community.  Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. More competitive grant proposals will specifically identify projects for veterans and will include housing repairs, modifications, and weatherization work.
Once grant applications are reviewed, all applicants will receive a written response within six weeks of receipt of a request. http://bit.ly/eIis5T   

Grants & Awards for Organizations & Individuals

MADD Power of You(th) Video Contest

Deadline: April 27

The Power of You(th) is the power you hold to prevent some of the 6,000 deaths that result each year from underage drinking. Use your power to make a minute video or less for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and enter it into our contest.The top five finalists will each win an iPad and an all-expense paid trip for themselves and one guardian to Dallas in June 2012 for the Teen Influencer Summit. A Grand Prize Winner will also receive an all-expense paid trip for himself/herself and one guardian to Washington D.C. for MADD's National Conference in September 2012. http://bit.ly/Ag2znC

Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching

Deadline: April 30

This award recognizes educators who are adept at fostering productive, caring relationships with students and their families, building on students' prior knowledge and providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. In January 2013, Teaching Tolerance will honor five outstanding teachers at an event in Washington, D.C. Each awardee will receive $1,000. http://bit.ly/IaURMI

ING Unsung Heroes

Deadline: April 30

Are you an educator with a class project that is short on funding but long on potential? Do you know a teacher looking for grant dollars? ING Unsung Heroes® could help you turn great ideas into reality for students. For 15 years, and with nearly $3.5 million in awarded grants, ING Unsung Heroes has proven to be an A+ program with educators. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.  http://bit.ly/eSC2sv

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Deadline: April 30

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes invites nominations for its 2012 awards. The Barron Prize, founded by author T.A. Barron in honor of his mother, celebrates outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18. Each year, the Barron Prize honors inspiring young people who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Ten winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit http://bit.ly/edhitj

National Service Impact Awards

Deadline: May 1

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is seeking nominations for the National Service Impact Awards from grantees, strategic partners, and service participants that exemplify the best in national and community service in key issue areas. Eligible nominees are current service participants and alumni, program directors, or programs and initiatives funded through grants (or sub-grants) from CNCS. In the case of Learn and Serve America funded programs, this could also be a teacher, student, school, college or university, or school system. Recipients will be announced and recognized at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 18-20, 2012, in Chicago. Recipients will be guests of CNCS as conference attendees. This prize includes conference registration, round-trip air fare, lodging, ground transportation, and per diem. http://bit.ly/HiaL9K

National Education Startup Challenge

Deadline: May 1

Students from across the country are invited to submit a business plan and a video pitch for a for-profit or non-profit startup that includes an innovative strategy, product or service designed to address one of four challenges to educational success. If you are in 6th grade through postsecondary or an out-of-school youth, you are eligible to participate. Winning students will be celebrated by senior White House and Department of Education officials and may qualify for additional recognition opportunities.  http://bit.ly/whd3VF

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grants

Deadline: May 4

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is currently accepting applications for service-learning projects between $25,000 and $100,000 that are designed to create sustainable change in local communities across the United States and Canada.  Applying organizations must be a public K-12, charter, or higher education institution; non-profit organizations are also eligible if they are able to demonstrate how they plan to impact student achievement within the public K-12 curriculum.  Projects must address the root cause of the following issue areas: Access to Higher Education / Closing the Achievement Gap; Financial Literacy; Community Safety and Natural Disaster Preparedness; Social Health & Wellness Issues; and Environmental Responsibility. http://bit.ly/yMI7gZ

Power of Children Awards

Deadline: May 5

The Power of Children Awards: Making a Difference is an annual event intended to honor and further empower middle- and high-school students (grades 6-11) who have made a significant impact on the lives of others, demonstrated selflessness, and exhibited a commitment to service and the betterment of society. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is seeking to nurture and recognize individual youth as role models who exemplify an extraordinary commitment to public service and social responsibility. They could receive the following: a $2,000 grant to continue his or her extraordinary work; a four-year post-secondary scholarship to a participating institution of higher learning; recognition in the museum's The Power of Children exhibit for at least one year; honor and recognition during a special awards event on Nov. 2, 2012 at The Children's Museum. http://bit.ly/J1KKqz

MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards

Deadline: May 15

The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation need your help identifying exemplary afterschool programs serving middle school youth to win a $10,000 MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Award and to be featured in our 2012 series of issue briefs. The MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards aim to identify potentially lesser-known, yet highly effective programs and the individuals running them. Nominees will be judged by the innovative nature of their approach and demonstrated effectiveness. Each of the five award winners will receive $10,000 for their program. http://bit.ly/kKQCIl

SparkOpportunity Challenge

Deadline: May 15

The SparkOpportunity Challenge calls on young people to submit videos or text detailing their solutions and use social media to campaign for the ideas that they think can really work. The top-voted winners will receive an iPad, start-up grants of $1,500, and mentoring from recognized business and policy leaders to see their ideas brought to life locally. Organizers are launching this online effort in response to the White House Council for Community Solutions' call for the nation to do more to reconnect young people with the education, training and comprehensive social supports critical for long-term employment and lifelong economic independence. http://bit.ly/HvA70A

100 Best Communities for Young People

Deadline: May 17

The 100 Best Communities for Young People competition rewards and recognizes communities making extraordinary efforts to reduce dropout rates and provide outstanding services and supports to their youth. A grant of $2,500 will be given to every community that is named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People.  The $2,500 grant can be used to help fund a local program or service, within certain parameters, or be used for a local event to celebrate the win. This grant is part of the winning communities' awards package that includes national and local media exposure, a commemorative trophy, road signs, a media relations toolkit and on-call support to help in announcing your win to the community, a one-year subscription to a leading online grant search service, and much more. http://bit.ly/wrAkCF

L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth Awards

Deadline: May 31

Through Women of Worth, L'Oréal Paris will award 10 Women of Worth Honorees a $10,000 donation toward the nonprofit of their choice, as well as national exposure for their efforts. One Honoree will be selected via public vote as the National Women of Worth Honoree and will receive an additional $25,000. Nominees must be a woman 18 years or older, have a record of exemplary service within her community and the community at large, and be able to demonstrate the impact of her work within her community. http://bit.ly/HkVVhM

Afterschool Awards (Scholarship)

Deadline: June 25

The Afterschool Awards is a nationwide contest spotlighting after school achievements for Elementary, Middle School and Junior High students. IZOD, JCPenney and NOW Music have teamed up to bring students a chance to turn their afterschool passion into cash for their future education. Students are invited to enter Afterschool Awards between now and June 25th for a chance to win up to $10,000 in scholarship money! Students can enter in up to four categories: Sports, Community Service, Science and Music & Arts to show everyone what they've got going on after the bell rings! Last year's winners were a wave-catching surfer, a fund-raising philanthropist, a star mathlete and a pop-lock dancer!  http://bit.ly/I3bGtP

Home Depot Community Impact Grants

Deadline: August 13

Grants, up to $5,000, are available to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools, or tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. that are using the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community.  Grants are given in the form of The Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. More competitive grant proposals will specifically identify projects for veterans and will include housing repairs, modifications, and weatherization work.
Once grant applications are reviewed, all applicants will receive a written response within six weeks of receipt of a request. http://bit.ly/eIis5T

New Youth Funding Announcements

Drug Free Communities Mentoring Program

Applications are due by May 4, 2012.

Click here to access the full funding announcement.

 

Research and Evaluation on Children Exposed to Violence
All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 22, 2012.

Click here to access the full funding announcement.

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 - Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program
Includes providing culturally specific programs for children exposed to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking among others.

Click here for more information.

OVW Transitional House Assistance for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Programs

Deadline: March 29, 2012

Click here to access the full funding announcement.

FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grant
Deadline: March 29, 2012

Click here to access the full funding announcement.

Serving Young Adult Ex-Offenders through Training and Service-Learning

Deadline: April 17, 2012

Click here to access the full funding announcement.

OJJDP FY 2012 Mentoring Best Practices Research
Deadline: April 30, 2012

Click here to access the full funding announcement.

Grants & Awards

KaBOOM! Let's Play Community Construction Grants

Deadline: March 16

Dr. Pepper Snapple & KaBOOM! are excited to offer $15,000 Let's Play Playground Construction Grants to qualifying organizations within the U.S. wishing to build brand new playgrounds using the KaBOOM! community-build model. Grantees will plan their project, and share best practices and challenges through the KaBOOM! website. For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit www.kaboom.org/grants

State Farm Cause An Effect Grants

Deadline: March 20

Across the United States and Canada, State Farm is searching for people who want to Cause An Effect by bringing $25,000 to their communities. From February 29 through March 20, people can visit the Cause An Effect tab on the State Farm Facebook page to submit a Cause and help build safer, stronger, better educated communities. The State Farm® Youth Advisory Board will accept 3,000 submissions, and will select 100 finalists. Then your votes will decide which 40 get a $25,000 grant to help Cause An Effect. http://on.fb.me/AwSKFf

 

National Wildlife Federation Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship

Deadline: March 30

National Wildlife Federation and the Tufts family are now accepting nominations from students between the ages of 8-18 for the Craig Tufts Scholarship Award.  The award is given to a student and chaperone to attend a week-long educational and adventure experience in the Summer.  This year's winner will attend the Family Summit Inc program in the Rocky Mountains (YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado) on July 7-13, 2012. Interested students need to complete an essay submission by March 30th. http://bit.ly/ykyDZI

NOYS YOUTH-Turn It Around Awards

Deadline: April 17

Do you have a traffic adversity in your school, campus, or community that you would like to address? Has one of your friends or peers recently been involved in a traffic crash or incident that you want to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else? Now middle school, high school, and college students have the opportunity to take a traffic adversity and turn it into positive, educational, and sustainable action and win cash prizes worth up to $2,000 for their student organizations! http://bit.ly/xzLdbG

MADD Power of You(th) Video Contest

Deadline: April 27

The Power of You(th) is the power you hold to prevent some of the 6,000 deaths that result each year from underage drinking. Use your power to make a minute video or less for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and enter it into our contest.The top five finalists will each win an iPad and an all-expense paid trip for themselves and one guardian to Dallas in June 2012 for the Teen Influencer Summit. A Grand Prize Winner will also receive an all-expense paid trip for himself/herself and one guardian to Washington D.C. for MADD's National Conference in September 2012. http://bit.ly/Ag2znC

ING Unsung Heros

Deadline: April 30

Are you an educator with a class project that is short on funding but long on potential? Do you know a teacher looking for grant dollars? ING Unsung Heroes® could help you turn great ideas into reality for students. For 15 years, and with nearly $3.5 million in awarded grants, ING Unsung Heroes has proven to be an A+ program with educators. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.  http://bit.ly/eSC2sv

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Deadline: April 30

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes invites nominations for its 2012 awards. The Barron Prize, founded by author T.A. Barron in honor of his mother, celebrates outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18. Each year, the Barron Prize honors inspiring young people who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Ten winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit http://bit.ly/edhitj

National Education Startup Challenge

Deadline: May 1

Students from across the country are invited to submit a business plan and a video pitch for a for-profit or non-profit startup that includes an innovative strategy, product or service designed to address one of four challenges to educational success. If you are in 6th grade through postsecondary or an out-of-school youth, you are eligible to participate. Winning students will be celebrated by senior White House and Department of Education officials and may qualify for additional recognition opportunities.  http://bit.ly/whd3VF

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grants

Deadline: May 4

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is currently accepting applications for service-learning projects between $25,000 and $100,000 that are designed to create sustainable change in local communities across the United States and Canada.  Applying organizations must be a public K-12, charter, or higher education institution; non-profit organizations are also eligible if they are able to demonstrate how they plan to impact student achievement within the public K-12 curriculum.  Projects must address the root cause of the following issue areas: Access to Higher Education / Closing the Achievement Gap; Financial Literacy; Community Safety and Natural Disaster Preparedness; Social Health & Wellness Issues; and Environmental Responsibility. http://bit.ly/yMI7gZ

100 Best Communities for Young People

Deadline: May 17

The 100 Best Communities for Young People competition rewards and recognizes communities making extraordinary efforts to reduce dropout rates and provide outstanding services and supports to their youth. A grant of $2,500 will be given to every community that is named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People.  The $2,500 grant can be used to help fund a local program or service, within certain parameters, or be used for a local event to celebrate the win. This grant is part of the winning communities' awards package that includes national and local media exposure, a commemorative trophy, road signs, a media relations toolkit and on-call support to help in announcing your win to the community, a one-year subscription to a leading online grant search service, and much more. http://bit.ly/wrAkCF

Special Olympics Project Unify Grants

Deadline: Rolling through May 31

The goal of Project UNIFY is to activate youth around the country to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change - fostering respect, dignity, and advocacy with and for people with intellectual disabilities by utilizing the programs and initiatives of Special Olympics. To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 12 to 20, or a current undergraduate student in college. A Special Olympics North America program is required to be your main partner organization. Projects must demonstrate the core essence of service-learning. Budgets for projects can range from $100 to $5,000.  http://bit.ly/wQUgJV

Do Something Seed Grants

Deadline: Ongoing

Are you working to start a community action project or program with your friends? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? A $500 Do Something Seed Grant is given out every week to help young people just like YOU! These grants can be used towards project ideas and programs that are just getting started, or to jump-start your program and realize your ideas for the first time. These grants can also be used towards projects that are already developed and sustainable, towards the next steps of your project and organization to help you as you look to expand your project and grow your impact. http://dsorg.us/yc6MPI

Pinterest for Nonprofits: Promoting Your Cause

There was a great live chat discussion today all about the web phenomenon, Pinterest, the popular social network that gives people a chance to pin and share items via virtual bulletin boards. I just started using it to host the many inspirational videos that I use in my various talks and training sessions (http://pinterest.com/craigab1/inspirational-videos/). But, I was really excited to hear all about how other social profit organizations are using the site.

You can read the archived chat by clicking here.

Here are just a few of the great Pinterest resources referenced in the discussion:

Pinterest Drives More Referral Traffic Than GooglePlus, YouTube and LinkedIn Combined

12 ways to use Pinterest for your nonprofit

What NOT to Pin on Pinterest

Pinterest: A Tool To Curate Relevant Visual Content for Your Audience

Why and How Nonprofits Should Use Pinterest

And the Winner Is: Pinterest for Cause Marketing

Beth Kanter’s PinBoard, “Komen Can Kiss My Mammogram”

Joe’s Presentation on Pinterest for Nonprofits with Chronicle of Philanthropy

National Service & the President's 2013 Budget

A special message from the President of America's Voices, AnnMaura Connolly ...

"President Obama released his FY13 budget today with some highlights, and significant lowlights, for our field:

• $1.1 billion for CNCS: 1% above the 2012 funding level, President Obama continues to demonstrate his commitment to supporting opportunities for Americans to serve their country.
• 82,500 AmeriCorps members: This maintains the 2012 member level, but is a far cry from the 170,000 goal set forth in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
• $50 million for the Social Innovation Fund: $30 million less than the level set forth in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
• Level funding for Senior Corps.
• Eliminates funding for the Volunteer Generation Fund: $80 million less than the level set forth in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
• Eliminates funding for the Nonprofit Capacity Building Fund.
• No funding for Learn and Serve America for the second consecutive year.

While we are grateful to the President and his Administration for maintaining service as a   priority in his FY13 budget, this does not go far enough to meet the demand we face from communities in need, nor from the hundreds of thousands of citizens looking to serve their country.

Over the last two years, nearly one million AmeriCorps applications have been rejected. Last year alone 582,000 applications were received for 80,000 positions.  Americans wants to serve their country, and it is becoming increasingly harder to do so, making it almost as hard to get into AmeriCorps as it is to get into an Ivy league college.  Can we afford to let national service become an unattainable path for millions of Americans?

We must continue to educate our nation’s leaders about what we know: Americans want     to serve, and our communities need their service. The release of the President’s budget is the first step in a long budget process for the nation. If we work together, and bring all of our creativity and passion to this endeavor, we can help our nation’s leaders recognize that national service is a smart investment that leverages our greatest asset, our citizens.

I hope we can count on you in the coming weeks and months as we renew our efforts to make our voices heard.

PS Voices for National Service is now on Facebook!  “Like” us and share our page with your friends!"

National Service Agency Requests Applications for Social Innovation Fund Competition

Washington, DC – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) released a Notice of Federal Funding Availability (NOFA) today for the 2012 grant competition of the Social Innovation Fund. The deadline for applications will be 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.   Successful applicants will receive grants of between $1 and $5 million per year for up to 5 years.

“As we enter the third year of the Social Innovation Fund, CNCS remains committed to supporting highly qualified, experienced funders to support and grow promising nonprofits making an impact in their communities,” said Robert Velasco II, Acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “These funds enable grantmakers to accelerate the impact of their programs and play a key role in a national effort to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the public and nonprofit sectors.”

 

The Social Innovation Fund represents a distinctive role for the federal government, that of a catalyst for change.  Through an innovative public-private partnership, the Social Innovation Fund and selected local and national grantmakers mobilize funds to grow and validate community-based solutions in three priority areas: youth development, economic opportunity and healthy futures.

In the past two years, the Social Innovation Fund has awarded $95 million to 16 grantmaking intermediaries. These grantees have strong track records of identifying and growing high-performing nonprofit organizations and represent the diversity of the social sector. They include large national funders like the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, New Profit and LISC and more targeted geography-based grantmakers like Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, REDF and Mile High United Way.  And they are addressing a wide array of issues from workforce development to homelessness literacy, obesity, and college readiness.

Through open competitions conducted across the U.S., grantees have to date selected nearly 150 promising nonprofits with evidence-based solutions to critical social challenges. Examples of these solutions include the following:

• WorkAdvance boosts the earnings of unemployed and low-wage working adults by helping them prepare for and enter quality jobs in targeted industries with opportunities for career growth;
• Gateway to College National Network builds the capacity of colleges, school districts and states to revolutionize education for high school dropouts and underprepared college students so that all young people can achieve academic credentials; and
• St. Joseph Health System provides access to primary care and medical specialists in rural areas by operating two virtual primary care delivery clinics.

Federal funding has yielded $250 million in private and non-federal commitments to support these innovative solutions.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, CNCS plans to award approximately $10-15 million in grants to up to six grantmaking intermediaries. Each award will range from $1 - $5 million and will be matched dollar for dollar by the intermediary. Subsequent awards by the intermediaries to their selected subgrantees will also be matched 1:1, yielding up to $3 in private funding for every $1 in federal funding committed to this program.

Social Innovation Fund grantees also receive significant technical assistance from CNCS to support implementation and rigorous evaluation of their programs.  Participation in the Social Innovation Fund gives grantmakers greater access to a national network of funders and nonprofits that are committed to investing in results-oriented solutions to improve lives in low-income communities.

Successful intermediary applicants will have the following characteristics:

• A strong track record of using rigorous evidence to select, invest in, support, and monitor the growth  of programs with the potential to achieve strong impact;
• The capacity to conduct an open, competitive process for selecting innovative nonprofit community organizations with effective and potentially transformative approaches;
• Expertise in one or more priority issue areas; and
• Deep and broad relationships with stakeholders in one or more priority issue areas and/or specific geographic regions.

Please consult the CNCS website to read or download a copy of the NOFA, which provides complete information about this grant competition, including instructions for how to apply.  The website also contains information on other resources CNCS will make available to potential applicants, including technical assistance calls, two webinars and access to proposals and application executive summaries from the 2011 competition.

Please note that the initial technical assistance call will be held on February 16, 2012, at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. The call can be accessed at 800-369-3150 (Passcode: 6611919).

Applicants must apply using the Corporation’s eGrants system.  The eGrants Web site is:

https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp.

About the Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and the Social Innovation Fund, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

Grants & Awards

Disney Friends for Change Grants

Deadline: February 29

Disney Friends for Change Grants offer young change-makers an opportunity to receive a $1,000 grant to help make a lasting, positive change in the world. Whether you are passionate about protecting the planet, providing meals to those who need it or giving kids just like you the resources they need to star in their own play, be an athlete or an artist, you can be a Friend for Change!  Whatever your interests, a Disney Friends for Change Grant can help you make a difference for people, communities and the planet. Youth ages 5-18 located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant. www.YSA.org/grants/disney-friends-change-grants

Everyday Young Hero Award

Deadline: Ongoing

Awarded weekly to a young person from around the world who exemplifies an extraordinary commitment to service, the Everyday Young Hero Award program is open to youth ages 5-25. Nominations must come from a parent, teacher or other adult mentor. Winners are announced in the NSB, featured on YSA's website and showcased within its social media outlets. Everyday Young Heroes also receive a certificate, award and press release.  Nominate a young person you know to be recognized as an Everyday Young Hero at www.YSA.org/awards/hero

Splashlife Lincoln Awards for Women Entrepreneurs

Deadline: February 14

Identifying, honoring and supporting the next wave of entrepreneurs to help them take charge of America's future. As announced at the White House Youth Entrepreneur Summit, Splashlife is giving out $2,500 Lincoln Awards to support entrepreneurs aged 35 or younger. Despite making up 46.3% of the workforce, women are underrepresented in positions of management, with just 2.4% of Fortune 500 companies being run by female CEOs. Splashlife wants to support a woman entrepreneur aged 35 or younger with a $2,500 Lincoln Award for her business idea. http://bit.ly/uXIZu6

J-Serve 2012 Micro-Grants

Deadline: Ongoing while funds last

Grants are available for J-Serve 2012 - April 22, 2012.  J-Serve is the International Day of Jewish Youth Service. Since 2005, J-Serve has been a part of YSA's Global Youth Service Day. A limited number of J-Serve micro-grants of up to $500 will be awarded to community projects committed to creating service opportunities that bring Jewish teens together to participate in a J-Serve project.  Projects that are creative and innovative, especially those that will be first time events in a community, as well as projects conceived and planned by teen project leaders will receive preferential reviews.  Micro-grants will be accepted on a rolling basis, and grants will continue to be awarded as long as funding remains available. http://bit.ly/uzfYIa

Jenzabar Student Leadership Awards

Deadline: February 20

The Jenzabar Foundation has opened the nomination process for its fifth annual Student Leadership Awards, which recognize student groups that have made a difference in the world through service and philanthropic activities at the local, national, and international levels. The awards will honor ten student-led campus groups or activities that have made a significant impact beyond their own institution. Nominations are open for students enrolled in any accredited institution of higher education. Each award includes a $5,000 grant to support the student or group's future humanitarian endeavors The first step in the submission process is joining the online Jenzabar Foundation Community Network; please use referral code SLA2012. Once registered, applicants will be advised of the submission procedure. http://bit.ly/uR4V8C

Eli Segal Fellowship

Deadline: February 27

CNCS is seeking applications from former AmeriCorps members who are interested in serving as the 2012-2013 Eli Segal Fellow. The duties of the selected fellow will include working with the Director of AmeriCorps, program offices and closely with the CEO's office on projects that advance the national service field. The fellowship will last for a term of not more than 13 months beginning in July 2012 and includes a $27,000 salary, plus benefits. Eligible applicants for the fellowship include all AmeriCorps alums who served full-time in the past three years.   http://bit.ly/x4PyWT

Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Awards

Deadline: February 27

Build-A-Bear Workshop® launches its ninth annual search for  Huggable Heroes® - inspiring young leaders who have a commitment to serve, help others, and make a difference in their community. Kids, ages eight to 18, can be nominated through February 27. The 10 selected Huggable Heroes will each receive $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship from Build-A-Bear Workshop and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity or Canadian cause of their choice). http://bit.ly/yTh9Sb

KaBOOM! Let's Play Maintenance Grants

Deadline: February 27

Thanks to generous support from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, KaBOOM! will be awarding grants of $750 each to communities this year who wish to make their playgrounds cleaner, safer and more inviting. The Let's Play Spruce grants are designed to reward communities that have maintained and spruced their playspaces since their playground build. If you've done a "spruce up" project at your playground that involved volunteers in the last 6 months, you are eligible to apply. Alternatively, if you are a community that needs to refill the wood fiber playground surfacing at the playground, you can apply for  $750 to be used towards the purchase of the surfacing.  http://bit.ly/zteju2

2012 Do Something Awards

Deadline: March 1

The Do Something Awards (formerly the BR!CK Awards) identifies exceptional young social entrepreneurs, activists, and community leaders who have a significant social impact. The Do Something Award nominees and winners are the pivotal "do-ers" in their fields and causes. For this year's awards five finalists will be selected and rewarded with a $10,000 community grant, participation in the third Do Something Awards TV show on VH1, media coverage, and continued support from DoSomething.org. Of those five nominees, one will be selected to win the Grand Prize, a $100,000 grant, which will be announced during the broadcast. http://dsorg.us/t5wklU

Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship

Deadline: March 1

The Skoll Foundation presents the Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship each year to a select few social entrepreneurs who are solving the world's most pressing problems. The Skoll Award includes a core support grant to the organization, to be paid over three years, and a noncash award to the social entrepreneur presented at the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship every spring.  http://bit.ly/A8YsU3

CNCS September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance Grants

Deadline: March 13

The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance initiative grants range from approximately $50,000 to $150,000 are made to eligible organizations engaged in service activities that meet vital community needs and honor the sacrifice of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 or who rose in service as a result of that tragedy.  Available funds for the grant total approximately $500,000. CNCS expects to invest a significant amount of available funding to programs working on two focus areas -Disaster Services and/or Veterans and Military Families plus Capacity Building. Additionally, CNCS seeks applicants who engage youth, particularly disconnected youth, and where available, veterans and military families in service.  http://bit.ly/AC4KPs

KaBOOM! Let's Play Community Construction Grants

Deadline: March 16

Dr Pepper Snapple & KaBOOM! are excited to offer $15,000 Let's Play Playground Construction Grants to qualifying organizations within the U.S. wishing to build brand new playgrounds using the KaBOOM! community-build model. Grantees will plan their project, and share best practices and challenges through the KaBOOM! website. For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit www.kaboom.org/grants

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Deadline: April 30

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes invites nominations for its 2012 awards. The Barron Prize, founded by author T.A. Barron in honor of his mother, celebrates outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18. Each year, the Barron Prize honors inspiring young people who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Ten winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit http://bit.ly/edhitj

ING Unsung Heroes

Deadline: April 30

Are you an educator with a class project that is short on funding but long on potential? Do you know a teacher looking for grant dollars? ING Unsung Heroes® could help you turn great ideas into reality for students. For 15 years, and with nearly $3.5 million in awarded grants, ING Unsung Heroes has proven to be an A+ program with educators. Each year, 100 educators are selected to receive $2,000 to help fund their innovative class projects. Three of those are chosen to receive the top awards of an additional $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.  http://bit.ly/eSC2sv

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grants

Deadline: May 4

If you are involved with an organization or school and have a great idea for a service-learning project to impact student achievement in YOUR community, apply for a State Farm YAB National Grant. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is currently accepting applications for service-learning projects between $25,000 and $100,000 that address the root cause of the following issue areas: Access to Higher Education / Closing the Achievement Gap; Financial Literacy; Community Safety and Natural Disaster Preparedness; Social Health & Wellness Issues; and Environmental Responsibility. http://bit.ly/yMI7gZ

Special Olympics Project Unify Grants

Deadline: Rolling through May 31

The goal of Project UNIFY is to activate youth around the country to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change - fostering respect, dignity, and advocacy with and for people with intellectual disabilities by utilizing the programs and initiatives of Special Olympics. To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 12 to 20, or a current undergraduate student in college. A Special Olympics North America program is required to be your main partner organization. Projects must demonstrate the core essence of service-learning. Budgets for projects can range from $100 to $5,000.  http://bit.ly/wQUgJV

Marketing, Messaging, & Media: What's the Answer?

Many of you have been asking us for a workshop that can help you do a more effective job of communicating with your stakeholders—particularly your donors. We'll be piloting this new session for a group of social profit organizations in Pennsylvania in January. Click here to check out some of the other workshop and plenary sessions that we offer.

Primary Goal

Expanding on our storytelling workshop, this session has been designed to provide practical tools for social profit organizations and educational institutions to think about how you are currently marketing your organization.

Abstract
In this session, we'll discuss creative strategies for telling your stories; how those stories impact community engagement; and how they can leverage that engagement to recruit volunteers, raise more money, and provide critical services to more stakeholders. 

We will use a variety of interactive techniques to help you uncover and discover your passions, and explore how they connect to the choices you make and the actions you take. From there, we'll help you connect your passions to the work your organization does everyday, and determine the most effective ways to tell the stories that align with your values and move people to get involved as volunteers, as contributors, or board members.

Objectives

1. Be able to articulate why you do what you do--your values, motivations, and dreams.
2. Recognize the connections between this level of self-awareness and your work.
3. Use this new awareness to create the organizational stories that cause people to act.
4. Apply the skills by creating a two-minute pitch related to their organization's work.
5. Determine the best marketing approaches for building high-trust approaches to community engagement.
6. Engage stakeholders in marketing efforts, particularly social media strategies.
7. Learn how to use a organizational self-assessment tool for strengthening capacity-building efforts.

 

If you are in Pennsylvania ...

Unified Family Services Systems of Bedford County (UFSS), Southwestern PA CTC and Evidence-based Programs Regional Network, the Penn State EPISCenter, and Behavioral Health Services of Somerset and Bedford Counties, Inc. (BHSSBC) are pleased to offer this training. Seating is limited and participants will be registered on a first come, first served basis.

When: Friday, January 20, 2012 / 8:30 am to 4 pm

What: Marketing, Messaging, & Media: What’s the Answer?

Where: Best Western Bedford Inn, 4517 Business 220 North, Bedford, PA 15522Who:

Trainer: Craig Bowman,Common Ground Consulting, LLC

Target: Community Coalition Members, Educators,Audience: Administrators, Behavioral Health Practitioners, Family Services Workers, Youth Workers, Prevention Service Providers, etc.

Cost: Free (minimum fee of $10 for LSW/LCSW, LPC and LMFT CEUs)

If you have any questions please contact Lyn Skillington at director@ufssbedford.org or Tracy Shultz at TShultz@besmhmr.dst.pa.us or (814) 443-4891.

CEUs available: Act 48, PA Certification Board (PCB), LSW/LCSW, LPC and LMFT - $10

This program is offered for 5.5 hours of social work continuing education through co-sponsorship of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, a Council on Social Work Education-accredited school and, therefore, a PA pre-approved provider of social continuing education. These credit hours satisfy requirements for LSW/LCSW, LPC and LMFT biennial license renewal. For information on social work continuing education call (412) 624-3711.

How to Tell Your "Business" Story in 60 Seconds or Less

As you know, a lot of our work at Common Ground focuses on helping social-profit organizations become sustainable. This means we review program outcomes, help with efficiency issues, and develop new fundraising strategies. We're often asked to help organizations craft their messaging—particularly how they tell their stories. I came across this great article on the entrepreneur.com website which aligns almost perfectly with our methodology.

By CARMINE GALLO

I recently spoke at LeWeb, a large technology conference in Paris that's filled with entrepreneurs pitching to venture capital investors who are looking for the next big thing. In such situations where many people are vying for attention, the entrepreneurs who stand out are the ones who deliver their pitch in less than a minute, but still make their points quite persuasively.

Unfortunately, many small-business owners don't think enough about their company's story and how it comes across. I can say that with confidence because I've witnessed many ineffective pitches at conferences and chamber of commerce mixers. At the last chamber mixer I attended, I asked one person what he did. His response started with, "That's a good question…" Five minutes later, he was still trying to describe his new company, and I was trying to find a polite way out of the conversation.

As a communications coach, I've developed a four-step exercise that will work for any company or product. You must simply answer each of the following four questions in no more than two sentences:

1. What do you do?

2. What problem do you solve?

3. How is your product or service different?

4. Why should I care?

By keeping each answer brief, you will develop a succinct story that should take no more than 60 seconds.

Let's use the example of an entrepreneur who is starting a housekeeping franchise. Based on those four questions, the company's story might sound something like this:

"We own Five Star Cleaning, an eco-friendly housekeeping service that pampers you and your home [what your business does]. Typical cleaning services make you prep your home ahead of time, supervise to prevent theft and hang around for hours while the cleaners do their work. Because we require no prep, this saves time right off the top, and we are bonded so our service is worry-free, allowing you to go about your day [what problem does it solve]. And, we always send a minimum team of three to get the job done quickly [how it's different]. Imagine coming home from a long day and your laundry is all done, your bed has been turned down and there are fresh flowers awaiting you. That's the extra pampering we offer that sets us apart from all the rest [why you should care]."

Your first sentence should be a "Twitter-friendly headline." You should be able to describe your product or service in 140 characters or less, short enough for a tweet. In the example, Five Star Cleaning bills itself as an "eco-friendly housekeeping service that pampers you and your home." But many small-business owners don't create product descriptions that are short, catchy, distinctive and memorable. The Twitter exercise will help. If you can't describe your product in a sentence, go back to the drawing board.

If you can tell your story in well under 60 seconds and have some extra time, be ready to relate an example or story that makes your product or service more tangible. You'll notice that in the cleaning service pitch, we offered examples of pampering, such as turning down bed sheets.

Don't let your idea die because you've lost the attention of your audience. Grab your listeners in the first 60 seconds and they'll want to hear more.