COMMON GROUND CONSULTING LLC

International Grants & Awards

BBC World News World Challenge Grants (Deadline: June 13) The World Challenge, organized by BBC World News and Newsweek in association with Shell, is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grassroots level. Projects or small businesses that show initiative, the innovative use of technology, or an invention; increase investment into the local community; and take a responsible approach to the environment in which they are operating are eligible for nomination. Areas of interest include community welfare and enterprise, health and education, sustainable farming, energy, water, and the environment. The winner of the World Challenge 2010 will receive a grant of $20,000. The second and third place finalists will each receive a grant of $10,000. Nominations are due June 13, 2010. www.theworldchallenge.co.uk Peace Child International Be the Change! Programme Grants (Deadline: July 21) Be The Change!" is a youth-led sustainable development Action Programme related to the Millennium Development Goals which aims to empower young people around the world to "be the change they want to see in the world." The Be The Change! grants supports young people under age 25 with projects that concentrate on the development of local communities. The kind of projects supported are projects that are genuinely youth-led, which benefit the community rather than an individual need, are projects up to £500 with a detailed budget, have two experienced and committed adults to mentor the project, have measures of achievement (indicators) by which projects may be evaluated, and can be either income-generating (funds to start up a small business and creating jobs) or it can be non-income generating (for health, education, environmental clean-up or community improvement) social programmes which are of genuine and lasting community value. www.peacechild.org/btc/startown Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation (Deadline: Ongoing) The Rufford Small Grants Foundation provides grants of up to £6,000 for small-scale or pilot nature conservation projects in less-developed countries around the world. Projects must have a nature/biodiversity conservation focus and be located outside the first world. The Foundation's scope of interest includes conservation work focused on threatened habitats; animals in their habitat; and other organisms such as plants, fungi, or insects. Projects that offer opportunities to train local team members in the running of the project and that include an educational element for local communities are strongly preferred. Individuals or small groups are eligible to apply and applications can be made throughout the year. www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg Thanks to Youth Service America for compiling this great list.

U.S. Grants & Awards

Nature's Path Gardens for Good Grant (Deadline: May 31) With the mission to increase organic acreage nationwide and provide every American with access to high quality, healthy and organic food, Nature's Path is launching the "Gardens for Good Grant" organic garden contest with the help of Organic Gardening magazine in which two communities will receive $25,000 value grant package toward starting organic gardens that includes: a $10,000 cash grant to be used to plant an organic garden; $5,000 worth of technical assistance from Organic Gardening magazine; and an organic breakfast fundraising event and garden dedication worth $10,000. This is a one question, 500 words or less, application process. In your essay, please clearly answer the following question: "Tell us about your program, who you serve, and how a garden grant will help you to serve more people." www.justmeans.com/take-action/GardenGrantContest 100 Best Communities for Young People (Deadline: June 1) America's Promise Alliance and the ING Foundation are now seeking entries for the 2010 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition. The Alliance and the ING Foundation seek to recognize 100 American cities and towns whose top priority is keeping children in school and helping end the nation's dropout crisis through innovative programs that are addressing everyday challenges facing young people and creating better places for them to live and grow. Winning communities receive ational recognition and media exposure, financial and logistic support to celebrate selection at a local event, commemorative awards to be displayed in the community, exposure to Alliance partner resources and the insights of other winning communities through an innovative online space to exchange ideas, and invitations to exclusive online informational events featuring Alliance partners designed to strengthen local efforts. Interested communities can apply through June 1.www.americaspromise.org/100Best Garden Crusader Awards (Deadline: June 1) The annual Garden Crusader Awards program was established to honor individuals who improve the world through gardening and make a difference in their community. Youth are eligible to receive this award. Categories for 2010 are: Education, Feeding the Hungry, Urban Renewal and Restoration. There are five winners for each category: first, second, third, plus two honorable mentions and one grand prize winner, for a total of 21 winners overall. The grand prize winner receives $2,500 in cash + $2,500 gift certificate from Gardener's Supply. First placers receive a $1,000 gift certificate; second placers receive a $750 gift certificate; third placers receive a $500 gift certificate; honorable mentions receive a $200 gift certificate. All prizes are awarded to the winner's organization in his/her name.www.gardeners.com/gardening/content.asp?Copyid=5549 orhttp://press.gardeners.com/crusaderform.aspx Graffiti Hurts Grants (Deadline: June 1) For the fourth year, Keep America Beautiful presents the opportunity to apply for a grant to help reduce graffiti vandalism in cities across America. The Graffiti Hurts® National Grant Program aims to help communities kick-start or add on to a local graffiti prevention program. Grant funds may also be used for a one-time project that has the potential to help reduce graffiti vandalism in the community. Grants of $2,500 are offered in three categories - community under 75,000 population, community between 75,000 and 250,000 population, and community over 250,000 population. The funds must be used for projects that will be initiated in Fall 2010 and completed no later than December 31, 2011. Proposed projects can address graffiti prevention and education, eradication, or enforcement of local anti-graffiti laws. Nonprofits, neighborhood and community organizations, youth groups, government agencies, and others are all eligible to apply. Deadline is June 1, 2010.www.graffitihurts.org/grants.jsp The Exquisite Prompt Challenge (Deadline: June 1) The AdLit.org Exquisite Prompt challenge is an activity that gives K-12 students a chance each month to flex their writing muscles with writing prompts - and win fabulous prizes!  To be eligible for prizes, students will be asked to submit original writing of 350 words or less for each writing prompt. Illustrations may be submitted with entries. This month's prompt for grades 9-12 is inspired by Lemony Snicket and A Series of Unfortunate Events. The prompt asks students to develop a project on behalf of a cause and write to a potential benefactor or foundation. In the nonprofit sector, this kind of business letter is often called a Letter of Inquiry. Prizes include being published on Reading Rockets and AdLit and receiving a selection of books, including titles autographed by the authors and illustrators. Winners are also are eligible for a classroom visit by one of the authors or illustrators via Skype! www.adlit.org/fun/writing_contests/exquisite_prompt_challenge AmeriCorps Video and Photo Contest (Deadline: June 4) CNCS is asking the public to help tell the AmeriCorps story and recruit the next class of AmeriCorps members by participating in the 2010 AmeriCorps Video and Photo contest that is part of AmeriCorps Week. The contest, which runs through June 4, asks participants to submit 60-second videos or still photos showing how AmeriCorps gets things done in local communities. This year's contest is open to anyone -- AmeriCorps members, alums, students, national service and nonprofit staff, educators, elected officials - anyone who wants to tell the AmeriCorps story. The contest offers bigger prizes and more chances to win, thanks to the generosity of this year's prize sponsors: United HealthCare, Choice Hotels, National Geographic, Starbucks, and the NFL Players Association. Grand prize is a 4-day, 3-night all expenses paid trip for two to Washington DC, made possible by United HealthCare. Would-be film directors and shutterbugs should visit the contest website atwww.americorpscontest.org Learning in the Arts Grants (Deadline: June 10 ) The Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth category offers funding for projects that help children and youth acquire knowledge and understanding of and skills in the arts. Projects must provide participatory learning and engage students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art.  Learning in the Arts projects may take place in school-based or community-based settings and should focus on children and youth in the general age range of 5 through 18 years. After-school and summer programs are eligible, as are public and private nonprofits. Maximum grants are $150,000 each www.arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP11/LITA.html MetLife-NASSP Breakthrough Schools Project (Deadline: June 11) The MetLife-NASSP Breakthrough Schools project, initiated in 2007, is sponsored by MetLife Foundation. The goal of the project is to identify, recognize, and showcase middle level and high schools that serve large numbers of students living in poverty and are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement. Selected schools will receive a $5,000 grant and be featured in the association's monthly magazine, Principal Leadership. Principals of Breakthrough Schools participate in dissemination activities at the NASSP Annual Convention and other venues throughout the year. NASSP invites middle level and high schools, including K-8 and K-12 schools, that serve economically disadvantaged students to apply for this award. Schools must have 40% or more students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.www.principals.org/AwardsandRecognition/BreakthroughSchools/HowtoApply.aspx American Express NGen Leadership Award (Deadline: June 14) This award was created to honor an outstanding nonprofit leader under age 40 who has had a transformative impact on addressing society's critical needs. Nominations will be accepted through Monday, June 14. Self-nomination is not admissible for this award. To be eligible for the award, a leader must work for a U.S.-based nonprofit or non-governmental organization and have had a transformative, measurable impact within his or her field, beyond just one organization. Once the nominations have been submitted, they will be evaluated by a selection committee of nonprofit leaders. Finalists will be asked to submit answers to brief essay questions and those responses will be posted on the IS website for public voting by NGen program participants. These results will be incorporated into the committee's final decision. The winner of the NGen Leadership Award will be announced in late August, and will be recognized during the IS Annual Conference in Atlanta, October 20-22. Visit the IS website to nominate an outstanding under-40 nonprofit leader.www.independentsector.org/ngen_leadership_award BIC 4 GOOD Grants (Deadline: June 15) Did you create a sustainable community action project, program or organization that you want to grow? Lack the funds to take your project to the next level? If you answered "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a BIC 4 GOOD Grant!  BIC 4 GOOD Grants are targeted towards established programs and organizations that have a large impact, proven sustainability, and measurable success. The best applicants are those that are self-driven, unique, community-oriented with measurable impact. Ten outstanding projects or organizations will be awarded $2,000 BIC 4 GOOD Grants and 1 exceptional project or organization will be awarded the Grand Prize $5,000 BIC 4 GOOD Grant! www.dosomething.org/grants/bic4good Youth Engagement Zone Grants (Deadline: June 15 ) CNCS recently announced the availability of $5.4 million in grants to establish Youth Engagement Zones, as called for by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The purpose of the new initiative is to encourage collaborative community problem solving that increases students' academic and civic engagement while improving the odds that they will stay in school and graduate from high school. CNCS anticipates awarding between four and twelve three-year grants of $300,000 to $450,000 per year to create networks of individuals, organizations and institutions that support the positive development of young people. These grants will provide support for "eligible partnerships" to build on existing resources to develop coordinated school-based or community-based service-learning opportunities for secondary school students. All partnerships must include, at a minimum, at least one LEA (school or school district), one community college, and one community-based entity. Applications are due by June 15 at 5 p.m. EDT. Potential applicants should send a letter of intent to apply to [email protected] by May 28.  www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=82 Promise Neighborhoods Planning Grants (Deadline: July 1) The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for a $10 million planning grants competition for the Promise Neighborhood program - an initiative meant to support comprehensive, community-based efforts to prepare youths from economically distressed neighborhoods for college and careers. Up to 20 planning grants of up to $500,000 each will be awarded. The competition is open to nonprofits and institutions of higher learning. The initiative will support up to 20 organizations with one year of funding to plan for implementing "cradle-to-career" services. The Promise Neighborhoods program will award one-year grants to support the development of a plan to implement a Promise Neighborhood. www2.ed.gov/programs/promiseneighborhoods/index.html Best Buy @15 Community Grants (Deadline: July 1) Through the @15 Community Grants Program, Best Buy teams across the United States select non-profit organizations that provide positive experiences to help teens to excel in school, engage in their communities, and develop leadership skills. This year, Best Buy Children's Foundation will give $2 million through the Community Grants Program. Best Buy seeks applications from organizations that have current 501(c)(3) tax status and are serving a diverse population of young teens in the areas of learning, life skills, leadership or relationship development. 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; Reach at-risk children in working families. This is an annual grant program with applications accepted June 1-July 1, 2010. Maximum award: $10,000 www.bestbuy-communityrelations.com/local_donations.htm

Thanks to Youth Service America for compiling this great list!

 

A trip to Tirana in May

I'm taking a trip to Tirana between May 22nd and May 29th.

I'll be responsible for leading advanced advocacy monitoring and evaluation workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions for the country's leading business associations.

This is the second of two trips this spring working in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Communities and Chemonics International.

The Promise of the New Social Innovation Fund

Seventeen years ago, I was fortunate to be able to serve President Clinton as a part of the very small design team that developed the 1993 Summer of Service, the official beginning of AmeriCorps. As the youngest member of the design team, I felt a tremendous responsibility to honor the ideals and the values that represented the spirit and power of national and community service. I was there as a part of the group of young people who coined the name AmeriCorps; I served as the Chair of Young People for National Service, an advocacy effort to secure Congressional support and funding for AmeriCorps; and I was there in the Rose Garden when bipartisan support officially made AmeriCorps a part of the fabric of our national identity.

I've been a tireless supporter of national and community service and I've maintained this commitment through dozens of engagements with the Corporation for National and Community Service in the years since. These past few weeks, I've been very fortunate to be able to serve as a reviewer for the new Social Innovation Fund. It is an amazing commitment made possible through the 2009 passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. I've been a reviewer in countless grant competitions, but this process has been among the best. The state-of-the-art review process is necessary for a such a cutting-edge competition.

Here is the Corporation's press release about the fund ...

Washington, DC – "The Corporation for National and Community Service released the number of applications submitted for its Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grant on a conference call today, and emphasized the SIF's extraordinary opportunity to stimulate innovation, support community-led approaches, and drive results-oriented responses to critical social challenges. The announcement comes as the Corporation marks the successes of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act – which authorized the new innovative Fund – one year after its passage. Click here to listen to the conference call.

‘The SIF will help align organizations, individuals and investors across the country around the belief that our most critical social challenges can be solved by high-impact nonprofits,’ said Paul Carttar, the Corporation's Director of the Social Innovation Fund. ‘The SIF reflects a new role for the Federal government as a catalyst, not conductor, of the work of local communities.’

Approximately 260 organizations collaborated to submit 69 applications for SIF grants, affirming the promise of the SIF to break down barriers to cooperation and achieve greater impact. The applications represent the breath and diversity of the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors, and propose work in each of the SIF's focus areas – economic opportunity, youth development and school support and healthy futures. Lead applicants (not including partners) span coast to coast, representing 25 states and the District of Columbia.

‘Our national renewal is dependent on finding more innovative and effective approaches to some of our most intractable challenges,’ said Marta Urquilla, Senior Advisor for Social Innovation. ‘The SIF drives resources to promising nonprofit organizations and builds the capacity of communities to tackle challenges head-on through collaboration ...

... The Corporation has a long history of successfully harnessing the compassion of Americans to serve others and leverage innovative solutions to address critical social challenges. Through the SIF and other programs, the Corporation is investing in models that work, finding new ways of doing business, and serving as a source of ideas for local communities. Specifically, the SIF is designed to:

• Support innovative and effective nonprofits as they grow;

• Generate new evidence and knowledge about how to address critical social challenges; and

• Build the grant making infrastructure and supportive environment necessary for social innovation to flourish in a diverse set of geographies." Continue Reading ...

Press Release: Social Innovation Fund Applications Show Strong Community Endorsement of New Approach:

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 its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov, and to learn more about the Social Innovation Fund, visit NationalService.gov/Innovation.