Grants Information Collection News

Grant Links: July 17, 2009

2009-07-17T12:29:00.006-06:00

WI: AWSL Scholarship to attend the Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference (pdf)

WI: Money offered to attend national Farmers Union conference

US: Council of Graduate Schools Distinguished Dissertation Awards

US: Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (pdf)

US: Southern Jewish Historical Society Research and Travel Grants

US: Stimulus Broadband Funding

Grant Links: July 3, 2009

2009-07-03T14:45:00.005-06:00

WI: New GI Bill gives some war vets a better tuition break

US Midwest: Midwest Nursing Research Society Mentorship Grants

US: Educational Administration Scholarships

US: A National Grant Program for Latino Artists and Arts and Cultural Organizations

US: The Leakey Foundation General Research Grants (human origins, including paleoanthropology, primate behavior, and studies of modern hunter-gatherer groups)

US: Sundance Documentary Fund

Grant Links: June 25, 2009

2009-06-25T11:18:00.003-06:00

Madison, WI: Science/tech camp scholarships available

US: Ayn Rand Institute, Anthem Essay Contest

US: EPSRC Announces Nanotechnology Grand Challenges Call - Solutions for the Environment

US: $1,000 Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship

US: Good Husbandry Grants for Farmers 2009

US: National Association of Elementary School Principals’ Sharing the Dream Grant (pdf)

US: Scholarships for Students Denied Federal Financial Aid Because of Drug Convictions

Grant Links: June19, 2009

2009-06-19T09:10:00.005-06:00

Fond du Lac, WI: Fond du Lac Area United Way schedules grant training sessions

Fox Valley, WI: Community Foundation creates new 'bridge grant' program

Fox Valley, WI: SCA Tissue offers grants to schools

US: Center for Craft, Creativity and Design Graduate Research Grants

US: Parapsychology Scholarship

US: Percussive Arts Society Grants for presentations directed to underserved youth (pdf )

US, Canada, Mexico: BioQuip Undergraduate Scholarship (Entomology)

New Books on Benchmarking and More!

2009-06-17T09:35:00.015-06:00

Benchmarking in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors: Best Practices for Achieving Performance Breakthroughs by Patricia Keehley and Neil Abercrombie

GIC Call #: JK468 T67 B45 2008

Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits by Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant

GIC Call #: HD62.6 C78 2008

ROI for Nonprofits: The New Key to Sustainability by Tom Ralser

GIC Call #: HG4028 C4 R35 2007

Coming Soon: Recovery Act Grants for Medical Informatics

2009-06-12T08:39:00.008-06:00

From the Blog post by Houston Neal:

...Who is Eligible?

There are two different grant programs described in the stimulus bill. The grants are for universities that wish to:

Carry out a demonstration project to develop academic curricula integrating certified EHR technology in the clinical education of health professionals (section 3015), or;
Establish or expand medical health informatics education programs (section 3016)...

Source: ERM SoftwareAdvice.com

Grant Links: June 4, 2009

2009-06-04T13:19:00.005-06:00

UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls: Midwest Food Processors Association Scholarships

MSOE, Milwaukee, WI: Currently Available Annual and Endowed Scholarships

WI: Grants to help manufacturers

WI: WBCA (Baseball) Scholarship Application Form

WI: Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative 2009 Scholarship Application Form (pdf)

US: Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants Scholarship

US: The Home Depot Trade Scholarship Program

Rural Housing Service, Housing Preservation Grant Applications Due July 10th

2009-06-03T12:32:00.006-06:00

v009 Notice of Funds Availability(NOFA) for the Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program has recently been released.

From the NOFA:
"The HPG program is a grant program which provides qualified public agencies, private non-profit organizations, which may include, but not be limited to, faith-based and community organizations, and other eligible entities grant funds to assist very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas."

Just Arrived at the GIC!

2009-05-29T11:44:00.004-06:00

Foundations and Public Policy: Leveraging Philanthropic Dollars, Knowledge, and Networks for Greater Impact edited byDr. James M. Ferris, director of The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy

GIC Call #: HV97 A3 F65 2009

Grant Links: May 26, 2009

2009-05-26T15:51:00.003-06:00

Eau Claire, WI: Women's fund offering grants (Scroll down to view opportunity)

WI: Specialty Crop Grant Applications are Due By June 30

US: June 1 is deadline for BWAA Chuck Pezzano Scholarship applications

US: USDOT: Now accepting applications for TIGER grants

GIC Receives Friends of UW Libraries Grant

2009-05-26T15:40:00.006-06:00

We are delighted to announce that the Grants Information Collection has been selected to receive a collection development grant from the Friends of the UW Libraries.

We will use the graciously given funds to update our print collection, particularly in the areas of nonprofit accountability, management, and benchmarking, as well as the topics of grantseeking and fundraising in difficult economic times.

Please check back to learn about the purchases as they become available for use in the GIC!

Grant Links: May 15, 2009

2009-05-15T14:53:00.004-06:00

WI: Grants Available for Forest & Wildland Fire Suppression

WI: Summer Music Institute Scholarships (pdf)

WI: Youth Entrepreneur Camp – Scholarships Available

WI Schools: $1.7 Million Available to Help Homeless Wisconsin Kids, Families

US: CVS Caremark Charitable Trust Grants – Supporting Children with Disabilities

US: Art Directors Club Scholarships

US: American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Innovation Fund

Grant Links: May 8, 2009

2009-05-08T08:39:00.005-06:00

Newton, WI: Newton Lions Club offers scholarship (scroll down to view announcement)

WI Tech Colleges: Wisconsin Rural Rehabilitation Scholarship

WI: Wisconsin Library Association Diversity Scholarship

US: 2009 Save America's Treasures Grant Applications Now Available

US: Travelocity Change Ambassador Volunteer Travel Grants

Response to "Non Profit Response to Challenging Economic Times"

2009-05-05T13:24:00.020-06:00

Yesterday morning I attended this excellent summit (sponsored by United Way of Dane County) at the Epic Campus outside of Madison. Aimed at nonprofit leaders in Dane County, this half-day event was chuck-full of information and inspiration.

Sure, not everything everyone had to say was what we in the nonprofit community would like to hear. Yes, money is tight -- we all know this. But what I really appreciated about the event, was that it focused on practical strategies for (sure) tightening our belts, (but more significantly) moving forward and even thriving in the now changed landscape:

Mergers

Measures and Accountability

Collaboration

Boosting Employee Performance

Lowering Administrative Costs, and

Effective, Efficient Use of Volunteers

The speakers themselves were excellent as well, though I won't name them all here. And, the Panel Moderator, Neil Heinen of WISC-TV, was a delight as always.

For those of you who were also at the Measures and Accountability breakout group, here are some links to resources you might find helpful:

Logic Model - Comes from UW Extension and focuses on three factors: inputs, outputs, and outcomes.

SMART Criteria - A brief, Wikipedia overview

Writing Measurable Objectives: SMART from the Association of College and Research Libraries

And, for those of you who prefer to cosy-up with a book in hand, you might like to take a look at the following two books available at the Grants Information Collection:

Level Best: How Small and Grassroots Nonprofits Can Tackle Evaluation and Talk Results by Marcia Festen and Marianne Philbin.

Storytelling for Grantseekers: The guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising by Cheryl A. Clarke

Grant Links: May 1, 2009

2009-05-01T12:44:00.009-06:00

Neenah, WI: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation and J. J. Keller Foundation Inc. Scholarships

Sheboygan, WI: Music Club offering two scholarships (Scroll down to view posting)

WI: The Arts Challenge Initiative (ACI) - Minority Program

WI: Jersey Youth Scholarships Now Available

WI: Shamrock Club of Wisconsin (Scroll down to “SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS”)

WI: Wisconsin Council on Children and Families: Announces “What Family Means to Me” college scholarship contest

Grant Links: April 23, 2009

2009-04-23T12:08:00.008-06:00

Milwaukee, WI: Greater Milwaukee Literacy Coalition Scholarship for Higher Education (doc)

New Richmond, WI: Music scholarship available for Somerset area students

WI: Challenge Wisconsin Competitive Educational Scholarship (pdf)

WI: Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships

WI: Wisconsin Water Association (WWA) Scholarship (pdf)

US: Automotive Hall of Fame Scholarships

US: Call for Applicants 8th Annual Bright Futures Award: 2009 National ECE Scholarship Program (pdf)

US: The James P. Danky Fellowship for 2009 (for short-term research at the Wisconsin Historical Society)

So, you want in on the “stimulus” funding...

2009-04-17T09:27:00.026-06:00

Background:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), was signed into law on February 17, 2009. You can read the final text of the legislation (as signed by the President).

Some of the resultant funding will be in the form of competitive grants; other monies will be designated by individual governor’s offices. Still more relief will take the form of government contracts, loans, or be in the form of expanded “personal assistance” programs (provided by local and federal agencies or programs). The majority of funding will come in the form of tax credits. (Source: http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/investments; Accessed on April 16, 2009)

In an effort to educate the public about ARRA as well as to create a transparent and accountable process, the government has made Recovery.gov a stimulus information hub.

Get ready:

Be aware of upcoming deadlines and funding opportunities. Listings change daily, so check often.

Some funding will come directly from the federal level; others will come through the governor’s office of individual states. Be sure to follow individual agency web sites (state and federal), as well as your state’s recovery office web site.

There is prep-work to be done before you can apply for stimulus grants. Be sure that you/your organization are ready for those opportunities that present themselves.

Don’t forget internal preparation. Have you brought together working groups or teams to gather data, design the project(s), and begin outreach to potential partners?

Since most of the funding must be used by the end of 2010, application deadlines have a very short turn-around time. Consider looking at past Requests for Proposals (RFP) from agencies or programs that are of interest to you so that you’re ready when a new RFP is posted.

State of Wisconsin information on preparing for competitive grants.

Where to look:

State sites

Your state’s recovery office
Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment (Especially the "Programs by Category" page)

Federal sites

Competitive Grants: Grants.gov Recovery Opportunities
Contract Opportunities: FedBizOpps
Government Loans: GovLoans
Personal Assistance: GovBenefits

What to avoid:

Grant scams. There are lots of businesses and unscrupulous organizations out there that are preying on folks in need – particularly in the current economic climate. Any organization or group that wants you to give them money so that you can receive a grant is probably trying to take advantage of you. They may be stretching the truth or even lying outright, so never, ever give your bank account information to them. Grants by definition do not require you to pay to get them or become eligible.

Grant Links: April 16, 2009

2009-04-16T08:31:00.005-06:00

UW-Madison: Contest: What does a new student need to know?

WI: Arts grants available thanks to federal economic stimulus

WI: Fuels for Schools & Communities Program

WI: WTA Scholarship Program for 2009 (.doc)

US: Apply for the Jan Stauber Grant (Introducing Young People to Sherlock Holmes)

US: Travel Grants for Young Professionals and Graduate Students

Foundation Center Trainings in Chicago this May

2009-04-15T08:33:00.009-06:00

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS
SAVE $25 for each additional registrationPlease note: additional registrations must be made at the same time.

Proposal Writing SeminarTuesday, May 12
For every grantseeker who wants to learn how to write proposals geared to foundations, and for experienced grantseekers who are initiating a foundation fundraising campaign.
When the going gets tough, successful grantseekers strengthen their proposal writing skills. Our most popular seminar reveals what today's grantmakers look for, and provides insight into their review process. Expert instructors show how to craft a breakthrough proposal package, step by step.

TOPICS
* Cover letter, executive summary; your message to the grantmaker
* Statement of need; choosing data to support your case
* Comprehensive project descriptions; your proof of project planning
* Organizational overview, conclusion, appendices
* Researching the funder to position your proposal
* The grantmaker's proposal review process

BONUSES
*Applicable for six continuing education points for CFRETM International initial or re certification
*Free copy of The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th Edition ($34.95 value)

REGISTER ONLINE $195
Scholarships available for small nonprofits
Applications must be submitted five business days prior to course date. The special discount for additional registrations does not apply to scholarship recipients.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Proposal Budgeting WorkshopWednesday, May 13
For proposal writers at all levels who want to learn the nuts and bolts of budget preparation to support their project proposals.
When funders cut back, the grantseeker's budget becomes even more crucial to a proposal's success. This workshop shows the best way to present your financial needs to secure funding. Using case studies, you will learn strategies to convince grantmakers that your program or project is a smart financial investment.

TOPICS
* Creating each component of the project budget
* Outlining the full cost of your project, including overhead
* Calculating personnel costs, fringe benefits, and non-personnel expenses
* Strategies for presenting income and other funding sources
* Incorporating footnotes to add clarity
* Using your organizational budget to help build the project budget
* Funder guidelines for budget presentation and reporting

BONUSES
Applicable for six continuing education points for CFRETM International initial or re-certification
REGISTER ONLINE $195

Scholarships available for small nonprofits
Applications must be submitted five business days prior to course date. The special discount for additional registrations does not apply to scholarship recipients.

Proposal Writing SeminarMay 12 Course fee: $195
Proposal Budgeting WorkshopMay 13 Course fee: $195

Grant Links: April 8, 2009

2009-04-08T13:32:00.004-06:00

Chippewa Falls, WI: Charities put call out for scholarship applicants

Cross Plains, WI: Chamber of Commerce is offering two $500 scholarships to area high school seniors (Scroll down to view announcement)

Fond du Lac, WI: Excellence in Education nominees sought for district

St. Croix & Pierce Counties, WI: Master gardeners offering beautification grants

WI: Cooperative Conservation Initiative Grant Apps Due April 23

Fundraising opportunity for local non-profits!

2009-04-02T14:29:00.005-06:00

The Association of Fundraising Professionals at UW-Madison is a new collegiate chapter affiliated with the international AFP organization. The chapter's mission is to work with local non-profit organizations to help them maximize their effectiveness and to expose current students to meaningful work.

Currently, students are looking for opportunities to assist in a fundraising project beginning during the Fall 2009 semester.

If you are interested in having students work on fundraising opportunities on behalf of your organization, please review the following guidelines, complete the attached form, and return it to Joanna Marks (jymarks@wisc.edu) by June 30, 2009.

Project guidelines:
1. Application deadline is June 30, 2009.
2. Applicants will be notified by August 15, 2009, however, please note student work will not begin until October 2009.
3. Applications will be judged based on three criteria: learning opportunities for students, clarity of proposal (including description of tasks in project application), and feasibility.

Please direct any questions to Joanna Marks (jymarks@wisc.edu).

Late Spring & Summer Workshops at the GIC

2009-03-30T11:41:00.008-06:00

Up-coming Workshops:

Intro to Foundation Grants for Non-Profit Organizations
Sessions will include an orientation to the Collection, background on the world of grantmaking, information on how to build a credible nonprofit organization, as well as general grantseeking tips. This workshop is suitable for staff of nonprofit organizations and UW clientele.

Thursday, May 21, 2009 ~ 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Friday, July 17, 2009 ~ 9 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Foundation Directory Online
Gain hands-on experience using the Foundation Center's foundation database, Foundation Directory Online. Those new to grants research, consider taking it with the workshop above!

Thursday, May 21, 2009 ~ 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday, July 17, 2009 ~ 11 a.m. – 12 noon

Prospect Research Basics: Researching Individual Donors
Understand prospect research and the process involved; learn how to start and expand your prospect list; and explore relevant resources. This workshop is suitable for those interested in nonprofit fundraising.

Monday, August 10, 2009 ~ 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Identifying Grants for Research & Project Funding
This free workshop is aimed at those from the University community (and from the public at large) who are interested in identifying grant opportunities for their research and special projects. Emphasis is on funding for academic pursuits.

Monday, June 29, 2009 ~ 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Grants for Your Education
This free presentation is for current and future students in Wisconsin (of any institute of higher education) interested in researching potential scholarships, fellowships, and grants for one’s education. Focus is on how to identify funding sources beyond those that are available through most offices of financial aid.

Friday, June 19, 2009 ~ 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Further Information:
Each semester the Grants Information Collection in Memorial Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, sponsors workshops on grant-seeking strategies. Workshops generally exclude funding for for-profit enterprises and for personal welfare assistance.

Fee: None ~ free to all
Registration: Not required ~ but seating is limited.
Location: Room 436 Memorial Library at 728 State Street, Madison*

*Non-UW participants will be able to get a day pass upon showing an ID at the entrance. For more information telephone the Nikki Busch at (608) 262-6431, or send email to: grantsinfo@library.wisc.edu.

Grant Links: March 26, 2009

2009-03-26T10:14:00.003-06:00

Sheboygan, WI: Post auxiliary offers Campbell Medical, Brown scholarships

Sheboygan, WI: Scholarships available to North/South students

WI: Focus on Energy: Announces grants for large renewable energy projects

WI: Grants seek to thwart energy manager layoffs

WI: Office of Recovery and Reinvestment (i.e., Stimulus Grants for the State of Wisconsin)

US: Girls teams can contend for grants

New Books

2009-03-25T15:46:00.012-06:00

The Board Building Cycle : Nine Steps to Finding, Recruiting, and Engaging Nonprofit Board Members by Berit M. Lakey.

GIC Call #: HD2745 H84 2007

International Grantmaking IV : An Update on U.S. Foundation Trends by Josefina Atienza, et al.

GIC Call #: HV90 I58 2008

Local Mission Global Vision : Community Foundations in the 21st Century edited by Peter deCourcy Hero and Peter Walkenhorst.

GIC Call #: HN49.C6 L633 2008

Grant Links: March 17, 2009

2009-03-17T09:56:00.004-06:00

Lakeland College, UW –Sheboygan, or Lakeshore Technical College, WI: Altrusa offering scholarship to nontraditional student

Madison, WI: Madison District of the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation is offering a $500 scholarship... (scroll down to view opportunity)

Sheboygan, WI: FOOTBALL SYF offering scholarship (scroll down to view opportunity)

Wausau, WI: Wausau East students can apply for summer scholarships

WI: International Chapter of the P.E.O Sisterhood is offering loans, grants, and scholarships to women...