From our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development – grant focus on small farm/ranch and/or local food systems this week!
From: Agans, Suzette - RD, Washington, DC [mailto:Suzette.Agans@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, September 04, 2015 7:46 AM
Subject: Publications, Tools, Learning, and Funding
Note: Many local foods funding opportunities- which are due in Sept & Oct.
PUBLICATIONS
Rick Cohen wrote an article recently for the NonProfit Quarterly, "USDA Study: Rural Philanthropy Still an Underfunded Afterthought". He writes, "The boost in rural grantmaking still isn't there despite much attention from the foundations' national trade association (the Council on Foundations) and some parts of the federal government, and the evidence is in the report from Agriculture on rural philanthropy." Read more here.
"Las Colonias in the 21st Century: Progress Along the Texas-Mexico Border". This report focuses on infrastructure, housing, economic opportunity, education, and health in the six Texas counties that have the highest concentration of colonias: El Paso, Maverick, Webb, Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron. In just these six counties, colonia communities are home to an estimated 369,500 people. Read the report here. Source: The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
"Unequal Lives: The State of Black Women and Families in the Rural South" that analyzes the health and well-being of low-income black women in nine rural counties across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and identifies barriers to success and economic security, including poverty, low educational attainment, and inadequate access to public infrastructure, healthcare, and more. The report includes statistics and demographics for each of the states and counties included in the study. Click here to get the report. Source: The Children's Defense Fund's Southern Regional Office
Recent research has explored the economic value of rural broadband adoption. Sponsored by the National Agricultural and Rural Development Policy Center (NARDeP), a study released last year found that, between 2001 and 2010, rural counties where more than 60 percent of households adopted broadband experienced higher income growth and smaller unemployment growth than those counties that did not. The study, Broadband׳s contribution to economic growth in rural areas: Moving towards a causal relationship, also finds that rural counties where fewer than 40 percent of households adopted broadband experienced lower business and employment growth. 2014
2014 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report: Chartbook on Rural Health Care
A summary of trends in healthcare quality and disparities for rural populations. Includes quality measures for rural populations addressing patient safety, person-centered care, effective treatment, healthy living, and access. Part of a series of publications related to the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. Organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Date: 08 / 2015
Trends in Indian Health: 2014 Edition
An overview of Indian Health Service (IHS) programs and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health status. Includes charts depicting the IHS organizational structure and data on tribal and IHS healthcare facilities. Provides AI/AN demographic and socioeconomic data. Includes birth and death rates, with information by cause of death. Also provides data on patient care delivery.
Organization: Indian Health Service, Date: 2015
Texas Strives To Lure Mental Health Providers To Rural Counties - Sep 1, 2015 -- Describes both the need for and the strategies being explored to bring more students graduating with mental health degrees into rural areas of Texas. Source: National Public Radio and Kaiser Health News
TOOLS
The recently re-launched website, Racial Equity Tools, compiles resources and curricula for communities and organizations working to advance racial justice. The site features learning modules, films, and discussion guides designed to build understanding of how structural racism and other forms of inequity affect employment, food justice, and other human development issues. Visit the site here.
Rural Assistance Center (RAC) has developed a guide titled "Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food". A nutritious diet is important for maintaining good health, but accessing fresh and affordable food can be a challenge for some rural residents. This RAC topic guide provides information on how to address food security issues in every rural community, including funding and assistance programs, model programs, strategies, and more. Access the guide here
LEARNING
WEBINAR: Great Community Engagement Leads to Common Cause FREE WEBINAR! Thursday, Sept. 10, 3-4 p.m. Eastern. Register now! »
Explore Your Community, Phase 2 of the Community Heart & Soul™ method, is about discovering what matters most to residents in your community and building a better future based on those shared values.
In this 60-minute webinar you'll get an overview and then take a deeper dive into the key activities in Phase 2: Gathering and Sharing Stories to Identify What Matters Most. There will also be time for Q & A. Presented by Alece Montez-Griego, Orton's program director and Meagan Picard, Orton senior associate.
FUNDING:
Ceres Trust Organic Research Initiative - Deadline: September 25, 2015. Ceres Trust, a privately administered charitable trust based in the Midwest, seeks applications from universities and other nonprofits in the North Central Region that focus on organic farming systems research. Approximately ten grants of up to $60,000 over three years will be awarded in the region. For more details visit the Ceres Trust website.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES is offering grants to nonprofit and public agencies through the Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program. The purpose of this program is to equip HUD's customers with the skills, tools, and knowledge to ensure effective program delivery and efficient stewardship of federal funds. Deadline: 9/25/2015. Click here to review funding guidelines.
Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center Grant Program - Letter of Intent (Optional): Sep 1, 2015, Application deadline: Sep 30, 2015
Geographic Coverage: Available in 15 states. Offers grants for projects that use creative strategies to improve coordination among USDA-FNS Child Nutrition programs and other nutrition programs, with the aim of increasing participation rates among families with children in persistently poor, rural counties. Sponsor: Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center
USDA Funding to Assist with Organic Certification Costs – Deadline: September 30, 2015. through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program and the AMA Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Purpose: to make organic certification affordable for organic producers and handlers across the country. Funding: $11.9 million. Deadline: applicants for cost share assistance through the AMA are encouraged to apply early; funds are only available through
Broadband Loans & Loan Guarantees - Application Deadline: September 30, 2015.
Notice of Solicitation of Application, July 30, 2015, ppt from August 26 & 27 webinar in pdf. USDA Rural Development
Jamba Juice "It's All About the Fruits and Veggies Garden Grant" - Deadline: September 30, 2015
Purpose: Recipients will be selected based on plans to promote nutrition education, ideas for incorporating fruit and vegetable activities into the curriculum, and the ability to sustain the program over multiple years. Eligibility: schools, community organizations, and nonprofit programs gardening with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18. Funding: 29 programs will receive a check for $100 to be used to purchase soil amendments and fruit and vegetable plantings and $400 in gardening supplies from the KidsGardening.org Shop. One program will receive a grand prize of $1,500. Apply here.
Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages - Application deadline: Oct 14, 2015
Grants for the development of Indian and Alaska Native communities, including new housing construction; housing rehabilitation; land acquisition to support new housing; green energy projects; mold remediation; homeownership assistance; public service facilities such as healthcare entities, child care facilities, and employment-related agencies; economic development; and microenterprise programs.
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Levitt Pavilions Issues CFA for 2016 Outdoor Music Concert Program - DEADLINE: October 15, 2015. Matching grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to support free outdoor concerts in small and mid-sized towns and cities across the country....
NEA Foundation Invites Applications for Learning and Leadership Grants - DEADLINE: October 15, 2015
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to support the professional development of public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education....
LOWE'S CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION is offering grants to public K-12 schools and school parent-teacher groups associated with public schools through the Toolbox for Education Grant Program. Grants of $2,000 to $5,000 are offered for projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit. Preference is given to funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) and landscaping or cleanup projects. Deadline: 10/16/2015; however, if 1,500 applications are received before the application deadline, the application process may close. Visit the program's website here to submit an online application.
Singing for Change Accepting LOIs for Projects to Address Social and Environmental Problems - DEADLINE: Ongoing (Letters of Interest)
Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to progressive nonprofit organizations working to address the root causes of social or environmental problems....
Perceptive Software Accepting Nominations for Educating Excellence Award - DEADLINE: Ongoing
Grants will be awarded to outstanding STEM educators who are making a difference in their students' lives....
Veteran Housing Projects in Rural Areas - Application deadline: Oct 30, 2015
Offers funding to construct, renovate, or rehabilitate veteran housing projects in rural areas of the United States. Sponsor: Home Depot Foundation, Housing Assistance Council
2015 RIS Program Competition, Applications Due: Oct 5, 2015 Includes $10 MM to support two unique grant opportunities this year:
- i6 Challenge: Launched in 2010 as part of the Startup America Initiative, the i6 Challenge is a national competition based on the most impactful national models for startup creation, innovation, and commercialization. In an effort to promote and support inclusion, EDA expects to award up to $2.5 million of the total $8 million to projects that provide services to rural areas. Additionally, the evaluation criteria for applications include the strength of specific outreach plans to populations and communities that are underrepresented in innovation and entrepreneurship and of specific, quantitative metrics to measure the effectiveness of that outreach.
- Seed Fund Support: These cluster grants provide funding for technical assistance to support feasibility, planning, formation, or launch of cluster-based seed capital funds that are offered to innovation-based, growth-oriented start-up companies in exchange for equity. Funds must include job creation in their consideration for issuing capital, and the evaluation criteria for applications include the strength of specific outreach plans to populations and communities that are underrepresented in innovation and entrepreneurship and of specific, quantitative metrics to measure the effectiveness of that outreach.
Recorded Webinars
- 2015 RIS Prospective Applicant webinar*New* Slides (PDF) *New*
- 2015 RIS Rural Opportunities webinar*New* Transcript*New*
Micro-Grants/Karma for Cara Foundation - Deadline: Rolling.
Purpose: To fund service projects in communities, with ideas including rebuilding a playground or turning a vacant lot into a community garden. Eligibility: For children 18 and under. Funding: between $250 and $1,000. Contact: info@karmaforcara.org.
Let's Move! Salad Bars to Schools Purpose: Salad bars for schools. Deadline: Rolling.
Jewel-Osco Community Grants - Deadline: Rolling. Purpose: fund organizations promoting nutrition education and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet. Jewel-Osco is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable operations and will support local efforts toward sustainability. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Click here for more information.
The American Heart Association and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Voices for Healthy Kids Deadline: Rolling - Purpose: to advance public policy that reverses childhood obesity by investing in state, local and tribal public policy issue campaigns whose efforts are linked to its six priority areas. Eligibility: Non-profit organizations. Funding: Up to $100,000. Contact: Jill Ceitlin at jill.ceitlin@heart.org
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education- Farmer Rancher Grant Program. Purpose: The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NC-SARE) seeks farmers and ranchers with projects offering sustainable solutions to farm management. Funding: up to $7,500 for individual grant projects and up to $22,500 for group grant projects. Deadline: Early August-Mid November. Find out more information about the Farmer Rancher Grant Program and the application process.*NOTE: Visit the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Website for more grant opportunities specific to your state.
Over $63.2 million in Specialty Crop Block grants are allocated to U.S. States and territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value. Purpose: The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as "fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture)." Interested applicants should apply directly through their state department of agriculture. Eligibility: Organizations or individuals should contact their state department of agriculture for more information. Deadline: A listing of state contacts and application due dates can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.
USDA Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative - Deadline: Varies by state. Purpose: Assist producers to extend the growing season for high value crops in an environmentally safe manner. Eligibility: Individuals, legal entities, Indian Tribes, and joint operations engaged in agricultural production.
Beginning Farmers Grants and Resources
Students Invited to Apply for Prudential Spirit of Community Awards - DEADLINE: November 4, 2015
Middle and high school students who volunteered to help a community at home or abroad in the previous year are eligible to apply for an award of $1,000....
NCTM Accepting Proposals for Teacher Professional Development Grants - DEADLINE: November 6, 2015
Grants of up to $3,000 will be awarded in support of professional development efforts that improve the classroom competence of one or more middle-school mathematics teachers....
THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG FOUNDATION is offering grants to nonprofit organizations for general operating, program, and capital project support to help lower income older adults to live dignified, meaningful, and engaged lives in the community and to maintain their independence for as long as possible. Deadline: letter of inquiry accepted any time. Click here for funding guidelines.
Newsletters and email from where I gather this information include:
v Foundation Center RFP Service - To subscribe visit: http://foundationcenter.org/newsletters/
v To subscribe to the RAC Health Listserv - click here to go to the subscription form.
v Electronic newsletter of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Rural Entrepreneurship News. To subscribe, http://team.energizingentrepreneurs.org/news2/public_html/lists/?p=subscribe
v Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City newsletter: http://www.kansascityfed.org/alert/'
v Blue Avocado Nonprofit Magazine - They have a newsletter on boards and nonprofit management, down-to-earth and useful. http://www.blueavocado.org/
v Rural LISC e-newsletter - http://www.lisc.org/rural
v National Association for Development Organizations (NADO) – www.nado.org
v ERS - A notification service is provided by USDA's Economic Research Service for Charts of Note and other research to keep you informed of the latest and most relevant research on the topics that interest you. You can subscribe at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Updates/
v Orton Family Foundation – email sign-up - http://www.orton.org/sign_up
This is the bulk of them, a few others are random.
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