Weekly Funding Opportunities Listing – December 13, 2011

Below are funding opportunities of interest that I have learned about/received RFP notifications about in the past week that I wanted to share. 

Bikes

Bikes Belong Grant Program

Deadline: February 29, 2012

The Bikes Belong Grant Program strives to put more people on bicycles more often by funding important and influential projects that leverage federal funding and build momentum for bicycling in communities across the U.S. These projects include bike paths and rail trails, as well as mountain bike trails, bike parks, BMX facilities, and large-scale bicycle advocacy initiatives.

The Bikes Belong Grants Program has two application categories:

1.                  Facility

2.                  Advocacy

For the facility category, Bikes Belong will accept applications from nonprofit organizations whose missions are bicycle and/or trail specific. We will also accept applications from public agencies and departments at the national, state, regional, and local levels, however we encourage these municipalities to align with a local bicycle advocacy group that will help develop and advance the project or program.

For the advocacy category, Bikes Belong will only fund organizations whose primary mission is bicycle advocacy.

Literacy

Libraries and Families Award

Deadline: February 6, 2012

The 2012 Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Awards will reward innovative library-based literacy programs for families. Existing programs and brand-new programs will be considered. Applications will be evaluated using the following award selection criteria.

Required

·        Project must be library-based and implemented by library staff, and grant funds must be awarded directly to a library or library organization (e.g., Friends of the Library groups, library foundations, etc.).

·        Programs must be located within the United States.

·        Project must be completed between April 2012 and March 2013.

·        Applicant must commit to sharing program and participant stories with NCFL and Better World Books on an ongoing basis.

·        Project must be fully supported by your library director or administrator.

Music

Music Matters Grants

Deadline: February 17, 2012

Music Matters Grants for 2012 will focus on financial need in school and non-profit music programs throughout the United States. Grants will be awarded in April of 2012, with funds distributed by the end of 2012. Grant amounts for this cycle are up to $6,000 each and are made on an annual one-time basis.
 

Grant Eligibility 

• Music education – vocal or instrumental – must be the key component of any music program requesting funds.

• Public or charter school programs serving a minimum of 50% low-income students (defined by students receiving free and reduced lunch), OR non-profit/501(c)(3) programs directly funding music education, serving students regardless of their ability to pay, should apply.

• Schools and programs must already have an existing music program/curriculum in place. Grant funds cannot be used to pay salary of regular music instructor; however, stipends and performance fees for guest instructors and musicians are eligible for consideration.

• Grant requests must articulate specific music program needs – for existing and/or planned projects. Detailed budgets must be included with the application, including existing music program budget, proposed project budget, and for non-profits, total organization budget.

• Music education programs must meet national standard non-discrimination policies.

• Programs should serve students in grades K-12.

Veterans

VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families

Deadline: February 15, 2012

The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program is a new VA program that awards grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives who will provide supportive services to very low-income Veterans and their families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing.  The grantees will provide a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability. 

Please feel free to pass this listing along to your colleagues. It may also be viewed by visiting Grantwriter's Blog directly or in your email inbox by subscribing to the email feed. If you have any funding announcements that you think would be helpful to colleagues and would like to have listed in the weekly update, please pass them along!

Best wishes for continued success in your grant seeking efforts!

Diane