Grants and Awards

Grant Opportunities from Volunteer Tennessee's Clues and News Newsletter


Gladys Marinelli Coccia Awards (Deadline Extended: August 1)
Youth Service America is pleased to launch the first annual Gladys Marinelli Coccia Awards to recognize two young female social entrepreneurs, ages 14 to 17, whose initiatives serve the common good. The awards of $2000 each are created in memory of Gladys Coccia, who began her entrepreneurial career when she was a young girl in West Virginia and later became a very successful businesswoman in Washington, DC. Nominations from across the USA are welcome; special consideration will be given to nominees from West Virginia and metropolitan Washington, DC. Self-nominations are accepted. Accepting nominations: May-June 15. Find more information about the award at www.ysa.org/awards.


STEMester of Service Grants for Middle Schools
Contingent on federal funding, Youth Service America (YSA) will implement a program to support middle school teachers and service-learning coordinators to strengthen their classroom practices through service-learning. The grant targets students from disadvantaged circumstances in states with the highest drop out rates in the nation (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Washington). STEMester of Service engages middle school youth in science and technology-focused service-learning projects that address community problems, incorporate youth voice and opportunities for reflection, are connected to educational and program standards, and demonstrate community impact. With training and preparation occurring in the fall for grantees, school programs will launch on Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2010, and culminate on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, 2010. If you are interested in applying for these funds, please visit www.ysa.org/awards.


KIDS Consortium: Green Schools Mini-Grants (Deadline: August 31)
KIDS Consortium, with support from State Farm Youth Advisory Board, is offering mini-grants for "green" service-learning projects developed by K-12 schools in New England. Grants of up to $750 will support "green school" service-learning projects, such as energy efficiency and recycling, proposed by K-12 educators, students, and community organizations working with youth. Funded projects must solve a problem or address a local need related to making schools and neighborhoods healthier and more environmentally sustainable. Students involved in these projects will have an opportunity to participate in a 2010 Green Schools Student Summit in order to share their projects with students from around the region. The application deadline is August 31, 2009. For online application guidelines, visit www.kidsconsortium.org/minigrants.php.


Tom's of Maine Nonprofit Grants (Deadline: August 30)
Small differences in a community can make a large difference in the world. So we want to support and encourage your efforts to get involved! In November we'll award five 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with $20,000. We are looking for applications for community involvement projects from nonprofit organizations. A review panel will narrow down our applications to 50 finalists. Then we'll post them on our site so the public can help us by voting for which 5 projects should be awarded funding. We're accepting submissions from June 1st - August 30th. We are looking for applications from all 50 states. More information at www.tomsofmaine.com/community-involvement/project-sponsorships.aspx/.


Wal-Mart State Giving Program (Deadline: September 18)
Through the State Giving Program, the Wal-Mart Foundation seeks to support organizations with programs that align with our mission to create opportunities so people can live better. The State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact.The Foundation has four areas of focus: Education, Workforce Development / Economic Opportunity, Health & Wellness, and Environmental Sustainability. Minimum grants are $25,000. The State Giving Program will begin accepting applications for the Fall Funding Cycle on June 15. Learn more at www.walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8168.aspx?p=8979.


Jenesis Group Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)
The Jenesis Group offers grants to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations focusing on youth development, education, and social entrepreneurship. The Foundation invests in grass roots organizations that work to empower disadvantaged and/or at-risk youth to become productive citizens in society. Priority is given to programs that are preventative in approach and that provide comprehensive and long-term solutions to the challenges facing youth today. The Jenesis Group primarily invests in results-oriented organizations with annual budgets or $500,000 or less that build self-esteem and foster self-reliance, emphasize literacy and academic excellence, offer leadership training and development, utilize mentoring strategies, teach career readiness and/or life skills, prevent juvenile delinquency, and/or develop entrepreneurial skills. www.jenesis.org/app/index.htm


Teaching Tolerance Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)
The Teaching Tolerance Grants Program, administered by the Southern Poverty Law Center, offers grants to pre-K-12 educators for projects designed to reduce prejudice among youth, improve intergroup relations in schools and/or support educator professional development in these area. Proposals from community organizations and houses of worship will be considered on the basis of direct student impact. Projects funded by Teaching Tolerance tend to be focused on character/moral education, conflict resolution, multiculturalism, community service, and other aspects of tolerance education. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. www.tolerance.org/teach/grants/guide.jsp


Adobe Youth Voices International Photo Competition (Deadline: July 31)
When written in Chinese or Japanese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters--one represents crisis or danger, and the other represents hope or opportunity. We have taken this as inspiration for our first-ever international photo competition. "Crisis and Hope" offers an exciting opportunity for youth around the world to express themselves and make their voices heard-on both what is challenging and what gives hope in today's difficult world. Winning photographs will be showcased online, in a traveling exhibit, and in a book. The call for photos is part of Adobe Youth Voices, a global youth media initiative, in collaboration with WKCD (What Kids Can Do). This contest is open to all young people-anywhere in the world-between the ages of 12 and 19. Learn more at www.whatkidscando.org/AYV_Photo_Competition/Home_.html.



World Youth Movement for Democracy 6th Annual Global Essay Contest! (Deadline: September 15)
Submit your essay on democracy, and get your free ticket to the world's largest gathering of democracy and human rights activists in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2010! The World Youth Movement for Democracy, a youth network of the World Movement for Democracy, is pleased to announce the launch of its Global Essay Contest. Fifteen winners (3 in each region: Asia, Central/Eastern Europe & Eurasia, Middle East & North Africa, Latin America & Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa) will be invited to participate in the upcoming 6th Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy in Jakarta, Indonesia, in April 2010. www.wymd.org/contests.html



State Street Foundation Global Philanthropy Grants (Deadline: October 1)
The Foundation is committed to making effective and socially responsible contributions in order to generate and sustain positive change in company communities located in Australia, Canada, the Cayman Islands, France, Germany and Austria, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, China, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and United Kingdom. The Foundation funds human services, educational programs, and community improvement and development; however, each contribution committee is responsible for its own programs. Priority is given to programs or projects that seek to bring about systemic change in relation to core issues that face the community. Contact information for each of State Street's international communities is available. Applications are considered on a quarterly basis; the remaining 2009 deadlines are July 1 and October 1. For additional information, visit www.statestreet.com/company/community_affairs/global_philanthropy/overview.html.