Have you applied for (or even better, received!) one of these grants after reading about it on our Web site? Please let us hear about it. We want to make sure this is a valuable service. Just send a quick note to:
Marty.Wiggins "at" ncmail.net

Captain Planet Foundation
Deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.

Captain Planet Foundation awards to encourage children worldwide to solve environmental problems in their communities. Awards are between $250 and $2,500 for schools and nonprofit organizations that develop innovative environmental projects for youth that promote cooperation, planning, and problem-solving skills.
http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/

(NEW!) URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANT PROGRAM

This is a federally funded program which awards matching funds to encourage citizen involvement in creating and sustaining urban and community forestry programs. Municipilities, counties, regional agencies, interest groups, educational facilities, and private organizations are eligible to apply for funding for projects which enhance and promote the urban forest.

Applications are being accepted until March 30, 2007 for the next grant cycle, which will run from September 01, 2007 to October 31, 2008.

http://www.dfr.state.nc.us/urban/urban_grantprogram.htm

If you cannot access the application package and forms, copies can be mailed or faxed to you when you send your name, title, full mailing address, phone and fax numbers to:

Leslie Chadwell
Urban Forestry Coordinator
NC Division of Forest Resources
1616 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1616
or send email to Leslie.Chadwell "at" ncmail.net

Hamburger Helper Announces Grant Program for Local Communities Across America

Deadline: May 2007

Hamburger Helper, a General Mills food brand, is looking to lend
a "helping hand" to neighborhoods across the United States with
its "My Hometown Helper" grant program.

Individuals from communities and organizations across America
can visit the program's Web site to submit a written essay
describing how the "My Hometown Helper" grant would help improve
their community project. Examples of possible community projects
include: lights or bleachers for baseball, soccer, or football
fields; repairs to a band shell; computers for the local school
or library; playground equipment for a park; holiday decorations
for Main Street; money for choir, band, or science trips; new
uniforms for Little League teams; clean-up projects; and train-
ing for volunteer firefighters.

Applicants can request a one-time award of between $500 and
$15,000 during any single month. All requests for funding must
be sponsored by a municipal or civic organization or public
school. The program will award "helping hand" grants each month
from online applications received through May 2007. Applications
will be evaluated monthly.

Funds will be awarded based on the merit of the project,
including its impact on and support within the community.

For more information on the "My Hometown Helper" program and
complete guidelines, visit the program's Web site.

http://www.myhometownhelper.com/

(NEW!) Burroughs Wellcome Fund Student Science Enrichment Program

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, a private foundation located in North Carolina, is now accepting applications for the Student Science Enrichment Program (SSEP). The SSEP is a grant opportunity that provides up to $60,000 per year for three years to nonprofit organizations serving North Carolina middle school and high school students. SSEP awards support career-oriented and practical programs intended to provide creative science enrichment activities for students in the sixth through twelfth grades who have shown exceptional skills and interest in science and mathematics, as well as those perceived to have high potential. These programs must enable students to participate in hands-on scientific activities and pursue inquiry-based avenues of exploration -- an educational approach that BWF believes to be an effective way to increase students’ understanding and appreciation of the scientific process. SSEP activities should take place outside of the usual school environment, such as after school, on weekends, or during vacation periods.

For more information on the program, please visit the Burroughs Wellcome Fund web site ( www.bwfund.org ). If you have any questions regarding eligibility or the application process, please feel free to contact:

Melanie B. Scott
Senior Program Associate
Burroughs Wellcome Fund
P.O. Box 13901
21 T.W. Alexander Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
919/991-5107 (phone)
919/991-5167 (fax)
mscott "at" bwfund.org (email)
www.bwfund.org (website)

Bank of America Accepting Applications for Neighborhood
Excellence Initiative

Deadline: Various

Bank of America ( http://www.bankofamerica.com/ ) is committed to
the economic strength and stability of the communities in which
it does business.

The Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, Bank of America's signa-
ture philanthropic program, focuses on developing relationships
with and investing in strong nonprofits/charitable organizations
with great leaders. The program offers leadership training and
general operating support for growing nonprofits, recognizes a
community's local heroes, and embraces the next generation of
student leaders. The program is offered in Bank of America's
forty-four markets. This year, the program goes international
with a new market in London, England.

The Neighborhood Excellence Initiative invites applications for
the following program components:

Neighborhood Builders: Provides grants of $200,000 each (or
local market currency equivalent) for operating support to two
nonprofit/charitable organizations in each of Bank of America's
forty-four markets. Recipients also benefit from specially
designed leadership development programs. To be considered for
the Neighborhood Builders program, applicant organizations must
be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code or be registered with the Charity Commission for England
and Wales (for the London market), and must be based and serve
communities in any of the forty-four Neighborhood Excellence
Initiative markets. Deadline: June 29, 2007.

Local Heroes: Honors individuals who exemplify the highest stan-
dards in community service. The program provides donations of
$5,000 each (or local market currency equivalent) to an eligible
charitable nonprofit/charitable organizations, selected by each
of five selected Local Heroes in the BoA's forty-four markets.
The Local Heroes will be recognized at a public awards ceremony
in their local community. There are no specific eligibility
requirements to nominate a Local Hero; however, successful
nominations will demonstrate how a nominee made a special and
significant impact on individuals, families, or the community at
large; inspired others to volunteer for community service; and
has been a catalyst for new visions, understanding, and change in
a community. Self-nomination are encouraged. Deadline: June 29,
2007.

Student Leaders: Selects five young adults in each of BoA's
forty-four markets to participate in rigorous internship and
leadership programs. To be considered as a Student Leader, an
applicant must currently be a junior or senior in high school
(U.S. markets); be enrolled in Sixth Form/College or College
of Further Education (London, UK); be able to participate in
a leadership program arranged by Bank of America; and be able
to participate in an eight-week paid internship at a local
nonprofit/charitable organization. Deadline: March 9, 2007.

Visit the Bank of America Web site for complete program guide-
lines, a list of eligible markets, and application procedures.

RFP Link:
Neighborhood Excellence Initiative

Through its Giving Voice program, the Starbucks Foundation, a philanthropicvehicle of the Starbucks Coffee Company, will fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live.

The Starbucks Foundation invites Letters of Inquiry from qualifying organizations that work with underserved youth in one of two areas: 1) Arts & Literacy — programs that innovatively address literacy and learning for the 21st century, provide high standards of excellence in mastering basic skills, and promote youth voices through a variety of venues; and 2) Environmental Literacy —programs that offer place-based approaches to addressing environmental literacy and empower youth to be heroes for a sustainable environment in their own communities.

The foundation supports registered, nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the United States, as well as Registered Charities in Canada, thatdeliver services to youth and address at least one of the program's action areas. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.

Visit the Starbucks Foundation Web site for program information, application procedures, and eligibility questions.
http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/grantinfo.asp

TOSHIBA AMERICA FOUNDATION GRANTS

Applications for grants under $5,000 are accepted year-round. Check the Web site for grades K-6 and 7-12 application rules.
Deadline for grants over $5,000: February 1st or August 1st
The Toshiba America Foundation encourages teacher-led, K-12 classroom-based programs, projects, and activities that have the potential to improve classroom experiences in science, mathematics, and technology.
http://www.toshiba.com/taf/apply.html

As part of its continued support for public education, Lowe's Companies, Inc. has announced that its new Toolbox for Education program will award grants to parent-teacher organizations and parent-teacher associations for improvement projects at up to one thousand schools across the United States.

Launched in partnership with PTO Today ( http://www.ptotoday.com/ ), an organization serving parent-teacher groups, Toolbox for Education will provide grants of up to $5,000 for a wide range of efforts, including public school libraries, specialty learning labs, landscaping, painting projects, and playgrounds.
Grants are still available for the 2005-06 school year.

PTO Today will provide a variety of resources to help parent groups apply for the grants. Resources available include a toll-free support line and staff to answer
program questions and online materials on the best practices for applying for grant money. Post-project follow-up will include helping report project success
and impact on the school community served.

Parent groups at K-12 schools may apply for grants of up to $5,000. All K-12schools in the United States (except Puerto Rico) are eligible. Applicant schools or parent groups must have a group tax ID number or official
501(c)(3) status from the IRS.

Visit the Toolbox for Education program Web site for grant guidelines and application procedures. http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/

Awards for Innovative and Progressive Thinking in Education

The ING Unsung Heroes awards program recognizes innovative and
progressive thinking in education. Maximum Award: $27,000. Eligibility:
full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and
classified staff members with projects that improve student learning at
K-12 public or private schools. Deadline: April 30, 2007.

http://www.ing-usa.com/us/stellent2/groups/dc/documents/companylobinformation/001143.pdf

Wildlife Forever Challenge Grants Program

Deadline(s): January 1, 2007 and July 1, 2007

E-mail: brichardson@wildlifeforever.org

The sponsor provides grants targeted habitat restoration and
acquisition, research and management, and educational projects.
Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000 dollars.

http://www.infoed.org/new_spin/spin_prog.asp?82443

Fund for Wild Nature Offers Support for Environmental Action
Deadline: Three 2007 Grant Cycles--See Web site for details.

The Portland, Oregon-based Fund for Wild Nature provides money for campaignsdesigned to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity.

The fund provides support for advocacy, litigation, public policy work, development of citizen science, and similar endeavors, as well as media projects that have a clear strategic value and a concrete plan for dissemination of the final product. The fund does not support basic scientific research, private land acquisition, individual action or study, or conferences.

Special attention is given to ecological issues not currently receiving sufficient public attention and funding.

Proposals will only be accepted for projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The fund rarely provides grants to organizations with annual budgets greater than $250,000.

Visit the Fund for Wild Nature Web site for application guidelines and procedures, as well as examples of previously funded programs.

Outer Banks Community Foundation Grants

The Outer Banks Community Foundation makes grants quarterly to qualified nonprofit organizations, religious institutions and government agencies on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Foundation will consider grants that involve a broad segment of the community, provide an innovate approach to addressing area needs, initiate projects or programs to influence beneficial change and attract additional funding from other sources.

Completed applications must be received in the Foundation office by 5 p.m. on the following deadline dates:

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006

Friday, Feb. 9, 2007

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Friday, Aug. 10, 2007

Friday, Nov. 9, 2007

The Board of Directors meets early in the month following the grant deadline to make decisions about grant awards. All applicants are notified at that time whether their application has or has not bee approved.

http://www.obcf.org/grants.htm

(NEW!) Food Lion Charitable Foundation

The Food Lion Charitable Foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to improving the communities in which Food Lion operates.

Preference for funding is given to organizations or programs that involve Food Lion associates and are located in Food Lion's marketing territory. The Foundation considers requests from organizations that fall into three general categories:

Primary and secondary education
Feeding the hungry
Local, charitable organizations

http://charitablefoundation.foodlion.org/

The Green Communities Initiative is a five-year, $550 million initiative to build more than 8,500 homes across the United States that provide significant health, economic, and environmental benefits to low-income families and communities. The effort is a partnership of the Enterprise Foundation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects, the American Planning Association, and leading corporate, financial, and philanthropic organizations.

The initiative will offer financing, grants, and technical assistance to developers to build affordable housing that promotes health, conserves energy and natural resources, and provides easy access to jobs, schools, and services.

Grants will help cover the costs of planning and implementing green components of affordable housing projects, as well as tracking their costs and benefits.
A minimum of $1 million in grant funds is available to participants. Individual grant amounts will range between $15,000 and $50,000.

The grant competition is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public housing authorities and tribally designated housing entities. For-profit entities may participate through joint ventures with qualified organizations.

See the Enterprise Foundation Web site for complete information, grant guidelines and application instructions, and an FAQ.

Google Grants Program Provides In-Kind Advertising Services to Nonprofits

Deadline: Open

The Google Grants program supports organizations that share the
company's philosophy of community service worldwide in areas such
as science and technology, education, global public health, the
environment, youth advocacy, and the arts.

Designed for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, Google Grants is
a unique in-kind advertising program that harnesses the power of
Google's flagship advertising product, Google AdWords, to non-
profits seeking to inform and engage their constituents online. Google Grants has awarded AdWords advertising to hundreds of nonprofit groups whose missions range from animal welfare to
literacy, from supporting homeless children to promoting HIV
education.

Google Grant recipients use their award of free AdWords advertis-
ing on Google.com to raise awareness and increase traffic. Each organization awarded a Google Grant receives at least three months of in-kind advertising.

In the United States, applicant organizations must have current
501(c)(3) status as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to
be considered for a Google Grant. Outside the United States, Google is currently accepting applications from eligible chari-
table organizations based in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Google Grants recipients are selected every quarter. Visit the
program's Web site for complete program information, application
procedures, and an FAQ.

http://www.google.com/grants/

Deadlines: March 1, June 30, and November 1, 2006
(Letters of Inquiry)

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow ( http://www.tourismcaresfortomorrow.org ), the tourism industry's nonprofit organization, exists to preserve, conserve, and promote the responsible use of our world's natural, cultural, and historic treasures and to support education and research to help secure the positive future of travel and tourism worldwide.

As part of its mission, Tourism Cares for Tomorrow distributes charitable grants to worthy tourism-related nonprofit organizations worldwide.

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow considers projects or programs with either or both of the following goals: 1) Projects that protect, restore, or conserve sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance; and 2) Programs that educate local host communities and the traveling public about conservation and preservation of sites. Preference will be given to applicants that are
able to leverage Tourism Cares for Tomorrow's grant funding to provide increased philanthropic support through vehicles such as matching grants or challenge grants; are endorsed by the local, regional, or national tourism
office; and demonstrate strong support from the local community.

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow's grantmaking goals for 2006 call for a balanced distribution to U.S. and non-U.S. recipients. Grant recipients must be classified as nonprofit and tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or, in the case of non-U.S. organizations, must function as the equivalent.

Historically, grant amounts have ranged between $10,000 and $20,000. However, based on merit and availability of funds, some grants of up to $100,000 will also be considered. (Please Note: The 2006 grant application cycles have
changed to every four months rather than quarterly, as
they were in 2005.)

Visit the Tourism Cares for Tomorrow Web Site for complete
program information and application procedures.

The Catto Charitable Foundation established the American Land Conservation Award in 1996 to recognize outstanding volunteer leadership in land and water conservation.

The award, which comes with a $50,000 prize and is administered by the Conservation Fund, honors a citizen conservationist for his or her outstanding individual leadership and distinguished service to preserving and protecting the nation's natural and historic resources for the benefit of future generations. Recipients of the award are recognized for building partnerships that lead to the preservation of open space, wildlife habitats, and sites that preserve a sense of place. Past recipients have been honored for their work to protect coastlines,river corridors, forestlands, farmland, rangeland, and historic sites.

Applications may be submitted from January 1 to July 21. For further information, see the Conservation Fund Web site.