GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Council on the Arts
The New York City and New York State Arts Councils annually grant money to borough arts councils that are responsible for regranting the funds to community groups. The grants can be used to fund all kinds of arts programs--concerts, theater, dance, storytelling, arts and crafts for kids, public art, murals, etc. Each borough council has a different application and a different deadline. To find out more about the program in your borough, Contact:

Bronx: Bronx Council on the Arts
(718) 931-9500
www.bronxarts.org
Brooklyn: Brooklyn Arts Council
(718) 625-0080
www.brooklynartscouncil.org
Manhattan: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
(212) 219-9401
www.lmcc.net
Queens: Queens Council on the Arts
(718) 647-3377
www.queenscouncilarts.org
Staten Island: Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island
(718) 447-3329
www.statenislandarts.org

Target Community Giving Grants Program
www.target.com
Contact: (718) 235-6032 for Brooklyn Store, or (718) 760-5656 for Queens Place
Deadline: July 31
How much: $1000 to $5000
What: Target provides funding to organizations that work in the areas of arts, education, and family violence prevention.

Balance Bar Food Company
Balance Bar Grants c/o Hunter PR, 41 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10010
www.balance.com/grants

Community Grants
Contact: balancecommunitygrants@hunterpr.com
Deadline: August 30, 2006
How much: $1,000-$25,000
What: This program provides financial support to enable communities and organizations to pursue physical activities that enrich their lives. The grant must be dedicated to a project that will provide organization members, as well as community residents, with opportunities to lead healthy, active lifestyles.

Ben & Jerry's Foundation
30 Community Drive, South Burlington VT 05403-6828
www.benjerry.com/foundation/
Contact: (802) 846-1500
Deadline: Ongoing
How much: $1,000 to $15,000
What: Funds not-for-profit grassroots organizations working for progressive social change by addressing the underlying concerns of social and environmental problems. Submit a letter of inquiry to apply (see Web site for further details).

Citizens for NYC
305 Seventh Avenue, 15th Floor, New York NY 10001
www.citizensnyc.org

New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods Grants
Contact: Arif Ullah, (212) 822-9580, or aullah@citizensnyc.org
Deadline: September 30^th and March 31^st
How much: Varies
What: Citizens Committee for NYC wants to hear your ideas about how to improve your community, and help you turn those ideas into successful projects. We invite community groups to apply for grants through our New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods (NYBN) program. NYBN supports hundreds of established and new grassroots volunteer groups across NYC. The grants are given to groups to work on projects that creatively address community issues, as well as stimulate community involvement, community building, and community improvement.

Citizens Committee complements these grants with one-on-one project implementation assistance, skill-building workshops, leadership training, an equipment loan library, and the sharing of experiences and expertise with people doing similar work.

Mollie Parnis Dress Up Your Schools Awards
Contact: Arif Ullah, (212) 822-9580, or aullah@citizensnyc.org
Deadline: September 30^th and March 31^st
How much: $500 to $3,000
What: Citizens Committee for NYC invites public school based groups to apply for grants through its Mollie Parnis Dress Up Your Schools awards. Mollie Parnis awards, which range from $500 to $3,000, support projects that beautify city schools or neighborhoods surrounding school grounds. Youth should be involved in both the planning and implementation of the project.

Citizens Committee complements the grants with one-on-one project implementation assistance, skills-building workshops, leadership trainings, an equipment loan library, and sharing of ideas, experiences and expertise from students and teachers doing similar work.

Community Training and Assistance Center/Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
30 Winter Street, Boston MA 02108
www.ctacusa.com/mott.html
Contact: (617) 423-1444
Deadline: Call for information
How much: up to $15,000
What: Supports low-income groups which identify and address problems in their own neighborhoods, rather than efforts carried out or led by others on their behalf. Groups must have a multi-issue focus on strengthening a specific low-income neighborhood, or neighborhoods in a specific area.

NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Urban & Community Forestry Program
625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4253
www.dec.state.ny.us
Contact: (518) 402-9418
Deadline: Call for information
How much: $3,500-$10,000
What: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as part of a tree planting partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has funds available for urban and community forestry tree planting projects. Individual grants must be equally matched by local resources. Grant funding must be used by local communities for tree planting on public sites in neighborhoods and parks.

Fund for Wild Nature
P.O. Box 42523, Portland, OR 97242
www.fundwildnature.org
Contact: (503) 230-0075, or fwn@fundwildnature.org
Deadline: November 4
How much: $1,000 to $2,500
What: Provides money for campaigns designed to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity.

Independence Community Foundation
182 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11201
www.icfny.org
Contact: (718) 722-2300, or inquiries@icfny.org
Deadline: March 30th and September 30th
How much: $500 to $5,000
What: Supports neighborhood-based groups working in three areas: Neighborhood Renewal; Education, Culture and the Arts; and Community Quality of Life. Small grants are also given by the branches of the Independence Community Bank.

National Tree Trust
1120 G Street, NW, Suite 770, Washington, D.C. 20005
www.nationaltreetrust.org

Seeds Program for Organizational Support
Contact: (800) 846-TREE
Deadline: Varies
How much: Varies
What: Helps to strengthen the capacity of 501(c)(3) urban and community forestry organizations by providing matching grants for day to day operations.

Roots Program for Community Action
Contact: (800) 846-TREE
Deadline: Varies
How much: Varies
What: Supports 501(c)(3) urban and community forestry, and conservation-related organizations working to improve the health of their urban and community forest by assisting groups as they implement projects.

New York Foundation
350 Fifth Avenue, Room 2901, New York NY 10118-2996
www.nyf.org
Contact: (212) 594-8009
Deadlines: March 1, July 1, November 1
How much: $40,000-$60,000
What: Supports groups in New York City that are working on problems of urgent concern to residents of disadvantaged communities and neighborhoods. They are particularly interested in start-up grants to new, untested programs that have few other sources of support.

Partnerships for Parks Capacity Fund
49 Chambers Street, Room 1027, New York NY 10007
www.partnershipsforparks.org
Contact: (212) 360-8180
Deadlines: February 1, June 1, October 1
How much: $250-$5,000
What: Supports community-based groups and organizations in an effort to help them grow their ability to care for their parks. The grants support park projects occurring within the five boroughs of New York City. For more details on how to apply for these grants click here. To download an application, click here.

Hudson River Foundation
17 Battery Place, Suite 915 New York, NY 10004
www.hudsonriver.org

Hudson River Improvement Fund
Contact: (212) 483-7667
Deadlines: October
How much: Varies
What: Funds projects that enhance the public use and enjoyment of the natural, scenic, and cultural resources of the Hudson River and its shores. Emphasis placed on increasing public access, building and equipping education facilities, and restoring natural habitat.

New York City Environmental Fund
Contact: (212) 483-7667
Deadlines: Call for information
How much: $5,000 to $50,000 (average grants $15,000)
What: The fund supports projects that foster restoration, care, public enjoyment of and education about the natural resources of New York City. It will fund general environmental education programs and encourages community involvement.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20036
www.nfwf.org/programs

Native Plant Conservation Initiative
Contact: (202) 857-0166
Deadlines: August 15
How much: $5,000-$40,000 (average grants $15,000)
What: Federal grant dollars are available to support nonprofit organizations in their effort to promote the conservation of native plants. Funds need to be matched by non-federalcontributions. In kind contributions of goods or services are eligible matches.

Patagonia Environmental Grants Program
Shannon Rowan, Patagonia, Inc., PO Box 150, Ventura CA, 93002
www.patagonia.com/enviro/grants_app.shtml
Contact: (917) 441-0011 for Columbus Avenue Store, or (212) 343-1776 for Wooster Street Store.
Deadline: April 30 and August 31
How much: $3,000 to $8,000
What: Patagonia provides funding for environmental work, with a preference for organizations that identify and work on the root causes of problems and approach issues with a commitment to long-term change. Supports work that is action-oriented; builds public involvement and support; is strategic; focuses on root causes; and accomplishes specific goals and objectives. The company supports small, grassroots activist organizations with direct-action agendas.

The Conservation Fund
1800 North Kent Street, Suite 1120, Arlington, VA, 22209-2156
www.conservationfund.org

Banrock Station Wines Wetlands Conservation Program
Contact: (703) 525-6300 or banrock@conservationfund.org.
Deadline: Call for information
How much: $1,000 to $5,000
What: Provides funding to nonprofit groups that are planning and implementing wetlands conservation and/or restoration at the local level.

Kodak American Greenway Grants
Contact: (703) 525-6300 or greenways@conservationfund.org.
Deadline: June 1
How much: Up to $2,500
What: Provides small grants to nonprofit groups to stimulate the planning and design of greenways.

National Gardening Association
1100 Dorset Street, South Burlington VT 05403
www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp

Healthy Sprouts Award
Contact: 1-800-538-7476
Deadline: February
How much: An award package of seeds, tools, garden products, educational resources for growing a vegetable garden, $500 cash and a $200 gift certificate to a gardening catalog.
What: Supports schools and community organizations that use gardens to teach about nutrition and explore the issue of hunger in the United States.

Kids Growing with Dutch Bulbs
Contact: 1-800-538-7476
Deadline: April 1st
How much: 200 premium Dutch flowering bulbs.
What: Supports schools which possess student involvement, curriculum integration and administrative support.

Youth Garden Grant
Contact: 1-800-538-7476
Deadline: November 1st
How much: An award package which includes tools, seeds, garden products and educational resources.
What: Will award gardening supplies to 500 schools and community organizations working with groups of children. Selection will be based on leadership, educational, social and/or environmental programming, innovation and sustainability, need and community support.

Scott's Give Back to Grow Awards
c/o Weber Shandwick Worldwide, 555 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63101
www.miraclegro.com
Contact: 1-866-565-3554
Deadline: December 2, 2005
How much: $2,500-$5,000
What: Honors individuals who take pride in giving back to their communities through gardening. Nominations will be accepted for Classroom Gardener of the Year, Good Neighbor Gardener of the Year, Urban Greenup Gardener of the Year and Community Beautification Gardener of the Year.

Common Counsel Foundation
1221 Preservation Park Way, #101, Oakland, CA, 94612
www.commoncounsel.org/pages/gxf_application_procedure.html

Grassroots Exchange Fund
Contact: 510-834-2995
Deadline: Open
How Much: $300-$800
What: The program provides small grants to build bridges between grassroots organizations throughout the United States. GXF prioritizes grants to small community- based groups seeking to meet face-to-face with other grassroots organizations, to build collaborative campaigns, and to benefit from technical assistance opportunities. Grants will be given to cover training, travel, or conference expenses. The fund typically makes grants to grassroots organizations working on economic, environmental, and social-justice initiatives that give voice to the needs of low-income people, women, youth, and people of color.

Taproot Foundation
150 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.taprootfoundation.org

Annual Report Service Grant
Contact: (718) 923-1400 x243
Deadline: March 1st, June 1st
How much: Varies
What: The program will provide a nonprofit organization with the processes and tools to produce an annual report each year, as well an initial version for the first year. It is designed to serve an organization that needs a professionally designed and written annual report and is committed to publishing annual reports regularly. The grant will result in a ten- to twelve-page print-ready and/or pdf electronic copy of an annual report that provides an annual-report template, which remains relevant for at least five years. The grant will also provide a detailed project plan for updating the report each year.

Baseball Tomorrow Fund
245 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10167
www.baseballtomorrowfund.com
Deadline: January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st
How much: Varies
What: The Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, offers grants to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations involved in youth baseball and softball programs. The Fund is most interested in projects that help: increase the number of youth participating in baseball and softball programs; improve the quality of youth baseball and softball programs and that create new or innovative ways of expanding and improving baseball or softball programs.

Charles Hayden Foundation
140 Broadway, 51st Floor New York, NY 10005
www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/hayden
Contact: (212) 785-3677
Deadline: No set deadline
How much: $15,000 - $560,000
What: Supports programs which involve children and youth ages three to eighteen in the New York and Boston metropolitan areas, with a focus on those institutions and programs serving youth most at risk of not reaching their full potential, especially youth in low-income communities. Priority is given to programs that intervene early in young people's lives, before a pattern of failure has been established, and provide consistent, relatively intensive opportunities and support over many years.

Laura B. Vogler Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 610508 Bayside, NY 11361-0508
www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/vogler
Contact: (718) 423-3000
Deadlines: January 1st, April 1st, July 1st and October 1st.
How much: $2,500 to $5,000
What: The Foundation expects to make modest sized grants to organizations concerned with the health, well being and education of children, the disadvantaged, and the elderly. Specific programs or projects, rather than general operating support or capital programs, are favored.

Mattel Children's Foundation
333 Continental Blvd. Mail Stop: M1-1418 El Segundo, CA 90245
www.mattel.com
Contact: (310) 252-2908
Deadlines: April 8th and Spetember 30th
How much: $5,000-$25,000
What: The Foundation expects to make grants to organizations throughout the United States that creatively address a local need directly impacting children. Areas of interest include health, education and girls' empowerment.

The Captain Planet Foundation
One CNN Center, Suite 1090 Atlanta, GA 30303
www.captainplanetfdn.org
Deadline: March 31st
How much: $250-$2,500
What: Supports hands-on environmental projects for youth. The objective is to encourage innovative programs that empower youth to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their communities. Projects must promote understanding of environmental issues, involve children and young adults, promote interaction and cooperation within the group, help young people develop planning and problem-solving skills, and include adult supervision.

The Levitt Foundation
c/o The Philanthropic Group 630 Fifth Avenue, 20th floor New York, NY 10111
www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/levitt
Contact: (212) 501-7785
Deadline: Call Barbara R. Greenberg for information
How much: $35,000-$500,000
What: Funds programs that enable young people (ages 6-18) to understand and value their environment, and take action to improve or protect the natural or built environments in their own neighborhoods; provide children and youth with ongoing opportunities to build their confidence and self-esteem, citizenship skills and leadership abilities; and are sponsored by neighborhood and community-based organizations (rather than schools).

The Merck Foundation
303 Adams Street, Milton, MA 02186
www.merckff.org
Contact: 617-696-3580
Deadline: No set deadline.
How much: $7,000 - $35,0000
What: Supports work by communities who are confronting significant social, economic, and environmental challenges. The two areas of focus for the Fund are to create green and open space, and to support youth as agents of social change.

The Starbucks Foundation
2401 Utah Avenue South S-SR-1, Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98134
www.Starbucks.com/aboutus/foundation.asp

Youth Leadership Grant Program
Contact: 206-318-7022
Deadline: April 1st and October 1st
How much: $5,000 - $20,000
What: Supports local non-profit organizations that serve low-income, at-risk youth. The Power of Literacy grant supports programs that encourage commitment to social equity, justice and environmental awareness through writing, literacy, and the promotion of the voices of youth in public forums. The Leaders in Diversity grant funds programs that teach the value of diversity, with an emphasis on the development leadership skills to develop understanding between individuals, groups and communities.

Tony Hawk Foundation
1611-A South Melrose Drive, #360, Vista, CA 92081
www.tonyhawkfoundation.org
Contact: 760-447-2479
Deadline: March 1st and September 1st
How much: $1,000-$25,000
What: Supports and promotes high quality, public skate parks in low-income areas throughout the United States. Grants are awarded to encourage and facilitate the design, development and construction of new skate parks and facilities.

Youth Venture

www.youthventure.org
Contact: (212) 278-8930
Deadline: Rolling, through December 31, 2005
How much: up to $1,00
What: As part of its effort to encourage its audience to become more proactive in their communities, MTV has teamed up with Youth Venture, a movement of youth social entrepreneurs, to offer think Venture Grants to young people who are making a difference by creating and leading organizations, clubs, or businesses that address a need in their communities. Grants of up to $1,000 each will be offered each week to a group of young people with the most compelling and sustainable community service project concept in one of the five primary think MTV issue areas: discrimination, education, the environment, global issues, and sexual health.