March 2010

Notice: You can help Adams Elementary School receive a Greenpower Grant from EWEB!  EWEB Greenpower rate payers (those who dedicate a portion of their electric bill to Green sources of energy) will be given an opportunity to choose from among five grant applicants and voice their support when they pay their electric bill.  A vote for Adams will allow the school to erect solar panels on the roof, which will be the focus of student learning about energy and climate issues.  Look for your ballot in your next EWEB bill!

Grants
The Wells Fargo "Broadway in Eugene" Program is offering a $1,000 grant to one Lane County high school or middle school to help put on a music, dance or theater production during the next school year (2010-11).  The application is short and easy to fill out, but does require a short letter of support from the principal.  The applicant can be a teacher or a student who has a teacher sponsor.  If you would like a copy of the application, contact me (mazzarella@4j.lane.edu or 541-790-7583)  Due date is April 23.

The Chintimini TAG grants of up to $7,000 are due March 15.  These grants support enrichment opportunities for students identified as "Talented and Gifted" or with "high potential."  In the past, schools in our district have won several of these grants at the elementary and secondary levels. The RFP and application to fill out and submit by e-mail are located at http://oregoncf.org/receive/grants/grant-opportunities/chintimini

The Pepsi Refresh Everything Grants will award 32 grants of varying sizes (e.g. ten $5,000 grants up to one $250,000 grant) each month for great ideas that would promote positive change.  Applicants post their ideas on a website and solicit votes from visitors to the website.  The contest starts over at the first of each month, but applicants who don't win but have a large number of votes are carried over to the following month.  Applications close on the 15th of each month or after 1,000 applications have been received, whichever comes first.  Grants focus on several categories, including education, arts, and health. Pepsi does not indicate how many months the contest will run.  For more information, go to http://www.refresheverything.com/how-it-works

The Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program delivers books to schools that provide economically disadvantaged children with educational support. Schools must have a significant number of disadvantaged children.  For more information see http://www.toysfortots.org/literacy/request-books.asp

The ING Run for Something Better School Awards Program will provide a minimum of fifty (50) $2,000 grants to schools that desire to establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one in grades 4-8. Applications are due by April 15, 2010. For more information see http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/grants/grants/ING/upload/Application2010for...

American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Outreach Grants provide $2,000 for innovative projects that provide economically disadvantaged school children, through grade twelve, the opportunity to study stringed instruments. Applications must be postmarked by April 1.  Funds granted by the Outreach Program must be matched by state and/or local sources on at least a matching-dollar cash basis. The Project Coordinator(s) must be an active ASTA member. Note: the following website has been experiencing technical difficulties, but ASTA staff promise it will be fixed soon:
http://www.astaweb.com/Content/NavigationMenu/CommunityInitiatives/ASTAG...

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Academic Enrichment Grants of up to $10,000 support in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning for children from low-income households. Grants may be renewed for up to three years. NO GRANTS FOR COMPUTERS OR HARDWARE OR PRE-PACKAGED PROGRAMS but software can be purchased.  Deadline is May 1. http://www.mccartheydressman.org/academic.html

Mele Ohana Ukes for Kids Program awards sets of 8-10 ukuleles to winning Oregon elementary schools that want to start a ukulele program. The short application form is available from the Grants Office (Mazzarella@4j.lane.edu) or from Maggie Matoba at Ukes for Kids (yasoualoha@comcast.net). Applications are due April 1.

Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation supports projects in areas that have a company presence, including western Oregon.   Education and youth development are corporate headquarters priorities.  Applications are submitted on-line.  Grants are for $1,000 and up and are considered only between January 1 and August 1. Before submitting a grant application for a project that serves a local Weyerhaeuser community, applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation advisor at the local Weyerhaeuser facility to determine if the committee has an interest in considering your proposal.  For more information and the application, see http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Sustainability/Foundation/GrantGuidelines

The REI Foundation gives local grants in support of efforts to make outdoor activities welcoming and accessible to all people and promote stewardship of the outdoors, as well as efforts that actively engage young people in learning about nature through hands-on engagement and exploration of the outdoors.  The Foundation's grants program is predominantly guided by local employee nominations. For more information, visit your local REI store.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Keystone Initiative Grants provide $50,000-$300,000 in 1-1 matching grants to achieve measurable outcomes in the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. The Foundation has four initiatives: Bird Conservation; Fish Conservation; Marine and Coastal Conservation; and Wildlife and Habitat Conservation. A minimum of 1:1 non-federal match is required, which means that for a $50,000 grant, the applicant must provide another $50,000; however, most competitive projects have even more match: at least 2:1 in non-federal match.  Preproposals are due April 1, for projects that start after November 30.  For more information see    http://www.nfwf.org/Content/NavigationMenu/GrantPrograms/ProgramsOvervie...

Target Arts and Reading Grants, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, support arts or reading projects. Projects that involve the entire family are encouraged. Grant applications will be accepted between March 1 and April 30.  Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.  For more information, see http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-001818  or look for information at your local Target Store.

Federated Department Stores Foundation contributes to projects in educational institutions in communities where they do business. The local store in Eugene is Macy's.  Federated focuses giving primarily in the areas of education, arts/culture, women's issues, HIV/AIDS, and programs to assist youth and minorities. Those soliciting contributions should contact the division that operates a store in their geographic area. For more information, see http://www.federated-fds.com/community/applicationprocess.asp  To apply, contact the Contributions Contact at the local Macy's and tell him or her about your project.

The State Farm® Companies Foundation gives grants for (1) Teacher excellence programs that improve teacher quality (2) Service-Learning programs that integrate core classroom curriculum with service to the community (3) Programs that incorporate the systematic improvement criteria into education systems to improve overall effectiveness. Proposals are accepted up to October of each year. For more information see http://www.statefarm.com/foundati/cogrants.htm

The Key Foundation awards grants related to workforce development, financial education, and diversity.  Most grants are $1,000-$10,000. There is no deadline.  Information on previous grants funded and instructions for completing an application to be sent to the nearest Key district office are available at http://www.key.com/html/A-12.3.html

The Singing for Change Foundation awards $500-$10,000 grants to progressive, community-based, nonprofit organizations that address the root causes of social and environmental problems. The grants are for improving the health, education, and protection of children and families as well as teaching about the environment and conservation, with an emphasis on disenfranchised groups.  Deadlines are  rolling.  The first step is submitting a one-page letter describing your project to Judith Ranger Smith, Director Singing For Change, PO Box 729, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482. Grants of $1,000 or less may require only a letter of interest rather than a full application. For more information, see    http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php?page=sfcapp

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund provides grants to fund programs, fields and equipment purchases to encourage and maintain youth participation in baseball. The first step in the application process is submitting a brief letter of inquiry, which may be submitted at any time.  If your project is chosen for consideration, you will be invited to submit a full proposal, by a deadline of April 1, July 1, October 1, or January 1. The entire grant review may take from 3-6 months. For more information see http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/btf.jsp?content=grant_pro...


Teacher Opportunities
The National Council for the Social Studies offers five grants to support social studies teachers ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.  The grants support such things as  defense of academic freedom (March 21), geographic literacy (March 21), global understanding (May 15), and outstanding teaching (April 1). For more information see http://www.socialstudies.org/awards/



Student Opportunities
The QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship provides assistance to high school juniors who have achieved academic excellence in the face of economic challenges. Selected students may receive scholarships to summer programs at Ivy League schools; college admissions counseling; free college  visits, including travel expenses; or telementoring.  The application is due March 20. For more information see http://www.questbridge.org/access/collegepreptext/

The Listen to a Life Contest awards a computer, an iPod and software to students and their schools for a winning interview with an adult over 50 years old (not a parent) about their hopes and goals. Contest closes March 29. For more information see http://www.legacyproject.org/contests/ltal.html

The Sarah Mook Memorial Poetry Prize will provide a $100 First prize, $50 Second Prize and $25 Third Prize in each of four categories (Kindergarten through Second Grade, Third through Fifth Grades, Sixth through Eighth Grades, and Ninth through Twelfth Grades) for outstanding poems written by students.  Deadline is March 31.  For more information seehttp://www.a2pwebdesign.com/poetrywits/poetrycontest/sarahmook.htm

The Lemelson-MIT InvenTEams Program awards grants of up to $10,000 to high school teams to implement an invention they have developed.  InvenTeams are composed of students, their teacher and an industry mentor.  Applications for the 2010 program must be submitted by April 23, 2010. Up to 35 finalists will submit a second application in September 2010.  For more information see http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/apply.html