Farmland Protection Implementation Projects

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has released a Request for Proposals to solicit State assistance payments for Farmland Protection Implementation Projects.
ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include counties with State approved agricultural and farmland protection plans and other municipalities that have adopted a local farmland protection plan. Municipalities must include a current letter from their county agricultural and farmland protection board endorsing the proposed project for which State cost-share funding is requested.
FUNDING:   The cost-share ratio has been established at a maximum of 75 percent State and 25 percent local.
DEADLINE:  The proposals must be received (not postmarked) by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2006. It is the Department’s intention to conduct a visual survey of each project site prior to ranking all proposals. Consequently, proposals should contain enough information to allow Department staff to identify the exact location and approximate boundaries of each property.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  The Request for Proposals, including all associated application forms, and the Department’s Standard Agricultural Conservation Easement are available for printing from the Department’s website, www.agmkt.state.ny.us, under “Funding Opportunities.” In addition, the Department’s staff can provide these documents via e-mail. To receive any or all of these documents in digital form, or if you require a printed paper copy of the RFP or Standard Easement, contact David Behm, Farmland Protection Program Manager, Division of Agricultural Protection and Development Services, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, 10 B Airline Drive, Albany, New York 12235; telephone (518) 457-2713; fax (518) 457-2716; david.behm@agmkt.state.ny.us.

. . .On the Federal Level

Legal Assistance for Victims

United States Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women

The Office of Violence Against Women invites applications to increase the access to legal aid for victims of domestic and other violence and abuse. Projects must address at least one of three specified areas: implement cooperative efforts between victim service groups and legal assistance providers; direct legal aid to victims; and training.
ELIGIBILITY:  Law schools, legal clinics, legal aid and service programs, domestic violence victims shelters, bar associations, sexual assault programs and other private nonprofit entities and Native American tribal governments.
FUNDING:   Up to $450,000 for projects serving up to nine counties or 500,000 people; $650,000 for projects serving 10 counties or more or 501,000 people; and $850,000 for projects that are statewide or serve 901,000 or more. Projects are for two years.
DEADLINE:  January 24, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Call (202) 307-6026 or visit www.usdoj.gov/ovw/applicationkits.htm.

Assets for Independence Projects

United States Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families

Assets for Independence (AFI) provides five-year grants to organizations and agencies that enable low-income individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency by accumulating economic assets. Grantees provide financial literacy training to participants and help them save earned income in special matched bank accounts called Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).  IDAs enable low-income and low-wealth families to accumulate savings for long-term assets such as a house, a small business, or a higher education.
ELIGIBILITY:   Eligible grantees include community-based nonprofits and State, local and Tribal government agencies and others, such as community development financial institutions and credit unions.  Please note that AFI does not provide grants directly to individuals and their families.  Interested individuals and families should use the AFI Project Locator on the web site listed below to find an ongoing project near their community, and then contact that project directly to learn about enrollment processes.
FUNDING:   Anticipated total priority area funding is $18,000,000.
DEADLINE:   This is a standing announcement and remains in effect until cancelled or changed by the Office of Community Services (OCS).  Applicants may submit applications at any time throughout the year and OCS will review and make funding decisions about applications submitted by any of three due dates: March 15, June 15, and November 1.  An organization that submits an application for review, but is not awarded a grant, may revise their proposal and submit again in any succeeding application cycle.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact James Gatx, Manager, Assets for Independence Program; (202) 401-4626; afiprogram@acf.hhs.gov.  You may also visit www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EI-0053.html.

. . . Foundations and Organizations

Preserve New York Grant Program

Preservation League of New York State/Council on the Arts

The Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts announce the 2006 Preserve New York Grant Program. The program provides funding to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations, and supports three types of projects only: historic structure reports, historic landscape reports and cultural resource surveys. Through the program, the Preservation League, a statewide, not-for-profit organization, and the Council, the state's arts funding agency, seek to support efforts to plan for the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings and landscapes throughout the state. The Preservation League especially encourages projects that link preservation to smart growth land use planning; neighborhood and "Main Street" revitalization; preservation initiatives along rural roads and other historic transportation corridors; and projects that involve the continued use of historic municipal buildings and historic bridges.
ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities and not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are eligible to apply unless they are applying for funding directly from the New York State Council on the Arts' Architecture, Planning and Design Program (APD) for another project in 2006. Groups are limited to one project with APD support per year. State agencies and religious institutions are ineligible for support. Groups that previously received funding through this grant program must have successfully completed their projects to be eligible for the 2006 grant round. The grant panel members will evaluate: architectural and historic significance of the building, landscape or area; the need for the project and for financial support at this time; the applicant group's ability to carry out the project within a stated schedule; the applicant group's ability to raise sufficient funds to complete the project; the appropriateness of the project budget and consultant(s); extent of local support for the project; and the likelihood that significant restoration or planning work will result.
FUNDING:   Grants are likely to range between $3,000 and $10,000 each. No formal financial match is required, however, the Preservation League and the New York State Council on the Arts expect to see a project budget that reflects the applicant's meaningful commitment to the project. Please note that it is unlikely that this program will be able to provide full support for any project. It is also expected that the consultant fee structure reflects the applicant's understanding of the value of these professional services.
DEADLINE:   Applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 1, 2006. Please follow the directions included in the application for assembling the packets.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  If your organization and project meet these guidelines, contact the League to discuss your potential application and to receive an application form. Forms are not available online. You may contact Tania G. Werbizky, Director, Technical and Grant Programs, at (607) 272-6510 or Lorraine E. Weiss, Program Manager, at (518) 462-5658, ext. 12, or at lweiss@preservenys.org.

Giving Voice Program

Starbucks Foundation

Through its Giving Voice program, the Starbucks Foundation will fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live.  The 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.
ELIGIBILITY:  Registered, nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that deliver services to youth and address at least one of the program’s action areas.
FUNDING:   Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.
DEADLINE:  The next deadline is March 1, 2006, with annual deadlines of September 1 and March 1.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  For program information, application procedures, and eligibility questions, visit www.starbucks.com/aboutus/grantinfo.asp.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Grants Program

The United States Conference of Mayors

The United States Conference of Mayors, in cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has issued a Request for Proposals for its HIV/AIDS Prevention Grants Program, which is designed to strengthen local capacities to carry out effective HIV/AIDS prevention activities.  Proposals will be accepted for two tracts: 1) Implementation of HIV/AIDS Prevention Services Targeting Native Americans; and 2) Implementation of HIV/AIDS Prevention Services Targeting African American or Hispanic Women at High Risk of HIV Infection.
ELIGIBILITY:  Local health departments, nonprofit community-based organizations, and Native American tribes and nations.
FUNDING:   A total of approximately $740,000 will be awarded.
DEADLINE:   February 27, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.usmayors.org/hivprevention/rfp2006.pdf for additional information and/or to download the complete RFP.

Small Innovative Grants Program

American Legacy Foundation

The American Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit organization established as part of the settlement of a state attorneys general lawsuit against tobacco companies, works to reduce tobacco use and its harmful effects.  The Foundation has two goals: 1) to arm all young people with the knowledge and tools to reject tobacco; and 2) eliminate disparities in access to tobacco prevention and cessation services.  The foundation’s Small Innovative Grants Program supports programs that advance innovative, evidence-based solutions to remedy the harm caused by tobacco use in America.  American Legacy intends the Small Innovative Grants Program to seed new projects, enable an organization to pilot a new idea or approach, or help an organization gain a different perspective or better understanding of tobacco control through research.
ELIGIBILITY:  State or local political subdivisions; legally constituted tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations; Indian reservations, Indian tribes, or tribal organizations or non-governmental entities that serve such reservations.
FUNDING:   Grants for up to $100,000 for the first year of funding are available. Grantees may apply for a second year of funding for up to 50 percent of the first year’s amount.  Grantees must provide a 1:1 cash match for second-year funding. Match is encouraged but not required for the first year of funding.  American Legacy will accept applications for second-year funding in the last quarter of the first grant year only.
DEADLINE:   All applicants are required to submit a letter of intent by February 15, 2006 at 5:00 p.m., EST.  Upon approval of the letter of intent, American Legacy will invite the selected applicants to submit a full proposal in spring 2006.  American Legacy will provide full proposal guidelines to organizations that the foundation invites to apply based on the letters of intent.  The next letter of intent cycle will occur in summer 2006, and future cycles will occur every six months.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  If you have questions about the guidelines for letters of intent for the Small Innovative Grants Program, you may contact Karen Martin, Associate Director of Grants and Program Development, at (202) 454-5555 or via email at grantsinfo@americanlegacy.org. Guidelines and application procedures may also be found at www.americanlegacy.org. American Legacy requests that applicants use its online application system to electronically submit applications.

. . . Grant Writing

The Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Newburgh, January 9-13, 2006, hosted by Orange County Community College and Rockland Community College, New York City, January 30-February 3, 2006, hosted by the Institute for Community Living, and Buffalo, March 20-24, 2006, hosted by American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $825, which includes one-year enrollment in the TGCI Membership Program. A limited number of half-tuition scholarships are available to agencies with annual budgets of less than $300,000.

To register, or to apply for a scholarship, contact TGCI at (800) 421-9512 or visit www.tgci.com. For local information and arrangments, call Fontaine McNamara (Newburgh) at (845) 341-4337; Ben Sher (New York City) at (212) 385-3030, ext. 3198; and Ryan St. Louis (Buffalo) at (716) 878-2372.