Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his “March Grants Action News Update” to residents, organizations and local governments about a series of grants available from the state, federal government and private entities. Each month, the Assembly provides an updated list of grants for a variety of categories.

“During a time of economic recovery, grants can play an integral part in helping our local communities complete needed infrastructure repairs or support underfunded projects,” said Palmesano. “Many people don’t realize the scope of available opportunities because they aren’t sure where to look. The ‘Grants Action News’ bulletin makes finding these grants much easier by consolidating the information and making it available to everyone. I hope residents, organizations and local governments throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions will be able to use this resource to find much-needed support to strengthen communities in our rural area.”

All not-for-profit applicants must now prequalify on the NYS Grants Reform website at grantsreform.ny.gov/grantees in order to apply for certain New York state grant solicitations. Potential not-for-profit applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process of registering and prequalifying immediately as this is a lengthy process.

The Grants Action News bulletin is updated at the beginning of each month with newly-available grants and information on how to apply.

The update can be accessed here:
https://nyassembly.gov/gan/?sec=story&story=100974

State Grants

NYS Education Department, National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities

The annual Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities (SFAs) are designed to enhance the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). To this end, the grants assist schools in purchasing equipment to serve healthier meals, increasing the overall quality of meals, improving food safety and expanding participation in school meal programs, as well as helping to support the establishment, maintenance or expansion of the School Breakfast Program.

■ Eligibility: All Recipient Agencies (RAs) under a School Food Authority (SFA) participating in the NSLP in New York state are eligible, including public school districts, nonprofit nonpublic schools, charter schools and residential child care institutions. The SFA will apply on behalf of their eligible RAs. Unless otherwise exempt, the SFA will submit a separate application for each piece of requested equipment for an eligible RA. Priority will be given to RAs that did not receive a previous grant award through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, FY 2019 or the FY 2020 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant for School Food Authorities.

■ Funding: Up to $20,000 per RA, with $1.85 million in total funding.

■ Deadline: Optional notice of intent due March 17, 2022; Applications due March 31, 2022 at 5 p.m. ET.

■ Contact: Thomas McBride Email: foodequip@nysed.gov Website: https://www.p12.nysed.gov/funding/2021-national-school-lunch-program/home.html

Office of Victim Services, Victims of Crime Act Victim and Witness Assistance Grant Program

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim and Witness Assistance Grant Program provides an opportunity for victim service providers to develop innovative and comprehensive ways of meeting the needs of victims of crime and reach underserved populations. There continues to be a need to expand the body of knowledge surrounding victims' services. This includes statistical data, multi-disciplinary cooperation, evidence-based practices and program evaluation. Evidence-based practice refers to having a definable outcome that is measurable, practical, tested and proven effective. The Office of Victim Services (OVS) seeks to continue to serve those victims of crime the system currently reaches, but also find ways to identify those who are not reporting crimes or seeking out services. OVS encourages innovation in the victim assistance field and seeks to support new ideas and effective approaches that can complement existing practices. The focus must be on identifying the greatest needs and where gaps in services exist. OVS encourages applicants to consider proposals that are new or represent a different and effective approach to solving an issue facing victims of crime, as well as to consider services for underserved, marginalized or oppressed victim populations such as older adults, young men of color, victims of hate crimes, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples or LGBTQ+ individuals. It is expected that contracts resulting from this procurement will be in effect for three years with the option of one two-year renewal period. Applicants are expected to have read and understood the VOCA statute and regulations before applying under this request for application (RFA).

■ Eligibility: All victim service providers located in New York state are eligible to apply under this RFA. A victim assistance program can be a new or existing program, operated by either a unit of local government or a not-for-profit organization. Previously awarded programs are not guaranteed an award under this procurement. Other public and not-for-profit organizations that have components which offer services to victims of crime are eligible to receive VOCA funds if they are used to expand or enhance the delivery of services, including but not limited to Native American tribes and tribal organizations, hospitals and emergency medical facilities, faith-based and neighborhood programs, local public agencies such as mental health service organizations, local public child and adult protective services, not-for-profit legal services agencies, programs with a demonstrated history of advocacy on behalf of domestic violence victims and public housing authorities that have components specifically trained to serve victims of crime.

■ Funding: Awards may be made until all designated funds of $330 million for the three-year period have been exhausted. The primary source of VOCA funding is the Federal Crime Victims Fund, which is largely funded from offender-generated revenues, such as criminal fines, fees, surcharges and forfeited bail bonds. This revenue source does not guarantee a consistent funding level year-to-year.

■ Deadline: March 24, 2022, 2 p.m. ET

■ Contact: Matt Courcelle Email: Matthew.Courcelle@ovs.ny.gov Website: https://ovs.ny.gov/2022-voca-rfa

Federal Grants

Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, Legal Assistance for Victims Program

The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program aims to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The program provides funding for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of abuse or violence. In addition to representation in emergency and non-emergency protection order hearings, this includes representation in family matters (divorce, child custody or child support), consumer or housing matters and credit restoration. Services must include legal representation by a licensed attorney.

■ Eligibility: Eligible applicants are limited to private nonprofit entities; publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity; territorial organizations; Indian tribal governments; and tribal organizations in the U.S. or U.S. territories.

■ Funding: Up to $600,000 per award, or up to $800,000 per award if certain conditions are met (see solicitation)

■ Deadline: March 10, 2022

■ Contact: Email: OVW.LAV@usdoj.gov Website: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/ file/1465596/download

National Park Service, Save America’s Treasures Grant Program

Established in 1998, the Save America’s Treasures Grant Program was created to help preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections for future generations. Since 1999, the program has awarded over $300 million to more than 1,300 projects. Grants are available to fund two types of projects: "Collections" and "Preservation." Collections projects must be determined to be of national significance based on the description of its significance within the application. Collections include artifacts, documents, sculptures and other works of art. Preservation projects fund planning and preservation/conservation work on historic buildings and structures. Eligible Preservation projects must be a National Historic Landmark; a contributing property within a National Historic Landmark district; individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance; or a contributing property within a National Register Historic District.

■ Eligibility: Eligible entities include state, county, city/ township and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; independent school districts; and federal agencies funded by the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies, with the exception of the National Park Service.

■ Funding: $25,000-$500,000 per award for Collections projects and $125,000-$500,000 per award for Preservation projects.

■ Deadline: March 10, 2022, 11:59 p.m. ET

■ Contact: Email: STLPG@nps.gov Website: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/saveamerica-s-treasures-grant-opportunity.htm

Private Grants

Destination Tomorrow: The Bronx LGBTQ Center, TRANScend Community Impact Fund

Destination Tomorrow: The Bronx LGBTQ Center works to support TLGBQ+ community members and prioritize their empowerment through holistic educational, financial, support-based, housing and health programs. The organization’s TRANScend Community Impact Fund, supported by Gilead Sciences, aims to further this goal by working to address the disproportionate impact of HIV within transgender communities. The fund provides micro-grants to grassroots organizations across the country that are led by people who are transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) and that serve trans communities, especially Black and Brown individuals, who often live in environments with an increased risk of HIV infection. The program prioritizes organizations serving those areas that have been disproportionately impacted by HIV, including southern regions of the U.S. Proposed efforts must focus on HIV prevention and service provision, and/or social determinants and other factors that put transgender people at risk for HIV or address barriers for transgender people living with HIV. Two types of projects will be awarded: community collaborations and general operating grants. For community collaboration projects, grants of $50,000 will be awarded in support of programs that include at least one community partner and aim to foster true collaboration that provides opportunity for wide-scale impact and promotes equity. Applicants for these grants must demonstrate shared responsibilities in the project design, including equitable sharing of funding resources. General operating grants of up to $30,000 will be available for organizations whose mission and goals align with the goals and objectives of the program. The projects will prioritize trans-led organizations that serve geographical areas disproportionately impacted by HIV, including the Southern U.S.

■ Eligibility: Applicants must have an annual operating budget below $250,000 and must be nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, per the guidelines set forth by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with proper 501(c) (3) status (organizations or coalitions that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor).

■ Funding: Approximately $30,000-$50,000 per award

■ Deadline: March 18, 2022, 5 p.m. ET

■ Contact: Mimi Shelton, Grant Manager Email: mimi@destinationtomorrow.org Website: https://destinationtomorrow.org/fundrequest

Scholars Awards

MƒA, Master Teacher Fellowship

Founded in 2004, Math for America (MƒA) has built a fellowship community of nearly 1,000 New York City K-12 public school STEM teachers who are leading and growing through hundreds of opportunities for collaboration, connection and continued learning. MƒA Master Teachers are accomplished mathematics and science educators and during the fellowship, they form a community where they learn from each other, innovate instruction and bring new ideas back to their classroom. MƒA teachers stay in the profession longer, define what excellence in teaching means and make a lasting impact in their schools, their communities and the profession at large. The fellowship provides up to $60,000 in stipends over four years, as well as additional funding for conferences, travel and classroom materials.

■ Eligibility: To be eligible for an MƒA Master Teacher Fellowship, middle and high school teachers must be teaching full-time in grades 6-12 in a New York City public or charter school, be starting their third year (or greater) of full-time mathematics or science teaching (including computer science) and teaching mathematics or science for at least 60% of their schedule. Elementary school teachers must be teaching full-time in grades K-5 in a New York City public or charter school, be starting their third year (or more) of full-time mathematics or science teaching (including computer science) and be one of the following: the classroom teacher primarily responsible for teaching mathematics or science, the science specialist teacher responsible for teaching science to students in a classroom setting or a mathematics or science coach who still retains a partial schedule teaching students in a classroom setting.

■ Funding: Up to $60,000 over four years, with additional funding for conferences, travel and materials

■ Deadline: April 4, 2022

■ Contact: Email: admissions@mathforamerica.org Website: https://www.mathforamerica.org/apply/ master-teacher-fellowship-admissions

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Donohue Family Foundation, SkillPointe Foundation, Workforce Development Scholarships

To honor recently retired longtime CEO Tom Donohue and his commitment to workforce development, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Donohue Family Foundation and the SkillPointe Foundation are inviting applications for the Donohue Family SkillPointe Scholarship. Through the program, a total of 50 Donohue Family SkillPointe Scholarships will be awarded during 2022 and 2023.

■ Eligibility: Scholarships are available to individuals of all backgrounds pursuing vocational training in industries such as construction, communications, energy, health care, manufacturing, public service, technology and transportation.

■ Funding: $2,000

■ Deadline: March 31, 2022

■ Contact: Email: foundation@uschamber.com Website: https://www.myscholarship.app/thedonohue-family-skillpointe-scholarship

American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, Sandra L. Panther Fellowship in the History of Family Medicine

To advance the understanding and appreciation of family medicine and its history, the Center for the History of Family Medicine sponsors one fellowship annually in support of research relevant to the history of family medicine. The Sandra L. Panther Fellowship provides a $3,000 award distributed to the fellow upon completion of their research at the Center for the History of Family Medicine. The proposed project may be on any subject relating to the history of general practice, family practice, or family medicine, its practitioners and their role in health and health care in the U.S. In addition, the proposed project must lead to a durable product, in any format, of the fellow's choosing.

■ Eligibility: Researchers, including family physicians, students, residents, historians, scholars, educators, scientists and other health professionals are eligible to apply. CHFM staff, volunteers and serving members of the board of curators are not eligible.

■ Funding: $3,000

■ Deadline: March 31, 2022

■ Contact: Veronica Roberts Email: vroberts@aafp.org Website: https://www.aafpfoundation.org/grantsawards/sandra-l-panther-fellowship.html#