Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is sending his “April 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 under-funded 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.”

The Grants Action News bulletin is updated at the beginning of each month with newly-available grants and information on how to apply. Continuing his monthly updates, Palmesano will be providing regular updates on his Assembly website at: http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Philip-A-Palmesano, as well as posts to his Facebook page – just like “Assemblyman Phil Palmesano” to stay up-to-date on new grant information.

The update can be accessed here: https://www.nyassembly.gov/write/upload/postings/2019/pdfs/20190404 0086123.pdf

State Grants

All not-for-profit applicants must now pre-qualify 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 pre-qualifying immediately as this is a lengthy process.

Department of Motor Vehicles, Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), Child Passenger Safety Grants

The Child Passenger Safety Grants support the educational activities of child passenger safety programs through four different initiatives or schedules: fitting stations, training and education programs, child passenger safety check events and car seat distribution programs for low-income families.

• Eligibility: Governmental entities, not-for-profits and tribal organizations can apply.
• Funding: Applicants may request up to $40,000.
• Deadline: May 1, 2019
• Contact: Mary Montimurro
• Phone (GTSC): 518-474-5111
• Email: safeny@dmv.ny.gov
• Website: grantsgateway.ny.gov

Department of Motor Vehicles, Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), Highway Safety Grants

The Highway Safety Grants fund projects that address a particular highway safety problem. This proposal requires applicants to submit a narrative outline of the problem in their local jurisdiction with supporting data, details of the proposed activities with milestones and an evaluation plan. Proposals must address one of the program areas included in the state’s Highway Safety Strategic Plan, which can be found online at www.SafeNY.ny.gov/hsdata.htm. Program areas considered for the general Highway Safety Grant funding include: occupant protection; traffic enforcement; motorcycle safety; traffic records; community programs; programs that impact younger drivers or older drivers; pedestrian safety; roadway safety and impaired driving.

• Eligibility: Governmental entities, not-for-profits and tribal organizations can apply.
• Funding: There is no funding restriction; however, funding is limited and competitive in nature.
• Deadline: May 1, 2019
• Contact: Mary Montimurro
• Phone (GTSC): 518-474-5111
• Email: safeny@dmv.ny.gov
• Website: grantsgateway.ny.gov

Federal Grants

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Transforming Lives Through Supported Employment Grant Program

The Transforming Lives Through Supported Employment grant program aims to support state and community efforts to refine, implement and sustain evidence-based supported employment programs and mutually compatible and supportive evidence-based practices (e.g., supported education) for transition-aged youth/young adults (ages 16-25) with serious emotional disturbance and adults with serious mental illness or co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.

• Eligibility: Domestic public and private nonprofit entities.
• Funding: $5.7 million
• Deadline: May 17, 2019
• Contact: Mary Blake or Rachel Steidl
• Phone: 240-276-0625
• Email: Mary.blake@samhsa.hhs.gov or Rachel.steidl@samhsa.hhs.gov
• Website: www.samhsa.gov/grants/grantannouncements/sm-19-011

U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Community Safety Grants

This grant funds projects to enhance communities’ capability to respond to hazardous materials incidents and to assist in ensuring that state and local enforcement personnel are adequately trained in the Hazardous Materials Regulations. PHMSA seeks applications from nonprofit organizations to (1) conduct national outreach and training programs to assist communities in preparing for and responding to accidents and incidents involving the transportation of hazardous materials, including Class 3 flammable liquids by rail; and (2) to train state and local personnel responsible for enforcing the safe transportation of hazardous materials, including Class 3 flammable liquids.

• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations except institutions of higher education.
• Funding: $1 million
• Deadline: May 3, 2019
• Contact: Carla Sheppard
• Phone: 202-366-2738
• Email: Carla.Sheppard@dot.gov
• Shakira Mack
• Phone: 202-366-5090
• Email: Shakira.Mack@dot.gov
• Website: www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html

Private Grants

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood, Grants for Innovative Projects or Research in Early Childhood Welfare, Early Childhood Education and Play, or Parenting Education

The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood supports early-stage projects and promising research with the potential to significantly enhance the development, physical and mental health, safety, education and/or quality of life of children from infancy through 7 years of age. Seed grants are awarded to innovative proposals with the greatest chance of improving the lives of young children on a national scale. Projects should fall into one of the following categories: Early Childhood Welfare, Early Childhood Education and Play, or Parenting Education.

• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and institutes of higher education may apply. Political and religious organizations are not eligible.
• Funding: Varies according to need; recent projects were awarded between $30,000 and $100,000.
• Deadline: May 31, 2019 (Letter of Intent)
• Contact:
• Website: www.earlychildhoodfoundation.org

Russell Sage Foundation, Research Grants in Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context

The Russell Sage Foundation is devoted exclusively to strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of improving social policies. The foundation is currently accepting applications to fund innovative research on decision making in the social sciences that examines causes, consequences, processes or context from a behavioral or alternative perspective. Through the initiative, the foundation seeks to support a range of research and methodological perspectives that will further the understanding of decision-making processes and human behavior in the contexts of work, race, ethnicity, immigration and social inequality, broadly conceived. The foundation has a particular interest in research in the following areas: bias and misperceptions, motivations and incentives, habits and behavior change, affect and emotions and networks and contexts.

• Eligibility: All applicants must have a doctorate degree.
• Funding: $35,000 to $175,000
• Deadline: May 23, 2019 (Letters of Intent)
• Contact: 212-750-6000 Email: programs@rsage.org Website: www.russellsage.org/funding/decision-making-and-human-behaviorcontext

Scholar Awards

T.E.A.L.® Ovarian Cancer Foundation Medical Research Program

The Tell Every Amazing Lady® About Ovarian Cancer Louisa M. McGregor Ovarian Cancer Foundation 2019 Medical Research Program offers funding in support of ovarian cancer research studies that are most aligned with that mission as determined by the T.E.A.L.® board of directors and scientific advisory board. The mission of T.E.A.L.® is to promote public awareness of and education about the signs, symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer, provide support to survivors and raise funds for research in order to find a cure.

• Eligibility: Applicants must be affiliated with a nonprofit organization.
• Funding: $40,000 per year
• Deadline: May 31, 2019
• Contact: Phone: 917-310-4835
• Email: info@tealwalk.org
• Website: https://tealwalk.org

National Institute of Justice (NIJ), 2019 Native Student Travel Scholarship Program: Connecting Science to Crime and Justice

To enhance diversity in the field of criminal justice, NIJ will support up to 15 American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate or graduate full-time students to attend a criminal justice-related conference and to explore the role of science in solving complex problems to increase public safety. The conference options are: • 12th Annual National Missing and Unidentified Persons Conference (MUPC), Sept. 16-18, 2019, Las Vegas, Nevada • International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 126th Annual Conference & Exposition, Oct. 26-29, 2019, Chicago, Illinois • American Society of Criminology (ASC) – 75th Annual Meeting, Nov. 13-16, 2019, San Francisco, California • American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) – 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Feb. 17-22, 2020, Anaheim, California

• Eligibility: Must be self-identified and enrolled in or affiliated with a recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe; at least 18 years of age; and enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and interested in the topic of science and justice. Awardee must commit to attending one entire conference; applicants can apply for more than one conference but will only be funded for one conference.
• Funding: Awards cover the costs of conference fees, travel, lodging and incidentals.
• Deadline: May 17, 2019
• Contact: Phone: 202-307-2942
• Email: AIAN_Scholarship@ojp.usdoj.gov
• Website: https://nij.gov/topics/tribal-justice/Pages/native-student-travel-scholarships.Aspx

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center offers a variety of free trainings in its center in New York City and online, including the following:

Introduction to Fundraising Resources & Databases: Discover the resources offered at Foundation Center New York, both in-person and online. Learn about the NEW Foundation Directory Online, the most comprehensive prospect research tool with over 140,000+ grantmaker profiles, and receive a preview of Foundation Maps and Grants to Individuals Online. It’s advisable to allow for time after the class for using the library at your own pace.

Introduction to Finding Grants: This class will provide an introduction for finding grants for nonprofits, including what funders are looking for and a hands-on guided online research session. Introduction to Proposal Writing: This class provides a standard overview of how to write a proposal for a foundation grant and includes a hands-on personalized session in developing a proposal outline.

Introduction to Project Budgets: This class will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to generate a standard project budget for a foundation proposal. Prior attendance to Introduction to Proposal Writing is strongly recommended.

In addition: Classes are held at the Foundation Center, located at: 32 Old Slip, 24th Floor New York, NY 10005. For a schedule of classes, additional training opportunities, or for more information, call 212-620-4230 or visit www.foundationcenter.org