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Friday, October 8, 2010

Appalachian Community Fund - up to $10K- Deadline November 5, 2010

The Appalachian Community Fund provides funding to nonprofit organizations working on community organizing and social change in the central region of Appalachia (east Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, and all of West Virginia). Grants are made from the ACF's General Fund Program each year to community-based organizations working to address underlying causes of economic and social distress in the region.


To be eligible, the applicant organizations must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. The organization or project must be located in the Appalachian counties of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, or West Virginia. (Organizations based outside the region must include a specific workplan for the Appalachian portion of the work with their proposals.) The organization or project must show evidence of working for social change through one or more of the following: 1) organizing and action led by people working to control their own lives; 2) educating communities about the root causes of oppression and injustice; 3) eliminating barriers to full participation in society (i.e., racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ageism, ableism, and exclusion from decision-making processes); 4) focusing on efforts to change cultural, social, political, and economic systems and institutions that accommodate and perpetuate social injustice; 5) creating and modeling democratic cultural, social, political, and economic systems; 6) connecting local issues with national and global concerns; and 7) networking, collaborating, and cooperating with other change agents working toward similar goals.

Funding may be used for general support as well as for programs and projects. Grants are awarded in the categories of emerging/seed monies (up to $5,000 each for groups in earlier stages of development) and movement building (up to $10,000 each for more established groups).

The application and guidelines for the 2011 General Fund will be made available at the ACF Web site.

Link to RFP: http://www.appalachiancommunityfund.org/html/generalfund.html

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Lumina Foundation Announces Grants to Advance Degree Completion- list of grantees selected is included

To see the list of grantees, go to and scroll down: http://www.luminafoundation.org/newsroom/news_releases/2010-09-29.html

Contact:
Adam Shapiro
202-457-8100
ashapiro@lipmanhearne.com


The Lumina Foundation for Education has announced nineteen grants totaling $14.8 million to help advance adult degree attainment through a series of interconnected projects that aim to engage, motivate, and help students to return to college to complete their degrees.

According to the foundation, thirty-seven million adults between the ages of 25 and 64 (more than 20 percent of the working-age population) have not earned a degree or credential despite having attended a college. The grants, which range from $250,000 to almost $1.3 million, provide support for large-scale projects that aim to educate and retrain workers who need to improve their skills in order to compete for jobs that will be created over the next decade, most of which will require some form of postsecondary education degree or credential. Through the projects, the foundation expects to reach some 6.6 million adults who have prior college credits.

As part of the foundation's strategy, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education will develop a new learning network to support Lumina's adult degree completion commitment. Among other things, WICHE will work to implement mechanisms for effective national-level networking, communication, and dissemination of adult completion efforts such as conferences, policy briefs, lessons learned, and hosted "lab" visits to best-practice locations.

"There is growing evidence that adults who have gone to college but not received a degree are looking for a second chance but need the right kind of information and motivation to help them succeed," said Lumina president and CEO Jamie Merisotis. "This vital work aligns directly with our goal to increase the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees or credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Given demographic trends and attainment rates among young adults, it is highly unlikely that the nation can meet its growing need for college-educated workers only by focusing on recent high school graduates."

For a complete list of grants, visit the Lumina Foundation Web site.

“Lumina Foundation's Adult Degree Completion Commitment Gives Millions of Recession-Battered Americans a 'Second Chance' at Earning a Degree.” Lumina Foundation for Education Press Release 9/29/10.

Monday, September 27, 2010

State Farm grants- Job Training Program opportunity- deadline is October 31

http://www.statefarm.com/about/part_spos/grants/cogrants.asp

State Farm® is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education).

Eligible organizations

State Farm makes charitable contributions to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities.
State Farm does not fund:
  • Individuals seeking personal help or scholarships
  • Religious programs
  • Politically partisan programs
  • Organizations outside the U.S. and Canada


How to request a grant

Grant requests for local initiatives are considered by State Farm Operation Centers. Each office determines the types of grants (outlined below) it will fund, based on available funding. One proposal per organization per year will be considered if it meets the guidelines outlined. (This should include all of an organization's needs for a 12-month period.) All grant requests must be submitted online. Please select the appropriate program in the giving categories described below to fill out an application.
State Farm’s grant cycle is from January 2 through October 31.


Strong Neighborhoods (community development)

Communities are the foundation and lifeblood of society. The condition of available housing and services greatly affects the quality of life for residents and the stability of the community. State Farm is committed to helping maintain the vibrancy and culture of neighborhoods in various communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. We demonstrate this commitment by supporting nonprofit organizations' programs that:
Affordable Housing
  • Make Housing Affordable
1st Time Homeowners
  • Promote first-time homeownership
  • Eliminate barriers to homeownership
  • Educate homebuyers about insurance, loss mitigation, and home ownership
Community Revitalization
  • Foster sustainable communities
  • Rehabilitate neighborhoods or communities
Economic Development
  • Promoting small business ownership
  • Creating job training program

FY 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Supplemental Federal Funding Opportunity- apps accepted on a rolling basis

Link to announcement: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=TlNlMhvhCLzvgT2QlQX02yK7WmclRLtPhhstvbjt1cNnTmLL0F6G!1603207234?oppId=58148&mode=VIEW

Document Type: Grants Notice


Funding Opportunity Number: EDAGULFOILSPILL09232010

Opportunity Category: Discretionary

Posted Date: Sep 23, 2010

Creation Date: Sep 23, 2010

Original Closing Date for Applications: Applications will be processed on a rolling basis upon receipt.

Current Closing Date for Applications: Applications will be processed on a rolling basis upon receipt.

Archive Date: Sep 30, 2011

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Category of Funding Activity: Disaster Prevention and Relief

Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification)

Regional Development



Category Explanation: The Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) mission is to invigorate the economies of distressed American regions by promoting innovation, collaboration, and competitiveness, preparing them for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Through this FY 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Supplemental Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), EDA intends to award investments in regions affected by the discharge of oil stemming from the April 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spill.

Expected Number of Awards:

Estimated Total Program Funding:

Award Ceiling: $1,500,000

Award Floor:

CFDA Number(s): 11.307 -- Economic Adjustment Assistance

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes



Eligible Applicants

State governments

County governments

City or township governments

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Private institutions of higher education

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)



Additional Information on Eligibility:

Pursuant to Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (PWEDA), eligible applicants for and eligible recipients of EDA investment assistance under this announcement include a(n): (1) District Organization; (2) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (3) State, city or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions; (4) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or (5) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State. See section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3122) and 13 C.F.R. § 300.3. For the FY 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Supplemental FFO, EDA will consider applications submitted by eligible applicants located in or acting on behalf of the oil spill-affected regions. EDA will administer the Gulf Oil Spill Assistance among its Atlanta and Austin regional offices, which together cover the areas that have felt the greatest impact of the oil spill, specifically the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. With respect to applications submitted by multiple co-applicants or an organization that is located outside of the States served by the Atlanta or Austin regional offices, EDA will ensure that the application is submitted to the appropriate regional office(s), as necessary, once they are downloaded from www.grants.gov.



Agency Name

Economic Development Administration

Description

Pursuant to the Supplemental Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 111-212, 124 Stat. 2302 (2010), EDA announces general policies and application procedures for the FY 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Supplemental Federal Funding Opportunity. This investment assistance will be made available to help devise and implement short or long-term economic redevelopment strategies and for technical assistance activities to address economic development challenges in regions impacted by the discharge of oil stemming from the April 20, 2010, BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program can offer a wide range of technical, planning, or infrastructure assistance. See 13 C.F.R. § 307.3. This program is designed to respond adaptively to pressing economic recovery issues, and is well suited to help address the challenges faced by regions affected by the April 2010 oil spill. Note however, in order to maximize available funding, EDA will consider applications for planning or technical assistance only. That is, no awards will be made under this competitive solicitation for infrastructure improvements or revolving loan fund grants. For purposes of this competition and subject to the availability of funds, EDA will make planning or technical assistance awards that, for example, demonstrate the capacity to support economic recovery by fostering the development of short or long-term economic recovery plans; conduct gap analysis that can identify opportunities for strengthening regional competitiveness; examine opportunities for expanding commercialization programs; or strengthen regional efforts to encourage business expansion and creation efforts. In addition, EDA invites applications to address problems on a larger regional, or multi-State basis, both with respect to the development of a macro-economic analysis of the Gulf Coast region, or the development of a business retention and expansion program for the Gulf region. EDA will administer the Gulf Oil Spill Assistance among its Atlanta and Austin regional offices, which together cover the areas that have felt the greatest impact of the oil spill, specifically the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Please see the FFO, linked below, for more information.



Link to Full Announcement

FY 2010 Gulf Coast Oil Spill FFO

If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Lindsey Pangretic grants@eda.doc.gov

Monday, September 20, 2010

White House Announces 'Change the Equation' Initiative

Link to story: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=308400018

Full story:
White House Announces 'Change the Equation' Initiative


The White House has announced the launch of Change the Equation (CTEq), a public-private partnership designed to cultivate widespread literacy in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

An offshoot of the $250 million public-private Educate to Innovate initiative, CTEq has received commitments from more than a hundred companies and several foundations that are dedicated to preparing U.S. students for STEM-related careers as an investment in business, the economy, and the country's future. In collaboration with the Obama administration, state houses nationwide, and the education and foundation communities, CTEq aims to improve STEM teaching at all grade levels with a larger and more racially, ethnically, and gender-diverse pool of highly capable STEM teachers; deepen student appreciation and excitement for STEM programs and careers, especially among women and students of color; and achieve a sustained commitment to the STEM movement through communication, collaboration, and data-based decision making.

In its first year, CTEq will work to establish a set of criteria to help guide the initiative and its member companies in defining program success, create a state-by-state scorecard to assess the condition of STEM education across the country, and launch a core set of programs at a hundred sites across the country. The initiative's board is made up of executives from ExxonMobil, which has committed $120 million to the initiative; Intel, which invests $100 million in education annually; Time Warner Cable; the Eastman Kodak Company; Sally Ride Science; and Xerox. Additional corporate and foundation partners include Texas Instruments, Bayer, JPMorgan Chase, Oracle, Boeing, Samsung, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Bill & Melinda Gates and S.D. Bechtel, Jr. foundations.

According to a Center on Education and the Workforce report, there will be eight million job openings in STEM-related fields by 2018, although the next generation of U.S. workers will be unprepared and unqualified to take advantage of many of those positions. Meanwhile, a CTEq-funded survey found that nearly three-in-ten adults believe they are not good at math, an attitude especially prevalent among younger Americans.

"'I can't do math' has become an iconic excuse in our society," said Linda Rosen, CEO of CTEq. "Many Americans have expressed it, but I don't believe it's an accurate reflection of who we are or, more importantly, what we can do....If we don't encourage our children and students to get excited about math as well as science, technology, and engineering, we are denying them the chance to reach their potential and be prepared for a future filled with opportunity."

Sunday, September 19, 2010

STEM Expansion- Deadline: Sept. 28, 2010

Link to full announcement: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=vGw8MWFHYpp0wmvMGYgQvkBcql2nhtpX2T81Jpr1Ljq3gpQvpm15!-357751914?oppId=45720&mode=VIEW

Additional Information on Eligibility:


*Organization Limit: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - Type 1 proposals are invited from academic institutions in the United States and its territories, from consortia thereof, or from nonprofit organizations that have established consortia among such academic institutions. The academic institutions must offer either associate degrees or baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM). Associate degree-granting institutions with a demonstrated record of articulation to STEM baccalaureate programs need not necessarily grant associate degrees in STEM fields in order to be eligible for this program. Projects may involve a single institution, collaboration with business and industrial partners, or collaboration among several institutions. For example, projects may include collaborative efforts that improve the transition of students among the collaborating institutions, such as transfer between two- and four-year institutions. Type 2 proposals are invited from any individual or organization eligible to submit proposals to the NSF.

Agency Name National Science Foundation

Description

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) seeks to increase the number of students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) receiving associate or baccalaureate degrees in established or emerging fields within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Type 1 proposals are solicited that provide for full implementation efforts at academic institutions. Type 2 proposals are solicited that support educational research projects on associate or baccalaureate degree attainment in STEM.

NSF Publication 08-569

Applications Invited for National Center for Family Literacy Library Grants- $10,000- Deadline: November 12, 2010

Link to RFP:  http://www.famlit.org/bwb-award/

Applications Invited for National Center for Family Literacy Library Grants


Better World Books and the National Center for Family Literacy are teaming up again this year to provide Libraries and Families Award grants for libraries with exceptional family programming.

Through this opportunity, NCFL and Better World Books will reward and enhance existing family programming and expand literacy-building practices of families in library settings. Grants will help connect more families to their local libraries and expand their literacy efforts in new and innovative ways.

NCFL anticipates awarding three $10,000 grant awards, one in each of the following three categories: local friends of the library programs, public/academic libraries, and urban libraries.

In addition, award recipients will receive scholarships to attend the National Conference on Family Literacy in 2011.

Nominees must be existing family library programs. Applications must be submitted by the program director or coordinator — someone who is familiar with the nominated program and the effects of the program on families and the community.

Dollar General Announces Waiting List Reduction Grant- $10,000 - Deadline Sept. 30, 2010

Link to RFP:  http://www.dollargeneral.com/dgliteracy/Pages/WaitingList.aspx

Full article:
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Announces Waiting List Reduction Grant Program


The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has announced that it is accepting applications for its waiting list reduction grant, a new program.

Responding to increased demand for adult literacy services, the new grant program is designed to help nonprofit adult literacy organizations remedy their waiting list issues and get more students involved in educational programs sooner. The waiting list reduction grant will help literacy programs find ways to immediately engage potential students in learning activities.

To be eligible, nonprofit organizations must provide direct service to adults in need of literacy assistance in one of the following instructional areas: adult basic education, GED diploma preparation, or English as a second language. Applicant organizations must be located in and provide direct service within Dollar General's 35-state market area.

The maximum grant amount is $10,000.

For program information and application, visit the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Web site.

Community College and Career Training Program- Department of Labor- Deadline: probably January 2011

Link from ACTE regarding this grant: http://www.acteonline.org/ctepolicywatchblog.aspx?id=14032

Link from AACC regarding this grant: http://www.aacc.nche.edu/newsevents/News/articles/Pages/090320102.aspx

Full article from AACC:
Information on the Community College and Career Training Program

9/3/2010
The Department of Labor is preparing to issue its first Solicitation of Grant Applications (SGA) for the Community College and Career Training Program. This program, funded via the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act enacted in late March, will provide $500 million per year in fiscal years (FY) 2011 – 2014 for training and education programs at community colleges and other institutions. While the final details of the SGA will not be known until it is released, and therefore the information below is subject to change, the following potential program features have been gleaned from administration officials and other sources.

Timing: The first year that funds are available for the CCCTP is federal fiscal year (FY) 2011, which begins on October 1, 2010. The Department of Labor’s Solicitation of Grant Applications (SGA) is expected to be released sometime in October, likely in the first half of the month. There is a possibility that the SGA’s release will coincide with the White House community college summit, which is also planned for that timeframe. The Department of Education has been intimately involved in the planning of this new program. The grant application deadline will likely fall early in January 2011, with awards being made in the Spring.

Eligibility: Under the terms of the statute, eligible institutions are all institutions of higher education, including four-year colleges and universities and for-profit institutions, but only with respect to programs that can be completed in two years or less. States are not eligible applicants, but could be part of college-led partnerships. Any given institution can only be a fiscal agent on one grant per year, but may be a part of other consortia. There will be no limitation on institutions that share Employer Identification Numbers from submitting individual grant applications and combining to form consortia, as there had been under the Community-Based Job Training Grants.

Grant Size and Duration: Grants will be awarded for a three-year period. It is likely that, because the statute requires that institutions in each state receive at least $2.5 million each year, this will generally be the minimum size for all grants, with a possible exception for smaller institutions that may want to apply for less. As in the Community-Based Job Training Grants, there will be an opportunity for institutions to form consortia to apply for larger, perhaps much larger, grants, such as at the state level or even across state lines. There is not likely to be a maximum grant size.

Relationship to Other Trade Adjustment Assistance Programs: The statutory language requires grant applicants to propose a project that is suitable for TAA-certified workers and identify the extent to which it meets their educational or career training needs; identify the extent to which the project fits within a strategic plan developed by the community under the TAA for Communities program; and the extent to which it is coordinated with any Sector Partnership Grants awarded through this part of TAA in the area (this program has not been funded). There is also a funding priority for communities that the Secretary of Commerce has determined to have been adversely impacted by trade. Because the funding for the program is far larger than originally envisioned, AACC expects that the DOL will take a liberal interpretation of these provisions to ensure that the greatest number of community colleges possible will be able to write successful grant applications. For instance, it may be the case that identifying TAA-certified workers anywhere in the institution’s state will be sufficient to meet the first requirement. Since the TAA for Communities grants awarded by the Department of Commerce are much smaller in scope and relatively few communities have received them, the priority attached to the connection with plans formed under that program will not likely be great.

Eligible Expenses: Grants will be made to develop, offer, or improve educational or career training programs that are suitable for (but not limited to) TAA-certified workers. There are no specific limitations on the uses of funds in the grant's statutory language itself, but like other programs, funds cannot be used for acquiring real property. However, funds in certain circumstances may be used for the renovation of property to render it suitable for the project’s purpose. Funds may be used for the acquisition of equipment, curriculum development, and other purposes related to developing a program. Because TAA-certified workers already have tuition assistance benefits and the emphasis here is on program development, CCCTP program funds will not be available for tuition assistance for program participants. However, there may be an expectation that programs would be tuition free in their first year or phase. Travel expenses for personnel engaged in program development may be an allowable expense in limited circumstances.

Program Emphases: Indications are that the DOL does not view the CCCTP as simply a capacity expansion program. Successful grants will emphasize reform and innovation, rather than merely an expansion of current efforts at the institution(s), however successful they may have been. A variety of factors—the program’s own statutory language, TAA’s emphasis on providing funding for a wide range of educational programs, and the fact that the CCCTP funding is “in lieu of’ funding for the American Graduation Initiative—all mean that a wide range of reforms and educational innovation are likely to be supported. This will likely include emphases on forging career pathway programs, modifying program delivery to meet the needs of dislocated workers (including online programs), and improving developmental education for workers. In addition, the Administration's strong emphasis on increasing the number of college graduates will likely be reflected in the SGA.

Program Evaluation: As in other DOL grant programs, there will be a strong emphasis on accountability and evaluation, and evidence-based approaches. Grant applicants will be expected to state explicitly how they plan to evaluate the success of any funded initiatives. No particular evaluation method, such as random assignment, will be required.

i3: First 49 selected, but there could still be more money in the pipeline!

http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/nations-boldest-education-reform-plans-receive-federal-innovation-grants-once-pr

Nation's Boldest Education Reform Plans to Receive Federal Innovation Grants Once Private Match Is Secured - August 5, 2010

Contact: Public Affairs, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

A cross-section of 49 school districts, nonprofit education organizations and institutions of higher education have been selected from among nearly 1,700 applicants for potential funding under the Investing in Innovation (i3) program. To receive a share of the $650 million in i3 grants, the winning applicants must secure a commitment for a 20 percent private sector match by Sept. 8.

"All across America, innovative entrepreneurs are finding solutions to our most pressing educational challenges," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "i3 will support creative thinkers who test good ideas and take proven approaches to scale so that more children can benefit."

The Education Department selected these 49 proposals based on recommendations from independent peer review panels. Grants fall into three categories: up to $50 million per "scale-up" grant for programs with a strong track record of success; up to $30 million per "validation" grant for growing programs with emerging evidence of success; and up to $5 million per "development" grant for promising ideas. Winning applicants will serve 42 states and 2 territories with more than half intending to serve students with disabilities and limited English proficient students and 37 percent intending to serve rural school districts.

According to Jim Shelton, assistant deputy secretary for innovation and improvement, "We were really struck by the number of high quality applicants and winners who were not among the usual suspects."

The i3 fund, which is part of the historic $10 billion investment in school reform in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will support local efforts to start or expand research-based innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for high-need students. The competition was open to school districts as well as nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education working in partnership with public schools. Applicants were required to demonstrate their previous success in closing achievement gaps, improving student progress toward proficiency, increasing graduation rates, or recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and principals.

Today's selected applicants must secure a commitment for the required 20 percent private-sector match by Sept. 8, 2010. These applicants can take advantage of tools such as the Open Innovation Portal (innovation.ed.gov) and the Foundation Registry i3 (foundationregistryi3.org) to connect with a wide variety of potential funders.

A detailed list of the 2010 Highest-Rated i3 Applicants, along with a summary of the characteristics of the 2010 Highest-Rated Applicants, and FAQs related to today's announcement can be found here: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html. Later today, the department will also post reviewers' comments and scores for all of the 2010 highest-rated i3 applicants, as well as application narratives for the highest-rated scale-up applicants on this site.

In order to continue to support innovation and evidence based practices, a summit will be held in November, 2010 for other promising applicants that were not among the applicants selected today. The department plans to highlight these high quality programs at a forum at which potential funding partners may support efforts that the department is unable to directly support at this time. This list of promising applicants and the details of the event will be announced in the coming weeks.

The administration has requested an additional $500 million in funding for this program in FY 2011. Additional rounds of funding may offer applicants that were not selected and other potential grantees additional time to strengthen their models and build their evidence bases, supporting a continued cycle of innovation and evaluation.

Microsoft Elevate America Announces New Employment Services Grant Initiative- Deadline is October 8, 2010

Link to RFP:  http://www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/en-us/community-tools/job-skills/Community-Initiative/

Microsoft Corporation has announced the launch of the Elevate America community initiative, a new grant program to support nonprofit organizations offering employment services, including technology skills training and job placement, in local communities across the United States. The initiative is the latest extension of Elevate America, which was launched in 2009 to provide people across the country with no-and low-cost access to the technology skills they need to find employment.


To support the initiative, Microsoft is committing a total of $4 million in cash and $6 million in software and technology skills training curriculum over the next two years.

Grants will be allocated through a Request for Proposal process which invites nonprofits to share their plans for partnering with Microsoft on creating successful, scalable programs that respond to the twenty-first century skills training and employment needs of people across the U.S. For this initiative, the company has a particular but not exclusive interest in working with partners focused on the needs of women and young workers (ages 18-25).

Successful grant recipients will be funded to provide individuals with the support they need to find employment. The services provided by grant recipients to ensure a fully supportive experience for participants must include technology skills training, job placement, and strong employer connections and may also include career counseling and other support services such as childcare, transportation, and housing.

Grant applicants must be U.S.-based tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and their partner organizations, which may include workforce agencies, community colleges, labor organizations, and other nonprofit organizations.

Complete grant program guidelines and an eligibility survey for nonprofit organizations are available at the Microsoft Web site.

The Rythm of Online Teaching- Interesting article- What do you think?

http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology_and_learning/the_rhythm_of_online_teaching

Partial post-- see link above for full post:
The Rhythm of Online Teaching

By Joshua Kim September 14, 2010 9:45 pm

Thought I'd try an experiment of sharing with you some of the best practices I'm trying to write up about the rhythm of online teaching, in the hopes that you will provide some ideas and feedback. Ideally this would be a wiki, but we are stuck with a blog platform. While I'm writing about online teaching, I think the principles apply to on-ground and blended learning.

The best practices below are intended for faculty who will be working with adult working professionals. The expectation, currently, is that each student will spend approximately 15 hours per week in the online portion of the course.

Best Practices:
Consistency: The course rhythm should be consistent both within the course and across courses.

Time: Time is the measure in which learning is budgeted. Each activity, reading, or deliverable spends down the time budget.

Tempo: Students may distribute their work throughout the week, completing their obligations and submitting their deliverables based on their schedule. However, each week has predictable highs and lulls of expectations. The highs come mid-week, with the first deliverable due and the team online syncrhonous

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Accepting Applications for 2011 National Grant Program- Deadline September 10, 2010

Link to complete RFP: http://www.barbarabushfoundation.com/site/c.jhLSK2PALmF/b.4344531/k.BD31/Home.htm

Deadline: September 10, 2010

Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Accepting Applications for 2011 National Grant Program


The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is accepting applications for its annual national grant competition. The grantmaking program is designed to help develop or expand projects that support the development of literacy skills for adult primary care givers and their children.


To be eligible for funding, the applicant organization must have nonprofit or public status and must have been in existence for two or more years. The organization must operate an instructional literacy program that has been in existence for at least two years and includes one or more of the following components: literacy for adults, parent education, pre-literacy or literacy instruction for children pre-K to grade three, and/or intergenerational literacy activities (parent and child together time).

A total of approximately $650,000 in grants will be awarded in 2011; grant requests should not exceed $65,000.


The National Grant Program application and guidelines are available at the foundation's Web site.

Link to source: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=299300025

Monday, July 12, 2010

USA Funds- $2M- Higher Education- Deadline Oct. 1

Link to complete info: https://www.usafunds.org/access_and_outreach/CollegeSuccessGrants/

Indianapolis-based USA Funds has announced that it will award two grants of up to $1 million each to nonprofit organizations working to bolster student success in postsecondary education.



Established to commemorate the organization's fiftieth anniversary, the awards will enable the recipients to expand programs that advance the goal of increasing the percentage of American adults with college degrees to 60 percent by 2025. The USA Funds Trustees' National Award for College Success will be awarded to a nonprofit outside Indiana, while the John Burkhart Indiana Award for College Success — named in honor of Burkhart, a local business/civic leader and one of USA Funds' founders — will be awarded to an Indiana-based nonprofit.


To be eligible, programs must be able to demonstrate that they boost student success rates in higher education, especially for underserved populations such as low-income students, students of color, and first-generation college-going students. A panel of outside advisors will recommend finalists for each award; USA Funds will announce the winners in March 2011.


"The majority of the jobs in the work force today require education beyond high school," said USA Funds board chair Ernest J. Newborn II, "yet fewer than four of every ten young adults — both nationally and in Indiana — have college degrees."

“USA Funds to Award $2 Million to Promote College Success.” USA Funds Press Release 7/08/10.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Predominantly Black Institutions Formula Grant Program CFDA Number 84.031P - Phase I due July 21, 2010

Link to announcement: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=wdrHMstJfCWVnSsd8xQrcZBnLNz9Jy5qBNKJhT6LnQBW4lPyCFsb!1386858017?oppId=55368&mode=VIEW

For more info: sara.starke@ed.gov
Program Manager: Sara Starke
Teacher and Student Development Programs Service
U.S. Department of Education
1990 K Street, NW., room 6019
Washington, DC 20006-8524
Telephone: (202) 502-7688


Eligible Applicants: To be eligible, an applicant must have previously submitted the ``Application for Designation as an Eligible Institution'' and received FY 2010 designation as an eligible institution for programs under title III and title V of the HEA. The regulations explaining the standards for designation can be found in 34 CFR 607.2 through 607.5. In addition, an applicant must-- (1) Have an enrollment of needy undergraduate students as defined in section 318(b)(2) of the HEA; (2) Have an average educational and general expenditure that is low, per full-time equivalent undergraduate student, in comparison with the average educational and general expenditure per full-time equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar instruction, except that the Secretary may apply the waiver requirements described in section 392(b) of the HEA to this subparagraph in the same manner as the Secretary applies the waiver requirements to section 312(b)(1)(B) of the HEA; (3) Have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less than 40 percent Black American students; (4) Be legally authorized to provide, and provide, within the State an educational program for which the institution of higher education awards a baccalaureate degree or, in the case of a junior or community college, an associate's degree; (5) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation; and (6) Not be receiving funds under any other provision of part A or part B of title III of the HEA; or part A of title V of the HEA; or be authorized to receive an annual appropriation under the Act of March 2, 1867 (20 U.S.C. 123). To be eligible for a grant under the PBI Formula Grant Program, an applicant institution must also meet the definition of a Predominantly Black Institution in section 318(b)(6) of the HEA. The term Predominantly Black Institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the HEA-- (A) That is an eligible institution with not less than 1,000 undergraduate students; (B) At which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate students enrolled at the eligible institution are low-income individuals or first-generation college students; and (C) At which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate students are enrolled in an educational program leading to a bachelor's or associate's degree that the eligible institution is licensed to award by the State (defined as each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia) in which the eligible institution is located.



Purpose of Program: Through the Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Formula Grant Program, the Department makes grant awards to eligible institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and implement programs to enhance their capacity to serve more low- and middle-income Black American students; to expand higher education opportunities for eligible students by encouraging college preparation and student persistence in secondary school and postsecondary education; and to strengthen the financial ability of the institutions to serve the academic needs of these students. Program Authority: Title III, part A, section 318 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1059e).

Health Profession Opportunity Grants to Serve TANF Recipients and Other Low-Income Individuals - Due date 8/05/2010

Link to announcement:
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=wdrHMstJfCWVnSsd8xQrcZBnLNz9Jy5qBNKJhT6LnQBW4lPyCFsb!1386858017?oppId=55372&mode=VIEW

Program Office Contact

Michele Walters
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Family Assistance
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
5th Floor East
WASHINGTON, DC 20447
Phone: (202) 401-5726
Email: michele.walters@acf.hhs.gov

Office of Grants Management Contact
Tim Chappelle
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Grants Management
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
6th Floor East
WASHINGTON, DC 20447
Phone: (202) 401-4855
Email: tim.chappelle@acf.hhs.gov

Description

This announcement has been modified under Section III.1 Eligible Applicants.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA) is announcing the solicitation of applications to competitively award cooperative agreements for demonstration projects that support the establishment and maintenance of training, education, and career advancement programs to address health care professions workforce needs. [Section 2008 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397) as enacted by Section 5507 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148)]

Cooperative agreements, awarded under this Funding Opportunity Announcement, will support demonstration projects that are designed to provide eligible individuals with the opportunity to obtain education and training for occupations in the health care field that pay well and are expected to either experience labor shortages or be in high demand.

Individuals who are eligible to participate in funded programs are those receiving assistance under a State TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program and other low-income individuals.

Applicants are required to consult with, and implement their projects in coordination with, the entities identified in Section 2008 (a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act.

Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Into Higher Education (TPSID)--Model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students With Intellectual Disabilities CFDA Number 84.407A - Deadline July 30, 2010

Link to full announcement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-15927.pdf

For more info, contact: Shedita.Alston@ed.gov
Program Manager:

Shedita Alston
U.S. Department of Education
Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education Program
1990 K Street, NW., room 6131
Washington, DC 20006-8524
Telephone: (202) 502-7808

Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to support model demonstration programs that promote the successful transition of students with intellectual disabilities into higher education and to enable institutions of higher education (IHEs) (or consortia of institutions of higher education), to create or expand high quality inclusive model comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities.

Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,563,300

Award Ceiling: $500,000
Award Floor:
CFDA Number(s): 84.407 -- Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Eligible Applicants
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Eligible Applicants: IHEs as defined under section 101(a) of the HEA or consortia of IHEs are eligible to apply for funding.

Agency Name
Department of Education

FIPSE- Deadline July 29, 2010

Link to full announcement:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-14235.pdf

For more information, contact: Levenia.Ishmell@ed.gov
Program Manager:

Levenia Ishmell
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education
U.S. Department of Education,
1990 K Street, NW., room 6154, Washington, DC 20006-8544
Telephone: (202) 502-7500

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION



Office of Postsecondary Education


Overview Information Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)—Comprehensive Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.


Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.116B.
DATES: Applications Available: June 14, 2010.


Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 29, 2010.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 27, 2010.


Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Comprehensive Program supports innovative grants and cooperative agreements to improve postsecondary education. It supports reforms, innovations, and significant improvements of postsecondary education that respond to problems of national significance and serve as national models.


Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested in applications that address the following priorities.


Invitational Priorities: For FY 2010, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.


These priorities are:
Invitational Priority 1.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in centers of excellence for teacher preparation as described in section 242 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).


Invitational Priority 2.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in university sustainability initiatives as described in section 881 of HEA.

Invitational Priority 3.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in rural development initiatives for rural-serving colleges and universities as described in section 861 of HEA.


Invitational Priority 4.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in initiatives to assist highly qualified minorities and women to acquire doctoral degrees in fields where they are underrepresented as described in section 807 of HEA.


Invitational Priority 5.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in modeling and simulation programs as described in section 891 of HEA.


Invitational Priority 6.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in higher education consortia to design and offer
interdisciplinary programs that focus on poverty and human capability as described in section 741(a)(11) of HEA.


Invitational Priority 7.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in innovative postsecondary models to improve
college matriculation and graduation rates, including activities to facilitate transfer of credits between institutions of higher education (IHEs), alignment of curricula on a State or multi-State level
between high schools and colleges and between two-year and four-year postsecondary programs, dual enrollment, articulation agreements, partnerships between high schools and community colleges, and partnerships between K–12 organizations and colleges for college access and retention programs.


Invitational Priority 8.
Under this priority, we are particularly interested in activities to develop or enhance educational partnerships and cross-cultural cooperation between postsecondary educational institutions in the United States and similar institutions in Haiti.



I. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds:
$27,307,000.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$500,000–$750,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$738,000.
Estimated Number of Awards: 37.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.


III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs or combinations of IHEs and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Office of Postsecondary Education: Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success CFDA Number 84.116G - Deadline July 30, 2010

Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to encourage institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop model programs to support veteran student success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of veteran students.

Link to full announcement: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-15919.pdf

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: $5,940,000.
Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000 to $400,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $313,000 for 36 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 19.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: 36 months.

Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education.

Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching.

For more info, contact:
Julius Cotton

ED Grants.gov FIND Systems Admin.
Phone 202-245-6140
julius.cotton@ed.gov
Program Manager:
Cassandra Courtney
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education
U.S. Department of Education,
1990 K Street, NW., room 6166, Washington, DC 20006-8544
Telephone: (202) 502-7506 or e-mail: Cassandra.Courtney@ed.gov

Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program - deadline July 12, 2010

Link to full announcement: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/view/HHS-2010-ACF-ORR-ZR-0037

PLATO could be used to assist with literacy skills for refugee participants!

Eligible Applicants


State governments

County governments

City or township governments

Special district governments

Independent school districts

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Private institutions of higher education
 
 
Description


To support rural and urban farming, gardening and food systems projects that use partnerships to create income, have healthier food and better nutrition, and enhance integration into American society on the part of refugee families. A holistic approach that encompasses the elements of production, training, accessing land, financing, developing partnerships, and client culture, language and literacy are expected in applications. Projects may incorporate the goal of better community food secutiy, that is having an adequate supply of healthy food in a community. To support the latter, in addition to having farming and gardening activites, projects may promote the purchase of fresh produce at farmers markets and other outlets from personal earnings and the programs of the USDA Food & Nutrition Service that include SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Women Infants & Children) and Seniors Coupons.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Youth Engagement Zone Initative- Deadline June 15, 2010

Here is a link to the full description: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=D2GjLpnT2BGHQGLn8THJLw5LGTG48Yzd1Kr5LRYgXRbnZ3yZ27rc!-807723156?oppId=54033&mode=VIEW

APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE SUBMITTED THROUGH GRANTS.GOV APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE CORPORATION’S EGRANTS SYSTEM: https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp The goal for the Youth Engagement Zone initiative is to improve student engagement, including student attendance and behavior, and student achievement, graduate rates and college-going rates by: 1. Engaging youth as positive contributors through service-learning to demonstrate the relevance of academic coursework and the value of civic engagement to their educational and personal development; and 2. Connecting with citizens from diverse communities, backgrounds and perspectives to provide expanded opportunities to serve; and 3. Building enduring capacity within communities to become more effective at using service as a solution to address pressing challenges. Eligible includes partnerships that must include: 1. one or more community-based entities with demonstrated records of success in service-learning programs with economically disadvantaged students, 2. a local educational agency serving a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (a free and reduced-price lunch eligibility rate of 70% or more) and where the graduation rate is less than 70%; 3. a community college with existing connections to the LEA and/or youth serving organizations; and 4. a geographic area where less than 30% of the secondary students are already engaged in service-learning. Approximately $5.4 million for an estimated 4 to 12 grant awards that will range from approximately $300,000 to $450,000 per year for up to three years.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

FIPSE seeks proposal reviewers for its FY 2010 grant competitions

This is a great way to get involved and learn more about FIPSE grants! The email below came from Susan Lehmann. She's a wonderful resource and would welcome a conversation with anyone interested in learning more about this process.

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Seeks Proposal Reviewers for FY 2010 Grant Competitions


FIPSE seeks proposal reviewers for its FY 2010 grant competitions. As in the past, we seek individuals with a variety of experience in postsecondary education – teaching, curriculum development, support services, program evaluation, administration, etc. If you have previously registered in the Department of Education’s field reader database, please be sure to update your profile to maintain eligibility. Please also indicate any expertise which you may have in the FY 2010 fields of high demand listed below.

For the spring and summer of FY 2010, FIPSE is especially interested in expanding its current pool of reviewers to include individuals with expertise in:

support services for veterans,

college bookstore operations/reduction of textbook costs,

college work-study/off-campus community service, and

closed-captioning/real-time writers.

Reviewers are generally asked to read 5-10 proposals and are compensated for their efforts. The Office of Postsecondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education requires that all field readers have a Bachelor’s or higher degree, but FIPSE generally selects proposal reviewers with an advanced degree. If you are interested in being a proposal reviewer, please sign up in the Department of Education’s field reader database. The Web address is http://opeweb.ed.gov/frs/register.cfm. When signing up in the field reader system, please select to read for the “Comprehensive Grant Program” because reviewers for several grant competitions are drawn from this pool. For more information about all FIPSE grant programs and new initiatives, please see www.ed.gov/fipse .

Please forward this message to any colleagues that you think may be interested in serving as proposal reviewers. Thank you.

Dr. Susan G. Lehmann
Education Research Analyst
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
Office of Postsecondary Education
U.S. Department of Education
1990 K Street NW - 6th floor
Washington, D.C. 20006-8544
(202) 502-7516
FIPSE Competitive Grants Awarded FY 2006 - FY 2009
FIPSE Evaluation Materials

Monday, April 5, 2010

Lumina launches $8 million effort to help adults complete college degrees- Deadline is May 14, 2010

Here is a link to the full article: http://www.luminafoundation.org/newsroom/news_releases/2010-04-01.html

This RFP targets  "the third group – adults with some college credits but no degree – what we are calling the adult degree completion market."

Lumina Foundation is interested in supporting large-scale efforts to increase degree completion for adults who have earned some college credits. We are also interested in efforts that demonstrate achievement of intermediate outcomes that may lead to increased degree attainment; e.g. reduced time to degree, accelerated programs in higher education institutions, more adult applicants for financial aid, and policy supports for increased attainment among adults.



We define large-scale efforts as those that are national; statewide; state system level (multiple institutions within a state system of postsecondary education – two-year and/or four-year institutions); and/or multi-institution consortia, groups, networks, and partnerships. Large-scale also refers to the scope of programs and services. Applicants must define both the scope and scale of the proposed effort in their pre-proposal.

We’re looking especially for efforts that employ multiple, cross-cutting strategies that target the returning adult. These strategies could include the improvement of practices, programs and services; will-building (e.g., communications, convenings and forums); state and institutional policy reforms; research and evaluation (e.g., strengthening data systems to follow results of efforts); planning (e.g., state action plans); and special approaches to working with employers.
Pre-Proposal Web Conference



Potential applicants are invited to participate in the Adult Degree Completion grant information Web conference scheduled for April 14, 2010, 3:00 p.m. EDT. During the call, Lumina Foundation staff will provide additional information on the grant process and answer questions from participants. Please go to https://luminafoundation.webex.com to register for the Web conference (registration will be open approximately one week prior to the conference).


Key dates
Adult Degree Completion program RFP Issue Date April 1, 2010
Pre-Proposal Web Conference April 14, 2010 (3:00 p.m. EDT)
Pre- Proposal Due (electronically) May 14, 2010 (11:59 p.m. EDT)
Proposal Invitations June 15, 2010
Notification of Declined Pre-Proposal July 1, 2010
Full Proposal Due (electronically) July 30, 2010 (11:59 p.m. EDT)
Negotiation Period August 5-15, 2010
Selection Announcement September 1, 2010
Grant Agreement September 15, 2010

For questions, contact Adultdegreecompletion@luminafoundation.org

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Veterans Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) - Deadline April 26, 2010

Here is a link to the announcement- http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=TyBFL0xJLcCX6Z4h1hrQG2CNYYprvJhnWh7yH5hRmdyY2l1CL4Pd!36428898?oppId=53204&mode=VIEW

 Eligible Applicants: Applications for funds will be accepted from public agencies and non-profit organizations, including state and local workforce investment boards and faith- based and neighborhood partnerships, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU), land grant schools and tribal colleges that are determined to have familiarity with the area and population to be served and can administer an effective program, under WIA section 168(a) (2). Eligible applicants generally fall into one of the following categories: A. Applicants should establish partnerships with State and local Workforce Investment Boards (SWIBs/LWIBs), established under Sections 111 and 117 of the Workforce Investment Act. B. Public agencies, meaning any public agency of a State or of a general purpose political subdivision of a State that has the power to levy taxes and spend funds, as well as general corporate and police powers. (This typically refers to cities and counties.) A State agency may propose in its application to serve one or more of the jurisdictions located in its State. This does not preclude a city or county agency from submitting an application to serve its own jurisdiction. C. Non-profit organizations (including faith-based and neighborhood partnerships). If claiming 501(c) (3) status, the Internal Revenue Service statement indicating 501(c) (3) status approval must be submitted. Applicants for VWIP must satisfy a “responsibility review” that demonstrates an ability to administer Federal funds. See 20 CFR 667.170. Other eligible applicants include joint labor-management training programs, representatives from local governments, conservation corps, community colleges, and small businesses. Entities described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to receive funds under this announcement because Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-65, 109 Stat. 691, prohibits the award of Federal funds to these entities. In accordance with 29 CFR Part 98, entities that are debarred or suspended shall be excluded from Federal financial assistance and are ineligible to receive a VWIP grant.


Agency Name
OASAM


Description
(Applicants for Grant Funds Should Read This Notice in Its Entirety) The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), announces a grant competition under the Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) for Program Year (PY) 2010, as authorized under Section 168 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. This Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) notice contains all of the necessary information and forms needed to apply for grant funding. Selected programs will assist eligible Veterans by providing employment, training, support services, credentialing, networking information, and/or other assistance. Under this PY 2010 SGA, VETS anticipates that up to $2 million will be available for grant awards up to a maximum of $500,000 for each grant award. VETS anticipates approximately 4 awards will be made under this solicitation with the possibility of additional awards contingent upon applicant funding requests. The period of performance for these PY 2010 grants will be July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. Two (2) optional years of additional funding may be available, depending upon Congressional appropriations, the agency’s decision to exercise the optional year(s) of funding, and satisfactory grantee and sub-awardee(s) performance. Failure to provide timely and accurate reporting may jeopardize optional year funding. There may be future addendums to this solicitation published on Grants.gov and the VETS website. All applicants are responsible for checking back to Grants.gov and the VETS website regularly to ensure they have all of the latest information regarding any updates to this solicitation.

Contact information:
Cassandra Mitchell

Grants Management Specialist
Phone 202-693-4570 mitchell.cassandra@dol.gov
Note: I talked to Cassandra this morning, and she is SUPER helpful! Feel free to call her if you have questions. She said this grant is typically offered every other year and is competitive.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Does anyone have a good parka I can borrow?

The information below came in an email from Susan Lehmann. She's super! If you want to be added to her FIPSE distribution list, just send her an email with your name, email, telephone, and school info- Susan.Lehmann@ed.gov.

Also, here is a link to the "Russia Factpage"  by the CIA: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html   You will see that Russia is "the world's largest exporter of both oil and natural gas and is also the third largest exporter of steel and primary aluminum - and other less competitive heavy industries that remain dependent on the Russian domestic market. This reliance on commodity exports makes Russia vulnerable to boom and bust cycles that follow the highly volatile swings in global commodity prices. The government since 2007 has embarked on an ambitious program to reduce this dependency and build up the country's high technology sectors, but with few results so far. A revival of Russian agriculture in recent years has led to Russia shifting from being a net grain importer to a net grain exporter."

United States-Russia Program: Improving Research and Educational Activities in Higher Education

The Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) in U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the 2010 U.S.-Russia Program competition. The program emphasizes the development of innovative projects and partnerships between Russian and American institutions of higher education (IHEs) that promote educational and academic exchanges of students and teaching faculty, contributing to the advancement of education and science in both countries. The funded projects are expected to use the educational study content as a vehicle for the learning of languages and cultures, sharing of knowledge, and the formation of long-term relationships among the institutions and between the two counties. The Program is open to all disciplines, professional fields, and vocational programs, as well as cross-disciplinary studies, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.


The competition notice was published in the Federal Register (Vol. 75, No. 57, March 25, 2010, page 14431 – 14435) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ . The deadline for applications is May 18, 2010.

A PDF file of this Notice can be found using the link http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/PDFgate.cgi?WAISdocID=53517024277+2+2+0&WAISaction=retrieve

The full application package (application guidelines, forms and instructions) can be downloaded from http://e-grants.ed.gov Look under e-Application tab and under ‘Application Packages’ Section using CFDA # 84.116S. For more information about this FIPSE program, please consult www.ed.gov/programs/fipserussia/index.html .

An American institutions funded under this program will receive up to $400,000 over three years. Russian institutions that are consortia partners with a U.S. institution will receive the ruble equivalent from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.


For FY 2010, the Department and the Russian Ministry have jointly decided to make up to six (6) new awards in the following three areas:
Grant Category A – Science and Technology
Grant Category B – Environmental Science
Grant Category C – Education, Culture and Society


The competition is open to thirteen IHEs in the Russian Federation listed below, and to all IHEs in the U.S. An institution in the U.S. interested in submitting an application should contact one of the thirteen IHE in the Russian Federation with the aim of developing a bi-lateral educational consortium. Russian partners in the consortium interested in applying for these grants should contact the Russian Ministry of Education and Science for further information.


U.S. applicants should contact
Krish Mathur, Ph.D.
U.S.-Russia Program Manager
U.S. Department of Education, FIPSE, Office of Postsecondary Education
1990 K Street, NW, Room 6155
Washington, D.C. 20006-8544
Tel: 202-502-7512
Fax: 202-502-7877
Email: Krish.Mathur@ed.gov

Monday, March 22, 2010

University Center- Economic Development Program Grant- Deadline June 1, 2010

The Economic Development Administration's (EDA’s) mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA fulfills its mission by helping our partners across the nation create wealth and minimize poverty by promoting a favorable business environment to attract private capital investment, and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs through capacity-building, planning, infrastructure, research grants, and strategic initiatives. Institutions of higher education have many assets that can help address regional economic problems and opportunities, such as faculty, staff, students, libraries, laboratories, facilities, and computer systems. With funding from EDA, institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions of higher education establish and operate University Centers. These EDA-sponsored University Centers conduct applied research, provide technical assistance to public and private sector organizations, and conduct other activities with the goal of enhancing regional economic development.

NOTE: Community colleges can also apply for this grant!

These are the states that can apply this year: In FY 2010, EDA will hold a competition in its Austin and Denver regional offices. Therefore, EDA is soliciting competitive applications from accredited institutions of higher education and from consortia of accredited institutions of higher education to operate University Centers from applicants in (and programs targeting) only the geographic areas served by EDA’s Austin and Denver regional offices. The Austin regional office serves Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Denver regional office serves Colorado, Iowa (excluding Muscatine and Scott counties), Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Here is a link to the announcement: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=6rjLLnLRjfQY1k3DpXmF7xqHncpWrG5YxvbcYJs9FM6hS97zhthn!-1975395688?oppId=52476&mode=VIEW

Points of contact:
Informational Teleconferences: For prospective applicants, the Austin regional office will hold an informational teleconference on April 1, 2010 at 1:00p.m. CST. The Denver regional office will hold its informational teleconference call on March 19, 2010, at 1:00p.m. MST. Please refer to section IV.D. of this FFO for the teleconference registration requirements and protocols.


Addresses and Designated Points of Contact:

1. Austin Regional Office
FY 2010 University Center Program Competition
Economic Development Administration
Austin Regional Office
504 Lavaca, Suite 1100
Austin, Texas 78701-2858
Designated Contact Person: Camille Osborne, 512.381.8145, cosborne@eda.doc.gov

2. Denver Regional Office
FY 2010 University Center Program Competition
Economic Development Administration
Denver Regional Office
410 17th Street, Suite 250
Denver, Colorado 80202
Designated Contact Person: Forlesia S. Willis, 303.844.5452, fwillis@eda.doc.gov

SAFRA update

On Sunday, HR 4872 was passed. It's important for those of us watching for federal grant opportunities to know what's coming down the pipeline from this piece of legislation.

Here is an excerpt from an article on insidehighered.com:
Gone -- due to diminished projections of the savings generated by the loan overhaul and the need to balance out health care spending in the overall bill -- are billions of dollars to reduce the interest rate on students' loan payments, remake the Perkins Loan Program, and fund President Obama's American Graduation Initiative, aimed at helping community colleges graduate 5 million more students by 2020.


Also sacrificed to practical realities are most of the Obama administration's efforts to prod recipients of the new federal money to change their practices, through accountability provisions that would have been part of the American Graduation Initiative and the proposed $2.5 billion College Access and Completion Fund, which has been jettisoned in favor of a smaller $750 million expansion of the existing College Access Challenge Grant Program.


Thanks to a last-minute scramble to find some new money to help community colleges meet exploding demand for enrollment amid state and local budget cuts, the final version of the legislation retains $2 billion to fund a Department of Labor career training program that was created in last year's economic stimulus bill but never funded. It would direct $2.55 billion over 10 years to historically black, Hispanic-serving, and tribal colleges. And it would provide about $1.5 billion to expand income-based repayment options for student loan borrowers.

You can view the full article here: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/03/22/safra

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Faith Based and Community Initiatives Grant Website

This agency is part of the Department of Labor. Here is the link to their website:  http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/

Be sure to check out the FBCI grant directory!
The Directory of Workforce Grant Opportunities is designed to help FBCOs navigate diff erent funding resources that may assist them providing workforce development and job-training services. Th is guide highlights funding resources that are available for FBCOs involved in workforce development, economic development, and employability training.
Here is a link to that document:  http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/DFWGO.pdf

Here is a bit of info that describes this agency:
CFBCI Mission Statement

Our Mission
To empower the faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) that help their neighbors prepare for, enter, and thrive in the workforce.

The work of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (the Center) stems from a simple conviction: America can do better for our neighbors in need when we draw upon the unique strengths of every willing partner.

The Center’s Goals
To ensure a "level playing field" for all organizations (including those previously excluded) willing to join with the government in service. This principle applies both to non-financial partnerships and funding opportunities (e.g., grants for projects to help accomplish the department’s mission).


To eliminate unnecessary barriers to partnering with the Department of Labor (DOL), such as complicated grant applications that discourage small non-profits and unwarranted regulations that undermine faith-based organizations’ rights to maintain their religious identity. Information about new “Equal Treatment” regulations can be found at http://www.dol.gov/cfbci/legalguidance.htm.


  • To cultivate partnerships between public organizations, private organizations, and non-profit organizations that make services more effective. Efforts include:
  • Shaping DOL grant opportunities and pilot projects
  • Cost-free training for FBCOs on effective program practices and grant writing
  • Working with state and local governments that receive federal funds to expand their partnerships with FBCOs
  • Research to better understand the role non-profits can play in social services
  • Shaping policies to address social issues, such as reentry

Good info - 2009- Percent of HS Graduates Ready for College Work (based on Benchmark scores)

http://www.act.org/news/data/09/collegeready.html#benchmark - here is a link to the ACT site. If you click on each state, there is an interesting state-by-state analysis report.  Perhaps this would be useful information for an introductory portion of a grant?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Private Funding Sources- Check out these sites

This is a collection of private foundation grants. You can click on the links for more info about each one.

TG Grants
http://www.tgslc.org/newsroom/news/2009/press090615.cfm
To be added to list for notification of 2011 grant openings, email Kristin Boyer- kristin.boyer@tgslc.org

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/grantseeker/Pages/funding-postsecondary-education.aspx
Not accepting applications at this time for higher education
(206) 709-3140/mailto:709-3140/info@gatesfoundation.org

Carnegie Corporation
http://carnegie.org/grants/grantseekers/

You must submit a letter of inquiry in order to initiate the formal grant application process. These are accepted on a rolling timeline basis and must match up with the Corporation’s list of funding priorities.
http://carnegie.org/grants/grantseekers/submitting-a-letter-of-inquiry/

Ford Foundation
http://www.fordfound.org/grants/inquiry/1
Must submit a letter of inquiry
Questions- office-secretary@fordfound.org

Lumina
http://www.luminafoundation.org/grants/information_for_grant_seekers/preparing_and_submitting_a_letter_of_inquiry.html
Must submit letter of inquiry by September
List of solicited proposals: http://www.luminafoundation.org/grants/information_for_grant_seekers/solicited_proposals.html


Kellogg
Must submit online application- http://www.wkkf.org/grants/for-grantseekers.aspx
Accepted on rolling basis- no deadline
Family Literacy is a funding focus

MetLife funding for Encore- Deadline April 12, 2010

http://www.communitycollegetimes.com/article.cfm?TopicId=87&ArticleId=2522 - You can read an article about the grant competition here. Do you read http://www.communitycollegetimes.com/? I find it to be a great resource!

http://www.encore.org/colleges  - This is the link to the grant application site.

Eight $25K grants for institutions retraining adults age 50 and older for careers in health and education. Grant winners will be announced in July 2010.

www.grants.gov - An awesome resource!

You can perform a basic search of open grant opportunities from 26 federal agencies here: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp

You can request a free (private) 30 minute webinar where their staff will talk with you about the "find and apply process."  The presentation request form is here: http://www07.grants.gov/contactus/contactus.jsp

Social Innnovation Fund- Deadline April 8, 2010

Sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a new public-private investment vehicle established by the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, is designed to:
Fund effective and potentially transformative portfolios of nonprofit community organizations to help them strengthen their evidence base, and replicate and expand to serve more low-income communities;  Identify more effective approaches to addressing critical social challenges and broadly share this knowledge; and  Develop the grantmaking infrastructure necessary to support the work of social innovation in communities across the country.


In Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, the Corporation will award up to $50 million in Federal funding to an estimated seven to 10 intermediary organizations. Annual SIF awards to intermediaries will be in the range of $1 million to $10 million, and must be matched 1:1 in cash. The SIF award periods are up to five years. The SIF funding mechanism will leverage $3 of private funding for every $1 in federal funding, generating a total public-private investment of $200 million in FY 2010.
***********************
The Social Innovation Fund Competition is now open and accepting applications for Federal funds to invest in effective, innovative nonprofits working in low-income communities to address critical social challenges in the priority issue areas of:

Economic Opportunity – Increasing economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals

Youth Development and School Support – Preparing America’s youth for success in school, active citizenship, productive work, and healthy and safe lives

Healthy Futures – Promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing the risk factors that can lead to illness

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=SRt3LNcJGXk9vY6WH5jfDkfrKKcTLfdrhcynJYz2LKH8jLmSz8lm!-2003793174?oppId=51962&mode=VIEW  - this is the link to the site


Trascript of Q and A call:
http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/10_0225_sif_transcript_of_224_call.pdf

Deadline April 8

*50% first year funding matching required
*Extremely competitive

Citizenship Grants-Deadline April 30, 2010

Description:
The Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Program offered through the Office of Citizenship (OoC), within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will provide federal funding to eligible organizations to promote the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Competitive grants fund of approximately $4,500,000 will support the expansion of citizenship services in communities nationwide.Grant activities shall focus on promoting the rights and responsibilities of citizenship through citizenship education and naturalization preparation programs for legal permanent residents (LPRs). Proposed activities must include a citizenship education component consisting of citizenship or civics-focused English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction and citizenship instruction (U.S. history and government) to prepare LPRs for the civics, English reading, writing, and speaking components of the naturalization test. In addition to the mandatory citizenship education component, grant funds may be used to provide naturalization application preparation services, including legal services (within the scope of authorized practice of immigration law) and case management services to support the naturalization application and interview process. Grant funds may be used for outreach to inform LPRs of services offered through this grant-funded program and for staff professional development and volunteer training. Grants will be awarded to organizations proposing citizenship education services only, as well as to organizations proposing both citizenship education services and naturalization application preparation services.


Office of Procurement Operations


Deadline April 30, 2010

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=1dydLNhNmjbznnqJQyph9C19y4CfWlhGzbsrzDqDN1DvpnrhQTpd!-2003793174?oppId=52147&mode=VIEW - link to grant info page

New Era Technology Grants- Deadline April 14, 2010

This grant is sponsored by the National Institute Food and Agriculture.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Agriculture-based renewable energy offers many rural areas a means of strengthening their economy while helping meet the nation’s energy demands. Many rural communities have struggled for decades with the loss of jobs and income from restructuring in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Rural community colleges and advanced technological centers promote access to educational programs and aid in workforce development that is vital to creating rural economies that are competitive in the global marketplace.

With this RFA, NIFA announces the availability of funding and requests applications for the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP) for fiscal year (FY) 2010. RTP grants are for technology development, applied research, and/or training to develop an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce to serve rural communities. Awards will stimulate and enable community colleges and advanced technological centers located in rural areas (Note: see definitions of these terms in Part VIII, E. to ensure eligibility) to provide technology development, applied research, and/or training necessary to produce graduates capable of strengthening the Nation’s technical, scientific and professional workforce in the fields of bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, and agriculture-based renewable energy resources.

The amount available for support of this program in FY 2010 is $850,000.


For more info, check out the link below, or contact:
For any questions related to preparing application content, contact:

Email: electronic@nifa.usda.gov
Phone: 202-401-5048, Business hours are M-F, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding Federal holidays.

For any questions related to Grants.gov content, contact:
Email: support@grants.gov
Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726, Business hours are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed on Federal Holidays.

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=1dydLNhNmjbznnqJQyph9C19y4CfWlhGzbsrzDqDN1DvpnrhQTpd!-2003793174?oppId=50214&mode=VIEW - this is the link to the grant announcement

Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (TUES)- May 2010 deadlines

I'm not sure what a "Type 1" proposal entails, but I'm sure you could contact the grant office (see link below) for more info. I do know that STEM is a major initiative in the current Presidential administration. I am also hearing quite a bit about "green job" training.

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5741&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund  - this link provides more info and contact info for various disciplines.

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5481&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund - link specifically for HBCUs

Full Proposal Deadline Date:  May 26, 2010
For Type 1 proposals from submitting organizations located in states or territories beginning with A through M.

Full Proposal Deadline Date:  May 27, 2010
For Type 1 proposals from submitting organizations located in states or territories beginning with N through W.

Gear Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) - 2011

Primary contact:
Francesca Paris-Albertson
Francesca.Paris-Albertson@ed.gov

http://www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html  - this is a link to the website

Application and dates of technical workshops should be available this Fall 2010

Program Description
This discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

Types of Projects
GEAR UP offers state and partnership grants. State grants are competitive six-year matching grants that must include both an early intervention component designed to increase college attendance and success and raise the expectations of low-income students and a scholarship component. Partnership grants are competitive six-year matching grants that must support an early intervention component and may support a scholarship component designed to increase college attendance and success and raise the expectations of low-income students.