State Scholarship Program!

Here is a scholarship and grant program that rewards students with financial assistance in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at eligible state public and private colleges and universities, and public technical colleges. Since this Program began in 1993, over $3.8 billion in funding has been awarded to more than 1.1 million students attending some of the state's colleges, universities, and technical colleges.

Also too there is a loan program for individuals pursuing a masters, specialist or doctorate degree in education in a critical shortage teaching field, and another loan program for undergraduate education majors!

For the scholarship program, if you are a resident of the state and enrolling in a degree program at an eligible state public or private college, university, or public technical college, you may be eligible for this scholarship program!

Recipients must demonstrate academic achievement. The award at public institutions covers tuition, program-approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance. If you wish to enroll in a state private institution, you may be eligible for a $3,500 per academic year scholarship for full-time study or $1,750 for half-time study (6-11 hours).

If you are a resident of the state and enrolling in a technical certificate or diploma program at an eligible public college, university, or public technical college, you may be eligible for the grant program regardless of high school graduation dates or grade point averages. This grant covers tuition, approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance.


Legal residents of the state who earned a General Education Development (GED/high school equivalency) diploma awarded certain technical colleges after June 30, 1993 may receive a one-time $500 grant award. This award can be used toward tuition, books, and other educational costs at an eligible state public or private college, university, or public technical college in a degree, diploma, or certificate program.

Here Is A Grant Program For Faith-Based Media Productions BUT You Must First Be A Member Of The Organization! One of the nation's largest coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith groups dedicated to media production, distribution and promotion, has chosen the winners for its 2008 member productions grants. The awards were given to members whose productions showed an innovative use of broadcast and digital media, as well as engaging subject matter that is meant to be informative, educational and thought provoking. The productions that were awarded these grants are in various stages of development. The 2008 Production Grants, totaling $300,000, were awarded to the following projects: A series of short form documentaries on topics of personal faith, featuring people from a wide spectrum of religious traditions and demographics, including Christian, Jewish and Muslim subjects. Currently in development, a television series that will educate the general population about the faith and culture of Islam and the burgeoning Muslim communities throughout America. A series of intimate radio interviews that will feature high-profile celebrities from all walks of life, from newsmakers like Bill Moyers and Al Gore to film and television stars like Rainn Wilson and Martin Sheen. All will be people for whom faith — or doubt — has fundamentally shaped the way they live today. A series of short form Internet videos that will focus on a bereaved family as they share their feelings about losing a loved one and their bafflement that the family member left his home in India because of ethnic and religious intolerance – only to be destroyed by it in the U.S. when a hate-filled killer mistook him for an Arab Muslim in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. A Media company received a grant to start a 15-minute weekly radio program speaking to the real and practical issues and difficulties facing families and individuals in North America. The program will feature an interview with an individual or family experiencing the pain of broken relationships, grief over the loss of a loved one, anger and disappointment from unresolved conflict, difficulty over tough parenting issues, poverty, mental illness, surviving the suicide of a loved one, and more. A coalition of Rabbis, whose production will consist of web videos and will feature five leading rabbis from the main Jewish denominations explaining the weekly synagogue Torah reading. The rabbis will also use artwork and images, a key point of the weekly reading, to explore why it has meaning for adults and children alike. A church has received a grant to produce a video. This video will use the story of rebuilding a UCC church as a vehicle to demonstrate the daily hardships and the triumphs faced by Katrina victims throughout New Orleans as they strive to pick up the broken pieces of their lives and try to put them back together again. This faith-based, non-profit organization, is one of the nation's largest coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith groups dedicated to building bridges of understanding among people of faith through electronic and broadcast media. Its member association is made up of faith organizations with more than 200,000 congregations and 120 million congregants. A list of its members can be found on their website. MEMBERSHIP - This association is made up of faith groups, organizations and individuals who encompass Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions in the United States and Canada. Together, these faith groups have more than 200,000 congregations with 120 million congregants. You can click on the members link to see a current listing of members. There are three Categories Of Membership: Open to faith groups who are theologically and historically related to the Jewish, Christian or Islamic tradition in the United States and Canada, are incorporated or are qualified for incorporation as a not-for-profit body. (You can download a copy of their application form by going to their website. The application download is in .pdf format) ORGANIZATION - Open to organizations whose primary purpose is religious, and who are related to the Jewish, Christian or Islamic tradition in the United States and Canada. INDIVIDUAL - Open to people who are members of a Jewish, Christian or Islamic faith group in the United States and Canada and who spend a major portion of their time in faith-related media work. - dues = $150 Application forms for each classification of membership can be downloaded via the association's website.

Announcement of a new Stat Program created to provide new funding aimed at providing grants to cover the cost of rising utility bills!

In partnership and working along with six of the state's largest utility companies and other groups, low-income residents will be able to apply for grants to help cover the costs of utility bills. A network of assistance agencies for processing the applications is being set up by the Salvation Army and an Emergency Funding Program!

The state's govenor has said, "that the program will be especially useful as winter - and the climbing cost of heating homes - approaches.

$1 Millon Grant To Research And STUDY Daycare!

The most interesting thing about this government grant program is that it is open for for-profit businesses to apply for! For instance if you already operate a daycare and are a for-profit business you may be eligible to apply for this grant!

Here is more information about the grant program itself!



Eligible Applicants

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  

• Private institutions of higher education
  

• Small businesses
  

• For profit organizations other than small businesses
  

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

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Additional eligibility types:

• Hispanic-Serving Institutions
  

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  

• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
  

• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
  

• Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply.
  

• Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement.

The purpose of this grant program announcement is to award a cooperative agreement to operate Child Care and Early Education Research Connections for five years. This cooperative will work to support family economic self-sufficiency and child care quality for families with children ages 0-12 or with special needs by fostering a child care and early education knowledge management and support system.


Basically what this means is that this grant program fund supports projects that add to the knowledge about the efficacy of child care policies and programs toward achieving two targeted long-term outcomes which are enhancing the economic security of low-income families with young children and improving quality in all child care and early education settings.

This is basically a research and/or study grant to help find ways to better help low-income families who have young children and to find better ways to enhance child care and other educational settings that are targeted towards young children.

Other goals include:

• Operating a state-of-the-art, web-based child care and early education project with a comprehensive and up-to-date collection of research articles and reports, selected datasets, policy data, ready access to datasets for secondary analysis, technical assistance for contributors and users, strong linkages with other archives and information systems, and ongoing synthesis of data into useful information and knowledge for child care and early education research and policy.
  

• Making sound child care and early education research findings available to researchers and policymakers in accessible language and formats.

Deadline for Applications: May 2008!

Applicants are highly encouraged to send a letter of intent

Applications can be submitted via the government's website

Acceptable electronic formats for the application attachments (narratives, charts, etc.) must use the following standard technologies, i.e., Microsoft (Word and Excel), Word Perfect, Adobe PDF, Jpeg, and Gif.

It is strongly recommended that applicants do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well before the closing date and time so that if difficulties are encountered there will still be sufficient time to submit a hard copy via express mail. It is to an applicant's advantage to submit 24 hours ahead of the closing date and time in order to address any difficulties that may be encountered.

Applications can be submitted in person, by mail and via website.

There are 2 official government agencies that can be contacted for more information. They can be reached by mail, phone and email.


Grant Award: $1.5 Million (over a period of 5 years)

Address to Request Application Package

If you would like to receive notifications of changes to this grant opportunity click send me change notification emails. The only thing you need to provide for this service is your email address. No other information is requested.

Latest Government Grant Program For National Non-Profit Organizations- $5 Million Dollars!

* Please note that Monday is President's Day and most government offices will be closed!

For more than a decade organizations have worked to mobilize new generations of engaged citizens. In 2008, more than 3.8 million individuals of all ages and backgrounds will work through Corporation-supported programs to help thousands of national and community nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and local agencies to meet local needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other critical areas. The Corporation anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement for approximately $5,000,000 to a national organization to develop and execute a plan to support and build the capacity of local Volunteer Connector Organizations. These organizations connect individuals with volunteer opportunities and support organizations and professional volunteer coordinators in effectively using those volunteers to create meaningful change in local communities. Activities that will be funded through this competition include, among other activities, those previously supported through a partnership grant. As part of the Corporation’s fiscal year 2008 budget Congress allocated funds under Subtitle H of Title 1 of the NCSA to support such activities undertaken by an organization through a competitively awarded grant. The Corporation is looking forward to establishing a strong partnership with an organization committed to advancing the volunteer sector through dynamic leadership and high-quality programming. Additional grant competitions to support youth programming and better linking of schools to community resources will be announced later in FY 2008.

The successful applicant will, in conjunction with the Corporation, provide financial resources, training, and other assistance to local affiliates/organizations that match individuals with appropriate service opportunities. The applicant will train professional volunteer managers and other nonprofits to deepen the engagement and increase the effectiveness of their volunteers. The Corporation anticipates that the successful applicant will propose a plan, subject to the Corporation’s approval, that allows up to approximately 50 percent of funds provided under this agreement to be distributed on an annual basis to such local organizations through a subgrant process. The Corporation expects to work in close collaboration with the successful applicant to:

• Provide grants to local Volunteer Connector Organizations for operating support, capacity building, and special projects
  
  
• Deliver training and technical assistance to Volunteer Connector and other local organizations (including other Corporation grantees) in such areas as volunteer management, volunteer retention, and local partnership development with an emphasis on distance learning and other cost-effective methods for delivering training and technical assistance
  
  
• Collaborate with other organizations in the sector to streamline and consolidate on-line resources related to volunteer management and national service
  
  
• Develop outreach strategies and conduct a national campaign to get more Americans to volunteer. Strategies should complement the Corporation’s Strategic Plan in areas such as encouraging Baby Boomers to serve, engaging more at-risk youth and students in service, and mentoring more at-risk youth
  
  
• Convene and co-design a national conference on volunteerism and service and other national meetings to provide training, inspiration, and networking opportunities for individuals and organizations engaged in community service and volunteerism
  
  
• Provide sector-wide leadership for development and marketing of web-based technologies that encourage creative, efficient electronic means to match volunteers with opportunities and organize service projects
  
  
• Build private sector support for volunteering, including the development and promotion of corporate employee volunteer programs and convening and supporting an advisory council of for-profit corporations committed to advancing volunteerism and effecting change in the communities across the nation.

Applicants should propose a three-year plan that is compatible with the Corporation’s strategic interests in the area of generating and managing volunteers.

Current Deadline Date(s) - Please submit an e-mail stating your intent to apply via email by February 20, 2008 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 10, 2008.

Applications submitted by hard copy or fax will not be accepted.

Applications can be submitted by email.

You can find out more information about this grant program by visiting the government's official website.

Black Methodists Organization Receives An $80,000 Grant For Church Renewal!

This grant program is not just limited to African Americans!

To qualify for this grant program your non-profit organization or church / ministry must have a racial/ethnic minority leadership and goals of fostering justice, self-determination, inclusion and reconciliation among racial/ethnic groups and communities.

So far over 30 grant awards have been approved through the year 2009 totaling to $1 Million Dollars! Only 89 applications have been submitted so far!

All of the previous grant recipients are operated by racial/ethnic United Methodist churches or caucuses or by community organizations. Grants awarded include:

• a $30,000 2 Year grant to a 6-year-old ministry of a pan-Asian and historically Japanese-American congregation.
  
  
• $40,000 to a theater company, at a newly created Hispanic / Latino congregation of a United Methodist Church a new Hispanic/Latino congregation in N.J. The theatre group engages local youth and young adults in Christian music, dance and theater as avenues to positive self-expression, self-discipline and community evangelism.
  
  
• $40,000 to an outreach effort of a "Young Adults Ministry Group at another United Methodist Church located in Arkansa. The outreach program will help fifty at-risk girls, ages 12 to 18, who will be matched with mentors recruited from various professions to address four critical areas of the girls' lives: educational enrichment, cultural awareness and the arts, community services and character-building.
  
  
• $40,000 to a United Methodist Church which is in a predominantly black community in New Orleans that is still struggling to recover from 2005's Hurricane Katrina. (Click here for more information about Katrina-related grant programs). The church works with local partners to help young people create a more positive future through tutoring, mentoring, service-learning projects, community organizing and leadership development skills. (African-American-$40,000)

There are also a number of projects being refunded as well! Including:

• $30,000 which has been awarded to a project in Chicago that help organizes journaleros, or day laborers, who seek work daily on street corners in the Chicago area. These workers often must face theft of their pay by unscrupulous employers, unsafe working conditions, wrongful arrests by police, disruptive raids by immigration agents and other troubles. The project is trying to improve hiring and labor conditions, prevent anti-immigrant actions by police, and develop a workers' center where day laborers can gather to seek jobs and receive other assistance.

A number of smaller grants have also been awarded to:

• to explore ideas and models for overcoming racism and encouraging multicultural ministries.

The organization that sponsors these grants also awarded funds to help racial/ethnic conferences and organizations send members to General Conference in 2008 as observers to learn about the legislative assembly and to advocate on issues of concern to their constituents.

To find out more about this organization's grant program and whether or not YOUR organization is eligible to apply for this grant program you can visit their website to find out more about their grant program!

Help By And For Senior Citizens

A lot of people think that they are just to old to be of any use and that is not true! There is a government grant program that wants to help seniors to be able to continue to live in their homes. I know from personal experience that seniors prefer to be able to still live in their homes as opposed to having to go to a nursing home or a senior citizens's community residence.

If you have a nonprofit organization (and this includes faith-based organizations) that wants to help senior citizens to remain in their own homes then you might want to think about implementing a program where seniors help other seniors to be able to stay in their homes. You could recruit other senior citizens to help or if you are a senior citizen yourself then you can start a nonprofit organization of your own to help other seniors. There are even some instances where you may receive a stipend for volunteering! Once you have obtained nonprofit status then you can apply for a government grant program that provides funding for seniors to be able to go out and help and/or assist other seniors. If you already have a non-profit organization that has this kind of program (or want to have this type of program) then you should check and see if your nonprofit organization is eligible to apply for this grant funding.

A Baptist Church Receives a $100,000 Grant For Their After School Program!

In South Carolina a baptist church has received over $100,000 in grant money to help expand one of their after-school programs. Since this grant program has been opened to faith based organizations that means that churches can now apply for this kind of grant money if and only if they are eligible to apply.

I should also mention that a daycare center also got a grant from this very same grant program!

The purpose of this grant program is to help enhance the kind of education that students get during regular school hours. If an after-school program can help a student improve in their regular studies it helps the student to improve overall. After school programs such as tutoring, mentoring and other skill-enhancing programs are eligible to apply for this grant program. Also if the programs help the parents of these students - such as teaching english, etc then those programs too can be eligible for applying for this grant program.

Originally this grant program started out with only public schools in mind but the reality is that it is not only the public schools that provide valuable skills to help students participate and be able to function in the real world. That is why this particular grant program has now been made available for faith-based and other non-profit organizations to apply for.

However schools are still eligible to apply for this grant program if they have an afterschool program that they feel is worthwhile.

Church Turning A Profit?

Did you know that there is a growing trend as far as churches are concerned?

Churches are starting for-profit businesses! And its becoming easier to do!

Of course one of the advantages of operating as a non-profit was that churches didn't have to pay income tax.

But with rising operating costs and lower donations/offerings some churches have decided to go the for-profit route and add a sidelined for-profit business as part of their church.

Would a church still be able to accept non-profit grant program funding? It would depend on how the business is structured.

Are there churches that operate as a non-profit but have a for-profit side business that are still eligible to apply for grants for non-profit/faith-based programs? The answer is yes.