Grant opportunities, tools and events courtesy of USDA-Rural Development

–The Laura Jane Musser Fund seeks to assist public or not-for-profit entities in initiating or implementing projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. The Musser Fund encourages communities, whether represented by local governments, state agencies, or grassroots nonprofit organizations, to use a consensus-based approach to environmental decision-making. This a collaborative process, involving a neutral facilitator where appropriate, that strives to involve all key stakeholders as well as local citizens in developing environmental programs and policies that satisfy common interests. The program is most interested in new programs; willing to fund the planning or implementation phase; and willing to fund projects already in progress if the proposal is compelling. Amount: $35,000. Applications Due: October 1, 2005 http://www.musserfund.org/environmental.htm

–Through its Giving Voice program, the Starbucks Foundation, a philanthropic vehicle of the Starbucks Coffee Company, will fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live. The Starbucks Foundation invites Letters of Inquiry from nonprofit organizations that work with underserved youth in one of two areas: 1) Arts & Literacy — programs that innovatively address literacy and learning for the 21st century, provide high standards of excellence in mastering basic skills, and promote youth voices through a variety of venues; and 2) Environmental Literacy — programs that offer place-based approaches to addressing environmental literacy and empower youth to be heroes for a sustainable environment in their own communities. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. Letters of Inquiry are reviewed twice yearly: we missed the September 1st deadline – so March 1st is next….. For more information, see http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/grantinfo.asp.

–The Otto Bremer Foundation is now offering grants in the area of Civic Engagement. Below is a brief introduction to civic engagement and these new grants. To get more complete information, visit http://www.ottobremer.org, click on Civic Engagement and then click on Why Civic Engagement in the left-hand column.

–Seventh Generation Fund is a California-based nonprofit that provides small grants and technical support to Native American organizations and projects in five primary areas:
* Arts and Cultural Expression
* Environmental Health and Justice
* Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
* Sacred Earth
* Sustainable Communities
Founded in 1977, the Fund is described as the only Native American intermediary foundation and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining the uniqueness of Native Peoples and nations. Activities funded should be focused in the Native community with the purpose,
design and implementation strategy originating from the Indigenous peoples/communities that are served. Three types of grants are offered:
– General Support: ($600 to $10,000) for seed money, general operating expenses, specific projects, or project-related expenses.
– Training and Technical Assistance: ($600 to $5,000) for project-specific training, consultants, or other capacity building needs.
– Mini-Grants: ($50 – $500) for community-based projects. For information go to http://www.7genfund.org/

–Wallace Genetic Foundation is a Washington, DC-based foundation that funds a variety
of activities related to agriculture, land preservation, ecology, conservation, and sustainable development. Specific current areas of interest are sustainable agriculture, protection of
farmland near cities, plant genetic research, biodiversity protection, and environmental education. It is particularly interested in far-sighted groups and individuals with innovative ideas, and seeks to fund organizations whose work promises to provide long-term national or global benefit. Average grant size is $25,000, with an average of $4,000,000 awarded each year. For information go to: http://www.wallacegenetic.org

–Capaciteria is a comprehensive, searchable database directory of administrative resources for nonprofits. Individuals can search more than 100 separate categories on nearly any aspect of philanthropy and nonprofit operations, including fundraising, organizational development, communications, accounting, legal resources, communications, technology and volunteer management. Members of Capaciteria (registration is free) can not only add their own links, but also rate individual resource links based on how useful they were. The search function provides resources based not only on what an individual is looking for, but also on the popularity of each resource. For more information go to: http://www.capaciteria.org

EVENTS:

–In October: “Energizing Entrepreneurship and Hometown Competitiveness” — the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota, and MRP will be co-hosting a round of community workshops led by keynote speakers Don Macke and Craig Schroeder of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dates are October 12 at the Holiday Inn in Willmar – October 13 at Cabela’s in Owatonna – October 18 at the Saw Mill Inn in Grand Rapids – and October 19 at the City Hall in Red Lake Falls. The workshops run from 8:30 to 3:30, cost is $25 to help cover lunch and refreshments. Help us spread the word and register at http://www.minnesotaruralpartners.org

TOOLS

–The Organization of Hope: A Workbook for Rural Asset-Based Community Development is a workbook of, by, and for rural community leaders trying to "use what we’ve got, to get what we want." How do you build your rural community from the inside out? How do you find and mobilize the assets of your small town and rural area? This resource tells inspiring stories of rural communities from across the countryside and draws common rural themes ranging from income patching and individual skill development to community organizing and rural ethnic diversity. It covers points for getting started (or restarted); strategies for turning assets and hope into action and new relationships; and practical examples of appropriate projects and methods to consider for your rural community. It is published by The Asset-Based Communiy Development Institute, Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University and the Blandin Foundation and was written by Luther K. Snow with an Editorial Committee of rural community leaders experienced in asset-based community development. For more information, see http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/abcd.html.

–Kellogg Foundation’s Communications and Marketing Toolkit has developed an online Communications and Marketing Toolkit that outlines the essential elements for building an effective communications and media relations program. Although created primarily for Kellogg Foundation grantees, it contains a number of ideas, resources and links that would be helpful to any nonprofit. The toolkit covers planning, audience identification, media relations, advertising and evaluation of a communications program. It also contains a list of resources for nonprofits to obtain additional information. The online toolkit is available at http://www.wkkf.org/toolkits/Communication/

Suzette Agans

Northwest Region Desk Officer

Office of Community Development

USDA-Rural Development

300 7th Street, SW Rm 266

Washington, DC 20024

Ph: 202-401-1922

Fax: 202-260-6225

My new email address is [email protected]

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Many thanks to Sandi Boughton of Washington State USDA for passing this along. Russ