June 2013
Vol. 27, #6
Information
on available
state, federal
and private
grants


NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER SHELDON SILVER


Look
inside for:

  • Funding for proposals from experts in behavior research to develop pilot experiments in clean energy
  • Funding for projects that provide access to healthy foods and create jobs in low-income communities
  • Grants for the creation of research institutes, centers, or large groups to study new frontiers in physics
  • In-kind donations of musical instruments for underfunded music programs
  • Grants for concept papers on preventing childhood obesity
  • Postdoctoral fellowship for researchers in the field of Earth Sciences
  • Summer Stipends for projects on bridging cultures within the U.S. and around the world
  • Grant writing classes

Questions?

Contact:
Grants Action News
New York State Assembly
Alfred E. Smith Building
80 S. Swan St.
Suite 1710
Albany, NY 12248
grants@assembly.state.ny.us

On the state level...

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is requesting proposals from experts in behavior research, including cognitive scientists, sociologists, psychologists, social psychologists, behavioral economists, and clean energy program evaluation experts. The goal of this research is to conduct a range of successful pilot experiments that could serve as models for follow-on, larger-scale behavior demonstration programs and full-scale clean energy programs deployed in New York State. This is the second round of the solicitation and it is seeking proposals under Category A at this time. NYSERDA is interested in innovative pilot proposals that include an experimental research design and proposed behavioral intervention(s) to influence clean energy (energy-efficiency, conservation (energy and water) and renewable energy) behaviors and decision making. Proposals must be from a behavior expert and include an experienced field implementation party and/or clean energy program, and identify the location/region in New York State where the pilot will occur. NYSERDA intends to award multiple contracts under this category. Estimated contract period: 1 to 2 years.

  • Eligibility: The proposers under this solicitation should hold advanced degree(s) in the cognitive sciences, psychology, social psychology, sociology, behavioral economics, and/or the evaluation sciences, and at least one team member must hold a doctoral degree in the same. Proposers must have experience designing, implementing and evaluating behavioral programs; demonstrate knowledge of the growing body of behavioral literature relevant to influencing energy-related decision making; and be able to work with diverse project partners and dynamic programs.

  • Funding: $400,000 is available for behavior research pilot proposals (from $35,000 to $100,000 per proposal depending upon scope).

  • Deadline: August 8, 2013. It is expected that award recommendations will be made by Oct. 15, 2013, for successful behavior pilot proposals under this solicitation.

  • Contact: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority PON 2631
    17 Columbia Circle
    Albany, NY 12203-6399
    Marsha Walton
    Phone (518) 862-1090, ext. 3271
    Email: mlw@nyserda.org
    Website: www.nyserda.ny.gov/Funding-Opportunities/Current-Funding-Opportunities/PON-2631-Behavior-Research-and-Energy-Decision-Making.aspx



On the federal level...

Department of Health and Human Services

The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services has announced funding for Community Development Corporations (CDC) projects that will implement innovative strategies for increasing healthy food access while achieving sustainable employment and business opportunities for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other low-income individuals whose income level does not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Through the Community Economic Development program and within the framework of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, OCS will provide technical and financial assistance for healthy food ventures designed to: (1) improve access to, and the purchase and consumption of healthy, affordable foods; and (2) address the economic needs of low-income individuals and families through the creation of employment and business opportunities in low-income communities. In 2013, OCS is offering bonus points for projects in underserved areas in New York State; projects located in rural communities or that plan to hire low-income individuals from rural communities to fill positions created; and projects that include a collaboration with other Federal HFFI programs from the Departments of Treasury and Agriculture. The initiative builds upon the work led by First Lady Michelle Obama as part of the Let’s Move! initiative to promote active living, encourage healthy eating, and end childhood obesity.

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is now accepting applications for their Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program. The PFC program is designed to provide support to enable research at the frontiers of physics when the activities are of a scope and complexity that would not be feasible with standard individual investigator or small group support. Through the PFC program, university researchers can form centers, institutes, or large group efforts that lead to major new ideas, discoveries, or broad advances in physics or at the boundaries of physics with other disciplines. Activities supported through the program are in all sub-fields of physics within the purview of the Division of Physics: atomic, molecular, optical, plasma, elementary particle, nuclear, astro-, gravitational, and biological physics. Interdisciplinary projects at the interface between these physics areas and other disciplines and physics sub-fields are also included, although the bulk of the effort should fall within one of those areas within the purview of the Physics Division. A successful PFC activity will demonstrate: (1) the potential for a profound advance in physics; (2) creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, diversity, and public outreach; (3) potential for broader impacts, e.g., impacts on other field(s) and benefits to society; (4) a synergy or value-added rationale that justifies a center- or institute-like approach.


On the private level...

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is now accepting applications from underfunded music programs for in-kind donations of musical instruments. Through the Michael Kamen Grant, the foundation will donate musical instruments to music programs that serve low-income communities and have little or no budget for musical instruments. Priority is given to programs serving the most students within a school population. The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is also interested in offering assistance to school music programs to replace musical instruments that were lost and/or damaged from the Hurricane Sandy storm. If your school has determined that your music program will not receive assistance to replace musical instruments through the school’s insurance policy or FEMA, the Foundation encourages you to apply.


Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is accepting concept papers for research on environmental and policy strategies with the potential to promote healthy eating and prevent childhood obesity, especially among lower-income and racial and ethnic populations at highest risk for obesity. Through its Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity program, the foundation will award its Round 8 grants with the aim of providing advocates, decision-makers and policymakers with evidence needed to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.


Scholars Awards…

National Science Foundation

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) offers 2-year postdoctoral fellowships to provide opportunities for scientists early in their careers to obtain training beyond their graduate education. EAR focuses on improving our understanding of the Earth’s structure, composition, evolution, and the interaction with the Earth’s biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The postdoctoral fellowship program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, and provide them with experience that will establish them in positions of leadership in the scientific community. During the tenure of the fellowships, participants would be conducting research on topics supported by EAR and implementing a broadening participation plan. A research plan whose focus falls within the scope of any of the EAR disciplines is eligible for support. Some EAR disciplines include EarthScope, Geobiology and Low Temperature Geochemistry, Geomorphology and Land Use Dynamics, Geophysics, Hydrologic Sciences, Petrology and Geochemistry, Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology, and Tectonics. Projects may employ any combination of field, laboratory, and computational studies with observational, theoretical, or experimental approaches.


National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announces its Summer Stipends program to support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Past recipients have produced articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources. NEH welcomes projects that respond to NEH’s Bridging Cultures initiative. Such projects could focus on cultures internationally or within the United States. International projects might seek to enlarge Americans’ understanding of other places and times, as well as other perspectives and intellectual traditions. American projects might explore the great variety of cultural influences on, and myriad subcultures within, American society. Such projects might also investigate how Americans have approached and attempted to surmount seemingly unbridgeable cultural divides, or examine the ideals of civility and civic discourse that have informed this quest. In connection with a focus on civic discourse, projects might explore the role of women in America’s civic life as well as the civic role of women in other cultures and regions of the world. Summer Stipends support projects at any stage of development.


The Foundation Center
The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training classes in New York City during July 2013.
Grant writing

Grant-seeking Basics: July 2
Attendees will learn how the Center’s resources help make them more effective grantseekers. For beginners, this introduction to the library provides instruction in foundation research and identification of potential funders. A tour of the library will follow.

Introduction to Finding Funders: July 2
This class provides a hands-on introduction on how to use the center’s comprehensive online database – The Foundation Directory Online – to research and identify potential funders. The Foundation Directory Online contains over 100,000 profiles of grant-making institutions.

Proposal Writing Basics: July 9
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their nonprofit organization.

Proposal Budgeting Basics:July 9
Attendees will learn how to prepare and present a budget in a grant proposal. This session is geared toward novice grantseekers.

How to Approach a Foundation:July 11
Attendees will learn how to initiate contact with potential donors, plan calls and meetings, and build partnerships with sponsors. This class is intended for fundraisers who have some experience but are not experts.

In addition:

Classes are held at The Foundation Center, located at:

New York Library
79 Fifth Ave. 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10003

Space is limited, so register as soon as possible.

For additional training opportunities, to register, or for more information, call 212-620-4230 or visit www.foundationcenter.org.


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