Dementia Grants Program

New York State Department of Health

This program will provide funding for nursing home projects that improve quality of care and/or quality of life for residents with dementia. Nursing homes must propose three-year projects, which must include a rigorous internal evaluation to determine, among other results, their effectiveness in producing the predicted resident outcomes.
ELIGIBILITY:  Licensed nursing homes.
FUNDING:  Up to $8.25 million will be awarded. Maximum average annual award for the three-year period is $300,000 or $900,000 per application.
DEADLINE:  4:30 p.m., December 29, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.health.state.ny.us/funding; phone (518) 238-4164; fax (518) 238-4165; or e-mail dementiagrantsprogram@nehealth.com.

New York State Quality Communities Program

New York State Department of State (DOS)

Under this program, funds are available for planning projects that revitalize downtowns, develop strong economies, and protect environmental resources. Eligible applicants may apply for grants by submitting proposals that incorporate one or more of the following programs: Intermunicipal Growth, Community Growth, Community Open Space, Mountain Communities, and Community Center.
ELIGIBILITY:  Counties, towns, cities, villages, local public authorities, local public benefit corporations, Indian tribes/nations, and not-for-profit corporations (under certain circumstances).
FUNDING:  Contact DOS for details.
DEADLINE:  4:00 p.m., November 17, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.qualitycommunities.org, call (518) 473-3355 or send an e-mail to QC@dos.state.ny.us.

Layoff Aversion Training Activities Grant Program

New York State Department of Labor (DOL)

This program provides funds to support training needs contained within a business’ layoff aversion strategy. Activities may include, but are not limited to: off the shelf training courses to upgrade employee skills, classroom based or consultant training, in-house training provided by company staff; and on-the-job training for new machinery or new work processes.
ELIGIBILITY:  Private sector for-profit and not-for-profit businesses with at least one physical location in New York State or an incorporated local workforce investment board working with and applying on behalf of an affected business.
FUNDING:  Check with DOL. A minimum match of 50% of the total cost of the proposed training project is required.
DEADLINE:  Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.workforcenewyork.com or contact Karen Coleman at (518) 457-0361.

. . . Foundations and Organizations

New York State Conservation Partnership Program

Land Trust Alliance

The Land Trust Alliance has announced a fifth round of New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) grants. Matching grants will be awarded in four categories: Conservation Capacity & Excellence; Conservation Catalyst; Land Conservation Transaction; and Professional Development. The program is administered by the Land Trust Alliance in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The overarching goals of NYSCPP grants are 1) to dramatically increase the pace of land conservation in New York and 2) to guide land trusts toward implementation of Land Trusts Standards and Practices, the accepted ethical, legal, and operational standards for land trust excellence.
Land trusts may apply for up to two Conservation Transaction grants and, in addition, may also apply for one grant in the Conservation Capacity & Excellence and/or Conservation Catalyst grant categories. Land trusts invited to submit a full proposal for a Professional Development grant may apply only for one Conservation Transaction Grant.
ELIGIBILITY:  Land trusts must be in New York and a Land Trust Alliance member. Applicants are encouraged to provide letters of support from local governments and/or other public partners in the project area. Proven collaboration amongst local partners can make a grant application more competitive. Preference is given to projects that specifically support protection of priority areas identified in the New York State Open Space Plan (www.dec.state.ny.us.)
FUNDING:  A total of $400,000 will be invested for the matching grant awards. Selected projects must document at least a 1:1 match ratio, the cash portion of which must come from non-State funding sources. To date, grant awards have ranged from $1,000 to $46,000.
DEADLINE:  Matching grant proposals for Capacity & Excellence Grants, Conservation Catalyst Grants, and Conservation Transaction Grants must be received by January 24, 2007. Letters of Interest (pre-proposals) for Professional Development Grants are due November 15, 2006. Full proposals will be considered on an invitation basis and must be received by January 24, 2007.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Applications and grant guidelines are available at www.lta.org/resources/ltagrants.htm. You may also contact Ethan Winter, Northeast Program Coordinator, Land Trust Alliance Northeast Program, 112 Spring Street, Suite 205, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866; phone (518) 587-0774; e-mail ewinter@lta.org.

Relatives as Parents Program

The Brookdale Foundation Group

The Brookdale Foundation Group has announced the Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) Local Seed Grant Initiative for 2007. RAPP is designed to encourage and promote the creation or expansion of services for grandparents and other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting, when the biological parents are unwilling or unable to do so. The program is intended to award seed grants to local agencies, to private support groups and at least two other supportive services to relative caregivers and their families; encourage cooperation and collaboration among various service systems; ensure the development, expansion and future continuity of local services; and create replicable models of service.
ELIGIBILITY:  Local community based agencies. The sponsoring agency must be a 501(c)(3) entity or have equivalent tax-exempt status. Selected agencies will be required to attend the Brookdale Foundation’s National Orientation and Training Conference in Denver, Colorado in June 2007.
FUNDING:  Selected agencies will receive a $10,000 grant over a two-year period ($6,000 in the first year and $4,000 in the second year if all grant requirements have been met) as well as training and technical assistance. Matching support in cash or in-kind will be required of all selected agencies.
DEADLINE:  January 11, 2007.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.brookdalefoundation.org for local RFP guidelines and application forms. Requests for the local RFP packets, written on agency letterhead, may also be submitted to the Relatives as Parents Program, The Brookdale Foundation Group, 950 Third Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

We the People Bookshelf Project

American Library Association and the NEH

As part of its We the People initiative, the National Endowment for the Humanities is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office to present “We the People Bookshelf,” a program designed to encourage young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history.
ELIGIBILITY:  School districts (K-12) and public library systems are invited to apply on behalf of the multiple schools or branches they comprise. Individual branch or school libraries may also apply.
FUNDING:  2,000 public and school libraries will receive free books.
DEADLINE:  January 31, 2007.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.wethepeople.gov/bookshelf or contact the ALA’s Public Programs Office at (312) 280-5045 or publicprograms@ala.org.

Youth Baseball and Softball Programs

Baseball Tomorrow Fund

This initiative promotes and enhances the growth of youth participation in baseball and softball by funding programs, fields, coaches' training, uniforms, and equipment. Grants are intended to finance a new program, expand or improve an existing program, undertake a new collaborative effort or obtain facilities or equipment necessary for youth baseball or softball programs.
ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations involved in youth baseball and softball programs.
FUNDING:  Visit the web site below.
DEADLINE:  Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year and selected applicants are invited to submit a full application. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/community/btf.jsp.

. . . Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Troy, November 6-10, hosted by Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Greater Capital Region; Binghamton, Janaury 22-26, 2007, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County; and Buffalo, March 26-30, 2007, hosted by American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $825, which includes one-year enrollment in the TGCI Membership Program. A limited number of half-tuition scholarships are available to agencies with annual budgets of less than $300,000.

To register, or to apply for a scholarship, contact TGCI at (800) 421-9512 or visit www.tgci.com. For local information and arrangements for the Troy workshop, please contact Tonya Milligan at (518) 272-6012 or tmilligan@ceo-cap.org or Karen Wendling at (518) 272-6012. Local contacts for the Binghamton and Buffalo workshops will be announced in future issues of the Grants Action News.

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center is holding the following classes:

Nonprofit Boards and Fundraising in New York City, November 9
Learn how to quickly assess your board members’ fundraising potential and develop strategies to motivate them. Designed for nonprofit managers and board members.

Outcome Thinking and Management:
Shifting Focus from Activities to Results in New York City, November 15
This course teaches the merits of outcome-based planning and management. Learn to use milestones to ensure progress, verify success, and empower your staff rather than overwhelm them. Designed for nonprofit managers and funders.

Proposal Budgeting Workshop in New York City, November 16
Case studies show how to put your knowledge to best advantage in organizing your financials. For beginners and fundraisers with limited budgeting experience.

For more information on these and other scheduled classes, visit www.foundationcenter.org/marketplace/training or contact the Foundation Center at 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10003-3076; (212) 620-4230.