Assistance for Providers of Legal Services to Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

New York State Department of Health/AIDS Institute

The New York State Department of Health/AIDS Institute has announced the re-solicitation of state funds for the provision of general legal services for persons living with HIV/AIDS (Component A), and for the provision of training and technical assistance on legal issues for AIDS service providers (Component B).
ELIGIBILITY: Under Component A of the Request for Applications (RFA), eligible applicants must be not-for-profit organizations that currently provide legal services within New York State, such as community-based organizations and academic institutions that provide such services through law school clinics. Under Component B, they will include not-for-profit organizations with relevant HIV legal training experience that currently provide services within New York State.
FUNDING: It is anticipated that six grants of $75,000 each will be awarded for the provision of general legal services for persons living with HIV/AIDS (under Component A), and one grant of $90,000 will be awarded under Component B for the provision of training and technical assistance on legal issues for AIDS service providers. Contracts will be awarded for a period of 12 months, starting on January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005, and may be renewed based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
DEADLINE: Applications must be received by July 19, 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: The full solicitation can be obtained at www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/aids, or from John Cinque-Sacarello, Bureau of Community Support Services, New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, 5th Floor, 5 Penn Plaza, New York, New York 10001; at (212) 268-6535; or by e-mail at jcs04@health.state.ny.us.

…On the Federal Level

Tax Counseling for the Elderly

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The IRS is authorized to enter into agreements to provide training and technical assistance to volunteers who provide free tax counseling and assistance to elderly individuals in the preparation of their Federal income tax returns. Grant funds are used to reimburse volunteers for out-of-pocket expenses including transportation, meals, and other expenses incurred by them in providing tax counseling assistance at locations convenient to the taxpayers.
ELIGIBILITY: Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
FUNDING: A total of $3,950,000 for 100 expected awards.
DEADLINE: 4 p.m. EDT August 2, 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Questions may be directed to Lynn Tyler, TCE Program Analyst, at (202) 283-0189 or at Lynn.R.Tyler@irs.gov. You may also visit www.irs.gov for information.

...Foundations and Organizations

Grosvenor Grants

National Geographic Society Education Foundation

The Grosvenor Grant Program of the National Geographic Society Education Foundation supports efforts to engage K-12 students and teachers in the exploration of geographic skills and perspectives leading to an appreciation of the world, its peoples, and its resources. In 2004, the Grosvenor Grant Program seeks proposals for programs that will raise the visibility of geography education by demonstrating its vibrancy and relevance to students’ lives and the life of the community, state, and region. Proposals are sought in the following categories: establishing geography's position and importance in the K-12 curriculum; engaging K-12 students in real world geographic issues; supporting innovation in professional development of K-12 geography educators; and supporting the work of state geography alliances.
ELIGIBILITY: Partnerships between state geographic alliances, schools, community colleges, universities, businesses, governmental agencies, and other nonprofit organizations are encouraged as a means to promote geography as a core academic subject. First-time applicants must submit a letter of inquiry and receive a reply from NGSEF encouraging submission of a full program.
FUNDING: Details on funding are available through National Geographic.
DEADLINE: 5 p.m. EDT, September 7, 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please direct inquiries about Grosvenor Grants to foundation@ngs.org. Information is also available at the National Geographic web site.

Grants for the Overlooked Needs of Women and Children

The WHO Foundation - Women Helping Others

Women Helping Others nationally supports grassroots charities serving the overlooked needs of women and children. Specific projects and programs addressing health, education and social service needs are their priority.
ELIGIBILITY: In order to qualify for funding, an organization must have 501(c)(3) non-profit status through the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and be qualified to receive deductible charitable contributions. Organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years prior to application. Organizations that have received a WHO Foundation grant in the past must wait three years before applying again. Preference will be given to organizations with an operating budget of $2 million or less, those not dependent upon government grants, and those with greater organizational program costs than personnel costs.
FUNDING: The majority of grants range from $2,500 to $15,000.
DEADLINE: Completed applications for the year 2004 must be received by the Foundation no later than 5 p.m. Central time, September 14, 2004. Grants will be awarded in January 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the WHO Foundation web site.

Substance Abuse Policy Research Program

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program is designed to encourage experts in public health, law, political science, medicine, sociology, criminal justice, economics, psychology, and other behavioral and policy sciences to address issues related to substance abuse. Supported projects are expected to increase understanding of public and private policy interventions to prevent, treat, and reduce the harm caused by the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs -- including the advantages, disadvantages, and potential impact of these policies.
ELIGIBILITY: Preference will be given to applicants who are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a). To be considered favorably, proposals must demonstrate the potential to produce new information that is directly relevant to policies intended to reduce the harm caused by substance abuse.
FUNDING: Up to $3.5 million will be available. Two types of funding are currently available, one for projects totaling less than $100,000 and another for projects totaling $100,000 to $400,000.
DEADLINE: August 27, 2004 for projects of $100,000 to $400,000. For projects less than $100,000, grants are awarded on a rolling basis and applications may be submitted at any time. Proposals may only be submitted online.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For information on the program, eligibility criteria and application requirements, please contact Tracy Enright Patterson, Deputy Director of the National Program Office, at (336) 286-4418 or at pattersont@leaders.ccl.org. You may also visit www.saprp.org.

National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grant Program

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

The NFWF is requesting proposals for projects that assist organizations to be effective co-stewards of our nation's natural resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System. This program provides competitive seed grants to creative and innovative proposals that seek to increase the number and effectiveness of organizations interested in assisting the refuge system nationwide.
ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations or organizations that have applied for non-profit status, including “Friends” groups, cooperative and interpretive associations, Audubon chapters, and other citizen support organizations interested in assisting a refuge or group of refuges and the refuge system as a whole. Applicants must either be tax exempt under Section 501(c) or be in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status and submit with their grant application a copy of their 501(c)(3) application filing.
FUNDING: Grants range from $1,500 to $5,000.
DEADLINE: September 15, 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.nfwf.org/programs/nwrgp.htm.

...Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Training Program

The Grantsmanship Center (TGCI)

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: August 2-6, Deer Park (Suffolk County), hosted by USCT Institute of Suffolk County, United Way of Long Island and LITAC Nonprofit Solutions; and August 16-20, Rochester, hosted by Hillside Family of Agencies.

The class will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center (TGCI) and is 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: Deer Park, call Sherry Radowitz at (631) 940-3708; Rochester, call Eileen Sutton at (585) 256-7982.

Training Programs in New York City

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center is holding a series of grantwriting related programs in New York City this summer. The schedule is as follows:

July 12-16: Summer Training Institute. Limited to 25 attendees, this program will give you a comprehensive understanding of the entire fundraising process, including proposal writing, proposal budgeting, developing a fundraising plan, funding research, and evaluating funding prospects.

July 19: Foundation Fundraising - An Introductory Course. Among other things, attendees will learn grantseeking terminology, the various types of grantmakers, how to use different resources, and how to get started writing grant proposals.

July 20: Proposal Writing Seminar. Attendees will receive information on techniques for writing proposals, how to fine-tune proposals to match a grantmaker's interest, and more.

July 21: Proposal Budgeting Workshop. Learn the role of a budget in a proposal, how to determine both direct and indirect expenses, how to present a budget, and more.

Program costs vary; for more information, visit www.fdncenter.org.