Community Development Block Grant Program

Housing Trust Fund Corporation

The New York State Community Development Block Grant Program (NYS CDBG) is a federally funded program administered by the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s Office of Community Renewal (OCR). The NYS CDBG Program provides funding to eligible communities for the development of projects providing decent and hazard-free affordable housing, access to safe drinking water, proper disposal of household wastewater, access to community-needed services in local facilities, and fostering economic opportunities through the support of projects that create and/or retain permanent employment opportunities principally benefiting low- and moderate-income persons. The 2009 Annual Competitive Round funds are available for the funding of community development projects in the categories of housing, public facilities and public infrastructure. The primary goal of NYS CDBG economic development funds is to create permanent, sustainable jobs that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include non-entitlement units of general local government. Non-entitlement areas are defined as cities, towns and villages with populations of less than 50,000, except those designated principal cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and counties with populations of less than 200,000.

FUNDING:  The total funds available for these programs are approximately $40 million.

DEADLINE:  March 27, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the Office of Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State Street, Albany, NY 12207; or call 518-474-2057.

Community Garden Capacity Building Program

Department of Agriculture and Markets

The Community Garden Capacity Building Program is intended to support proposals to build capacity of existing community gardens in New York State. The projects must involve outreach materials, organizational planning, community programs, leadership development, and/or fundraising training. The program will be divided into the Upstate and Downstate Regions with funding being split evenly between the two. There are no matching requirements. Projects for which funding is sought should be completed in 1 year or less.

ELIGIBILITY:  Not-for-profit corporations or must be sponsored by a not-for-profit corporation or municipality to act as a fiscal agent for the grant funding.

FUNDING:  Total funding for this program will be $50,000. Each applicant may apply for and receive up to $5,000.

DEADLINE:  May 4, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Ann McMahon at Department of Agriculture and Markets, 10B Airline Drive, Albany, NY 12235, call (518) 457-7728; e-mail: ann.mcmahon@agmkt.state.ny.us; or visit the ‘‘Funding Opportunities’’ section of the Department’s Web site at www.agmkt.state.ny.us.

Community Empowerment for Aging in Place

Department of Health

This community empowerment initiative is intended to sustain the process of enabling people/communities to choose and develop their own supportive services or other improvements to enable older persons to “age in place” and stay in their own neighborhoods. Awards will be made on a competitive basis for the development of community empowerment programs. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, an older person is defined as an individual age 60 or older. It is a goal of the NYS Office for the Aging to fund programs in different geographic areas of the state, subject to the availability of funding, and the application process will be structured with the intent to fund at least two programs that can effectively address the unique challenges facing rural communities. Up to eight awards will be made for either the planning or implementation of innovative programs and activities that enhance community empowerment and provide opportunities for community participation in creating livable, age friendly communities.

ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations and municipalities.

FUNDING:  A total of approximately $245,000 is available.

DEADLINE:  April 17, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Donna DiCarlo, Office for the Aging, Two Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1251; call (518) 474-0441; or e-mail: donna.dicarlo@ofa.state.ny.us.

... On the Federal Level

Women’s Mental Health in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

National Institutes of Health

This funding opportunity announcement solicits exploratory/developmental grant applications on the topic of women’s mental health in relation to pregnancy and the postpartum period. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) encourages research on pre-natal mood and other mental disorders in four areas: clinical course, epidemiology and risk factors; basic and clinical neuroscience; interventions; and services. Research is encouraged both on prenatal non-psychotic mood disorders and on psychotic disorders. Studies exploring the effects of current or lifetime drug abuse, including treatment status and comorbid conditions, on onset and course of mental disorders during the prenatal period are also encouraged. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

ELIGIBILITY:  State governments, county governments, city or township governments, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and not-for-profit organizations.

FUNDING:  Individual grants may receive up to $200,000.

DEADLINE:  May 7, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact the National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Dr., Rm. 1040, Bethesda, MD 20892; call: 301-435-0714; or e-mail: GrantsInfo@nih.gov. To apply for this grant, please visit: http://www.grants.gov/Apply.

... On the Private Level

2009 Special Projects Fund

New York State Health Foundation

The New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) has a broad mission to improve the health of New York State residents. In order to have a tangible impact, most of the Foundation’s grantmaking is focused on three priority areas: expanding health insurance coverage, improving the management and prevention of diabetes, and encouraging the integration of substance use and mental health services. The Foundation also recognizes that it can be an important resource if it is responsive to opportunities that fit its mission, but are outside the three priority areas. For this purpose, NYSHealth expects to award grants as part of the 2009 Special Projects Fund. Special Projects Fund awards replace what were previously known as special opportunities grants, and should be considered one-time, non-renewable funding opportunities. Applicant organizations must show that proposed projects further the charitable mission of the New York State Health Foundation. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation to determine whether a proposed project fits the funding criteria prior to completing and submitting a full application. Such inquiries should be one page in length and must use the inquiry outline provided.

ELIGIBILITY:  Existing not-for-profit and for-profit organizations with a significant presence in New York State.

FUNDING:  A total of $6 million in grants is available.

DEADLINE:   Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact The New York State Health Foundation at 1412 Broadway, Suite 2304, New York, NY 10018; by phone: 212-664-7656; or e-mail: specialprojectsfund@nyshealth.org.

... Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Brooklyn, April 13-17, 2009, hosted by St. Nicholas NPC.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $895, 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.

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training opportunities during March 2009:

Grantseeking Basics:
March 5, 11 and 24
Attendees will learn how the Center’s resources can 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.

Proposal Writing Basics:
March 7 and 11
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their nonprofit organizations.

Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online:
March 5 and 18
This session provides a hands-on introduction to the Center’s comprehensive Web subscription database.

How to Approach a Foundation:
March 26
Attendees will learn how to initiate contact with potential funders; plan calls and meetings; and build partnerships with donors. This class is intended for fundraisers with some experience, though not necessarily with foundations.

Classes are held at The Foundation Center, New York Library, 79 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor in New York City. Space is limited and you can register online at www.fdncenter.org, in person, or by calling (212) 620-4230. You may also visit the Web site for information on other training opportunities available through the Center.

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