Featured Grant Opportunity: General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids
General Mills offers a grant funding program, Champions for Healthy Kids, that focuses on promoting healthy nutrition and fitness for America’s youth.
We’re including some basic information on the grant below. For complete details, be sure to visit the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Grant webpage.
Program Overview: Projects offering physical activity and nutrition education to youth ages 2-18 that involve a Registered Dietitian (RD) or a Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) can be funded.
Award: 50 total grants of $20,000 each will be awarded. This is double the $10,000 award amount they offered annually for over 10 years!
Who Can Apply: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, schools, or units of government to be eligible to receive funding. In 2014, your Dietitian must be the official applicant. That person must agree to submit the application on behalf of your organization.
When is the Deadline? March 14th, 2014.
Something Cool or Unique About This Opportunity: This year the funder has included an optional proposal design self-assessment as part of the online application. While use is not required, once you have your project plan details in mind, you can use this tool to determine plan strengths and weaknesses and improve upon your design prior to application submission! Make good use of this valuable tool!
Where Can I Get More Information? Access the application here, and find FAQs put together by General Mills about the grant program here.
NYSED Teacher and School Leader Effectiveness Grant Awards Announced
The New York State Education Department recently announced grant awards for the Strengthening Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Program (STLE 3), and we were pleased to learn that Insight client Alexander Central School District was awarded funding! We worked with Alexander’s administration to write a very strong grant proposal that is now scheduled to receive $96,050 in STLE 3 funding. Alexander’s project is focused on creating career ladders for both teachers and principals that include opportunities for each to be rewarded for high-quality job performance and acceptance of additional duties. The ladders will allow opportunities for teachers and principals to be educators and leaders for their peers in order to create an stronger learning environment for students that facilitates increased achievement of Common Core Learning Standards.
The STLE grants and activities are supported, in whole or in part, by New York State’s Race to to the Top federal funds. STLE 3 grants are targeted to support school districts and charter schools utilizing a comprehensive approach to recruitment, development, support, retention and equitable distribution of effective teachers and school leaders as part of their implementation of an Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) plan.
To see more about the program, including some of the STLE 3 initiatives included in awardees’ plans, access the press release regarding STLE 3. To date, Insight has worked with four school districts on STLE grant proposals, and we are pleased to report that all of the districts have received STLE funding. To see a list of grants won by the Insight Team, visit our awarded grants page.
Featured Grant Opportunity: Ohio Straight A Fund Round 2
The Ohio Department of Education has released application documents for Round 2 of the Straight A Fund Grant Program. The Straight A Fund provides funding to educational entities in Ohio with the drive and courage to try new approaches that:
- Meet the learning needs of its students,
- Reduce the cost of running a school or school district, or
- Drive more dollars to the classroom.
We’re including some basic information on the grant below. For further details be sure to visit the Straight A Fund Program Website.
Program Overview: This is an exciting and unique opportunity because funds can go for virtually any school project that is sustainable and will increase achievement or the amount of resources devoted to the classroom! In the first round of funding, 24 grants representing over 150 school districts and partnering organizations were awarded $88.6 million dollars. Grants funded in the first round of awards included the following initiatives: plans to increase student access to high-tech manufacturing skills, expansion of post-secondary class offerings in Appalachia, expansion of the use of digital technology in classrooms, STEM-focused projects, and support for physical activity and nutrition programs, among others.
Award: Individual applicants can request up to $5 Million, and consortium applicants can request up to $15 Million.
A total of $250 Million was allocated to the Straight A Fund. About $11 Million was earmarked for a specific initiative. In the first round of the grants, $88.6 Million was awarded. Therefore, approximately $150 Million remains available for Round 2 awards. Awards are for Fiscal Year 15.
Who Can Apply: Schools in Ohio
When is the Deadline? The intent to apply period is open through March 7th, 2014. (The intent to apply is neither required nor binding.) Applications for the grant will be accepted from March 20th through April 3rd at 4 PM.
Tips for Proposals: Proposals that are creative and cost effective will have a higher chance at getting funding. The Straight A Fund states that they “are on the lookout for proposals that solve specific problems in our schools, can be quickly duplicated by others and are sustainable.”
The contacts stress that being clear in your application explanations is critical.
The impact of your project will be scored. Think about changes you can make that will make a large impact either because you will affect a lot of students (there were many multi-district winning projects in Round 1) or because you will make a huge change or both.
Something Cool or Unique About This Opportunity: Projects proposed for Straight A funding MUST be sustainable. In addition to providing thorough, detailed narrative explanations about sustainability, applicants must also complete a five-year Financial Impact Table that demonstrates the project can be sustained for at least five years beyond the grant period. Additionally, sustainability is not only scored, but there is an entire scoring round specific to rating sustainability. While you may propose a project that is expected to yield income, and you may discuss that income in your narrative, you may not count income as part of your sustainability plan due to the wording of the funding legislation. The project must be sustainable even without the anticipated income.
More Information/How to Apply: Access the Straight A Fund application here. Webinars aimed at helping potential applicants understand the rules and requirements of the program and application were scheduled for 2/11, 2/18, and 2/25/2014. If you weren’t able to attend a webinar that has already occurred, check out the links to the recorded events at the program’s site.
We’ll continue to add more featured grant opportunities to the Insight Blog. If you would like more information on Insight’s grant writing, editing, or research services, please contact us by phone at 716-474-0981, email info@insightgrants.com, or fill out our online contact form.
Featured Grant Opportunity: AstraZeneca Connections for Cardiovascular Health
The AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation is offering grant funding through their Connections for Cardiovascular Health Program. This exciting program was first offered in 2010.
We’re including some basic information on the grant below. For complete details be sure to visit the AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation program website.
Program Overview: Grant funding will be awarded to US-based, nonprofit organizations working to improve cardiovascular health in their communities.
Schools are eligible applicants, and a school-based project could be competitive, although we caution schools that they will be competing with all kinds of projects for cardiovascular wellness. While a project involving Physical Education (PE) program improvement one piece of a multi-component project, we aren’t confident a project that is aiming solely at PE improvement would be very competitive.
Award: The minimum annual request amount is $150,000. Awards typically range from $150,000 to $250,000 per year. In 2014, applicants may request funding for one- or two-year projects, although the funder indicates that only exceptional projects will be considered for multi-year awards and that even those applicants will have to complete an application process for the second year of funding–funding for both years is not guaranteed by an award made for the first year.
Who Can Apply: Applicants must be US-based, nonprofit organizations with a 501(c) designation or public schools, government entities or municipal institutions that are eligible to accept tax-deductable, charitable contributions. Both individual schools and school districts are eligible to apply! Organizations that have a 509(a)(3)designation are ineligible for funding unless the organization is renewing previously awarded CCH program funding.
When is the Deadline? 2/27/2014
How Much Work is Involved in the Application? This application requires quite a bit of effort. As would be expected with a large award size, the funded is requiring a thorough plan that is well-thought out and justified, and applicants need to present a substantial amount of detail on all aspects of their projects. The funder notes that in 2013, they received 500 applications and made 19 awards. This means 1 in about 26 applicants–3.8%–received awards, making this program extremely competitive. We include these statistics not to discourage you from applying but to underscore the necessity of a very detailed and well-articulated project plan in line with the funder’s rules, requirements, and overall aims.
Something Cool or Unique About this Opportunity: The application must be submitted online, but the funder includes a full PDF of all of the questions and notes to consider as you generate your responses. Even better, the Foundation provides a sample application for potential applicants to help them better understand the types of responses the Foundation is looking for! Make use of this great tool!
More Information/How to Apply: Visit the AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation website for complete program information and click the “how to apply” tab.
We’ll continue to add more featured grant opportunities to the Insight Blog. If you would like more information on Insight’s grant writing, editing, or research services, please contact us by phone at 716-474-0981, email info@insightgrants.com, or fill out our online contact form.
Featured Grant Opportunity: BCBS of Alabama Be Healthy School Grant
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is offering a Be Healthy School Grant for schools in Alabama.
We’re including basic information on the grant below. Be sure to visit the BCBS Alabama Grant press release for more details.
Program Overview: The grant program is designed to help prevent childhood obesity. Grant funding is for the implementation of school-based health and wellness programs that emphasize increased exercise, nutrition education and parental involvement during the school year.
Award: $250,000 total is available. 25 schools will receive awards of up to $10,000 each.
Who Can Apply: Schools in Alabama that enroll students in kindergarten through sixth grades are eligible to apply.
When is the Deadline: March 7th, 2014
More Information/How to Apply: Check out the BCBS of Alabama Grant press release and request an application by emailing CommunityRelations@bcbsal.org.
We’ll continue to add more featured grant opportunities to the Insight Blog. If you would like more information on Insight’s grant writing, editing, or research services, please contact us by phone at 716-474-0981, email info@insightgrants.com, or fill out our online contact form.
Featured Grant Opportunity: BCBS South Carolina Foundation
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of South Carolina is making grants to 501c3 non-profits and government agencies located in and serving target populations in South Carolina.
We’re including basic information on the grant below. Be sure to visit the BCBS South Carolina Foundation grants page for full details and access to the required Letter of Intent form.
Program Overview: The BCBS of South Carolina is making grants for the following topic areas in 2014: Prevention of Obesity, Child/Adolescent Health, Community Health, Health Care and Free Medical Clinics, Mental Health, Nursing Issues, and Research/Special Topics. Details on the focuses of each topic area can be found at the BCBS South Carolina Grants Page.
Award: The funder site indicates there is no specific request limit or range, and that all requests should be justified and reasonable. We contacted the funder to try to obtain a bit more detail here, and the contact responding reiterated the Foundation does not have a specific award range and the importance of providing clear justification for all grant requests.
Who Can Apply: 501c3 non-profits and government agencies located in and serving target populations in South Carolina.
When is the Deadline: There are two grant cycles in 2014. One cycle is in the Spring, and one is in the Fall. For the first cycle, those interested in applying must submit a Letter of Intent using the foundation’s two-page form to be received by 5pm next Wednesday, 2/19/2014. The Letter of Intent may be emailed, mailed, or hand-delivered but must be received by 5pm on the deadline day. The funder notes that overnight deliveries are discouraged since all packages received by the Foundation are first delivered to the corporate mail room. Actual receipt by the Foundation of items sent overnight may take up to three days. Therefore, overnighting your Letter the day before the deadline will most likely mean your letter will be received by the Foundation AFTER the deadline and not be considered.
After reviewing your letter, if the Foundation is interested in your proposed project, the Foundation will request a full grant proposal and indicate the deadline for that proposal.
How Much Work is Involved in the Application? The required Letter of Intent form is brief and allows you to provide a very quick overview of the key components of your project and the population you’ll serve. Due to the short length of this form, and the funder’s requirement responses be limited to the two-page form, completing and submitting it should not require much time at all. We anticipate that most potential applicants with clear ideas in mind about who they will serve, what they will do, and how much that will cost should be able to complete the form in a week or less. The Foundation indicates that cover letters, letters of support, commitment, or recommendations should NOT be included in the submission.
The amount of work required to complete a full application, if requested, is unknown, but we anticipate it would be a typically significant amount of time. Applicants who are asked to complete full grant proposals should be prepared to provide full details on all aspects of their proposed projects and should allow themselves several weeks to prepare their proposals.
We’ll continue to add more featured grant opportunities to the Insight Blog. If you would like more information on Insight’s grant writing, editing, or research services, please contact us by phone at 716-474-0981, email info@insightgrants.com, or fill out our online contact form.
Featured Grant Opportunity: HEAL Appalachia
The HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Appalachia Community Grants Program provides grants to community organizations to support new efforts and expand existing efforts to measurably reduce childhood obesity.
We’re including basic information on the grant below. Be sure to visit the HEAL Appalachia Grants Page for full details and access to the grant application.
Program Overview: The purpose of the Community Grants Program is to support new efforts or expand existing efforts to improve children’s healthy by promoting healthy eating and active living initiatives throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Projects should promote the 5-2-1-0 message and facilitate achievement of that aim. 5-2-1-0 stands for consumption of 5 or more fruits and vegetables daily, 2 or fewer hours of recreational screen time daily, 1 or more hours of physical activity daily, and 0 sugary drinks–more water and low-fat milk instead.
Award: There are two levels of awards: $2,000 and $5,000. Fifteen grants of $2,000 will be made, and four grants of $5,000 will be made. Applicants requesting $5,000 will automatically be considered for $2,000 awards as well, though only one award is likely to be made. An applicant may only submit one application. Awards will be announced at the April 16, 2014 Annual HEAL Symposium–awardees must attend the Symposium.
Who Can Apply: Community-based non-profit organizations located in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Northeast Tennessee is defined as the following counties: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. Southwest Virginia is defined as the following counties: Buchanan, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington/Bristol City, Wise/Norton City, and Wythe.
When is the Deadline?: Monday, February 17th, 2014
How Much Work is Involved in the Application? The application is not particularly lengthy. The narrative section of the application requires 200 to 500 words.
Something Cool or Unique About This Opportunity: Although most private funders/foundations offer very little (if any) information on how the application will be scored, this funder has provided a rubric for you to refer to as you prepare your application: http://www.healappalachia.com/uploads/pdf_files/HEAL_2014FOA_Exhibit.pdf. Note that separate rubrics have been provided for new grant projects and “existing grants” (projects that received HEAL funding last year). Make good use of this tool!
We’ll continue to add more great featured grant opportunities to the Insight Blog. If you would like more information on Insight’s grant writing, editing, or research services, please contact us by phone at 716-474-0981, email info@insightgrants.com, or fill out our online contact form.
