Funding Opportunities & Resources

Youth Service America with support from the State Farm Companies Foundation is offering youth-led community improvement projects in the United States and Canada (Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick provinces only). Grants are available to support teachers and service-learning coordinators to design service-learning projects for students (ages 5-25). Interested applicants are encouraged to implement semester-long projects to be launched on Martin Luther King Day (January 19, 2009) and extended through Global Youth Service Day (April 24-26, 2009). The application deadline is October 15, 2008.

Schools or organizations planning to garden with 15 or more children and youth between the ages of 3 and 18 with a focus on nutrition and/or hunger are eligible to apply for materials gift certificates, seeds, curriculum, and support from the National Gardening Association.

To learn more go to http://www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts.asp

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors middle and high school students who have engaged in a community volunteer service activity within the past year. Students in grades 5 – 12 are encouraged to apply. Awards are available for both State and National Honorees. The application deadline is October 31, 2008. For more information and to apply, click here.

Non-profit organizations and educational organizations that support early childhood education and development, technology and communication projects that advance learning opportunities, and sport or athletic programs that concentrate on underserved youth are eligible to apply for Lego Children’s Fund Grants. Grant amounts are between $500.00 – $5,000.00. Applications are accepted quarterly with the next deadline on November 1, 2008. For more information and to apply, click here.

Schools or community organizations that have child centered garden with an educational, nutritional, environmental, and/or social focus are eligible to apply for the 2009 Youth Garden Grant Awards sponsored by Home Depot and the National Gardening Association.

For more information go to http://www.kidsgardening.com/YGG.asp

This grant from the Western Growers Foundation offers up to $1,500. It may also include an irrigation kit, seeds, teacher resources, local contacts that assist in the planning, and sustaining of the garden, and local retail contacts that will help make the $1,500 stretch as far as it can.

http://www.wga.com/WhoWeAre/WesternGrowersFoundation/SchoolGardenProgram...

Schools, nature centers and other non-profit and not-for-profit places of learning including houses of worship are eligible to apply for Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education grants. The grants will provide funding only for the purchase of native plants and seed to be used in an educational setting. The application deadline is November 15, 2008. For more information and to apply, click here.

Eligible Applicants: institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, other organizations or agencies Required Eligibility Criteria: Summer sites must be established to serve all children in the community while on school vacation and not enrolled for day care. Meals must be served to all children at the same time and in the same eating area. Sponsoring agencies serving snacks after school, must serve meals during summer vacation. Application results are provided within 30 days.

Organizations located in the 3M communities (the following are CA specific) of Corona, Irvine, Monrovia, Northridge, Ontario, and Petaluma and are involved in initiatives to increase student interest and achievement in math, science, or economics; afterschool programs with other learning and/or prevention components; as well as organizations with initiatives to enhance the quality of cultural life, or the sustainability of the planet are eligible to apply for 3M Community Giving grants.  The deadline is rolling, and to apply a letter of inquiry must be sent to the local 3M facility.&nbsp

The Comcast Foundation is awarding ongoing grants to non-profit organizations in communities
that Comcast serves. The foundation's primary focus is in funding diversity-oriented programs that address literacy, volunteerism and youth leadership development. For more information and to apply click on the link:
http://www.comcast.com/corporate/about/inthecommunity/foundation/comcast...

The Public Welfare Foundation accepts proposals throughout the year to provide general supports
and project specific grants for public, non-profit, and private organizations that work to ensure fundamental rights and opportunities for people in need. Focuses for funding in 2008 include criminal and juvenile justice, health reform, and workers rights. The first step in the application process is submitting a letter of inquiry. For more information, click on the link:
http://www.publicwelfare.org/

The Inyo county Office of Education has made an award available to provide training and technical assistance to state and federally funded after schools programs within Region 10. Contact Damian Maldonado for more information at (831) 661-0237 or e-mail dm_consulting@sbcglobal.net

Non-profit organizations that align with the mission to teach, train, and inspire people from all walks of life by providing educational and growth opportunities with a focus on job skills and education and a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth are eligible to apply for Staples Foundation for Learning Grants. The application period is between June 2, 2008 and June 16, 2008. For more information and to apply, click here.