Grant Opportunities

HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative - Planning Grants Program
The application deadline for this program is May 1, 2012

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced their Choice Neighborhoods Initiative - Planning Grants program. The three core goals of the Choice Neighborhoods program are:

1. Housing: transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mid-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term;
2. People: support positive outcomes for families who live in the target development(s) and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents' health, safety, employment, mobility, and education
3. Neighborhood: transform distressed, high-poverty neighborhoods into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs.

There are 17 awards expected, each with an award ceiling of $300,000.

To learn more about this opportunity and to read the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grant Program
The application deadline for this program is May 9, 2012

The Utilities Program of the USDA has announced the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)  grant program. The purpose of this program is to fund organizations proposing to carry out financial and technical assistance programs to private nonprofit, community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, and federally-recognized Native American Tribes.

To find out more about this grant program visit USDA’s web page.

Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program
The application deadline for this program May 10, 2012
 
Funds will be competitively allocated to support planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services.

This grant is designated for federally recognized Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities located in rural and small urban areas with populations under 50,000.

For more information read the Federal Register notice.

In partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders' Network is pleased to announce the formation of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund. The Fund has been created with leadership support from four Network members: the Kendeda Fund, the New York Community Trust, the Summit Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.  

The purpose of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund is twofold: to catalyze partnerships between local government sustainability directors and local, place-based foundations, including community foundations, and to advance important community-based sustainability initiatives. The Fund will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundation. The Network anticipates that the Fund will support up to ten partnership projects in the first year in two rounds in the spring and fall of 2012.

The application deadline for the first round is March 5^th, and you may download the Request for Proposals here. Applications must be submitted in MS Word and use the application Cover Sheet. The Network will host a conference call to provide more information on the fund and review the selection criteria. The call will be held on January 24th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, and you may register for the call by clicking here.

A selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors will make selection decisions on behalf of the matching fund, and awards will be announced on May 5, 2012. For more information on the Local Sustainability Matching Fund, please contact Ann Wallace at ann@fundersnetwork.org or 617-524-9239.

EPA Announces Assistance for Brownfield Assessments

Assessment grants provide funding for developing inventories of brownfields, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities, and conducting site assessments and cleanup planning related to brownfield sites. Assessment grant funds may not be used to conduct cleanups. Assessment grants for individual applicants can be either community-wide or site-specific. Community-wide proposals are appropriate when a specific site is not identified and the applicant plans to spend grant funds on more than one brownfield in its community. Site-specific proposals are appropriate when a specific site has been identified and the applicant plans to spend grant funds on this one site only. The performance period for assessment grants is three years.  For more detailed information on eligibility and how to apply, click here.

Outdoor Recreation and Habitat Conservation Grant Programs 
General Information About the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board (RCFB) Grant Programs. Learn more by visiting the Recreation and Conservation Grants Page. 

Washington State Department of Commerce Resource Page  
The Department of Commerce can connect local jurisdictions, public utilities, ports and other entities to assistance, funding and tools to help your local community plan and grow. Learn more by visiting the Department of Commerce Resource Index Page.

Washington State Department of Health Rural Health Grants 
Links to external resources which provide comprehensive information on rural health care issues. Learn more by visiting the Washington State Department of Health's Rural Health Program Page.

ESRI Grant Assistance Funds 
ESRI continues to seek relationships with organizations by partnering in common task initiatives. Learn more by visiting the Esri Grants Page.

National Geographic Young Explorers Grants  
Young Explorers Grants Program, aimed at individuals ages 18 to 25, has been launched by the National Geographic Society, with support from Lindblad Expeditions, the nation's pioneer in expedition travel to remote and locations. Learn more by visiting the National Geographic Young Explorers Grants Page.