Funding for Parks, Historic Properties and Heritage Areas

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced funding available under Title 9 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1993 for the acquisition, development and improvement of parks, historic properties and heritage areas. In addition, municipalities may apply for funds under the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities.
ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities and not-for-profit organizations with an ownership interest in the property.
FUNDING:   This is a matching grant program; therefore grant recipients will be expected to provide at least 50 percent match to these awards.
DEADLINE:  Competitive applications to receive aid are required and will be accepted through June 30, 2005 for grants made available under these programs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Applications and information on workshops can be found at www.nysparks.com/grants or by contacting Kevin Burns, Chief of Grants, Bureau of Grants Management, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Empire State Plaza, Agency Building One, 16th Floor, Albany, New York 12238; phone (518) 474-0427; fax (518) 486-7377.

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Grants

New York State Department of State

The New York State Department of State is soliciting applications from local governments for matching grants available under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund for local waterfront revitalization projects. Applications will be accepted for the following purposes: urban waterfront redevelopment; preparing or implementing a waterbody/watershed management plan; costal education and NYSCRIP signage programs; making the most of waterfront-community visioning and development of revitalization strategies; completing or implementing a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program; and creating a Blueway Trail.
ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities (cities, towns and villages) located within the State Coastal Area or along a major inland waterway designated pursuant to Executive Law, Article 42.
FUNDING:   Grants will be available for 50% of the total project cost.
DEADLINE:  June 30, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Applications have been transmitted to all eligible municipalities, and are available online at www.nyswaterfronts.com. Should municipalities wish to obtain further information, they should contact the Department of State at 41 State Street, Albany, New York 12231; phone (518) 474-6000.

Hudson River Estuary Program

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Grants are available to protect and enhance the Hudson River Estuary. Eligible project types are: community interpretive centers and education projects; open space planning, inventory and acquisition; community-based habitat conservation and stewardship; watershed planning and implementation; and river access for boating, fishing and swimming.
ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities and not-for-profits located within the boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary.
FUNDING:   Approximately $1,000,000 annually.
DEADLINE:  June 30, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Call (845) 256-3016 or visit www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dpae/grants.html.

Environmental Restoration Program

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

This program provides grants for investigation and remediation activities at municipally-owned brownfield sites.
ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities or municipalities in partnership with community-based organizations.
FUNDING:   $2.3 million for 46 to 50 grants of $50,000 each for one year.
DEADLINE:  Applications are accepted continuously.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Applications may be obtained by calling (518) 402-9711 or at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/der/info/phnum.html.

. . . Foundations and Organizations

Intel Model School Program

Intel

This program identifies schools that desire technology equipment or have a unique project to complete by using Intel products, and can show the improvement in the quality of education experience for both the teacher and the student by using high-end technology.
ELIGIBILITY:  K-12 schools and school districts.
FUNDING:   Intel equipment is provided.
DEADLINE:   Ongoing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.intel.com/modelschool.

K-12 Service-Learning Projects

Constitutional Rights Foundation

The Constitutional Rights Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to educating young people about the importance of civic participation. The Robinson Mini-Grant Program awards grants for projects designed to address community issues such as poverty, hunger, the environment, crime and safety, and aging. The skills that students gain from these projects will help their communities and also help them in their lives as citizens of a democratic society. Projects can be completed at school or in the community.
ELIGIBILITY:  K-12 schools and community agencies that work with K-12 youth may apply. All applications must have an adult sponsor who will ensure that students are involved in planning, designing, and evaluating the project.
FUNDING:   Grants range up to $500.
DEADLINE:  October 14, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.crf-usa.org or contact Katie Moore, Constitutional Rights Foundation, 601 South Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90005; phone (213) 316-2104; fax (213) 386-0459; e-mail katie@crf-usa.org.

Funding for Charities Serving Women and Children

Women Helping Others

The WHO (Women Helping Others) Foundation supports grassroots charities around the country serving the overlooked needs of women and children.
Specific projects and programs addressing health, education, and social service needs are the foundation's priority. The foundation recognizes the value of new programs created to respond to changing needs and will consider funding projects of an original or pioneering nature within an existing organization.
ELIGIBILITY:  Organizations must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and be qualified to receive deductible charitable contributions. In addition, organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years prior to application. Preference will be given to organizations with an operating budget of $2 million or less, those not dependent on government grants, and those with greater organizational program costs than personnel costs. Also, WHO requests that previous award recipients wait three years before applying again. Individuals and religious organizations are not eligible.
FUNDING:   Contact WHO for specific funding details.
DEADLINE:   September 13, 2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.whofoundation.org.

Funding for Women and Girls and Social Change

Open Meadows Foundation

Open Meadows is a grant-making organization for projects that are designed and implemented by women and girls, which does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion or sexual orientation. The Foundation funds projects that are designed and implemented by women and girls; projects that have limited access to financial resources and which reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of our society and promote the empowerment of women and girls; and projects for social change that have encountered obstacles in their search for funding.
ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible projects must be designed and implemented by women and girls.
FUNDING:   The Foundation provides grants of up to $2,000 to cover start-up expenses or to support ongoing projects.
DEADLINE:   August 15 and February 15 annually.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.openmeadows.org, or contact the Foundation by phone at (718) 768-4015 or by e-mail at openmeadows@igc.org. You may also contact the Foundation for a brochure at Open Meadows Foundation, P.O. Box 150-607, Van Brunt Station, Brooklyn, New York 11215-607.

The 2005 Edition of the Catalog of State and Federal Programs Aiding New York's Local Governments

Commission on State-Local Relations

Since December 1986, the Commission on State-Local Relations, currently chaired by Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine, has published The Catalog of State and Federal Programs Aiding New York's Local Governments. This catalog provides state and local officials and the public with a valuable reference tool to help understand the complex flow of aid dollars and program responsibilities in New York. With each new edition, the Commission has worked to enhance and improve the content, organization and presentation of information in the catalog. The Commission's tremendous work was formally recognized when the Fourth Edition of the Catalog was chosen by the Government Information Roundtable of the New York State Library Association to receive its Notable Documents Award, an award presented to outstanding documents produced by New York State government agencies.
The catalog is revised every two years in an effort to produce the most complete, up-to-date printed guide to local aid in New York. It is hoped that the 2005 edition will help users gain a greater understanding of intergovernmental relations here in New York.
For a hard copy of the catalog, please contact the Commission at (518) 455-5035 or at The Commission on State-Local Relations, Agency 4, 14th Floor, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12248. A copy of the catalog will be available shortly at http://assembly.state.ny.us/comm/?sec=post&id=54.

. . . Grant Writing

Grantseeking on the Web

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center's Proposal Writing Seminar will help grantseekers build, strengthen, and polish their proposal writing skills. The class, which costs $195, will be held June 21, 2005 at the Foundation Center's New York City office. For more information, visit www.fdncenter.org, or call (800) 424-9836.

Grantsmanship Training Program

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Syracuse, June 13-17, 2005 hosted by P.E.A.C.E., Inc.

The class will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center 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, call Len Colella at (315) 470-3300.