March 2013
Vol. 27, #3
Information
on available
state, federal
and private
grants


NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER SHELDON SILVER


Look
inside for:

  • Grants to address exposure of communities to environmental harms and risks
  • Solicitation to promote lenders to provide low-interest loans for green jobs and green energy projects
  • Grants to support Superfund research projects and training programs
  • Funding to promote undergraduate teams to build test vehicles to be launched by NASA
  • Grants for K-12 educators to provide innovative teaching methods that will positively influence students
  • Funding to support the preservation of endangered languages
  • Grant writing classes

Questions?

Contact:
Grants Action News
New York State Assembly
Alfred E. Smith Building
80 S. Swan St.
Suite 1710
Albany, NY 12248
grants@assembly.state.ny.us

On the state level...

N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation

The Department of Environmental Conservation will provide state assistance funding through the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants and the Green Gems Grants to community-based organizations for projects that address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks. Projects proposed for the Community Impact Grant funding must address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks, must be located within the community served by the applicant organization, and must include research that will be used to expand the knowledge or understanding of the affected community. The Green Gems Grant will provide funding for smaller scale projects with a research and educational component that will be used to expand the knowledge or understanding of the affected community. Eligible projects must involve education, stewardship, or monitoring activities related to parks, open space, community gardens or green infrastructure.

  • Eligibility: Applicants for both grants must be a community-based organization or a partnership of multiple community-based organizations; have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; must focus on addressing the environmental and/or public health problems of the residents of the community that is impacted by the multiple environmental harms and risks that are the focus of the project; have a history of serving the residents of the affected community; have its primary office located in the affected community; have more than 50% of its members or the people served by the organization living in the affected community; and the applicant must declare that it has not caused or contributed to the environmental harms or risks that are to be the subject of the project.

  • Funding: Community Impact Grant awards range from $10,000 to $50,000 and Green Gems Grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000.

  • Deadline: April 5, 2013

  • Contact: Office of Environmental Justice
    625 Broadway, 14th Floor
    Albany, NY 12233-1500
    Phone: (518) 402-8556
    Website: www.dec.ny.gov/public/31226.html


N.Y.S. Energy, Research and Development Authority

The New York State Energy, Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) invites lenders to partner with NYSERDA to offer Green Jobs/Green New York (GJGNY) financing products for small businesses and not-for-profits who seek low-interest rate financing to implement recommended energy efficiency improvements. Participating lenders will be able to offer participating customers one of two low-interest financing products:

1)An On-Bill Recovery (OBR) Loan, in which the lender originates a loan not to exceed $50,000 at a set interest rate of 2.5% on behalf of NYSERDA using NYSERDA’s underwriting criteria. The loan term will be a fixed term not greater than 10 years; and

2)A Participation Loan, in which NYSERDA and a lender participate in providing the principal for a loan. NYSERDA’s share of the loan will be 50% of the Eligible Loan Amount, up to a maximum of $50,000, at 0% interest. The lender’s share will be the remaining portion of the Eligible Loan Amount at market rate. Loan terms cannot exceed 10 years.

Lenders can choose to offer one or both financing products. The terms and conditions for each product are a part of each agreement. NYSERDA will use these agreements to establish a list of lenders willing to provide GJGNY loans. The list will be posted on the NYSERDA website.



On the federal level...

National Institutes of Health

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is announcing the continuation of the Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program, referred to as Superfund Research Program (SRP) Centers. SRP Center grants will support problem-based, solution-oriented research centers that consist of multiple, integrated projects representing both the biomedical and environmental science disciplines as well as cores tasked with administrative, community engagement, research translation, research support and training functions. The scope of the SRP Centers is taken directly from the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, and includes: (1) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effect on human health of hazardous substances; (2) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances; (3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; and (4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters

The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is issuing this Undergraduate Student Instrument Project (USIP) Educational Flight Opportunity (EFO) for the purpose of soliciting proposals for U.S. university undergraduate student teams to design, build, test and fly a science payload on a NASA suborbital vehicle, such as a sounding rocket, balloon, aircraft or commercial suborbital reusable launch vehicle. The goals and objectives of the USIP flow down from the 2011 NASA Strategic Plan which states: “Establish and maintain a workforce that possesses state-of-the-art technical and business management competencies. Improve retention of students in STEM disciplines and provide NASA experiences that inspire student interest and achievement in STEM disciplines.” SMD recognizes the vital role that suborbital carriers have and currently play in training the country’s future science and technology leaders. This EFO is intended to expand current research opportunities by specifically offering undergraduate students an exciting student-led, hands-on suborbital flight project to develop and fly a science payload on a NASA suborbital vehicle. In formulating the student team, universities are encouraged to involve students across its many schools, (e.g., science, engineering, and humanities).


On the private level...

ING Unsung Heroes

The ING Unsung Heroes awards program annually recognizes K-12 educators in the United States for their innovative teaching methods, creative educational projects, and ability to positively influence the children they teach. ING Unsung Heroes began in 1995 as a way for ING U.S. to demonstrate its commitment to the education community. Grants are given to K-12 educators utilizing new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning. Each year, educators submit applications for an ING Unsung Heroes grant by describing projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. Each project is judged on its:

Educators are invited to submit grant applications describing class projects they have initiated or would like to pursue.


The Endangered Language Fund

The Endangered Language Fund (ELF) was founded in 1996 with the goal of supporting language preservation and documentation projects. The Endangered Language Fund provides grants for language maintenance and linguistic field work. The work most likely to be funded is that which serves both the native community and the field of linguistics. Work which has immediate applicability to one group and more distant application to the other will also be considered. Publishing subventions are a low priority, although they will be considered. Proposals can originate in any country. The language involved must be in danger of disappearing within a generation or two. Endangerment is a continuum, and the location on the continuum is one factor considered in funding decisions.


Grant writing

The Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training classes in New York City during April 2013.

Grant-seeking Basics: April 6
Attendees will learn how the Center’s resources 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.

Introduction to Finding Funders: April 6, 17
This class provides a hands-on introduction on how to use the center’s comprehensive online database – The Foundation Directory Online – to research and identify potential funders. The Foundation Directory Online contains over 100,000 profiles of grant-making institutions.

Proposal Writing Basics: April 9, 25
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their nonprofit organization.

Proposal Budgeting Basics:April 9, 25
Attendees will learn how to prepare and present a budget in a grant proposal. This session is geared toward novice grantseekers.

How to Approach a Foundation:April 30
Attendees will learn how to initiate contact with potential donors, plan calls and meetings, and build partnerships with sponsors. This class is intended for fundraisers who have some experience but are not experts.

In addition:

Classes are held at The Foundation Center, located at:

New York Library
79 Fifth Ave. 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10003

Space is limited, so register as soon as possible.

For additional training opportunities, to register, or for more information, call 212-620-4230 or visit www.foundationcenter.org.


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