United Way to recruit 100,000

To help schools and communities improve, United Way Worldwide has announced that it plans to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors, and mentors.

The effort was prompted by a new report, Voices for the Common Good: American Speaks Out on Education, which found that 29 percent of Americans are concerned their children will drop out of school. Based on numerous focus groups and a national telephone survey, the report also found that Americans don't feel the problems of young people and education are confined to public schools. Most people believe that when you improve schools, you improve communities, and instilling values is as important to people as a solid education.

In response to the United Way's campaign, the United Way Women's Leadership Council, a network of nearly 50,000 women in 120 communities across the country, agreed to recruit 100,000 volunteers who will focus on early grade literacy. United Way Worldwide also is recruiting volunteers through its Web site.

"Few issues are as important as the national debate on our education systems, yet the voices of everyday people haven't been part of the conversation," said Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide. "United Way has been listening to the concerns of Americans across the country, and what we're hearing is that they care deeply about the success of the schools and young people in their communities, and they want to be involved."

“3 in 10 Americans Are Worried Their Children Will Drop Out of School.” United Way Worldwide Press Release 3/31/11.

Music grants

The ASCAP Foundation is a publicly supported charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs.

The foundation is accepting Letters of Intent for new 2012 grant funding from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations engaged in music education and talent development programs for aspiring songwriters and composers.

The foundation does not consider requests for general operating or administrative support or annual giving campaigns, capital purposes, endowments, deficit operations, recordings, marketing efforts, or performance and production funding. The foundation does not purchase advertisements, sponsor events, or donate equipment.

The foundation's average grant is between $1,500 and $3,000 and is made on an annual one-time basis.

Grant applications are by invitation only. Applicants must first submit a LOI and then be invited by the ASCAP Foundation to complete and submit a full grant application.

Visit the ASCAP Foundation Web site for complete grant guidelines, application procedures, and the LOI form.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Strategic Planning training - $20

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Foundation Center

Presents

Strategic Planning

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Mt. Lebanon Public Library

This session will look at nonprofit planning for a new economy. The traditional rules of strategic planning still apply but, in some respects, they have been turned on their head by exigencies beyond the control of the nonprofit organization. We will look at models that work and will consider what adjustments in organizational planning might be appropriate, given the changes in the way we engage with donors, clients/constituents and the public. Every organization wants to reach the goals that achieve their mission. This presentation offers a fresh take on planning and strategies based on years of working with nonprofits to enhance their business practices.

Previously a senior consultant with First Side Partners, Matthew Dooley is a consultant and project manager with more than 25 years as a non-profit executive and board member, helping organizations meet the challenges of today. His expertise includes organizational capacity building, short and long-range planning, fundraising and board development. He teaches courses in nonprofit management at CMU and Duquesne Universities, and has served as guest lecturer for The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management and the Erie Foundation. Matt is also the Managing Director of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh.

The cost to attend this program is $20 per person and includes a light continental breakfast. Payment can be made at the door with either cash or a check made payable to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

To register, please call the Foundation Center at 412-622-6277.

________________________________

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Foundation Center is a Cooperating Collection of The Foundation Center in New York City.

Women Helping Others Foundation Invites Grant Applications for Programs to Assist Women and Children

[from Philanthropy News Digest]

The WHO (Women Helping Others) Foundation supports grassroots charities that serve the overlooked needs of women and children in the United States and Puerto Rico.

The foundation prioritizes specific projects and programs that address health and social service needs. The foundation recognizes the value of new programs created to respond to changing needs and will consider projects of an original or pioneering nature within an existing organization.

Grant applications are welcome from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that have been incorporated for at least three years and that have total organizational budgets of $3 million or less.

Preference will be given to organizations that are not dependent on government grants, and those with greater organizational program costs than personnel costs. Organizations that have previously received a WHO Foundation grant should wait three years before applying again.

Grants are not provided to individuals, educational institutions, religious institutions, or governmental agencies, or for endowment campaigns, political causes, or capital campaigns.

Grants will range from $1,000 to $40,000.

Complete funding guidelines, eligibility restrictions, and application procedures are available at the WHO Foundation Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Fundraising 101 Workshop

Fundraising 101

Saturday, April 2, 2011

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

This course will introduce the novice fundraiser to the fundamental concepts and techniques of nonprofit fundraising including:

• Reviewing contributed income sources
• Securing individuals as annual donors
• Upgrading and securing major gifts
• Creating a fundraising plan

Individuals new to the development field will learn how to organize and manage fundraising programs, as well as gain basic skills in a variety of techniques that will prepare you for a career in development. Volunteers will find the course to be valuable preparation for solicitation of individuals.

The speaker will be Teresa A. Gregory, CFRE and Senior Partner, Pinnacle Fundraising Consultants, LLC. Ms. Gregory has a 20-year track record as a high-level, results oriented fundraiser with extensive experience in all aspects of development and nonprofit management. She has directed campaigns of $200,000 to $20 million for a wide variety of organizations, including professional theatres and performing arts companies, a world-renowned museum, a regional hospital, an urban private university, an affiliate of a national housing organization, a leader in the green building movement, small grassroots groups, as well as at two major research universities. Her experience in fundraising includes: major gifts; annual and capital giving; sponsorships; corporate, foundation and government proposal writing and reporting; planned giving; special events; membership campaigns; prospect research and cultivation; gift acknowledgement and stewardship.

There is a fee of $20 per person to attend this program. Please call the Foundation Center at 412-622-6277 to register.

Presented by: Teresa Gregory

Event fee: $20.00

Light Continental Breakfast

Location:

Mt. Lebanon Public Library

16 Castle Shannon Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15228-2252

Contact:

Foundation Center

(412) 622-6277

Supplemental Services for Recently Arrived Refugees

Description

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant applications for funding of the Supplemental Services for Recently Arrived Refugees program to provide services to newly arriving refugees or sudden and unexpected large secondary migration of refugees where communities are not sufficiently prepared in terms of linguistic or culturally appropriate services and/or do not have sufficient service capacity. This program is solely in support of newly arriving refugees and/or sudden or unexpected secondary migration. The populations described in the application must represent those who have arrived in country within the last two (2) years. Applicants should also view these resources as a temporary augmentation of funds to meet emerging needs of the arriving populations.

Link to Full Announcement

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/view/HHS-2011-ACF-ORR-RU-0149

How Housing Matters

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has issued a Call for Proposals for the final round of competitive funding under its How Housing Matters to Families and Communities research initiative. The five-year, $25 million research initiative is designed to deepen the literature on the effect that investments in affordable housing have on social and economic outcomes, beyond shelter.

While MacArthur welcomes proposals on all topics, the foundation is especially interested in studies that address the relationship of housing to the following outcomes: health and independent living of an aging population; public safety, violence reduction, and reduction in criminal justice system involvement, particularly among youth; and educational outcomes.

The foundation has demonstrated an interest in proposals from public agencies and collaborations between housing scholars and experts from other disciplines, such as health, education, and labor, among others.

As in previous years — and in order to maximize the impact that funded research will have on policy —: the foundation requires every applicant to clearly identify the specific policy audience that will be able to utilize the research to improve or enhance a specific policy intervention and improve outcomes being studied.

The foundation will consider supporting studies of one, two, or three years' duration. The total cost to the foundation over a project's term may not exceed $1 million, including indirect costs (up to 15 percent of direct project costs). More costly projects are also eligible for consideration if they receive additional support from other funders.

United States and non-U.S. citizens affiliated with a nonprofit entity are eligible to apply. Units of government, including those outside the U.S., are eligible for a grant provided they meet all program guidelines and IRS regulations. Nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education located outside of the U.S. are also eligible.

The complete Call for Proposals and detailed instructions for submitting a research abstract to this year's competition are available at the MacArthur Foundation Web site. The foundation will be accepting e-mailed questions from applicants until close of business on March 21, 2011, and will post responses for all applicants to view at its Web site on March 25, 2010.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP