Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program

New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee

The New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee invites Soil and Water Conservation Districts or groups of districts acting jointly to submit proposals for funding under the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Program. Program funds are available for nonpoint source abatement and control projects that assess, plan or implement Agricultural Best Management Practices on New York State farms or conduct Agricultural Environmental Management evaluations. All projects must consist of activities that will reduce, abate, control, or prevent nonpoint source pollution originating from agricultural sources.
ELIGIBILITY: Soil and Water Conservation Districts or groups of districts.
FUNDING: Contact the New York State Soil & Water Conservation District for funding details.
DEADLINE: 4 p.m. on November 21, 2003.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Emily Svenson, New York State Soil & Water Conservation Committee, 1 Winners Circle, Albany, New York 12235; phone (518) 457-3738; fax (518) 457-3412; e-mail emily.svenson@agmkt.state.ny.us.

Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials

New York State Library

The New York State Library is offering grants for projects that contribute to the preservation of significant research materials in libraries, archives, historical societies and other agencies in New York State, whether by conducting surveys, improving collection storage environments, reformatting or treating collections or other preservation activities described in the program guidelines.
ELIGIBILITY:  Not-for-profit archives, libraries, museums, historical societies and similar institutions in New York State and consortia or cooperating groups of such agencies; colleges and universities; professional associations or other not-for-profit institutions or systems that provide services to libraries.
FUNDING: A total of $500,000 is available with grants available in amounts from $1,500 to $30,000.
DEADLINE:  5 p.m. on December 5, 2003.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the New York State Library, Conservation/Preservation Program, Room 10-B-41, Cultural Education Center, Albany, New York 12230; phone (518) 486-2197; e-mail lquinn@mail.nysed.gov; Web site www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/cp.

…Federal Funding

Community Facilities Loan Program

United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development

The United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, has announced its Community Facilities Loan Program to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas. A Community Facilities loan would be approved to finance the following type of activities: Health Care – clinics, ambulatory care centers, chemical dependency centers, hospitals and nursing homes; Telecommunications – medical and educational telecommunication links; Public Safety – adult and child care centers, town halls, courthouses, libraries, museums, schools, fairgrounds and sports complexes. Rural Development also guarantees loans made by a bank, savings and loan, insurance company, Federal Land Bank or other qualified lender against a certain percentage of loss under this program.
ELIGIBILITY:  Rural towns and villages of 20,000 people or less.
FUNDING: Contact the United States Department of Agriculture for funding details.
DEADLINE:  None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact any Rural Development Office listed in the telephone book under the United States Department of Agriculture or contact Eileen McGrath at (315) 477-6434.

Federal Fire/Rescue Ambulance Program

United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development

The United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, has announced the Federal Fire/Rescue Ambulance Loan Program. This program makes loans available to construct new facilities, make renovations or additions to existing facilities, purchase new or replace existing equipment and vehicles that provide service to rural areas of 20,000 or less. Rural Development can typically provide a financing rate of 4.5% on these types of loans. A "fast track" system to speed up the application process has been developed.
ELIGIBILITY:  Rural towns and villages of 20,000 people or less.
FUNDING: Contact the United States Department of Agriculture for funding details.
DEADLINE:  None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact any Rural Development Office listed in the phone book under the United States Department of Agriculture or contact Eileen McGrath at (315) 477-6434.

Field Initiated Projects

United States Department of Education

Field Initiated Projects must further one or both of the following purposes: (a) develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities; or (b) improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
ELIGIBILITY:  States; public or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
FUNDING: $4.5 million in total funding is estimated to be available.
DEADLINE:  December 9, 2003.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 3412, Switzer Building, Washington, DC 20202-2645; telephone: (202) 205-5880; via the Internet: donna.nangle@ed.gov.

...Foundations and Organizations

Web Site Development Grants for NYC Area Nonprofits

Bialkin Family Foundation

The Bialkin Family Foundation, based in New York City, is seeking applicants for its Web site development grants. The Foundation has affiliated contractors who work with the grantee to create a small to medium-sized Web site, including all needed graphic design, content, and code.
ELIGIBILITY: The Foundation focuses on educational and environmental organizations in the New York City area, particularly those who currently have only a minimal Web site, or no Web site at all.
FUNDING: The grants consist of $2,000 to $10,000 in Web site development services.
DEADLINE:  Ongoing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Laura S. Quinn at (718) 208-8172.

Animal Welfare

American Humane

American Humane offers the Meacham Foundation Memorial Grants annually to provide financial assistance to animal care agencies for shelter expansion or improvements. Grants are made only for construction, capital improvements, or equipment that directly impacts the welfare of animals in the shelter.
ELIGIBILITY: Grants will be made only to animal care agencies incorporated and classified as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or public (local government) agencies. Agencies must also be current members of American Humane at the Associate Agency Member level to qualify for a Meacham grant.
FUNDING:  Grants may be awarded in any amount up to $4,000.
DEADLINE: February 28, 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit the American Humane Web site for complete program guidelines.

Unlimited Potential

Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft Corp. has announced the launch of Unlimited Potential (UP), a global initiative focused on providing technology skills for disadvantaged individuals through community-based technology and learning centers (CTLCs).
ELIGIBILITY: Microsoft will consider the following CTLC organizational types eligible for funding: nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status; school-based (a nonprofit or governmental organization that provides services to the community during non-school hours such as evenings and weekends); and government funded and operated CTLCs.
DEADLINE:  Open.
FUNDING: Microsoft will commit more than $1 billion to the initiative over the next five years.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Microsoft Web site for program details.

...Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Training Program

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Binghamton, November 3-7, 2003, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension; Buffalo, November 10-14, 2003, hosted by the Junior League of Buffalo and EPIC; and New York City, January 12-16, 2004, hosted by the Institute for Community Living.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center (TGCI) and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $775 for the Binghamton and Buffalo classes and $825 for the New York City class. Both rates include 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 the TGCI Web site. For local information and arrangements: Binghamton, call Jinny Tauss (607) 772-8955, ext. 113; Buffalo, call Alex Montante at (716) 741-6973; New York City, call Ken Sher at (212) 385-3030.

Syracuse University

Syracuse University’s Continuing Education/University College Humanistic Studies Center is holding an Advanced Grant Writing workshop on November 14. The session costs $159 per person.

For more information or to register, call Pat at (315) 443-3271.

Council of Community Services of NYS (CCSNYS)

CCSNYS is offering: Connecting to the Power of Grantsmanship (November 5 - Newburgh; November 20 - Kingston; December 4 - Catskill), which will cover grants research, funder relations, producing proposals, budgeting and managing grants; and Grant Writing (December 9 - Oneonta), which will provide a step-by-step walk through of the grant development process with a focus on the essential elements of proposal writing. Cost is $30-$40 per workshop with discounts for CCSNYS members. For more information, visit the CCSNYS Web site or call (845) 454-5062, ext. 100 for Newburgh, Kingston and Catskill workshops, and (518) 515-5010, ext. 106 for the Oneonta workshop.

Council on Opportunities for Professional Excellence (COPE)

At COPE's Guerilla Grantsmanship© seminars (November 21 in Albany and December 11 in Kingston), attendees will learn how to write hard hitting proposals that work and how to break down barriers that impede the funding process. Learn about some of the latest grant writing software, funding trends and strategies, grants management tools that are both innovative and important in attaining and maintaining funds. To register for one of three registration packages or for more information, call COPE at (914) 466-0797, (845) 756-COPE or visit their Web site for more information.