Awards and Grants

 

Mix it Up Grants 

Have a great idea about how to challenge social boundaries and bring down the walls that divide your school?  The Southern Poverty Law Center is accepting applications for the Mix It Up grants program, which gives awards of up to $500 to support youth-led projects focusing on identifying, crossing and challenging social boundaries in schools and communities. Applications should demonstrate youth leadership, collaborative community efforts and the potential for sustainable work. Applications are accepted year-round. For more information and to apply, visit www.tolerance.org/teens/grants.jsp. 

 

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant

The Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant program funds school improvement projects initiated by parents and build stronger community spirit.  Lowe's will donate a total of $5 million to schools and school parent teacher groups at more than 1,000 different schools in 2006 and 2007. Any nonprofit K-12 school (including charter, parochial, private, etc.) or parent group (associated with a nonprofit K-12 school) is eligible to apply. Up to $5,000 per school is available. The application deadline is February 15, 2007. For more information, visit http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/Community.  

 

Christopher Columbus Grants

Teams of middle-school students are invited to apply for the Christopher Columbus Awards, an awards program sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation that challenges students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities. Teams of up to four students and a coach must identify a community issue and use the scientific process to solve it. Coaches may be teachers, parents, community leaders or mentors. Teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter. Eight finalist teams and their coaches will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World® to attend National Championship Week and compete for valuable U.S. Savings Bonds and the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant, plus a $200 development grant to further refine their idea.  For more information and entry guidelines, visit http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com/.    Applications must be postmar ked by February 12, 2007.

 

YSA YOUTH VENTURE PROGRAM

The Youth Service America/Youth Venture Program is a unique partnership between Youth Service America and Youth Venture that helps youth engage in community service and develop as young social entrepreneurs. YSA Youth Venture helps make every day National & Global Youth Service Day (N&GYSD) by providing funding and support to young people (ages 12-20) who want to create new, sustainable, civic-minded organizations, clubs or businesses called Ventures.

 

Ventures must be youth-led and designed to be a lasting asset to the community. YSA Youth Venture teams are required to plan a N&GYSD project every year that their Venture is operational. The YSA Youth Venture Program provides a variety of resources including: a national network of like-minded young people, media opportunities, technical support, helpful toolkits and workshops as well as seed money funding of up to $1,000 for start-up expenses.  For an application, applications tools and more information about the YSA Youth Venture Partnership Program, please visit www.youthventure.org/ysa.   The application deadline is February 26, 2007.   

 

Kiwanis Small Grants Program - City of Arlington  

This small grants program is designed to encourage caring adults and volunteer groups in Arlington to formulate and lead small projects in Arlington or in support of AISD schools that will benefit youth. Each project should focus on meeting at least one of the five promises in America's Promise and involve both adults and youth working together. Each proposal must also be endorsed by a sponsoring organization (agency, school, church or Club) or by a supporting Kiwanis Club.  Eligible citizens may apply for these grants by completing and submitting the online grant application prior to the March 7, 2007 deadline.  Proposed projects must normally be completed prior to November 30, 2007.  For additional information or for application guidelines, visit http://www.arlingtonalliance4youth.org/kiwanis-small-grants.php. 

 

Red, White and Green Grant

The Climate Change Grant is open to all young people in the United States between the ages of 15 and 25 as well as organizations that serve youth. Applicants are expected to develop and implement a service-learning project about climate change that engages their community, policy-makers and candidates running for election in 2007 and 2008. Projects where youth work in partnership with adults (parents, coaches, teachers, youth leaders, etc.) are welcome: but the projects should be youth-led, and must take place between May 1 and October 31, 2007. The program will award grants of $500 to youth or youth organizations. For more information about the initiative, visit www.redwhiteandgreen.org.  To download an application, visit http://www.ysa.org/awards/ or contact redwhiteandgreen@ysa.org. The application deadline is March 9, 2007.

 

bank of America Student leaders Program

Bank of America is looking for the next generation of community leaders to participate in The Student Leaders Program, part of Bank of America's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative. The Student Leaders Program recognizes five high school students in each Bank of America market in their junior or senior year that have demonstrated an interest in improving their neighborhoods. 

 

To further the students’ personal and educational growth, each selected Student Leader will have an opportunity to participate in an eight-week, paid, summer internship with a local community organization as well as engage in leadership training and community service activities with local Bank of America executives. The nomination deadline is March 9, 2007.  For additional information or to nominate someone, visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.

 

2007 Governor's volunteer awards  

For 24 years, the Governor's Volunteer Awards have honored some of Texas' most dedicated community volunteers.  On behalf of the State of Texas and the Office of the Governor, OneStar Foundation is accepting nominations for the 24th annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards. The awards have a long tradition of recognizing those in our communities who devote their time and talents to serving others.  Nominations will be accepted for individuals, nonprofit organizations, businesses, government agencies and faith and community-based organizations. The deadline to nominate someone is March 30, 2007. For more information and to download the nomination form, visit http://www.onestarfoundation.org/. 

 

HOMETOWN HELPER

General Mills Sales, Inc. and Hamburger Helper are searching for people in your hometown that are raising funds to help the community. Hamburger Helper will fund initiatives to help hometowns across America with monetary grants of up to $15,000.00 per month from September 1, 2006 through May 31, 2007. All requests for funding must be sponsored by a municipal or civic organization or public school. Hamburger Helper will give funds directly to the public school or 501(c) (4) entity, such as civic leagues and social welfare organizations that sponsors an application for funding. Priority will be given to requests that:

 

- Demonstrate a need in a community.

- Illustrate a helpful, creative or innovative concept that meets this need.

- Clearly identify change/s that can be made as a result of receiving the Award.

 

For more information or to apply for funding, visit http://www.myhometownhelper.com/ for more information. The deadline to request funds is May 15, 2007. 

 

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President's Volunteer Service Award

 

The President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation,  was created as a way to thank and honor Americans of all ages who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. This type of recognition is also designed to set a standard for every American – to encourage sustained commitment to helping others and a lifelong habit of service. For more information or to apply for the President's Volunteer Service Award, visit https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/. 

 

 

Don't forget to track your volunteer hours on the PowerCrew Web site! To begin tracking your hours now, visit http://www.volunteerpowercrew.org/ and click on Every Hour Counts.