 Captain Planet Foundation supports educators and their work to facilitate youth-led projects that result in
positive impacts to the environment of a school or community. Captain Planet Foundation grants are intended to: - Empower youth by providing hands-on environmental stewardship opportunities - Inspire youth and communities to become agents of change for their environment - Serve as a catalyst for education that uses the environment as a context for applied and STEM learning Funding will be provided for 1) material support in the form of predetermined supplies, training, and activities; and 2) monetary support to fund the materials necessary to implement proposed projects. Material Support Grants: These grants are provided through Project Learning Garden and ecoSTEM Resource Kits. Project Learning Garden grants are currently focused on public schools in the Atlanta Metro region (incl. City of Atlanta, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Henry Counties) and public schools in Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara Counties in California. There are 3 ways to receive ecoSTEM Resource Kits, as detailed in the grant guidelines. Monetary Support Grants: ecoSolution Grants are cash grants for from $500 to $2,500 to support the purchase of materials and other expenses required to implement projects that leverage technology to achieve greater or innovative environmental outcomes. Visit the CPF website for more information or view the grant guidelines. Grant deadlines are January 15th and July 15th.  The Finish Line Youth Foundation will award grants to nonprofits that provide opportunities for kids to participate in community-based youth athletic programs or camps that emphasizes active lifestyles. Special consideration will be given to camps or programs that serve disadvantaged and special-needs kids. Priority will be given to organizations or programs located near a Finish Line retail store.
1) Programmatic Grants: Up to $5,000 will be awarded to nonprofits to support community-based athletic programs and to established camps that emphasize active lifestyles and team-building skills. 2) Legacy Grants: Up to $75,000 will be awarded to support new facility improvements or renovations to existing buildings, grounds and property. 3) Founder’s Grants: Up to $25,000 will be awarded for emergency needs that are keeping an organization from providing services (ie. natural disasters or unforeseen fiscal circumstances) Grant applications are accepted quarterly, due the last day of December, March, June and September. Click here to find out if your organization is eligible to apply. For full information on this opportunity, click here.  The Fulton County (GA) Department of Arts and Culture (FCAC) has announced funding for arts, cultural and community based non-profit organizations for the 2018 funding cycle. FCAC invests in Fulton-based organizations, artists and programs that enhance the quality of life of all citizens through the arts.
Funding is delivered though service contracts designed to support activities taking place between January 1 through December 31, 2018. The service contracts cover unrestricted general operating expenses and provides project support to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, arts & culture organizations, cultural institutions, colleges and universities, as well as units of government and individual artists that serve the general public. Deadline to Submit: December 8, 2017 Tutorial workshop* (mandatory for first time applicants): November 28, 2017 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Abernathy Arts Center, 254 Johnson Ferry Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 *Registration required. Online workshops also available For more information, click here. For application information, visit the Fulton Arts website.  Start now to prepare to win funding in 2018 for all stages of film production and post-production:
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) Documentary Program & Cinema Grants - grants from $15,000 to $15,000 for a wide variety of projects open to Arab directors and producers living in the Arab region or in the diaspora. Non-Arab producers may apply is the film director is Arab. Catapult Film Fund - up to $20,000 of development funding available for filmmakers for a wide range of stories, style and scope Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) Documentary Fund - Funding to help Asian filmmakers realize their visions and to take Asian cinema to the next level Chicago Digital Media Production Fund - supporting digital media works encouraging social change by Chicago-area digital media artists. Grants will be made up to $20,000 per project. Chicken and Egg Accelerator Lab - $35,000 - $50,000 grants and other support for women non-fiction directors working on their first or second feature-length documentary. Cinereach - provides financial and creative support that frees the filmmaking process from systemic barriers and commercial pressures to make way for innovative work Creative Capital - provides grants to individual artists through an open online process CrossCurrents Doc Fund - $10,000 international grant to emerging filmmakers who have a connection to or shared experience with their subject, as well as sharing stories with audiences within and outside the featured community The Filmmaker Fund - grants up to $75,000 for every stage of production, post-production and distribution, supporting emerging and seasoned filmmakers (Click "Read More" below for more film grants)  The Newman’s Own Foundation in partnership with CrowdRise has announced the 2017 Holiday Challenge, a friendly fundraising campaign for eligible US-based 501(c)3 charities. In celebration of Newman's Own Foundation's 35 years of philanthropy, the foundation will give $500,000 in cash prizes during the challenge.
Eligible nonprofits may sign up to participate in the Challenge between September 1, 2017 and December 5, 2017. Participating organizations will compete for cash prizes during the challenge period beginning Tuesday, November 21, 2017 through Wednesday, January 3, 2018. The top ten Entrants to raise the most eligible monetary donations during the challenge period win cash prizes ranging from $2,500 (10th place) up to $150,000 to the nonprofit to raise the most online during the challenge. For full rules and eligibility, click here. To apply be be a part of the challenge, click here.  If you’ve watched a few episodes of Shark Tank, you recognize three key indicators present when the sharks decide to invest and become partners: 1) Personal financial investment from the owner; 2) the ability to secure a broad base of investors; and 3) market differentiation. In the nonprofit sector, philanthropic support including government grants, foundation funding and individual and corporate contributions should not be considered “gifts”, but investments.  1. Personal Financial Investment Business owners on the Shark Tank are often asked: "How much money have you invested in your own business?” "Skin in the game” is a measurable commitment made to support the success of the venture. Similarly, a foundation will want to know “How many of your board members have made financial contributions to your nonprofit this year?” Have you been able to successfully “pitch” the work and impact of your organization in a way that demonstrates commitment from board members and staff through financial giving?  2. A broad base of support Another popular shark question: "Have you raised money from outside sources?” The ability to secure financial support from a variety of investors suggests broad appeal to those who regularly take these risks. In the nonprofit sector, potential funders will want to know the amount and source of outside donations and financial support you have been able to secure. Being able to report a diverse funding stream inclusive of individuals, companies, government agencies and foundations will strengthen your application for funding support.  3. Market Differentiation When new products are featured on Shark Tank, the sharks ask: “What is unique about your product?” They want to know why someone would spend $5 for a new lipstick brand when hundreds are readily available in the marketplace. Market differentiation is the ability to distinguish a product or service from similar offerings of competitors. As the number of nonprofits continues to grow, a potential funder will want to know “How is the program or service that you’re offering different from other nonprofits in your community already doing this work?” If you are a mentoring organization, what services do you provide that are unique? Are you serving areas of the community that others aren’t?  Redefine and Refine your "Pitch"
When nonprofits view their organization through a business investment lens, they become better positioned to secure increased funding opportunities. Treat your informational meetings and site visits with prospective funders as an appearance on the Shark Tank. Have ready answers for questions regarding finance, governance and programming metrics. By performing frequent internal analysis of the organization, the nonprofit will achieve greater success in fundraising operations.  The J.M. Kaplan Fund is accepting grant applications under its Furthermore program to fund nonfiction book publishing efforts. Works involving the urban experiencing including the arts, civil liberties, the natural and built environment and cultural history are the focus of this grant.
Grant funds may be used for editing, design, indexing, photography, illustration, printing and binding. Application deadlines are annually on March 1st and September 1st. Grant awards range from $1,500 to $15,000. Applicants must be a 501(c)3 organization but public agencies and trade publishers can apply with a nonprofit partner. To learn more or to apply, visit the J.M. Kaplan Fund Furthermore Grant website  The Kresge Foundation will fund $25,000 awards and professional practice opportunities for emerging and established metro Detroit artists. Nine fellowships will be awarded in the live arts (dance, choreography, theater directing, playwriting, performance art, and interdisciplinary work). An additional nine fellowships will be awarded in film and music (film directing, screenwriting, animation, music composition, music performance, sound art, and interdisciplinary work). Artists who live and work in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties are eligible.
Applicants must be:
For more information, visit the Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellowship page  The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship Program will provide funding for up to 40 high school students with financial need who wish to attend the nation's best four-year colleges and universities. Jack Kent Cooke scholars will have access to funding for up to four years for undergraduate studies.
To be eligible, applicants must plan to graduate from a U.S. high school in spring 2018 and enroll in an accredited four-year college in fall 2018; earn a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.5 or above; receive a SAT combined math and critical reading score of 1200 or above or an ACT composite score of 26 or above; and demonstrate unmet financial need. The scholarship may cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. This highly competitive scholarship includes:
For more information, click here.  Applications for the Richard Rogers Fellowship are due November 17, 2017. The fellowship offers residency up to 3 months at the Wimbledon House to encourage "in-depth investigation into a wide array of issues that are pertinent to the sustainable and equitable development and transformation of the city." Winners of the fellowship will also receive a $10,000 stipend and round-trip travel expenses paid. The 3-month fellowships can occur in the spring, summer or fall.
The Fellowship is open to accomplished professionals and scholars working in fields related to the built environment, and for those whose research will be "enhanced by access to London’s extraordinary institutions, libraries, practices, professionals, and other unique resources." For more information, or to apply, click here  The NEA Foundation is offering $2,000 and $5,000 grants to educators who are NEA members working in public schools or public colleges for professional development activities. Learning and Leadership Grant funds made to individuals may be used to fund conferences, summer institutes, travel abroad programs and action research. Grant funds are also available to groups to fund lesson plan development, study groups, collegial study and action research.
Grant funds may be used to pay for travel, room, meals, registration fees and materials. Educator stipends and substitute fees may be paid by grant funds for group activities.
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits conducted a national survey in 2011, collecting over 2,000 responses to questions regarding "employees’ motivations for work, workplace environment, and benefits received..." The study discusses connect employee engagement, turnover issues and how those impact the work and mission of nonprofits.  Click here to read or download the entire report
 Because we get this inquiry more than any other, we are happy to share the upcoming Georgia Center for Nonprofits workshop "How to Start a Nonprofit" being held in Atlanta. Interested persons may attend either of two evening workshops on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 or Wednesday, December 13, 2017 from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Topics covered will include:
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