USDA has announced some of the funding and finance opportunities that are available in the SC Promise Zone Region.
Funding and Finance Opportunities
Community
USDA is offering grants through the Community Connect program. Deadline: applications are due 5/14/2018. This program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service. Click here to review application guidelines.
USDA is offering grants and loans through the Community Facilities program. This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Grants can go up to $50,000. Applications are accepted year round, but it is encouraged that you apply as soon as possible. There is a special initiative to combat the Opioid Crisis, innovative projects that address the opioid epidemic may request up to $150,000. These requests are due by June 4, 2018. Click here for more information.
RURAL LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) created the Community Facilities Fund to provide capital to help develop and improve essential community facilities in rural areas. Rural LISC utilizes this fund to provide permanent and construction-to- permanent financing for rural community facilities, including health care centers, hospitals, educational facilities, and other nonprofit and public facilities in rural communities with populations under 20,000. Deadline: ongoing. Click here for more information.
THE LOWE’S COMMUNITY PARTNERS grant program supports nonprofit organizations and local municipalities undertaking high-need projects such as building renovations and upgrades, grounds improvements, technology upgrades, and safety improvements. Grants range from $2,001 to $100,000. Deadlines for 2018: 5/11/2018 and 8/24/2018. Visit the company’s website here to review the giving guidelines and to take the eligibility quiz.
AARP Community Challenge Grant Program is open to nonprofit community organizations and government entities; other types of organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Deadline: 5/16/18. Click here for more information.
THE MY BROTHER’S KEEPER (MBK) COMMUNITY CHALLENGE is a national competition offering grants to identify several cities, towns, counties, and Tribal Nations that have the potential to substantially improve life outcomes for boys and young men of color, especially outcomes related to reducing youth violence and growing the pipeline of mentors. The Challenge is seeking to work in partnership with communities that can identify and implement evidence-based programs and a specific goal over two years to reduce youth violence or leverage mentors to address milestone-specific challenges. Two categories of grants, ranging from $25,000 to $500,000, are being offered. Eligible grantees are high-performing U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with strong leadership and a track record of success in driving collective impact efforts locally, initiating program development, and expanding policies and practices that enhance equity and opportunity for boys and young men of color. Deadline: 5/24/2018. Visit the MBK website here to learn more about the Challenge.
HUD has announced the availability of funding for the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant Program to create and/or implement a plan to revitalize distressed HUD housing; improve outcomes of households living in the target housing related to employment, income, health, and education; and encourage public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods to improve safety, schools, and commercial activity. Deadline: 6/12/2018. For more information, click here.
THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION AND THE CHAN ZUCKERBERG INITIATIVE have announced the availability of funding through the Communities Thrive Challenge, a $10 million funding opportunity to find and support successful, community-driven approaches to expand economic opportunity for low-income and financially insecure people and communities across the U.S. Up to 10 grantees will receive a $1M grant, best-in-class technical assistance, and an opportunity to share their story on a national stage. Deadlines: register by 6/12/18; apply by 6/19/2018. A video and more information on how to apply can be found by clicking here.
Education
USDA is offering grants through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine program that provides support to improve telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies that students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents can use. Deadline: 6/4/2018. Click here for funding guidelines and to apply.
FARMER’S INSURANCE is offering grants through its “Thank America’s Teachers” program. Five $100,000 grants will be awarded to fund K-12 teachers’ educational visions for their classrooms and communities in 2018. (Thank America’s Teachers also provides $2,500 grants to teachers throughout the year.) The Dream Big Teacher Challenge contest funds programs like an outdoor learning center, an accessible playground for special needs students, and a student mentorship program with local business leaders. Deadline: 5/30/2018. Visit the Farmers Insurance website here to review the contest rules.
Health
THE AMERISOURCE BERGEN FOUNDATION is offering funding for innovative and constructive projects that address education, prevention, and/or the safe disposal of opioids. Deadline: 7/31/2018. Click here to visit the Foundation’s website for additional information.
Housing
THE WELLS FARGO HOUSING FOUNDATION Homeownership Counseling Grant Program supports local nonprofit housing organizations nationwide that help create affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income families. The program focuses on homebuyer counseling, homebuyer education, and foreclosure prevention activities. Deadline: requests may be submitted from 6/1/2018 through 6/30/2018. Visit the Wells Fargo website here for more information about the program.
BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION is offering grants to nonprofit organizations as they work to preserve and increase access to a mix of affordable housing options and connect individuals and families with the tools and resources to achieve their financial goals. Deadline: applications accepted between 6/4/2018 and 6/29/2018. Click here for more information.
Native Americans
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE offers grants through the Tribal Heritage Grants program, which assists Indian tribes, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiian organizations in protecting and promoting their unique cultural heritage and traditions. Deadline: 5/11/2018. Click here for more information on this program.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR has announced the availability of funding to support employment and training activities for Indians and Native Americans in the areas of healthcare, manufacturing, IT, energy, and other industries. Deadline: 5/18/2018. Click here for funding guidelines and to apply.
Other Opportunities
SBA is offering grants through its PRIME program, which helps provide training and technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs or to microenterprise development organizations. Deadline: 6/1/2018. Click here for more information.
THE TONY HAWK FOUNDATION is offering grant support for community skatepark projects that can demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment, particularly in the form of planning and fundraising by local skateboarders and other community groups. Priority is given to projects that are designed and built from concrete by experienced skatepark contractors and include local skaters in the planning, fundraising, and design process. Grants of $1,000 to $25,000 are provided to nonprofit organizations and state or local agencies, including public school systems and public projects. Deadline: 6/13/2018. Click here to review the grant criteria and submit an online application.
FUND FOR SHARED INSIGHT is a funder collaborative working to improve philanthropy by elevating the voices of those least heard. Through their signature grantmaking initiative, Listen for Good (L4G) they invite nonprofits and funders to join them in building high-quality “feedback loops,” – systematic and rigorous methods for listening to, and responding to, the people nonprofits serve. To participate in L4G, a nonprofit must be customer-facing, have a minimum annual budget of $500,000, and be nominated by an existing or new funder. In the spring 2018 funding round, grantees will receive $30,000 over 18 months, half covered by Shared Insight, half by the nominating funder. Deadline: 6/29/2018. Visit Shared Insight’s website here to learn more and to join their mailing list.
Youth
CITI FOUNDATION is offering grants through the Opportunity: Pathways to Progress 2018 Youth Workforce Fund. The Citi Foundation’s Youth Workforce Fund is an open and competitive funding opportunity that will provide grants to nonprofit organizations working to help low-income young adults, ages 16–24, obtain workplace skills and connect to employment opportunities including, but not limited to, full-time jobs, apprenticeships and internships in fifteen markets across the United States. Deadline: 5/23/2018. For more information on these grants, click here.
FUEL UP TO PLAY 60 invites applications for K-12 Healthy Food Programs. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to qualified K-12 schools to jumpstart healthy changes in the lifestyles of young people. Deadline: 6/13/2018. Click here to review application guidelines.
Veterans
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE is offering funding through the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program for programs that provide assistance dogs to service members or veterans with disabilities. Deadline: 6/4/2018. Click here for more information and to apply.
HUD in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced $13.7 million in grant funding to modify or rehabilitate eligible veterans’ primary residences. Eligible applicants for the Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program are nonprofit organizations that provide nationwide or statewide programs that primarily serve veterans or low-income individuals. Deadline: 6/25/2018. Click here to review application guidelines and to apply.
