Winery Web Site Grant Program

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is providing funding for New York State wineries to help enhance the appearance and functionality of their web sites. For the general promotion of the industry, wineries participating in the program will be required to link their sites to the Department's web site.
ELIGIBILITY:  Eligible applicants include wineries who produce wine from grapes, other fruit, or honey, and hold a valid license from the State of New York Liquor Authority with any of the following licenses being acceptable: Winery, Special Winery, Farm Winery, Special Farm Winery, or Microwinery. Government entities and not-for-profit corporations are not eligible.
FUNDING:  Total grant funding for any individual winery shall not exceed 75% of the total project costs up to a maximum funding of $2,500. Applicants must provide a match equal to at least 25% of the total cost of the project.
DEADLINE:  Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on August 7, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit the Department's web site, www.agmkt.state.ny.us and click on Funding Opportunities. Questions about program requirements must be submitted in writing (fax and e-mail will be accepted) to: Meg McCabe, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, 10B Airline Drive, Albany, New York 12235; fax (518) 457-2716; e-mail meg.mccabe@agmkt.state.ny.us.

Teachers of Tomorrow Program

New York State Education Department

The New York State Education Department has announced the availability of funding to assist school districts in the recruitment, retention, and certification activities necessary to increase the supply of qualified teachers. Grant funds may be distributed to fund activities in each of the following six categories: Teacher Recruitment Incentives; Summer in the City internships for city school districts in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers, and the New York City Department of Education; Master Teacher Program; Tuition Reimbursement Program; Science and Mathematics Tuition Reimbursement program; and summer teacher training programs for New York City Department of Education schools only.
ELIGIBILITY:  School districts experiencing a teacher shortage, especially those with School Under Registration Review (SURR) and low-performing schools.
FUNDING:  $25 million total.
DEADLINE:  Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Interested school districts can obtain a copy of the grant application at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/. You may also contact Hector Millan at (518) 474-6440 or hmillan@mail.nysed.gov for more information.

. . . On the Federal Level

Conservation Project Support

Institute of Museum and Library Services

This program helps museums identify conservation needs and priorities and perform activities to ensure the safekeeping of their collections.
ELIGIBILITY:  All types of museums except for-profit institutions and Federally operated museums.
FUNDING:  Grants range up to $250,000.
DEADLINE:  October 1, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:   Visit http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/conservProject.shtm. You may also contact Steven Shwartzman at (202) 653-4641 or at sshwartzman@imls.gov.

Museums for America

Institute of Museum and Library Services

Funding under this program is used to sustain cultural heritage, support learning and to help museums be centers of community endowment by supporting high-priority activities that advance the institution’s mission and strategic goals.
ELIGIBILITY:  All types of museums except for-profit institutions and Federally operated museums.
FUNDING:   Grants range from $5,000 to $150,000.
DEADLINE:  November 15, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/forAmerica.shtm. You may also contact Christine Henry at (202) 653-4674 or at chenry@imls.gov.

The Big Read Program

National Endowment for the Arts

The Big Read Program is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This program will engage libraries and other community and school partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. The program is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American popular culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens.
ELIGIBILITY:   501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or divisions of state, local, or tribal government that possess a demonstrated capacity to plan and implement a well-planned, well-attended, community-wide event with a diverse range of programming.
FUNDING:  The minimum grant amount is $5,000. All grants must be matched 1:1 with non-federal funds; matching funds can be both cash and in-kind, including quantifiable in-kind staffing costs.
DEADLINE:  The deadline for Phase One is September 12, 2006 and the deadline for Phase Two is February 1, 2007.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit http://www.neabigread.org/application_process.php.

. . . Foundations and Organizations

Bringing People and Pets Together

Planet Dog Foundation

The Planet Dog Foundation supports innovative initiatives that bring people and pets together for mutual benefit and support. Areas of emphasis may include service dogs; therapy dogs; animal-assisted therapy; search and rescue dogs; police, fire and military dogs; and other types of canine service programs.
ELIGIBILITY:  Applicants must be U.S. nonprofit organizations. Preference is given to small, grassroots agencies with budgets of $300,000 or less, although national organizations are also welcome to apply.
FUNDING:   Grants of up to $5,000 are provided.
DEADLINE:  September 15, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.planetdogphilanthropy.org/About_Us.asp. You may also contact Executive Director, Planet Dog Foundation, 322 Fore Street, Portland, Maine 04101; phone (207) 761-1515; e-mail pdf@planetdog.com.

Funding for Conservation Projects

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow awards grants to tourism-related nonprofit organizations worldwide for conservation or preservation of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural sites. Tourism Cares for Tomorrow considers projects or programs with either or both of the following goals: 1) projects that protect, restore, or conserve sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance; and 2) programs that educate local host communities and the traveling public about conservation and preservation of sites.
ELIGIBILITY:  501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations.
FUNDING:  Historically, grants have ranged between $10,000 and $20,000 each. However, based on merit and availability of funds, grants of up to $100,000 will be considered.
DEADLINE:   November 1, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.tourismcaresfortomorrow.org/ for complete program guidelines.

Grants for Programs Serving Adults with Disabilities

Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation

The vision of the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation is “to change the face of disability on the planet.” In order to accomplish this vision, ELA’s mission is to promote, through grants and scholarships, the inclusion of people with disabilities in the areas of arts, advocacy, and education. The foundation funds program grants in the areas of arts, advocacy, and education for adults with disabilities (over 22 years old).
ELIGIBILITY:  Applicants must be U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that serve people with disabilities and have been in existence for two years or longer. Support from other funding sources in the community for the program must be demonstrated in the grant application.
FUNDING:  Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 each.
DEADLINE:  The grant application form must be submitted online by September 15, 2006 for the November 1, 2006 full grant application deadline.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit http://www.ela.org/ to obtain the online grant application form, which must be submitted in order for the full grant application to be accepted.

Nutrition Outreach and Education Program

Nutrition Consortium of NYS

The Nutrition Consortium of NYS (NCNYS) is the contract administrator of the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP). NCNYS will be releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) this summer to identify agencies that work with low-income populations, and to provide successful applicants with the funding and the training to allow them to conduct food stamp outreach and provide food stamp application assistance to eligible people in their communities. NOEP contracts will be awarded to community-based agencies annually, for up to four consecutive years, starting July 1, 2007. In 2005, over 20,000 households received food stamps directly due to the assistance of the NOEP.
ELIGIBILITY:  Community-based agencies with 501(c)(3) status providing services in New York State.
FUNDING:  Visit the web site listed below for specific funding details.
DEADLINE:  A required letter of intent is due in late July 2006, and Questions are due in early August. The deadline for the final application is tentatively set for mid-September.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.hungerNYS.org for program details and to access the e-form required to request a copy of the RFP. By clicking on the NOEP icon on the web site, you will also find information about the history and purpose of NOEP and a copy of the final report from the 2005-2006 contract year.

. . . Grant Writing

The New York and New Jersey Grantwriters Network

New York City Opportunities Fund

A new network of grantwriters who work with nonprofits has formed, called "The New York and New Jersey Grantwriters Network." Through this network, you can search for information on available consultants who can help with grantwriting. This service is free to the nonprofit community and can be accessed through a website called Nonprofit Central NY/NJ at www.npocentral.net. After visiting this web site, you can search the 'Quick Consultant Search' for a grantwriter. You can also click on "Resources," then “Where You Can Find a Consultant” and then select “NY & NJ Grantwriters Network.”

Nonprofit Works

Nonprofit Works is holding a Grants Camp July 24 – 28 in Rochester, New York. The camp is designed for entry- and mid-level grantwriters, who, through a combination of presentations and group activities, will learn how to provide grantmakers with the information they want. Materials include Word and Excel document templates that you can customize for use with your own grant applications. The cost is $495 per person, which includes materials, lunch, and parking. For more information, call (585) 454-4910 or visit www.nonprofitworks.com.