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This week's tips:

How to Read Federal Grant Announcements

The opportunity to receive money from the Federal government through either a grant or a contract must be announced publicly. In one form or another, all of these opportunities are announced in the Federal Register, published by the Office of the Federal Register , National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

1. The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. It is updated daily by 6 a.m. and is published Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Normally, the Register contains the announcements of “Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)” from each of the Federal Departments and Federal Agencies.
2. It is important to first look in the Table of Contents for the heading of “Notices” under each Department and Agency listed.
3. There is no reason to read the myriad other announcements such as “Rules” and “Proposed Rules” as those sections deal with Federal Rulemaking activities. When you have located the announcement under a Department or Agency, look for “grants and cooperative agreement availability.” Other activities will be listed under “Notices” including meetings and collection activities, which are not usually of interest to an agency looking for funding announcements.
4. You are looking only for the “grants availability ” listings under “Notices.”
5. Each announcement specifies an “Action” in the title area of the announcement, which can be immediately checked, to verify that what you are about to read is, indeed, a NOFA. It should say something like “Notification of available funds or Notice of funding availability” or similar words. The next parts of the NOFA to check are the name of the Department and the name of the Agency making the announcement. They are located at the very beginning of the announcement.
6. Look carefully at who is giving away the money. If you are a human service agency, it is unlikely that you are going to be in a competitive position for a Department of Energy grant. Don't even bother reading further! Make sure that the Agency making the announcement bears some kind of relationship, at least in theory, to the mission of your agency.
7. Expect the announcement to have a summary. This information will tell you the real purpose of the announcement.
8. Find the “eligibility” section in the body of the NOFA. This section will list the entities able to receive these dollars.
9. Can your agency realistically meet the deadlines listed? The NOFA will tell you where to submit the proposal and in what format.
10. Do you have the technical capabilities to submit the proposal in the required format?
11. Can your agency partner-up with an agency or are you a member of a coalition that should look at the possibility of going after this award? The NOFA will tell you, generally or specifically, the requirements of the proposal itself. It is now possible to decide if going after the money is worth your time and effort.

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New Grant Opportunities (if you need grant research or grant writing help, please contact us! We have an experienced team of grant writers with a tremendous track record who will be happy to handle your grant research, grant calendars, grant writing, and grant tracking. For more information be sure to contact Nicolle Fogleson at RMA at nicolle@richardmale.com.)

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation - Industry Studies Fellowships

The Sloan Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of Industry Studies Fellowships to support the development of research in industry studies. Industry studies research includes close contact with people in a particular industry as well as field research: that is, interaction with people in their workplaces for primary data collection and observations. The Sloan Industry Studies Program, which includes at its core the Sloan Industry Centers, is dedicated to promoting research cooperation between academics and industry in order to understand the complex influences that shape industrial enterprises.

For detailed information go to: http://www.sloan.org/programs/fellow_announ.shtml

Artists Exploration Fund

The Artists Exploration Fund is designed to enable individual U.S. performing artists to pursue opportunities abroad that further their artistic development. Travel to any country outside the United States and its protectorates is eligible. The grants will support artists pursuing a wide variety of activities abroad including the development or expansion of creative relationships with artists and art organizations, the exploration of artistic forms, or the creation of new work, either individually or in collaboration with artists abroad

For detailed information go to: http://www.artsinternational.org/online_applications/artist_ex_guidelines.htm

Recording Academy Grant Program

The Recording Academy's Grant Program offers funding for: 1) efforts that advance the archiving and preservation of the music and recorded sound heritage of the Americas; 2) research and research implementation projects related to music such as teaching methodology in early childhood and the impact of music study on early childhood and human development; and 3) the medical and occupational
well- being of music professionals. Priority is given to projects of national significance whose final results are accessible to the general public.

For detailed information go to: http://www.grammy.com/grants/index.aspx

Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies 2005

The Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies are designed to support exceptionally promising students as they pursue advanced study in the disciplines of the humanities. The fellowships are funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. The Mellon Fellowship is a competitive award for first-year doctoral students only and cannot be deferred. Mellon Fellows are expected to carry a full course load during the nine-month academic year of the fellowship. Summer study is not included. Fellows may not accept supplementary awards or employment, including teaching assistantships. Fellows may take their awards to any accredited graduate program in the United States or Canada.

For detailed information go to: http://www.woodrow.org/mellon/competition_2005.html

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Federal Grant Opportunities (if any of the following grants sound appealing, please contact Mourene Tesler to learn more about the application procedure - mtesler@tcg-systems.com)

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FY 2005 Environmental Education Grants Program

Closing Date:
November 15, 2004

Amount:
$3 million
Average grant size - $10,000-$100,000

Eligible Applicants:
Education institutions, environmental and educational public agencies, and not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations

Agency/Department:
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

SUMMARY:
This document solicits grant proposals from education institutions, environmental and educational public agencies, and not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations to support environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship. This grant program provides financial support for projects which design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques as described in this notice. This program is authorized under Section 6 of the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 (the Act) (Public Law 101-619). These grants require non-federal matching funds for at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

Listed in:
Federal Register
September 15, 2004
Volume 69, Number 178
Page 55610-55622

For detailed information go to:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-20796.htm

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Other Announcements

Nurturing Our Roots - Growing New Branches, CANPO's 12th Annual Fall Conference, October 19, 2004
1:55 - 3:15 Managing and Motivating: strengthening nonprofit teams on nonprofit budgets
Understanding and working with the team composition and individual differences can maximize the effectiveness of a team. Discover the critical elements that bond a team and propel a team to performing at a peak level. presented by Richard Male, Richard Male & Associates
For the full conference schedule and registration information, go to http://www.canpo.org/fallconf2004.cfm . Also - don't forget to visit our information booth at the conference in the exhibit hall.

Mobilizing Resources for Your Organization:
Strategies to Succeed in the Current Economic Climate
Missoula, Montana
MOVING TOWARD LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUCCESS is a challenge for any nonprofit organization in today's economic climate.  Small, relatively unknown organizations such as many CILs and SILCs, face even greater hurdles.  Fortunately, there are tremendous opportunities to leverage public and private resources, including funding for advocacy, if you know where to look and how to proceed. This seminar will give you the tools to do just that through a step-by-step approach to planning, implementing, and succeeding in resource development.
Richard Male will be presenting at this always-successful seminar.
October 25-27, 2004 9am-5pm
Go to www.ctat-training.com for more information

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