Grant Opportunity: 2010 Washington Gas Environmental Innovator Grant

Washington Gas seeks proposals for its 2010 Washington Gas Environmental Innovator Grant. According to Washington Gas:

"The purpose of the Request For Proposal (RFP) is to identify and promote programs that encourage practices among residential households to improve energy efficiency; raise awareness of natural gas as a clean and efficient fuel; and influence actions targeting the reduction of total energy consumption thereby reducing greenhouse gas emission.

"The company is seeking to award a grant in the amount of $50,000 to a qualifying organization that demonstrates a commitment to improving quality of life and environmental innovation. Washington Gas seeks to engage a nonprofit organization in a capacity building opportunity to strengthen their long-term ability to achieve their mission, goals and programs that are compatible with the grant."


Interested applicants may participate in bidder conference calls scheduled for April 22 and May 12. Applications are due Friday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m.

Visit the Washington Gas Charitable Giving Program Web site or download the Request For Proposals (PDF) to learn more.

Grant Opportunity: Strengthening Communities Fund

The District of Columbia Government’s Office of Partnerships and Grant Services (OPGS) seeks applicants to the Strengthening Communities Fund Capacity Building Program.

The Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF), created as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is comprised of two programs, both of which are designed to enhance the ability of community and faith-based organizations to handle the broad economic recovery issues in their communities, including job training and retention and access to state and Federal benefits. This is a one-time, two-year grant.

These funds will be used for capacity building, training and technical assistance programs for nonprofit, community-based and/or faith-based organizations. Eligible programs must serve low-income neighborhoods such as, but not limited to, those in the District’s New Communities Initiative. Eligible organizations must implement, or be willing and able to implement, a continuum of job readiness, job placement, and job retention programs. Programs may include asset building, counseling and support services. Applications are due by 4 pm on March 12.

Click here for more information and to download the application.

Grant Opportunity: Capacity Building Project

"Upgrade for Uplift" (UFU), a project of the Howard University Center for Urban Progress and Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, seeks applicants to the 2010 program. The project was developed to support the viability of faith- and community-based organizations serving economically vulnerable residents in neighborhoods of greatest need in Wards 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

It is anticipated that up to 25 faith- and community-based organizations will be selected to be recipients of UFU training and technical assistance, and up to 10 of those 25 organizations who participate in training and technical assistance will be awarded capacity-building grants of $10,000 to $30,000.

An orientation for interested organizations will be held March 8. Applications are due by 6:00 pm on Monday, March 15. Click here to learn more.

Grant Opportunity: Nonprofits Serving Prince George's County

The Partnership for Prince George's County is seeking applicants for its third round of capacity building funding.

Funding target areas include:

• Organization Capacity Building
• Advocacy Capacity Building and Projects
• Lifeline Organization Capacity Building

Among the eligibility criteria: organizations that have been successfully in existence and serving traditionally underserved communities in Prince George's County for a minimum of two years.

Click here to learn more. Deadline: Friday, January 15.

Grant Opportunity from the Montgomery County Council

Happy New Year! For our first blog post of 2010, we're happy to share this grant opportunity for FY2011 from the Montgomery County Council. According to the grant application, "the Council will fund projects that advance the County’s services, goals and objectives in areas such as the following: community development, economic development, education, health and human services, and recreation."

A workshop for potential grant applicants will be held on Wednesday, January 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Third Floor Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md.

The application deadline is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 29.

Click here to download the grant application.

Grant Opportunity: Social Media

Fenton Communications is offering a $10,000 Social Media Grant to nonprofits in the Washington, DC area. Selected recipients will receive up to $10,000 worth of social media analysis, monitoring and strategy services from the group in the winter of 2010.

The application deadline is Friday, December 18.

Click here for additional information and to access the online application.

Grant Opportunity: Technical Assistance

The Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) is seeking applications from nonprofits serving Wards 5,6, 7 and 8 in the District of Columbia to receive technical assistance and/or sub-awards through the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for Children and Families.

"The goal of CCF is to assist nonprofit faith-based and community-based organizations in: increasing their effectiveness, enhancing their ability to provide social services, expanding their organizations, diversifying their funding sources and creating collaborations to better serve those most in need."

Click here to download the Grant Announcement.

CNE is hosting an information/question and answer session on Monday, November 30. Details and registration information available on page two of the grant announcement.

Grant Opportunity: Meyer Foundation LOI deadline

The next deadline for Letters of Inquiry (LOI) to the Meyer Foundation is Friday, October 2.

Click here to learn more about the Foundation's two-step application process. Click here to learn more about grant-seeker qualifications.

Grant Opportunity: AmeriCorps Planning Grants

The Corporation for National and Community Service announced the availability of $500,000 for planning grants to assist national organizations and Indian tribes in developing new AmeriCorps programs.

The purpose of planning grants is to support the development of AmeriCorps programs so applicants are better prepared to compete for a multi-state AmeriCorps grant in the following grant cycle.

The national planning grants will be available to public or private nonprofit organizations, including labor organizations; faith-based and other community organizations; institutions of higher education; government entities within states or territories Indian Tribes; or partnerships or consortia operating in more than one state are eligible. Community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations and intermediary organizations operating in more than one state are encouraged to apply for planning grants.

Applications are due 5:00 ET Monday, October 19, 2009. Click here for additional information. For a printed copy of the notice, or to ask questions about the program, call 202-606-7508, or e-mail americorpsnational@cns.gov.

Grant Opportunity: Neighbors in Need Fund Systems Reform Grants

The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is accepting applications for Neighbors in Need Fund Systems Reform Grants. Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations within the greater Washington region for systems reform efforts focused on strengthening the safety-net infrastructure and helping people mitigate the effects of the current economic recession. The Fund is interested in proposals that support Advocacy/Organizing and Alignment/Coalition-Building to Improve Service Delivery. Funding is available to support Implementation Grants of up to $75,000. The Fund will award a total of up to approximately $500,000 in grants.

A Grantseeker Information Session webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 15 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. The number of participants is limited. Register online no later than Tuesday, September 8.

Click here for additional information and the full Guidelines and Request for Proposals. Applications must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5.

Grant Opportunity: Make a Difference Day

From Serve DC:

"The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism is offering grants to support community service projects organized for 2009 Make A Difference Day, October 24, 2009, the most encompassing national day of helping others. Three grants worth up to $3,700 each will be awarded."

Applications are due by 12:00 pm on Tuesday, September 8. Click here for additional information.

Grant Opportunity: Social Justice and Racial Equity Fields

From The Partnership for Equity of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

"The Partnership for Equity (The Partnership) of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is seeking applications from non-profit community-based organizations in the greater Washington region to build the capacity of organizations working in the field of social justice and racial equity.

"Grants are intended to further the work of local nonprofits working to create racially equitable change by simultaneously supporting senior-level leaders and the nonprofit they lead through general operating support for the organization, paired with intensive technical assistance and peer-to-peer networking for the individual leader."

Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9. Click here to learn more.

Grant Opportunity: The National Harbor Fund Community Outreach Grant Fund

The Prince George's Community Foundation is accepting Letters of Intent from organizations serving residents of Prince George's County for the National Harbor Community Outreach Grant Fund (NHCOGF). NHCOGF supports organizations providing community, civic, educational and employment services for residents of Prince George’s County. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14.

Click here to learn more. Click here to download the Letter of Intent submission materials.

Grant Opportunity: 2009 Community Enhancement Grant

The Arlington Community Foundation is accepting applications for its 2009 Community Enhancement Grant Cycle.

Applications for the Community Enhancement Grants program will be reviewed in the following categories: Arts, Culture and Humanities; Children & Families; Health; Housing/Homeless & Hunger; Legal; Environment; Senior Enrichment; and other services to Arlington. Nonprofits serving Arlington may submit one application and must identify whether they are seeking support for a one year or multi-year program. Grants are awarded for new or continuing activities and may be a continuation of a project previously funded by the Arlington Community Foundation. The Community Enhancement Grants application includes specific proposals for programs that promote successful aging, to be funded by the Senior Adult Recreation Endowment Fund, and applicants to that fund are not restricted to one application.

Click here to learn more. The deadline for grant submissions is at 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 30.