Nonprofit Spotlight

Since 1977, Keep Charleston Beautiful has been working to promote a clean and beautiful environment in Charleston. Affiliated with Keep America Beautiful and Palmetto Pride, Keep Charleston Beautiful strives to fulfill this mission through education, public awareness and community cleanups. In fact, they just wrapped up their annual Clean Cities Sweep, which is a large citywide volunteer effort to clean up debris and litter. They also have the Clara's Kids Club which is a presentation geared towards K-2 student to teach them the importance of a litter free environment and will soon be offering a new Sustainable Yard Program.

To learn more about Keep Charleston Beautiful, visit their website at

http://www.charlestoncity.info/dept/?nid=402

Foundation Spotlight

Sierra Club

The Sierra Club was established in 1892, easily making it the oldest environmental organization. With over 1.3 million members, it is also the largest and most influential. The mission of the Sierra Club is simple, "explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth." They accomplish this in part by supporting organizations that focus on promoting reponsible use of earth's resources or educate the public on the environment. The deadline for applications is June 1.
Visit www.sierraclub.org for more information.

To learn about other foundations that support environmental groups come into the Main Library at 68 Calhoun St and take a look at the Foundation Directiry Online. Contact me at jonesmi@ccpl.org if you'd like a one on one tutorial.

More Grant Deadlines

Grants with May deadlines


Deadline: 5/9/08
Program: GoGirlGo! National Grants
Agency: Women’s Sports Foundation
Description: For sports/physical activity programs that add or expand programs for underserved populations of girls.
Award Amount: $5,700 (average)
Website: http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/cgi-bin/iowa/funding/results.html
Eligibility: K-12, Non-profits, Local governments


Deadline: 5/19/08
Program: Models of Exemplary, Effective, and Promising Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse Prevention Programs on College Campuses
Agency: US Dept. of Education
Description: To identify and disseminate information about exemplary and effective prevention programs, or to recognize programs that show evidence of being promising.
Award Amount: $125,000-$175,000 (estimated)
Website: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=17341&flag2006=true&mode=VIEW
Eligibility: Colleges

Deadline: 5/19/08
Program: AT&T High School Success Special Grants Program
Agency: AT&T Foundation
Description: To help moderately at-risk students complete high school successfully, either by (1) supporting existing projects or (2) planning/capacity building.
Award Amount: (1) $50,000-$100,000 per year or (2) $25,000-$35,000 for one year
Website: http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=11520
Eligibility: K-12, Non-profits


Deadline: 5/22/08
Program: Arts Exchanges on International Issues
Agency: US Dept. of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Description: To implement programs using the arts to engage civil society (especially youth and underserved populations) and to foster linkages between US and overseas nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.
Award Amount: $1.2 billion to fund 2-4 projects
Website: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/RFGPs/maio22rfgp.htm
Eligibility: Non-profits

Deadline: 5/23/08
Program: Small Innovative Grant
Agency: American Legacy Foundation
Description: Supports projects that advance creative, promising solutions based on sound principles of tobacco control to remedy the harm cause by tobacco use in America.
Award Amount: $100,000 (for the first year)
Website: http://www.americanlegacy.org/64.aspx
Eligibility: Non-profits, Local governments

Deadline: 5/25/08
Program: Science Education Drug Abuse Partnership Award
Agency: NIH, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Description: For development and evaluation of innovative programs and materials that enhance understanding of neuroscience and biology of drug abuse among K-12 students, general public, health care practitioners, etc.
Award Amount: $250,000 (maximum)
Website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/SEDAPA/index.html
Website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-145.html
Eligibility: K-12, Colleges, Non-profits, Local governments, Businesses

Deadline: 5/27/08
Program: Projects with Industry Program
Agency: US Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
Description: To create and expand job and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Award Amount: $250,000-$350,000
Website: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-6453.htm
Eligibility: Non-profits, Local governments, Businesses

Deadline: 5/30/08
Program: Great American Bake Sale Grants
Agency: Share Our Strength
Description: For efforts to increase participation among low-income children in summer and after-school meal programs.
Award Amount: Unspecified
Website: http://gabs.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GABS_grants&pw_id=2702
Eligibility: K-12, Non-profits, Local governments

Deadline: 5/31/08
Program: Arts Grants, Early Childhood Reading Grants, and Family Violence Prevention Grants
Agency: Target Corporation
Description: Grants to bring arts into schools, to foster a love of reading, and to support programs that strengthen families and communities by keeping them safe.
Award Amount: $1,000-$3,000
Website: http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp;jsessionid=4CCISKK5MDPC3LARAAV5YAI?contentId=PRD03-001818
Eligibility: K-12, Non-profits

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

May 15, 2008: Preservation Assistance Grants. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) offers grants to smaller institutions including non-profits and state and local government. The funds are aimed at improving the preservation and care of humanities collections. Suggested projects include collection assessments, consultations, workshops, and institutional and collaborative disaster and emergency planning. Grants cover consultant fees, workshop registration fees, related travel expenses, and the costs of purchasing and shipping preservation supplies. This year, the maximum award amount has been increased to $6000. Visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html for more information.

May 20, 2008: Save America’s Treasures Grants: Grant applications are now available for the Save America’s Treasures grant program of the National Park Service. These grants fund the preservation and conservation of nationally significant historic collections, structures, and sites. From 2008 forward, NPS will be accepting on-line applications only through http://www.grants.gov/, the Federal government grant website. Paper applications will not be accepted. Make sure to “get registered” as an organization on http://www.grants.gov/ before starting the application process. Information on the application process is available at www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures.
Questions? Email: nps_treasures@nps.gov, phone: 202-354-2020.

Upcoming Workshop

Greening Your Event
Tips on how to lighten the impact on our environment and impress your guests

Hosted by the Nonprofit Nook, this workshop will focus on easy steps to make your event green from selecting green site/venue to ideas, tips and more.

The workshop will be held at the Trio Solutions Inc. office at 505 Belle Hall Parkway, Suite 202, Mount Pleasant. The cost for workshop is $25. For more information or to register, please visit www.trio-solutions.com or call (843) 216-0442.

Upcoming Events

Happy Earth Day! There's lots of stuff going on this week.

Today, April 22

Chicks with Checks Social Hour- 6-8pm, Artwerx Framing & Galleria 1118 Park West Blvd Mt P
100 percent of your tax deductible donation goes directly to Lowcountry Orphan Relief, Inc. Call 352-8978 or visit http://www.chickswithchecks.org/ fro more information.

Celebrate Earth Day at Earth Fare-4-8pm

Art Show and Fundraiser for LEEP- 7pm, Mellow Mushroom

Thursday April 24

Health and Wellness for Seniors-11am, West Ashley Library
Join Leigh Beth Woodman, physical therapist, certified senior strength trainer, and owner of Dayspring Therapeutic Services, to learn how to achieve total health and fitness as you age

Big Give Party-6pm Mary Mojo Ladies Boutique, 1405 Ben Sawyer Blvd.,
Mary Mojo Ladies Boutique teams up with East Cooper Community Outreach to host an event to give back to the community.

Food, Shelter, Hope- 6pm, Charleston Maritime Center
Crisis Ministries’ annual fund-raiser features live music, food, and a live auction to generate supportive services for our community’s homeless and hungry. Call 729-9477 or visit http://www.etix.com/ for ticket information.

Purse Silent Auction & Reception-6pm, City Gallery at Waterfront Park
The Center for Women hosts its 7th annual fund-raiser “It’s in the Bag” Purse Silent Auction and Reception. Call 763-7333 or visit http://www.c4women.org/ for details.

Saturday April 26

St. Vincent de Paul Society Spring Yard Sale-7:30 am, All Saints Lutheran Church Mt Pleasant
Proceeds support the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society that assists the needy in Mt. Pleasant and Awendaw.

March of Dimes March for Babies-9am, Cannon Park
Three mile walk through downtown Charleston to raise money for premature children. http://www.marchforbabies.org/

Clean Cities Sweep Project-10 am, Dorchester Road Library
Participants are invited to help clean up and plant the summer annuals in the butterfly garden. All ages welcome.

Nonprofit Spotlight

Lowcountry Earth Force

Earth Force engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future.

Their programs are designed to provide young people with the opportunity to practice civic skills, environmental knowledge and leadership. They work closely with educators and students to develop service oriented projects and offer year long one on one support for the teachers and students through training, field trips, professional development and networking opportunities. Earth Force gives young people the chance to make a positive change in their community and what positive changes they have made. Students at Belle Hall Elementary, as part of their Earth Force project, proposed the pedestrian lane on the Ravenel Bridge.

To learn more visit their website at http://www.earthforce.org/.

Foundation Spotlight

Patagonia Environmental Grants Program

A corporate giving program out of Ventura, CA, Patagonia makes charitable donations to nonprofits involved with the environment. They give nationally and internationally in the form of Donated products, employee matching gifts, employee volunteer services, general/operating support, loaned talent and use of facilities.
Patagonia has given over $31 million dollars in grants and in kind donations to over 1000 groups since the program began in 1985. They pride themselves on giving to organizations normally overlooked by other corporate donors and funding "activists who take radical and strategic steps to protect habitat, wilderness and biodiversity."
http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/contribution/patagonia.go?assetid=2927

To learn more about this and other foundations check out the Foundation Directory Online at the Main Library.

"Try It On for the Cure®"

Charleston Coldwater Creek Stores host "Try It On for the Cure®" to benefit the Lowcountry Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

On Sunday, April 20th, Coldwater Creek at the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre will donate $1 to the Lowcountry Affiliate of Komen for the Cure for every shopper who tries on their clothes in the dressing room.And no purchase is necessary! However, for those who do purchase, the company will also donate 10 percent of the entire day’s sales to Komen.
“It’s such a simple way to involve our customers up-close with a cause we are all passionate about! And it’s so easy, we do the giving – shoppers just have to try something on,” said Ann Johnson, Coldwater Creek.“Try it On for the Cure is a terrific example of how people can get involved in the breast cancer movement in a fun and meaningful way,” said Hala Moddelmog, CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “We are thrilled to have Coldwater Creek as a partner in our promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.”
Backing the Lowcountry Affiliate is nothing new for Coldwater Creek. Their programs focus on raising funds that stay right here in the community. In 2007 Coldwater Creek donated over $316,000 to local affiliates. Whether it is participating in the local Race for the Cure or hosting benefit fashion events in their stores, like Try It On for the Cure on April 20th, the purpose is always to give back to the community.
For more information on the Try It On for the Cure, please visit your local Coldwater Creek store or visit www.coldwatercreek.com <http://www.coldwatercreek.com> .

CAGP Meeting

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CAGP) will meet THURSDAY, April 17th, at 5:45 p.m. in the auditorium of the Charleston County Public Library,68 Calhoun St.


Speaker: Charles C. Weathers, Sr.
President & CEO of the Weathers Group, an innovative organizational performance firm based in Columbia, South Carolina
Learn how to enhance your grants process, evaluation efforts, and reporting requirements through a more seamless, effective approach.
By identifying and adopting sound Information Management principles and processes, nonprofits can lower costs, increase programmatic impact, protect data, and maximize their value. Viable Information Management will help your nonprofit create a 'body of knowledge' that will increase organizational intelligence.

Upcoming Events

Take Back the Night March and Rally -Thu., April 17, 5 p.m. College of Charleston Cistern
People Against Rape (PAR) hosts the 23rd annual Take Back the Night march and rally to end sexual violence in our community. (843) 745-0144, www.peopleagainstrape.org

Great Gatsby Gala- Thu., April 17, 7-11 p.m. 28 Bridgeside
An evening of dancing, hors d’oeurves, and drinks as well as a live and silent auction benefitting the youth served by the Boys & Girls Clubs’ afterschool programs and peer literacy program.
(843) 937-6489, www.bgclubta.org for more information and tickets

Spring Soiree 2008- Thu April 17 6pm Alhambra Hall
Annual fundraiser for Junior League of Charleston featuring live and silent auctions, music and food.
www.jlcharleston.org for information and tickets

Earth Day Festival- April 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Park Circle, North Charleston
The purpose of the Earth Day Festival is to increase awareness about preserving and protecting our environment in the Lowcountry, while celebrating Charleston’s environmental community and highlighting our environmental challenges and successes.

Road Rally- April 19, 4 p.m. Charleston Visitor Center Bus Shed at 375 Meeting St
Road rally, silent auction, and oyster roast featuring live music and food and drinks. All proceeds benefit Life Management Center. (843) 852-5705, www.lifemanagement.org

Upcoming Events

Senior Expo- Friday April 11, Citadel Mall
Features goods and services for seniors.

"Move for a Change" April 11 7pm
Fundraiser for LEEP at the Village Tavern in Mt. Pleasant. FREE ADMISSION

Bowl for Kids’ Sake- April 12, Dorchester Lanes
Local companies and tri-county residents are invited to take part in the event, help raise money for the local Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and make a positive change in the Charleston community. Call 266-5237 or visit www.becomeabig.org for more information.

2008 Charleston MS Walk-April 12 9am, Hampton Park
Walkers and volunteers take another step in the movement against multiple sclerosis by uniting for a 4-mile walk to raise money and promote awareness of Multiple Sclerosis.

PAR Silent Auction- April 14
People Against Rape hosts a silent auction at the Riverdogs Baseball Game as a part of the Dogs for a Cause. Call (843) 745-0144 or visit www.peopleagainstrape.org for more information.

Nonprofit Spotlight

LEEP (Lowcountry Environmental Education Programs)

Founded in 1999, LEEP's mission is to provide the opportunity for all students to explore South Carolina's natural environment through experiential learning. LEEP offers programs to local schools and takes it a step further by assisting teachers in elimintaing many of the obstacles that prevent their students from participating in educational field trips. As of 2007, more than 1800 students in 20 different schools have participated in the Wetlands Learning Cycle class as well as other programs provided by LEEP. Through their organization LEEP is making a huge impact on the education of children as well as providing them with a sense of pride and ownership of their environment and a feeling of involvement in their community.

To learn more about LEEP, visit their website at http://www.scleep.org/ or their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/scleep.

Foundation Spotlight

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation

Lowe's Inc. established this foundation in 1957 with a focus of supporting parks and playgrounds and organizations involved in K-12 education, environmental beautification, environmental education, home safety, and community development. They fund on a national basis through a number of programs, two of which are geared specifically towards the environment.

Through their Community Improvement Program the foundation supports programs that beautify and enhance parks and neighborhoods; repair and renovate buildings and enhance landscaping of facilities serving the community; create community gardens, parks, and playgrounds; initiate community clean-up programs; and establish outdoor learning environments such as educational gardening programs.

Through the Outdoor Classroom Grant Program, in partnership with International Paper Company and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine, the foundation annually awards at least 100 grants of up to $20,000 to K-12 schools with programs designed to engage students in outdoor hands-on natural science experiences leading to enrichment opportunities across the core curriculum.

www.lowes.com/community

To learn more about this and other foundations check out the Foundation Directory Online at the Main Library, 68 Calhoun Street Charleston, SC.

Pet Helpers All-You-Can-Eat Oyster Roast and Silent Auction

When: Sunday, April 13, 2008 from 12 noon – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Bowens Island Restaurant, 1870 Bowens Island Road, Folly Beach, SC

Pet Helpers, along with Rosebank Farms Café and Bowens Island Restaurant, will host an all-you-can-eat oyster roast from noon to 6:00 p.m. If you love oysters and music, this is an event you don’t want to miss!
Local bands Sol Driven Train and The Shakin’ Martinis will be performing while you’re “Sucking It Up to Save Lives!” The event offers more than just oysters and great music. Hot dogs and chili are included in the ticket price. There will also be a silent auction featuring a wide variety of items that will appeal to everyone’s wallet. Please, we’re asking for you to bring your own oyster shucking knives and coolers are not allowed.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. Children ages 6 to 12 are $10.00 and children under 6 get in free. Tickets are available by visiting the new shelter at 1447 Folly Road, or by calling 843-795-1110 to place orders over the phone. Last year, this event raised $10,000 and we hope to exceed that goal for 2008! “This is a great opportunity to have fun and help homeless animals in your community,” said Suzanne Carr, executive director of Pet Helpers. Dogs are also welcome, but only if they are up to date on vaccines and on a leash.

Environmental Month

Since Earth Day is the 22nd of this month, there will be a special emphasis on the environment this month. This means the foundations and nonprofits spotlighted will have an interest in environment So if you fit into this category, please email me at jonesmi@ccpl.org so I can make sure your organization is included.
Thanks.

From now on there will be a different subject area each month.

CHARLESTON-BASED NONPROFIT RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP SOUTH CAROLINA HOMEOWNERS

The Homeownership Resource Center, a division of Family Services Inc., recently received a grant for more than $300,000 from NeighborWorks® America, a national nonprofit organization created by Congress to provide financial support, technical assistance and training for community-based revitalization efforts. The Homeownership Resource Center will utilize the funds to provide mortgage foreclosure intervention and loss mitigation counseling assistance to homeowners throughout South Carolina – one of several states that has been identified as an area of greatest need by the federal government. Services provided through this grant will be available to South Carolina residents through the end of 2008.
The grant is part of a $180 million appropriation bill approved by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush in December 2007 in response to the nationwide subprime foreclosure crisis. This one-time appropriation is designed to support a rapid expansion of foreclosure intervention counseling capacity on a short-term basis by HUD-approved Housing Counseling Intermediaries and State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs). Funds are being directed to “areas in greatest need” and is expected to help an estimated 350,000 to 400,000 families facing the threat of foreclosure around the country.
For more information on the Homeownership Resource Center visit www.ForeclosureHelpforSC.org .