More Grant Opportunities

In the words of Matthew Lesko, TV pitchman, "You would be crazy to miss this opportunity." Here are some real funding sources that I found to pass on to you.

COMMUNITY GARDEN:
Fiskars Project Orange Thumb Grant Program Community groups are invited to apply for the 2010 Fiskars Project Orange Thumb Grant Program. Fiskars, a leading manufacturer of scissors and garden tools, will award grants worth up to $2,000 each in garden tools and green goods through the Orange Thumb program. The program is open to any community group with a gardening project. Eligible programs include garden projects geared toward community involvement, neighborhood beautification, sustainable agriculture, and/or horticultural education. Deadline: February 19, 2010.

BEACH CLEANUP: The City has been unsuccessful in two tries to secure DEED funds to clean up the South Shore Beach. Could this Blandin grant opportunity—under the economic initiatives category—be used for the South Shore beach investigation/cleanup? Blandin Foundation Grants are awarded in six strategic focus areas. Each addresses a unique aspect of rural life, with the common vision of healthy rural communities grounded in strong economies, where burdens and benefits are widely shared. 1) Economic initiatives; 2) Educational attainment; 3) Fairness and opportunity; 4) Develop diverse leaders; 5) Rural voice; and 6) Intercultural competency. (Web site); Due March 15, 2010 (letters of inquiry are recommended prior to submission)

LIBRARY LOTTERY
Sisters in Crime announce their "We Love Libraries" lottery. Monthly grants of $1,000 will be awarded from January through December 2010. All U.S. libraries are eligible.

Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment
Got a HISTORY PROJECT? A portion of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, was appropriated to the Minnesota Historical Society for history-related projects around the state. The Statewide Historical and Cultural Grants program, is seeded by a pool of $6.75 million to be awarded in the 2010-11 biennium for "projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation." Minnesota Historical Society Grants

FOLLOW-UP
Last month I posted the Pepsi Refresh Everything grant opportunity and at least one local go-getter, Nate Dorr accepted my challenge and applied for $25,000 funding to support the Bemidji Skatepark. You can vote for Bemidji's project here.

Move the Skate Park Funding Request to No.1; VOTE NOW!

The local group that is working to fund the Bemidji Skate Park has entered a contest to receive $25,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Everything competition. Lead by Nate Dorr, the group has already raised $150,000 toward their goal to build a world class skate venue in Bemidji City Park. Winners are based on the online voting results. You can vote for Bemidji's projet here. Bemidji's application is currently in 12th place. Only the top ten get funded.



From the group's submission:

We have a final design complete that can be found on our website, Bemidji Skate Park. It will have bowls and transitions, as well as street plaza style terrain. It will be Minnesota's first six foot tall park, since we were successful in our efforts to work with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust adjusting their skatepark policies statewide.We were one of three projects worldwide to receive Tony Hawk Foundation's maximum grant of $25,000 because of our vision, organization, and low-income rural community. Other funders include Burton Snowboards, Nike, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community ($25,000), Neilson Foundation ($100,000), and many smaller business and community donations. Our local Home Depot is behind the project, and will help us with this community build project. The park will be free to use, will last for decades, and will get kids and adults off the couch and outside!

Vote now!

One Week to the First Deadline: Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant Opportunity

Got an idea to improve the community? Pepsi is giving away up to 32 grants a month ranging in size from $5,000 to $250,000 for a total of up to $1.3 million per month.

We're looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. Look around your community and think about how you want to change it.

Anyone can submit an idea online at Refresh Everything. Pepsi is accepting 1000 ideas every month. Supporters go to the site and vote for their favorite ideas. Visitors can vote for up to 10 of their favorite ideas every day. If you submitted an idea, you are free to vote for your own. Voting starts on the 1st of the month and continues through the last day of every month. New ideas and Refresh Grant recipients will be accepted and awarded every month.

Six categories help you figure out where your idea fits in:

• Health—impact the health of anyone from hospitals and clinics to exercise programs
• Arts and Culture—celebrate the arts in all its forms
• Food and Shelter—provide things to eat, wear and live in—and sometimes all three
• The Planet—help improve the environment on a local or massive scale
• Neighborhoods—make any neighborhood a better place to live
• Education—help people learn and grow at any age

Dates to Remember:
January 13, 2010—first day to submit your idea
February 1, 2010—voting for ideas starts
March 1, 2010—first awardees announced

Off the top of my head, I can think nearly two dozen local initiatives that could benefit from this opportunity. . . . . .
Skate park, Science Center, Active Living, Dental Access Center, Sustainability Initiative, Evergreen Services, Peacemaker Resources, Community Resource Connections, BWELL, Historic Preservation, Sculpture Walk, BREC public art, Food Shelf, Soup Kitchen, Boys and Girls Club, Community Garden, 4-H, BYAC, Farmers Market, Headwaters School of Music. . . . . .

Who in Bemidji can be the first to submit an idea? Get your creative game on and get busy! Then tell the community so we can go online and vote for your great idea.