Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program; Southern Rural Development Center

The Southern SARE Program and the SRDC are interested in investing in projects in the Southern region that work to strengthen both agriculture and Southern communities by building explicit linkages between sustainable agriculture and rural community development. Applications are encouraged that seek to increase knowledge, build capacity and make connections among on- and off-farm sustainable agriculture activities, economic and community development efforts, value-added activities, civic engagement and local government policy.

Online, visit http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/currentcalls/sci.doc

The Foundation for the Mid South; The American Red Cross

The Hurricane Recovery Program includes a health component entitled Building Community Resilience, which focuses on providing support for wellness and health programs meeting the mental, emotional and spiritual needs of communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina. To help address the emotional needs of those affected, the Red Cross is supporting non-profit organizations that offer community resilience and wellness services that will help individuals and communities recover. The grants will support programs that enhance people's emotional well-being, such as structured opportunities to share experiences, get respite, provide mutual support and foster supportive networks within communities.

Online, visit http://www.fndmidsouth.org/RedCross_RFP_round2.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture; Rural Business Cooperative Service

USDA Rural Development announces a competitive cooperative agreement to conduct research on the national economic impact of all types of cooperatives. USDA Rural Development is requesting proposals from institutions of higher education interested in applying for a competitively awarded cooperative research agreement.

Online, visit http://fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=109847

Wolcott Family Foundation

Priority is given to organizations that empower individuals and communities to organize for social change; seek to strengthen civil liberties and civil rights issues; build community development that seeks to break the cycle of poverty, create economic opportunity and build effective leadership in distressed communities; and demonstrate linkages and interdependence of ecosystems and economics with win-win solutions and collaborative approaches.

Consideration will be given to projects that emphasize environmental preservation, advocacy and community involvement aimed at root causes of societal problems.

Online, visit http://www.wolffoundation.org/

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

This public competition, which will award funding to emerging leaders, communicators and innovators shaping the field of digital media and learning, is part of MacArthur's Digital Media and Learning Initiative, which aims to help determine how digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize and participate in civic life. Awards will be given in two categories:
1) Innovation Awards will support learning entrepreneurs and builders of new digital environments for informational learning.
2) Knowledge Networking Awards will support communicators in connecting, mobilizing, circulating or translating new ideas around digital media and learning.

Online, visit http://www.dmlcompetition.net/innovation.php

Economic Development Administration; Department of Commerce

EDA advances economic growth by assisting communities and regions experiencing chronic high unemployment and low per capita income to create an environment that fosters innovation, promotes entrepreneurship and attracts increased private capital investment. EDA encourages the submission of only those proposals or applications, as appropriate, which will significantly benefit regions with distressed communities. Distress may exist in a variety of forms including high unemployment levels, natural or other major disasters, loss of population, etc.

Online, visit http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=13169

The Annenberg Foundation

The Annenberg Foundation focuses on four major program areas:
1) Education and Youth Development
2) Arts, Culture and Humanities
3) Civic, Community and the Environment
4) Health and Human Services

Letters of inquiry are accepted at all times during the year and there are no deadlines. Those interested should review the grants database on the foundation's Web site to gain familiarity with the types of programs that have received funding.

Online, visit http://www.annenbergfoundation.org/grants/

The Surdna Foundation

The goal of the Effective Citizenry program is to support young people to take action with others to address meaningful problems in their schools, neighborhoods and the larger society. The Surdna Foundation funds efforts that help young people (ages 13-29) become effective, problem-solving citizens; improve practices and performance of organizations that help young people move through leadership development and into productive action; and develop networks that can anchor and expand a field of effective citizenry.

Program support follows two primary themes:
1) Young People Taking Action
2) Strengthening Infrastructure

Online, visit http://www.surdna.org/grants/grants_show.htm?doc_id=326178&cat_id=949

The Public Welfare Foundation

The primary goal of the Public Welfare Foundation is to address human needs in disadvantaged communities. The Foundation strongly emphasizes support for organizations that include service, advocacy or empowerment in their approach, with particular interest in efforts that combine two or all three of these elements.

The Community Development Program promotes affordable housing, safe working conditions and fair wages. The Youth Program promotes the positive development of young people through improving access to quality education and training, adequate health services, leadership development and empowerment. The Civic Participation Fund supports grassroots organizations in the development of their capacity to encourage the people they serve to become involved more actively in their communities and to encourage their civic participation at all levels of government.

Online, visit
http://www.publicwelfare.org/news/news/fund_2007.asp