Grant Example: The Amber Grant

WomensNet launched the Amber Grant in 1998 to honor the memory of an ambitious young woman who died, before she could realize her entrepreneurial aspirations. Today, these grants help women like you fulfill the dreams that Amber could not.

Every month, WomensNet judges award one or more Amber Grants of $10,000 each. Then, at the end of the year, one of those grant recipients is selected to receive the $25,000 Amber Grant.

To apply, simply tell your story. There are no lengthy, complicated documents to complete; just answer a few questions about your business. Applications accepted monthly: Apply Now.

Grant Example: KidsGardening Grant (Youth Garden Grants Program)

KidsGardening offers a variety of grants to new and existing youth garden programs across the nation. Each funding opportunity has its own timeline, defining features, eligibility requirements, and reporting expectations. You are encouraged to explore their grant programs to see which might be the best fit for your situation. If something catches your eye, you can find more details on each grant’s homepage.

Any organization, in the United States or US Territories, planning a new or improving an existing garden program and serving at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply. Applications are accepted annually. For complete information: kidsgardening.org.

Grant Example: Pets in the Classroom Grant

This grant supports teachers in enhancing students’ educational & personal development through interaction with pets in their classroom. Pets in the Classroom is an educational grant program that provides financial support to teachers to purchase and maintain small animals in the classroom. The program was established by the Pet Care Trust to provide children with an opportunity to interact with pets—an experience that can help to shape their lives for years to come.

The Pet Care Trust also established the Dogs in the Classroom program, which provides teachers with the opportunity to bring animal-assisted therapy to their classroom—an experience that also can help shape the lives of children for years to come.

Applications are available each year. To apply or learn more: petsintheclassroom.org.

Grant Example: Sustainable Arts Foundation

The Sustainable Arts Foundation makes awards of $5,000 each to twenty artists and writers with children. Additionally, they will name twenty finalists. The selection process is focused almost entirely on the strength of the submitted portfolio. The awards offer unrestricted cash, and recipients can use the funds as they see fit.

To be eligible, the applicant must have at least one child under the age of 18. Parents of older children with a disability or special needs may also be eligible. Apply here: apply.sustainableartsfoundation.org.

Grant Example: The Spunk Fund, Inc.

The Spunk Fund, Inc. supports initiatives that enrich the well-being of children/adolescents (e.g. medical & psychological research, education, cultural programs, and programs preventing child abuse and neglect). The Spunk Fund gives nationally and internationally to programs enhancing quality of life and creating opportunities for less-advantaged children.

They fund general/operating support; research; and seed money. Individuals or capital programs are not funded. LOIs accepted year-round.

Other interests include arts, child development, children/youth services, crime/violence prevention, child abuse, economically disadvantaged, elementary school/education; and family services.

The Spunk Fund doesn’t have a website. For information call (212) 755-5217 or email mg@spunkfund.com.

Grant Example: Illinois Bar Foundation — Access to Justice Grants

The Illinois Bar Foundation awards grants only to 501(c)(3) organizations that serve the State of Illinois and conduct work within IBF’s grant program objectives. There is a two-step process: (1) Letter of Inquiry and (2) Invitation for a full grant application.

The IBF funds organizations/projects with a statewide, regional or local impact. Applicants must show evidence of the need and of the impact of their program. The IBF accepts projects with new and innovative approaches requiring seed money to launch and resulting from collaboration among multiple organizations. New projects must show viability by identifying financial or in-kind support from communities to be served.

When IBF’s grant program objectives align with the applicant’s mission, general operating expenses are funded; if not, grants will be restricted to specific programmatic support. To apply: grantinterface.com.

Grant Example: The Sparkplug Foundation

The Sparkplug Foundation funds start-up and new projects of established organizations in music, education, and community organizing. They support the development of democratic movements and communities working on local democracy, justice, and sustainable energy, and rebuilding U.S. and global economies.

Sparkplug is a small foundation, which is why they try to make grants where a small, one-time grant can have a big impact. Generally, they try to make grants that help projects become sustainable, so they usually don’t fund daily operations or things like plane tickets and one-time performances. Learn more: sparkplugfoundation.org.

Grant Example: The Kenneth B. and Mamie P. Clark Fund

The Clark Fund supports research and demonstration activities promoting understanding of the relationship between self-identity and academic achievement with an emphasis on children (grades K-8). This grant alternates every other year between an early career psychologist and a graduate student.

The Clarks were the first and second African Americans to receive PhDs from Columbia University. Their famous doll experiments—where they asked children to express their likes/dislikes about brown and white-skinned dolls—led them to conclude segregation in schools and society was psychologically damaging to children. These studies, believed to be the first social science evidence, were considered hard fact by the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka.

Applications are accepted each year. For complete information: ampsychfdn.org.

Grant Example: Julia Harrison-Bruce Foundation

The Julia Harrison-Bruce Foundation is an independent non-profit foundation based in Herrin, Illinois. The foundation primarily supports economic development programs, education, human services and emergency services (e.g. fire stations).

This foundation primarily funds educational and charitable causes. Recently, Logan College, City of Herrin, and City of Marion received funding. Funds are earned from interest on invested assets. The Bank of Herrin is the trustee of the foundation. For information contact the bank at 618-942-6666.

Grant Example: Annie E. Casey Foundation

Since 1948, the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) has worked to build better futures for disadvantaged children and their families in the United States. The Foundation’s focus areas include child welfare (foster care), community change, economic opportunity (employment, education, training), and juvenile justice.

• Child Welfare (Foster Care)
• Community Change (Community Development)
• Economic Opportunities (Employment, Education and Training)
• Juvenile Justice

For complete information: aecf.org.

Grant Example: Wild Ones Foundation — Otto Seeds for Education Grant

Wild Ones promotes environmentally friendly, sound landscaping to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities by providing free, educational resources and learning opportunities, open to the public. They support efforts of over 60 local Wild Ones chapters in 20 states.

For 20+ years, the Wild Ones donor-funded program has provided small grants of $100 to $500 for naturally landscaped projects throughout the US. Applications are available yearly in July and due on October 15. Projects are funded in February (in time for planting season). Funds are designed to directly engage children (pre-K to high school) in planning, planting, and caring for native plant gardens. Learn more: wildones.org.

Grant Example: Fish America Foundation

The Fish America Foundation’s mission is to unite the sportfishing and boating industry with non-endemic corporations, foundations, and government agencies to invest in fisheries and habitats in the U.S. and Canada.

The Fish America Foundation provides grants to non-profit organizations and grassroots conservation entities to enhance fish populations, restore fisheries habitat, improve water quality, and advance fisheries research to improve sportfishing opportunities for millions of Americans and to help ensure that future generations can enjoy recreational fishing. For more information: fishamerica.org.

Grant Example: Indian Land Tenure Foundation

This foundation accepts LOIs, on an ongoing basis, to their Cultural Awareness focus area. Revitalizing cultural and spiritual values related to Indian land strengthens Indian nations and people. Land is a critical base for spiritual practices, beliefs, and worship, and can be a keeper of memories, a portal to the spirit world, or a place to go for guidance and strength. Land also supports cultural practices such as hunting, fishing, farming, and harvesting wild foods.

Maintaining strong cultural and spiritual ties to the land is necessary for preserving traditional practices and Native religious beliefs for future generations. In this way, the Foundation supports activities aimed at enhancing and maintaining cultural ties to the land. For complete information: iltf.org.

Grant Example: Division 17 Counseling Psychology Grants

These grants support not-for-profit activities to enhance the science and practice of counseling psychology. They aim to support research on the implementation of innovative counseling programs and models.

Proposals will be evaluated on:

• Conformance with stated program goals
• The magnitude of incremental contribution in the specified activity area
• Quality of proposed work
• Applicant’s demonstrated competence/capability to execute proposed work
• Criticality of funding for execution of work (particularly if part of a larger funded effort)

For additional information: apa.org.

Grant Example: Covenant Foundation

The Covenant Foundation provides funds to innovative programs in Jewish schools, agencies, community organizations, and other institutional settings. These grants enable creative Jewish educators to develop and implement outstanding approaches to Jewish education that have the potential of replicability in other settings.

The Covenant Foundation recognizes the diversity of strengths within the field of Jewish education in North America, across all denominations and settings. By honoring outstanding Jewish educators and supporting creative approaches to programming, the Foundation works to strengthen educational endeavors that perpetuate the identity, continuity, and heritage of the Jewish people.

For information on applying: covenantfn.org.

Grant Example: Nina Heard Astin Charitable Trust

The Nina Heard Astin Charitable Trust was created to support various charitable causes. There are no geographic limitations; however, the trust often supports organizations in Texas.

Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or an alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users. An average grant size is $5,000 to $10,000 and there are approximately 17 awards per year. Applications are accepted year-round and must be submitted before July 31 to ensure review during the annual grant meeting in September. Wells Fargo Bank is the trustee of the trust.

For more information: wellsfargo.com.