It has been my experience that most organizations have a working template by which to construct foundation proposals.  Working from this understanding, here are few things that can be done to improve your working template as you move into a new year of funding opportunities:

Update Your Organizational Description Section: Ensure that your organizational description section is current and that you have added new areas of service, new service statistics, and upcoming initiatives.

Refresh Your Need Statement:  Update some of your research on your area of service need with updated national or community statistics on the scope of the problem or update your need for funding assistance with information pertaining to your organization's current need for funding.

Double-Check That You Are Following Foundation-Specific Guidelines:  At times when working with a template, it is easy to cut and paste information without ensuring that the information enclosed answers the specific foundation ...

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Advertising in The Grantwell Newsletter is a convenient, affordable way to bring your message to the nonprofit community and its supporters. The Grantwell Newsletter reaches approximately 500 non-profit entities each month with over 10,000 individuals available on our contact list. By advertising in The Grantwell Newsletter, you have the unique opportunity to deliver information about your products and services straight to the e-mail in-boxes of some of the most active members of the nonprofit sector.

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The Grantwell Newsletter is a monthly publication, designed to provide information about issues affecting and concerns of the nonprofit sector. From exploring the effects of changing legislation to analyzing the pros and cons of different fundraising techniques and strategies, The Grantwell Newsletter provides content that is both meaningful and relevant to organizations and individuals across the nonprofit sector.

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10 Things To Think About Before Pursuing Grant Funding:

By: Christina Ryder

Pursuing grant funding for the first time or for a new project can be challenging even for the best writers! Based on years of experience and success, there are 10 things to know before you begin writing and as you pursue grant funding:

Commit to Remaining True to Your Mission : There is often times the temptation to alter a program’s philosophy or mission in order to receive significant funding and while you certainly want to utilize funds to build on your success, remain true to what you do, your purpose and your service! No-one else provides your services in exactly the way you do!     
 
Build in Something New : Do not be afraid to try something new! It is often helpful before picking up a pen or lifting a finger to a keyboard to identify areas within your ...

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According to a new report from Civic Enterprises, an overwhelming majority of soldiers who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan would like to volunteer when they return from their tours of duty, but many of them feel disconnected from the communities they return to. Funded by Target and the Case Foundation, the report, All Volunteer Force: From Military to Civilian Service (44 pages, PDF), found that 89 percent of veterans said other Americans could learn something from their example of service, though only half considered themselves leaders in their communities as a result of their military service. At the same time, 69 percent of veterans said they had not been contacted by a community institution, local nonprofit, or place of worship after they returned home and roughly the same percentage said they did not have enough information about meaningful service opportunities.

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The Antonio Pizzigati Prize
for Software in the Public Interest - 2010
Tides Foundation
Program: The Antonio Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest annually grants
a cash award for an outstanding contribution in public interest software development. In
2010 an award of $10,000 will go to an individual who has created or led an effort to
create a software product of significant value to the nonprofit sector.
Award: 1 award of $10,000
Eligibility: Individuals who have developed an open source software product that has
demonstrated impressive value to at least one nonprofit and has the potential to offer
value to multiple nonprofit organizations
Deadline: February 1, 2010
Application Guidelines/Submission: Visit the website for complete application
guidelines/submission.
Website: http://www.pizzigatiprize.org/index.php

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2010 Red Ribbon Award
UNAIDS, United Nations Development Programme on HIV/AIDS
Program: The Red Ribbon Award honors and recognizes exceptional grassroots
leadership in responding to the AIDS epidemic. The year the awards will be given to
groups for leadership in responding to AIDS in one or more of the following categories:
stop violence against women and girls and promote gender equality; ensure that the
people living with HIV receive treatment; support HIV prevention, treatment and care
programs for people who use drugs and enhance social support for those affected by
HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children.
Award: Twenty-five community groups will receive awards at $5,000 each and the
opportunity to attend the XVIIIth International AIDS Conference in Vienna July 18-13,
2010. The organizations will have the ability to showcase their work. Five of the
organizations will receive special recognition and an additional $15,000.
Eligibility: Grassroots initiatives, community- ...

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John W. Gardner Leadership Award
Independent Sector
Program: Independent Sector presents the Award each year to an individual whose
leadership in or with the nonprofit community has been transformative and who has
mobilized and unified people, institutions, or causes that improve people’s lives.
Award: The award includes a gift of $10,000 and a replica of an original bust of John
Gardner by the late sculptor Frederick Hart.
Eligibility: Living American citizen, nominee’s work must have national or international
impact or, if at the regional level, has attracted wide recognition and imitation, nominee
can not be on the Independent Sector’s Board of directors, but can serve on an
Independent Sector committee, nominee must be able to attend the award ceremony at
Independent Sector’s annual conference in Atlanta, October 20-22, 2010
Deadline: January 29, 2009
Application Guidelines/Submission: Visit the website for complete application
guidelines/submission.
Website ...

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2010 Sundance Documentary Fund
Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program
Program: The Sundance Documentary Fund supports films that focus on current
human rights issues, freedom of expression, social justice, civil liberties and current
critical issues. Proposals are considered in five categories: development,
production/post-production, audience engagement, impact, and discretionary.
Award: Development grants – awards of up to $20,000; Production/post-production
grants – awards ranging from $25,000 to $75,000; Audience Engagement, Impact and
Discretionary grants are available to previous funded projects or by invitation.
Eligibility: International filmmakers
Deadline: February 9, 2010
Application Guidelines/Submission: Visit the website for complete application
guidelines/submission.
Website: http://www.sundance.org/press_subgen3.html?articleID=4&colorCode=

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Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award
Youth Service America (YSA)
Program: The first annual Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award will recognize two young
female social entrepreneurs, ages 14 to 17, whose initiatives serve the common good of
the community.
Award: $2,000 for the social enterprise; travel, lodging, and registration to National
Service-Learning Conference in San Jose, CA – March 24-27, 2010; awardee will serve
as a spokesperson for YSA’s initiatives; invitation to serve on the executive board of
Girls Helping Girls; access to YSA’s resources to support and expand social enterprise
Eligibility: Girls between the ages of 14 and 17 on January 1, 2010; located in the
United States (special consideration will be given to nominees located in West Virginia
and Metro Washington, DC); must have her own social enterprise; be supported by
contributions of at least $1,000 (cash and/or in-kind); have a business plan, including an
itemized budget ...

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Violence Prevention and Intervention Grant
American Psychological Foundation
Program: The purpose of this program is to encourage the transfer of psychological
science with regard to violence, its prevention, and intervention strategies to applications
within the community and to support the implementation of innovative community
programs aimed at preventing violence.
Award: $20,000
Eligibility: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or educational institutions
or affiliated with such an organization. Special consideration will be given to programs with
a strong foundation in violence prevention and intervention research and those that have,
or show promise for broad-based community support.
Deadline: June 1, 2010
Application Guidelines/Submission: Visit the website for complete application
guidelines/submission.
Website: http://www.apa.org/apf/violence.html