New York Education Grants

The Rochester Area Community Foundation is seeking applications for its John F. Wegman Fund. Donor Name: Rochester Area Community Foundation State: New York County: Monroe County (NY) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  08/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Concerns of the elderly, character-building opportunities for youth, and improved labor/management relations through education or other means. Funding Criteria The John F. Wegman Fund has limited resources and looks for opportunities to provide small amounts of money that significantly impact community-based programs. Most awards are one-time grants for specific, participant-driven projects. The grant preference is for agencies, projects, and programs that are: Small scale Start-up Innovative (develop or adapt new strategies) Participant-driven (based on identified needs of beneficiaries) Examples of recent awards: Concerns of the elderly: Funding to support affordable transportation for seniors to health-related appointments. Character-building opportunities for youth: Funding to empower at-risk youth through workplace skill development and educating students in a supportive, multi-sensory learning environment so that they all become successful learners. Improved labor/management relations: Funding the republishing of the book All These Years of Effort, to more accurately portray the history of Rochester’s central labor unions. Funding Information These grants range from $1,500 to $10,000, with a median size of $7,300. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Monroe County, NY.  The John F. Wegman Advisory Committee will consider new requests from previously funded organizations after the final report has been submitted and 18 months have passed since they were last funded. The John F. Wegman Fund does not provide support for: Annual giving campaigns Capital building Fellowships Individuals Operating deficits Political campaigns Religious activities The John F. Wegman Fund gives limited consideration to: Land acquisition Renewable grants Staff training For more information, visit RACF.

This funding opportunity supports a variety of arts and cultural projects in Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties, benefiting nonprofit organizations, individuals, libraries, municipalities, and collaborative groups.

The Air Products Greater Massena Community Fund provides financial support to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and local governing bodies for a wide variety of programs, projects, and initiatives that improve the quality of life for residents in the Greater Massena community. Donor Name: Northern New York Community Foundation State: New York County: Franklin County (NY), Saint Lawrence County (NY) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding will be awarded to programs/projects benefiting community needs in areas including, but not limited to health and wellness, arts and culture, human services, education, families, youth and/or elders, environment and conservation, community development, recreation, and more. Each request will be evaluated for its potential impact on the Massena community and, in particular, its support for disadvantaged communities, the amount of funding available for disbursement, and the quality of the planning, leadership, and support of the applicant’s proposal.  Funding Information Up to $7,500 per grant application. Geographical Areas Greater Massena community within St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties. For more information, visit Northern New York Community Foundation.

This funding opportunity provides classroom teachers in Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster Counties, New York, with financial support for innovative classroom projects and professional development initiatives to enhance student learning and teacher skills.

The Cullen Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Responsive Grant – Education. Donor Name: Cullen Foundation State: New York County: Erie County (NY) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/26/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: In Education, they seek applications from organizations offering Supplemental Academic Programs (SAP). All programs should have direct academic outcomes, be evidence-based, and primarily serve economically disadvantaged students. Programs must support students from multiple schools. Types of Support Cullen Foundation has established the following types of support for responsive grants in the education focus area: Program/project support Capital/physical infrastructure Capacity building Funding Information An organization may apply for 1, 2 or 3 years of funding, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per year (for a $300,000 total maximum). Eligibility Criteria Cullen Foundation has the following eligibility criteria for all applicants: The organization is a 501(c)(3) The organization must submit audited or reviewed financials prepared by a CPA for its most recently completed fiscal year. This is Cullen’s requirement and is not related to NYS requirements Erie County is their primary geographic service area. Education applicants not located in Erie County must serve at least 80% Erie County residents No funding received will be used for partisan political activity No funding received will be used for expenses already incurred No funding will overlap with an existing grant from the Cullen Foundation The request must fit within Cullen Foundation’s education focus area (evidence-based programs with direct academic outcomes, serving economically disadvantaged students in grades pre-K through 12); and requests for the following will not be considered: Recreational camps or recreation-based programs Internship programs Education resource rooms and drop-in centers Museum exhibits Professional development programs and services Field trip funds and programs Skills and job training programs Transportation requests Arts education programs Requests from Individual schools Request for programs that serve students from only one school Individual scholarships will not be awarded other than those provided by the Cullen Scholars program. For more information, visit Cullen Foundation.

Applicants are invited to submit applications for the Responsive Grant Program. Donor Name: Cullen Foundation State: New York County: Erie County (NY) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/26/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: In Performing Arts, the Foundation supports the disciplines of music, dance, singing, and theatre, and their priority is to fund organizations that have a primary focus on community performances. Types of Support Cullen Foundation has established the following types of support for responsive grants in the performing arts focus area: Program support General operating support Capital (building or equipment) Capacity building support Funding Information An organization may apply for 1, 2 or 3 years of funding, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per year (for a $300,000 total maximum). Eligibility Criteria Cullen Foundation has the following eligibility criteria for all applicants: The organization is a 501(c)(3) The organization MUST submit audited or reviewed financials prepared by a CPA for its most recently completed fiscal year. This is Cullen’s requirement and is not related to NYS requirements Erie County is their primary geographic service area. Performing arts organizations outside of Erie County may apply if they can demonstrate their service to Erie County residents through valid audience participation data The primary mission of the organization should be directly that of performing arts No funding received will be used for partisan political activity No funding received will be used for expenses already incurred No funding will overlap with an existing grant from the Cullen Foundation. The request fits within Cullen Foundation’s performing arts focus area; requests for the following will not be considered: Arts education programs Art therapy programs Sponsorships including galas, fundraising events, conferences, and travel opportunities Programs and events with a performing arts component that are hosted by organizations that are not members of the performing arts sector Activities of organizations serving primarily their own membership. For more information, visit Cullen Foundation.

This grant provides financial support to community-based organizations in New York City that focus on arts, education, and human services, particularly those serving marginalized groups and working to reduce inequality.

The Jeannette F. Schlobach grant program, funded by the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, offers $10,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit organizations in Dutchess, Putnam, or Ulster Counties, New York, that provide services such as case management, housing, education, job training, and health services to residents impacted by poverty, with a focus on historically marginalized and under-funded communities.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster Counties, New York, to support innovative community projects that benefit diverse and underserved populations.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life for year-round residents of the Adirondack Park through various community-focused programs.

This grant provides financial support for educational field trips for public school teachers in Dutchess and Ulster Counties, New York, prioritizing high-needs schools and covering costs like transportation and admissions.

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley is offering grants between $1000 to $10,000 to tax-exempt organizations in Dutchess County, New York, focusing on arts, culture, and education, particularly those making facilities and events accessible to young people and seniors, with the exclusion of certain expenses like debt reduction, equipment, and fundraising campaigns.

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is seeking applications from nonprofit partners for outcomes-driven programs or projects which focus on Education, Health, and/or Sciences and benefit residents of any age in Herkimer and/or Oneida counties. Donor Name: The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties State: New York County: Herkimer County (NY), Oneida County (NY) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Focus Areas Each focus area is defined by the following characteristics: Education – Projects, programs, or activities that aim to transmit knowledge, strengthen skills, and/or teach a particular topic or trade. Health – Projects, programs, or activities that aim to nurture and improve physical, mental, and/or social well-being. Sciences – Projects, programs, or activities that study/enhance scientific objectives (e.g., physical sciences, life sciences, social sciences). Eligibility Criteria New programs or projects in need of funding must begin no earlier than July 2024. If your request is for an existing or ongoing program/project, all expenses incurred prior to July 2024 do not qualify for funding. All programs/projects should have identifiable and measurable outcomes with a definitive timeline for completion or outcomes to be achieved Only one submission per organization will be considered for each funding round Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, an organization with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, governmental institutions, educational institutions, or faith-based organizations seeking support for projects/programs that address non-religious needs or issues, serving diverse constituencies without regard to religious affiliation Ineligibility Applications for projects, programs, or activities that relate to animals and/or the arts Financial assistance or loans to individuals Funding for religious or faith-based specific programming Organizational payroll and operational needs Expenses already incurred (projects in process/already completed) For more information, visit Community Foundation.

This initiative provides funding to municipalities and Indian Nations in New York State to build or improve swimming facilities in underserved communities, promoting safe access to swimming.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is offering the Reemployment Training Grant (RTG) Program to provide occupational skills training to unemployed and underemployed individuals. The goal is to help these individuals qualify for full-time or part-time employment or achieve a higher level of employment. Additional points will be given to programs that train priority populations such as veterans, individuals with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until August 2, 2024. The maximum award amount per applicant is $250,000.

This funding program provides $10,000 to agricultural and horticultural organizations and county extension services that host annual fairs, aiming to boost public engagement and awareness of agriculture and domestic arts.

This funding opportunity provides $10,000 to agricultural and horticultural organizations, as well as county extension service associations, to enhance advertising, promotion, and educational efforts for annual fairs and expositions, ultimately boosting public engagement and awareness of agriculture and domestic arts.

This program provides funding for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers to advance the understanding and treatment of spinal cord injuries through innovative research.

This program provides free soil testing for community gardens in New York State to ensure food safety and promote healthy growth, targeting garden organizers and community groups.

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grant program provides funding for municipalities to address greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate change adaptation at the local level. Donor Name: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Projects are divided into two categories: Implementation – There are two subcategories of implementation projects:  GHG Mitigation (non-power sector, e.g., from transportation and food waste).  Climate Adaptation (reducing risks to residents, infrastructure, and/or natural resources from changing climate hazards).  Certification – Projects in this category include inventories, assessments, and planning projects that build local capacity to respond to climate change and move municipalities toward designation as certified Climate Smart Communities. Eligible Project Types and Funding Levels Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Section 54-1507 provides that adaption and mitigation projects must demonstrate an ability to identify, mitigate and/or adapt to climate change vulnerability and risk or demonstrate potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Projects that do not meet this requirement are not eligible for grant funding under this program. The CSC grant program includes two different project categories: implementation and certification. The implementation category is divided into two subcategories: GHG mitigation and adaptation. Each category and the related project types are detailed below. Implementation Category Eligible implementation projects must be GHG mitigation or climate change adaptation projects, as described below, and be located within the State of New York. The expected useful life of an implementation project is a minimum of 10 years, pursuant 6 NYCRR § 492-3.3(e).  Funding available – $21.5 million  Minimum grant award – $50,000  Maximum grant award – $2,000,000 Design and engineering expenses are limited to a maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the grant request. For projects with outreach or educational components, curriculum or program development expenses are limited to fifteen percent (15%) of the grant request. No more than fifty percent (50%) of the total available funds for implementation projects will be awarded to municipalities with populations greater than 100,000 or to any single municipality. If funding in the implementation category remains after all awards in the implementation category are made based on eligibility, program requirements and goals, and passing score, DEC reserves the right to apply the remaining funding to eligible proposals in the certification category. GHG Mitigation Projects Eligible projects in the mitigation category must reduce GHG emissions. Projects shall be one of the following types to be eligible: Reduction of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). Reduction of Organic Waste Refrigerant Management Renewable Energy in Low-income Housing Climate Adaptation Projects Eligible adaptation project types include projects designed to provide a meaningful reduction of risk to residents, infrastructure, and/or natural resources from hazards projected to become more severe or frequent as a result of climate change. Certification Category  Certification projects focus on assessments, inventories, and planning activities that are part of becoming a certified Climate Smart Community. These actions also provide a basis for future grant applications in the implementation category. Only the 20 certification actions listed below are eligible for grant funding.  Total available – up to $1,000,000  Minimum grant award – $10,000  Maximum grant award – $200,000 No more than fifty percent (50%) of the total available funds for certification will be awarded to municipalities with populations greater than 100,000 or to any single municipality If funding in the certification category remains after all awards in the certification category are made based on eligibility, program requirements and goals, and passing scores, DEC reserves the right to apply the remaining funding to eligible proposals in the implementation category. Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement The following expenses are eligible for reimbursement: Personnel Services: Salaries of staff, including fringe, directly devoted to project implementation. Grantees will be required to document dates and hours worked and tasks completed via time records Contractual Services Tasks completed by professional and technical consultants or contractors, e.g., engineering, planning, construction, and legal services, directly related to the project Equipment Purchase or rental of Equipment, e.g., backhoe, directly required to implement the project Travel Project related travel costs. Mileage will be reimbursed at the current federal rate and lodging at current state per diem rates for the location. Note that consultants should include travel in the overall cost proposal and not bill the grantee separately Supplies and Materials Supplies and Materials are defined as consumable products needed to directly implement the project, e.g., printing, copying, paving material, crushed stone Real Property The cost of fee simple land acquisition and associated legal fees, filing fees, closing costs, and transactional costs, provided they result in the final acquisition of land. Transactional costs can be submitted for reimbursement as incurred throughout the contract term, but grantees may be required to return payments to the State should the land transaction not successfully close. Transactional costs are limited to property surveys, appraisals, certified appraisal review, map and GIS/remote sensing data, phase I environmental assessment, title reports and title insurance, prorated property taxes, and state or local real estate transfer taxes, that are directly related to the project and necessary to facilitate a climate adaptation or mitigation implementation project. Eligibility Criteria All municipalities in the State of New York are eligible to apply for funding in response to this request for applications (RFA). For the purposes of this RFA and pursuant to 6 NYCRR § 492-1.1(j), a municipality is defined as a county, city, town, village, or borough (referring only to Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island) residing within New York State Political subdivisions such as municipal corporations, school districts, district corporations, boards of cooperative educational services, fire districts, public benefit corporations, industrial development authorities, and similar organizations are not eligible to apply in response to this RFA Applicants do not need to be a certified or registered CSC or be working toward CSC certification to apply in response to this RFA Applicants must submit a resolution, adopted by the municipal legislative body, authorizing the application and specifying the match amount and the source of the local match. Applications submitted without such a resolution will be deemed ineligible Two or more municipalities, or one municipality and a quasi-governmental entity or non-profit organization, may collaborate on a project; however, the applicant must be a municipality. Applicants may submit several applications, but no more than one application may be submitted for the same project or project location. For more information, visit DEC.