USFCR Blog

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”

— Barack Obama

Memories of September 11^th have been “firmly embedded in the minds of most Americans old enough to recall the attacks.”¹ Though marked by a tragic event in modern American history, this day revealed the resilience of American citizens and their willingness to risk their own lives to help others.

In the aftermath of September 11^th, notable agencies began surveying the physical and mental health effects of this event on the American people, especially first responders and survivors who managed to escape the World Trade Center. For example, the World Trade Center Registry enrolled over 71,000 individuals to study the physical and mental health effects of September 11^th. Most notably registered were first responders, passersby, residents of the surrounding building, evacuated workers in the World Trade Center, and volunteers who spent time at Ground Zero weeks afterward.² Furthermore, USA Today stated that the rate of various cancers among first responders was over 30% higher than the general population, with the average September 11^th first responder living until around age 55.

“The first wealth is health.” 

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet helps prevent many chronic non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.¹ Ensuring our communities are educated on the importance of incorporating healthy food into their diet is essential.

USFCR presents the following opportunities that highlight the significance of healthy foods and nutrition education:

“As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.”

—Mary Anne Radmacher

National Nonprofit Day celebrates the hard work that nonprofit organizations undertake to lift the hardships of their communities, whether locally or across the globe. Founded by Sherita J. Herring, a respected author and speaker, it also acknowledges the signing of the Tariff Act on August 17, 1894. The Act provides exclusions from the federal income tax levied on corporations for charitable organizations and charities.¹ Since then, National Nonprofit Day is commemorated every August 17th. 

The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program is offering up to $68,000,000 in funding that supports the recruitment, preparation, and retention of highly effective K-12 STEM teachers and teacher leaders in high-need school districts. This program offers four distinct avenues that applicants can choose from:

[…] Disasters come in all shapes and sizes—fires, hurricanes, economic downturns, droughts, virus outbreaks, terrorism. We can’t predict how long the impact will be felt but we can do much to be ready. […] Disasters stretch the limits of community systems. Communities that recover best are […] those that have invested in social fabric, inter-connectedness, physical and emotional infrastructure, and those that have woven bonds between sectors and between citizens.

Jennifer Cole, Metro Nashville
Arts Commission¹

Given the uncertainty of disasters, humanities organizations must have precautionary preparedness plans to ensure that their valuable works are accounted for. Some risk strategies to develop include:

• Relocating pieces to more structurally-sound areas;
• Conducting comprehensive structural assessments of the building to determine areas of vulnerability;
• Training staff to know the plan of action when disasters occur;
• Prioritizing pieces of most importance; and
• Ensuring that individuals are not put in harm's way in order to protect their work.²

The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers, also known as the 2501 Program, has recently been released with the goal of enhancing equal access and opportunities for the underserved by encouraging participation in USDA programs related to agriculture and forestry. Under this initiative, the USDA, in partnership with the OPPE, is expected to reward applicants with funding geared towards aiding underserved populations with the ownership and operation of farms and ranches. Funding will also be allocated to projects that aid in the development of underserved youth’s interest in agriculture through education and training.

“Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Grant opportunities allow organizations to elevate their current programs so they can channel connections within their communities to provide assistance to their intended populations. However, searching through the plethora of federal, national and foundational databases to identify Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), Request for Proposals (RFPs) or Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) can get tiring if you are unsure what to seek out. 

The well-being of domestic animals is of high priority for many. Oftentimes, our beloved companions symbolize more than just a pet and become genuine members of our families. In situations involving domestic violence or intimate partner violence, finding shelters that accommodate pets is a common barrier that survivors face. Over 77 percent of pet-owning adult women have witnessed their pets being physically abused.¹ Since most shelters do not allow for the intake of animals, survivors must either forgo checking into a shelter or surrender their pets to animal welfare facilities. Animal welfare facilities are left in need of greater support and equipment to ensure that influx of animals are offered quality care. By spreading awareness of the following grant opportunities, USFCR hopes to help increase the capacity of organizations that facilitate initiatives that benefit animals and enhance their livelihoods. 

“When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.”
–Daniel Webster

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is offering approximately $10.5 million in funds to domestic entities owned, operated and located within the 50 U.S. states and its territories that sell their agricultural products at farmers markets. The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), compared to the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), focuses on promoting direct-to-consumer or direct producer-to-institutional activities.  

According to Oregon State University, value-added products are “raw or pre-processed commodities whose value has been increased through the addition of ingredients or processed that make them more attractive to the buyer and/or readily usable by the consumer.” ¹ Through this grant program, the USDA aims to assist various agricultural product producers in the creation and production of new consumer products.