The United States’ tradition of higher education is rooted in the earliest days of North American settlement. Harvard College, founded in 1636 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was followed by numerous state and private colleges that comprised the educational system of colonial America. These institutions were funded through various sources, including state taxes and donations, and primarily trained ministers through religious instruction. Over the 18th and 19th centuries, and as the United States began to take shape as a nation, the landscape of higher education evolved to meet the growing demands of professional training. During this period, the states and the federal government began taking a more defined role in the management and development of higher education.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is offering an exciting opportunity for organizations involved in supporting disadvantaged youth. With approximately $99 million available, DOL expects to fund 75 projects nationwide to help young people gain the skills, education, and support they need to thrive and contribute to their communities.
Colin Powell, the first African American appointed as the U.S. Secretary of State, put it best when he said, "Have a vision. Be demanding.
August 1st marks the beginning of National Black Business Month, marking the importance of continuous support of Black-owned businesses. There are an estimated 161,031 Black or African-American-owned businesses with $183.3 billion in annual receipts, 1.4 million employees, and about $53.6 billion in annual payroll. About 45,015 (28%) of these businesses were in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.
“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:
An overview of the celebrations of Disability Pride Month and information on Grants available towards ensuring equal opportunities for all.
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." - Christopher Reeve
The month of July is celebrated as Disability Pride Month, marking the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With aims to uplift the experiences and dreams of those living with disabilities, celebrations seek to encourage love, joy and fair treatment year-round. Both nonprofit and for-profit organizations have stepped up to fill gaps in service for the Disabled community, often in partnership with state or federal funding through grants.
[…] 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.
Since formation, the United States has utilized grants to distribute resources amongst its various states and peoples. From farmers to industrialists, the federal government has pursued a policy of no-strings-attached funding for a variety of projects that serve the national interest. Because of this, grants have taken and will continue to take, many different and unique forms over the years to effectively influence the progression of national goals through for-profit and nonprofit entities. Follow along in this multi-part series, The History of Grants, as we explore some of the most effective and impactful programs that have helped build America, as well as contemporary examples of what we’re doing today to make change happen.
“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.
