Local

This page is for Wylie, Zinn, and Zuberbueler to work on Local funding.

Below is my list of five local grants. I live in the Hill Country, and some of these grants could apply to my own school; however, I also added some grants that are available in the surrounding communities because I could not find any other grants that were specifically from my own community. Please feel free to edit the annotations. Thanks! Kim Zuberbueler

** The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country ** (http://www.communityfoundation.net/grants.htm) helps the local area counties of Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr. The purpose of this foundation, according to their mission statement, is to “help donors achieve their charitable goals for the benefit of the Texas Hill Country.” This organization provides many grants, and since its induction in 1982, they have given grants in the amount of $640,910 to local area schools. The foundation states that they award grants to projects that “will have significant and long lasting impact,” and applications for grants are continuous throughout the year with four different due dates and awards for the grants decided within a month’s time of the deadline. There is not a set amount that is available; the foundation and the grant evaluation process that they have in place determine the amount awarded.


 * The Callioux Foundation ** (http://www.caillouxfoundation.org/grant_evaluation.htm) located in Kerrville, Texas supports grant projects in the following local area counties: Kerr, Gillespie, Bandera, Edwards, Real, and Kimble. They provide a number of grants to local area organizations, including the local school districts. The foundation requires that the grant be used for innovative projects and that the “foundation support would be vital or catalytic to a proposed project’s success.” The first step in the process is to submit a letter of inquiry, and those letters are accepted all year with no deadlines. The letter will then be reviewed, and if accepted, the next step would be to complete the grant application. There is not a set amount of grant money to be awarded as grants will be given on an individual basis of need.


 * Fredericksburg Parent-Teacher Association Cookbook Committee ** (URL does not exist) provides grants to teachers on an individual basis of need. The due date for the grants fluctuates from year-to-year; however, often the due date is during the first semester of the new school year. The amount of money awarded varies depending on the project or equipment that is requested. Teachers and administrators may apply for grants from this committee, and in an informal process, the grant recipient must outline the need, the costs, and the justification for the project. The committee then awards money toward the project, and often the schools use this grant money to purchase technology or other expensive equipment. This organization has provided grants to the Fredericksburg ISD schools for nearly 30 years, and the money for the grants is solely funded by the sales of the Fredericksburg PTA cookbooks in the local area stores.

** The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) ** ([]) supports the local communities where they provide service, and this would include the local community of Fredericksburg. The amount of funds, if any at all, is determined on a yearly basis. If funds are available, there are two grant application deadlines: March 1 and September 1. Applicants can request any amount of funding; however, funds awarded over $5,000 must be matched by the organization. The purpose of these grants is to help the local area, and according to their website, **“**** Emphasis will be placed on projects that include energy efficiency, water conservation or household hazardous waste facilities”; however, this is not their only requirement in granting funding. Most recently, they awarded Wimberley ISD $25,000 to create walking trails for their students, along with an outdoor classroom. **
 * Boerne Education Foundation ** ([]) provides grants for their local school district teachers, and in 2009, they gave nearly $32,000 in “Teacher Incentive Grants” to area teachers. According to the website, “ The goal of the foundation is to provide funds beyond the normal operating budget to improve student achievement and to recognize and encourage teaching excellence.” Teachers complete a grant application that describes the purpose, objectives, expenses, and the expected impact on Boerne students, and depending on the use of the grant, different amounts of funding will be dispersed to teachers who are awarded the grants. Deadlines for the grants were not listed on the website; however, an application was provided for teachers.

The grants I've located aren't specific education grants as resources are very limited in my area (The Texas Panhandle - Amarillo area). I think these would work, however. Jennifer


 * Name of grant**: Amarillo Area Foundation **Website**: []. **Purpose of the grant**: Grant is to be used within and for the benefit of 26 counties in the Texas Panhandle area. The foundation gives priority to the areas of education, health, human services, youth and families based on the relative need and potential impact. **Amount of funding available**: Not specified – distributed as funds allow. **Grant deadline**: No specific deadline but grants should be submitted 3 to 4 months before funds are needed. **Additional information**: Grants may be submitted via mail or email and recipient will be told when to expect a decision. Grant application requires a summary, timeline, evaluation, project budget, other and/or future funding.


 * Name of grant**: Mary E. Bivins Foundation. **Website**: [] **Purpose of the grant**: To address community needs within the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Though preference will be given to eldercare and Christian religious undertakings, any nonprofit organization may apply. **Amount of funding available**: Not specified, but must request a minimum of $2500 to be considered. **Grant Deadlines**: June 4, 2010 and November 19, 2010. **Additional information**: Grant application requires information on collaboration, problem or needs statement, goals, objectives, methods, outcomes and evaluation.

The following are Wylie's additions to the grants listed above. These are local grant opportunities within South Texas (Victoria, TX, and surrounding South Texas communities/counties). Suprisingly, it was more difficult to find grants in my area than I originally thought!


 * Name of Grant**: Victoria ISD Education Foundation's Grants for Great Ideas (GGI).
 * Website**: [].
 * Purpose of Grant**: This is a grant-funding program available to educators employed by the Victoria Independent School District. Individual teachers, counselors, librarians and educators may apply for mini-grant funding for their original and meaningful activities and district-wide projects that will enhance student learning.
 * Amount of Funding Available**: $1,000 per application.
 * Grant Deadline**: Call Date was September 1, 2009, and the application due date was October 19, 2009 by 5:00 PM (these date are consisent every year, within one or two days).
 * Other Useful Information**: Every year, this foundation presents an opportunity to apply for a grant. Additionally, the Foundation, alongside the school district, offers grant writing workshops hosted by a representative from the Foundation and the district's director of research. These two individuals answer questions, give grant-writing tips, and provide general information about the process. They also provide samples of past grants that were awarded. Applicants also receive up to 5 additional points toward their application review score upon attending one of their workshops. These workshops are always offered in the late afternoon and are held a few weeks before the grant deadline. Even though this year's grant deadline has passed, this education foundation has always proved to be substantial and credit-worthy in approving local grants to the local schools.

This grant-writing opportunity will arise again around the same time next year.
 * Name of Grant**: Victoria County United Way 2010 Community Investment Grant
 * Website**: [].
 * Purpose of Grant**: Several programs may be a focus of this grant, including education (helping individuals achieve their potential), income (helping families become stable and independent), and health (improving people's health). Specifically tied to education, some of the purposes of the grant, according to Victoria United Way, could be to:
 * Improve access to and provide quality, affordable child care.
 * Partner with schools and parents to improve graduation rates.
 * Provide before and after-school care, recreation, and mentoring programs for at-risk youth.
 * Implement program(s) that will enhance people's education to help obtain employment.
 * Provide alternative education program(s) for youth to prevent unhealthy behaviors during unsupervised times.
 * Implement a program to provide parenting skills or parent education.
 * Implement a program to engage youth to develop good work ethic.
 * Amount of Funding Available**: The amount of funding available depends on the program and agency being applied for. United Way raises many funds throughout the year, including a community-wide drive that runs throughout the fall. Their funding power is higher than many charitable organizations; therefore, the requested funding by an organization depends on their needs. As an example, Victoria United Way had a goal of $936,000 to raise during their most recent campaign this past fall.
 * Grant Deadline**: The deadlines have passed for this year's application; however, like the Victoria ISD Education Foundation's grant, the same opportunity presents itself every year around the same time-period. The deadline dates that were scheduled for this round of granting were as follows:
 * December 17, 2009 - Community Investmet Grant Process training for current Partner Agencies and prospective applicant agencies.
 * January 7, 2010 - Community Investment Volunteer Orientation.
 * January 18 - 29, 2010 - Agency Site Visits will take place.
 * February 1 - 12, 2010 - Grant Hearings will take place.
 * February 16, 2009 - Community Investement Committee meets to finalize 2010 grant awards recommendations.
 * February 23, 2009 - Victoria County Board of Directors meets to review 2010 grant award recommendations.
 * February 24, 2009 - Grant Awad Notification Letters mailed.
 * February 26, 2010 - Press Release sent to local media informing public of 2010 Grant Awards.
 * O ****ther Useful Information**: Funding through the Victoria County United Way serve the communities within Dewitt and Victoria counties.


 * Name of Grant**: Coastal Bend Community Foundation
 * Website**: [].
 * Purpose of Grant **: Grants are made only to non-profit organizations that have federal tax-exempt status – 501(c)(3). Grants are made only in the seven-county area of Texas served by the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, unless otherwise designated by donors (Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio). Grants are usually made to provide seed money for innovative and start-up programs that will generate additional future funding or revenues. Capital projects and other special projects will also receive favorable consideration. Priority is given to applications having direct relevance to solving the problems and improving the quality of life of people living in the Coastal Bend area of Texas.
 * Amount of Funding Available**: Depending on the grant cycle, between $2,000 and $25,000 may be awarded to individuals, and around $100,000 may be granted for a large project improving the Coastal Bend, as a whole.
 * Grant Deadline**: Three grant cycles exist for this foundation:
 * //Spring Grant Cycle -// Applications are considered between mid-February and mid-May. This is generally a single $100,000 grant for a project that will have a significant impact on the Coastal Bend.
 * //Fall Grant Cycle -// Fall Grant applications are considered between late June and late August. A large number of grants are awarded during this cycle, with individual grants usually ranging from $2,000 to $25,000.
 * //Emergency Grants -// The Foundation maintains a limited reserve for responding to circumstances that cannot be foreseen during its regular grant cycles, such as damage caused by severe weather, local emergencies or unforeseen circumstances of an urgent nature. Significant challenge grant opportunities that arise between normal grant cycles may also be considered for funding as emergency grants.
 * Other Useful Information**: The Coastal Bend Community Foundation can do many more things for nonprofit organizations than make grants. The Community Foundation will:
 * House an endowment for a nonprofit, benefiting the nonprofit through more profitable investment options and lower administrative costs;
 * Provide for the long-term protection of restricted funds;
 * Save a nonprofit money in start-up costs, administrative costs, filing fees and Board of Directors time;
 * Act as a "banker," profitably investing a nonprofit’s assets for the short term;
 * Stimulate donor interest in nonprofits that work with the Community Foundation;
 * Enable smaller nonprofit organizations to accept bequests;
 * Absorb the risk and cost of launching a new venture;
 * Offer services such as a grant-seekers’ library; and
 * Consult with nonprofit organizations with regard to planned giving, endowment management, capital fund drives and fundraising in general.

**Amount of Funding Available** : The amount of funding depends on the project proposed. There is not a designated amount found within the information given on the website.
 * Name of Grant**: The Trull Foundation
 * Website**: []
 * Purpose of Grant**: Grants must be used for religious, charitable, or educational purposes, and strictly in accordance with the proposal and budget submitted. All unexpended funds must be returned to the Foundation.
 * Grant Deadline**: The Foundation will acknowledge receipt of proposals. The Contributions Committee meets **__//monthly//__** and will affirm the approval, denial, or request for more information within two months.
 * Other Useful Information**: 261 grants were given in 2008.


 * Name of Grant**: The Junior League of Victoria, Texas, Inc. Application for Community Assistance Fund Grants
 * Website**: [].
 * Purpose of Grant**: Community Assistance Fund, where once a quarter, the Community Vice-President solicits Community Assistance Fund applications from organizations in the community who meet the JLV funding focus. The Junior League of Victoria supports and promotes efforts to ensure the enrichment of families and is committed to ensuring that children and families have the opportunities necessary for educational, physical, intellectual, emotional, mental, & economic well-being and social growth.
 * Amount of Funding Available**: Community Assistance Fund grants can be in any amount up to $1,000. An organization may only request funding from the Junior League of Victoria once per League Year (September – April).
 * Grant Deadline**: October allocation – September 1st; January allocation – December 15th; April allocation – March 1st.
 * Other Useful Information**: Additionally, The Junior League of Victoria, Texas, offers Member-Sponsored Grants, which is where each member of the JLV is empowered to give where her heart is through Member Sponsored Grants to non-profit agencies. Member Sponsored grants can be in any amount up to $1,500 and are awarded once a quarter. In order to apply for this award your organization must have a sponsor who is currently an Active Member or Sustainer within the JLV and is an active Volunteer with your organization. An organization may only request funding from the Junior League of Victoria once per League Year (September – April).