Tips & Tools

The Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the communities where Lowe's operates stores and distribution centers throughout the United States. Community Grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 are provided for community improvement initiatives and K-12 public education projects. Funding priorities for community improvement initiatives include park, neighborhood, and community facility enhancements; outdoor learning programs; and community clean-ups. Funding priorities for public education projects include construction-related education initiatives; playground enhancements; clean-up, landscaping, and painting projects; and minor repair of public school buildings. Requests may be submitted at any time. Visit the company’s website to take the eligibility test and submit an online application.

The purpose of the Newman's Own Awards Program is to recognize volunteer and nonprofit organizations supporting our nation's military families. Eligible applicants must be comprised primarily of volunteers or be a nonprofit organization, and be working with the families of Active Duty, National Guard, or Reserve units and/or veterans. Applying organizations will be evaluated on their innovative plans for improving the quality of life for members of the military and their families. Grants of up to $25,000 are provided. The application deadline is May 1, 2012. Visit the program’s website to submit an online application: http://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/newmans-own-award/

The RGK Foundation endeavors to be a catalyst for progressive change in humanitarian concerns by providing support to nonprofit organizations throughout the US. The Foundation’s focus is on innovative programs in the following categories:

• Education: priorities include programs that focus on K-12 education (particularly mathematics, science, and reading); teacher development; literacy; and higher education.
  
• Medicine/Health: programs that promote the health and well-being of children and programs that increase access to health services.
  
• Community: targets a broad range of human services, community improvement, abuse prevention, and youth development programs.

Interested applicants may submit an online letter of inquiry via the Foundation’s website throughout the year; invited proposals are reviewed quarterly. Visit the Foundation’s website for details on the grant categories and the application process.

Website: RGK Foundation

The TKF Foundation supports the creation of public green spaces that offer temporary sanctuary, encourage reflection, provide solace, and engender peace and well being. The Foundation's Open Spaces Sacred Places National Awards Initiative funds the development of significant new public green spaces in urban settings that demonstrate a combination of high quality design-build and rigorous research about user impacts. The initiative’s final Request for Proposals (RFP) will support cross-disciplinary teams that are able to 1) conceptualize, plan, design, and implement an open and sacred green space, 2) conduct an associated research study(ies), and 3) communicate scientific findings. Funded projects should serve as potential models for urban areas across the United States. A total of $4 million is available through this RFP. The application deadline is June 29, 2012. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about the National Awards Initiative and review the RFP.

A must-read: An Executive Director's Guide to Financial Leadership.  Very extensive resource that every ED should read, and practice.  This would be good reading for those heavily involved in non-profit work on boards or certainly Finance Committee volunteers.

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19126&catid=153&Itemid=336

It is that great time of year --- time to file those 1099-MISCs.  If you are still struggling with those paper copies, 2012 is the year to drop that and go online and e-file.  My personal recommendation is http://www.etax1099.com - I found their system to be very reasonable, easy to use and professional in format.

This year's filings were a breeze and took me about 25% of the time.  Better yet, next year will be even easier as all of the info is stored in their system!

Happy filing.

Southern Partners Fund is a Foundation created to serve Southern communities and organizations seeking social, economic and environmental justice by providing them with financial resources, technical assistance and training, and access to systems of information and power.

Based on the Fund’s new Southern Organizing Strategy, priority will be given to organizations that address voter rights, immigrant rights, or education reform.

Applications must be received by email or postmarked by January 31, 2012.

Click here for information/application.

Today I'd like to direct you to an interesting article about what not to do, how not to lead.  Forbes presents 7 habits of spectacularly unsuccessful executives. Note: character, respect, team building, open minded, these are traits you will not see on their list! Check it out:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2012/01/02/the-seven-habits-of-spectacularly-unsuccessful-executives/

The goal of the Merck Family Fund’s Sustaining Our Environment program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to create policies for sustainable production practices. To meet this goal, the Fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations that address one of the following three priority areas: Promoting Energy Efficiency, Conserving Ecologically Valuable Land, and Making Paper Production Sustainable. To promote energy efficiency, the Fund supports state and regional policies in the Northeast and Southeast that provide incentives and subsidies for energy efficiency implementation. To conserve ecologically valuable land, the Fund provides grants for land conservation projects in the Southeast. To make paper production sustainable, the Fund seeks to increase the rates of recycled paper in large paper sectors, reduce sourcing from endangered forests, and maximize clean production. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year.

The upcoming deadline for invited proposals is February 1, 2012. Visit the Fund’s website.