February 2005
In This Issue
President Bush's Proposed FY 2006 Budget
The proposed transfer of more than $6 billion in community and economic development grant opportunities to the
Department of Commerce is one of the major changes suggested in the president’s FY 2006 budget.
The budget consolidates 18 programs from the Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services,
Agriculture and Treasury Departments into a program that would operate from the Department of Commerce:
"Strengthening America's Communities Grant Program." This initiative would provide formula grants to
economically distressed communities.
The budgets of the 18 programs to be consolidated represent almost $6 billion in grant opportunities in FY 2005.
Under the president’s plan, the new Commerce Department program would have only $3.7 billion to distribute. Among the
HUD programs that would be transfered to Commerce are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and
the Rural Housing and Economic Development Program. In FY 2005, approximately $4.12 billion was spent on the CDBG
program. The president's budget proposes transferring 60 percent of CDBG funding to Commerce and eliminating the remainder,
about $1.8 billion. The Rural Housing and Economic Development Program would lose all its funding, approximately $25 million
in FY2005.
Other HUD Programs
- Homeless Assistance Continuum of Care Program
Homeless Assistance would receive $1.4 billion in FY 2006, a $200 million increase over FY 2005. However, most of this
increase would support the Samaritan Housing Initiative, a multi-agency, competitive grant program designed to reduce
chronic homelessness. Funding under this initiative would likely continue the current trend of relatively large grants
to just a few grantees.
Nevertheless, Homeless Assistance remains one of the few areas of growth in federal grants available to legal services
programs. In FY 2004, 17 civil legal aid programs received funding under the Supportive Housing Program (SHP) of
Homeless Assistance.
- Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP)
FHIP would lose $4 million in funding, from $20 million appropriated for FY 2005 to $16 million for FY 2006.
- Housing Counseling
Housing Counseling would lose $2 million in funding, from $42 million appropriated for FY 2005 to $40 million for FY 2006.
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
HOPWA funding would be reduced by $16 million for FY 2006, to $268 million.
Department of Justice
Violence Against Women funding would fall more than $20 million to $362 million for FY 2006, although
support for most grant programs would remain level. The Legal Assistance for Victims grant
appropriation would fall about one percent, from almost $40 million in FY 2005 to $39,220,000
for FY 2006.
Health and Human Services
A small, $10 million increase in Ryan White CARE Act funding for FY 2006 would be earmarked for
additional drug assistance for people with AIDS. Funding for other programs would remain at current
levels, the second year in a row most Ryan White programs would not receive any increase.
The proposed appropriation for the Administration on Aging would provide continued level funding for
core formula grant programs such as supportive services (including legal services), nutrition and
caregiver support services. The only major reduction, of almost $20 million, would be to program
innovation grants.
Legal Services Corporation
The president's budget requests $318 million for LSC in FY 2006, a $17 million cut from FY 2005's
$335 million appropriation. Almost all the reductions would be applied to basic field operations.
This brief examination of the Bush administration's proposed budget for FY 2006 does not analyze the
reductions that would have a tremendous impact on programs that provide benefits for low-income people,
for example by tightening eligibility rules for food stamps and child care and cutting Medicaid funding. For a
more thorough analysis of the president's proposals, read the reports available from the
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
and
OMB Watch.
For more information on the president's budget for FY 2006, visit the
website
of the Office of Management and Budget.
Federal Funding Opportunities
- National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Grants
http://www.casanet.org/grants/
Deadline:: March 11, 2005
Renewal applications for 2004 National CASA grantees will be distributed to programs on March 1, 2005.
The deadline to submit the renewal application is April 29, 2005.
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, under a cooperative agreement with the
Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), is authorized
to make available competitive grants to support the start up and expansion of CASA and volunteer
guardian ad litem (GAL) programs. These funds may only be used to serve abused and neglected children
who are the subjects of civil child abuse proceedings.
The goals of the 2005 National CASA grants program are to increase the number of CASA/GAL programs in
communities with both a documented need for CASA/GAL services and court interest in CASA/GAL; to
support the expansion of existing CASA/GAL programs; to support CASA/GAL programs in becoming
sustainable organizations that assure quality advocacy for children; and to help programs implement
activities included in their diversity plan that will provide more effective and culturally sensitive
services to children in the child welfare system.
To achieve the grant program goals, National CASA will award grants in the following categories:
State Organization, New Program Development, Program Expansion, Diversity Implementation and State
Demonstration Resource Development. All grants will be for a period of one year, from July 1, 2005
to June 30, 2006. The maximum one-year grant amounts are $50,000 for the State Organization Grant,
$40,000 for the New Program Development Grant, $45,000 for the Program Expansion Grant, $10,000 for
the Diversity Implementation Grant, and $50,000 for the State Demonstration Resource Development
Grant.
- Immigration Related Employment Discrimination Public Education Grants
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/pdf/05-2132.pdf
Deadline: March 21, 2005
The Justice Department's Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment
Practices (OSC), a section of the Civil Rights Division, has announced the availability of funds
for public education programs regarding employees’ rights and employers’ obligations under the
anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The program is open
to public service groups, faith-based organizations, associations, and others providing information
services to potential victims of discrimination and/or employers.
A relatively small amount of money is available for public education programs helping employers and
employees become more aware of their rights and responsibilities under immigration law. The goal
is to help businesses comply with regulations concerning documentation and hiring of aliens
without discriminating against certain ethnic groups. Compared to several years ago, there is a
little more guidance in the RFP on the type of campaign and intended audience for these public
education programs. Up to $1 million is expected to be disbursed, with grants ranging from
$35,000 to $100,000.
- FY 2005 Food Stamp Program Participation Grants
http://fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/FNS/FNSGMD/USDA-FNS-FSPA-05/listing.html
Deadline: April 26, 2005
The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will award $5 million dollars
in grants for FY 2005 to State agencies, public health or educational entities, or private nonprofit
entities such as community or faith based organizations, food banks, or other emergency feeding
organizations, for projects aimed at simplifying the food stamp application and eligibility
determination systems or improving access to food stamp benefits by eligible households.
The purposes of the Program Participation Grants are in sharp contrast with those of FNS's
Outreach Grants Program, which a few civil legal aid programs have received funding from in the past.
Where the Outreach Grants are primarily concerned with getting applicants into the food stamp office,
the Program Participation Grants are primarily concerned with the quality and efficiency of
operations within the food stamp office. For this reason, Program Participation Grants do not
support projects that devote more than 25% of the requested grant funds to outreach activities, such
as application assistance, or screening or pre-qualifying applicants.
The Program Paritication RFP seeks diverse proposals that would make the entire process, from
certification to recertification, easier and more efficient for the applicant/participant. The
proposals should include innovative development of new or revised State or County food stamp systems
that do not rely solely on outreach. While this innovation does not have to be a completely new
idea or concept, the proposal needs to demonstrate that the idea is new and innovative to that
specific State or County office.
Applicants may contact Lynn Rodgers to ask any questions about the grant application and questions
seeking clarification of technical or procedural aspects of the grant competition by phone at
(703) 305-2760, or by e-mail at Lynn.Rodgers@fns.usda.gov.
Private Foundation Funding
- American Bar Association Child Custody Pro Bono Project
http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/childcustody.html
Deadline: February 22, 2005
The ABA Child Custody Pro Bono Project has announced its 2005 Child Custody Grant Advocate Program.
The Project will award $50,000 in grants, ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each. This year, the focus
of the grants is "Bringing Mental Health and Social Services into Child Advocacy."
If you are interested in applying for one of these grants, contact Linda Rio at
lrio@staff.abanet.org or 312-988-5805 for the Guidelines and Application. Unlike prior years,
these are directed-topic grants, which need to meet the subject area directly. Thus, it is best to
discuss your proposal with Ms. Rio prior to submitting an Application.
- ING Foundation
http://www.ing-usa.com/us/about/connect/community/index.html
Deadline: April 2, 2005; ING encourages organizations to submit a Letter of Inquiry, no more than two pages
long, before submitting a complete application.
The ING Foundation's primary goal is to educate the public on becoming financially independent through increased
understanding and comfort with financial services products. Grants are made to assist nonprofit organizations in
"motivating individuals to assume personal responsibility for their financial well-being."
Contributions are primarily focused on nonprofit organizations in the areas where employees are based and customers
live. Check their
website
for a list of ING affiliates and their locations.
- Kroger Company Foundation
http://www.kroger.com/corpnewsinfo_charitablegiving_art3.htm
Deadline: Eligible organizations may submit proposals at any time through the community relations
department of the local operating division office.
The foundation exists for the betterment of the people and communities where the Kroger Company has operations.
Therefore, only organizations that serve the geographic areas where the company operates are eligible. The foundation
will consider only proposals from nonprofit organizations. Support will be provided only to programs
that address a clearly identified need in the community and do so with clearly defined goals and objectives.
Organizations should reflect a strong base of community support.
Two of the company's retail divisions have their own separate charitable foundations:
- The Fred Meyer Foundation
http://www.kroger.com/corpnewsinfo_charitablegiving_art4.htm
Applicants are asked to submit an organizational profile, an overview of the program, and the size of the grant sought.
The foundation then requests formal applications based upon the information in the initial presentation. Formal
applications are reviewed at quarterly meetings of the grant review committee.
- Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation
http://www.kroger.com/corpnewsinfo_charitablegiving_art5.htm
This foundation focuses on areas served by Ralphs, Food 4 Less, FoodsCo, Cala Foods, and Bell Markets stores.
Organizations may submit proposals at any time during the year. Proposals should include a letter of request and a
thorough outline of the program, including the amount requested, how the funds will be used and whom they will serve,
budget, funding sources, a copy of the tax-exempt determination letter from the IRS, and any other supporting materials.
- Community Technology Foundation of California (CTFC)
http://zerodivide.org
Deadline: CTFC accepts proposal applications on a rolling basis for its General Grants program. Proposals
should be submitted 6 to 10 weeks before their quarterly board meetings.
The Community Technology Foundation of California is a public foundation established in 1998 throught the advocacy of
134 community organizations. Their mission is to foster social justice, equity and access for underserved communities
in California through the use of information and communications technologies. Since its inception, CTFC has invested
over $20 million in grants and initiatives to nonprofit organizations serving low-income, disabled, minority, rural
and inner-city communities.
CTFC’s current grantmaking focuses upon the development and maintenance of, as well as the removal of barriers to,
digital media, communications, and outreach for underserved Californians. Successful grantees will be those who
effectively utilize technology in a manner which enables their target communities to become more active and engaged
participants in civic action.
Funding Tip
GrantCraft
http://www.grantcraft.org/
GrantCraft, a project of the Ford Foundation, is a resource for grant makers on the tools and
techniques of effective grant making. They offer guides, videos and case studies on topics like the
practice and methods that make grants more effective, the relationships between grantees and grant
makers, and how to organize grant making for best results. Some recent guides include “Working
with the Business Sector” and “Learning Together: Collaborative Inquiry among Grant Makers and
Grantees.” Check out their website to gain some insight into what decision-makers at family,
independent and corporate foundations are thinking about these days.
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