OPPORTUNITY FUNDING ALERT

Air Pollution

Environmental Protection Agency – Diesel Research
The EPA released four funding opportunities stemming from the Recovery Act on or around March 17-19. Funding from all four will be competitively awarded. For the three awards, funding must be used to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and diesel emissions exposure (particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas), and the project must demonstrate the ability to maximize job preservation and creation.

Recovery Act: SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program - $30 million in new funding to support projects that reduce diesel emissions and maximize job creation and preservation through the creation of national, state or local innovative financial program(s). Applications will be due 40 days from the solicitation’s release, approximately Apr. 27. More information regarding EPA-ARRA-OAR-OTAQ-09-04 is available at: http://epa.gov/otaq/eparecovery/progfinance.htm.

Recovery Act: National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program - $156 million in new funding to support the implementation of verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies. Applications will be due 40 days from the solicitation’s release, approx. Apr. 27. More information regarding EPA-ARRA-OAR-OTAQ-09-06 is available at: http://epa.gov/otaq/eparecovery/prognational.htm

Recovery Act: Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program - $20 million in new funding for EPA to support the development of Emerging Technologies for diesel emissions reduction. Applications will be due 47 days from the solicitation’s release, approx. May 4. More information about EPA-ARRA-OAR-OTAQ-09-05 is available: http://epa.gov/otaq/eparecovery/progemerge.htm.

Arts

Florida Division of Cultural Affairs - Stimulus Funding
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, special one-time grants will be offered to preserve jobs in the arts that are threatened by the current economic conditions. Sixty percent of the $50 million allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will be distributed to eligible nonprofit organizations through the NEA's competitive grants program (including Local Arts Agencies, which may receive funding to regrant to arts organizations in their service area). The remaining 40 percent will be distributed through state arts agencies (including the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs) and regional arts organizations (including the Southern Arts Federation).

If your organization has received an NEA grant within the last four years, you can apply to receive funds through the NEA’s Recovery Act Competitive Grants Program (deadline April 2). Because there are proportionally fewer organizations in our region that are eligible for this program, we strongly encourage those that are to take advantage of the direct NEA funding opportunity so that we can maximize the amount of ARRA funds coming into our region. (The Grants.gov blog reports some technical issues so be sure to submit your application early to give yourself time to deal with problems that may arise.) The Southern Arts Foundation staff is happy to provide free technical assistance on draft applications. Deadline: Apr. 13, 2009. Go to: http://www.florida-arts.org/news/story.cfm?id=68

National Endowment for the Arts - Stimulus Funding
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5 ("Recovery Act") recognizes that the nonprofit arts industry is an important sector of the economy. The National Endowment for the Arts is uniquely positioned to fund arts projects and activities that preserve jobs in the nonprofit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn. As part of this important investment, the Arts Endowment has designed a plan to expedite distribution of critical funds for the national, regional, state, and local levels for projects that focus on the preservation of jobs in the arts. CFDA No. 45.024; Funding Opportunity No. 2009NEA01ARRA60. Deadline: Apr. 2, 2009. Go to: http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/recovery/index.html

Autism

NIH, National Institute of Mental Health – Autism Research

1. Recovery Act Limited Competition: Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders (R01), No. RFA-MH-09-170; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-170.html

2. Recovery Act Limited Competition: Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Collaborative R01), No. RFA-MH-09-171 - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-171.html

3. Recovery Act Limited Competition: Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21) No.: RFA-MH-09-172, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-172.html

4. Recovery Act Limited Competition: Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders (R34 and Collaborative R34). RFA-MH-09-173, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-09-173.html

Deadlines: Letters of Intent: April 12, 2009; Proposals: May 12, 2009.

Education – Construction, Curriculum Development

Gladys Brooks Foundation- Facility Construction/Operations or Curriculum Development/Provision
Grant applications in the field of education will be considered generally for (1) educational endowments to fund scholarships based solely on educational achievements, leadership, and academic ability of the student; (2) endowments to support fellowships and teaching chairs for educators who confine their activities primarily to classroom instruction in the liberal arts, mathematics and the sciences during the academic year; and (3) erection or endowment of buildings, wings, or additions thereto of buildings, and equipment for educational purposes. Grant applications will be considered where (1) outside funding (including governmental) is not available, (2) the project will be largely funded by the grant unless the grant request covers a discrete component of a larger project, and (3) the funds will be used for capital projects including equipment or endowments. Grant applications will be considered only for major expenditures generally between $50,000.00 and $100,000.00 and greater or lesser amounts in certain circumstances. All grant awards are made on the condition that the entirety of the funds advanced shall be utilized in direct furtherance of the project and that no portion thereof shall be appropriated by the grantee as an administrative or processing fee, for overseeing the project or for its general overhead. Deadline: Jun. 1, 2009. Go to: http://www.gladysbrooksfoundation.org/guidelines.html

LIBRARIES - Grant applications will be considered generally for resource Endowments (print, film, electronic database, speakers/workshops) capital construction and innovative equipment. Projects fostering broader public access to global information sources utilizing collaborative efforts, pioneering technologies and equipment are encouraged.

EDUCATION - Grant applications from universities, colleges and secondary schools will be considered generally for {a} educational endowments to fund scholarships based solely on educational achievements, leadership and academic ability of the student; {b} endowments to support fellowships and teaching chairs for educators who confine their activities primarily to classroom instruction in the liberal arts, mathematics and the sciences during the academic year and {c} erection or endowment of buildings, wings or additions thereto of buildings, and equipment for educational purposes.

HOSPITALS and CLINICS - Grant applications from hospitals and clinics will be considered generally where the proposal demonstrates one or more of the following: {a} a new health need; {b} an improvement in the quality of health care or {c} reduced health costs with better patient outcomes. Generally, no grant will be considered that is to support a laboratory research project. Proposals for a continuing project must include a commitment from the applicant or a third party that the project will continue to receive all the necessary financial support after the grant from the Foundation is expended.

Education – Dissertation Fellowships

Spencer Foundation - Dissertation Fellowships
The Dissertation Fellowship Program seeks to encourage a new generation of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education. These $25,000 fellowships support individuals whose dissertations show potential for bringing fresh and constructive perspectives to the history, theory, or practice of formal or informal education anywhere in the world.

Although the dissertation topic must concern education, graduate study may be in any academic discipline or professional field. In the past, fellowships have been awarded to candidates in anthropology, architecture, art history, economics, education, history, linguistics, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, public health, religion, and sociology, but eligibility is not restricted to these academic areas. Candidates should be interested in pursuing further research in education once the doctorate is attained. Next deadline: Nov, 2009 (est.) Go to: http://www.spencer.org/content.cfm/dissertation-fellowship-program

Education Enhancement

NEA Foundation - Grants Program
The vision of the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation is a great public education for every student. Grants support public school teachers, public education support professionals, and faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education with grants of $2,000-$5,000 for one of the following two purposes:

1. Grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research.

2. Grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment.

All professional development must improve practice, curriculum, and student achievement. "One-shot" professional growth experiences, such as attending a national conference or engaging a professional speaker, are discouraged. Recipients are expected to exercise professional leadership by sharing their new learning with their colleagues.Applicants must be practicing U.S. public school teachers in grades K-12, public school education support professionals, or faculty and staff at public higher education institutions. Preference will be given to members of the National Education Association. The NEA Foundation encourages grant applications from teachers with less than seven years of experience in the profession and education support professionals. Go to: http://neafoundation.org/grants.htm

Education - Music

NEA and the National Association of Music Education - Teaching Improvisation Grants
The NEA Foundation, in a collaborative effort with MENC: The National Association of Music Education is now offering Teaching Improvisation Grants, earmarked to support public educators’ work to teach improvisation to middle- and high-school music students.

The Teaching Improvisation Grants are dedicated to the development and implementation of ideas, techniques, and approaches for teaching music improvisation to American public middle and high school students. Improvisation, which is represented in the National Standards for Music Education as Standard 3, is an integral part of the art and practice of many styles and genres of music. In particular, it is a cornerstone of the original American art of jazz. The grants target improvisation as an area of great promise in helping develop the imaginative thinking so important to students in the 21st century – and in developing that imaginative skill with critical links to key elements of our culture. Both the NEA Foundation and MENC are strongly committed to supporting the development of these skills and attributes among American public secondary school students. Educators can apply for the Teaching Improvisation Grants through the Foundation’s existing grants programs; either the Student Achievement or Learning & Leadership Grants.

Student Achievement Grants provide $5,000 to proposals designed to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging them in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of subject matter and that are centered on music improvisation through the development and implementation of new ideas, techniques, and approaches. Lesson plans developed by the grantees will be posted on the "My Music Class" facility of the MENC web site, where they will be available to all MENC members as classroom resources.

Learning & Leadership Grants provide $2,000 to individuals and $5,000 to teams of teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional development and to lead their colleagues in professional growth in the techniques and skills of teaching improvisation. Recipients will be asked to report fully on the ways that they developed new techniques and skills. These reports will be summarized and shared nationwide with music education professionals.

Applications for Teaching Improvisation Grants will be accepted on a rolling basis through the February 1, 2010 grant deadline. For more information, contact: jgraytock@nea.org. Go to: http://neafoundation.org/images/NEA-Foundation-MENC-Grants.pdf

Education - Science

National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education - Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program (NSF 07-530) focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy. The program involves partnerships between academic institutions and employers to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels. The ATE program supports curriculum development; professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; career pathways to two-year colleges from secondary schools and from two-year colleges to four-year institutions; and other activities. A secondary goal is articulation between two-year and four-year programs for K-12 prospective teachers that focus on technological education. The program also invites proposals focusing on applied research relating to technician education. Preliminary proposals are optional, but strongly recommended, especially for institutions or departments that have not previously submitted to the ATE program. Preliminary Proposal Deadline: Apr. 23, 2009; Full Proposal deadline: Oct. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07530/nsf07530.htm

Finance

FINRA Investor Education Foundation - Finding New Ways to Protect Investors Through Education
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation, formerly known as the NASD Investor Education Foundation, supports innovative research and educational projects that give investors the tools and information they need to better understand the markets and the basic principles of saving and investing. On July 30, 2007, the Foundation’s parent, NASD, consolidated with NYSE Member Regulation to form FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. At that time, the Foundation became the FINRA Investor Education Foundation — but its mission of serving investors remains the same.

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation funds research and/or educational projects that support its mission of providing underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for financial success throughout life. In 2009, the Foundation is especially interested in applications that focus on the following areas: using behavioral finance to improve saving and investing; meeting the financial and investor education needs of underserved audiences; creating new marketing and distribution channels for financial and investor education; helping Americans manage their finances and investments in retirement. Deadlines: Preproposal Concept Paper - May 6, 2009; Full Proposal - October 2009. Go to: http://www.finrafoundation.org/grants.asp

Fulbright

Bring a Fulbright Scholar to the FAU Campus
The worldwide Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) Program brings Visiting Scholars from abroad to lecture at U.S. colleges and universities to significantly internationalize host institution campuses and curricula. U.S. institutions of higher education are invited to submit proposals to request scholars for one or both semesters of the 2010-2011 academic year to teach (primarily at the undergraduate level) and consult in world area studies programs, interdisciplinary programs that focus on global issues or courses where participation of a Visiting Scholar can provide a cross-cultural or international perspective.

Scholars-in-Residence participate in a variety of campus and community activities aimed at strengthening the international resources and programs of their institution and community. Proposals from all academic disciplines with an international perspective are welcome. Institutions may suggest suitable candidates or have CIES work with Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies abroad to recruit a scholar from a particular country or geographic region.

Proposals are welcome from any individual accredited institution of higher education or consortium of two or more such institutions. Preference is given to institutions that infrequently or have not hosted Visiting Scholars, that serve student populations underrepresented in international exchange programs or serve minority students. This program is particularly appropriate for small liberal arts colleges, minority serving institutions and community colleges. Visiting Scholars must participate in lecturing activities while serving as Fulbright Scholars.

Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence grant benefits include: round-trip international air travel, a monthly stipend ranging from $2,500 to $2,900, an allowance for up to two dependents and insurance for the scholar. Host institutions generally propose some cost-sharing, such as a salary supplement for the scholar and/or in-kind support such as housing, meals and travel.

Deadline: Oct. 15, 2009. Proposal guidelines and application materials are available at www.cies.org/sir/application.htm.

Humanities

National Endowment for the Humanities - Afghanistan History & Culture and Fellowships The National Endowment for the Humanities invites applications for projects that focus on Afghanistan's history and culture. The special initiative is designed to promote research, education, and public programs about Afghanistan and to encourage United States institutions to assist Afghanistan in efforts to preserve and document its cultural resources. Proposals for the initiative may take the form of projects to preserve and provide access to documents and artifacts; education and training for Afghan archivists, librarians, and museum professionals; new scholarship; scholarly translations; archaeology projects; educational projects in US schools, colleges, and universities for every level, K-16; and public programs conducted by U.S. libraries, museums and historical societies, including exhibitions, film, radio, and Internet-based programs. Deadlines: various. Go to: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/afghanistan.html

Fellowships cover periods lasting from six to twelve months at a stipend of $4,200 per month. The maximum stipend is $50,400 for a twelve-month tenure award period. Applicants should request award periods that suit their schedules and the needs of their projects. Requesting an award period shorter than twelve months will not improve an applicant's chances of receiving a fellowship. Go to: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/fellowships.html

Transportation

Florida Department of Transportation - Research on Curb Lanes for Bicyclists
"Operational and Safety Impacts of Restriping Inside Lanes of Urban Multi Lane Curbed Roadways to 11ft. or Less to Create Wider Outside Curb Lanes for Bicyclists." RFRP 08/09-006 Deadline: Apr. 14, 2009. Go to: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/research-center/RFRPs.shtm

Send comments to Camille Coley, Executive Assistant Vice President or Penny Ashwanden, Content Editor.

Prior Opportunity Alerts

April 2009