Grant Opportunities

The web sites listed here are for local and regional funding bodies only. For a listing of private foundations that offer grants, visit http://www.npcnys.org/Foundations/foundationnys.html. The Internet Prospector http://www.internet-prospector.org/found.html is a similar listing, but with a national focus.

Albany Schenectady League of Arts

The League provides technical and administrative services to artists and arts organizations in the 11 counties of the Capital Region of New York State: Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Greene, Columbia, Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie. Applications for the League's grants program are available in June, with free seminars running all summer long in various locations in Albany and Schenectady Counties. Grant application deadlines are usually in September or October for programming taking place in the upcoming year. Grants are awarded in three categories: arts programming for non-profit organizations, administrative support for professional arts organizations, and individual artists awards. Non-profit organizations that receive funds directly from NYSCA are not eligible.

The Arts Center of the Capital Region

RCCA: The Arts Center administers state decentralization funds in Rensselaer County as part of the Capital District ARTS Decentralization Program. The Rensselaer County program, Art$Grants, is funded by the NYS Council on the Arts to make grants to not-for-profit organizations, to encourage and promote the development and strengthening of arts and cultural programming in Rensselaer County. Organizations, not individual artists, make application for these funds. The maximum grant request from any organization is a total of $5,000 (for example: two project grants of $2,500 each). The Arts Center encourages any eligible organization in Rensselaer County to apply. For an application, contact Siobhan Quinn at The Arts Center, 189 Second Street, Troy, NY 12180; 518/273-0552; Fax: 518/273-4591; Email: information@theartscenter.cc.

Community Foundation for the Capital Region

The Foundation is a collection of permanent charitable funds created to
improve the quality of life in the Capital Region. These funds are invested
and their income is used to provide grants to the community in the arts,
youth, education, the environment, health care, social services, and other
areas of pressing need. The local contact is Director of Grants and Donor
Services, The Community Foundation for the Capital Region, Executive Park
Drive, Albany, NY 12203; 518-446-9638.

Grantmakers Alliance of Northeastern New York

The Alliance is a regional association of grantmakers committed to
increasing effective philanthropy by organizing and hosting programs,
providing networking opportunities for people involved in grantmaking, and
compiling information about local funders. Visit their site for a list of
their members. The local address is Grantmakers Alliance of NENY, Executive
Park Drive, Albany, NY 12203; 518-446-9638.

Grants for Nonprofits: Libraries

A compilation of web pages and books of potential interest to nonprofit
organizations seeking funding opportunities related to libraries.

Howard and Bush Foundation

2 Belle Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
518-271-1134

 

Hudson River Bank and Trust Company Foundation

The Foundation provides funding to support charitable causes and community development activities in the counties of Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie, and their neighboring communities. Priority is given to projects in the areas of health care; human services; community development; economic development; education; art and culture; historic preservation; environmental protection and youth development. Grant applications may be submitted at any time; there are no deadlines.

Library Grant Money on the Web: A Resource Primer

(By Bill Becker, SEARCHER Magazine)
A guide to the basics of grant searching, but with public libraries in mind.
This site highlights the key associations, government and corporate entities
where grant money is available.

MVP Health Care Community Appleby Awards

Grants range from $250-$2,500 for projects that enhance the health, safety
and well-being of families and children who live in the MVP service area.
Locally, contact the Office of Community Relations, MVP Health Care, P.O.
Box 2207, Schenectady, NY 12301; 518-388-2327.

New York Council for the Humanities

The New York Council for the Humanities funds projects that stimulate public consideration of the humanities, through several different kinds of grants. Mini-Grants are designed to encourage humanities programs of modest scale, such as lectures, small exhibits, or walking tours. The maximum award in this category is $1,500. Proposals may be submitted at any time. Major Grants support public humanities projects on a larger scale, with funding amounts from $2,500 to $15,000. Deadlines are March 1 and November 1. October Event Grants are designed to encourage modest humanities programs during October, which is State Humanities Month. The maximum award is $1,000. Deadline: May 1.

New York Council on the Arts

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) provides support for activities of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. The application deadline is March 1. Applicants must also meet the specific eligibility requirements for particular NYSCA funding programs and categories to which they apply, and they are evaluated according to review criteria as described in NYSCA's Program Guideline Book FY1999/2000 and FY2000/2001. For a copy of the guidelines, email NYSCA's Public Information Office at pinfo@nysca.org. NYSCA offers two general types of funding support to organizations: organizational support and project support. Project Support programs cover many topic areas, from architecture and literature to film and folklore.

Poets and Writers

Poets and Writers provides up to $1,000 per year of funding for non-profit organizations such as libraries, to present a reading or workshop. The web site has a guide that explains the benefits of literary programs for the community and the sponsor; guidelines for choosing a writer and negotiating a fee; how to set the stage for a reading; making a budget; and fundraising. Complete grant applications with support materials must be submitted at least eight weeks before the start of your proposed event. An application form can be found at the web site.

Verizon Foundation

Verizon Foundation supports programs that create innovative eSolutions, help
bridge the digital divide, foster basic and computer literacy, help enrich
our communities, and create a skilled workforce. Locally, contact the
Director of Community Affairs, Verizon, 158 State Street, Room 1000C,
Albany, NY 12207; 518-396-1052.