The Funders Network’s Post

Please join NFG’s Integrated Rural Strategies Group and its partners Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) and The Funders Network for an upcoming webinar on Thursday, July 25 2-3:30pm ET. “The Latest: Leveraging Federal Funds & Building Community Capacity in Rural” is the second in a series of quarterly calls focused on accessing and leveraging federal funds to build capacity and advance justice for frontline communities. As funding opportunities roll out at a dizzying pace, many communities are already implementing projects with awarded funds. Despite how rural communities reflect some of the most important and opportune communities for investment, these communities – particularly low-income and/or BIPOC rural populations – are at a disadvantage in accessing federal funds. Due to decades of divestment and extraction from these communities, many are not “shovel ready,” oftentimes operating with extremely limited capacity and infrastructure to be able to successfully track, pursue, receive, and manage these resources. As funding opportunities continue to open up – and with the potential for November’s election to dramatically shift the availability of these funding streams – philanthropy must act. Click the link below to register and learn more about the event speakers! Please note: registration is open to funders only. https://lnkd.in/gKk-Rys2

President Biden's "Investing in America" agenda is paving the way for transformative investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and climate resilience, with a focus on uplifting the middle class and underserved communities. Philanthropic organizations have stepped up to play a crucial role in helping local communities  make the most of this opportunity. HR&A Advisors is excited to announce that the White House highlighted the Community Infrastructure Center (CIC), a platform the Milken Institute launched earlier this year with our support, leadership from OpenGrants, and the support of other national organizations. The CIC connects communities with federal, state, and philanthropic funding opportunities, tools, and expertise to advance their local infrastructure projects. Under the 10,000 communities’ initiative, we've set a goal to help 10,000 communities advance their community infrastructure to advance positive economic, community, and environmental outcomes while leveraging both public and private capital. #UnderservedCommunities #PhilanthropicSupport #CommunityInfrastructure #EconomicDevelopment #EnvironmentalOutcomes #PublicPrivatePartnerships #CommunityEmpowerment 

📢 A new round of funding has opened for schemes aimed at boosting Swansea's rural communities. 5pm on Friday January 19 is the deadline for applications forming part of the council's rural anchor project being funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. More than £100,000 is available, with projects aimed at aiding biodiversity particularly welcome. All schemes will be considered equally if they support themes such as the rural economy and visitor experience, natural environment and climate emergency, innovation, and health and well-being. Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration, Events and Tourism, said: "Through our allocation from the Shared Prosperity Fund, we want local residents, businesses and communities to benefit." Capital projects can receive up to £25,000. These could include investment in renewable energy for community buildings or community car and bike charging points. Eligible for up to £15k, revenue projects could include those such as volunteering schemes to engage groups in rural communities and feasibility studies to help unlock future funding support. Projects successful in previous rounds of funding include an initiative to help with the conservation of Penllergare Valley Woods, an information service for older people and their carers, and a scheme to encourage biodiversity across two sites. Cllr Andrew Stevens, the council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: "Rural communities are vitally important to Swansea's culture, identity and economy. This funding will help support them." Swansea wards where rural anchor projects are eligible for support include Bishopston, Clydach (including Craig Cefn Park), Fairwood, Gorseinon and Penyrheol, Gower, Gowerton, Llangyfelach, Llwchwr, Penclawdd, Penllergaer, Pennard, Pontarddulais (including the former Mawr ward), Pontlliw and Tircoed. Projects in other wards may also be supported if they're on the fringes of these wards or if they have extensive natural environments. Council officers are eager to support all applicants. Draft applications should be submitted - and initial queries made - before noon on January 10. More info: Go to https://lnkd.in/eYEtiNin or email ruralanchorspf@swansea.gov.uk

IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF A PERMANENT AND LASTING SOLUTION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND HOMELESSNESS, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS BROKEN AND NOT WORKING FOR AMERICAN TAXPAYERS Veteran Housing Corp would ask every TAXPAYER to demand and get answers from their elected and appointed government officials the below questions as they relate to any affordable, workforce, or supportive housing project in your community! 1. How much local, state, and federal funding, tax credits, or other government benefits or incentives did the project receive? 2. What is the affordability period for each project? Is the affordability period permanent and in perpetuity? 3. What guarantees exist have your local, state, and federal government officials obtained in writing that rents will not go up or that tenants will not be displaced or evicted after the "affordability period expires? Every local, state, and federal housing authority and affordable or workforce housing stakeholder should adopt the State of Vermont's "permanent affordability" policy as a model for all future government funded or subsidized housing projects or developments, no exceptions! https://lnkd.in/eFEUC8c8 Additionally, local, state and federal housing agencies should look to the Helsinki, FINLAND MODEL of ending homelessness by providing affordable housing for all 'It’s a miracle': Helsinki's radical solution to homelessness https://lnkd.in/er9HZSQU Even the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AGREES THAT adopting FINLAND'S MODEL OF ERADICATING HOMELESSNESS may be of great value to resolving the affordable housing and homelessness crises in America https://lnkd.in/gkSZWYRU

💡Aboriginal Ranger Program - Round 7 - NOW OPEN💡 This grant opportunity aims to create employment, training, and community development opportunities for Aboriginal people in regional and remote areas. The program focuses on establishing sustainable ranger employment initiatives to create jobs, protect the environment, and provide social and economic benefits for Aboriginal communities. It offers three funding streams: 1. Development Fund: Provides financial support for new and emerging ranger programs. Grants are available in two categories: small grants (up to $150,000) for program planning and preparation, and large grants (over $150,000) for organizations ready to start or expand ranger programs. 2. Expansion Fund: Supports established ranger programs in expanding their activities and creating long-term career pathways for rangers. Funding of $100,000 to $120,000 per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) position per year is available. 3. Innovation Fund: Funds special projects that explore creative approaches to ranger work, contributing valuable insights to the ranger sector. The program focuses on various activities including land and sea management, biodiversity monitoring, traditional knowledge transfer, fire management, cultural site management, and more. Closes: 9 October 2023 Find out more https://lnkd.in/gfaN3VmU Stop stressing over grant applications. Let our skilled grant writers handle the task, ensuring your project receives the attention and funding it deserves. Visit https://lnkd.in/gszTfVW today.

California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC) is honored to announce that as a coalition member of Climate United, we stand ready to put a portion of the $6.97B awarded to work in California to support sustainability in the affordable multi-family housing we finance. The $6.97B award represents the lion’s share of the National Clean Investment Fund to improve and sustain green affordable housing! Climate United is a national nonprofit focused on creating opportunities for green technology to provide community benefit throughout the country. This nonprofit is a coalition led by the The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), Self-Help Credit Union, and Calvert Impact as well as CDFI partners administering funds at the state level. It was announced as a recipient of the grant by Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Thursday, April 4, 2024. CCRC participated in the coalitional effort alongside several other climate-committed organizations to apply for and secure this grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. As a stake holding CDFI, CCRC’s cooperation in the procurement of this funding allows the organization to take an active role in the distributive efforts at a state level. With a multi-decade proven commitment to dignified affordable housing, CCRC is excited to continue to champion equity through the intersection of sustainability and infrastructure. Climate United’s emphasis on green affordable housing aligns deeply with CCRC’s work to create long-lasting, intuitively constructed housing for underserved community members. A forward focus for the housing market relies on an understanding that the climate and housing crises are interconnected in their marginalization of low-income communities, and there must be concerted effort to address both at once in a way that reaffirms the autonomy and self-determination of this vulnerable demographic. #WeAreClimateUnited #affordablehousing

💡Aboriginal Ranger Program - Round 7 - NOW OPEN💡 This grant opportunity aims to create employment, training, and community development opportunities for Aboriginal people in regional and remote areas. The program focuses on establishing sustainable ranger employment initiatives to create jobs, protect the environment, and provide social and economic benefits for Aboriginal communities. It offers three funding streams: 1. Development Fund: Provides financial support for new and emerging ranger programs. Grants are available in two categories: small grants (up to $150,000) for program planning and preparation, and large grants (over $150,000) for organizations ready to start or expand ranger programs. 2. Expansion Fund: Supports established ranger programs in expanding their activities and creating long-term career pathways for rangers. Funding of $100,000 to $120,000 per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) position per year is available. 3. Innovation Fund: Funds special projects that explore creative approaches to ranger work, contributing valuable insights to the ranger sector. The program focuses on various activities including land and sea management, biodiversity monitoring, traditional knowledge transfer, fire management, cultural site management, and more. Closes: 9 October 2023 Find out more https://lnkd.in/gCcsNqgR Stop stressing over grant applications. Let our skilled grant writers handle the task, ensuring your project receives the attention and funding it deserves. Visit https://lnkd.in/gErBKkj today.

Cities are on the front lines of climate change and energy equity. This goes into great detail on the GGRF grant recipients and why cities should be ground zero for deployment.

Strengthening Rural Communities grants The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has been funded by the Commonwealth to provide grants of up to $10,000 to support local organisations across regional, rural and remote Australia to uplift their communities under the Strengthening Rural Communities program (Rebuilding Regional Communities stream). The objectives of the program are to: • Enhance the process of recovery of remote, rural and regional communities; • Reduce social isolation and foster stronger, more resilient remote, rural and regional communities; and/or • Sustain local remote, rural and regional organisations and their work. Eligible projects will have a focus on: • Supporting, training or attracting volunteers; • Events and activities to reconnect the community; • Enhancing community spaces to increase community use; • Developing services and support to assist vulnerable people, and people experiencing disadvantage; • Purchase of equipment or resources to strengthen organisations that support communities. This is the final round of grants under the Rebuilding Regional Communities stream. Applications close 5pm AEDT 26 February 2024. For further information on how to apply, and program guidelines are attached and available at: https://lnkd.in/gKTF4N_F

We celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Development Fund which is making life-changing impacts on local communities across #Scotland. We understand that the transition to #netzero must be a fair and just one, and we have to work together with #communities, ensuring we’re delivering tangible, long-term benefits for them. Community funding has always been a central part of what we do and we’re hugely proud of the contributions we’ve made to local groups and initiatives in the immediate vicinity of our wind farms, as well as in wider regions. Currently, it’s estimated that our Sustainable Development Fund will contribute at least £57m to regional development across Scotland over the next two decades. This figure, and the life expectancy of the fund, will grow as we deliver more new #onshore wind farms across Scotland. Watch the video below to hear from some of the community groups that have benefitted so far – including Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development, Clydesdale Community Initiaitives - CCI and Local Energy Scotland. 🎥