YPS announces funding opportunities!

There are several funding opportunities available now for youth service.

October 15, 2007
Young Creators Award
The Knight Foundation places a high priority on engaging young people to shape their own future. For that reason, we have set aside $500,000 of this year's Knight News Challenge funding specifically for people 25 and under, and we have enlisted MTV, the world's premier television network for young people, as a partner. The goal is to spur innovation in the delivery of information and news using digital media. For more information please visit The Knight Foundation.

October 16, 2007
State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants
With the support of the State Farm Companies Foundation, Youth Service America is offering the annual State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant for youth across the United States and Canada. These grants of up to $1,000 support youth (ages 5-25), teachers, or school-based service-learning coordinators in implementing service-learning projects for Global Youth Service Day 2008. For more information please visit Youth Service America.

October 26, 2007
Youth Leaders for Literacy
Youth Leaders for Literacy is an initiative of the National Education Association (NEA) and Youth Service America (YSA) to help youth direct their enthusiasm and creativity into reading-related service projects. During the six-week program period and beyond, they create a groundswell of literacy service in communities across the country. The NEA and Youth Service America developed the Youth Leaders for Literacy program in 2001 to encourage and celebrate literacy service in our nation's young people, and to provide resources to conduct reading-related activities that benefit others. Making a difference in the lives of America's children is what the partnership between the NEA and YSA is all about. For more information please visit the National Education Association.

October 31, 2007
Project Learning Tree GreenWorks! Grants
GreenWorks! grants engage Project Learning Tree educators and their students with their local community in "learning-by-doing" environmental projects. Student leadership, service-learning, and community participation are the cornerstones to GreenWorks! projects. These grassroots action projects enable schools and youth organizations across the country to make a positive impact on their communities. GreenWorks! grants are awarded in the spring and fall of each year. For more information, please visit GreenWorks!

November 1, 2007
Youth Garden Grants Program
The National Gardening Association (NGA) and The Home Depot announce the Youth Garden Grants Program for 2008. NGA awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. In evaluating grant applications, priority will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of these elements: educational focus or curricular/program integration, nutrition or plant-to-food connections, environmental awareness/education, entrepreneurship, and social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning. There is an early-bird incentive if your application is postmarked by October 1, 2007. For more information on how to apply, please visit KidsGardening.

November 1, 2007
Target Field Trip Grants
Education professionals, 18 years or older, who are employed by an accredited K-12 public, private or charter school in the United States that maintain a 501(c)(3) or a 509(a)(1) tax exempt status are eligible to apply for a Target Field Trip Grant. Educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals or classified staff of these institutions must be willing to plan and execute a field trip that will provide a demonstrable learning experience for students. For more information please visit Target.

Open Deadline
Teaching Tolerance Grants
Teaching Tolerance offers grants of $500 to $2,500 to preK-12 classroom teachers for projects designed to reduce prejudice among youth, improve intergroup relations in schools and/or support educator professional development in these areas. Proposals from other community organizations and houses of worship will be considered on the basis of direct student impact. For more information please visit Teaching Tolerance.