Meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month (except June & August) at 7:00pm at the North Plainfield Community Center at 614 Greenbrook Road, 2nd floor.  Closed to the public.

Youth-Directed Activist Projects

$500.00

MIX IT UP GRANTS PROGRAM

Have a great idea about how to challenge social boundaries and bring down the walls that divide your school? We want to help, and, to prove it, we offer $500 grants to support youth-directed programs and projects that address social boundaries in schools or communities.

The Mix It Up Grants Program funds small-scale, youth-directed activist projects that focus on identifying, crossing and challenging social boundaries in schools and communities.

The projects should be:

* Youth Driven
* Challenging
* Creative
* Collaborative
* On-Going:
* Responsible

Funding limitations
Due to the high volume of materials that we provide each of the 10,000+ schools that participate in the annual Mix it Up at Lunch Day event, we are unable to provide grant money to support a Mix it Up at Lunch Day event at your school or in your community.

Conditions
As a recipient of a Mix It Up Grant, you are required to complete and submit a project report within thirty days after your project completion date. In addition to documenting your grant project for our records, your report may also serve as the basis for articles about your efforts in the print and online publications of Mix It Up or other Southern Poverty Law Center materials.

Notification
Within 8 weeks of receiving your complete application packet, we will let you know in writing if your project will receive a Mix it Up Grant.

If your project is selected for funding, we'll send you a grant agreement by e-mail, which you have to complete and return to us by snail mail.

Once we receive your agreement form in the mail, we will in turn send you a check within three weeks, along with instructions about the required final project report.

Application: To apply, complete the grant application form.

Mix it Up Grants are made possible through the generosity of the Southern Poverty Law Center's supporters.

WAL-MART FOUNDATION

$1,000 to $5,000

Wal-Mart Foundation – Wal-Mart Store and Sam’s Club Giving Program The Wal-Mart Foundation supports programs and initiatives addressing education, workforce development, economic sustainability, and health and wellness. For health and wellness in particular, the Foundation looks to improve access to healthcare, promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors, and reduce disparities.

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000. Eligible applicants include organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), recognized government entities, volunteer Fire Departments, K-12 Public Schools/Districts, Charter Schools, Colleges, Universities, Private Schools with tax-exempt status, and faith-based organizations.

Deadline: Rolling

Please contact the Wal-Mart Foundation for more specific grant information and to apply: http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8916.aspx

Wachovia Foundation – Wachovia Community Needs GrantsThe Wachovia Foundation provides Community Needs Grants to support organizations working to improve communities with low- to moderate-income. In particular, the Foundation strives to improve education, community development, and environmental health, ensure access to health and human services, and to bolster civic engagement.
Award amounts may vary. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3), have broad community support, and can demonstrate fiscal and administrative stability.

Deadline: Rolling
Please contact the Wachovia Foundation for more specific grant information and to apply for this funding opportunity: https://www.wachovia.com/foundation/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=93b85ef43a0aa110VgnVCM1000004b0d1872RCRD&vgnextfmt=default

The Prudential Foundation - Prudential Foundation Revitalizing Communities GrantsThe Prudential Foundation promotes sustainable communities by focusing its grant making on education, economic development and civic infrastructure. Examples of funded projects are helping to improve schools, promoting neighborhood activities, and preserving parks and playgrounds.

Award amounts vary. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) or agencies that are members of the Federal, or any State, County or local Municipal government.

Deadline: Rolling

Please contact The Prudential Foundation for more specific grant information and to apply: http://www.prudential.com/view/page/public/12373
SOURCE: The Weekly Insider, July 8, 2009, reporting from the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools

Motorola Foundation Grants (Deadline: Ongoing)
Motorola seeks to benefit the communities where it operates around the world, including locations in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. The Motorola Foundation focuses its funding on education, especially programs that support math and science teacher-training programs and charitable organizations that excite young people about these subjects. Other areas of interest include increasing access to communication technology for people in the developing world and supporting communities in areas where the company operates. The Foundation funds programs only in communities where Motorola has a significant presence. Organizations based outside the United States must be located in a country with a Motorola presence and be able to prove charitable status. Applications are accepted online throughout the year. www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Corporate/US-EN/corporate-responsibility/society/community-investment-motorola-foundation-apply-for-a-grant.html

K-6 Pet Projects Funded
Pet Care Trust: Pets in the Classroom Grants Program
The goal of the Pets in the Classroom Grants Program, an initiative of the Pet Care Trust, is to establish healthy child-pet relationships at an early age by supporting responsible pet care in grammar and middle school classrooms across the country. These grants are intended to provide a means of teaching children to bond with and care for their pets. K-6 teachers in public and private schools can apply for grants or coupons in the amounts of $50, $100, or $150 for the purchase of new pets and pet environments, as well as food and supplies for existing classroom pets. Requests may be submitted at any time. Visit the Pets in the Classroom website to review the funding guidelines and submit an online application.

http://www.petsintheclassroom.org/

Disney Friends for Change Grants

Deadline: February 29

Disney Friends for Change Grants offer young change-makers an opportunity to receive a $1,000 grant to help make a lasting, positive change in the world. Whether you are passionate about protecting the planet, providing meals to those who need it or giving kids just like you the resources they need to star in their own play, be an athlete or an artist, you can be a Friend for Change! Whatever your interests, a Disney Friends for Change Grant can help you make a difference for people, communities and the planet. Youth ages 5-18 located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant. www.YSA.org/grants/disney-friends-change-grants

YSA List: The 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People

Deadline: January 31

YSA is launching the inaugural YSA List of "The 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People" in celebration of our 25th Anniversary. Since our founding, we have seen young people pass laws, engage thousands of volunteers, found organizations, and develop sustainable solutions - all changing the world for the better. The YSA List will recognize 25 young people (ages 5 - 25) around the world that have made significant, large-scale change in five categories - Health, Education, Human Service, Human Rights, and the Environment. We will announce the YSA List on Global Youth Service Day 2012 (April 20-22). The 25 winners will receive $1,000 awards to support their ongoing efforts to change the world. Learn more and nominate a young person at www.YSA.org/25/list

Everyday Young Hero Award
Deadline: Ongoing

Awarded weekly to a young person from around the world who exemplifies an extraordinary commitment to service, the Everyday Young Hero Award program is open to youth ages 5-25. Nominations must come from a parent, teacher or other adult mentor. Winners are announced in the NSB, featured on YSA's website and showcased within its social media outlets. Everyday Young Heroes also receive a certificate, award and press release. Nominate a young person you know to be recognized as an Everyday Young Hero at www.YSA.org/awards/hero

Captain Planet Environment Grants
Deadlines: January 15, May 31

The Captain Planet Foundation primarily makes grants to U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million. Grants are made for activities that promote and support high-quality educational programs that enable children and youth to understand and appreciate our world through learning experiences that engage them in active, hands-on projects to improve the environment in their schools and communities. Preferential consideration is given to requests seeking seed funding of $500 or less and to applicants who have secured at least 50% matching or in-kind funding. http://bit.ly/y1tPpz

C-SPAN StudentCam 2012 Contest
Deadline: January 20

C-SPAN's StudentCam is an annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think seriously about issues that affect our communities and our nation. Students are asked to create a short (5-8 minute) video documentary on a topic related to the competition theme - "The Constitution and You." The competition is open to all students in grades 6-12. Students may compete individually or in teams of up to 3 members. All documentaries must contain C-SPAN footage and be between 5-8 minutes in length.75 student prizes and 11 teacher prizes ranging from $250 to $5,000 will be awarded. Learn more at http://cs.pn/wo6O3b

2012 Wildlife Conservation Youth Engagement Grants
Deadline: February 1

Whether you're in a city, rural area or a suburb, wildlife is all around you. In many places, wildlife faces challenges. Are you a high school student with a creative idea for conserving and protecting wildlife and its habitat in your community? Planet Connect is offering high school students grants of $1,000 to implement their problem-solving projects and participate in a local internship focused on wildlife conservation Winners receive $500.00 to turn your project into a reality and an 80-hour wildlife conservation or natural resource internship with a $500 stipend in your local community during the summer of 2012. http://bit.ly/sPM29L

Jenzabar Student Leadership Awards
Deadline: February 20

The Jenzabar Foundation has opened the nomination process for its fifth annual Student Leadership Awards, which recognize student groups that have made a difference in the world through service and philanthropic activities at the local, national, and international levels. The awards will honor ten student-led campus groups or activities that have made a significant impact beyond their own institution. Nominations are open for students enrolled in any accredited institution of higher education. Each award includes a $5,000 grant to support the student or group's future humanitarian endeavors The first step in the submission process is joining the online Jenzabar Foundation Community Network; please use referral code SLA2012. Once registered, applicants will be advised of the submission procedure. http://bit.ly/uR4V8C

2012 Do Something Awards
Deadline: March 1

The Do Something Awards (formerly the BR!CK Awards) identifies exceptional young social entrepreneurs, activists, and community leaders who have a significant social impact. The Do Something Award nominees and winners are the pivotal "do-ers" in their fields and causes. For this year's awards five finalists will be selected and rewarded with a $10,000 community grant, participation in the third Do Something Awards TV show on VH1, media coverage, and continued support from DoSomething.org. Of those five nominees, one will be selected to win the Grand Prize, a $100,000 grant, which will be announced during the broadcast. http://dsorg.us/t5wklU