From my own experience I feel that women are very good at taking care of others but not so hot on taking care of themselves. This trait negatively affects their health and well-being. During my son’s recent hospital stay, good friends of mine continually reminded me that I needed to keep myself healthy to be able to help my son. It was a great service they did for me by saying that and by helping me to make sure it happened.

The foundation I am highlighting this week puts their emphasis on helping women who have been neglected and underserved and encouraging women to help others.

This week’s pick: The WHO Foundation (Women Helping Others) is providing support for grassroots charities serving women and children in the United States and Puerto Rico. Grant support goes to items like food, gas and grocery vouchers, diapers, equipment, health kits, dental health assistance, textbooks and other supplies. They also grant monies for organizations to meet goals in areas such as finding foster placements for infants in crisis.

You must be a 501©3 organization with a total operating budget of $3 million or less to apply. Typical grants rage from $1,000 to $15,000 and the deadline to apply is September 9, 2008. An application form can be found on the WHO website.

SIDE NOTE: The WHO Foundation website is offering a free resource book for women who are undergoing or recovering from cancer treatments and to cancer related organizations. Click here to learn more.

Posted by admin at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On a very cold January 23rd several brave souls came to visit us in Bloomington for the first Evaluation Conversation Brown Bag facilitated by the Improve Group. This month's topic was logic models and the conversation was lively, engaged and informative.

Our discussion group included people from the non-profit, local government and state agencies (rep. health, education, community development). Attendees brought questions, examples and issues about logic models: when to use them, how to make them work to the best advantage of a program, and what are the limitations of logic models. President and CEO Leah Goldstein Moses gave evaluation tips and advice and we all learned from each other. One popular piece of information was to use logic models in a more pictorial than table format - showing directions, reasonings, etc.

The next brown bag is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26th from Noon to 1:00 p.m. The topic for the day is Evaluation in and with the Arts. Please join us.

Posted by admin at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I recently ran across a great list of resources for Evaluators. The Outcome Measurement Resource Network, compiled by the United Way, links to professional organizations, government agencies, publishers and evaluation projects. The United Way provides a brief description of the resources available. I just signed up for the Harvard Family Research Project’s Evaluation Exchange newsletter, which is available in electronic and print formats. Please let me know which resource you find most helpful!

Posted by Guest author at 07:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Thursday, January 24 the Safe Schools Healthy Students Program (CFDA No. 84.184L) announced that it was accepting applications for 2008. This grant is a great opportunity for schools to work in partnership with community organizations, parents, juvenile justice groups, social services and health organizations to improve the safety and overall well-being of the students in their district. The program is supported jointly by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice and it provides for “the implementation and enhancement of integrated, comprehensive community-wide plans that create safe and drug-free schools and promote healthy childhood development.”

The application is due March 14, 2008 and only local education agencies (LEA’s) are eligible to apply. For a complete application, click here. Applications must be submitted on the internet through www.grants.gov.

Posted by admin at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of fundamental value held by the staff of the Improve Group is that change can be addressed more efficiently and inclusively when people or groups work in collaboration. We believe that everyone possesses their own expertise and wealth of knowledge and tapping into to that helps us in our evaluation efforts and helps everyone learn as they grow. The funder I am highlighting today also values problem solving partnerships as a way to effect real change.

This week’s pick: The Minnesota Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Department of Public Safety has put out an RFP to “to fund problem-solving partnerships designed to improve public safety and the functioning of the criminal justice system.”

Problem-Solving Partnership Grants proposals must include:
• an active partnership between two or more public or private non-profit entities including state, local and tribal governmental agencies, schools and community-based organizations
• addressing a defined public safety issue
• a high likelihood of improving public safety
• focusing on long-term solutions and system change
• a project design that is supported by current promising or best practices research.

Applications are submitted through the Web-Enabled Grant Operations (WEGO) system and must be received by February 21, 2008. If you have not used WEGO before there is a registration form you will need to fill out to be able to sign in. Grants will be rewarded covering a two-year period and range from $50,000 - $300,000. To learn more click here.

Posted by admin at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

January seems to be a big month for the arts with some large government grants opening up again.

This week's picks:
1.) The Arts Education Model Design and Dissemination grant was released last week and is concerned with evaluating, documenting and sharing information on effective models for arts education “that integrate the arts with standards-based education programs.” Criteria includes that the model project, (a) serves only elementary school or middle school grades, or both, and (b) is linked to State and national standards intended to enable all students to meet challenging expectations and to improve student and school performance.

The estimated average size awarded for the first year is $250,000. Intent to Apply notice must be submitted by February 13th and applications are due March 14th, 2008. Click here for more information. (CFDA #84.351D)

2.) The Professional Development for Arts Educator – Arts in Education grant focuses on support for high-quality professional development model programs in elementary and secondary education for music, dance, drama, and visual arts educators. The Intent to Apply is February 11th and applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov by February 29, 2008.

Estimated range of awards is $100,000 to $350,000 for the first year of the project. To learn more about this grant please click here.
(CFDA # or ED #84.351C)

3) The National Endowment for the Arts’ Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth grant is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2008. All projects proposed for this grant must include the learning components of Experience, Study, Performance and Assessment in the arts for children and youth 5 through 18 years of age. The programs may be school- or community based.

Funded projects apply national or state arts education standards. This grant has a June 8, 2008 application deadline and most grant awards will range from $10,000 to $100,000. Click here to learn more. (CFDA No. 45.024)

The Improve Group has been and evaluator for two of these highlighted opportunities: AEMDD grants with Performing Arts Workshop of the San Francisco Bay area and the PDAE grant with Perpich Center for Arts Education here in Minnesota. If you are thinking of applying and are looking for an evaluator, please contact us. We can assist you in writing the evaluation portion of your application.

Posted by admin at 04:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Quality Counts data is typically available only to paid subscribers of Education Week, but is currently available to anyone through January 30 in Education Week's annual open house. State report cards are organized by five categories: Chance for success; K-12 Achievement; Standards, Assessments and Accountability; Transitions and Alignment; and the Teaching Profession. An interesting tool is the ability to "weight" each category with the issues that are most important to you, and then see if your state's scores remain the same.

Posted by admin at 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I grew up in what was then a smaller town in Wisconsin where it seemed everyone knew everyone else and the children were watched by a whole community. My sons are growing up in an urban area where there are so many people it becomes difficult to really know your neighbors. Under the worst circumstances kids can find themselves with little support or direction. The funder I am presenting today wants to target youth-based non-profits serving the kids who need them most.

This week’s pick: The Tiger Woods Foundation (TWF) for underserved youth. Famous golfer Tiger Woods is giving back to the community by providing grant opportunities to help underserved youth ages 5-17. Funding areas for the TWF are Education and Youth Development with a geographic focus on young people in urban American cities. Grants of $2,500 to $25,000 are rewarded quarterly and proposals must be in by the following schedule: Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1. You must be a 501©3 non-profit in existence for at least one year to apply. Go to the Foundation website for more information and to fill out the Eligibility Worksheet to see if you qualify.

Posted by admin at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Family Caregiver Alliance, based in California but with a national focus of developing high-quality programs and policies in every state for families who care for loved ones at home, has recently published a list of programs in each state that support caregivers. Minnesota's profile includes the Elderly Waiver and Alternative Care programs that are part of the statewide waiver review initiative we have been working on for the previous two years. The State of the States in Family Caregiver Support: A 50-State Study includes a series of data tables comparing how state programs responded to key survey questions, including: program eligibility criteria, caregiver assessments, caregiver support services, respite care and caregiver training.

Posted by admin at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Happy New Year from all of us at the Improve Group! After my long absence due to serious health issues for my oldest son I am overjoyed to report that he is on the mend and I am working again. This Grant Gazing comes to you from my home where I am telecommuting as my son recovers. I am amazed at the technology we have today that allows us viable work options in times of crisis.

Alex is well enough to start getting homework again and actually looks forward to the day he can return to school. So education is on my mind today and I see that it is on the mind of the Federal Government as well.

This week’s pick: The Charter School Program (CSP) [CFDA# 84.282A] has a goal of increasing the “national understanding of the charter school model and to expanding the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the Nation by providing financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools, and to evaluate the effects of charter schools, including their effects on students, student academic achievement, staff, and parents.”

Grants are awarded to SEA’s (State Educational Agencies) and they use the CSP funds to award sub-grants to non-SEA’s for planning, program design, initial implementation and for help with disseminate information on best practices.

Grant applications are due February 1, 2008 and additional information can be found here. If you are an SEA considering this opportunity please contact the Improve Group as an evaluator for your Charter School initiative.

Posted by admin at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)