The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

December 1, 2005

Welcome to this List Serv sponsored by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Rural Funding Coordination Project.  These messages provide information about current government and private grants, conference and training opportunities, publications, and potential funding sources, with an emphasis on rural Alaska.

The Alaska State Community Service Commission is requesting proposals for programs to be included in Alaska's annual application to the Corporation for National and Community Services for the Americorps Competitive Grant program.  The goal of the grant is to fund community service programs that provide opportunities for Americorps participants to serve their communities through community organizations and agencies.  The deadline is December 28.  There will be a pre-application teleconference on December 6.  For more information, contact Katie Eddy at 907-269-4674 or visit http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/PNByDeptActive?OpenView&Start=1&Count=100&Expand=3.2#3.2.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has the following opportunities:

Advanced Education Nursing Grants - The goal is to provide support to eligible institutions for projects that support the enhancement of advanced nursing education and practice.  The average size of the award is approximately $250,000.  The deadline is December 21.  For more information, contact Irene Sandvold at 301-443-6333 or visit (search by health professions) https://grants.hrsa.gov/webexternal/FundingOpp.asp.

Service Area Competition Grants - These grants are designed to promote the development and operation of community-based primary health care service systems in medically underserved areas for medically underserved populations.  The deadline is December 30.  For more information, contact Latecia Engram at 301-594-4300 or view (search by primary health care) https://grants.hrsa.gov/webexternal/FundingOpp.asp.

The U.S. Department of Justice is soliciting applications for its Legal Assistance for Victims Grant program.  The intent of the program is to implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects between domestic violence, dating violence and sexual assault victim services organizations and legal assistance providers to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault.  The deadline is December 27.  For more information, call 202-307-6026 or visit

http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/ovwfy2006legalassistanceforvictimssolicitation.pdf.

The Cigna Foundation is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations that focus on health related issues. Proposals emphasizing women's health issues such as maternal and infant care, breast cancer, cancer of the reproductive organs and women's safety issues such as domestic violence receive priority. There is no deadline.  For more information, call 215-761-1000 or visit http://www.cigna.com/general/about/community/index.html.

The Allstate Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that focus in the areas of safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion and diversity; and economic empowerment.  There is no deadline.  For more information, contact Darcy Olson at 425-489-5572 or visit http://www.allstate.com/community/PageRender.asp?Page=foundationfunding.htm.

Flint Hills Resources Alaska funds nonprofit organizations that provide services to human service programs that promote self-sufficiency, individual responsibility, achievement, and respect for others.  They also fund at-risk initiatives that provide skills, encouragement, and opportunities that will increase chances for success.  There is no deadline.  For more information, contact Jeri Wigdahl at 907-488-5103 or visit http://www.fhr.com/community/default.aspx.

Forming Alliances: Working Together to Achieve Mutual Goals says that alliances can help nonprofit organizations strengthen their services, attract untapped sources of revenue, and reduce the duplication of programs.  It provides guidelines for forming alliances, including clarifying the reason behind the partnership, recruiting organizations that are good potential collaborators, and meeting the goals of an alliance.  It also describes common pitfalls.  The book concludes with a set of worksheets to help determine whether an organization needs a partner and how to take the steps necessary to form a partnership.  The cost is $29.95.  For more information, call 800-274-6024 or visit http://www.fieldstonealliance.org/client/client_pages/index_publishing.cfm.

The Foraker Group is dedicated to assisting nonprofits strengthen their organizations in a variety of ways, including board and staff trainings.  Below is a list of the upcoming trainings:

December 1 - 11:00 to 3:00, Public Relations for Nonprofits, Juneau

December 1 - 4:00 to 6:00, Effective Board Communication, Juneau

December 1 - 11:00 to 1:00, The Basics of Raising Money, Fairbanks

December 1 - 2:00 to 4:00, Building Relationships for Sustainable Income, Fairbanks

December 1 - 5:00 to 7:00, Making the "Ask" and Stewardship, Fairbanks

December 5 - 11:00 to 1:00, Budgeting for Nonprofits, Valdez

December 5 - 3:00 to 5:00, Understanding Financial Statements, Valdez

December 6 - 12:00 to 2:00, Budgeting for Nonprofits, Anchorage

December 6 - 6:00 to 8:00, Board Roles and Responsibilities, Fairbanks

December 8 - 6:00 to 8:00, High Performing Boards, Fairbanks

December 13 - 6:00 to 8:00, Effective Board Leadership, Fairbanks

December 14 - 11:00 to 1:00, Budgeting for Nonprofits, Palmer

December 14 - 3:00 to 5:00, Understanding Financial Statements, Palmer

December 15 - 11:00 to 1:00, Board Roles and Responsibilities, Kenai

December 15 - 3:00 to 5:00, High Performing Boards, Kenai

December 15 - 6:00 to 8:00, Effective Board Leadership, Kenai

In addition to community trainings, Foraker offers specialized trainings to organizations.  For more information, contact Laurie Wolf at 907-743-1206 or visit www.forakergroup.org.

The beneficiaries of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority include those Alaskans experiencing mental illness; developmental disabilities; chronic alcoholism; Alzheimer's disease or related disorders.  You can learn more about the Trust at www.mhtrust.org.

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is accepting proposals for its Small Projects Funding program.  The program is designed to create new services of direct benefit to Trust beneficiaries.  These services are not normally funded by another part of government.  They can be innovative, new program ideas, or substantially improve and supplement existing activities.  They can also significantly increase the quality of ongoing projects.  Each small project is limited to a maximum of $10,000.  The intent is to spend one-half of the Small Projects Fund ($250,000 yearly) on projects that serve beneficiaries in rural areas.  The deadlines are June 1, October 1, and February 1.  For more information, call 907-269-7960 or visit www.mhtrust.org.