The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

June 15, 2001

Welcome to this List Serv sponsored by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority’s Rural Funding Coordination Project. These messages provide information about current government and private grants and contracts, conference and training opportunities, and potential funding sources.

The U.S. Department of Education has about $31 million available for its Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Program. The goal of the program is to implement and enhance comprehensive community-wide strategies for creating safe and drug-free schools and to promote healthy childhood development. The deadline is July 16. For more information, call 301-519-5535 or view http://www.samhsa.gov.

The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications from federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations for the Even Start Family Literacy Program. The purpose of the program is to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving the education opportunities of low-income families. Grants will average about $175,000. The deadline is July 9. For more information, contact Doris Sligh at 202-260-0999.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service is accepting proposals to develop essential community facilities in rural communities. Nonprofit organizations and tribal governments who serve areas with extremely high unemployment and severe economic depression are eligible. Approximately $47.5 million is available. An additional $2.5 million is available for community planning and implementation related to these essential community facilities. Applications will be accepted until the funds are exhausted. For more information, contact Joseph Ben-Israel at 202-720-1490.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) are preparing a single, consolidated grant application package that includes announcements and application kits for several of its programs. To request a kit, call 800-638-8736 and reference the Mental Health and Community Safety Initiative for American Indian/Alaska Native Children, Youth, and Families.

The Enterprise Foundation, with funding from the Metropolitan Life Foundation, is accepting nominations for its Excellence in Affordable Housing award. The focus of the award is to recognize and share the important work done by community-based nonprofit organizations or tribally designated housing entities across the country. Organizations that own, develop and/or operate affordable housing are eligible to apply. Awards of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 will be made in two categories, Supportive Housing and Property and Asset Management. The deadline for nominations is August 4. For more information, contact Samia Malak at 410-772-2436 or view http://www.enterprisefoundation.org.

The Rockefeller Foundation funds programs that address the health problems of the poor and at-risk people worldwide, and programs that seek to eliminate the disparities in health care. Prospective applicants should send a letter of inquiry briefly describing the project and its purpose. For more information, contact Tim Evans at 212-869-8500 or view http://www.rockfound.org.

Northrim Bank supports nonprofit organizations that provide shelters for the homeless and abused, programs to help at-risk children and youth, projects that develop affordable housing, and training opportunities for low-income individuals including women and minorities. The contribution budget is allocated in October. For more information, contact Kellie McAnany at 907-261-3372.

The Funding Pool, a nonprofit organization that helps charities make use of technology, publishes E-Philanthropy Update, a weekly e-mail newsletter that provides advice and articles on online fundraising. To subscribe, go to http://www.fundingpool.com/ephilanthropyupdate.htm.

The beneficiaries of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority include those Alaskans who experience mental illness; mental retardation or similar disabilities; chronic alcoholism with psychosis; or Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. You can learn more about the Trust at www.mhtrust.org.

If you wish to be removed from the List Serv, please send a “REMOVE FROM LIST” message to dsknjm@pobox.alaska.net. Comments or contributions may also be submitted to the same address.