Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation was created in recognition of the struggle educators often face in bringing truly exceptional teaching to their students. The foundation awards grants to those projects and/or initiatives with significant potential to augment the educational experiences for youth of all backgrounds.

The foundation is now accepting applications for its Academic Enrichment Grants and Teacher Development Grants.

Academic Enrichment Grants are designed to develop in-class and extracurricular programs that improve student learning. These grants seek to maximize innovation and results in classrooms and education departments by funding programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households. Successful applicants may receive grants of up to $10,000 each per year for a maximum of three years.

Teacher Development Grants seek to increase the effectiveness of individual educators and small teams of teachers by funding the formation and implementation of groundbreaking K-12 classroom instruction. Grantees may be awarded amounts of up to $10,000 each per year for a maximum of three years. The program provides opportunities for teachers to integrate fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe the effect of those strategies on students. Teachers have the opportunity to reflect and write about their projects and to share their observations with other teachers.

Eligibility requirements, program overviews, and applications are available at the foundation's web site.

Encouraging 21st century educators to LIVE GREEN-Discovery Education and General Motors will award forty educators in public Middle and Junior High Schools across America $1,000 each to implement inventive classroom lessons on the environment or renewable energy initiatives. Applications for the LIVE GREEN Teacher Grants are being accepted now through May 15, 2008.

LEGO Systems, Inc. invites children between the ages of 6 and 13 who consider themselves curious, imaginative, and creative to apply for the second annual LEGO Creativity Awards. Designed to encourage lifelong curiosity and creativity, the LEGO Creativity Awards are an opportunity for young people to gain recognition for the imagination that will make them the "builders of tomorrow."

Children from across the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec) are invited to submit essays showcasing their creativity at home, at school, and in their communities.

The essay contest is intended to encourage children to think of creativity as more than practicing art or music; it is alsoabout taking a new approach to everyday challenges. Winners of the First Annual LEGO Creativity Awards in 2007 demonstrated creativity in action such as community engagement, product invention, movie-making, and furniture construction. Some teachers took the program into their classrooms to engage students in an exercise not only in essay writing, but also in the idea of how their individual creativity could make a difference.

The five winners will each receive $5,000 to further their creative projects.

Official rules regarding entry and prizing can be found at the LEGO Creation Nation web site.

The ISE program invests in projects that develop and implement informal learning experiences designed to increase interest, engagement, and understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by individuals of all ages and backgrounds, as well as projects that advance knowledge and practice of informal science education. Projects may target either public audiences or professionals whose work directly affects informal STEM learning. ISE projects are expected to demonstrate strategic impact, innovation, and collaboration.

Thirteen communities in 10 states will share more than $2.5 million in job training grants geared toward cleaning up contaminated properties and turning them into productive community assets. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under its Brownfields Initiative, is awarding grants of up to $200,000 each to non-profit organizations, local governments, a university, and a tribe. The grants will teach environmental assessment and cleanup job skills to individuals living in low-income areas near brownfields sites in Alabama, California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

The Award is given each November to three non-profit organizations in recognition of an innovative, existing program that has made a difference in the lives of the people it serves. Peter Drucker's definition of innovation -- change that creates a new dimension of performance -- is key to consideration for the Award.

The Award has been given annually since 1991 and is accompanied by a first place prize of $35,000 and two runners up prizes of $7,500 and $5,000. The cash prizes are unrestricted and designed to celebrate and further the work of innovative non-profit organizations in the United States. The Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, administer the Award.

As a continuing tribute to the late Paul Simon, one of the most distinguished statesmen in Illinois history, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn invites Illinois residents to apply for the Paul Simon Lt. Governor Fellowship, an opportunity for recent graduates to work in state government and honor Simon's legacy of public service.

The Paul Simon Lieutenant Governor Fellowship is a one-year position offering a $30,000 stipend. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree and demonstrate leadership abilities and strong writing skills.

The mission of the SHOPA Kids in Need Foundation is to recognize, promote, and support initiatives that foster educational excellence. Kids In Need Teacher Grants provide K-12 educators with funding to help them realize their dreams of providing innovative learning opportunities for their students. The purpose of the grants is to provide funds for classroom teachers who have innovative, meritorious ideas but lack the budget to bring them to life.

The mission of the Bikes Belong Coalition, sponsored by the American bicycle industry, is to put more people on bicycles more often.

The Coalition welcomes grant applications from nonprofit organizations and public agencies within the United States that align with its mission. Grants are provided in the following categories: facility, advocacy, and education. All proposals must address the goals of the grants program strategic plan: encourage ridership growth, leverage funding, build political support, support bicycle advocacy, and promote bicycling.

Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health has issued its 2004 Request for Proposals (RFP) and Grant Application Packet for community-based, parent/grandparent, and/or emerging groups working to prevent childhood lead poisoning and other children's environmental health hazards. Information about Community Toolbox, the complete RFP, and the application deadline can be found at http://www.communitytoolbox.org or by contacting Community Toolbox at (800) 220-7630 or grants@communitytoolbox.org.

FundingFactory accepts more than 85% of the cartridges used in today's market and many of the most popular cell phone brands. Every qualifying cartridge and cell phone has a designated value. The values for all collected items are deposited into an online account. Fundraiser earnings can be spent in FundingFactory's Rewards Catalog or check may be requested. For more information, free registration and qualifying lists of products, visit the FundingFactory web site.

Eligible fuels for the program include E-85, Biodiesel (at least 20 percent blend or B-20), natural gas, propane, electricity, and hydrogen. To be eligible, a vehicle must be a licensed, on-road vehicle and be able to be legally driven on public roads. Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles (i.e., Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner) are not defined as an alternate fuel vehicle and are not eligible for a rebate since these vehicles are refueled with gasoline.

For more information, visit the Illinois Green Fleets web site.

The ISE program invests in projects that develop and implement informal learning experiences designed to increase interest, engagement, and understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by individuals of all ages and backgrounds, as well as projects that advance knowledge and practice of informal science education. Projects may target either public audiences or professionals whose work directly affects informal STEM learning. ISE projects are expected to demonstrate strategic impact, innovation, and collaboration.(A PureEdge download package is available for this opportunity for submission via Grants.gov.)

Deadlines: Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required): March 21, 2006 and Second Thursday in March annually thereafter for Project Grants; September 14, 2006 for Project Grants and Second Thursday in September annually thereafter-----Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): June 22, 2006 for Project Grants and Third Thursday in June annually thereafter; December 14, 2006 for Project Grants and Second Thursday in December annually thereafter-----Planning Grants: Proposals must be submitted on the same deadline dates as those indicated above for Preliminary Proposals, following discussion with a Program Officer.-----Conference, Symposia, and Workshop Grants: Proposals may be submitted at any time, generally at least one year in advance, following discussion with a Program Officer. These types of projects do not require Preliminary Proposals.-----Grant Supplements for existing ISE Awards: Requests must be submitted at least two months prior to the need for additional funds, following discussion with the Cognizant Program Officer.

This school year, the program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 can be awarded to schools or school districts with major outdoor classroom projects.

Letters of inquiry may be mailed to the Rockefeller Family Fund, 437 Madison Avenue, 37th Floor, New York, NY, 10022. Letters of inquiry may also be sent to the Family Fund at the following e-mail address: mmccarthy@rffund.org

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) announced the selection of 19 states, which will receive a total of 96 industrial plant assessments at local facilities. Through these awards and other collaborative efforts of its Save Energy Now initiative, ITP seeks to accelerate partnership with states and local energy efficiency groups, utilities, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations in meeting industrial energy efficiency challenges. These initial state assessment projects launch an anticipated long-term, extensive effort to expand ITP's successful Save Energy Now activities to the State level, where the greatest impact can be achieved. The awards are in response to a recent solicitation issued by DOE.

The awards total $950,000 and represent industrial plant assessments, adding to the national impact of reduced energy use and carbon emissions. These awarded projects represent an additional 5.8 trillion Btu per year in potential natural gas savings, as well as reduced CO2 emissions of 390,000 metric tons per year. In addition to analysis and plant assessments, each state project lead will provide follow-up technical and implementation assistance.

Each state will receive roughly $50,000 (though some will also receive cost-shared funding). Recipient states include: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The terms of these projects are expected to be 18 to 24 months. Funding will go to the State Energy Offices to subcontract these assessments.

Since its inception in 2005, Save Energy Now has completed 388 large plant assessments, implemented energy-saving improvements of nearly $83 million, identified natural gas savings of nearly 57 trillion Btu per year, and reduced total potential CO2 emissions by approximately 5.0 million tons per year. Save Energy Now is helping U.S. industry, the most energy-intensive section of the economy, supporting the future energy security and stability of our nation.

A third round of 250 Industrial Save Energy Now Energy Assessments is now open for applications by eligible industrial facilities. Energy experts will help industries identify energy- and money-saving opportunities, focusing on steam, process heating, pump, fan, and compressed air systems.

The Cleveland Foundation makes most of its grants to nonprofit organizations classified as 501(c)(3). It also makes some grants to government agencies. It does not make grants to individuals or for small business. Overall, the Foundation funds projects and programs that:

• Support Greater Cleveland
• Benefit the citizens of Greater Cleveland directly
• Meet community needs
• Test new ideas

The Foundation requires all potential grant applicants to submit a brief Grant Inquiry Form, outlining basic information about the potential applicant’s organization and the program for which funding is being sought. This allows the Foundation to give you initial feedback and to indicate whether your proposal is appropriate. Grant Inquiry Forms may be submitted at any time. A decision is generally made within a few weeks, at which time you will be notified whether to submit a full proposal.

The Foundation, which also has a separate capital grant program for nonprofits, is also offering bonus grants for grant recipients in that capital program whose green building projects are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. Grants will be awarded until program funds are expended. For further information, visit the Kresge Foundation web site.