Category Archives: Community Safety

Mary Kay Ash Foundation Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation Domestic Violence Shelter Grant Program supports shelters in the U.S. providing a safe haven for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Applications for $20,000 are due by April 30, 2024. At least one grant will be awarded in each state from which they receive an application.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and organizations associated with Native American tribes.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used at the awardees discretion, including for staff salaries and operating expenses. The only restriction is that it can’t be used for staff travel.

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation funds the purchase of lifesaving equipment and outreach education on public safety in the United States.

Grants are awarded quarterly, but only 600 applications will be accepted each quarter. The grant portal will open in 2024 on April 4th, July 11th, and October 10th at 10 AM ET. Awards are typically $15,000 – $35,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Fire departments
Law enforcement agencies
Emergency Medical Services
Municipal and state governments
Public safety organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Schools

Resources are focused in areas within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant. However, the Foundation recognizes the needs of rural organizations and will accept applications from outside that radius.

Focus Areas

Lifesaving Equipment

Funds the purchase of equipment such as:

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
Bunker gear
Bulletproof vests
All-terrain vehicles
Fire hoses

Prevention Education

Funds the purchase of prevention education tools such as:

Fire extinguisher training systems
Educational materials focused on distracted driving, carbon monoxide poisoning, CPR training, etc.

Scholarships and Continued Education

Financial assistance for individuals pursuing a career in public safety.

Disaster Relief

Funds assistance for survivors and first responders during and after a natural disaster.

Support for Members of the Military

Support for individuals who have served in any branch of the U.S. military.

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may be not be used for:

Dashboard cameras
Drones and drone accessories
Use of force equipment such as guns, tasers, and riot gear
Radar detectors
Surveillance equipment
Promotional items

Walmart Spark Good Local Grants

The Walmart Foundation supports projects in the communities where they operate through their Spark Good Local Grants. This program allows them to meet the unique needs of each community.

Applications for $250 – $5,000 are accepted and reviewed by store management on a quarterly basis. In 2024, open submission periods are:

Quarter 1: March 1 – April 15
Quarter 2: May 1 – July 15
Quarter 3: August 1 – October 15
Quarter 4: November 1 – December 31

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofits
City, county, or state government entities
K-12 public, nonprofit private, or charter schools
Community or junior colleges
State or private colleges and universities
Churches or religious organizations

Eligible applicants must also:

Operate on the local level
Directly benefit the service area of the store to which they are applying
Be verified through Deed

Space Tool

This tool allows organizations to request space outside their local Walmart for fundraisers and community awareness campaigns. Requests must be submitted at least 21 days prior to the proposed date and cannot be for more than 8 consecutive hours on 3 days.

For-profit businesses are not eligible, but non-501(c)3 nonprofits are.

Healthy Homes Production Grant Program

The Healthy Homes Production Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds projects addressing childhood diseases and injuries due to housing-related health and safety hazards.

HUD expects to make approximately 20 awards. The maximum request is $2 million and the minimum is $1 million over a 42 month project period. Applications are due through Grants.gov by November 7, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

State governments
Local governments
Federally recognized Tribal governments
501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, except institutions of higher education

All housing units assisted with grant funds must have residents with income at or below 80% of the area median income level or at income levels defined in the income guidelines.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be spent on:

Administrative costs – up to 10% of project total

https://www.cdc.gov/radon/radon-test.html

Healthy Homes Direct Costs – at least 65% of project funds must be spent on activities such as:

Sampling and testing for allergens, carbon monoxide, radon and/or other housing-related health and safety hazards
Temporary relocation of residents while their home is being remediated
Soft costs like staff expenses for reviewing applications, preparing documents, and arranging temporary relocation

Purchasing/Leasing equipment with a per unit cost under $5,000

Providing resources such as training courses for contractors and other housing professionals and subsidies for low-income individuals to become certified

Conducting outreach and marketing to promote participation

Evaluation of remediation effectiveness

Program Objectives

Photo by Monica Silvestre: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-broom-and-white-plastic-bucket-3562689/

Program participants will be expected to:

Increase the number of vulnerable residents and houses protected from housing-related environmental health and safety hazards
Promote effective and affordable healthy homes methods
Build local capacity to continue to address housing-related environmental health and safety hazards in low- and very low-income residences
Promote collaboration, data sharing, and targeting between health and housing departments

Leveraged Funds

All applicants will be expected to leverage additional funds of at least 10% of the total program cost. Potential sources include:

State or local funds
Private donations
Costs covered by the homeowner
Discounts on products and services
In-kind contributions

TJX U.S. Foundation

TJX is the parent company of U.S. retailers T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra, Home Goods, and Home Sense. Their U.S. Foundation supports projects that help children and families build a better future.

Letters of Inquiry may be submitted at any time to express interest in funding. Full applications are by invitation only.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations that:

Have been a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit for at least 1 year
Provide services within 15 miles of a TJX store, distribution center, or office
Have not received funding from TJX in the past year

Program Areas

Basic needs – food, clothing, and shelter
School success programs – opportunities for at-risk, pre-K through 12th grade youth to access programs
Workforce readiness training – for at-risk youth ages 16-24
Safety from domestic violence – shelter, prevention, and services

Ineligible Expenses

The TJX U.S. Foundation does not fund:

General operating funds
Capital campaigns
Salaries
Scholarships
Sponsorships

National Council on Problem Gambling Agility Grants

Agility Grants from the National Council on Problem Gambling provides support for problem gambling prevention programs. Grants are separated in two pillars – Prevention Innovation and Prevention Amplification

Awards are typically $20,000 – $40,000 for projects that will take place January 1 – December 31, 2024. Applications are due by August 22, 2023 and grantees will be announced in October.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations located and working in the United States.

Membership in the National Council on Problem Gambling is not requried.

Pillars

Prevention Innovation

Prevention Innovation focuses on developing inventive new prevention programming, expanding established programs that have shown positive results, and conducting research to support those programs.

Prevention Amplification

Prevention Amplification focuses on finding and supporting new leaders and partnerships in the field of gambling prevention. Strenghtening the voices of youth and people of color is a priority.

Target Audience

Programs supported by an Agility Grant should concentrate on one or more of the following audiences.

Middle school students
High school and college athletes
Marginalized communities, particularly communities of color

The target audience is also separated into primary and secondary levels.

Primary level – individuals who have never gambled
Secondary level – individuals who have limited experience with gambling

More Information

Office hours will be available by appointment August 1-21. Register for your 30 minute consultation.

Supporting Communities to Reduce Lead Poisoning

Supporting Communities to Reduce Lead Poisoning is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program to help American families address the potential for lead poisoning in their homes. Children in particular are susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning which can lead to developmental problems.

The CDC anticipates awarding ten grants of up to $200,000 per year for three years for projects that educate and provide resources on the dangers of lead exposure. There is no matching requirement, but grantees are encouraged to leverage additional resources. Applications are due through Grants.gov by July 31, 2023.

Eligibility

Applicant Type

This grant is open to:

State, local, and special district governments
Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
School districts
Public colleges and universities
Public and Native American housing authorities
Nonprofits with or without a 501(c)3 status
Other Native American organizations

Applicants Conditions

Applicants must also:

Be physically located in the target community
Have received less than $2 million per year in federal funds for the past five years
Have a proven record of success working with underserved communities

Project Focus

Projects must focus on:

Children under the age of six, particularly those under three
Children at high risk of lead exposure and poisoning

Factors to consider when assessing which children are at higher risk include:

Their housing situation. Houses built before 1978 and some low-income and subsidized housing are at greater risk.
The presence of hazardous waste sites or industrial lead emissions in the community
Eligibility for Medicaid or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children

Project Strategies

Projects must use one or more of these strategies or create their own.

Strategy A: Activate the Community

Under this strategy, community members and stakeholders collaborate to address the cause of lead exposure, educate the public, and make resources more accessible.

Strategy B: Improve Access to Services

Under this strategy, awareness of and access to existing programs is increased. This is done through promoting these programs and making referrals.

Strategy C: Educate the Community

Under this strategy, community knowledge of the issue is increased through workshops, communication, and train-the-trainer programs.

Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program

The Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency invests in regional disaster preparedness as part of the National Preparedness System.

The strategic priorities of the program are Equity, Climate Resilience, Readiness, and Housing with priority given to projects that address the needs of disadvantaged communities. FEMA expects to award 5-10 grants of up to $3 million over a 36 month performance period. No cost match is required. Applications are due through Grants.gov by July 24, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

States and territories of the United States in which at least one of the 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) is located
Local governments that are either the principal city of or located within one of the 100 most populous MSAs. The applicant may either be the principal city or another local government in the MSA.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be spent on:

Management and administrative costs (Up to 5% of total award)
Indirect costs
Additional personnel or overtime pay
Planning
Organization
Training
Materials or supplies
Rental of space/locations for conferences, meetings, workshops, and webinars
Domestic travel

Grant funds may not be spent on:

Public safety personnel
Equipment
Construction and renovation
Maintenance and sustainment
International travel

Goals

Goal 1 – Promote and instill equity as a foundation of emergency management

Goal 2 – Lead whole of community in climate resilience

Goal 3 – Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation

Core Capabilities

Housing

“Implement housing solutions that effectively support the needs of the whole
community and contribute to its sustainability and resilience.”

Objectives

Establish a resilient and sustainable housing market that meets the needs of the community, including the need for accessible housing
Assess preliminary housing impacts and needs, identify currently available options for temporary housing, and plan for permanent housing.
Ensure community housing recovery plans continue to address interim housing needs, assess options for permanent housing, and define a timeline for achieving a resilient, accessible, and sustainable housing market.

Community Resilience

“Enable the recognition, understanding, communication of, and planning for risk and
empower individuals and communities to make informed risk management decisions
necessary to adapt to, withstand, and quickly recover from future incidents.”

Objectives

Maximize the coverage of the U.S. population that has a localized, risk-informed mitigation plan developed through partnerships across the entire community.
Empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions to facilitate actions necessary to adapt to, withstand, and quickly recover from future incidents.

Long-Term Vulnerability Reduction

“Build and sustain resilient systems, communities, and critical infrastructure and key
resources lifelines so as to reduce their vulnerability to natural, technological, and
human-caused threats and hazards by lessening the likelihood, severity, and duration
of the adverse consequences.”

Objective

Achieve a measurable decrease in the long-term vulnerability of the Nation against current baselines amid a growing population base, changing climate conditions, increasing reliance upon information technology, and expanding infrastructure base.

Evaluation

Applications will receive higher scores for clearly outlining:

The disadvantaged communities who will be involved with the project and the factors that make them vulnerable
How members of those communities will participate in the project
Anticipated impact of the project, measured in qualitative and quantitative terms
How the proposed project will advance the goal of equity in regional emergency management

Additional points will also be awarded for:

Letters of support or other written confirmation of coordination with disadvantaged communities prior to submission
A list of the census tract numbers associated with each disadvantaged community
Demonstrate use of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) and other appropriate analytical tools to identify specific risks and vulnerabilities

Up to 30 bonus points may awarded for:

Providing educational materials for training on identification of emerging risks due to climate change
Providing educational materials for training on integration of climate change data into local planning, including hazard mitigation and emergency management
Planning for and developing research-supported, proactive investments in community resilience
Benefiting a larger number of disadvantaged communities
Benefiting multiple states or more than one of the top 100 most-populous MSAs
Submission by a new or previously unsuccessful applicant.

Community-Based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes Program

The Community-Based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes Program from the Bureau of Justice Assistance awards funding to stop hate or bias-motivated crimes. This program is intended to address the increase in and chronic under-reporting of such crimes in the United States.

Applications are being accepted in two categories: Community-Based Organizations and National Civil Rights Organizations. Part 1 of the application must be completed on Grants.Gov by May 17, 2023 at 8:59 PM ET. Part 2 is due at JustGrants by May 24, 2023 at 8:59 PM ET. There is no match required for this program.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Non-profit organizations with or without a 501(c)3 designation
Private, public, and state-controlled institutions of higher education
Native American tribal organizations

Applicants are also expected to work with stakeholders to develop materials and strategies to be used. This can include relevant offices of the federal government.

Applicant Categories

Community-Based Organizations

This category is intended for local organizations working to prevent hate crimes and promote healing after they occur. Strategies should be targeted to their specific community’s culture and needs.

Twelve awards of $400,000 will be awarded for a performance period of 36 months.

National Civil Rights Organizations

This category is intended for national level organizations that support community efforts with strategies and materials they can adapt to their local needs.

Three awards of $1,000,000 will be awarded for a performance period of 36 months.

Program Deliverables

Community-Based Organizations

Establish or strengthen a task force with regular meetings to identify present service gaps.
Create an action plan within the first 6 months of the grant period. This plan should be developed in coordination with the BJA and outline specific strategies to be used to address hate crimes.
Develop educational programs, outreach materials, and awareness campaigns.
Engage in outreach activities in impacted communities.
Document efforts to share lessons learned through this project.

National Civil Rights Organizations

Perform an assessment of available resources, best practices and resource gaps for local organizations.
Create strategies and resources that can be used by community-based efforts to address and prevent hate crimes.
Develop a plan to disseminate the materials created.
Establish or strengthen a relationship with at least two communities where the materials will be used.
Make materials broadly accessible to communities in the United States and promote their availability.

Review Criteria

All applications will be assessed based on:

Description of the issue (25%)
Project design including goals, objectives, timeline, etc. (30%)
Applicant’s capacity to successfully carry out the project (30%)
Data collection plan (5%)
Budget completeness and cost effectiveness (10%)

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who are culturally specific organizations (CSOs). CSOs are defined as organizations whose primary purpose is to provide culturally specific services to a racial or ethnic group. To receive priority consideration, applicants must be able to demonstrate how being a CSO increases their ability to carry out their proposed project and who specifically they expect to benefit.