The Cornell Douglas Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation established in 2006 Its mission is to provide small grants to organizations which promote the vision of the foundation: advocating for environmental health and justice, encouraging stewardship of the environment, and furthering respect for sustainability of resources.There are few more challenging and difficult tasks than fundraising, especially in this climate of shrinking budgets. No foundation is alike, and family foundations are unique, but I hope that these suggestions might help in crafting a more successful proposal to the Cornell Douglas Foundation. Working for a small foundation, I know that the vast majority of proposals have been sent after a great deal of labor, and with a large amount of hope. Few proposals are easy to dismiss, and those which are declined are usually from worthy organizations whose mission might be too similar to others, or might fall outside our funding areas. The Board always has enormous respect for the ideas, energy, and vision of all organizations.Areas of Interest

• Environmental Health & Justice
• Land Conservation
• Sustainability of Resources 
• Mountaintop Removal Mining
• Watershed Protection
• Financial Literacy for Elementary and High School Students (This grant is considered only for established programs and not new initiatives)

Note: UPS does not accept or respond to unsolicited grant proposals. Nonprofit funding is determined in one of two ways: The UPS Foundation solicits grant proposals from preeminent organizations within our focus areas or through a recommendation made by a UPS employee who is actively volunteering with the agency. The best way for your organization to be considered for funding by UPS is to engage UPS volunteers and then ask them to log their volunteer hours in the Neighbor-to-Neighbor tracking system. Any hours logged are open for funding opportunities by our local offices.

The Logistics of Caring

UPS founder Jim Casey established The UPS Foundation in 1951 with a mission to help build stronger, safer and more resilient communities around the world. And that's exactly what we've been doing for more than 60 years now.

To us, giving means more than writing a check. It means combining employees' skill, passion and time with our logistics expertise, transportation assets and charitable donations to make a measurable difference in society. In 2016, we invested nearly 2.7 million volunteer hours and more than $116 million dollars into our global communities. 

As our communities continue to grow and evolve, so do we. The Foundation's current philanthropic approach focuses on four areas that represent the purpose of our mission and reflect UPS's corporate values and expertise.

Focusing Our Efforts

Diversity & Inclusion

UPS’s longstanding policies and inclusive culture make it one of the most diverse companies in the world. We know an internal focus isn’t enough, and so The UPS Foundation also supports community efforts to provide diverse populations with advancement opportunities.

Volunteerism 

UPS employees are passionate about making the world a better place, which is why they volunteered more than 2.7 million hours in local communities with their favorite nonprofit organizations last year. The UPS Foundation provides those organizations with the operational expertise, leadership development and technology enhancements they need to tackle today's societal challenges.

Community Safety 

UPS aims to make the world a safer place by using our company's logistics expertise and training to teach safety practices in the local and global communities we serve. The UPS Foundation supports these efforts by creating and funding programs focused on road safety and humanitarian relief and resilience. In 2016, The UPS Foundation donated $13 million in financial and in-kind contributions to organizations that embody community safety.

Environmental Sustainability 

Every day, UPS delivers nearly 17 million packages by air, land and sea. We’re constantly operating within the environment, so it’s important that we do our part to preserve and protect it, long-term.

To do so, The UPS Foundation provides financial and employee volunteer support to environmental programs with a focus on reforestation and conservation, carbon reduction efforts and environmental research/education.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

What's the Purpose Here?We're always in search of ways to partner with great people doing great things. In order for us to better evaluate how we can work together, we need more information from you.

Preservation

Historic Preservation

We believe in preserving our history so that we can understand and educate the importance of community. Historic places affect our identity and have a direct impact on our well-being. 

Wildlife Conservation

We believe it's our duty to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. We envision a world where everyone works in harmony to protect what is important so that all life on this planet can thrive. 

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy provides essential resources to communities without the planet-warming effects of fossil fuels. Solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal power are all great examples of renewable energy sources. We're looking for teams that are expanding the reach of these critical resources so that we can stave off rising global temperatures.

Food Management

Food management activities, including producing food, transporting it, and storing wasted food in landfills, produce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. What is your team doing to help solve these problems?

Transportation

Burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation account for about 29 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor to U.S. greenhouse emissions. How are you changing the transportation industry?

Waste Management

Today, products are disposed of at very high rates, and each is quickly replaced by new ones. This cycle leads to the use of more fossil fuels that are needed to power the processes required to obtain raw materials to manufacture more of these items. All of this leads to growing waste sites that contaminate our water, pollute our environment, and kill wildlife. Can you think of a better way? 

Education

Early Childhood Education

We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:

• Life Skills
• Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers
• Having Fun
• Montessori Teachings
• Project Based Teachings
• Diversity
• More Time Outside
• Less Screen Time

21st-Century Education

We are looking for schools that teach students the essential 21st-century skills needed for the future:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
• Agility and adaptability
• Effective oral and written communication
• Initiative and entrepreneurship
• Ability to access and analyze information
• Curiosity and imagination

Teachers

Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.

Wellness

Mental Wellness

We are looking for teams that are helping those who struggle with mental health issues such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bi-Polar
• Schizophrenia
• PTSD

Digital Wellbeing

We are actively looking for teams that are educating and creating awareness to promote a more balanced technological lifestyle around the world. 

Get Outside

Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

Purpose and Scope

• The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Challenge Cost Share program is intended to support specific National Park Service mission-related projects that align with the goals of project partners.
• Challenge Cost Share projects must support one or more of the following funding themes:
  • Addressing the Climate Crisis
    • Projects that address the climate crisis and build resiliency to a changing climate.
    • Projects could include developing green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and/or creating sustainable energy sources.
  • Conservation Projects (Lands and Waters)
    • Projects that increase the acres of protected or restored lands and waters.
  • Advancing Equity for Youth from Underserved Communities
    • Projects that increase equitable access to parks for youth and young adults from underserved communities.
  • Outdoor Recreation
    • Projects that increase public access to new and restored outdoor recreation opportunities.
• Projects that benefit NPS administered National Parks, National Trails and Wild and Scenic Rivers.
• National Park Service staff will work with project partners to achieve these mutually beneficial outcomes.
• This partnership challenge seeks to reward proposals that have the best prospects to build enduring benefits and develop new partnerships.

Funding and Match

• If a project is selected, the partner organization will enter into agreement to receive and manage the project funds consistent with the project’s application, purpose and budget.
• The partner organization is required to match the amount of the Challenge Cost Share program funding received with an equal share from the partner(s); any combination of dollars and in-kind services can be counted toward the partner's cost share requirement, as long as their match comes from non-federal sources.
• The maximum Challenge Cost Share program support is $25,000 per project.
• The Challenge Cost Share program is ONPS funds and must be used for the purpose and benefit of the NPS administered unit.
• Challenge Cost Share program funding cannot be used to pay for NPS staff salaries or travel.

Program Focus

The National Forest Foundation (NFF) Matching Awards Program (MAP) provides funding for results-oriented on-the-ground projects that enhance forest health and outdoor experiences on National Forests and Grasslands.

On-the-ground Projects

MAP supports the implementation of on-the-ground conservation and restoration projects that have an immediate, quantifiable impact on the National Forest System. These projects provide a lasting impact to the lands, waters, and wildlife of the National Forest System through the alteration of the physical environment.

Program Areas

The current NFF strategic plan focuses on the Program Areas of Outdoor Experiences and Forest Health. Organizations may self-select into one of the Program Areas defined below, or choose to submit a proposal that cohesively integrates the two Program Areas. Projects that strongly integrate the program areas are highly encouraged. The NFF does not have funding targets for the Program Areas, and strongly encourages applicants to integrate the programs areas cohesively in their proposals.

Outdoor Experiences

The NFF supports results-oriented, on-the-ground, projects that improve the quality, condition, and care of Outdoor Experiences on National Forests by:

• Improving, or maintaining recreation resource connectivity including, and similar to: trail maintenance, bridge and crossing construction or repair, and installation of trail drainage structures; and/or
• Engaging youth, volunteers, or diverse, underserved or under-engaged populations in hands-on stewardship activities; and/or
• Employing youth and/or veterans crews to implement on-the-ground conservation, stewardship and/or restoration work.

Projects should generate tangible conservation outcomes or enhance high quality recreational experiences for the users of the National Forest System. 

Forest Health

The NFF supports results-oriented, on-the-ground, citizen-involved projects that maintain and/or restore ecosystem resiliency on National Forests by:

• Promoting forest structural complexity, function and diversity over time; and/or
• Promoting forest health through the removal or control of non-native invasive species, and/or reintroduction of native plants and trees.

Projects should be consistent with or supportive of identified large-scale conservation initiatives. The NFF will only consider monitoring projects focused on determining the long-term effectiveness of previous NFF-funded on-the-ground work.

Integrated Projects

The NFF encourages projects that cohesively integrate Outdoor Experiences and Forest Health program areas. Ideal projects will have a strong connection to each of the individual program areas, and effectively integrate both in a clear, direct manner.

Examples of integrated projects include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Engaging community volunteers to complete riparian plantings as part of a watershed-scale restoration project;
• Utilizing youth crews from underserved communities to complete habitat stewardship work and forest stand treatments. 

The most compelling projects will strongly integrate the Outdoor Experiences and Forest Health program areas, and will receive a weighted advantage in evaluation. A project will not be eligible for full weighted advantage if it does not cohesively integrate the two program areas, or only does so nominally. 

Civic Engagement & Community Involvement

In addition to focusing on the above Program Areas, MAP requires projects show a strong commitment to civic engagement and community involvement through direct public involvement. In order to be eligible for MAP funding, projects must contain significant, legitimate community involvement or civic engagement in the pre-implementation, implementation, or post-implementation phase. Typically, this involves the use of volunteers in project implementation, or the implementation of projects selected as an outcome of a formal collaborative-planning process. Note that the community engagement portion of the project does not necessarily have to occur in the portion of the project receiving MAP funding, although the project narrative must clearly describe the community engagement component. The standard public involvement component of the NEPA process is insufficient to meet this requirement.

Education, Interpretation, Inventory, and Monitoring Projects

Education, interpretation, inventory, and monitoring are not priorities for the use of MAP funds. 

• Education and interpretation may only receive consideration as minor components of otherwise well-aligned larger projects.
• Projects with inventory or monitoring components may only receive consideration if those components focus on determining the long-term effectiveness of previous NFF funded on-the-ground work. 

The NFF encourages applicants to use funding from other sources (including project match) for any portion of a project focused on education, interpretation, inventory, or monitoring.

NOTE: If the proposal meets the stated guidelines and priorities of the Foundation & Memorial Trust, Grant Application instructions will be sent to the applicant.

About The Memorial Trust

In 1975, two years after his death, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust was established in New York. The four original trustees were a member of the Snow family, a lawyer, a publishing associate and a corporate trustee, the Irving Trust Company, now BNY Mellow N.A.. The current Trustees continue this legacy being well aware of the donor and his beliefs, values and ideals. The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas. They meet once a year, usually in June.

The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust

The Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas (prioritized below and visually depicted here) while responding to the ever-changing needs of various segments of the population, especially to the needs of youth and people who are disadvantaged economically, emotionally, or physically.

Dating back to the inception of the Trust in 1973, the primary and overarching grant making priority has been and continues to be programs that focus on education.

• Education: This program area targets funds to organizations that provide educational opportunities or academic assistance to individuals who demonstrate an intellectual aptitude and a financial need. Examples include scholarships, fellowships, academic tutoring or counseling, literacy, and journalism.

Secondarily, the Trust considers proposals within the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Initiatives, and Youth Programs. The Trustee’s objective is to extend the primary educational focus by providing funding support within these additional program areas.

• Arts and Culture: This program offers grants that promote arts education and appreciation, particularly for young adults, via the development of educational curriculum and professional instruction including visiting artists and performance support for targeted populations.
• Community Initiatives: This program provides funding for programs or services that directly improve the quality of life within the geographic focus areas that we serve. Examples include support for libraries, food pantries and shelters, and neighborhood revitalization. Generally, the Trust does not seek proposals for health care initiatives or animal welfare programs.
• Youth Programs: This program area offers grants that provide character education or enrichment opportunities via mentoring or after-school programming. 

As a third priority, the Trust does consider proposals in the areas of Disabilities and Universal Access, Environmental, and Historic Preservation. As these are not core focus areas, funding is often limited. Priority will be given to proposals with an educational focus.

• Disabilities and Universal Access: This program offers grants to organizations in complying with ADA requirements within their facilities (e.g. elevator, handrails, automatic doors, and ramps) or offering services targeted for individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
• Environmental: This program provides funds for organizations that strive to protect strategic parcels of land and bodies of water as well as programs that educate the general public on key environmental issues such as conservation and water management.
• Historic Preservation: This program provides funding for organizations that preserve historical artifacts (e.g. sites, structures, objects) and accounts (e.g. events), and educate the greater community on their significance. Examples include museums, historical societies and educational programming.

Our Mission

to protect and support what is underserved: children, animals, women, and the environment.

Our Vision

JEM is dedicated to improving the welfare of children and women, along with preserving wildlife and the planet. We aim to empower organizations in these areas through charitable giving. The JEM Project seeks to inspire global conservation through impact funding of sustainability efforts, land purchase, ocean health programs, and environmental research. 

Our Core Goal

The JEM Project works with nonprofits, researchers, and innovators to create lasting solutions for children, animals, women’s empowerment, and environmental conservation. JEM aims to inspire communities to protect these underserved entities for our common future. 

The JEM Project is a grant making foundation, supporting registered nonprofit 501c3 organizations within four focus areas of philanthropic funding: 

Advance child welfare

through access to education, healthcare, family support, food programs 

Promote animal welfare

through rescue organizations, rehabilitation programs, educational outreach

Empower women

in their communities through local programs, loan accessibility, entrepreneurship mentoring, impact funding

Instigate environmental sustainability

through directed funds, conservation activities, research, technology

Background

Established in 1990, the Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation provides grants to organizations that support guide dogs to assist the visually impaired and other assistance animals that aid people with physical disabilities. We also provide grants to organizations that conserve wildlife, especially threatened or endangered species and their habitats. 

Funding Priorities

We desire that the Foundation be a catalyst for change and therefore prefer to fund projects that will assist an organization in a long-term change. 

For funding in the area of handicap assistance animals:

• Our highest priority is dogs that assist the visually impaired, followed by dogs or other animals individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a physical disability.

For funding in the area of nature conservancy:

• Our highest priority is for direct conservation (e.g., preservation or restoration of natural land, animal conservation or preservation) and science-based conservation activities (i.e., research designed to lead to better land and wildlife management).
• We give higher priority to applications focused on critical habitat or environments or on threatened or endangered species.

National Environment

Program goals: to mitigate climate change; make communities more resilient to climate change; protect public health from the hazards of toxic chemicals and pollutants; and preserve biological diversity.

Grants are made to promote more environmentally sustainable, resilient, and just communities that:

• Mitigate climate change by:
• promoting energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy for buildings;
• shifting to electric or low-emission vehicles and greater use of mass transit;
• promoting a smarter, more resilient grid and distributed (on site) generation;
• reducing emissions from existing fossil fuel-powered facilities and extraction activities; and
• establishing regional programs, performance standards, and regulations that help reduce emissions.
• Make communities, especially the most disadvantaged, more resilient to a changing climate by:
• creating infrastructure that reduces storm-water run-off and absorbs storm surges;
• protecting shoreline communities by conserving or enhancing natural barriers;
• encouraging more sustainable building design and land use through policy reforms; and
• better planning and preparation for weather-related emergencies, especially for low-income and other vulnerable residents.
• Protect public health from the hazards of toxic pollutants by:
• supporting targeted scientific research that can be used to develop policy;
• promoting safer chemical and heavy metal policies and practices, especially for infants, children and other vulnerable people;
• eliminating toxic chemicals from products through market campaigns focused on retailers and manufacturers;
• enhancing protections for low-income communities near polluting facilities; and
• minimizing the hazards of new and expanded fossil fuel extraction on nearby communities.
• Preserve biological diversity through habitat conservation by:
• establishing, enhancing, and monitoring wildlife migration corridors; and
• supporting functional connectivity between fragmented habitat that enables species to move and live safely.

We encourage initiatives that cut across these program areas, especially those focused on smart growth, sustainable agriculture and regional food systems, and sustainable production.

International Environment

Each year, we make only two or three international grants to U.S. organizations that are building the capacity of government, academic institutions, private sector entities, and nonprofits to:

• Protect biodiversity;
• Improve environmental health; and
• Reduce greenhouse gases around the world.