May 2009

Upcoming Meyer Deadline

The deadline for submitting a letter of inquiry for the upcoming grants cycle is Friday, June 5, 2009. Visit the Meyer Foundation website for eligibility and application guidelines.

Important Changes: Funding Eligibility and MAP Deadline

In an effort to be more responsive to grantees facing immediate management challenges, Meyer is now accepting letters of inquiry for the Management Assistance Program on a rolling basis. For information about the MAP application process, please visit the Meyer Foundation website.

The Meyer Foundation's board of directors has approved a change to the geographic boundaries of the Foundation's grantmaking. Effective June 1, 2009, organization's located in and primarily serving Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties in Maryland and Stafford and Loudoun counties in Virginia are no longer eligible to apply for funding. Please visit the Meyer Foundation website for more information and to view the complete list of eligibility guidelines.

E.D. Express Button

Meyer's website now has an E.D. Express button. This button allows executive directors to send in their comments and suggestions about creative ways we can help nonprofit leaders through these tough economic times. Please visit the Meyer Foundation website and click on the E.D. Express button for more information.

Grantees in the News

First Lady Volunteers at Food Bank

First Lady Michelle Obama with Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, volunteered at the Capital Area Food Bank to celebrate President Obama's 100th day in office. The Washington Post highlighted the visit. Learn more.

Legal Counsel for the Elderly Featured in Washington Post

The Washington Post featured the Legal Counsel for the Elderly for their free legal help to needy homebound seniors in Washington, DC. Learn more.

Meyer Grantees Mentioned in Post Story on Legal Aid to the Homeless

Local lawyers have donated money to help the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless in their efforts to provide aid to homeless. The Washington Post features the clinic and also mentions Miriam's Kitchen in a story on the efforts. Learn more.

Funding Opportunities

Monday, May 18, 2009

Safety Net Services

Community Foundation for the National Capital Region

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to nonprofit direct service organizations to help low-income adults and children meet basic needs. Learn more.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Technology Innovation Awards

NPower Greater DC Region

Awards will go to nonprofits whose innovative use of technology enables them to more effectively fulfill their missions. Winners will receive an NPower Technology Assessment, free Microsoft software, and more. Learn more.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Assets for Independence Program

US Department of Health and Human Services

Awards of up to $300,000 are available to fund programs that provide low-income individuals and families with tools needed for long-term economic success. Learn more.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Funding for Housing and Community Facilities

DC's Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development

Up to $5,000,000 in pre-development grants are available for a range of housing and community facility projects in targeted neighborhoods in DC. Learn more.

Economic Crisis Resources

For a list of resources to keep you informed and to help you cope with the economic downturn, visit our regularly updated Economic Crisis Resource Center.

Meyer Foundation Celebrates Five Leaders Who Give it All

From left: Awardees Steve Galen, Mary Brown, Meyer President and CEO Julie Rogers, Host Kojo Nnamdi, Anne Corbett, Veronica Nolan, and Julie Chapman on stage at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre.

Nonprofit directors Mary Brown, Julie Chapman, Anne Corbett, Steve Galen, and Veronica Nolan took center stage Monday, April 27, at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre in northwest Washington, DC, to receive the Meyer Foundation's 2008 Exponent Awards. Hosted by WAMU 88.5 FM's Kojo Nnamdi and attended by invited guests from across the business, civic, and nonprofit communities, the event celebrated regional nonprofit leaders for their dedicated service.

The Exponent Awards ceremony began with introductions by Meyer Foundation Board Chair Edward Bersoff, Ph.D, and President and CEO Julie Rogers. Julie Rogers announced the continuation of the award into 2009. Actors Donna Migliaccio and Felicia Curry entertained guests with an uplifiting musical skit of inspired nonprofit leadership, directed by Michael Russoto.

Brown, Chapman, Corbett, Galen, and Nolan addressed the audience about their work in the community through Life Pieces to Masterpieces, NPower Greater DC Region, Cultural Development Corporation, Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, and Urban Alliance Foundation. Each spoke of the importance of nonprofits to the community in today's economic climate. The awards ceremony concluded with additional remarks from Rogers on the importance of supporting the sector's leaders through programs like the Exponent Award. A special reception celebrating the five honorees concluded the evening.

Highlights and images from the 2008 Exponent Awards event are available at http://www.meyerfoundation.org/.

VISIT THE MEYER FOUNDATION'S 2008 EXPONENT AWARDS IMAGE GALLERY>>

Learning Opportunities

Friday, May 8, 2009

Proposal Writing Basics

Foundation Center

This free course will teach new proposal writers and fundraisers the key components of a foundation proposal. Learn more.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Termination: The Unintended Consequence of Hiring

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

Terminating an employee for disciplinary reasons can be disruptive to organizations. This session will go over 10 rules that you should follow to ensure a smooth termination process. Learn more.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

How to Approach a Foundation: From Initial Contact to Getting Funded

Foundation Center

This free class will teach you how to initiate contact with potential funders, plan calls and meetings, build partnerships with donors, and more. Learn more.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Retaining Talent in a Struggling Economy

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

During these tough economic times there is a risk of losing key employees. This course will go over techniques for keeping your staff content during the struggling economy. Learn more.

Links for Nonprofits

How to Increase Office Productivity Using Free Software

TWS Consulting and Grantstation.com have partnered in writing an eight-part series on how organizations can increase office productivity by moving from expensive desktop office software to Google's free online tools suite. Learn more.

Counseling for Nonprofits

The Enhanced Business Information Center, a product of the DC government, the US Small Business Administration, the DC Public Library, and private sponsors, provides technology and business counseling and trainings for small businesses, including nonprofits. Learn more.