a source for funds

1. A Source for Funds Knowing who to ask for support! Prepared by Kai Aiyetoro, LPFM Director National Federation of Community Broadcasters Knowing who to ask for funding is not as difficult as you might think, but it takes lots of time and patience to follow through with the process. Seeking city, state and federal funding; nowadays is at the push of a button. The Internet is a great place to start and if it�s not available to you, the public library has many references available.Knowing who to ask for funding is not as difficult as you might think, but it takes lots of time and patience to follow through with the process. Seeking city, state and federal funding; nowadays is at the push of a button. The Internet is a great place to start and if it�s not available to you, the public library has many references available.

2. A variety of individuals and organizations may support your community radio station. You just have to know who, how and when to ask! If your �who� are your listeners; how and when will you ask them to support the station. Will you make requests over the air during marathons? Will you develop a direct solicitation approach by phone or mail? Will you become an ever-present icon at community events with a piggy bank on your table? There are many ways to present yourself to gain community listener support. It takes commitment, creativity and lots of imagination to come up with ways to gain support from the listener beside just asking. Alternative sources to supports are through arts councils, arts and humanities programs, other federal grant opportunities, employee-giving programs, etc.A variety of individuals and organizations may support your community radio station. You just have to know who, how and when to ask! If your �who� are your listeners; how and when will you ask them to support the station. Will you make requests over the air during marathons? Will you develop a direct solicitation approach by phone or mail? Will you become an ever-present icon at community events with a piggy bank on your table? There are many ways to present yourself to gain community listener support. It takes commitment, creativity and lots of imagination to come up with ways to gain support from the listener beside just asking. Alternative sources to supports are through arts councils, arts and humanities programs, other federal grant opportunities, employee-giving programs, etc.

3. Listener Support (May be way worth its weight in gold!) Volunteerism Administrative help Programmers Membership On-air marathons (pledges) Special Events Concerts (attendee or performers) Book signings and sales (buyers) Listener support does not always mean the almighty dollar, because the bottom line is that you will take that dollar and purchase something with it; whether it be services rendered or a direct purchase. You don�t seek support to develop a nest egg. You need money to purchase whatever it is that you need to buy to keep the station running smoothly so that you can get out the information you want to share with the community. So let�s look at other ways of gaining support � administrative services, on-air duties, janitorial services, computer services, events participation, etc., etc.Listener support does not always mean the almighty dollar, because the bottom line is that you will take that dollar and purchase something with it; whether it be services rendered or a direct purchase. You don�t seek support to develop a nest egg. You need money to purchase whatever it is that you need to buy to keep the station running smoothly so that you can get out the information you want to share with the community. So let�s look at other ways of gaining support � administrative services, on-air duties, janitorial services, computer services, events participation, etc., etc.

4. Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit organizations are normally membership organizations that are great resource centers that offer training and technical assistance; cooperative buying programs; information sharing and networking; public policy advocacy; research and promoting the nonprofit sector; nonprofit employment opportunities and more. Nonprofit organizations are good resource centers for seeking possible funding, training and technical assistance, cooperative buying, information sharing and networking.Nonprofit organizations are good resource centers for seeking possible funding, training and technical assistance, cooperative buying, information sharing and networking.

5. Nonprofit Organizations Here are the nonprofit organizations for your state... Here are the nonprofit organizations for your state...

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10. Various Arts Councils High priority is given to organizations that produce and/or present the arts and to organizations that provide services to arts organizations and artists. Awards to nonprofit arts organizations to provide operating funds to strengthen their financial� base. So you didn�t realize that you were an arts organization; well you are! If you offer your listeners music or radio drama and theater via your airwaves, you are a venue offering cultural expression. There are many city, state and federal programs that address the artistic needs of the community and you may be the nonprofit organization filling that void. Funding assistance of arts programs may be an area worth researching.So you didn�t realize that you were an arts organization; well you are! If you offer your listeners music or radio drama and theater via your airwaves, you are a venue offering cultural expression. There are many city, state and federal programs that address the artistic needs of the community and you may be the nonprofit organization filling that void. Funding assistance of arts programs may be an area worth researching.

11. Examples: Cultural Arts Council of Houston/ Harris County Arts Grants Programs To ensure equitable accessibility to the arts for all residents and visitors. To provide financial assistance to support the arts community. To provide consistent funding for arts organizations of excellence. To increase the number of multicultural organizations applying for funding. To advance the administrative and organizational capacity of small, mid-sized and multicultural organizations. To allocate at least ninety-percent of general assistance program funds to the operational support of arts organizations. Here are some examples of Cultural Arts programs from various city and state arts programs.Here are some examples of Cultural Arts programs from various city and state arts programs.

12. Alaska State Council on the Arts to encourage diversified bases of support for the arts; to promote the perpetuation and recognition of Alaska Native arts; to encourage more knowledgeable artists, audiences, and public decision makers; to promote continued development of high quality works of art; to assist the development of broad-based advocacy for the arts; to ensure that arts programs and funds are distributed across Alaska. ExampleExample

13. Pennsylvania Council on the Arts The PCA has a number of funding opportunities available for: arts organizations non-arts organizations conducting an arts program units of government schools and school districts individual artists and ensemble collaborators, or other unincorporated groups. ExampleExample

14. Arts Councils Here is a listing of arts councils from each state with website information. Here is a listing of arts councils from each state with website information.

15. Arts Councils Arts councils continued. Arts councils continued.

16. Arts Councils Arts councils continued. Arts councils continued.

17. Black United Fund Black United Fund organizations in your area may work twofold for programs geared toward the Black Community: As an employee giving program Soliciting a payroll deduction plan for your particular organization As a grant provider for particular programs Offering a one-time grant to your organization for a particular project Black United Fund organizations are not available in all states, but if there is one in your state and you cater to the Black community, this may be a source of funding for your organization through employee giving programs and/or other grant opportunities.Black United Fund organizations are not available in all states, but if there is one in your state and you cater to the Black community, this may be a source of funding for your organization through employee giving programs and/or other grant opportunities.

18. Black United Fund Here is the list of BUF organizations throughout the US.Here is the list of BUF organizations throughout the US.

19. Shares Organizations Shares organizations have convinced many mainstream companies to allow their nonprofit organization members to enter into employee giving campaigns within their company. Although they do not represent all nonprofits, shares organizations normally represent smaller nonprofits organizations that are not qualified to gain representation by the United Way. Shares organizations are also employee giving programs that are mainly in the southeast region of the United States. These organizations pick up where the United Way does not offer their services to your type of organization. Shares groups usually represent alternative non profit organizations; such as gay and lesbian organizations, planned parenthood organizations, women�s organizations, noncommercial radio stations, etc. The United Way in many areas will only solicit funds through employee giving for major non profit organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, etc. The big guys of the nonprofit world. Developing a relationship with your state or city Shares group is a win-win situation because they are nonprofits also and need exposure to the community; in turn, allowing you the opportunity to solicit and receive funding regularly through payroll deduction plans.Shares organizations are also employee giving programs that are mainly in the southeast region of the United States. These organizations pick up where the United Way does not offer their services to your type of organization. Shares groups usually represent alternative non profit organizations; such as gay and lesbian organizations, planned parenthood organizations, women�s organizations, noncommercial radio stations, etc. The United Way in many areas will only solicit funds through employee giving for major non profit organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, etc. The big guys of the nonprofit world. Developing a relationship with your state or city Shares group is a win-win situation because they are nonprofits also and need exposure to the community; in turn, allowing you the opportunity to solicit and receive funding regularly through payroll deduction plans.

20. Shares Organizations Here are links to those Shares Organizations.Here are links to those Shares Organizations.

21. State Arts & Humanities Programs State Arts and Humanities programs are a great sources for funding of documentaries and cultural storytelling. Each state has an organization to assist nonprofits preserve the stories of each region.State Arts and Humanities programs are a great sources for funding of documentaries and cultural storytelling. Each state has an organization to assist nonprofits preserve the stories of each region.

22. State Arts & Humanities Programs The list continues.The list continues.

23. State Arts & Humanities Programs The list continues.The list continues.

24. State Arts & Humanities Programs The list continues.The list continues.

25. Federal Grant Opportunities Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/funding.htm Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/ National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) http://www.nea.gov/guide/ National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) http://www.neh.fed.us/grants/index.html Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grants.html Other sources: http://ocd.usda.gov/nofa.htm Other funding sources may be: CDC, PTFP, NEA, NEH, SAMHSA To gain funding from many of these organizations takes IMAGINATION! And sometimes collaborating with another nonprofit organizations.Other funding sources may be: CDC, PTFP, NEA, NEH, SAMHSA To gain funding from many of these organizations takes IMAGINATION! And sometimes collaborating with another nonprofit organizations.

26. Product Development #1 Product � Programming #2 Product � Training Radio Professionals #3 Product � Promotional Items Although your station is noncommercial, you still have products that you can sell. First of all, you programming is your number one product and must be sold to the community as a whole so that you may gain the community support it deserves. When you bring new volunteers into the station, training them to become radio professionals can be a valuable commodity. Develop a product to be sold on air and at local community events.Although your station is noncommercial, you still have products that you can sell. First of all, you programming is your number one product and must be sold to the community as a whole so that you may gain the community support it deserves. When you bring new volunteers into the station, training them to become radio professionals can be a valuable commodity. Develop a product to be sold on air and at local community events.