[nfbmi-talk] Imaginat9ion Fund Grants: Purpose

[Fred Wurtzel]

Hello,

 

I received a memo from our national office, today.  A lot of the memo dealt
with the Imagination Fund fundraising project.  Regarding the grants to
affiliates, here is an excerpt.  It appears that we are encouraged to be
"imaginative" if you will excuse my play on words.  Let's think big and
inclusively to provide more opportunities for blind adults and children in
Michigan.

 

Purpose:  

 

        Twenty-five percent of funds raised during each year's campaign will
be used to provide grants for new and innovative projects designed to fill a
particular need in your affiliate or division.  Funds might be used for a
project implemented locally or to cover travel expenses for members of your
affiliate or division to attend programs, seminars, or other activities held
at the Jernigan Institute.  You are encouraged to design innovative projects
that will further our mission by building the affiliate or division,
reaching out to blind people and their families, educating the general
public about the capabilities of the blind, developing members into
significant leaders of our movement, and/or anything that is needed in your
affiliate.  

 

Examples of Grants Awarded from Previous Campaigns (grant totals ranged from
$1,000 to $5,000):  

 

*       Assistance for families to attend National Convention and the annual
Washington Seminar

*       Partial financial support for a science camp modeled after the
Jernigan Institute's Science Academy

*       Enhancement of ThruOurEyes.org, an Internet radio program and Web
site which provides a public forum for discussions on blindness

*       Seminars for parents, educators, counselors, and O&M specialists to
help blind/visually impaired students reach their potential

*       Peer mentoring, tutoring, and outreach to older individuals losing
vision

*       Senior Possibilities Fairs

*       State Leadership Seminars

*       Transition Fairs for high school students

*       Travel to all corners of a state to recruit new members

*       Promotion of the Braille Readers Are Leaders Reading Program

 

NFB Jernigan Institute Programs:  

 

        In addition to grants designed to assist an affiliate/division in
developing and conducting an innovative program that has not been attempted
in the past due to a lack of funding, affiliates/divisions can submit
proposals to send individuals or groups of individuals to the NFB Jernigan
Institute for a variety of learning experiences (in this case grant funds
would be used to support travel costs to bring members to Baltimore).
Alternately, grant funds might be used to pay the expenses for experts on
the NFB Jernigan Institute staff or affiliated consultants to present a
workshop/seminar at a state convention.  In both cases, the time of the
proposed activity depends on availability of staff and facilities.  If you
wish to write a proposal that connects to the programs of the NFB Jernigan
Institute or the use of facilities at the National Center for the Blind,
please contact Mark Riccobono, Executive Director for the NFB Jernigan
Institute, at (410) 659-9314, extension 2368, or via e-mail at
mriccobono at nfb.org.  He will assist you in connecting with the appropriate
individual who can guide the development of your proposal.  

 

 

I will share further information as I get it.

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Fred