News

1. Paddle Georgia 2008 Registration Open – Flint River

2. Legislative Update

3. River Jobs, Internships and Fellowships

4. May is American Wetlands Month

5. Protect Fresh Water Turtles

6. Small tax-exempt Organizations Must File IRS E-Postcard

Group Spotlight

7. Upper Tallapoosa Watershed Group

Workshops/Conferences/Calendar Items

8. Georgia Climate Summit – Georgia Tech

9. GRN Friend of Earth Fare Cookout - Athens

10. GRN Workshop on How to Make a Rain Barrel - Athens

11. DNR Board Meetings – Atlanta

12. American Rivers River Action Day – Washington DC

13. Stormwater Systems Litter Trap Event – Helen

14. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Events – Atlanta

15. Chattahoochee Riverwatch Film Festival – Columbus

16. Satilla Riverkeeper Gala - Raybon

17. River Network (National) River Rally – Ohio

18. Southeast Watershed Forum Conference – Charleston

19. Environmental Leadership Institute - VA

20. Alliance for Justice Online Workshops

21. Environmental Flows: Save the Date/Call for Papers - Athens

22. Employment Law and Nonprofits – Atlanta

23. Georgia Forest Watch Wine Tasting – Tiger

24. Legal Check Up for Nonprofits Workshop – Atlanta

25. Cool Waters Educator Workshop – Johns Creek

26. Institute for Conservation Leadership Workshops – MD, Ohio

Resources

27. A Citizen's Guide to Environmental Protection and Justice in Georgia

28. How to Name a Stream

29. Gallup Poll – Top Environmental Concerns

30. Building a Successful Online Team

31. What to Do After You Are Funded

32. Learn About Fiscal Sponsorship Online

33. Risk Management Resource

Fundraising Deadlines

34. Grants

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1. Paddle Georgia 2008 Registration Now Open – Flint River
Paddle Georgia 2008 - A Project of Georgia River Network

Flint River: Thomaston to Montezuma

June 21 -27, 2008

95 Miles, 7 Days, 1 Great Time!

Discover all the once in a lifetime fun and adventure in store for you on Paddle Georgia 2008 on the Flint River at http://www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia/pghome.html.

Register now online at: http://www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia/pgregister.html or by calling 706-549-4508 to request a printed registration form.

· Participation limited to first 300 thru-paddlers

· Paddle Georgia Lite (June 21-22 only) registration now open

This summer, join fellow paddling enthusiasts for Paddle Georgia and experience Georgia as you never have before.

· Daily paddle trips averaging 13 miles

· Nightly camping with meals, games, entertainment and educational programs

· Tours of industrial facilities, historic sites and more

· Scientific research including chemical and biological water monitoring

· Companionship and camaraderie with dozens of fellow paddlers

· Fundraiser for Georgia River Network with proceeds supporting the creation of a Flint River protection group

For questions about the trip, contact Joe Cook at 706-235-1170. For questions about registration, contact Dana Skelton at 706-549-4508.

2. Legislative Update

Jekyll Island Beachfront Protected

Throughout the 2008 session, Jekyll Island remained at the center of a controversial redevelopment proposal to convert the main public beach, and its access, into a "town center," with condos, hotels and shopping. While some renovations of Jekyll’s infrastructure are necessary, there remained concerns about the environmental impact of the development on the fragile ecosystem and public access to the beach. Due to pressure from conservationists and GA Water Coalition (GWC) partners across Georgia, and several legislative attempts to protect this Georgia State Park, the developers agreed to change their development plans to protect the beach and public access to it.

Legislators Fail to Pass Responsible Planning to Keep Our Rivers Flowing and Protect Our Drinking Water

Despite the recent rain, Georgia is still experiencing one of the worst droughts in history, endangering our ability to keep our rivers flowing, provide clean drinking water for our communities, and support our economy. We need strong protections and wise water use.

During the 2008 legislative session, legislators largely failed to put those protections into place.

During the Legislative Session, the Georgia Water Coalition advocated for:

· Real, enforceable prohibitions against interbasin transfers (IBTs),

· Regional planning areas based on watersheds with locally appointed councils, and

· Real requirements for conservation and efficiency

Statewide Water Plan Passes

On Fri., Jan. 18, just five days into the 40 day legislative session, the House and Senate both passed resolutions adopting the Water Council Water Plan. The Water Council Water Plan had problems that needed to be fixed:

· Regional Planning Districts: The Water Plan districts are drawn along political boundaries instead of natural watershed boundaries.

· Interbasin Transfers (IBTs): Current law provides no protection for downstream communities against IBTs.

· No requirements for conservation or efficiency: The water plan has few actual “requirements” and instead says that the state “should” or “may” pursue important conservation or efficiency tools.

· Amenity reservoirs: A late change in the water plan removed a requirement that reservoirs be fully utilized for water supply. Also, requirements were needed to ensure that all conservation measures are exhausted before building new reservoirs and the needs for reservoirs are justified.

House and Senate Reservoir Bills Combined and Passed

As the very last measure voted on by the 2008 General Assembly, the Senate and House combined and adopted HB 1226 and SB 342 – Speaker Glenn Richardson’s Reservoir Bill and the Lt. Governor’s Reservoir Bill. Combined, this bill will create a new division within the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority that has the sole responsibility for administering reservoir funding and permitting, and calls for the use and/or retrofit of Soil and Water Conservation Commission reservoirs for water supply. GWC efforts helped retain a provision that will, for the first time ever, require state-funded reservoirs to be surrounded by green space as a protective buffer and not serve as subdivision amenities.

No real, enforceable prohibitions against interbasin transfers (IBTs)

Due to the hard work of the GWC, downstream communities, and heroic legislators like Rep. Debbie Buckner, an amendment to require the EPD Director to consider more than 20 criteria listed in the Statewide Water Plan before approving a new interbasin transfer was added and approved when HB 1226 (Richardson Reservoir Bill) passed from the House. Unfortunately, this amendment was stripped from the bill when voted on by the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Despite efforts of GWC members and clean water advocates to restore the amendment on the reservoir bills and the effort of Sen. Ed Tarver (D-Augusta) to introduce the interbasin transfer amendment, Lt. Gov. Cagle ignored his colleague and called the vote without considering the IBT amendment, thus resulting in a reservoir-building bill that does not prohibit IBTs.

No regional planning areas based on watersheds with locally appointed councils

The GWC also worked with Senators up to, and throughout, the last day of the session to secure an amendment on HB 1226 that would base the Water Plan regional planning areas on watersheds instead of political boundaries. Legislators did not consider this amendment.

The GWC also worked to secure amendments on HB 1226 requiring needs assessments for reservoirs and an extension on the ASR moratorium. Legislators did not consider this amendment.

Few real requirements for conservation and efficiency

The only water conservation measure that the General Assembly passed was a tax holiday for water efficient appliances, although dozens were introduced.

At the same time, legislators passed HB 1281 which prohibits cities and counties from applying water restrictions that are more stringent than those required by the state without first getting approval from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division director.

3. River Jobs, Internships and Fellowships
Visit our website at http://www.garivers.org/resources/jobs.html for additional links and details.

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper - General Counsel, Posted 4/1/08
Learn more about UCR at http://www.ucriverkeeper.org.

4. May is American Wetlands Month

May is American Wetlands Month. Individuals or groups that are planning events are strongly encouraged to share event information by visiting the following event form submittal site http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm/contact.html. For general American Wetlands Month information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm.

5. Protect Fresh Water Turtles

Please help protect wild freshwater turtles in the southern United States from collection by commercial wildlife dealers. The Center for Biological Diversity has posted an action alert regarding the commercial harvest of wild turtles in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas. From the alert page, with one click you can send an e-mail to each of the wildlife departments and health departments in the states of Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas, asking them to end commercial harvest of freshwater turtles. Last month the Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation and health groups petitioned these four states to prohibit commercial turtle harvesting in public and private waters, to prevent further population declines of native turtles and to protect public health. Turtles collected in these states and sold as food are often contaminated with mercury, PCBs, and pesticides. Go to: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24173.

6. Small tax-exempt Organizations Must File IRS E-Postcard

Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, most small tax-exempt organizations whose gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less must file Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations not Required To File Form 990 or 990-EZ. Before this law was enacted, these small organizations were not required to file annually with the IRS. The first filings are due in 2008 for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2007. The e-Postcard is due every year by the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of your tax year (usually the same as your accounting period). For example, if your tax year ended on December 31, 2007, the e-Postcard is due May 15, 2008. Read More at: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=177783,00.html.

7. Group Spotlight –Upper Tallapoosa Watershed Group

The Upper Tallapoosa Watershed Group in western Georgia works to protect the headwaters of a largely rural watershed where the water quality problems are a product of high fecal coliform levels due to agriculture and failing septic systems. This year, UTWG was awarded money through Georgia River Network’s Turner mini grants program to address poorly maintained and broken septic tanks in the watershed through education and outreach. UTWG are doing this by obtaining data from the local county governments where the septic tanks in the region are located, surveying local community members and providing educational materials and opportunities for those interested in buying a home, building a home, and current homeowners in the watershed. These public meetings will be taking place April 22 from 3:00-5:00pm and April 23, 2008 at 7:00pm at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton. A representative from Carroll County's Environmental Board of Health will give expert advice on septic system maintenance. For more information, contact Randa Harris at (678)839-4056 or rharris@westga.edu. To find out more about UTWG, visit their website at http://www.westga.edu/~geosci/WebUTWG/?About_us_.

8. Georgia Climate Summit – Georgia Tech
May 6, 2008 - Ferst Center for the Arts on the Georgia Tech campus

Hosted by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems

The Summit will be a one-day public event on the issues facing Georgia associated with climate change. The objective of this Summit is to open a statewide dialogue on the challenges of climate change, its impacts on Georgia, and opportunities for success now and in the future. The Conference will also highlight how state and local governments, businesses and industries, and other leaders from the public and private sector are already reacting to the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change. The website for the Summit is http://climatesummit.gatech.edu/, including online registration. The Summit can accommodate up to 1100 participants. For further information, contact Judy Curry curryja@eas.gatech.edu.

9. How To Make a Rain Barrel
Georgia River Network is the May Friend of Earth Fare in Athens. Join us for this workshop on May 22, 2008 at 7pm conducted by Natalie White of Athens Clarke County Stormwater Division.

10. GRN Earth Fare Cookout -Athens
GRN is the May Friend of Earth Fare in Athens. Join us May 31, 2008 from 11-2pm for a cookout and music. All proceeds benefit GRN.

11. DNR Board Meetings – DNR Board Room, Atlanta

Next committee meetings are scheduled for April 22 and the Board meeting for April 23 in Atlanta. For details on DNR Board Meetings, visit http://www.gadnr.org (bottom left corner of home page). To view the schedule, visit http://www.gadnr.org/pdf/bdsched.pdf.

12. American Rivers Rivers Action Day – Washington, DC

Registration is now open for River Action Day in Washington, DC to be held on June 17-18. This is a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with your Members of Congress and encourage them to support your local river. There’s no charge to participate. American Rivers will cover the cost of three nights’ hotel (June 16-18) expenses and some meals for all River Action Day participants. As a result, additional travel stipend money for participants will be extremely limited. This year is the 40th Anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Never lobbied before? Not a problem. AR provides federal advocacy training on June 17. For more information contact Josh Klein at (202) 347-7550 or jklein@americanrivers.org. Register at
www.AmericanRivers.org/RiverActionDay.

13. Stormwater Systems Litter Trap Event - Helen
April 25, 2008 Stormwater Systems and White Co. Middle School’s Student Environmental Action Team launch the nation’s first Bandalong Litter Trap onto the Chattahoochee River. Chattahoochee River at Edelweiss Strasse in Helen, 1-3 p.m.
Visit www.stormwatersystems.com for details. Contact: Lacey Botsford, Stormwater Systems at (706) 348-8201 ext. 230 or email lbotsford@stormwatersystems.com.

14. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Events – Atlanta
May 15, 2008 - River Revival at Park Tavern, Atlanta.
June 14, 2008 - Back to the Chattahoochee Race
Visit http://www.ucriverkeeper.org.

15. Chattahoochee RiverWatch Film Festival – Columbus
April 22-24, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be hosted by Chattahoochee RiverWatch in Columbus at the Columbus Public Library on Macon Rd. 7-9pm. Free

16. Satilla Riverkeeper Gala – Raybon
May 10, 2008 in Raybon, GA. For details call 912-778-3126.

17. River Rally – Ohio
River Network’s River Rally will be held in Huron, Ohio, May 2-5. Join River Network and over 500 friends at Sawmill Creek Resort for multiple days of education, inspiration and celebration. Visit www.rivernetwork.org.

18. Southeast Watershed Forum Conference – Charleston, SC
Building Sustainable Communities for the 21st Century, August 12-14

Visit http://www.southeastwaterforum.org/roundtables/default.asp.

19. Environmental Leadership Institute - VA
League of Conservation Voters Education Fund will offer its Environmental Leadership Institute ® May 11th - May 16th in Sterling, VA. The ELI® is a rigorous program for strengthening individual campaign skills. An intensive program, the ELI® engages participants through a combination of workshops and a challenging simulation exercise. Each evening, participants apply the lessons of the day's workshops during their group simulation work allowing them to internalize the information for greater retention. Participants work in teams throughout the week, producing comprehensive campaign plans based on fictional political scenarios. Participants acquire hands-on experience with the following professional skills: Strategic planning, message creation, meeting
facilitation, fundraising, budgeting, negotiating, earned media, audience targeting, the use of polling data, message discipline, decision-making, and group dynamics. The specific qualities of leadership that are developed and improved are: Thinking and executing plans strategically, Ability to identify, recruit, and mobilize people and resources to win, Developing a compelling message and communicating persuasively, Understanding the relationship between products and process, Identifying your individual strengths and weaknesses as a leader.

There are four fictional scenarios used to facilitate learning at the ELI®. Participants will be assigned to a simulation "Team" on the first day of the training based upon their campaign, political, and organizing experience level. The four simulations are each designed to teach fundamental campaign skills but each apply them in slightly different contexts. Contact Carrie at 202-785-8683 or carrie_maas@lcvef.org for an application. April and Dana from Georgia River Network have attended this training and highly recommend it. Contact us if you have questions.

20. Alliance for Justice Online Workshops
Strategies for Coalitions & Affiliated Organizations Web Workshop (4/24). This session examines the different roles of the 501(c)(3)s, (4)s, and political organizations, and explores the federal tax rules on how these organizations can work together. It explores the legal separations necessary between affiliated organizations, such as funding and fundraising constraints and permissible electoral activities.

Lobbying Rules for Nonprofits Web Workshop (4/22). Want to know how your organization can lobby for the public interest? This session will explain the federal tax laws governing 501(c)(3) lobbying, including how to calculate your lobbying limits under the insubstantial part test and the 501(h) expenditure test, definitions of direct and grassroots lobbying, exemptions to the definition of lobbying and the application of these rules to ballot measure activities.

Election Rules for Nonprofits Web Workshop (4/29). Want to know the role your organization can play during an election year? This session explains the federal tax rules regarding permissible electioneering activities for 501(c)(3)s, particularly voter registration drives, candidate questionnaires, candidate forums and legislative scorecards.

Workshops last one-hour. You can register online or by calling Jeff Prior at (202) 822-6070. Workshop Registration is $25. Visit http://www.afj.org/.

21. Environmental Flows: Save the Date / Call for Papers - Athens

A conference promoted by the Southeastern Environmental Flows Partnership

October 27-29, 2008 at The Classic Center in Athens, GA. In 2006, a working group of hydrologists, ecologists, engineers, and water policy and management experts formed the Southeastern Environmental Flows Partnership (SEEFP). The focus of the partnership is to gain needed perspectives regarding the sustainability of water supplies, restoring and protecting water quality and aquatic habitat, and providing information to planners and policy-makers. SEEFP is organizing an environmental flows conference with the theme of ‘developing a dialog for balancing human and environmental needs for water in a rapidly changing region’. The conference will have keynote sessions discussing: ‘Global Perspectives on Water Issues’, ‘Demographic Forces Affecting the Southeast’, ‘The Science of Environmental Flows’, and ‘Policy Issues Related to Environmental Flows’. Contributed sessions include: policy and economics of environmental flows, environmental flows and stream health, data and modeling needs, public and stakeholder involvement, and growth management and environmental flows. To submit an abstract or learn more about this conference please contact Steve Golladay, J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center, sgollada@jonesctr.org. Visit http://ga.water.usgs.gov/seflows.

22. Employment Law for Non-Profits Workshop – Atlanta
Want to learn about employment laws and how they affect nonprofits? Attend Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta's free Employment Law for Nonprofits workshop. Participants will learn about federal discrimination and harassment laws, discover strategies and tips for documentation and interviewing, and explore wage and hour compliance issues for nonprofit organizations. Thursday, April 17, 2008 from 10:00am - 11:30am at The Foundation Center at 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 150 in Atlanta. This program is offered free of charge. Space is limited. Please arrive on time or your seat may be given away to others who are waiting to attend. To register http://foundationcenter.org/atlanta/employat.html.

23. Georgia Forest Watch Wine Tasting – Tiger

Georgia Forest Watch Wild & Woolly Wine Tasting & Author-Fiddler Festival - Save the date, mark your calendar now! This year, the wine tasting and festival replaces the native plant sale usually held every spring. Celebrate with fine wine, music, and the written word. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this affordable fundraiser. Saturday, April 26, 2008, 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. at the award-winning farm winery, Tiger Mountain Vineyards, Tiger, Georgia. Tiger Mountain wines will be available for sale and tasting. Music will be provided by talented fiddlers Kelly Smith of Salem, S.C., and Scottish fiddler Marie Dunkle. Authors who will appear in person include Jeff Biggers (The United States of Appalachia;) Thomas Rain Crowe, (Zoro’s Field. My Life in the Appalachian Woods;) Brent Martin, (Poems from Snow Hill Road;) and Charles Seabrook, (Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses.) $20 per person. For more information about this affordable benefit, contact Kathy Herrygers at info@gafw.org, or call 706-635-8733.

24. Georgia Center for Nonprofits- Legal Check-up for Nonprofits - Atlanta

Friday, April 18th from 11:00 to 12:30 at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. Free, bring your own lunch. This workshop will present an overview of the many legal issues that nonprofits face, from corporate governance (including the legal duties of directors and the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley), to employment (including properly classifying employees and paying employment taxes), and protecting your tax-exempt status (with a discussion of political activity, lobbying and revenue generating activities.) RSVP at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=g36SND147CMN_2fGVlPbf7YQ_3d_3d.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact Jamar Hilton Jeffers, Membership Director, at 678-916-3019 or via email at jj@gcn.org.

25. Cool Waters Educator Workshop – Johns Creek

Receive 2 PLUs for this workshop. June 3-5 in Johns Creek, GA. $25

Visit www.gawp.org.

26. Institute for Conservation Leadership Workshops – MD, Ohio

Leading From Within 2008-2009 - November 11-14, 2008 & March 10-13, 2009 - Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center - Baltimore, MD
Sustainable Organizations 2008 - November 16-19, 2008 - Maumee Bay Resort and Conference Center - Oregon, OH
Each of these programs offers unique opportunities for meeting targeted needs of organizations and individuals. Visit www.icl.org.

27. How to Name a Stream
Visit http://geonames.usgs.gov/pppdgn.html#4-E.

28. Putting the Law to Work in Our Communities: A Citizen's Guide to Environmental Protection and Justice in Georgia
Written by Greenlaw, Turner Environmental Law Clinic and Emory University School of Law. Visit http://www.green-law.org and access this guide Under "Legal Tools - Environmental Justice".

29. Gallup Poll – Top Environmental Concerns

When Americans are asked to rate their level of worry about each of 12 environmental concerns, their top four concerns relate to water quality, with pollution of drinking water the top overall concern. The poll results are available at:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/104932/Polluted-Drinking-Water-No-Concern-Before-Report.aspx.

30. Building a Successful Online Team
View a "best practices" guide to the key roles in a successful online team. It summarizes the functions of "essential" and "secondary" roles, and links to complete job descriptions for each. Smaller organizations will find value in thinking about all of these roles and how a few people can wear several hats and which roles can/should be outsourced to consultants. Visit http://www.echoditto.com/onlineteam.

31. What to Do After You're Funded
Don't just take a grantmaker's money and run. Visit http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/after_funding.jsp

32. Learn About Fiscal Sponsorship Online
Guide to Fiscal Sponsorship and Affiliation: A free online tutorial explains how a sponsorship arrangement is established and for what purposes. Visit http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/fiscal/index.html.

Foundation Grants to Individuals Online: The Foundation Center's online database of foundations that support individual grantseekers lists organizations that provide fiscal sponsorship.Visit http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/fundingsources/gtio.html.

Foundation Center FAQs: These responses answer questions and point to resources about the process and search strategies used to identify potential sponsors. Visit http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/section_5c.html.

33. Risk Management Resource
Visit www.nonprofitrisk.org.

34. Fundraising Deadlines
The following foundations are either new to our list of grants or have upcoming deadlines to submit proposals. To view grant makers that give throughout the year, visit our website at http://www.garivers.org/resources/tools/grants.html.

Acorn Foundation - The Acorn Foundation is interested in small and innovative community-based projects which preserve and restore habitats supporting biological diversity and wildlife; advocate for environmental justice, particularly in low-income and indigenous communities; and prevent or remedy toxic pollution. Deadlines January 15 and June 15. For more information, visit www.commoncounsel.org.

Alcoa Foundation - A significant percentage of the grants originate in Alcoa communities (in Georgia offices are located in Eastman and Norcross). The Foundation's focus for funding is around four distinct Areas of Excellence: Conservation and Sustainability, Safe and Healthy Children and Families, Global Education and Workplace Skills, and Business and Community Partnerships. Organizations interested in applying for a grant should contact the Alcoa facility nearest them. Local Alcoa contacts in our communities will then make recommendations to Alcoa Foundation for funding. For all grant inquiries, it is recommended that a concept paper be submitted via e-mail to the local Alcoa grant contact or to Alcoa Foundation before a formal grant proposal is prepared. The concept paper will be reviewed by the Alcoa location contact or by an Alcoa Foundation staff member, and they will contact the organization. Visit http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/community/info_page/foundation.asp.

Ben and Jerry's Foundation provides grants ranging from $1,000 - $15,000 for grassroots organizing that leads to environmental change and addresses the root causes of environmental problems. Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time and are reviewed three times a year. Click here for more information: http://www.benjerry.com/foundation/.

Butler Foundation - The Foundation provides grants for land conservation and wildlife protection. The Foundation has a strong interest in grassroots river activist organizations. Grants to local groups in the past range from $100 - $1000. Call 212-980-0606 for information. No deadlines.

Community Foundation for Central Savannah River Area Grant applications are accepted from January 1st thru July 31st. Following an evaluation process, The Community Foundation awards grants based on identified community issues and the relative merit of the proposals received. The Community Foundation considers grant applications from organizations that are determined as charitable under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, public entities or other charitable, educational or cultural organizations. The organization must provide programs and services to the Greater Augusta area, including one or more of the following six counties : Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie, Burke, Aiken and Edgefield. The Community Foundation does not set a minimum amount for grant awards. The Community Foundation requires that application requests do not exceed $15,000.00. It is preferred that funds granted by The Community Foundation are to be matched by funding from other sources. Organizations are to submit only one grant application to The Community Foundation per calendar year. The Community Foundation considers and funds applications in seven major program areas including Environment/Health/Human Services. Visit http://www.cfcsra.org/common/content.asp?PAGE=137&CONTENT=717.

Conservation Alliance funds projects that seek to protect a specific wild land or waterway for its habitat and recreational values. The campaign should engage grassroots citizen action in support of the conservation effort. They do not fund general education or scientific research projects. All projects should be quantifiable with specific goals, objectives, and action plans, and should include a clear measure for evaluating success. The project should have a good chance of closure or significant measurable results over a fairly short term (one to three years). To apply, you must have a member of Alliance first nominate you. Nominations due May 1 and November 1 annually. You can learn more at the website: http://www.conservationalliance.com/grants/how_to_apply.

Corps Reform Network Grants The fund disperses small grants, typically ranging from $1,500 to $5,000, to CRN Member Groups working to ensure that Army Corps of Engineers projects are economically and environmentally sound. In many cases, groups use the fund to hire technical experts that aid in stopping controversial, environmentally destructive and/or fiscally unjustified Corps proposals and projects. Your organization must be a CRN Member to submit an application. If you would like to submit an application but are not a CRN Member, you may join the CRN online at www.corpsreform.org, or contact CRN Coordinator George Sorvalis (202) 797-6617 sorvalisg@nwf.org for more information. Visit www.corpsreform.org. The deadline for this round of applications is May 27, 2008.

The mission of the Educational Foundation of America is to improve individual lives and their surroundings through education and awareness, in hopes of bettering humanity and the world we inhabit. The Foundation’s areas of interest include the environment, reproductive freedom, theatre, drug policy reform, democracy, peace and national security issues, education, medicine, and human services. Letters of inquiry may be submitted by email at any time. Visit http://www.efaw.org.

The FishAmerica Foundation, the American Sportfishing Association's conservation and research arm, provides funding to nonprofit organizations such as sporting clubs, civic associations, conservation groups, and state agencies in the United States and Canada for projects designed to enhance fish populations, restore fish habitat, improve water quality, and advance fisheries research, thereby increasing the opportunity for sportfishing success. The foundation's Conservation Projects Committee funds hands-on, action-oriented projects that have clear and identifiable benefits to sport fish populations and the sport of fishing and/or directly enhance water quality, habitat, and/or sport fish populations. The average conservation grant is $7,500. The foundation's Research Projects Committee funds research projects that have regional or national implications. The committee prefers to fund national model projects. The average research grant is $15,000. All projects are funded for a year only. Conservation project applications may be submitted at any time (except for project applications associated with specific Request for Proposals). Research projects are funded once a year, with proposals due on July 31, annually. Visit the FishAmerica Foundation Web site for complete grant guidelines at http://www.fishamerica.org.

The Fund for Wild Nature provides grants to grassroots projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for campaigns to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity. The Fund seeks proposals with visionary as well as realistic goals to create tangible change. Special attention is given to ecological issues not currently receiving sufficient public attention and funding. The Fund supports advocacy, litigation, public policy work, development of citizen science, and similar endeavors. The deadlines for 2008 are May 1 and November 1. Visit http://www.fundwildnature.org/.

The Georgia-Pacific Foundation supports a wide range of organizations that improve the quality of life in communities where Georgia-Pacific operates, and where company employees live and work. (A map of the Georgia-Pacific facilities and locations is available online at: www.gp.com/facilitydirectory/index.asp.) The Foundation’s areas of interest include: education, community enrichment, and the environment. Grant applications are accepted between January 1 and October 31, annually. Visit http://www.gp.com/center/community/index.html.

Grants to Green - The Grants to Green initiative is a partnership between The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Southface and Enterprise Community Partners to provide funding to nonprofit organizations to "green up" their facilities. The project gives metro Atlanta nonprofits the opportunity to renovate or build healthier work places that are energy and water efficient, and are eco-friendly. The ultimate goal will be to improve a nonprofit organization's building structure to not only have less of an environmental impact, but also to increase the cost- efficiency of operations, ideally saving more finances to serve more people in need. To read the full summary of this new initiative, visit http://www.atlcf.org/www/documents/greenfacts08.doc. Visit the Foundation's website at http://www.atlcf.org/NewsEvents/NewsArticle.aspx?ArticleID=159 to review additional details concerning the program and the application process. The application deadline is May 12, 2008. Attend the upcoming orientation session on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the the Atlanta Community Food Bank located at 732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., NW Atlanta, GA 30318. You must register to attend. Click here to download the registration form and send to: GrantstoGreen @atlcf.org.

The American Honda Foundation supports projects in the areas of youth and scientific education. The Foundation defines "youth" as prenatal through 21 years of age. "Scientific education" encompasses the physical and life sciences, mathematics, and the environmental sciences. The Foundation provides grants for K-12 education, higher education, and other nonprofit organizations that focus on youth and/or scientific education. Only projects that are national in scope will be considered for funding by the Foundation. Application deadlines are February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 of each year. Visit http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation The mission of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is to support efforts that promote a just, equitable, and sustainable society. The Foundation's grant programs focus on the following areas: poverty, civil society, the environment, and Flint, MI. Organizations seeking grants should begin the application process at least four months before the start of the proposed grant period. Foundation staff must finalize grant recommendations for any given calendar year by August 31 of that year. Proposals received between September 1 and December 31 will be considered in the following calendar year. Visit http://www.mott.org for more information.

National Forest Foundation supports projects that address community-based forest stewardship, watershed health and restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, and recreation issues in proactive ways. Projects should complete innovative on-the-ground conservation work in partnership with other community groups. The Foundation’s matching awards program focuses on “action-oriented” projects that serve to demonstrate measurable outcomes. The program provides challenge cost-share grants, on a competitive basis, to community-based organizations to engage in on-the-ground conservation initiatives benefiting National Forests and Grasslands. The Program provides matching federal funds to private, non-federal dollars. The deadline of June 6, 2008 is for pre-proposals. Visit http://natlforests.org/consp_01_grant.html.

Norcross Wildlife Foundation provides funding for equipment and publications. Grants range from $1,000 - $5,000. Visit http://www.norcrossws.org/.

Patagonia funds projects that are action oriented, build public support and involvement, are strategic and accomplish specific goals and objectives. Patagonia supports small, grassroots activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas. They look for innovative groups that produce measurable results, and like to support efforts to force the government to abide by its own - our own - laws. Patagonia helps local groups working to protect local habitat. Most grants are in the range of $3,000 to $8,000. Proposals must be postmarked no later than April 30 and August 31 each year. For more information, visit the Patagonia website.

Project AWARE Foundation is committed to the conservation and preservation of the aquatic environment and its resources throughout the world. The Foundation will consider funding projects that focus on its priorities: coral reef conservation, shark protection, aquatic ecotourism, aquatic education (particularly for youth), and direct conservation activities in both marine and freshwater for up to $10,000. Projects which incorporate public education, grassroots involvement, and research that leads to conservation are examples of the types of projects the Foundation supports. The application deadlines are March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15, annually. Visit http://www.projectaware.org.

The Stonyfield Farm's Profits for the Planet Program donates 10% of the company's profits annually to nonprofit organizations in order to enhance efforts that help protect or restore the environment. Projects that generate measurable results, for example, natural resources saved, people educated, etc., are given priority. Applications for support are accepted from organizations throughout the U.S., with some emphasis on organizations located in the Northeast with projects often reflecting Stonyfield's support of organic farming methods and efforts to combat global warming. Requests for funding may be submitted at any time. Visit http://www.stonyfield.com/AboutUs/ProfitsForThePlanetProgram.cfm.

Techsoup - Discounted Computer Software
Click on this website to purchase computer software at great prices. Must be 501c3. www.techsoup.org.

The Tellabs Foundation makes direct grants to eligible organizations, generally in the amount of $10,000 and above. Generally, grants will be considered for specific programs, rather than for general operating funds. The primary focus of the Foundation is to support programs in areas in which Tellabs employees live and work. (The Tellabs Southeast Regional Sales office is located in the Atlanta area.) Environment is one of three areas of special interest to the Foundation. It supports programs to encourage understanding and the protection of the environment - particularly in the areas of public health, clean air, clean water, recycling and waste reduction. The Tellabs Foundation Board meets quarterly, usually in January, April, July and October. The deadline for letters of inquiry or invited proposals is four weeks before the scheduled meeting. Proposals received after the deadline will be considered at the next meeting. It is recommended that letters of inquiry be submitted at least four months before funding is needed. Visit http://www.tellabs.com/about/foundation.shtml.

The Waste Management Charitable Giving Program is committed to making company communities safer, cleaner, and better places to live and work. (Information on company locations is available on the Waste Management website.) One of the primary focus areas of the Charitable Giving Program is the environment. The company is committed to helping provide renewable resources to reduce our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, and to conserving and maintaining wetlands, wildlife habitats and green spaces for people's enjoyment. Support is also provided to environmental education programs, including environmental and science related projects targeted to middle and high school students. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Visit http://www.wm.com/WM/community/Giving.asp.

Watchable Wildlife Grants - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Wildlife Resources Division is accepting proposals for nongame educational and watchable wildlife projects. Funding for these projects is available through the Nongame Wildlife Fund from the sale of the nongame wildlife license plates. Applicants may include local governments and non-profit organizations. Educational projects can be programs, facilities, exhibits, publications or other activities whose goal is to educate students, teachers, or the public about nongame wildlife conservation. Due to limited funding and a large number of applications, outdoor classroom projects will not be funded through this program. Watchable wildlife projects can include facilities improvements or other activities that will develop or improve opportunities to observe nongame wildlife on lands accessible to the public, such as county or local parks. Separate proposals are requested for educational and/or watchable wildlife projects. Three copies of each proposal should be submitted to the Nongame Conservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, c/o Watchable Wildlife-Education Funding Program, 2070 U.S. Highway 278 SE, Social Circle, GA 30025. The deadline for receipt of proposals is April 28, 2008. The funding request for each proposal should be limited to $5,000 or less. The contact person for projects selected for funding will be notified by May 27, 2008. Visit http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=483.

For questions or additional information, call (770) 761-3035 or (770) 918-6787.

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Georgia River Network 10th Anniversary - 2008
A Decade of Working Together for Healthy Rivers