From Blue Avocado

This blog post originally appeared on Blue Avocado, the online magazine for American Nonprofits. Although the author here is speaking about funding for nonprofit organizations SPO thought everyone who has ever had to deal with funding restrictions on a project would appreciate it.

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Blue Avocado's humor columnist Vu Le dreams about restricted funding for cakes:

For the past few months one of our staff has an eye that's been twitching. "It's this grant!" she says. "It's for our after-school program. It pays for instructors' teaching time, but not their planning time! How can they teach when they can't plan?! How? How?!"

"Psst," I whispered, "Let's talk in the conference room. "Since the staff is so dedicated, they will plan anyway even without getting paid,” -- I paused, looking around -- "Why don't you just increase their hourly wages?"

"This grant capped the hourly wage, so I can't pay them more. The other grant might pay for planning time, but they don't pay for employer taxes!" She started pulling at her hair, and both of us collapsed on the floor, weeping and beating our chests in anguish and despair.

Grant Seeking and Grant Writing workshops from the Muncie Public Library

Two free grant training opportunities from the Muncie Public Library.

Foundation Directory Online Basics.
This database lets you search over 100,000 US grantmaker profiles to find a good “fit” to fund your project. You can discover a foundation’s funding interests, funding history, method of approach, timelines, and much more. RSVP by Monday, May 20—seating is limited.
Date: Wednesday, May 22, 10am-noon
Place: Connection Corner, 1824 E. Centennial

Grant Writing Basics.
Learn the components of a grant proposal, what information to include, and tips and tricks for writing a strong proposal. RSVP by Monday, May 20.
Date: Thursday, May 23, 10am-noon
Place: Connection Corner, 1824 E. Centennial

To register, contact Donna Browne at 741-5155 or dbrowne@munpl.org.

Spring 2013 Update of Ball State Research Now Online!

The Spring update of Ball State Research is now available online!

Ball State Research is an online magazine produced by the Sponsored Programs Office in order to highlight some of the amazing sponsored projects taking place at Ball State. The spring update focuses on the Global Health Institute, a campus knowledge unit established in 2009 to encourage interdisciplinary investigation of critical issues that are impacting local and global health.

Please, take a few moments to read all about the exciting work taking place at the Global Health Institute.

Ball State Talks Peace

By: Margaret Cude

On April 5 and 6, 2013, the Ball State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies hosted the first ever Benjamin V. Cohen Peace Conference: Promoting Nonviolence at Home and Beyond . Co-sponsored by the City of Muncie, Benjamin V. Cohen Memorial Endowment Fund, and the United States Institute of Peace, the event drew presenters and audiences from across the US, and even a few from Canada.

With over 150 pre-registered attendees and more than fifty presentations, the Conference covered such varied topics as mediation techniques, racism, the crisis in Sudan, Muncie economic empowerment, pagan oppression, and conscientious objection.

“I was very impressed to know about the efforts of various centers and offices across Indiana,” said Janet Brown, Spiritual Life Commission, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Friday’s kick-off included addresses from Dennis Tyler, Mayor of Muncie, Dr. Robert Morris, Associate Provost of Research and Dean of the Graduate School, and keynote speaker Pastor Steve Roese, President and Founder of Water is Basic.