The nonprofit sector is continuously coming up with innovative new ideas to improve the world in some way. However to turn a great idea into a tangible program, you need to sit down and plan out all aspects of the work that will need to be done. Unsure of what to do first? Check out the chapter on program development in Grantseeker's Guide to Winning Proposals or visit the reference collection at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library to peruse a lengthy tome all about Designing and Planning Programs for Nonprofit and Government Organizations. If you can't make it in to the library, check out Free Management Library's info on program planning and management. Doing your homework and designing a well thought-out program before you seek a grant will enhance your chance of being funded.

Banfield Charitable Trust provides grants to nonprofit organizations and nonprofit hospices to support their efforts to keep pets and people together. Grants for food distribution are given for up to $5,000. Pet advocacy grants of between $5,000 and $30,000 are made.

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The Kai Family Foundation provides support to higher education organizations and organizations involved in Chinese culture in Tucson. Recent typical grants have been $8,000 or less. To apply, send a short written narrative and a copy of your IRS tax-exempt status to The Kai Foundation % Sidney L. Felker, 7440 N. Oracle, #2 Tucson, AZ 85704. Please see most current 990 form for listing of all required components in LOI. For more information, please visit any branch of the Pima County Public Library and search the grants databases using the foundation's name or use the free Foundation Finder to review past 990 filings from your office.

The Eugene C. & Wiletta F. Denton Family Foundation provides support to organizations involved with children or youth and educational enrichment opportunities. Past grants ranged from $1,000 to $15,000 with most less than $5,000. Please see most current 990 form for a listing of all the required components in the LOI available through the free Foundation Finder.

The Eliot Spalding Foundation provides grants for literacy, education, and community development projects to Tucson-area nonprofits. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000. Typewritten requests indicating the charitable purpose of the funds should include proof of tax-exempt status and be sent to Mr. James M. Sakrison, 4801 E. Broadway, Suite 301, Tucson, AZ 85711. Please see most current 990 form for listing of all required components in LOI. For more information, please visit any branch of the Pima County Public Library and search the grants databases using the foundation's name or use the free Foundation Finder to review past 990 filings from your office.

Project Ignition, sponsored by State Farm and coordinated by the National Youth Leadership Council, provides grants for public high schools to support their students in addressing teen driver safety through service-learning. Students and teachers develop innovative service-learning projects that are intended to influence driving behaviors and save lives on the road through public awareness and engagement campaigns. Public high schools that enroll students in grades 9-12 may apply. Twenty-five schools will be chosen to receive $2,000 grants to support the implementation of their campaigns from January to April 2013. Ten of these 25 schools will be selected to receive an additional $7,500 to continue their project in the following school year and to participate in the National Service-Learning Conference in 2014. 
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The Herb Society of America's mission is to promote the knowledge, use and delight of herbs through educational programs, research, and sharing the experience of its members with the community. The grant rewards innovative projects that enhance herbal education in school systems, in communities, or in any public forum (electronic or person-to-person). It requires learning goals and a mechanism to measure the educational outcomes.  The goal of this grant is the delivery of a project that specifically promotes herbal education, beyond the usual garden activities. The grant amount may be up to $5,000.