Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 NC Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Grants. Jacquie Jeffers, State of North Carolina Martin Luther King, Jr. Commissioner for Region 4, is encouraging organizations to apply for funding to support activities promoting Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence.
All funding requests should not be between $200 and $1,000. Non-profit organizations must submit a letter of reference with the application. Applications should include a detailed description of the project, stating purpose and goals, and give a project timetable including specific dates.
The grant application is available via this page. The deadline for nonprofit organizations to submit applications in response to the state’s “request for proposals” is November 30, 2017.
The MLK Jr. Commission has been authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly to award grants that promote an awareness and appreciation of the life and philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme of this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Grant Program is “Nonviolence in our Communities,” as described in a quote from Dr. King:
“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.” – MLK Jr.
The purpose of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Grant Program, as described on the application:
The overall goals of the program are to engage children in peer-to-peer educational activities that disseminate information about the life and philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to capture the outcomes of such activities. The program anticipates that, through these activities, young children will understand the life and teachings of Dr. King.
The Commission is requesting that eligible applicants submit a proposal focused on awareness and educational activities that lift Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence toward ourselves, others, and the world. Activities should focus on reaching children under 14. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:
- developing and delivering replicable school performances about the positive aspects of non-violence behavior
- utilizing performances or other media to present the peer-to-peer counseling that is effective in reducing the long-range emotional and physical impacts of bullying; recommending guidance for handling situations where bullying exists
- creating mentoring and / or tutorial programs to enhance learning for special needs children
- offering local/regional oratorical competitions for middle-school children and providing awards for the winners
- launching an educational School Bowl that includes questions and answers about Dr. King’s life, his speeches, his philosophy and the applications of his philosophy to everyday life and providing awards for winners;
- delivering a competitive poster competition; and coordinating with local/regional art events to offer visibility for winners of the competition;
- offering presentations to exemplify the advantages of living and working in a culturally diverse environment;
- developing and implementing projects to reach Limited English Proficiency (LEP) populations;
- conducting research and developing a paper about the relationship between Dr. King’s philosophy and its impact on the increasing cultural diversity North Carolina will be experiencing in the next decades; delivering a presentation on this topic;
To qualify for a grant, applicant organizations should:
- Be a local government agency, or 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State.
- The Commission desires to reach geographically diverse groups and applicants are encouraged to partner with other organizations within a region such as a local Youth Council, Human Relations Commission, Urban League, or community college to design and implement programs to maximize the number of children and families reached in their region.
- Include proposal specifics that illustrate how the program will impact 50 or more youth. Programs intended to develop Internet based tools should articulate the potential number of youth likely to engage in the technology.
- Involve youth in project development, implementation, evaluation and writing of grant proposals.
- Present a corporate seal if your organization is incorporated. The corporate seal will be required on the contract if application is approved for funding.
Last year’s grantees included Durham-based West End Community Foundation/First Calvary Baptist Church, and Communities in Schools of High Point NC.
For MLK-related events, MLK Commissioner Jacquie Jeffers is available to speak at events, or perform a song she wrote in honor of Dr. King entitled: “Share the Dream”.
