Two grant opportunities have deadlines coming up.  One of these isn’t directly related to health, but is an opportunity to seek funding from a corporate foundation that may have a presence in your community.

The General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids Grant Program will accept proposals through January 15 for one of 50 $10,000 awards.  Grants will go to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help children adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle.  The General Mills Foundation introduced this program in 2002; several Wisconsin projects were funded since then.  Successful proposals will:

• Demonstrate need
• Be innovative and creative
• Have a strong likelihood of sustained impact

The website includes detailed guidance which should help you prepare a winning proposal.  With 50 grants to be awarded, the chances are excellent that at least one Wisconsin program will be selected.

As I mentioned in a recent post on corporate foundations, they are often more likely to support projects in communities where they have a presence (headquarters, etc.); in fact, some corporate foundations only support these local projects.  The Bremer Foundation recently announced an emergency fund that will respond to “the current economic crisis.  This growing crisis is creating daunting financial challenges for families and individuals as many struggle to continue to provide food, warm and stable housing, health care, and reliable transportation in the face of increased unemployment and high prices.”  The Bremer Emergency Fund is accepting proposals for grants up to $100,000 from nonprofit organizations with the capacity to identify community members who can benefit from financial assistance, provide timely disbursements, and offer appropriate follow-up and referral services.  They only accept proposals from organizations in communities with a Bremer Bank.  In Wisconsin, these are located primarily in the northwest part of the state.  The website has a map and a list of eligible communities.  The application deadline is December 15; the Foundation will announce awards by January 15.