Heartwood Public Forests
This maps currently shows the boudaries of the "purchase areas" for the National Forests in our region. Not all land within these areas is actually owned by the government and managed by the Forest Service—half or more in most forests still consists of private "inholdings".
We've begun putting in links to the Heartwood member groups who are involved in forest watch efforts. So click on a forest to see it's name, and possibly a link to a member group. If you work with a member group doing forest watch and you're group's link isn't in place yet, please email our webmaster:
Heartwood announces mini-grant program for 2010
by Steve Chaplin
After a long hiatus, the Heartwood Council is announcing the return of the organization's mini-grant program in 2010.
With individual awards earmarked for up to $1,000, both Heartwood individual and family members and also group members will have until March 1, 2010 to submit applications.
In the past, Heartwood has given money to members and member groups who needed a little seed money. Maybe an individual has an innovative, fabulous idea, but needs money to help with planning? Maybe an individual needs money to buy post-cards and postage for a mass mailing? Maybe a group needs money to cover the costs of reproducing dvds or updating a website?
Find below an application for Heartwood members and/or member groups who have a need for a little money (grants are up to $1,000.00 with a cap of $5,000.00 per year).
Please distribute the attached application to your members who might be percolating good ideas but need a little seed money to see it to fruition!
The deadline for this round of applications is March 1, 2010. We will announce the recipients at this year’s Forest Council held annually during the Memorial Day Weekend.
For questions, please contact info@heartwood.org or the grant administrator for Heartwood, Amanda Moore, by calling 615-358-8898.
HEARTWOOD
Mini-Grant Program
About Heartwood Mini-Grant Program:
The purpose of the mini-grant program is to provide
funding for activists who need it. The Mini-Grant program seeks to provide funding for creative efforts and ideas fomented by Heartwood members and member-groups. Efforts and ideas could range from Heartwood's roots as a forest protection organization to current efforts to stop
mountain-top removal and biomass projects to ideas we have not considered at this time.
Ideas and efforts that are quantifiable (e.g. actions taken, phone calls made, letters written and sent, websites on-line, films made, meetings held) and work to sustain and expand environmental activists in the Heartwood region will be considered.
Grant Guidelines:
Grants will be awarded to selected projects that address one or all of the following issues:
• Educate the Heartwood Region about an environmental threat or opportunity.
• Inspire action among the Heartwood Region to protect, restore, and or create environmental integrity.
Issues may include, but are not limited to:
• Sustainable Communities (this is a broad topic from food issues to air to water to infinity and beyond)
• Forest Protection
• Biomass
All projects should address one or all of the following:
• Public outreach
• Education
• Organizing
• Media
Grant Deadline: March 1, 2009
Award range: Up to $1,000 per project
Project Review:
Upon completion of your project, you will be required to complete a brief project report. The Report will include copies of any multimedia, photographs, video, web links, examples of news coverage, etc. Recipients of the Grant will also agree to allow Heartwood use of the materials for its own advocacy and educational purposes. A report form will be provided with instructions.
How to Apply:
Email the application to info@heartwood.org by March 1, 2010. You will receive an email confirming your application and will be notified of the award. For questions, contact Amanda Moore, Mini-grant Administrator, at the same email address or by calling 615-358-8898.
Heartwood Mini-Grant Application Form
NOTE: Please answer the following questions on a separate document.
1. Name of organization:
2. Title of project:
3. Amount requested:
4. Complete contact information for organization:
5. Who is the primary contact for this project? Please include complete contact information:
6. If an organization, is this an incorporated 501(c)3?
7. What is the annual budget of your organization?
8. Names of other groups involved in this project, if any:
9. Project Description (no more than 4 sentences):
10. Goal(s) of project: For example, "Mail 3,000 letters to Congressman X about MTR".
11. What is your plan to achieve this goal? Include your strategy, activities, message and timeline.
12. What is the time line for this project? Include a weekly timeline with specific action items by each week, if appropriate.
EXAMPLE:
JUNE
Week 1
Planning Meeting
Week 2
Print flyers
Start radio and newspaper ads
Week 3
Have concert
Clean up concert site
Week 4
Follow up
13. What are your benchmarks for measuring success?
EXAMPLE
- Recruited 5 new volunteer organizers
- Place 20 free radio spots
- Placed announcement and coverage in 3 local newspapers
- Turned out 2000 people at concert
- Created new short film on the Indiana bat, its habitat and threats to be distributed to schools
14. How would this project benefit the Heartwood Region?* (Curious about just what is the Heartwood Region, see below)
15. Briefly explain how your project achieves the following:
Educates the public; Educates decision makers; Creates a tool or opportunities for other activists in the region.
16. What is the total budget for the project? What are the other funding sources?
17. Please provide the budget breakdown for the project.
EXAMPLE
Budget for Materials
- Layout/Design
- Printing
- Postage
Budget for Staff Time
Budget for Public Outreach
Event Costs
- Postcard Production and Mailing
- Printing
- Mailing Service
- Postage
* Heartwood "core states" include Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri. Over time, Heartwood has branched out to serve areas of need throughout an 18-state region, giving special attention to Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Virginia, but a great idea from an activist in Tennessee could be funded if it meets the guidelines.