Funding Opportunity: Verizon Foundation

06/04/2010

Neighborhood Networks provides potential funding sources to help centers develop and improve programs and services. Featured this week is the Verizon Foundation. The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications Inc. Headquartered in New York, Verizon is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government, and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless serves more than 91 million customers nationwide. Program Areas: The Verizon Foundation awarded $67.5 million to nonprofit organizations in 2009. The Verizon Foundation targets its philanthropic investments to partners and programs that achieve meaningful outcomes and measurable results in each of its funding priorities. The foundation's funding priorities include: education, literacy, domestic violence prevention, healthcare and accessibility, and Internet safety. Grant applicants are required to select one or more outcomes and results for grants in each of the foundation's funding priorities. The foundation's Web site includes links to lists of targeted outcomes and results for each funding priority that are specified in the online grant application. Target Areas: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. Eligibility: Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, are eligible to apply. To be considered for funding consideration, organizations must: Not duplicate or significantly overlap the work of public agencies on the federal, state, or local level. Serve the community without discrimination on the basis of age, color, citizenship, disability, disabled veteran status, gender, race, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, military service or status, or Vietnam-era veteran status. Maintain accounting books available for regular independent outside audit and make the results available to all potential contributors. Comply with applicable laws regarding registration and reporting. Observe the highest standards of business conduct in its relationships with the public. The Verizon Foundation does not provide funding to: Individuals. Private charities or foundations. Organizations not exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and not eligible for tax-deductible support. Religious organizations, unless the particular program will benefit a large portion of a community without regard to religious affiliation and does not duplicate the work of other agencies in the community. Political causes, candidates, organizations, or campaigns. Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, color, citizenship, disability, disabled veteran status, gender, race, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, military service or status, or Vietnam-era veteran status. Organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation. Endowments or capital campaigns. Film, music, television, video, and media production projects or broadcast program underwriting. Research studies, unless related to projects the foundation is already supporting. Sports sponsorships. Performing arts tours. Association memberships. Organizations that have received a grant from the Verizon Foundation in the last three consecutive years. The organization may reapply after a one-year hiatus. Due to federal regulations, the foundation cannot provide support in the form of Verizon products or services or award cash grants intended for the payment of Verizon products or services. Award Amount: Average grant amounts range between $5,000 and $10,000. Application Process: The Verizon Foundation only accepts electronic proposals through its Apply Online process. Successfully submitted online proposals receive an electronic notice confirming receipt of the application via e-mail. Allow up to 90 days for a final decision. Applicants are encouraged to complete the eligibility screener prior to starting their application. The foundation's Web site also includes numerous tips for completing an application. Eligible organizations seeking grants from the Verizon Foundation must be prepared to track and report program outcomes, as well as specific results that demonstrate measurable human impact. In the grant application, organizations must indicate what outcomes are targeted through programming and what results, as specified on the grant application, the organization will measure. Deadline: The Verizon Foundation reviews unsolicited proposals on a continuous calendar year basis from January 1 through October 31. Contact: For more information, applicants should contact the local community relations manager in their area.

Scope:

National

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