Funding Sources

Communities

Building Better Rural Places
Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Conservation and Community Development
This guide is written for anyone seeking help from federal programs to foster innovative enterprises in agriculture and forestry in the United States. Specifically, the guide addresses program resources in community development; sustainable land management; and value-added and diversified agriculture and forestry.

The Rural Information Center provides information (including funding sources) and referral services for rural communities, officials, organizations and citizens.

The National Forest Foundation's Grant Programs promotes the creation of locally-based forest partnerships. Grants may be used for a wide range of needs including: basic start-up and operating costs, materials and equipment, technical assistance, training, consultants, community outreach, obtaining 501(c)(3) status, program development, group facilitation, nonprofit management skill-building, and communications.

American Express offers philanthropic support in three areas: Community Service, Cultural Heritage, and Economic Independence.

The AT&T Foundation invests in projects that are at the intersection of community needs and AT&T's business interests. Emphasis is placed on programs that serve the needs of people in communities where AT&T has a significant business presence, initiatives that use technology in innovative ways, and programs in which AT&T employees are actively involved as contributors or volunteers.

The Conservation Fund site includes information about four awards, including the Eastman Kodak American Greenways Awards, (a partnership project of Kodak, The Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society), which provides small grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout America.

The Ford Foundation's goals are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. The Foundation makes grants or loans that build knowledge and strengthen organizations and networks.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the following program areas: conservation; population; science; children, families, and communities; arts; and organizational effectiveness and philanthropy. The Foundation provides national and international grants, and also has a special focus on the Northern California counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey.