2011-12 County 4-H Innovative Grant Timeline
May 31, 2011: 2010-11 grant reports due to the State 4-H Office for programs conducted Oct. 1 to Apr. 30.
May 6, 2011: Grants applications available
July 1, 2011: Grant applications due
September 30, 2011: Grant recipients announced
September 30, 2011: 2010-11 grant reports due to the State 4-H Office for programs conducted May 1 to Aug. 31.
May 31, 2012: 2011-12 grant reports due to the State 4-H Office for programs conducted Oct. 1 to Apr. 30.
or September 30, 2012: 2011-12 grant reports due to the State 4-H Office for programs conducted May 1 to Aug. 31.
County Innovative Grant Application Packet & Form NOW AVAILABLE!
4-H County Innovative Grants offered for 2011-12:
The Michigan 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees annually approves the distribution of competitive grant funds to encourage development of innovative
4-H program opportunities in local communities. These grants are designed to encourage program planning and participation by 4-H members and volunteers in partnership with county MSU Extension 4‑H program staff members.
We are pleased to be able to offer eight grant opportunities for the 2011-12
4-H program year.
1. Michigan 4-H Legacy Grants
The purpose of the Michigan 4-H Legacy grants is to encourage creativity and support the implementation of great ideas that promote positive youth development in communities. Grants are available for Michigan 4-H volunteers, 4-H youth members and 4-H staff members to develop a new program or initiative or to strengthen, enhance or expand a current program that’s making a difference. Innovative local projects that build on solid principles of positive youth development and expand 4-H opportunities for young people will be considered. These grants are funded by the Michigan 4-H Legacy Fund endowment. A total of two (2) $1,000 grants are currently available.
2. Dow Chemical County 4-H Youth Conservation Council Grants
The purpose of the Dow Chemical County 4-H Youth Conservation Council Grant is to encourage and support development of county-based youth conservation councils. County youth conservation councils consist of a group of teens, ages 13 to 19, who have an interest in learning about local environmental issues and influencing public policy in their county, city or township governments. Applicants for the Dow Chemical County 4-H Youth Conservation Council mini-grant must be willing to engage youth representing multi-ethnic communities in this leadership opportunity that provides environmental stewardship education and advocacy and also encourages the use of technology as a learning, research and presentation tool. Currently five (5) grants valued at $1,000 in training, curriculum and financial support are available. Each grantee will receive $750 in cash to develop a county-based 4-H youth conservation council and $250 in required training scholarships and handbook for developing a local council. These grants are funded by the Dow Chemical Company Foundation.
3. 4-H On-Target County Grant
The On-Target County Grant is designed to help county 4-H Shooting Sports programs enhance existing programs, develop a new program or offer a special experience related to 4-H Shooting Sports. Thanks to the generous support of Thomas Cobb, former Michigan 4-H Foundation president, counties have an opportunity to apply for funds in this area each year. Two (2) $500 grants are available.
4. NorthStar Cooperative 4-H Dairy Science Grant
The NorthStar Cooperative 4-H Dairy Science grants offer opportunity for 4-H youth and volunteers working in 4-H Dairy Science to strengthen existing county 4-H dairy science programs or use as seed money to develop new innovations in the way 4-H Dairy Science learning takes place for young people. Thanks to the generous support of the members of NorthStar Cooperative, Inc., county or state 4-H groups have opportunity to apply for funds to advance their learning. Two (2) $500 grants are available.
5. OMEDA Youth Tractor Safety Education Grants
Helping families living and working on farms develop youth tractor safety practices is the purpose of the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association (OMEDA) grants for county MSU Extension educators. 4-H youth staff members are encouraged to partner with their county MSUE agricultural educators and volunteers to offer learning experiences that promote safe tractor operations. These grants are funded by a gift from the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association. Two (2) $250 grant awards are currently available.
6. Ousterhout Regional or District Teen Leadership Training Grant
This grant is offered every other year to provide support for the addition of a teen leadership training focus to any regional or district 4-H volunteer training event. The grant can be used to provide scholarships for teens to attend a relevant regional or district volunteer training event, or to support the addition of a specific teen leadership focus to a regional or district event. This grant is made possible by the Ousterhout Regional Endowment and the Turner-Outsterhout Endowment for Teen Leadership Training. One (1) $500 grant is available.
7. Michigan 4-H Outbound International Travel Grants (New This Year!)
These grants are awarded to 4-H youth who have applied and been accepted to travel as part of a Michigan 4-H sponsored outbound international travel experience such as Labo, IFYE, Poland, Belize or other Michigan 4-H sponsored international travel opportunities. These travel scholarships are provided with support from the Michigan Division, Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association, raised annually through their International Tea; and the Michigan 4-H International Endowment Fund created with gifts from Michigan 4-H IFYE alumni and other donors. Four (4) $500 travel scholarships are available for 2011 travel experiences.
Those receiving scholarships will be required to complete the following as part of their scholarship requirements:
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Write an article (1-2 pages or more) on one or more concepts learned through the travel program. Submit at least two good photos with the article (completed by September 15).
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Develop a display poster on your experience. This should include photos and information telling about your experience. (Completed by October 1).
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Give a talk/report to two or more groups in your county. These may include 4-H groups, service clubs (i.e. Kiwanis, Rotary), grange, school classrooms, etc. (completed by December 1).
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A scholarship winner must attend and do a presentation at the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association International Tea in the first September after their return.
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Scholarship applications are only made available to 4-H members approved for international travel each 4-H program year.
8. 4-H Educational Garden Grant
The purpose of 4-H Educational Garden Grants is to stimulate the creation of local 4-H educational gardens in Michigan. This program will increase the opportunities for high quality and high visibility 4-H programming in communities, will create a connection for youth and 4-H volunteers to resources from the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden and will encourage creative 4-H volunteer leadership in communities. These grants are made possible by the Albert A. Albright Endowment for Plant Science and Gardening Education. Currently two (2) $1,000 grants are available. An award could be made in subsequent years to the same project. Other requirements are:
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Gardens must be in public places but not necessarily on public property. 4-H centers, YMCAs and other community centers, fairgrounds, places of worship, parks and schools are examples of suitable places.
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The garden must use the 4-H name and must follow appropriate use of the 4-H emblem as stated online at http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/4h_name.htm. The garden planners/managers will commit to a set of educational programs that involve 4-H members and other children with the garden for a minimum number of years. The curator of the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden and/or designee will visit any funded local 4-H garden at least once in the initiation phase and on future occasions as arranged.
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Every effort will be made to link the local 4-H educational gardens with the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens through technology and on-site visits to the MSU campus gardens.
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For creative ideas, we encourage you to visit the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden at http://www.4hgarden.msu.edu or contact Norman Lownds, Curator of the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden at Michigan State University at lownds@msu.edu or (517) 355-5191, ext. 1-349.