TERRE HAUTE — Under a new one-time “Better Together” program, the Wabash Valley Community Foundation will provide one grant of up to $50,000 to nonprofit agencies in Vigo, Clay or Sullivan counties that collaborate on a common issue.
“You folks know what is needed in the trenches. We are encouraging organizations to identify one or more other organizations to develop a collaborative project,” Beth Tevlin, executive director of the foundation told a group of nonprofit agencies Wednesday at the MCL Conference Center at The Meadows shopping center.
Tevlin said the Community Foundation has been reviewing grant requests since 1991 and has found “many similarities between what is needed by nonprofit agencies.”
“We are trying to make a significant impact. It is very hard to make a significant impact if you are giving out 10 $5,000 grants, but one $50,000 grant that impacts say four different agencies, you might be able to make a true difference in what they are able to provide to their constituents,” Tevlin said after a breakfast for the nonprofit organizations.
As examples, Tevlin said individual nonprofit agencies may not be able to afford a truck to pick up and then deliver food, but several agencies could support one truck to serve a group of agencies. Another example is agencies can collaborate to hire a single accountant to work with each agency in a collaborative group or a group can collaborate on a marketing effort.
“We know, because we have done it before, that collaborations are not easy. They require some work,” Tevlin said. To help agencies collaborate, the Community Foundation will offer five to seven planning grants of $2,000 to help assist with expenses such as hiring a facilitator for a collaboration or provide mileage reimbursements or even meals to allow agencies to meet.
Tim Fagg, chief executive officer of The Light House Mission, said the idea of getting nonprofit agencies to collaborate on a project “is a great idea. When you look at the number of agencies that are in the Wabash Valley, a lot of us are trying to do the same thing,” Fagg said. “Collaborating gets more bang for the dollar and more people served.”
Fagg said the mission already has a partnership with Salvation Army and can collaborate with other agencies such as Crisis Pregnancy Center or Catholic Charities. “Even if we don’t get the grant, whoever does get the grant, it will go to good use in the Wabash Valley,” Fagg said.
Josie Blake, executive director of the Wabash Valley Senior Citizens Center, said she also supports the concept of agencies collaborating to receive a larger grant.
“I think it is a good idea. We will look to get together with Area 7 on Aging, The Foster Grandparent Program [through Western Indiana Community Action Agency] and Senior Education Ministries, a recently formed non-profit group, to see what we can come up with that we can all benefit from. I am not sure what we will come up with yet, but I think we can collaborate,” Blake said.
Tevlin said applying for the collaborative grant will not exclude an agency from applying for regular cycle grants from the foundation. The Wabash Valley Community Foundation manages more than $29 million in permanent endowment, designated, scholarship and special project funds for charitable contributions. The foundation in 2008 dispersed more than $8.9 million in grants, according to its annual report.
Nonprofit agencies must apply for planning grants by March 1, 2010, with the $2,000 grant paid on March 31. Proposals for the grant of up to $50,000 are due Oct. 1. The foundation will award the single grant by Dec. 31, 2010. Agencies then have three years to implement their collaborative project and use the grant funds.
Nonprofit agencies can obtain proposal guidelines for the Better Together grant by contacting Tevlin or Kelli Miller, program director, at the Wabash Valley Community Foundation at (812) 232-2234 or www.wvcf.com. The foundation is at 2901 Ohio Blvd., Suite 153, in Terre Haute.
Tevlin said the Better Together grant may be continued in the future “depending on results and responses we see and funding will determine if a second opportunity is made.”
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com
Local & Bistate
Teamwork grant aims to make big impact
Foundation urges collaborate effort with ‘Better Together’ program
- Local & Bistate
-
-
UPDATE: Fatal semi accident closes eastbound I-70 in Hendricks County
A fatal semitrailer accident and resulting material spill earlier this morning resulted in the closing of eastbound Interstate 70 at the 57-mile marker in Hendricks County, according to an Indiana State Police news release. The roadway remained closed as of 2 p.m.
-
Valentine's Day a rosy business
Red roses, mixed bouquets and even a bonsai tree or two are being delivered today on perhaps the nation’s sweetest holiday.
-
Downtown gets Wi-Fi ‘hotspot’
Frontier Communications has reached an agreement with city officials to create a Wi-Fi “hotspot” covering much of downtown Terre Haute.
-
Board OKs $5.4M in work at schools
The Vigo County School Board has approved borrowing $5.4 million for an expansion of DeVaney Elementary School and energy-related projects at 15 other schools.
-
Stella’s Cafe downtown plans to close March 2
Not long after changing its name from Bit of Britain Tea Room to Stella’s Cafe, a downtown restaurant has announced plans to close its doors.
-
Bill would ease college credit transfers
Indiana college students worried about whether their credit hours will transfer to another university may get some relief if a proposed higher-education bill passes.
-
Court alters trial date for man accused in 1979 death case
A trial date has changed for a Riley man accused of a 1979 homicide.
-
Shift to online raises school cost concerns
Legislation that would require high school students in Indiana to take at least one online course is meeting resistance from some school administrators who say they can’t afford any more mandates from the state.
-
Cops nab man after squad car struck
A West Terre Haute man was arrested Monday after a police pursuit that began after his vehicle collided with a Terre Haute police car.
-
Victim unhurt when robbed by gunman
Terre Haute police were searching late Monday night for a suspect accused of using a gun to rob another person at about 7 p.m.
-
Man face gun charge after woman shot in leg
A Terre Haute man faces a misdemeanor firearms charge following an accidental shooting during the weekend.
-
Packing the hall
If you didn’t come early, the seats were hard to find.
-
Alternative-fuel project has Rose, ISU students all charged up
The future of Earth’s auto industry is intertwined with the career prospects of local university students, and a world-class team shined with green energy Sunday.
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
UPDATE: Fatal semi accident closes eastbound I-70 in Hendricks County
Raw Video: Kim Jong Il Statue Unveiled
Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub
Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J.
Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home
Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death
Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star
First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Obama's New Budget: The Winners and Losers
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash.
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Attempted Bomb Attack Stopped in Georgia
Israeli Diplomats Targeted in India, Georgia
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Sports Illustrated Cover Leaked
Swimmer makes surprise marriage proposal in Mo.
Whitney Houston Funeral Arrangements Set
Scarlett Johansson's Bikini P-D-A
Bayne ready to defend 500
Man Allegedly Drowns Wife While Scuba Diving
The 'Celebrity Apprentice' Cast Meets Donald Trump
Wash. becomes 7th state to okay same-sex marriage
Romijn's 60 Pound Weight Loss
Kissing contest heats up
Hugh Hefner's Son Arrested
Jacqueline Kennedy's personal papers released
Did Tyler Perry Have a Secret Wedding?
Iran denies Israeli embassy bombings
'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean
Facebook Parenting: Father Posts Video Responding to Daughter's Post
Bobby Brown on Houston's Death
