Highline Community College is holding a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 9th for not-for-profit organizations on how to pursue grant money.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Community College workshop on the entire grant-getting process.

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 9th from 9:00 a.m. – noon (module 1) and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (module 2)

WHERE: Highline Community College – Des Moines Campus

COST: $59 per module; $110 for both modules

INFO: Designed for not-for-profit organizations new to pursuing grants, this workshop provides an overview of the entire grant-getting process. In particular, it addresses: assessing the applicant organization’s readiness to apply for a grant, researching funding prospects, cultivating relationships with prospective/current funders, writing the grant application, and what to do after its submission. The focus of the workshop is on foundation grants.

REGISTER: Contact Highline Community College at 206.870.3785 or via http://flightline.highline.edu/cel

AGENDA:

• The Grant-Getting Process (or Don’t Wait ‘Til The Day Before It’s Due to Work On The Application)
• Grant-Getting Readiness: You Need More Than A Need For Money
• Funder Fundamentals: Researching & Cultivating Relationships With Funders
• Work Plans And Other Ways to Save Your Sanity
• Completing The Grant Application
• Make Your Application Stand Out
• Summary of Key Concepts

About the Instructor: Lisa Arnold is a consultant to not-for-profit organizations, has worked for over 20 years in the nonprofit arena, and has a Master’s Degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago. She has produced and/or taught numerous fundraising and other workshops for nonprofits throughout Puget Sound. These include a six-day training series in conjunction with the Gill Foundation (production); and workshops at the Evergreen State College, the University of Washington, Highline Community College, and South Seattle Community College.

Des Moines is one of four South King County communities to be awarded a $50,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology meant to help them comply with federal regulations regarding toxic runoff from streets and other surfaces.

The grant money will be applied toward anything from equipment purchases and storm drain cleaning to public education and outreach.

Recipient cities include:

• Des Moines
• Kent
• Normandy Park
• SeaTac

Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D – Des Moines), who chairs the state House Ecology and Parks Committee, says the timing of the awards couldn’t be better.

“Toxic runoff is one of the major causes of pollution to Puget Sound,” Upthegrove said. “Research clearly shows it is a threat both to drinking water and marine life. These grants will help communities that are already operating on lean budgets still meet federal requirements to address this very serious environmental health issue.”

About 14 million pounds of toxic pollutants – including petroleum, pesticides, and heavy metals – enter Puget Sound each year. This constant influx of hazardous substances kills fish, closes beaches to swimming, and threatens drinking water supplies. It imperils the region’s economy, not only because of the state’s reliance on water resources, but because cash-strapped municipalities lack sufficient funding to pay for cleanup efforts.

All four cities plan to use part of the grant money for detection of pollutants within their stormwater systems. By pinpointing the source sites where pollutants enter these systems, they can take the necessary steps to address the problem. Public education efforts will also be undertaken, to help teach people how they can help prevent toxic runoff from their homes and businesses.

“The clock is ticking for us to save Puget Sound, and how cities deal with toxic runoff is going to determine whether or not we’ll be successful,” Upthegrove said. “This extra boost in state funds will help these communities move forward with pollution prevention efforts.”

The Rotary Club of Des Moines Foundation has awarded $3,000 in Grants to four schools in the Highline District:

• Pacific Middle School received funding to purchase original slave narratives to support the history department.
• Des Moines Elementary received funding for computer software to promote reading fluency.
• Midway Elementary received funds to support a cooperative science project with Aviation High School students mentoring Midway elementary school students.
• A grant to Mt. Rainier High School will support the purchase of audio books to support reading comprehension skills and books to help students become more successful learners in high school.

The Rotary Club of Des Moines mini grant program offers grants of up to $1,000 to local public schools to promote educational and cultural activities that encourage learning and educational opportunities in the community.

The grants are made possible by the Rotary Club fundraising such as the annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival and the recent Sports Night Dinner and Auction at the Des Moines Field House.