Golden LEAF Foundation

The Golden LEAF Foundation sought proposals for a special $4 million initiative geared toward preparing North Carolina’s youth for careers requiring skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Organizations receiving funding under the Golden LEAF STEM Initiative can receive up to $750,000 for projects spanning a three-year period.

The Initiative focused on supporting successful models that increase STEM education for students in grades 4 through 9 in rural, economically distressed or tobacco-dependent counties of North Carolina.

Priorities

1. Comprehensive programs that are evidence-based and represent systemic approaches to STEM education that include in-school, out-of-school or extended day and support programs that provide assistance to students transitioning from elementary to middle and middle to high school.
2. Programs that represent collaboration among public schools, higher education, community and relevant industry partners.
3. Initiatives that target improved academic performance in and preparation for advanced STEM curricula by minorities, females and students from limited resource families.
4. Programs to serve students in 4th through 9th grades that place priority on curricular approaches that are integrated, utilize project and inquiry based learning concepts and prepare students for successful completion of Algebra I by 8th or 9th grade as a gateway to participation in advanced placement courses.
5. Competitive proposals will target under-represented minorities, females and limited resource students.

Proposals should include strategies that:

• are comprehensive,
• use integrated curricular approaches and inquiry and project based learning experiences,
• prepare students for success in Algebra I and advanced math and science courses,
• incorporate content specific professional development for teachers, and

• provide relevant career and work connections for teachers and students.

Applicants were encouraged to think regionally, draw connections to industry sectors, and align with outcome measures in college and career readiness, student achievement, participation and engagement, teacher effectiveness, and other economic impact measures important to the state.

Applicants sought funds to cover programmatic costs. Requests for capital or construction costs are considered low priority. Priority will be given to rural, Tier I & II counties that currently have low concentrations of STEM programs.

BDPA has two chapters in North Carolina. Neither chapter expressed interest in this funding source. Perhaps next time...

Top Giving Foundations: North Carolina

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Foundation for The Carolinas and The Duke Endowment are the top three giving foundations in North Carolina as determined by the Grantsmanship Center. [SOURCE]

There are 37 other top giving foundations listed. All of the listed foundations have a staff, issue RFPs, or otherwise indicate an interest in receiving proposals.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is willing to work with our BDPA Charlotte chapter or BDPA Triangle chapter leaders if they want to pursue grant proposals to any or all of these 40 funding sources!

BETF Executive Director Wins BAM Award for Excellence in Education and Technology in North Carolina

I was surprised and honored to receive the following notice from the Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) folks down in North Carolina.

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You have been selected to receive the BAM Award for Excellence in Education & Technology, in celebration of our 20 Year Anniversary & BAM Minority Student Day (BMSD), which will be held February 11, 2010 at our Microsoft Charlotte Campus. Following the awards presentation, we invite you have lunch with our High School students from 12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM.

This Award recognizes four national and community leaders including yourself that have made significant contributions in the field of Education or Technology. Honorees include the following:

1. Dr. Ronald Carter, President, Johnson C. Smith University
2. Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System
3. Wayne Hicks, Executive Director,  BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF)
4. Johnny Taylor, President/CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund & Ebony Power 100 Leaders in America for Academia

BMSD is a Microsoft signature program that give’s high school students the opportunity to learn about careers in technology, listen to executive speakers, connect with Microsoft employees, participate in hands-on computer demonstrations, cutting edge technologies, and learn about High School Internships and College Scholarships. The ultimate purpose of the event is to expose students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds to the exciting opportunities in the field of technology.

We anticipate 150+ High School students in attendance throughout the Carolinas Region, including media coverage.  As part of this event, we are also inviting students pursuing STEM careers from Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), Johnson C. Smith University, and UNC Charlotte as participants.

One of our key highlights will be showing CPCC/UNC Charlotte as our Gaming & Simulation Division Winners of our Microsoft 2010 US Imagine Cup student competition. Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition hosted by Microsoft. Open to high school, college, and university students across the globe. Prior BMSD speakers have included: Bill Gates, Microsoft Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft; and Mike Rucker, Retired NFL Carolina Panther & Pre-game Commentator as examples.

Microsoft Charlotte is one of 4 large field campuses outside of our Redmond, Washington headquarters. Most of our 1,250 employees who live and work in North Carolina support Fortune 500 and other enterprise customers and partners to provide sales, consulting, and support services for many of our Flagship Products and Developer Technologies. We work with more than 2,665 partner companies that build technology tools and services on the Microsoft platform, creating jobs and revenue in North Carolina. Since 2003, we have given and matched employee gifts totaling more than $62.5 million in cash, curriculum, software and volunteer hours in North Carolina.

We are pleased to announce that North Carolina is the first state in the nation to adopt a Microsoft IT Academy in all 628 NC High Schools. The program will give students the opportunity to learn in-demand software and technical skills as well as earn industry-recognized certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) or a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).

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I am humbled by this honor. I look forward to visiting with BDPA supporters in Charlotte for the BAM Minority Student Day in February 2011.

Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management Scholarship for BDPA Students (Deadline Extended: 12/31/2010)

Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management (CESM) executive director Lonnie Emard is enthusiastic about his work. CESM is a collaboration of companies, colleges and universities, and community groups that share a mission: Increase the supply in the IT talent pipeline. As such, Mr. Emard thought it would be a great idea to offer a scholarship for any qualified high school student in BDPA-nation.

Applicants must excel academically, show exceptional leadership potential, and make an impact on their communities through service to others. Applicants need to (a) be from South Carolina or North Carolina or (b) attend a college in either of these two states.

Consortium/BDPA Scholars will be awarded a one-time $2,000 scholarship that may be used to pursue an information technology focused degree at an accredited four-year college or university of their choice located in South Carolina or North Carolina. The Consortium/BDPA scholarship may be used to supplement benefits from the college or university a student plans to attend and fellowships from other foundations or organizations. Students may use the scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other college-related expenses.

Scholarship winners will be selected based on the application, essay, and letters of recommendation.

The deadline has been extended to December 31, 2010 and we want to see great activity from our students ... especially those in our BDPA chapters located in Charlotte, Greater Columbia or Triangle.

Download the application to see the details!