Sports Foundation Directory

Sports Philanthropy Project published a comprehensive Sports Foundations Directory that contains profiles of professional sports and athlete foundations throughout the United States. We believe it's the most comprehensive directory of its kind in North America.

Please visit the website to see if there are any sports foundations or athlete foundations that you want to approach for funding.

Top Giving Foundations: Texas

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas are the top three giving foundations in California 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 Austin chapter, BDPA Dallas chapter or BDPA Houston chapter leaders if they want to pursue grant proposals to any or all of these 40 funding sources!

Telling Philanthropy's Story

There are 717 community foundations in the United States making grants of about $4.6 billion in their communities. I know because it’s on the cover of a publication about community foundations.

What I don’t know is why anyone would care.

It’s not just that we should be talking about the impact that we have in our communities, the great work we do and support. It’s not that at all.

It’s literally a question of who cares about community foundations? It takes an unusual amount of self-absorption to get comfortable with the idea that a small set of obscure treasury regulations defines an inherently superior vehicle for philanthropy. In fact, I’m not sure community foundations are inherently better or worse as charitable giving vehicles, or more or less important than other forms of philanthropy to our communities.

And I run one.

Just imagine what the people who don’t run one think.

Read the rest of the Philanthropy article.

Wal-Mart Store and Sam's Club Giving Program

The Wal-Mart Foundation supports programs and initiatives addressing education, workforce development, economic sustainability, and health and wellness. For health and wellness in particular, the Foundation looks to improve access to healthcare, promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors, and reduce disparities.

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Eligible applicants include organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3, recognized government entities, volunteer Fire Departments, K-12 Public Schools/Districts, Charter Schools, Colleges, Universities, Private Schools with tax-exempt status, and faith-based organizations.

Take Five Interview: Beverly Place (Quest Diagnostics)

Beverly Place is a certified IT Six Sigma Black Belt employed by Quest Diagnostics. She has been a BDPA member for the past six years ... most recently serving in a leadership position with our BDPA New Jersey chapter. She agreed to be a participant in our ongoing 'Take Five interview series'.

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1. How did you get involved with BDPA? - I became involved with the organization through my employer, Quest Diagnostics. I became aware of BDPA back in 2006 when Quest Diagnostics became a corporate sponsor. Several employees of Quest Diagnostics were provided with corporate memberships into BDPA. I did my research and ultimately begin submitting extracts to be a presenter at the annual national conferences. I have had the opportunity to be a presenter at least 5 times since joining BDPA. I am also proud to have been nominated as President-Elect for the chapter in 2011.
2. What do you see as the biggest benefit of your BDPA membership? - The most valuable asset that I have experienced is the opportunity to network with such a large group of talented and well-connected individuals. It also provides a resource for increasing one's knowledge by participating in the various workshops. Lastly, BDPA conferences and the overall participation keeps an IT Professional aware of what the market needs and changes are.
3. What future evolution or change would you like to see in BDPA? - I would like to see the organization partner with other organizations that are not necessarily IT-focused but instead serve as a Talent Management function. By doing this, I think that the participants of BDPA can use their membership to better connect with and become aware of jobs that are or might become available in their arena. I think also that by partnering with other organizations (e.g., National Association of Black Accountants or International Institute of Business Analysis) we will give members other avenues to advance their careers.
4. What would you like Corporate America to know about BDPA? - Overall, I would like Corporate America to be aware of the tremendous pool of talent that makes up the BDPA organization. Corporate American should embrace and partner with BDPA in order to find a direct connection for resources that might be required for their organization. Finally, I would like to see Corporate America 'Embrace Diversity' in numbers and not just words.
5. Any advice for people considering donation to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF)? - My simple advise to donors would be that this is an opportunity to 'get what you pay for'. Good talent is hard to find but by making the investment, there is benefit for all parties involved.

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You can find Beverly on the LinkedIn Network or the BDPA Groupsite.

Grant Award: Cigna Foundation ($10,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked with BDPA New York chapter grant coordinator Shawn Reid to submit a $15,000 grant proposal to the Cigna Foundation earlier this summer. We just learned that Cigna Foundation approved partial grant funding in the amount of $10,000!

The grant notification message read as follows:

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We are pleased to inform you that application 806623, submitted by BDPA Education and Technology Foundation and requesting Cigna Foundation support for Student Information Technology Education & Scholarships (SITES) program, has been approved in the amount of $10,000.00. We anticipate that this award will be disbursed within four weeks of the transmission date of this e-mail.

This Grant will be sent via U.S. mail to:

Wayne Hicks, Executive Director
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation
4423 Lehigh Road, #277
College Park, MD 20740

If you have any questions about the timing or processing of this disbursement, please contact Cigna Giving at 1-866-865-5277.

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This is great news for 2-time defending 'Chapter of the Year' BDPA New York. They have wonderful programs for young people and for IT professionals. It is nice to see Cigna Foundation recognized the successful implementation of those programs under the leadership of BDPA New York chapter president Renetta English.

Share some love with BDPA New York chapter if you have time or inclination!

GE Foundation

GE Foundation provides grants and invest in initiatives that work to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems. In coordination with their partners, they support U.S. and international education, the environment, public policy, human rights, disaster relief and community success around the globe.

GE Foundation also supports GE employee and retiree giving and involvement in GE communities through employee programs such as the GE Foundation Matching Gifts Program.

GE Foundation does not encourage unsolicited proposals. If you have not received an invitation to submit a proposal or are not currently receiving funding, please explore GE Foundation eligibility requirements.

Does your chapter have any GE employees in it?

McDonald's Corporation Grants

The late McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, built his company on a foundation of ethical business conduct and involvement in our local communities. McDonald’s owner/operators and company-operated restaurants fulfill these vital commitments every day in many ways.

McDonald's Corporation Grants support eduction through nonprofit organizations on a national basis, particularly in areas where they operate. Contact your local McDonald's for their funding priorities and how to access them.

Program areas for these grants focus on: Adult literacy, arts, community involvement, volunteerism, disabilities, general education, health, math, reading, science, environment and technology.

These grants are available in all 50 states. Call (630) 623-7048 if you questions about this funding source.

HP Corporate Foundation

HP Corporate Foundation provides grants to U.S. universities, low-income and ethnically diverse K-12 school districts, national non-profit organizations that align with HP's goals to increase achieivement in math and science, and underserved communities working to address their most pressing issues through reinvention and collaboration.

HP only accepts grant proposals by invitation.

HP supports kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) education programs that enhance math, science, reading, and computer skills; professional development activities that emphasize teachers using technology as a tool in the classroom; or programs that provide educational enrichment and assistance to students before, during or after school (for example - homework centers, mentoring, or science programs). HP also supports programs and partnerships that are national or regional in scope.

Email mailto:philanthropy_ed@hp.com for more information.

There is no point in approaching this corporate foundation without a strong employee champion. Do you have such an employee champion in your BDPA chapter?

America's Dangerous Tech Gap

The digital divide in this country is accelerating, with poor and minority kids still less likely to have access to critical tech tools, from laptops to the Internet. Chelsea Clinton on why this threatens all our futures—and how to tackle it.

Read the full Daily Beast article.

Matching Gift Award: McKesson Foundation ($2,500)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to inform you that the McKesson Foundation awarded us a $2,500 matching gift on behalf of one of its employees. The check came with a letter that read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

We are pleased to offer the attached donation to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation in the amount of $2,500.00, which was made possible by McKesson Foundation Matching Gift Program.

This offer will remain open for 180 days. To accept this offer, please cash the attached check within 180 days. Any donation not accepted by cashing the check will be revoked and the McKesson Foundation will send those funds to the American Cancer Society.

Part of the McKesson Foundation mission is to support our employees' community involvement efforts, and we are proud to be among your current supporters.

Sincerely,
The McKesson Foundation

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Suffice it to say that the check is being cashed right now! Christopher is the president of our BDPA Richmond chapter. He made a $2,500 donation to BETF earlier this year to support the efforts of the 2012 High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team trained by his chapter.  He worked with BETF and his company to get them to make a 100% match of his gift ... and the company cut this check in support of BDPA programs, scholarships and services.

Have you checked to see if your employer as a matching gifts program yet? If not, please do so right away!

Spoken Word: 'I Am Nerd' by Omar Holmon

I saw this young brother doing his thing recently on TV-One's 'Verses & Flow'. His name is Omar Holmon and he is a 4-time Spoken Word Grand Slam champion. I listened to this poem and thought of all of the young brothers and sisters that BDPA works with each year. This could be our anthem in BDPA -- 'I Am Nerd'



Do you have any nerds or spoken word artists in your chapter?

The Status of STEM in Your State

Change the Equation recently unveiled its 2012 Vital Signs, which measure the health of K-12 STEM learning, state by state. Created in collaboration with the American Institutes for Research, Vital Signs offer the most comprehensive available picture of STEM in your state:

• demand for and supply of STEM skills
• resources schools and teachers have to do their work
• students' access to learning opportunities
• what states expect of students

Vital Signs was made possible by generous support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Top Giving Foundations: California

The The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The David and Lucille Packard Foundation and The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation are the top three giving foundations in California 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 Bay Area chapter or BDPA Los Angeles chapter leaders if they want to pursue grant proposals to any or all of these 40 funding sources!

'The Business Landscape of Cloud Computing' by Daryl Plummer

Daryl Plummer is a past member of the National BDPA Board of Directors. He served as our outside director for a couple of years. Daryl is a Gartner Fellow responsible for that companies research into Cloud Computing and Emerging Technologies. He is one of the highest-ranking African Americans in the consulting realm of the IT industry.

One of the things I always appreciated about Daryl was his ability to break down high-powered technology and leadership concepts into practical language and images that everyone could understand. He continues to demonstrate that skill with the publication of a new eBook, The Business Landscape of Cloud Computing.

He breaks down the concept of 'Cloud Computing' in the following way:

"Cloud computing means someone else runs your computers and software while you use what they deliver and focus on delivering value."

All of the most important cloud computing topics are covered including security, ROI, Cloud Services Brokerage (third party intermediaries), and the ever present question of private vs. public. Mr. Plummer even ventures into macro economic territory in looking at the impact of cloud computing, job creation, and as more companies move into the cloud, the question of whether or not some cloud infrastructure providers become Too Big to Fail?

If you are new to cloud, this is a must read. If you have been working with the cloud for a while now, it is a great reminder that the real value of the cloud is what is possible because of the cloud, or to use Daryl’s words the cloud allows you to focus on value [rather than technology].

I encourage all BDPA members to check out this eBook.

BDPA Sponsor CincyTech Invests in Black-Owned Lisnr

CincyTech became a BDPA corporate sponsor as part of their commitment to increase the level of investment in the minority community within the IT industry. As such, BDPA is very happy to report that CincyTech has invested in the interactive audio start-up company Lisnr and referred it to Centrifuge, where it is the first tenant of the new innovation hub.

The founder of Lisnr is a brother ... Rodney Williams! His company is a mobile-based application that allows artists/labels to create exclusive content and for fans to change their otherwise passive listening experience into an experience that is interactive and engaging.

Using Lisnr's patent-pending technology, the app will hear the track and unlock exclusive content for the fan. Lisnr has identified three verticals in which its product can be used: in music, in live performances, and in broadcasts, and in three different types of interactions: with consumers, with brands, and with advertisers.

Founder and CEO Rodney Williams (shown above) left Procter & Gamble to launch Lisnr with Blackbook HR founder Chris Ostoich and developer Chris Ridenour. For more information about Lisnr visit Lisnr.

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!

Volunteer Grant Award: McKesson Foundation ($500)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to inform you that the McKesson Foundation awarded us a $500 volunteer grant on behalf of one of its employees. The check came with a letter that read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

We are pleased to offer the attached donation to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation in the amount of $500.00, which was made possible by McKesson employee Christopher Parker's involvement with your organization. Part of the McKesson Foundation mission is to support our employees' community involvement efforts, and we are proud to be among your current supporters.

This offer will remain open for 180 days. To accept this offer, please cash the attached check within 180 days. Any donation not accepted by cashing the check will be revoked and the McKesson Foundation will send those funds to the American Cancer Society.

Sincerely,
The McKesson Foundation

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Suffice it to say that the check is being cashed right now! Christopher is the president of our BDPA Richmond chapter. He let his company know about his volunteer efforts as a member of the chapter's board of directors ... and the company cut this check in support of BDPA programs, scholarships and services.

Have you checked to see if your employer as a volunteer grant program yet? If not, please do so right away!

Grant Alert: Computing Education for the 21st Century Grant

The National Science Foundation has published a request for proposals on its 'Computing Education for the 21st Century Grant'. The Computing Education for the 21st Century program aims to build a robust computing research community, a computationally competent 21st century workforce, and a computationally empowered citizenry. The grant deadline is March 13, 2013.

Go to grant.

Comerica Charitable Foundation

The Comerica Charitable Foundation funding priorities support community needs in their primary markets within Texas, Michigan, California, Arizona, and Florida. They accept applications for cash grants to support program and capital expenses of nonprofit organizations whose mission meets the foundation’s priorities for giving.

Review Process - Each request is individually reviewed for eligibility. Requesting organizations will receive notification of a funding decision during the Grant Season schedule described below.

Giving Priorities - The Comerica Charitable Foundation regularly reviews needs in each of their geographic focus areas to ensure grant allocations are directed to support the most critical needs in our communities. Their giving priorities include:

Education including "Financial literacy programs (K-12 and adult)" and Programs supporting Diversity and Inclusion.

Funding Schedule - Four Annual Grant Seasons

To help them better respond to community needs as they emerge, and to maintain ongoing outreach with their community partners, Comerica established four Grant Seasons during which charitable organizations may apply to receive support from the Comerica Charitable Foundation:

411 W Lafayette Mc 3415
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 222-6325

Jan. 1 – March 15 (Grants announced April 15)
April 1 – June 15 (Grants announced July 15)
July 1 – Sept. 15 (Grants announced Oct. 15)
Oct. 1 – Nov. 15 (Grants announced Dec. 15)
It appears that we have local BDPA chapter co-located with Comerica Charitable Foundation markets in: Austin, Bay Area, Dallas, Detroit, Gr. Tampa Bay, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando and South Florida. Anyone interested in seeking funding from Comerica Charitable Foundation?