Business Development Archives

Apply for McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism: Supporting Business & Economic Stories!

Deadline: 31 May 2016

The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Business Journalism, a new initiative established at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism is currently accepting applications for its McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism, whose aim is to support in-depth, ambitious coverage of critical issues related to the global economy and business.

The McGraw Fellowship provides editorial and financial support to journalists who need the time and resources to produce a significant story or series that provides fresh insight into an important business or economic topic.

The McGraw Center provides editorial supervision during the Fellowship. The McGraw Center will work with the Fellows to develop their projects during the reporting phase and frequently edit the completed stories.

Grant Information

The fellowship will provide grants of $5,000 per month for one to three months.

Eligibility Criteria

The McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism is open to anyone with at least five years professional experience in journalism.
Freelance journalists, as well as reporters and editors currently working at a news organization, may apply.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a well-focused story proposal of no more than three pages through the accompanying online form via given website.

For more information, please visit Fellowship for Business Journalism.

Bureau of INL Enforcement Affairs: Enhancing Rule of Law Advocacy in Nicaraguan Citizens

Deadline: 31 May 2016

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is seeking applications from organisations to enhance Nicaraguan citizens’ awareness of Rule of Law (ROL) principles, in order to advocate for strong ROL in Nicaragua.

Objectives

Support law students to improve their ethical and analytical capacity with regard to ROL.
Help private business owners to increase their awareness and improve their capacity to advocate for ROL
Help CSOs to improve their organizational capacity to include ROL as a cross-cutting theme in their existing and future citizen security programs

Funding Information: The anticipated total federal funding amount is not to exceed $1,000,000.

Eligibility Criteria

U.S. non-profit organization or a U.S. private/state educational institution meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3) and can demonstrate current country registration in Nicaragua. Should the applicant be selected for an award, funding will be contingent upon 501(c)(3) status;
Local, in-country, non-profit organization, educational institution, or private institutions that can demonstrate current country registration in Nicaragua, competent programmatic ability, and ability to meet INL reporting requirements;
Must have demonstrated experience implementing similar education or capacity building programs, preferably in Nicaragua. INL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering similar programs and/or federal grant awards.
Applicants must have the ability to produce course materials, deliver training, and conduct evaluations in Spanish and English. The applicant’s staff should be proficient in English in order to fulfill reporting requirements.
Applicants must have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with stakeholders in order to successfully carry out the proposed program.
Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.
Applicants must be able to respond to the NOFO and be able to mobilize in a short period of time.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply via given website.

For more information, please visit ROL Advocacy to Increase Citizen Security.

U.S.Small Business Administration: Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs

Deadline: 29 April 2016

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is inviting proposals for funding from private, nonprofit microenterprise development organizations, microenterprise development programs run by State/Local/Tribal Governments or Indian tribes for Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) to provide assistance and guidance to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs and/or microenterprise development organizations.

Purpose

Technical Assistance: To provide training and technical assistance programs to disadvantaged entrepreneurs including training specifically designed to:
- Strengthen the capacity of cooperatives serving economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and areas;
- To support entrepreneurship among ex-offenders in the criminal justice system, especially those on parole, probation or incarcerated persons soon to be released
Capacity Building: To provide training and capacity building services to MDOs, microenterprise development programs, and groups of such organizations to assist them in developing microenterprise training and services, including services geared towards building MDO capacity to provide business training and technical assistance to:
- Cooperatives serving economically disadvantaged areas;
- To support entrepreneurship among ex-offenders in the criminal justice system, especially those on parole, probation or incarcerated individuals soon to be released.

Funding Information: SBA expects to issue up to $5,000,000 of awards and will have a one-year period of performance.

Eligibility Criteria

An organization may not submit multiple proposals, or proposals under multiple Tracks. In the event SBA receives multiple proposals or proposals under multiple Tracks from a single organization, all proposals submitted by that organization will be automatically rejected without evaluation.
A microenterprise development organization or program (or group or Collaborative thereof), such as a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution or similar entity, that has a demonstrated record of delivering microenterprise services to disadvantaged entrepreneurs; or
An Intermediary which has experience in delivering technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs
A microenterprise development organization or program that is accountable to a local community, working in conjunction with a State or local government or Indian Tribe; or
An Indian tribe acting on its own, if it can certify that no private organization or program referred to above exists within its jurisdiction.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply via given website.

For more information, please visit Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs.

USDA/NIFA: Inviting Applicants for Aquaculture Research Competitive Grants Program

Deadline: 17 May 2016

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), an agency of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is inviting applicants for Aquaculture Research Competitive Grants Program to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. by generating new science-based information and technology to address industry constraints.

Results of projects supported by this program are intended to help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.- produced products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America.

Funding Information: The anticipated amount available for NIFA support of this program in FY 2016 is approximately $1.2 million, which is anticipated to fund four to five awards in FY 2016.

Program Area Priorities

Genetics of commercial aquaculture species;
Critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species;
Design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems;
Economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability

Eligibility Criteria

Applications may only be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research, extension, or education activities to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the United States.
Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.
Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must submit their application packages electronically via given website.

For more information, please visit Aquaculture Research.

USDA: Call for Applications for Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program

Deadline: 20 June 2016

The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development is seeking applications from nonprofit corporations and institutions for Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program (RCDG) with an aim to improve the economic condition of rural areas by assisting individuals and businesses in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers.

Funding Information: The maximum award amount per grant is $200,000.

Priority Areas

Conducting feasibility studies
Developing business plans
Providing leadership and operational improvement training
Facilitating strategic planning

Eligibility Criteria

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
The Center can be located in any area, but the individuals and business assisted must be located in an eligible rural area.
All project activities must be for the benefit of a rural area.
Only one application can be submitted per applicant.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must submit applications electronically via given website.

For more information, please visit Rural Cooperative Development Grant.

USAID/Ukraine: AID-VENTURE to Support Private Sector Actors

Deadline: 16 May 2016

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ukraine is seeking applications from qualified U.S. Private Voluntary Organisations(PVOs) or regional Non-U.S. non-profit or for-profit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for funding of an activity entitled “Facilitating Access to Venture Funding in Belarus (AID-VENTURE) with an aim to support private sector actors, both local and international.

The AID-VENTURE activity will help create the framework and basic conditions for the expansion of venture funding in Belarus.

Objectives

Contribute to the creation of the legal and regulatory framework conducive to venture funding
Expand the availability of venture capital: help build the local community of private venture investors and integrate Belarus in the international venture funding ecosystem
Build capacity for venture fund creation
Strengthen connections between demand and supply: bringing investors closer to start-ups

Funding Information: Subject to funding availability, USAID intends to provide $2,469,000 in total USAID funding over a 5-year period.

Eligibility Criteria

USAID encourages applications from potential new partners.
USAID will not accept applications from individuals.
To be eligible for award of Cooperative Agreement organizations must have a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non‐discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.
Applicants may utilize the services of consultants, for-profit organizations, foundations, universities and other partners for specific tasks or activities under the award, but these services should be included as individual line items in the applicant’s budget and the service providers will not be considered as sub-awardees.
Only U.S. PVOs and Non-U.S. (regional/local) NGOs are eligible for awards.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must submit their application packages electronically via given website.

For more information, please visit Facilitating Access to Venture Funding in Belarus.

Food & Business Applied Research Fund: Apply to win up to 300,000 Euros

Deadline: 5 July 2016

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is currently seeking applications for its Food & Business Applied Research Fund (ARF), providing grants to applied research contributing to innovation for food security and private sector development in the 15 partner countries of Dutch development cooperation.

ARF aims at promoting research supported innovations that are readily applicable and contribute to the enhancement of sustainable food security for the most vulnerable populations in the fifteen partner countries of Dutch development cooperation.

Grant Value

A grant amounts to a minimum of 50,000 euros (for six months) and a maximum of 300,000 euros (for 36 months). Per 6 months a maximum of 50,000 euros ARF subsidy can be applied for.

Grants should contribute directly to the project. Reimbursable cost includes:

Personnel and overhead: Salaries for personnel, which should be guided by the organisations’ norms and legal regulations for the country concerned.
Audit costs: for a final external independent audit up to a maximum of 5,000 euros, so as to review and verify the correct application and justification of the ARF grant and the co-funding contributions.
Travel and accommodation: Travel and accommodation expenses for consortium partners and of the expenses incurred in short trips (<3 months) of team members directly related to the project up to a maximum of 20 per cent of the ARF grant budget.
Research costs: durables (buildings excluded), consumables, assistance.
Knowledge sharing costs: activities organised by the consortium, such as workshops (including evaluation workshops), capacity building, meetings, local/regional dissemination of results aimed at involving stakeholders from outside the consortium up to a maximum of 15 per cent of the ARF grant budget.

Eligibility Criteria

A consortium applying for the ARF should consist of at least two partners that integrate different kinds of knowledge and execute a project as an effort of co-creation:

A private or public practitioner organisation registered in one of the fifteen partner countries of Dutch development cooperation acting as the main applicant.
A research organisation from a partner country or from the Netherlands, acting as co-applicant.
In case the organisation/company is not a local branch of a Dutch partner or the research organisation is not from the Netherlands, a third co-applicant is required, that is from The Netherlands. This can be a private or public practitioner organisation or a research organisation.

In the execution of the project at least one researcher from a partner country must be involved (not necessarily as consortium member). The involvement of additional partners, acting as co-applicant is encouraged. Next to this, gender expertise and female participation is required in the consortium and/or the project team.

Eligible Partner Countries

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Yemen.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through an online process.

For more information, please visit Applied Research Fund.

U.S. Embassy Abuja: Improving Mutual Respect & Understanding between United States and Nigeria

Deadline: 31 July 2016

The U.S. Embassy Abuja Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is seeking proposals from organisations for an Annual Program Statement to award grants to individuals, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions to support exchange between the United States and the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the aim of improving mutual respect and understanding.

Project Priorities

The PAS Grants Program supports projects that:

Advance good governance in Nigeria through the promotion of improved transparency and accountability in government, rule of law, and enhanced civic participation;
Increase public support for U.S.-Nigerian cooperation in business, entrepreneurship, science, and technology and support sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction;
Support peace and security through civic education, countering violent extremism programming and peace and reconciliation projects;
Improve and expand English language learning through curriculum development, teacher training, and partnerships with U.S. education institutions.

Award Information: Grant projects generally must be completed in one year or less.

Floor of Individual Award Amounts: $1,000
Ceiling of Individual Award Amounts: $100,000

Eligibility Criteria

PAS encourages applications from organizations located in Nigeria, the United States, or abroad including:

Registered not-for-profit and civil society/non-governmental organizations with at least two years of programming experience;
Individuals with two years of not-for-profit, project management or education, experience
Educational institutions
PAS encourages applicants to provide cost-sharing from additional sources in support of projects.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can submit their proposals online through email at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit Annual Program Statement.

Call for Applications: Watson University’s Fellowships for Social Entrepreneurs

Deadline: 15 April 2016

The Watson University is currently accepting applications from next generation Social Entrepreneurs from across the world for its Fall 2016 semester program or degree track.

Watson provides a 15 week incubator like experience in which selected candidates complete short master courses from the world’s foremost leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers including a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and more; intensive mentorship; and training in the entrepreneurial skills of empathy, creativity, resilience, grit, bootstrapping, team building and fundraising. Watson helps next generation social entrepreneurs develop and advance solutions to the toughest challenges facing the world.

There are four further full ride fellowships available for scholars to apply to:

The Enlight China Fellowship: A full ride scholarship to one promising next generation social entrepreneur from greater China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan).
The Enlight Women Fellowship: A full ride scholarship to one promising next generation social entrepreneur working to increase access and quality of education for women and girls around the world.
The Luff Peace Fellowship: A full ride scholarship to one promising next generation social entrepreneur working to promote and usher in peace around the world.
The Middle East Fellowship: A full ride scholarship to one promising next generation social entrepreneur from the Middle East.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must ensure that he/she-

is 18-23 years old
has a clear idea for positive social change with a track record that demonstrates the viability of the idea.
has a deep seated passion for solving the problem they are addressing.
is coachable – embraces honest feedback and desires to improve.
is addressing the root cause of the problem they are choosing to solve, rather than putting a band-aid on a problem.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit an online application form in order to apply.

For more information, please visit Watson University.