Intercultural Harmony

The LAURA JANE MUSSER FUND would like to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between groups and citizens of different cultural backgrounds within defined geographical areas through collaborative, cross-cultural exchange projects. Projects must be intercultural and demonstrate intercultral exchange, rather than focused on just one culture.

PRIORITY IS PLACED ON PROJECTS THAT:

  • Include members of various cultural communities working together on projects with common goals
  • Build positive relationships across cultural lines
  • Engender intercultural harmony, tolerance, understanding, and respect
  • Enhance intercultural communication, rather than cultural isolation, while at the same time celebrating and honoring the unique qualities of each culture

PROJECTS MUST DEMONSTRATE:

  • Need in the community for the intercultural exchange project
  • Grassroots endorsement by participants across cultural lines, as well as their active participation in planning and implementation of the project
  • The ability of the organization to address the challenges of working across the cultural barriers identified by the project
  • Tangible benefits in the larger community

LIMITS OF GEOGRAPHY:

Only programs in Colorado, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wyoming may apply.

PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT:

Intercultural Harmony projects can be carried out in a number of areas, including (but not limited to):

  • The arts
  • Community service
  • Youth activities

OUTCOMES SHOULD INCLUDE:

  • A demonstration of intercultural exchange between cultures
  • Increased comfort in interaction between the groups and individual citizens addressed by the project
  • Harmonious shared use of public space and community facilities
  • Continued cooperation by the participants or communities addressed by the project

WHAT THE PROGRAM WILL COVER:

  • New programs or projects within their first three years
  • The planning and implementation phase of a project 

WHAT WILL NOT BE FUNDED:

  • Capital Expenses
  • General Operating Expenses
  • Ongoing Program Support

WHO CAN APPLY:

  • Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Organizations that are forming if they have a documented fiscal agent relationship
  • Organizations located within one of the eligible states listed above

HOW TO APPLY:

Proposals must be postmarked on or before October 10, 2012. Funding decisions will be announced by February 2013.

Please construct your application in the following format:

  1. Cover Form (click box in upper right corner)
  2. Proposal Narrative (please limit your narrative to a total of 5 pages)
  3. Attachments

Only complete application packages will be accepted. Please send one copy of your application materials, on single-sided, unbound paper. No materials other than those listed below will be included in the application review process.

    Proposal Narrative:

  1. Intercultural Participants: Describe, using qualitative and quantitative descriptions, the identity of the cultural groups participating in your project.
  2. Need: Provide a synopsis of the need or cultural situation in your community that the proposed project will address.
  3. Community Members and Institutions: Describe the community members involved in this project. Please indicate specifically how community members and institutions link themselves with the participants in your project.
  4. Goals and Activities: Describe the overall goals of this project and the activities planned that will accomplish these goals; provide the timeline for the activities that include the schedule and completion date for the project.
  5. Process: Describe the process you will use to implement your project. Please be specific about how the different cultural groups in your project are involved in the planning and implementation.
  6. Organizational Ability: Describe the organization’s ability to address the challenges of working across the cultural barriers identified by this proposal.  Identify the project leaders qualifications of the project leaders in this area.  Identify the specific experience of the organization in this area.
  7. Outcomes: Describe specifically, the outcomes expected. Please address the OUTCOMES expected within these guidelines (see above).
  8. Replicability: Please describe any plans for replicating your project or sharing your outcomes.

    Attachments:

    Budgets:

  • Organizational Budgets (or if a public entity – departmental budgets) – for the previous year, and for the current year. Please include revenue sources, amounts, and what is secure and what is pending.
  • Project Budget – Please include revenue sources, amounts, and what is secure and what is pending.

    Letters of Support:

  •  Please include letters of support from at least two (but not more than six) community members and institutions outlining the involvement in your project. If you are submitting a proposal under a fiscal agency arrangement, please include a signed letter from the fiscal agent on their letterhead, indicating support and understanding of the project. Only letters received as a part of the proposal packet will be considered in the review of your proposal.

     IRS Status:

  •  Please include a copy of your 501(c)(3) letter from the IRS.
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Intercultural Harmony

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