2008-2009 Imagination Fund Campaign
Greetings! As we culminate our year-long Imagination Fund efforts, I want to say thank you, thank you. Thank you for all of the talent, treasure, and especially time that you have put into our 2007-2008 National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Imagination Fund campaign. As we close this year’s campaign we hope the following information will be helpful to you as we embark on next year’s campaign. A campaign that promises to not only duplicate the successes of this year but also meet the challenges of the future.
What is the Imagination Fund?
The Imagination Fund was established in 2004 with the goal of providing support for the work of the
NFB Jernigan Institute and Federation affiliates and chapters. Its main goals and objectives are:
· Increase awareness about the National Federation of the Blind.
· Develop methods for fund raising that benefit affiliates, chapters, and the National Federation of the
Blind Jernigan Institute.
· Provide an opportunity for all members and their family and friends to be a part of the NFB dream.
· Provide a personal opportunity to become part of our large, dynamic organization by becoming an
Imaginator.
How do we raise money for the Imagination Fund?
Become an Imaginator! An Imaginator is an NFB member or friend of the Federation who believes so strongly in the importance of the National Federation of the Blind and our NFB Jernigan Institute that they are willing to actively tell others about our work and ask for contributions to support its continuation. Imaginators will be supported with a wide variety of tools to assist them in gathering contributions of all sizes. Imaginators are central to the ongoing funding of our NFB Jernigan Institute and the innovative programs and outreach efforts of our NFB affiliates and local chapters. Essentially, Imaginators are those who take an active role in building a future full of opportunity for blind people all over the country.
We will keep you informed by phone and e-mail of the upcoming events and opportunities for Imaginators! Online fundraising, e-mail correspondence, letter-writing appeals, face-to-face-asks—we’ll take every step with you, shoulder to shoulder, marching toward our goals.
2007-2008 Imagination Fund Campaign Results and Distribution
For the first time we will not be distributing funds to state affiliates at the NFB National Convention. Why? We have extended the campaign to July 31 this year to accommodate the desire of our members to continue raising money up through the March for Independence event on July 2. Therefore, contributions made to the NFB Imagination Fund through July 31, 2008, will be included in the total dollars raised for the 2007-08 campaign. We expect that distribution of NFB Imagination Funds to state affiliates (an equal portion of 25 percent of the total net funds raised during the 2007-08 campaign) will occur in October 2008. To date, the NFB Imagination fund has distributed $635,720 to NFB affiliates with an equal distribution going to support the work of our NFB Jernigan Institute.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Any NFB affiliate whose 990 forms, or other required financial registrations and accounting documents, are not current as of September 1, 2008, will not be eligible to receive distribution of funds from the 2007-08 NFB Imagination Fund campaign. Current financial records include no outstanding required reports from previous NFB Imagination Fund grants. Affiliates whose records are not current as of September 1, 2008, will only be eligible to receive funds from the 2007-08 NFB Imagination Fund campaign when the appropriate records are made current, have been signed-off on by the NFB National Office, and when distribution has been authorized by the President of the NFB. Any questions regarding whether an affiliate’s records are current should be directed to Bridgid Burke, Director of Fiscal Services, at the National Center for the Blind (410) 659-9314.
When will the 2008-2009 Imagination Fund Campaign begin?
The campaign will officially start on August 1, 2008. Late summer and early fall will be a time of great planning and development. As Federationists, we will have many goals; we will raise the bar. It will be very important to appoint an Imagination Fund coordinator who is dedicated to the Fund and who will be available to participate in our effort.
An assortment of fundraising tools will be available for all who sign up to become Imaginators. Online giving and e-mail solicitation systems have been enhanced, and personal Web pages will be available. As always, staff at the National Center will be available for questions, ideas, and suggestions. Remember that the primary goal of the Imagination Fund is to educate, raise awareness about our organization, and raise funds from those who are not active members of the Federation.
Imagination Fund Project Grants
Purpose:
Twenty-five percent of funds raised during this year’s campaign will be used to provide grants for new and innovative projects designed to fill a particular need in your state or division. Funds might be used for a project implemented locally or to cover travel expenses for members of your affiliate/division to attend programs, seminars, or other activities held at the Jernigan Institute. You are encouraged to design innovative projects that will further our mission by building the affiliate/division, reaching out to blind people and their families, educating the general public about the capabilities of the blind, developing members into significant leaders of our movement, and/or anything that is needed in your state. This year we are looking for proposals that place an emphasis on Braille literacy programs and affiliate Web site development.
Examples of grants awarded to affiliates/divisions from last year's campaign (grant totals ranged from $1,000 to $5,000):
· Assistance for families to attend National Convention.
· Partial financial support for a science camp modeled after the Jernigan Institute’s Science Academy. · Enhancement of ThruOurEyes.org, an internet radio program and Web site which provides a public
forum for discussions on blindness.
· Seminars for parents, educators, counselors, and O&M specialists to help blind/visually impaired
students reach their potential.
· Peer mentoring, tutoring, and outreach to older individuals losing vision.
· Senior Possibilities Fairs.
· State Leadership Seminars.
· Transition Fairs for high school students.
· Travel to all corners of a state to recruit new members.
NFB Jernigan Institute Programs:
In addition to grants designed to assist an affiliate/division in developing and conducting an innovative program that has not been attempted in the past due to a lack of funding, affiliates/divisions can submit a proposal to send individuals or groups of individuals to the NFB Jernigan Institute for a variety of learning experiences (in this case grant funds would be used to support travel costs to bring members to Baltimore). Alternately, grant funds might be used to pay the expenses for experts on the NFB Jernigan Institute staff or affiliated consultants to present a workshop/seminar at a state convention. In both cases, the time of the proposed activity depends on availability of staff and facilities. If you wish to write a proposal that connects to the programs of the NFB Jernigan Institute or the use of facilities at the National Center for the Blind, please contact Mark Riccobono, Executive Director for the NFB Jernigan Institute, at (410) 659-9314, extension 2357, or via e-mail at mriccobono@nfb.org. He will assist you in connecting with the appropriate individual who can guide the development of your proposal.
The programs below are suggestions from the NFB Jernigan Institute and may not represent the entire range of potential activities that could take place either at the National Center for the Blind or at a state sponsored function with the support of the NFB Jernigan Institute. Essentially, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination and our collective ability to raise funds!
· Youth empowerment seminars: Affiliates can bring students to our National Center for empowering programming designed to meet your specific objectives. These seminars can be designed for the better part of a week or just a weekend. Consider this as an outstanding way to build mentoring and young Federationists in your state.
· Transition Club: A monthly or bi-monthly gathering of blind teens led by competent blind adults. Activities can focus on blindness skills, leadership skills, attitudes about blindness, career options, etc. An outstanding way to pull blind youth into your local efforts.
· Career Fair: A one-day, large-scale event highlighting employment opportunities available to blind students. Students, teachers, parents, rehabilitation professionals, and others can attend this event. You could consider putting on regional career fairs with neighboring affiliates.
· Braille Club: You can identify blind students in your area that could benefit from receiving Braille instruction. Perhaps you can meet once a week with the students to work on this valuable skill and at the same time work to help them develop a healthy attitude about blindness. Consider connecting this to the Braille Readers Are Leaders Program and mentoring students into service projects using Braille in the community.
· Academies: Perhaps your affiliate can consider putting on an academy for the blind students in your affiliate. You can center your program on a variety of themes—sports, science, nature, technology, leadership, and many other options underpinned by our positive philosophy about blindness.
· Youth track at state conventions: A variety of activities geared towards the blind youth attending your state convention. Activities can include special presentations, demonstrations, social activities, philosophy discussions, etc.
· Formalized mentoring program: A formalized mentoring approach can be implemented in your affiliate. Each young blind person can be paired with a competent blind adult. This formalized approach does require a high level of dedication by both the mentors and the mentees, but it can produce great success.
· “Have cane, will travel”: A seminar conducted in your state by Joe Cutter aimed at promoting independent movement and travel for blind children.
· Technology Outreach Program (TOP): Members of the NFB Jernigan Institute Access Technology team can be available to conduct a technology workshop at your state convention.
· Technology training seminars in the NFB Jernigan Institute technology lab: Members, parents, educators, and rehabilitation staff from your state can be sponsored to attend various access technology seminars at the Institute. Topics can vary from seminars on introducing access technology and the basics of Braille translation technology to specialized advanced seminars on topics such as searching the Web with screen readers or accessible Web design.
· Senior Possibilities Fair: Put together an outreach and information fair for seniors experiencing vision loss in your affiliate and receive technical assistance from the NFB Jernigan Institute.
· Leadership/affiliate building: Bring a chapter or group from your state to the National Center for an affiliate-building seminar. This is a great way to show members first-hand our center and have concentrated time to conduct philosophy discussions and affiliate planning.
· Webmaster training/Web site development: Send your affiliate Webmaster to the National Center for help establishing or remodeling your affiliate Web site using pre-designed NFB templates.
Webmasters will receive training on the use of the Federation's content management system (CMS). The CMS simplifies Web site management and helps to provide a consistent, clean look for the site. The CMS also offers event calendars, quick polls, and dynamic forms.
Application Procedure:
Applications for NFB Imagination Fund project grants must be:
· submitted on the attached form;
· received on time and in an electronic format (assistance is available for those who cannot
submit proposals electronically); and
· authorized by the affiliate/division president.
Grant requests should be in the range of $1,000 to $5,000. Projects that have already secured some funding from other sources, or for which efforts are being made to obtain additional non-Imagination Fund monies, will be given some preference, as well as those that can demonstrate how these funds will help the affiliate grow in members, chapters, funds, or partners. Quarterly progress reporting will be required for all projects receiving grants. Please note that NFB affiliates whose financial records are not current, including delinquent reports from previous NFB Imagination Fund grants, will not be eligible to receive a grant award until records are made current.
Deadline:
Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.
Award Notification:
Determinations will be made and shared with all applicants by October 3, 2008.
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Read how Imagination Fund grants are changing what it means to be blind!
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