September 15 – October 15
2020

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 intercultural 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 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:

  • The geographic areas for these initiatives are Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and limited counties in New York and Texas. Eligible counties in New York include: Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Eligible counties in Texas are located in the Rio Grande River Valley (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties), Deep East Texas (Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler counties), and the Brazos Valley (Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington counties).

FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR:

  • Planning (up to $5,000) – These funds may support costs like: consultant or staff time, meeting costs, mailings, secretarial support, refreshments, local travel, childcare, etc. Note: This stage is optional and not a required phase prior to applying for or receiving an implementation grant. If an organization receives a planning grant from the Musser Fund, this in no way implies a commitment on the part of the Musser Fund to provide the organization with any subsequent implementation support after their planning activities are completed.
  • Implementation (up to $25,000) – These funds are available to implement collaborative cross-cultural exchange projects. The projects should result in a tangible outcome within at least the first 18 months.

Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period.

PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT:

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

  • Community service
  • Youth activities
  • The arts

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 or implementation phase of a project

WHAT WILL NOT BE FUNDED:

  • Capital campaigns or large capital expenses
  • General operating expenses
  • Ongoing program support
  • International travel
  • Cultural competency training (unless it involves multiple cultural groups)
  • Advocacy

WHO CAN APPLY:

  • Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Local units of Government

Funding decisions will be announced by February 2021.

Learn more or apply here.