Scholarships

The following scholarship opportunities are available for the 2012 Brushy Fork Annual Institute:

KY Team Flex-E-Grant Scholarships

In partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Kentucky Department for Local Government, Brushy Fork is pleased to offer scholarships to community teams from ARC-designated distressed counties in eastern Kentucky.

Under this scholarship program, the first three community team members pay only $250 each. Any additional team members pay $100 each. Lodging will be reimbursed at 50% of actual costs upon submission of receipts, up to a maximum of $500 per team. Following training at the Brushy Fork Annual Institute the community team will be eligible to apply for a Flex-E-Grant for the January-June 2013 cycle to complete community projects that meet established ARC guidelines.

In order to be eligible for a scholarship participants must reside in one of the following Kentucky counties: Adair, Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Green, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, Whitley or Wolfe.

For more information, please download the scholarship form or contact Jane Higgins at jane_higgins@berea.edu.

Appalachian Rural Development Philanthropy Initiative Scholarships

As a partner in the Appalachian Rural Development Philanthropy Initiative (ARDPI), Brushy Fork has a small pool of scholarships available for communities interested in doing strategic planning around the development of local philanthropic work.

Under this scholarship program, the first three community team members pay only $250 each. Any additional team members pay $100 each. Lodging will be reimbursed at 50% of actual costs upon submission of receipts, up to a maximum of $500 per team. Following the training at the Annual Institute, community teams will be eligible to apply for a grant to begin work on developing local community philanthropy projects.

In order to be eligible for a scholarship participants must reside in one of the following Kentucky counties: Adair, Bath, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Estill, Fleming, Green, Hart, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Lewis, Lincoln, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Owsley, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, and Wolfe.

For more information, please download the ARDPI scholarship form or contact Jane Higgins at jane_higgins@berea.edu.

Individual Scholarships for Participants from an Appalachia Rural Philanthropy Pilot Community

Participants from select Kentucky counties may be eligible to receive individual scholarships to attend the 2012 Annual Institute, given that they reside within an ARDPI Pilot Community. Eligible counties include: Bell, Clay, Knott, Knox, Magoffin and Whitley.

Under this scholarship program, representatives from one of the Pilot Communities can attend the Brushy Fork Annual Institute at a reduced rate of $250.00 per person. Individuals interested in this scholarship opportunity may contact Jane Higgins at jane_higgins@berea.edu.

Brushy Fork Leadership Curriculum Scholarships

Earlier this year, Brushy Fork began piloting its new leadership curriculum that draws on more than 20 years of experience working in and with Appalachian communities. The curriculum uses materials and media created by Brushy Fork but designed to be run by local volunteers.

At the 2012 Annual Institute, Brushy Fork will offer a track to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to organize a local program and conduct the leadership curriculum workshops on their own.

Brushy Fork will provide scholarships for six community coordinators to participate in this Train the Trainer track.

Community representatives will receive a $250 scholarship (to cover half of their registration fee) and will pay the remaining $250. Lodging will be covered at 50% based on lodging receipts, for a maximum of $500.

As part of the scholarship application process, scholarship applicants will be required to demonstrate that the community is ready to take on implementation of the leadership curriculum. This work will take place with the expectation that the community will carry the program forward in the future on its own, using the first year to develop the capacity to do so.

Eligible counties include: Adair, Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Green, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe.

Individuals interested in this scholarship opportunity may contact Jane Higgins at jane_higgins@berea.edu.

Organizational Scholarships

Interested organizations can send up to three staff members to the Annual Institute and will receive partial scholarships. The registration fee for the Annual Institute is $500, and scholarships will be awarded on a partial basis in order to gain buy-in from the recipient organization. Staff members of the organization will receive a $400 scholarship and will be asked to pay $100 to cover the remaining fee. We will also offer lodging assistance at a rate of 50% based on receipts provided by the participants after the Institute with a maximum reimbursement for lodging set at $500 per organization.

Following the training at the 2012 Annual Institute, organizations will be eligible to apply for mini-grants to continue their organizational capacity building. These grants will provide a maximum of $5,000 in funding The overall purpose of these grants is to allow the organization to develop capacity around a focused aspect of the organization’s operational systems and structures—an area that when improved will increase the effectiveness of programming and services to the community

If your organization is interested in applying for these scholarships, please contact Jane Higgins at jane_higgins@berea.edu.

Other Funding for Registration Fees

If you or your organization does not qualify for any of the scholarship funds listed above, there may be other avenues of funding available. Below are some suggestions:

Seek sponsoring organizations.
In southwest Virginia, community leaders were very excited about the professional growth opportunities that the Brushy Fork Annual Institute will bring to people; but they were concerned that no one would be able to come unless they were from agencies that had staff development money. However, within a few minutes from when the discussion began, a county leader agreed to sponsor someone from the county. Then the group decided to speak to the local church Lions and Kiwanis Clubs to see if they might sponsor someone to come to the Institute. Also, an agency director said he would pay for someone to come from the community. In just minutes, they had generated multiple sources for supporting participation!
Partner with individuals who support your cause.
In West Virginia, a man planning to start a 501(c)3 saw the Institute as a perfect opportunity for learning the ropes, but he did not have the money to pay the full fee and lodging costs. He stated that three people were strongly pushing him to begin his nonprofit, and he was eager to do so. He decided to ask his three supporters to contribute $100 each, leaving him to pay only $100 and lodging.
If you are a member of an organization’s board, ask the organization to provide you with training to improve your input as a board member.
In West Virginia, a woman looked at the brochure and wanted to attend the Annual Institute, but again money was an issue. Subsequently she was elected to the Economic Development Board, and at a meeting of the Board a decision was made to sponsor two people to come to the Institute. This lady was elected as one of those who would be sponsored.
Challenge organizations and agencies in your community to support leadership opportunities for local citizens.
In Kentucky, a team of citizens was present at the local Chamber of Commerce meeting. This team had started its own local leadership development program as a community project, but they wanted to give community members the opportunity to attend Brushy Fork’s Annual Institute. The Chamber board was challenged to sponsor someone every year from the Leadership Training team to attend the Brushy Fork Annual Institute. They voted on it, accepted the idea, and are committed to at least one sponsorship.
Ask for funding from special grant initiatives for nonprofit organizations.
Some foundations and other funding agencies offer special grants to support organizational and staff development opportunities for their grantees. One example is the Appalachian Community Fund, which offers Technical Assistance Grants. The technical assistance grants are designed to help train organizations’ boards and staff in building the skills needed to complete their missions. Get more information at Appalachian Community Fund.

Another example is the Grassroots Exchange Fund, sponsored by the Common Counsel Foundation. The Grassroots Exchange Fund awards grants of $300-$800 to small, community-based groups that want to improve linkages with similar organizations, build collaborative campaigns, and benefit from technical-assistance opportunities. Grants can be used to pay for training, travel, or conference expenses. The application deadline is open. Get more information at Common Counsel Foundation.

If you have a regular funder, talk to your program officer about the possibility of receiving funding for staff and board development.

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