The innovation competition is comprised of two categories which solicit entries from distinct audiences to unearth the very best strategies for increasing physical activity.

• School Programs – Innovative, effective, physical activity programs currently in schools across the country. Prizes are $25,000 for regional and $100,000 for national winners.


• Technology Innovation – Commercially viable technologies or applications of existing technologies with excellent promise to motivate and support daily physical activity at school and beyond. Awards are $50,000 prizes to fund school-based pilot of winning technologies and opportunity to present winning technology at the 2012 Health 2.0 conference.

Winning programs will be refined and replicated in diverse communities across the country.

The Focus Areas are:

• Disaster Services
• Economic Opportunity
• Education
• Environmental Stewardship
• Healthy Futures
• Veterans and Military Families

CNCS is particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service-learning as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes. Special consideration will be given to proposals that include engaging youth in service, particularly youth who are not in school or are in danger of dropping out and/or unemployed, and veterans and military families in service.

Applications are accepted throughout the year with rolling deadlines. Grants are awarded for one year at a time, and no organization can receive a grant more than two years in a row.

U.S.-based municipalities, neighborhood associations, schools, day care centers, and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

Programs of greatest interest offer direct services to disadvantaged children and youth, such as:

• Academic enrichment and support
• College access and tuition assistance
• Mentoring and youth leadership
• Arts outreach integrated with school curriculum
• Career development and job skills training
• Recreational activities and camps incorporating youth development objectives

If your organization and program are consistent with the guidelines submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) online at any time; selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

• Community-based projects: Deadline March 8, 2012. Includes activities and training in the arts that occur outside of the school system. While not formally linked to schools or their instructional programs, projects must be based on a curriculum that aligns with either national or state arts education standards and include assessment of participant learning.


• School-based projects: Deadline August 9, 2012. Must be directly connected to the school curriculum and instructional program. Activities may take place in or outside of the school building at any time of the day, including after-school and summer enrichment programs formally connected to school curricula. Projects must be based on a curriculum that aligns with either national or state arts education standards and include assessment of participant learning.

In addition, the NEA is particularly interested in projects that:

• Incorporate the use of digital learning in the arts or media literacy in the arts.
• Use arts learning to build creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaborative skills.
• Highlight the role arts learning plays in supporting livable communities for children and youth.

Note that all grants require a non-federal match of at least 1 to 1.

GRO1000 Grassroots Grants are designed to help foster community spirit and public service. Awards are available to 501(c)(3) non-profits to bring edible gardens, flower gardens and public green spaces to local neighborhoods throughout the U.S.