Main Street Arkansas Update - November 17, 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER:

DECEMBER 31, 2008: LETTER OF AGREEMENT DUE (Main Street Towns)
JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO


Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 10-14, 2008

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MONDAY Susan – Blytheville
TUESDAY Susan – Blytheville/Helena
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Mark, Susan, Greg – Siloam Springs; Nancy – West Memphis
FRIDAY Greg – annual leave
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Batesville & Harrison Press
IRS 990 Updates
4 Grant Opportunities
Design As Activism
Esquire Endorses Little Rock (But Doesn’t Tell Anyone)
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Good Main Street Batesville Press:
http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/49545

Good Main Street Harrison Press:
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/11/14/news/doc491db403a17d2424348522.txt

IRS Updates, November 2008: Mini-Courses on the New 990 and a Colleges and Universities Project
Last month, the IRS launched on-line mini-courses on the new 990 and kicked off a colleges and universities compliance review.
New 990 Mini-Courses
The IRS has added five mini-courses to its on-line training site for exempt organizations:
• Preparing to File the New Form 990—Overview of changes to the form and tips on getting ready to file it
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part I—General instructions for completing the form and walk-through of the heading and financial sections
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part II—Walk-through of the accomplishments, compliance, and compensation sections
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part III—Walk-through of the governance, management, disclosure, and summary sections; the checklist of required schedules; and Schedule A
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part IV—Walk-through of Schedules C, F, G, I, M, and R

The courses are available to all at no charge. You can access each from www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=166625,00.html or the bottom of www.stayexempt.org/home_mini_courses.html.

Preservation Programs Supported Worldwide
Tourism Cares
Tourism Cares is a nonprofit organization, funded primarily by the tourism industry, that is dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. The Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant Program provides grants to tourism-related nonprofit organizations throughout the world. Primary consideration is given to projects that focus on capital improvements that conserve, preserve, or restore sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance. An additional focus area is the education of local host communities and the traveling public about the preservation of exceptional sites. The program strives for a balanced distribution of grants to U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. The first of three letter of inquiry deadlines for 2009 is January 30. Visit the website listed above for detailed instructions for submitting a letter of inquiry packet.

Home Depot to Accept Housing Impact Grants Program Applications

Deadline: December 15, 2008

The Home Depot's ( http://www.homedepot.com ) Housing Impact Grants program is a quarterly grants process designed to assist nonprofit organizations in North America whose projects involve affordable housing built responsibly in a timely manner. Projects that seek to build or rebuild affordable housing will be eligible for grants of $1,000 to $3,000 each. Preference will be given to projects that integrate sustainability.

Beginning in 2008, the Housing Impact Grants program will fully align with the Home Depot Foundation's Affordable Housing Built Responsibly program. The online process will remain competitive and will be open to nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status whose projects align with the new grant guidelines in North America.

The Home Depot will only fund nonprofit organizations that have 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States, or that have a notification of registration and confirmation of registration from the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency Charities Division in Canada.

Applications for the next funding cycle may be submitted from November 1 to December 15, 2008.

For more information on the Housing Impact Grants program, visit the Home Depot Web site.

Grants Address Economically Isolated Communities
Hitachi Foundation: Business and Communities Grants Program
The Hitachi Foundation's grantmaking strategy is aimed at enhancing opportunity and quality of life for economically isolated people. The Foundation's Business and Communities Grants Program focuses on the role of both businesses and communities in addressing economic isolation and strengthening the field of corporate citizenship. Through the program, the Foundation develops partnerships with nonprofit organizations that enable economically challenged people to retain and advance in their jobs, earn living wages, and accumulate savings and assets. Interested organizations may submit an online inquiry to provide information about project ideas at any time. If the idea addresses the Foundation's priorities, a proposal may be requested. Visit the Foundation's website for program details.

Social Change Projects Funded Nationwide
Ben & Jerry's Foundation
Ben & Jerry's Foundation provides support to nonprofit, grassroots organizations throughout the United States that facilitate progressive social change. Grant applicants need to demonstrate that their projects will lead to societal, institutional, and/or environmental change; address the root causes of social or environmental problems; and lead to new ways of thinking and acting. Projects must facilitate leadership development and strengthen the self-empowerment efforts of those who have traditionally been disenfranchised in our society. The Foundation does not make grants to support basic or direct social service programs. Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Visit the website listed above to review the funding guidelines and download the application form.

Design As Activism
http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=3538

Things Esquire Magazine Quietly Endorses But Doesn’t Tell Anyone
One of the 24 endorsements: Little Rock
http://www.esquire.com/features/the-endorsement/things-we-endorse-quietly-1108?src=nl&mag=esq&list=enl&kw=ist