Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Good Neighbor Grant Program Accepting Proposals

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Oct 30, 2014, 12:03 ET

LANSDOWNE, Va., Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, the largest scholarship foundation in the country, invites proposals from nonprofit organizations in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area that help high-potential students with financial need make academic gains through enrichment, rigor, critical thinking, and creativity for its Good Neighbor Grant Program.

This program offers one-time grants of $10,000 to $35,000 to nonprofit organizations in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, areas that focus on educating young people. Examples of eligible programs include: after school academic enrichment opportunities, college access advising programs, arts programs, service learning, innovative programs that bridge technology and education, college STEM recruitment and retention strategies, and internship programs.

"Though the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a national scholarship and grant-making organization aimed at supporting exceptionally high-achieving students with financial need, the Foundation also seeks to support and strengthen our local community where Jack Kent Cooke was a central figure for so many years," said Executive Director Harold O. Levy. "Our Good Neighbor Grant Program is one very good way for us to do this while still fulfilling our core mission."

Past recipients of Good Neighbor Grants include:

Higher Achievement Program, Inc. (Washington, DC) -- $35,000 in 2014 aided six summer academies in Washington, DC, and Alexandria, VA, which provide advanced academic curriculum in literature, science, mathematics, social studies, and electives to 570 students in grades 5-8.

Journey Through Hallowed Ground (Loudoun County, VA) -- $20,000 in 2013 supported scholarships to Loudoun County low- to moderate-income middle school students to participate in Extreme Journey Summer Camp, an immersive historical investigation of American history. Students use primary source documents to conduct research, participate in field trips to notable historical sites, and record their experiences by creating a documentary.

American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (Annandale, VA) -- $16,000 in 2013 enabled AYPO to award 40 full and partial scholarships to musically talented, economically disadvantaged students to participate in one of AYPO's four youth orchestras after successfully completing the audition process.

To be considered for a grant, organizations must be classified as a public charity and tax exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; must focus on K-12 education, college access and completion, or visual and performing arts education; and must not have received a grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation within the 12 months preceding the current submission deadline.

The Foundation will accept proposals from organizations located and serving students in Loudoun County, Clarke County, Fauquier County, Fairfax County, Arlington County, and Prince William County in Virginia; the cities of Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Falls Church in Northern Virginia; the District of Columbia; and Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland.

The deadline for submission is January 8, 2015, by 5:00 p.m. EST. Late applications will not be accepted. To apply for a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Good Neighbor Grant, visit: http://www.jkcf.org/grants/good-neighbor-grants/.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, the largest scholarship foundation in the country, is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Because we believe that high-potential, low-income students will excel educationally when given the resources to develop their talents, the Foundation supports exceptional students from elementary school to graduate school through scholarships, grants, direct service, and knowledge creation and dissemination. Founded in 2000 by the estate of Jack Kent Cooke, the Foundation has awarded $125 million in scholarships to 1,800 students, and $79 million in grants to organizations that support our mission. www.jkcf.org

SOURCE Jack Kent Cooke Foundation