2009 DAWN Grassroots Advocacy Grants

The application process for the 2009 Grassroots Grants has ended. This year there was a two-step process. The first step was to submit a brief Request for a Grant Application. This Request was due in the BPDD offices on June 1, 2009. This year you must have submitted a “Request” first in order to apply for a Grant. People who submitted a Request will proceed to step two. They were sent the Grant Application, an invitation to a Bidder’s Conference, and were offered the opportunity to could get connected with an experienced Community Organizer who could assist with the Application development. The full grant application will be due in the BPDD offices on August 1, 2009. Grant applications will be accepted only from people who have submitted a “Request” application.

Grants between $500 and $5,000 will be awarded by August 15, 2009. Each project should start around September 1, 2009 and finish by December 31, 2010. People with disabilities and/or their family members will be eligible for the grants. Other individuals or organizations are invited to work with consumers in developing and implementing a DAWN grant, but are not eligible for funding.

The goal of DAWN Grassroots Advocacy Grants is to increase the number of people with disabilities and/or their family members doing advocacy activities in their community. These are activities that will make a difference in the quality of community life for people with disabilities. They provide an opportunity for people with disabilities and/or family members to be leaders in the disability advocacy movement and to start local advocacy groups (see the list of 2008 awardees for more examples).

For more information about these grants contact:

John Shaw
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
(608) 266-7707
(608) 266-6660 (TDD/TTY)
E-mail: John1.shaw@wisconsin.gov