Bessie Minor Swift Foundation now accepting grant applications

Community Community | Feb 5, 2021

Submitted to the Sierra Sun

The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation is now accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations in Nevada County. Grants will be awarded to selected nonprofits that promote literacy, reading and writing skills and programs in the languages, sciences and interdisciplinary areas. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 15 and recipients will be announced on May 1. The Fund will consider applications requesting a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $3,000.

The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation considers grants to organizations that provide direct service to help with the implementation or expansion of literacy programs for children who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading, and also to develop reading and writing skills at all age levels. The Foundation supports STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) as well. The Foundation also occasionally supports programs for adults.

More than $700,000 in grant money has been awarded since 2008. The Foundation prefers to consider support for programs rather than grants for the purchase of technology. The Foundation also favors organizations that do not have access to large fundraising budgets and are local in nature. Grants are made only to nonprofit organizations certified as tax exempt. More information is available on the website.

The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation was formed by the owners and founder of Swift Communications, the company that owns and operates the Sierra Sun and http://www.sierrasun.com, as well as The Union and http://www.theunion.com. Bessie Minor Swift was the mother of Philip Swift, the founder of Swift Communications. She was born in Onaga, Kansas on June 29, 1887, raised in Kansas City, Missouri, then moved to Blackburn, Missouri where she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse. Phil Swift recalled that the importance of education was reinforced throughout his upbringing, not so much through statements or concrete expectations, but through the example of his mother’s interest in English, reading, history and music. Phil Swift passed away in November 2019.

Nonprofit organizations in the area are encouraged to apply.

Source: The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation

Community

Children’s Literacy: A Stepping Stone to Success

Sep 23, 2023

Tahoe-Truckee Civil Air Patrol Squadron supports military aviation preparedness

Sep 23, 2023

Sierra Community House recognizes Hunger Action Month, celebrates partnership with new Rakkan Ramen restaurant in Truckee

Sep 22, 2023

North Tahoe Community Alliance selects 17 projects to receive up to $20M in sponsorship, multi-year funding

Sep 7, 2023

Truckee Fire Protection District hosting community survey in support of Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Sep 5, 2023

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.

Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.

User Legend: Moderator Trusted User