The NABJ Professional Chapter Grant is a financial award in an amount up to $500 given to NABJ professional affiliate chapters in good standing. The NABJ Board of Directors intends for the grants to help and encourage NABJ chapters to develop programming that will benefit their membership and to sustain the associations longstanding mission of local community outreach.

All NABJ professional chapters in good standing are eligible and encouraged to apply.

The grant will help underwrite selected proposals in the following areas: professional journalism development, community-based journalism partnerships and chapter start-up funds. The grant may not be used for chapter operations, scholarships, chapter travel to conventions or conferences, administrative costs or fund raising. The number of chapter grants awarded each year may vary, and NABJ aims to bestow such grants every spring and fall. Financial need may be considered by the selection committee. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Grant decisions will be based on a variety of critiera, including clarity of the proposal and whether the proposed program aligns with the grant's objectives. All award decisions are final.

The fall deadline is Oct. 1, 2006. Winners will be announced within 60 days of each deadline.

NABJ Chapter Grant applications are to include:
1) Grant application cover sheet (download PDF).
2) A letter from the chapter president.
3) Grant amount requested, up to $500.
4) Proposal consisting of up to 500 words that describes how the funds will be used, and how the proposal will impact the chapter's membership or the chapter's community.
5) Projected event budget (include, if applicable, projected event costs and other revenue).
6) Other supporting materials or letters that may benefit the application are optional.

Chapter Responsibility:
1) By submitting an application, chapters agree to use the funds for the proposed event within six months of the grant disbursement.
2) Chapters must write an event summary and submit supporting materials (program, pictures, etc.) to the national office within 30 days of the event.
3) Program Model Descriptions: The following three program descriptions by AABJ, ABMW, and BJASC - are in line with the types of programs the grant may fund. Use them as a guide. (Note: the grant application must include all the required materials above.)

For more information, contact NABJ Secretary/Chapter Liaison Sarah Glover at sglover@phillynews.com. Applications should be mailed to:

National Association of Black Journalists
Attn: Chapter Grants
8701-A Adelphi Road
Adelphi, MD 20783