Request for Proposals to the Sacred Earth Network's Endangered Languages Program
2009

About Sacred Earth Network

Sacred Earth Network (SEN) is a non-profit (501(C)(3)) international organization located in Petersham, Massachusetts, USA. For 20 years, SEN has been involved in aiding people working in defense of the biosphere and creating a sustainable culture. We focus on protecting indigenous land and culture and cultivating a deep felt sense of the sacred through a variety of programs.

Sacred Earth Network's Endangered Languages Program

Sacred Earth Network (SEN) is interested in supporting the preservation and restoration of Native languages and the Earth-honoring worldview at their core. Small, effective teaching programs languages that are endangered in North America and Siberia will be given priority. Languages that we are trying to protect may be better described as "threatened" in that there are still more than 50-100 speakers who are committed to seeing the language survive. One of the overarching goals of this grant program is to help revive indigenous traditions, ways of life, and continuity in knowledge transmission through preservation of the language. SEN will look for a few, approximately 10, high-quality projects with low overhead for which we can make a difference with our funding. Some of these projects may already be established, but some may not. We are soliciting proposals both from established projects and from new initiatives. The projects will be chosen primarily according to the level of urgency to protect the language and the likely effectiveness of the proposed projects.

Eligible Requests

Grant requests range from roughly $500 to a maximum of $3000. SEN supports projects working towards preserving and teaching endangered Native languages. We will accept proposals both from individuals and from non-profit organizations working directly on the program (not to "pass-through" organizations).

Grant Application Process

Please send us a 1-3 page description of the program in either English or Russian with a proposed detailed budget. If this is an ongoing project, please include summary of the previous activities and projectâs history. The deadline for proposal submission is May 15, 2009, and we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We will contact you if we have questions or require additional information. We will acknowledge your application within two weeks of its receipt. If we are interested in funding your proposal, we will contact you within 6-8 weeks. The submissions and inquiries should be sent to the ELP coordinator Mariyam Medovaya, mariyamsacredearth@gmail.com.

Specific guidelines for writing the proposal

Please address the following questions in your proposal:

1. Which language are you targeting in your project?
   Please provide some information about the language:
• the estimated number of people who speak it at present
• the geographic area over which the language is spoken now and historically
• the significance of preserving this language
2. Please provide project's description
   How would a SEN grant help preserve this language?
• what are the specific activities that you are proposing?
• please provide approximate but detailed budget for the project
3. Who are the key staff members?
4. Who are the target population?
5. What is your experience in conducting similar programs if any?
6. How did you find out about the SEN's Endangered Languages Program?
7. Have you worked with SEN before?
8. Please provide your detailed contact information.

Contact Information

Mariyam Medovaya, ELP coordinator
Email: mariyamsacredearth@gmail.com
Website: sacredearthnetwork.org