Intercultural Harmony Initiative Grant

The Intercultural Harmony Initiative Grant, provided by the Laura Jane Musser Fund, supports collaborative projects that foster understanding and cooperation among diverse cultural groups. With funding up to $25,000 for implementation and $5,000 for planning, the initiative prioritizes projects that engage various community members, enhance intercultural communication, and demonstrate tangible benefits. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and local governments in select states, with a focus on grassroots participation and addressing community needs.

THE LAURA JANE MUSSER FUND was established by the estate of Laura Jane Musser of Little Falls, Minnesota to continue the personal philanthropy which she practiced in her lifetime.
Intercultural Harmony Grant
The LAURA JANE MUSSER FUND would like to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between groups and citizens of different cultural backgrounds within defined geographical areas through collaborative, cross-cultural exchange projects. Projects must be intercultural and demonstrate intercultural exchange, rather than focused on just one culture.
Priority is Placed on Projects that . . .
Include  members of various cultural communities working together on projects with common goals
Build positive relationships across cultural lines
Engender intercultural harmony, tolerance, understanding, and respect
Enhance intercultural communication, rather than cultural isolation, while at the same time honoring the unique qualities of each culture
Projects must demonstrate:
Need in the community for the intercultural exchange projectGrassroots endorsement by participants across cultural lines, as well as their active participation in planning and implementation of the projectThe ability of the organization to address the challenges of working across the cultural barriers identified by the projectTangible benefits in the larger community
Planning (up to $5,000)
These funds may support costs like: consultant or staff time, meeting costs, mailings, secretarial support, refreshments, local travel, childcare, etc.
Note: This stage is optional and not a required phase prior to applying for or receiving an implementation grant. If an organization receives a planning grant from the Musser Fund, this in no way implies a commitment on the part of the Musser Fund to provide the organization with any subsequent implementation support after their planning activities are completed.
Implementation (up to $25,000)
These funds are available to implement collaborative cross-cultural exchange projects. The projects should result in a tangible outcome within at least the first 18 months. Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period
Outcomes
Outcomes should include:
A demonstration of intercultural exchange between culturesIncreased comfort in interaction between the groups and individual citizens addressed by the projectHarmonious shared use of public space and community facilitiesContinued cooperation by the participants or communities addressed by the project
Intercultural Harmony projects can be carried out in a number of areas, including (but not limited to):

• Community service
• Youth activities
• The arts
• What the program will cover
• New programs or projects within their first three years
• The planning or implementation phase of a project

Eligibility

Who can apply:Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizationsLocal units of GovernmentLimits on geography:ONLY programs in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and limited counties in New York and Texas may apply.
Eligible counties in New York include: Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster. Eligible counties in Texas are located in the Rio Grande River Valley (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties), Deep East Texas (Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler counties), and the Brazos Valley (Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington counties).

Ineligibility

What will not be funded:Capital campaigns or large capital expenses
International travel
Cultural competency training (unless it involves multiple cultural groups)

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and local units of government in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Wyoming, and specified mountain counties of North Carolina.