2014 Lithuanian Foundation Grants Committee Report

2014 Lithuanian Foundation Grants Committee Report

Updated December 11, 2014

Dear members and supporters of the Lithuanian Foundation,

Every year the Lithuanian Foundation awards grants for projects that support and nurture educational and cultural activities that foster the Lithuanian language and traditions here, far away from the homeland. Though the largest share of support is given to projects involving Lithuanian education, without support from the Lithuanian Foundation (LF) cultural centers and youth camps would find it difficult to survive. LF also supports the media: newspapers, magazines and radio and provides funding for events such as the Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival, Song Festival and Theater Festival. Understanding the needs of smaller communities whose financial resources are very limited, LF provides funds as is feasible for their cultural events and projects. LF also awards scholarships to college students of Lithuanian descent. These projects are all implemented in the U.S.

LF also provides some support for Lithuanian émigrés throughout the world and Lithuania. Additionally, a number of donor specified funds have been established under the auspices of LF to directly support specific projects in Lithuania and the U.S. Details of donor designated special funds and their supported areas can be found here.

The Lithuanian Foundation operates and makes awards within the scope of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Funding deliberations are guided by priorities for Grants and Scholarships, as approved by the LF Board of Directors and posted on the LF website. The Lithuanian Foundation Grants Committee allocates awards in a dedicated formal meeting by majority vote. It consists of LF Board members and nominees from the Lithuanian American Community. The Lithuanian Foundation Board of Directors provides the final approval of the allocations.

2014 LF Grants Committee: First row from the left: Vytautas Narutis (Grants Committee Chair), Rasa Dooling, Robertas Selenis, Dalia Anysas, Juozas Kapacinskas. Second row from the left: Virgus Volertas, Saulius Cyvas, Arvydas Tamulis. (Photo: LF archive).

In 2014, LF Grants Committee met on May 17 to evaluate 95 requests totaling $1,241,718. After deliberation, the Lithuanian Foundation Grants Committee recommended to award 64 projects for a total of $329,813. A number of larger awards include those for:

Three projects for the Lithuanian Research and Studies Center ($22,500);
Student Internship program in Lithuania ($20,000);
Cultural Council of the Lithuanian American
Lithuanian American Educational Council and Lithuanian Heritage Schools ($106,735);
Community and Community cultural events ($12,500);
Lithuanian World Center in Lemont ($12,000);
Draugas newspaper ($12,000);
X Lithuanian Song Festival, Chicago ( $10,000);

 The complete list of awards can be found here.

In an overview of this year’s allocations, one can discern the funding priorities for the Lithuanian Community. Most of the allocations centered around the following areas: education ($120,535); youth activities, including camps ($57,500); cultural events ($82,128); local community projects ($41,250); Lithuanian media ($28,400).

Members of Scholarship Subcommittee from the left: Jonas Grazys, Albertas Tuskenis, Vytas N arutis (Grants Committee Chair), Darius Sabaliunas, Tauras Bublys (Scholarship Subcommittee Chair), Rita Bieliauskiene, Vaida Armanaviciute, Agne Vertelkaite and Sigita Baniulis. (Photo: LF archive).

The Scholarship Subcommittee met on November 22, 2014 at the Lithuanian World Center, Lemont, IL. Submitted were 75 scholarship applications in 2014. Scholarships totaling $115,010 were granted to those of Lithuanian descent and given to 51 student.

The results of scholarship allocations are posted here.

Grants in the amount of $10,697 and scholarships in the amount of $25,148 will be distributed directly according to the donor’s designation.

The requests for financial support  have been increasing in the past years and opportunities to provide meaningful financial assistance more plentiful. Recognizing this, the Lithuanian Foundation has been reaching out for additional contributions to expand its capital base. We would certainly welcome additional contributions or your recommendations on soliciting donations.

Sincere gratitude is expressed to the Committee membership for their hard work and sincerity.  Their volunteered efforts, including the funding of their own travel expenses, are very much appreciated.  Also, all of us thank the LF administration for the countless hours of preparation and streamlining to facilitate and make possible this entire effort.  Additionally we sincerely thank our member and donors for their support, past and future, that makes all of this possible.

 

Sincerely,

Vytautas Narutis, Chairman of the Grants Committee