Private funding sources are more competitive in the nonprofit area. With limited resources, less funds are provided for general support. Centralizing and sharing administrative costs, benefits nonprofit organizations (NPO) by maximizing limited resources and allowing them to focus on program delivery. Currently, BVF is the only foundation that provides on a territory-wide basis, complete grant administration, such as fiscal agent/fiduciary services, grants and program administrative services, program development and implementation, on-line link to fund accounting software, and other related services creating a win-win relationship a unique and necessary niche in the territory. We provide a business incubator approach with our services including governance support training opportunities when needed. We use leading accounting and administrative software to increase our efficiency.  BVF also conducts workshops and seminars geared specifically for NPOs that assists in building their governance and capacity. Additionally, we provide on-line resources, such as our Grant Calendar and NPO Web Links that gives NPOs reference materials for additional information needed to build a stronger nonprofit. Visit our NPO Resources page to see all the various support and reference resources.

GOAL 2: FINANCIAL LITERACY

To download our MS Excel Budgeting Worksheets:  

GOAL 3: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT    

Youth Film Project

This program serves at-risk youth 9-15 years of age residing in housing communities and is geared towards impacting participating youth by providing enrichment activities . These enrichment activities exposes them to new learned skills, increases their writing and communication skills, encourages critical and creative thinking skills. Additionally, they receive new soft skills that will enhance their outlook on life while increasing their appreciation of their visual world including art, themselves, their culture, and their environment. Through 144-175 hours of intensive classes of one-on-one and group sessions, activities to meet the arts standard will be achieved by providing participating youth with 1) an opportunity to learn and apply script writing techniques, 2) an opportunity to film and edit a short dramatic movie between five and ten minutes long, and 3) to portray the actors in these films. Their films will then be premiered to family and friends, providing opportunities for interactions resulting in exposure and increasing the interest in the arts while showing the world a slice of our lives through our children’s eyes. This project will focus on meeting the National Arts Education Standards.

 

Legal Awareness of Alcohol Program 

The goal of the LAAP program is to reduce alcohol use in 90 youth ages 12-17 residing specific housing communities on St. Thomas and St. Croix.  This territory-wide program, will run from October 2007 to April 2008, and will utilize specific components of the evidence-based alcohol prevention program, Project Northland from Hazeldon Foundation. The programs in the series includes Slick Tracy, a 6^th grade curriculum, Amazing Alternatives, Power Lines, and Class.

Class Action targets youths ages 14-17, and uses interactive, peer-led approach session where participating youths will argue hypothetical alcohol-related civil cases. This will complemented with BVF’s Youth Film Project. Participating youths will not only learn the art of filming, but will document their cases for community outreach efforts.

The program is funded in part by the V.I. Government State Incentive Grant (VIG SIG) through the Department of Health, Division of Mental Health, Alcoholism, and Drug Dependency Services. 

 

GOAL 4: ENVIRONMENT

Sea Turtle Protection Campaign Program
BVF conducts a Sea Turtle Awareness Campaign in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to bring the community’s attention to the plight of endangered sea turtles with the long-term goal of reducing the illegal harvesting of sea turtle and sea turtle products. BVF in collaboration and assistance from environmental & conservation organizations and agencies such as WIMARCS (West Indian Marine Animals Research and Conservation Service), STAR (Sea Turtle And Rescue Network), and the VI Fish & Wild; operates an 800# (1-877-3-TURTLE) as a vehicle whose goals are:

Goal 1: Increase the community knowledge of plight of endangered sea turtles
Goal 2: Establish a one number call-in center where residents and visitors can report on sea 
          turtles and other marine life activities.
Goal; 3:Establish a territory wide database that will identify key nesting sites of endangered sea 
          turtles.
Goal 4: Produce a report of the findings that can be disseminated to public officials and developers
          in order in order that better decisions for the development of the territory’s coastal and
          marine environment is adopted.