Source: PARSA Community Foundation

Since 2006, PARSA Community Foundation has made 28 grants to nonprofit organizations around the world through its competitive grant cycles. Civic participation is one of the three core areas where the foundation focuses its grants. In addition to grants, PARSA CF employs education and volunteerism as strategies to expand Iranian-Americans' civic participation, solidifying our voice and helping our community become a well-recognized force for good.
 
For PARSA CF, civic engagement means action that identifies and addresses issues of public concern. This can materialize in many shapes and forms, such as through voter registration drives, writing editorial pieces about issues that matter to your community, organizing an anti-defamation campaign and putting together meetings between government representatives and their local constituents.
 
In 2007, PARSA CF made a grant to the National Iranian American Council's (NIAC) Civil Society Development Program, where NIAC trained community leaders to participate in the American political process, conduct voter registration drives and assume civic leadership. These activities took place through workshops, a legislative watch program, and meetings between Iranian-American voters and elected officials nationwide. In 2008, PARSA CF awarded a grant to Bay Area Iranian American Voter Association (BAIVOTER) to undertake a campaign for the 2008 election to drive the Iranian-American community to www.iraniansvote.org for online voter registration and education. Additionally, BAIVOTER is conducting a get-out-the-vote campaign and uses public service announcements by Persian community leaders to encourage website visitors to register and vote.

In the most recent grant round, PARSA CF is proud to support the National Legal Sanctuary for Community Advancement (NLSCA) in ensuring the human rights and dignity of Middle-Eastern, Muslim, and South-Asian peoples. NLSCA conducts legal defense of civil rights, responsible media coverage, collaboration with governmental and non-governmental institutions and civic integration through community outreach. PARSA CF is also awarding a grant to the Network of Iranian-American Professionals of Orange County for its efforts in conducting a voter registration drive and civic engagement projects in Southern California. Finally, PARSA CF is awarding a grant to NIAC to continue its Civil Society Development Program. As we prepare to announce the full results of our 2008 Mehregan grant cycle, we are excited to facilitate funding for more civic participation initiatives in support of Iranian-Americans nationwide.
 
PARSA CF is always looking for more quality grant proposals in the area of civic engagement. Although this election year is culminating, the 2010 elections and the upcoming national census are right around the corner. As Iranian-Americans, it is critical that we own our identity and make our voice heard in time for this national survey which will determine federal funding for many social and economic programs that impact diaspora communities such as ours. If you know of a 501©3-registered nonprofit organization that is investing in the civic future of Iranian-Americans, point them towards www.parsacf.org and encourage them to apply for a grant and register in our NGO Directory today.