DVAGI seeks support in quest for $250,000 grant

• Friends of SDSU group can make impact by voting on Facebook

BROOKINGS – Design & Visual Arts Group Inc., a nonprofit organization in Brookings working to raise funds for South Dakota State University students in the fields of design and visuals arts, is competing with nonprofits nationwide for grants ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 from the Chase Community Giving program.

“People who want to help ensure our success can simply vote for DVAGI through the Chase Community Giving program on Facebook before Sept. 19,” said Jane Hegland, head of the SDSU Consumer Sciences Department and one of the founders of the group that provides funding to broaden the education of design students. “DVAGI is a little nonprofit making a difference in South Dakota and every dime we raise supports our students.”

To vote, go to: https://apps.facebook.com/-chasecommunitygiving/charity/view/ein/20-2461768?ref=48c79909ca – and then search for “DVAGI” and vote.

Through the use of social media networks, the Chase Community Giving program has already directed more that $20 million toward nonprofits nationwide, putting the power to bring positive change across the nation into the hands of those who need it most.  

“Due to enthusiasm, the program is being continued this year, giving hundreds of additional nonprofits, including DVAGI, the opportunity to win grants to further our mission,” Hegland said. “Receiving even $10,000 would be an unbelievable opportunity to ensure the great work of DVAGI continues in Brookings and at SDSU.”

The fall 2012 round of the Chase Community Giving program is designed to benefit smaller and local nonprofits by being limited to 501(c)3 charities with operating budgets under $10 million.

“DVAGI's operating budget is closer to $5,000, so we're well under the wire of that limit,” Hegland said.  

The top eligible nonprofit receives $250,000 and the remaining 195 top charities earn $10,000 to $100,000 in grant funding, for a total of $5 million in grants.  

“With support of our volunteers, fans and friends around the world, DVAGI has the opportunity to get much needed resources to implement big changes,” Hegland said.

Since 2007, DVAGI has helped fund study opportunities for SDSU students around the world and across the U.S.  

“These transformative experiences have changed the way our students understand the world and think about their role within it,” Hegland said. “From working for a fashion magazine in Sydney, Australia, to volunteering at a women's textile cooperative in India, our students have been able to come home with amazing experiences and have gone on to make a difference in the world.”

Anyone with questions about DVAGI or who would like to get involved should contact Hegland at Jane.Hegland@sdstate.edu or 688-5196.