Best Financial Assistance Grants in American Samoa

The Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to bolster engineering research capacity by supporting new academic investigators. This initiative is designed for those who have not yet received significant federal funding and are affiliated with institutions below the 'very high research activity' level. By fostering innovation and mentorship, the program seeks to broaden participation in engineering research across the nation.

The Burkburnett Legacy Foundation aims to enhance philanthropy and provide charitable opportunities to support nonprofits in Burkburnett, TX. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities, with grants awarded for charitable purposes. The foundation promotes the well-being of all, irrespective of race or gender. However, certain ineligibilities apply, such as restrictions on grants to political candidates or individuals. Organizations can apply annually to benefit from this foundation's support.

The Data Fellowship by Delta Analytics offers a unique opportunity for individuals with strong technical skills in data science, engineering, or visualization to volunteer and empower nonprofits. Over a six-month commitment, participants dedicate 5-10 hours weekly to work closely with nonprofit organizations, leveraging data to drive impactful decisions. This fully remote fellowship fosters personal and professional growth while building a community of like-minded individuals passionate about using data for social good.

The Convention Opportunity Travel Grant, offered by the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES), supports non-student members with incomes under $40,000 to present their research at the ASEEES Annual Convention. Established in 1948, ASEEES prioritizes first-time presenters and junior scholars lacking institutional support. The grant encourages diverse scholarly contributions and is aimed at enhancing the visibility of underrepresented voices in the field of Slavic and East European studies.

The ASMS Postdoctoral Career Development Awards provide five $5,000 grants annually to support the professional growth of postdoctoral fellows in mass spectrometry. Eligible applicants must be ASMS members and postdoctoral fellows within three years of their Ph.D. These awards can cover costs for conferences, workshops, travel to labs, or purchasing essential professional items, fostering career advancement in this specialized field.

The Colcom Foundation Grant: National Giving (Carrying Capacity) aims to support projects that address the impacts of human population growth on the environment. The foundation prioritizes initiatives in family planning and sustainable immigration practices to stabilize and gradually decrease the US population by 2040. Non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for these funds, which seek to foster a sustainable environment and ensure a quality life for all Americans.

Mission

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, international, nonprofit organization founded in 1923. The Council fosters innovative research, nurtures new generations of social scientists, deepens how inquiry is practiced within and across disciplines, and mobilizes necessary knowledge on important public issues.

Driving University Impact: Expanding the Public Exchange Network

With generous support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Social Science Research Council is pleased to invite U.S. R1 research universities in SSRC’s College and University Fund for the Social Sciences to apply for funding to join the Public Exchange Network. Public Exchange is a new network that turns university research expertise into real-world action and impact. Foundedat the University of Southern California in 2020 and expanded to Washington University in St. Louis in 2025, Public Exchange connects researchers with government, nonprofit, and industry partners to tackle pressing challenges—from disaster recovery and climate solutions to food insecurity and homelessness prevention. Since its founding, Public Exchange has developed high-impact collaborations between 48 partners and 142 researchers including:

• CLEAN LA and CLEAN STL: One of the largest free soil testing programs for lead in Los Angeles County following the January 2025 wildfires, and a related program in St. Louis to test soil and air for contaminants following the May 2025 EF-3 tornado;
• The California Solar Canal Initiative: An ambitious public-private research collaboration to advance solar panel infrastructure along California’s 4,000 miles of open aqueduct, conserving water and generating renewable energy;
• Food Base LA: LA County’s first food systems data dashboard, helping LA County and non-profit partners target distribution of millions of pounds of food and related resources to families experiencing food insecurity;
• ShadeLA: A people-powered campaign to cool Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics by advancing natural and built shade cover in the region.

Partners have included the City and County of Los Angeles, the State of California, the City of St. Louis, Yelp, Solar AquaGrid, the United Nations Foundation, Keck Medicine of USC, the Southern California Association of Governments, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Department of Angels and many more. In addition to real-world impact positively affecting millions of lives, Public Exchange collaborations have resulted in over $18m in research funding, some helping to incubate new centers or areas of research, more than 40 academic journal publications, hundreds of media hits, and dozens of student career opportunities. 

The Public Exchange Model

Public Exchange is a partner-driven program, working collaboratively with external partners to: (1) define a research scope, timeline, and deliverables; (2) identify the right team of multidisciplinary academic experts to analyze the problem; (3) provide project management from concept and strategy development to project outputs and tools delivery; and (4) manage the public and stakeholder engagement related to the project, as well as communications and design needs. Public Exchange staff are not researchers, but come from government, industry, and non-profit backgrounds, uniquely equipping project teams to understand partners’ needs and lead projects to action. Staff oversee activities including partnership and proposal development, funder cultivation, research translation, dissemination, and communications, impact and scaling strategy, administrative support, cross-sector convening, and more, to maximize the real-world impact of university expertise. Public Exchange builds results-driven teams that deliver measurable impact and lasting solutions for partners.

How the Public Exchange Network Works

No single university – even a large R1 – has enough faculty expertise available to meet the needs of every partner. The Public Exchange Network was designed to help universities work together seamlessly to build robust partnerships and generate more collective impact. Universities joining the network are independent but affiliated members, with full control over their own program and project portfolios. As a national network with local, on-the-ground capacity, Public Exchange Network members can also share approaches that work, scale solutions to common problems, and build cross-regional partnerships together. 

As an institutional partner in the Public Exchange Network, universities will build capacity to develop, test and implement solutions to the most urgent problems in their regions and beyond. Universities joining the Public Exchange Network get:

• The tools, templates and training they need to start right away;
• A shared brand they can plug into on day one;
• A network of faculty, past and potential partners and philanthropic relationships, benefitting everyone in the network. 

SSRC Public Exchange Network Expansion Grants

Public Exchange Network Expansion grants will cover 75-80% of the minimum estimated annual costs for two years to launch a new Public Exchange. To launch a Public Exchange, universities must have the following in place: (1) a staff executive director with experience launching and leading social impact partnerships, (2) a project seed fund, and (3) a modest operations budget. We also recommend some in-kind project management support from an existing university staff member. The grant includes a two-year Public Exchange Executive Director (ED) compensation subsidy of $300,000 to launch the Public Exchange on campus, and a 2-year license to use the Public Exchange brand. New Public Exchange Network members will also receive ongoing support and guidance from current Public Exchange leadership and staff at USC and WashU, including recruitment support and intensive training for hiring and onboarding an executive director, a sub-site on the Public Exchange website, incubation and project management support from current Public Exchange staff, and a suite of tools for developing and implementing Public Exchange projects.

In addition, every university in the Public Exchange Network benefits from central communications support (currently housed at USC), and access to a collaborative network of project partners, researchers, and funder relationships. Separately, SSRC will select a local research fellow to study and document how the Public Exchange model develops within and between host institutions during the grant term, and how the Public Exchange Network universities work together to effect larger-scale change. 

Expectations

Institutions selected to join the Public Exchange Network are expected to:

• Hire an Executive Director who can launch and lead efforts to incubate social impact projects with public and private sector partners;
• Have in place before public launch: (1) an executive director, (2) a seed fund, (3) a modest operations budget, and (4 – recommended) some in-kind project management support. 
• Develop and sustain at least three high-impact research partnerships during the two-year grant tenure;
• Invest modest resources during the grant term that demonstrate commitment to continuing the Public Exchange model after the end of philanthropic support. This is estimated at approximately $85-$90k annually (with some variation considering local labor markets) to support an operations and project seed fund and any additional capital needed for the Executive Director hire beyond the subsidy. 
• Coordinate with the SSRC research fellow who will examine the impact of Public Exchange at their university and across the network. 
• Work with faculty across their university. Public Exchange can live anywhere within a university at the school or central level. The majority of Public Exchange projects to date at USC and WashU have included researchers from two or more schools, and grantees must be able to work with faculty university-wide. 

The NCEES Foundation Grant, provided by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, aims to promote engineering and surveying licensure in the U.S. This philanthropic initiative prioritizes proposals that support the public's health and safety through education and awareness of licensure value. The foundation encourages programs that build a robust pipeline for future engineers and surveyors, ensuring their success from K-12 through higher education.

CSX Charitable Investments offers Community Service Grants to organizations that significantly impact their communities. These grants aim to support entities with tax-exempt status, government agencies, or educational institutions. The application process is open year-round, with responses expected within 30–45 days. The foundation prioritizes projects that serve military families and first responders, reflecting CSX's commitment to community service and support for local needs.

Cornerstone Grants

Do you volunteer with a nonprofit organization? Would you like additional funding to start or enhance a service project? Organize your own service project!

We know that as an Elks scholar, you already uphold the cornerstones of the Foundation: knowledge, integrity, charity and community. Now, we want to help you do more! The ENF is offering fifteen $500 Cornerstone Grants to any Elks scholar interested in starting or expanding a community service project. We are also offering six $250 bonuses for projects done in collaboration with an Elks Lodge.

Looking for project ideas?

Consider a cause that you are passionate about and partner with an organization addressing that need.

Talk to your sponsoring lodge about what sort of service project they’d like to see at the Lodge. Ask them about charitable projects they are currently involved with, and see if there are any projects they’d like to see enhanced. You can find contact information for a Lodge near you here.

Funding

• The ENF is offering twenty $500 Cornerstone Grants to any Elks scholar interested in starting or expanding a community service project.
• We are also offering fifteen $250 bonuses for projects done in collaboration with an Elks Lodge.

State Farm Companies Foundation offers marketing sponsorships to organizations that align with their mission of building safer, stronger communities. They are open to partnerships that enhance their marketing strategies on both local and national levels. Interested parties can expect a review of their proposals within 2-3 weeks. This initiative aims to foster collaboration with various brands and causes that resonate with State Farm's vision.

The Science Café Mini-Grant, offered by the American Chemical Society, provides up to $500 to support Local Sections in organizing engaging Science Cafés. These events foster discussions between scientists and the community on contemporary topics, enhancing public understanding of science. By participating, local sections can encourage scientific literacy and invigorate interest in scientific issues, making it a valuable opportunity for community engagement.

The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship offers a $42,000 stipend plus $8,000 for project-related expenses to support early-stage doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences. This fellowship encourages innovative dissertation research and aims to diversify academic methodologies and perspectives. Applicants must be PhD students in relevant fields, with certain eligibility criteria, including not having advanced to candidacy before January 2025. The fellowship promotes inclusive excellence, contributing to a diverse academic community.

The Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) aim to support emerging leaders in mathematics and statistics. These fellowships enhance participants' research environments, ensuring significant scientific development. Awardees can choose between a Research Fellowship or a Research Instructorship, with funding available for research across various mathematical and statistical disciplines. Proposals are submitted directly to the NSF, and fellows must affiliate with eligible institutions or organizations.

The Law School Admission Council, Inc. (“LSAC”) is committed to promoting access in legal education and the legal profession. The LSAC Pathway Grant (the “Grant”) program makes awards to nonprofit institutions for programming focused on one or more of the following strategic goals:

• Goal 1: Early Access/Outreach - Introducing the law and careers in law to students, particularly students facing access and opportunity barriers to information and education, before high school graduation
• Goal 2: Supporting Admissions - Ensuring all applicants, including applicants facing access and opportunity barriers to information, education, and other supports/resources, have access, opportunity, and support in the law school admission process
• Goal 3: 1L Retention - Reducing attrition rates and increasing persistence for law students after the first year of law school, particularly students facing access and opportunity barriers to information, education, and other supports/resources

The Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations that create positive change in communities. Focused on enhancing lives and providing opportunities for self-improvement, the foundation prioritizes requests from organizations in the Houston area and Texas. Eligible applicants may submit one request per year, ensuring a fair assessment process. Note that grants are not available to individuals, and lobbying efforts may adversely affect the consideration of applications.

Law School Admission Council Inc (LSAC) is committed to promoting access in legal education and the legal profession. LSAC will consider grant proposals from institutions for projects focused on one or more of our strategic goals.LSAC Outreach GrantsLSAC's Board of Trustees has made available funds to support cooperative outreach and applicant-pool expansion events. These grants are designed to encourage law schools to work together to promote legal education. At least three LSAC-member schools must work together on each event. Examples of eligible events include law fairs, conferences, workshops, or other events that are a combination of these types.

ETC's Community Betterment Committee Funding Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations across the United States. Established in 1975, ETC focuses on fostering community initiatives by awarding grants up to $5,000 semi-annually. The selection process is conducted by a committee of employee volunteers, ensuring that funds are allocated to a variety of deserving causes. This initiative reflects ETC's commitment to enhancing community welfare and supporting local initiatives.

The Clinton Presidential Research Fellowship, offered by the Clinton Presidential Library and the Clinton Foundation, supports graduate students and early career academics in the humanities and social sciences. This fellowship enables research into President Clinton's administration and its legacy. Annual funding ranges from $1,250 to $5,000 USD, encouraging students and scholars to delve into American history and presidential legacies. Applications are invited from current graduate students or those who have earned a PhD within the last eight years.

The UEF Grant Program, offered by the United Engineering Foundation, supports innovative projects that enhance the engineering profession and public welfare. With an annual budget of nearly $800,000, the program awards 5 to 10 grants each year. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Preference is given to interdisciplinary proposals that engage the community and integrate various engineering fields, fostering collaboration and addressing important societal issues.

The Mathematical Sciences Research Institutes, supported by the National Science Foundation, serve as critical national resources aimed at advancing research in mathematics and statistics. These institutes facilitate the discovery and dissemination of knowledge while enhancing connections with related fields. Their activities attract top mathematical minds to tackle pressing problems and engage a diverse array of U.S.-based researchers, ultimately bolstering the impact of mathematical sciences across various disciplines.

Residential Fellowships

Fellowships offer scholars the time, space, and support they need to pursue their work and the opportunity to take part in the Center’s vibrant intellectual community.

The National Humanities Center’s Residential Fellowship is one of the most prestigious humanities fellowship programs in the world. Fellows enjoy a beautiful and serene space to write, unparalleled library and reference support, excellent dining services, and a stimulating and supportive intellectual community.

A key feature, meanwhile, that differentiates us from many other fellowships is our residential requirement. Researchers are especially encouraged to apply when they expect to benefit from, and actively contribute to, an in-person community of other humanities researchers. If you prefer a research fellowship that allows you to do field work or to work in your own local space, this may not be the fellowship for you.

To be considered for this program, applicants must select that their institution is an HBCU when prompted in the online application system to identify the type of institution with which they are affiliated. Applicants may apply for a residential fellowship for the fall semester (September through December), spring semester (January through May), or academic year (September through May).

The James L. Bass Legal Scholarship, established by the Foundation for Rural Service, honors the legacy of James Bass, who significantly impacted rural telecommunications. This scholarship supports students entering their first year of law school with a focus on rural communities. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens. Through this initiative, the scholarship aims to foster new legal talent committed to enhancing the quality of life in rural America, continuing Mr. Bass's dedication to community service.

The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation, established in 1999, aims to support charitable organizations in the Grand Traverse region. It honors the philanthropic legacy of Art and Mary Schmuckal, who dedicated their lives to community service. The foundation is managed by a volunteer board consisting of family members and friends, ensuring a commitment to wise stewardship of its resources. It welcomes applications from 501(c)(3) organizations throughout the year, focusing on making a meaningful impact in the community.

The Bicycle Hotel Casino offers sponsorship and donation opportunities to support various worthy causes through a structured Board Review Committee. To qualify, organizations must submit a formal request at least 60 days before their event. This includes a Donation Request Form and a letter detailing the organization's purpose and alignment with the casino’s mission. The casino prioritizes requests from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, ensuring that each project aligns with their philanthropic goals.

The Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS) Program by the National Science Foundation (NSF) promotes innovative analytical and statistical methodologies for social, behavioral, and economic sciences. It offers various funding mechanisms, including Regular Research Awards, Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement (DDRI), and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grants. The program aims to enhance the utility of official statistics through collaborative research and supports early career development initiatives.

The Statistics Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, promotes research in statistical theory and methods applicable across various scientific and engineering domains. It supports projects ranging from individual investigators to interdisciplinary teams, fostering advancements in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The program emphasizes the importance of statistical methods in modeling uncertainty and enhancing scientific discovery. For more information, please visit the NSF's official website.