Best Seed Grants for Nonprofits in American Samoa

The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) aims to enhance access to essential preventive clinical and public health services for children through community-driven initiatives. Funded by the US HHS: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), this program focuses on empowering local communities to implement effective strategies that improve children's health outcomes and promote overall well-being. Projects funded under this initiative will play a vital role in ensuring healthier futures for children.

The Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Libraries' Grant, initiated by the American Library Association (ALA), aims to enhance accessibility and community engagement in small and rural libraries serving people with disabilities. With funding up to $20,000, selected libraries will receive support for projects that improve library services and facilities. This initiative promotes collaboration with community members to identify and address accessibility needs, ensuring libraries effectively serve diverse populations.

The Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants program in Hawaii and the Western Pacific provides crucial funding for communities facing emergencies that threaten their access to safe drinking water. This program supports rural areas by offering financial assistance for water transmission and source projects, helping to restore and maintain water supply systems after events like droughts, floods, or chemical spills. Eligible applicants include local governments and nonprofit organizations, ensuring broad access to essential resources.

The BJS FY 2026 Criminal History Record Assessment and Research Program (CHRARP) aims to enhance the Bureau of Justice Statistics' ability to analyze recidivism and criminal history data. This program will support the standardization of criminal records across jurisdictions, enabling accurate statistical analyses. By refining existing data coding systems and addressing data quality issues, the CHRARP will improve research on offenders' patterns and careers, ultimately contributing to effective criminal justice policies.

The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships program, managed by the USDA's NIFA, aims to enhance the training of new graduate students in food and agricultural sciences. It provides essential funding for master's, DVM, and doctoral students, focusing on developing the next generation of experts to address critical needs in agricultural sciences. This initiative supports U.S. citizens and residents in achieving their educational goals and contributing to the USDA's mission.

This funding opportunity aims to advance mechanistic research on precision probiotic therapies through a phased R61/R33 award mechanism. The initiative supports innovative studies identifying unique host characteristics that influence probiotic responses, addressing the variability in clinical outcomes. By focusing on person-specific features, the goal is to enhance the effectiveness of probiotics and overcome barriers to treatment success, ultimately leading to tailored probiotic interventions that better meet individual health needs.

The New Music Creator Fund provides financial support to individual music creators across all genres, helping them advance their creative practice. This initiative covers costs associated with developing new work and collaborative projects. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and have three years of professional music experience. The fund aims to empower diverse music creators in the U.S. by facilitating the development of innovative musical ideas and fostering artistic collaboration.

The National Meredith Willson Awards provide multi-year operating support to organizations using music for systemic change. The Music Man Foundation will award grants of $50,000 to $500,000 to 5-10 selected organizations in 2026, focusing on their impact through music. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) status, a history of music programming, and a commitment to systemic change. Applications will be evaluated on leadership, organizational capacity, and alignment with grant criteria.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is initiating a funding opportunity aimed at advancing research careers through mentoring networks. This program focuses on providing educational activities, mentor support, and skills development for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early career investigators. The goal is to enhance their chances of securing NIH research grants and to foster their professional growth in scientific careers. Applications are currently not open, allowing time for collaboration and project development.

The Bridges to the Doctorate Research Training Program (T32) aims to enhance the biomedical research workforce by fostering the transition of well-trained master's students into Ph.D. programs. This initiative supports organizations in developing effective training and mentoring strategies, particularly for individuals from underrepresented groups. Through partnerships between master's and Ph.D. granting institutions, the program emphasizes comprehensive research training that addresses national health-related research needs.

The Institutional Research Grants (IRG) program by the American Cancer Society provides essential seed funding for newly independent investigators to launch cancer research projects. Aimed at junior faculty, these grants offer $120,000 annually for three years, supporting the development of preliminary results necessary for competing for larger national grants. Eligible applicants must be at US academic institutions and hold the rank of Associate or Full Professor, with a proven track record in research and mentorship.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) co-fund the Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG), aimed at advancing the research careers of clinician scientists in radiation oncology. Eligible applicants are full-time faculty members at U.S. institutions with a doctoral degree and an active clinical license. The grant supports research for 3 to 5 years, providing $135,000 annually for direct costs, plus allowable indirect costs, while encouraging diversity in applications.

The Clinician Scientist Development Grant (CSDG) by the American Cancer Society supports full-time faculty aiming to become independent clinician scientists while maintaining clinical practice. Eligible applicants must hold a doctoral degree, an active clinical license, and have clinical care experience. The grant provides funding of $135,000 annually for 3 to 5 years, including allowable indirect costs, to advance cancer research in key priority areas.

The American Cancer Society's Mentored Research Grants for Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) aim to support emerging researchers in their training programs, fostering their transition to independent cancer research careers. Eligible candidates include US citizens or non-citizens with valid visas who have completed their doctoral degrees within the last four years. The fellowship offers funding for up to three years, with stipends of $66,000 to $70,000 annually, alongside allowances for health insurance and professional development.

The Rural Business Development Grants program aims to provide essential technical assistance and training to small rural businesses, which must have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenue. The funding is targeted at projects that benefit rural areas, prioritizing smaller requests. Eligible recipients include towns, communities, and nonprofit organizations. Both Opportunity and Enterprise grants are available, supporting various initiatives from business planning to community economic development.

The Limited Competition: NIGMS Mature Synchrotron Resources for Structural Biology program aims to support advanced technologies at synchrotron facilities, providing biomedical researchers with cutting-edge X-ray beamlines, user training, and expert assistance. This initiative intends to continue funding through a reissued Notice of Funding Opportunity, inviting eligible organizations to apply. Applications will undergo NIH standard peer-review processes to ensure only the most meritorious proposals are funded.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks to enhance predoctoral and postdoctoral research training through a new funding opportunity, the T90/R90 program. This initiative aims to develop a skilled research workforce to meet the nation's biomedical and clinical research needs. Although applications are not currently being accepted, potential applicants are encouraged to form collaborations and prepare responsive projects. This program will support diverse trainees, fostering innovation in trans-disciplinary research.

The Mission Boost Grants (MBG) by the American Cancer Society aim to enhance cancer research by funding projects that translate into human testing. These grants support investigators at all levels, offering resources for innovative clinical projects. The program consists of two funding stages: Stage I focuses on developing clear milestones for new treatments, while Stage II supports patient testing, ultimately contributing to advancements in cancer care and treatment.

The Discovery Boost Grants (DBG) offered by the American Cancer Society support innovative and high-risk exploratory cancer research. These grants, available for up to two years with a funding limit of $125,000 annually plus indirect costs, aim to generate preliminary data that can lead to further funding opportunities. Eligible applicants include independent investigators with a doctorate and a full-time faculty position, fostering advancements in cancer research across multiple priority areas.

The Forecast for Clinical Trial Readiness for Rare Diseases (R21) aims to enhance the development and testing of diagnostics and therapeutics for rare diseases. This funding opportunity invites researchers to facilitate clinical trial readiness by developing rigorous biomarkers and clinical outcome measures. Through collaborative efforts with various stakeholders, NCATS seeks to improve the efficiency of moving candidate therapeutics towards clinical trials, ultimately increasing the likelihood of successful treatments for rare diseases.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is inviting research applications focusing on mind and body interventions like mindfulness meditation and yoga that promote emotional well-being and whole person health. This initiative supports innovative studies that validate mechanisms of emotional well-being, utilizing a phased funding approach (R61/R33) to ensure rigorous clinical trials. Preliminary data comparable to R01 applications are required, emphasizing the importance of research quality.

The Crowder-Messersmith Conservation Fund, established to honor leaders in nature tourism, provides vital seed funding for local conservation projects in developing countries. Since 1974, it has supported over 160 initiatives across 55 nations, emphasizing education and community involvement. Grants, capped at $3000 for one year, focus on projects that benefit endangered species and habitats, ensuring lasting impacts for local populations. Preference is given to applicants with previous conservation experience and those from outside the United States.

The AASM Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, established in 2005, provides essential financial aid to AASM accredited sleep centers impacted by natural disasters. By supporting these centers, the fund ensures that medical care remains accessible to patients during crises. Past funding has assisted centers after events like Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, helping them recover and restore operations quickly. This initiative highlights the commitment to maintaining patient care in the face of adversity.

The Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship, launched by the First Nations Development Institute and the Henry Luce Foundation, supports Native knowledge holders and makers in their transformative work. With ten fellowships of $75,000 each, this two-year program fosters growth and collaboration across diverse fields such as agriculture, climate change, and cultural revitalization. Fellows will engage in community-building through required convenings, enhancing their leadership skills and professional networks to benefit Native communities.

The Small Instruments and Modern Equipment program invites shared-use biomedical research facilities to apply for funding to purchase small instruments or scientific equipment. These resources, which may include core facilities and biorepositories, aim to enhance operational efficiency and support the use of innovative technologies. Funding is specifically targeted for instruments that produce outputs beyond traditional digital data, excluding highly specialized or building-level infrastructure equipment.

The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) supports small-scale research at institutions that receive limited NIH funding, emphasizing biomedical research for undergraduate students. This program aims to enhance the research environment and provide valuable experiences for students. Eligible institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than $6 million in NIH support over four of the last seven years. This funding opportunity encourages investigator-initiated minimal risk clinical trials to advance NIH missions.

The NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) supports talented postdoctoral researchers in transitioning to independent faculty positions. This program provides essential NCI research funding to facilitate the development of competitive, independent research careers. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant's organization, emphasizing the importance of timely submissions for prospective awardees.