Best Grants for Special Education in Arizona

Early-stage U.S. PK–12 public education organizations serving students with learning differences, including special education initiatives in Arizona, can apply for NewSchools Venture Fund support. With a mission to reimagine education, NewSchools provides US $150,000 - US $250,000 in one-year general operating grants plus coaching and national peer connections for innovative school, solution, and teaching models.

Arizona families of individuals with autism can seek help for medical, nutritional, personal, and enrichment needs through the MyGOAL Autism Grant Program. Focused on autism-related supports, MyGOAL invites first-time applicants to request assistance for expenses not covered by schools, insurance, or other funders, which may include special education and socialization services.

Students pursuing post-secondary education in Rock Island County can apply for the Jerry and Martha Taylor Memorial Scholarship, awarding up to US $1,000 for college, university, or trade school costs. Administered by Quad Cities Community Foundation, it may benefit those interested in special needs education, journalism, theater, or accredited trade programs, including Arizona-bound studies.

Arizona students are not eligible; this scholarship is restricted to graduating seniors from Ashland County, Ohio high schools with a 3.0+ GPA who will major in Education, preferably Special Education, at a four-year college. The Ashland County Community Foundation supports students with financial need, leadership, community service, and extracurricular involvement.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing a degree in special education and living within the Crown Point Community Foundation service area may be eligible for the Kathy, Russ and Jim Keller Scholarship. Grants from Crown Point Community Foundation help students, including those from Arizona searching broadly, access support through a single application considered for many awards.

Students pursuing special education or therapy careers to support individuals with Down syndrome in Arizona can seek scholarship funding through the Down Syndrome – Aim High Scholarship. With a mission to empower generous people with meaningful giving opportunities, The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region offers this aid via a universal application for multiple awards.

Arizona students seeking degrees in special education, pediatric medicine, or Christian ministry may be eligible for the Kristin Lee Burry Memorial Scholarship, which supports North Decatur graduates pursuing higher education. This scholarship from Decatur County Community Foundation can help future special education professionals offset college costs.

Arizona special needs education students or teachers pursuing a special education major or certification at an accredited college or university can access funding through the Marietta Kiwanis Foundation; awards US $2,500 for academic advancement. Priority is given to current or former Cobb or Marietta students, with selection based on academic achievement and character.

Special education teachers seeking additional licensing or a master’s in special education can receive up to US $2,500 annually for tuition and related study costs. Managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, the WindSwell Foundation scholarship serves eligible public school educators in specified Northeast Indiana counties and may interest Arizona special needs education professionals exploring similar opportunities.

Special education students in Arizona pursuing education degrees may be eligible for scholarships supporting tuition, fees, and living costs. The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ Little Red Schoolhouse Scholarship Fund offers up to US $3,000 for residents of Hampshire or Franklin County studying education, with preference for early childhood, elementary, or special education fields.

Arizona nonprofits providing special needs education, community safety, health, or environmental programs can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $10,000 to support mobility, environment, and people-focused initiatives. Grants from Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund help organizations, including those with prior partnerships or volunteer engagement, strengthen accessible education and healthier, safer communities across the U.S.

Students pursuing higher education with special needs or learning disabilities in Arizona may be eligible for support that can help with college, university, or business school costs. With a mission to build stronger communities, Scranton Area Foundation provides the Ann Wall Scholarship, with preference for students who are active in a church or other religious institution.

Students pursuing careers teaching children with special needs and demonstrating financial need may be eligible for this scholarship, though it is awarded to graduating seniors residing in northern Chautauqua County. With a mission to strengthen education, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation supports higher education pathways for future special needs educators.

Teachers, counselors, and administrators serving blind students in Arizona and nationwide can receive more than US $1,000 plus convention travel through the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award. With a mission to recognize exemplary instruction, the National Federation of the Blind honors professionals who provide high-quality, meaningful educational experiences for blind children.

Arizona students pursuing special education, nursing, or physical therapy degrees can access scholarship support through the David Bruce Belcher Fund, administered by Benton Community Foundation. This fund assists Benton County high school graduates with tuition, especially those committed to helping people with developmental disabilities, and may benefit Arizona-connected students meeting these criteria.

Students pursuing technical or vocational training in fields like construction, HVAC, health sciences, welding, and related areas may be eligible for scholarships supporting their education and retraining, including in Arizona. St. Ignace Area Community Foundation also supports higher education in special education, law enforcement, teaching, and health care through these donor-funded awards.

About Us

Driving Positive Change in Noble County!

At the Community Foundation of Noble County we are passionate about making Noble County an even better place to call home. Since 1991, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation of Noble County to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible, as we see it as our mission to serve as a catalyst for positive change. The Community Foundation of Noble County is a public charity 501 (c) 3 entity.

As a group of invested community members, we identify local current and emerging issues and stimulate resources to address those needs, helping our region prepare for the future. We then leverage gifts and bequests from generous donors like you to drive positive change through grants in such areas as arts and culture, education, health and human services, civic affairs and other charitable areas of interest.

Our Mission

To improve the quality of life in Noble County by serving as catalyst for positive change, enabling donors to carry out charitable intent, and making grants.

Donor Story – Joest, Brian H. Memorial Fund

Brian Henry Joest was born in Lagrange, Indiana in 1957. He grew up on the Atwood family farm that was settled by his ancestors in the mid-1800s. Now a historical Hoosier Homestead, the Atwood Farm provided him with all the outdoor activities possible for a farm boy in northern Indiana. Brian’s love of nature and the outdoors continued throughout his life. After high school, he attended Glen Oaks Community College and then Purdue University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics

For decades, Brian went on annual backcountry camping and canoeing trips across the US and Canada. He paddled some of the most beautiful rivers in North America. He took a road trip to remote northern Alaska. He camped out on an active volcano in Guatemala. He explored most of the US National Parks. In his later years, his travels were less rustic but still adventurous as he and his wife, Cindy, checked off many items on his bucket list. They traveled to Paris, Rome, Florence, the Amalfi Coast of Italy, Ireland, and all around the US and Canada.

Brian began his professional career with management positions at Many Glacier Hotel at Glacier National Park in Montana; the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan; the Mountain View Grand Resort in New Hampshire; and Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado. He also worked for Marriott Corporation where he opened new hotels across the Midwest.

Upon the birth of his first child, Brian moved his young family back to Lagrange County so his children could grow up on the Atwood Farm near their family. Brian worked for Life Care Center of Lagrange, was a substitute teacher for the Lakeland School District, and worked for fifteen years for East Noble School Corporation, most recently as an Instructional Assistant for high school students with special needs.

Brian enjoyed doing things for other people and took so much joy in their happiness. His career choices reflected his servant’s heart. He loved working in the hospitality industry and being able to make someone else’s vacation more memorable. He helped the patients and their families at Life Care Center. He spent years making a difference for students in our local schools.

Brian experienced first-hand the unique challenges faced by the families of individuals with special needs. He was a father, stepfather, and step-grandfather to children with different disabilities. He understood the difficulties of navigating support systems and knew there are gaps in these systems that result in unmet needs. At the end of his life, while he was fighting cancer, Brian dreamed of being able to return to the classroom to help special needs students. This was not to be. In 2022, his family created this fund in his honor with the intent of continuing his dream to help improve the lives of individuals with special needs.

Anne K. Petry Scholarship Fund

Established by Summit Education Partnership Foundation to provide scholarships for Akron Public Schools students studying special education.

Amount:

• $1,000

Number of awards:

• 1

Renewal:

• No

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) offers training programs through the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) to enhance special education research. For FY 2027, the focus is on Methods Training, particularly on analyzing large datasets related to learners with disabilities. This initiative supports early career researchers and current education researchers in developing rigorous methodologies to address significant educational challenges, aiming to inform policy and practice in special education.

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship

Advancing the science and practice of supporting children to thrive

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is a global initiative supporting researchers working to deepen our understanding of how children thrive. Spanning disciplines from education and psychology to public health, data science, and humanitarian studies, the fellowship brings together early- and mid-career scholars whose work has the potential to generate evidence that matters for children’s lives.

Fellows receive three years of flexible support to pursue rigorous, practically relevant research, and join a cohort of peers working across the fellowship’s themes. In addition to funding research, the program fosters a community of scholars engaged in meaningful exchange with one another and with research, policy, and practice audiences.

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is developed in partnership with the LEGO Foundation, and administered by SSRC as part of its commitment to supporting scholars whose work bridges research and real-world impact.

Research themes

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship welcomes research proposals that advance understanding of children’s thriving through one of the following three themes: the youngest children in crisis and conflict settings; inclusion and wellbeing of neurodivergent children; and children’s learning and development in an AI-enabled world. Applicants may explore the role of play where it is relevant to the research question. The consideration of play is optional and not a condition of eligibility.

The McGraw Foundation offers annual grants to not-for-profit organizations, primarily in the greater Chicago area, focusing on education, conservation, and human services. Grant amounts typically range from $2,000 to $10,000, with larger grants available for particularly impactful projects. While supporting diverse initiatives, the Foundation does not fund individuals or specific events. Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS regulations to qualify for funding. The Foundation encourages innovative approaches and partnerships in grant applications.

McCormick & Company, Inc. actively supports charitable contributions through its Charitable Donations Committee (CDC), which prioritizes donations to non-profit organizations that enhance education, health, environment, and culture. The CDC focuses on organizations that benefit communities where McCormick employees live and work, ensuring a positive impact. Eligible groups must be tax-exempt and demonstrate a commitment to non-discrimination. However, donations are not made to individuals, political organizations, or entities that conflict with corporate values.

With a mission to support youth, animals, conservation, and veterans, Von Voigtlander Family Foundation provides Arizona 501(c)(3) organizations with funding for scholarships, special needs education, youth programs, and related services. Priority goes to Michigan-based charities, but Arizona nonprofits serving youth with disabilities and other needs may be considered when comparable local options are limited.

Arizona special needs education nonprofits can access funding through Alma Gibbs Donchian for programs serving students with hearing or learning impairments, reading disabilities, and related communication disorders. 501(c)(3) organizations across the U.S., especially in Vermont, may receive up to US $10,000, with preference for collaborative, pilot initiatives and strong long-term funding plans.

Arizona 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government entities serving Maricopa County with special needs education or related youth programs can access funding through Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust for programmatic, capital project, or capital campaign efforts. Eligible organizations must be at least three years old and may support children with disabilities, early learning, after-school programs, or academic enrichment.

The Robert F. Schumann Foundation Grant supports organizations dedicated to environmental sustainability, education, and the arts. Founded by Robert F. Schumann, an environmentalist, the foundation aims to enhance the quality of life for both humans and animals. It prioritizes projects that would not have been pursued without its assistance, particularly in ornithology and open space habitats. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt to apply, ensuring a focus on impactful community initiatives.