Best Public Policy Grants in Arizona

Arizona public charities and government units can seek funding to support education, STEM learning, and environmental stewardship projects that strengthen local communities. Vulcan Materials Company Foundation prioritizes public schools and higher education institutions in its operating areas, especially initiatives connecting math, science, and industry or promoting fact-based environmental stewardship and employee volunteer engagement.

The FY2027 Grants to Highest State Courts aim to enhance guardianship systems by evaluating and improving the fairness and effectiveness of adult guardianship proceedings. This initiative, funded by the US HHS Administration for Community Living, seeks to implement necessary changes based on assessments, streamline filing processes, and better detect fraud, ultimately ensuring the safety and integrity of protected individuals.

The HKS American Service Fellowship provides full scholarships and stipends for mid-career public service leaders to pursue a one-year Mid-Career Master in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School. Targeting U.S. military veterans, public employees, and alumni of service programs, this fellowship emphasizes skill development and community impact. Participants learn from esteemed faculty and engage with a network of changemakers, equipping themselves to address pressing societal challenges and enhance their leadership capabilities.

The Scott and Isabelle Black Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School supports students in two-year degree programs focused on addressing societal issues such as homelessness, poverty, and education. Awarded based on merit and financial need, this fellowship aims to cultivate future leaders in government and nonprofit sectors. It encourages studies that explore the causes and solutions to problems affecting vulnerable populations, ensuring that graduates are equipped to make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Graduate students focused on public policy and technology in Arizona can access funding through the Robert C. Seamans, Jr. Fellowship, supporting study at Harvard Kennedy School. This fellowship from Harvard Kennedy School backs students with strong research or management talent and a commitment to future leadership in science, technology, and public policy.

Prospective graduate students in public policy or international affairs, including those from Arizona, can apply for Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Scholarship to support higher education study. Alumni of a PPIA Junior Summer Institute who meet HKS admission and financial criteria may be eligible for this merit- and need-based funding.

Graduate students focused on public policy and higher education who are committed to LGBT+ issues, including those from Arizona, may be eligible for this fellowship supporting study at Harvard Kennedy School. Harvard Kennedy School offers the Margaret Traub and Phyllis Dicker LGBT+ Graduate Fellowship based on a combination of merit and financial need.

Graduate students pursuing public policy or related higher education studies, including those from Arizona, can apply for Kennedy Fellowships and Presidential Scholarships from Harvard Kennedy School; awards vary based on financial need and merit. Exceptional academic ability and professional distinction are required, and opportunities exist for both U.S. and international students.

Harvard Kennedy School provides Arizona public policy students with fellowship support for the Master in Public Policy program. The John Berger Fellowship is for Harvard College graduates pursuing the MPP who plan careers in U.S. or international institutions focused on international affairs, and may benefit Arizonans fitting these criteria willing to study at HKS.

Graduate students pursuing public policy, science, and technology studies who want to deepen their impact through the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program may be eligible for the Charles Edison Fund Fellowship. Grants from Harvard Kennedy School help Arizona public policy students and other U.S. and international candidates advance higher education and leadership training.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored groups working on food-system public policy and transformation can apply for Stray Dog Institute’s grants in Arizona and beyond, typically ranging from US $2,500 - US $10,000. Funding may be unrestricted or project-based for work on farmed animals, sustainable agriculture, environmental policy, and related justice issues.

Muslim undergraduate and graduate students in Arizona pursuing film, theater, or related media fields can apply for the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s film scholarships, awarding US $3,000 - US $5,000 for their studies. Eligible applicants must study at accredited U.S. universities and may focus on public policy themes through film and media work.

Law students in Arizona focused on public policy and judicial careers can receive support with a $3,000 stipend for unpaid judicial internships. Islamic Scholarship Fund provides U.S.-based American Muslim 1L and 2L students with funding for at least 8-week internships with district, state, or federal judges, prioritizing those without other internship funding.

Law students focused on public interest and public policy in Arizona and across the U.S. can receive US $5,000 - US $10,000 in scholarship support for their legal studies. With a mission to increase American Muslim representation, Islamic Scholarship Fund supports full-time or qualifying part-time students committed to improving access to justice for Muslims in America.

Eligible 501(c)(3) public charities, research institutions, and universities working on pollinator-focused public policy and education, including in Arizona, can seek funding for projects advancing pollinator health and ecologically responsible agriculture. With a mission to promote pollinator health, One Hive Foundation provides up to US $75,000 for research, advocacy, science communication, and related policy initiatives across the U.S. and Canada.

Arizona public policy and international affairs nonprofits can access funding through the Japan-United States Friendship Commission for U.S.-Japan research, education, exchanges, and public affairs projects. Eligible 501(c)(3) or Japanese NPO/一般社団法人 institutions focusing on arts and culture, exchanges and scholarship, education and public affairs, or global challenges may be supported to strengthen U.S.-Japan relationships.

Arizona nonprofits and educational organizations working in early childhood development and learning can access funding through Ohio Children’s Foundation for programs serving at-risk children ages 0–5. Grants up to US $20,000 support quality early learning, literacy, parent engagement, and public policy advocacy that expands high-quality early childhood education in communities, including Arizona.

Public policy PhD scientists in Arizona and nationwide can apply for a one-year Congressional science fellowship to work on Capitol Hill, gaining hands-on policy experience. Grants from Crop Science Society of America help agronomy, crop, soil, and related scientists with an annual stipend, relocation expenses, and specialized policy orientations in Washington, D.C.

The Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers grant aims to support state-level projects that align with the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Grantees will form cross-agency partnerships to implement the Strategy's recommendations, focusing on sustainability through planning phases. The initiative encourages innovative solutions to enhance caregiver support while ensuring that project outcomes are maintained beyond federal funding.

The OJP FY 2026 Integrity in American Elections Grant Program aims to enhance election integrity across the United States. This initiative, supported by the US Department of Justice, focuses on empowering state and local prosecutors to effectively prevent and prosecute voter fraud and maintain the integrity of voter rolls. By safeguarding elections against illegal voting and registration practices, this program is vital for upholding public confidence in democratic processes and ensuring that every American's vote counts.

The NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Human Trafficking funding opportunity aims to support comprehensive research and evaluation projects. It focuses on preventing human trafficking, assessing the impact of federal policies, and enhancing services for victims. This initiative, led by the National Institute of Justice in partnership with the Office for Victims of Crime, seeks to generate insights that can inform better responses to human trafficking in the U.S.

The SMART FY26 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program aims to enhance sex offender registration and notification practices across jurisdictions in the U.S. By supporting the implementation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), this grant facilitates the establishment of comprehensive sex offender registries, ensuring that states, territories, and federally recognized tribes comply with federal standards. This initiative also promotes interjurisdictional information exchange and helps maintain public safety.

The NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Justice System Responses to Illegal Immigration invites proposals for impactful research on the adult criminal justice system's response to illegal immigration. This initiative aims to explore innovative solutions and evaluate their effectiveness across various jurisdictions, focusing on challenges like location, apprehension, and crime prevention. By fostering collaboration among federal, state, local, and tribal entities, the program seeks to enhance strategies that address illegal immigration effectively.

Request for Proposals: Launchpad Funds

Background

Coefficient Giving is increasing its giving, primarily to prepare for the billions of dollars in new philanthropic capital that may become available in the coming years. Our increased giving in global health and wellbeing is a temporary surge, with two objectives: to smooth funding and pull forward initiatives we expect to be cost-effective, and to help create an ecosystem of regrantors and implementers with the capacity to allocate this new money as cost-effectively as possible. Additional context on our scaling is provided in this blog post. 

With new potential capital on the way, we want to increase the supply of actionable and fundable plans to address some of the world’s hardest problems. We’re looking for specific, credible strategies to convert funding into measurable progress. Our ideal funds are:

However, we are also open to funds that are thematic and don’t have a quantified goal — for example, a fund organized around a promising type of intervention. Such funds still need to be led by a single, identifiable person who is accountable for the fund’s direction.

Through this request for EOIs, we aim to seed or scale Launchpad Funds that can grow to $100m+ over the next few years. We don’t seek scale for its own sake; it is a proxy for the ambition of the fund, and a signal that the problem is large and tractable enough to justify deploying significantly more capital over time.

What we will fund

• We expect to support established ideas that have either not yet secured anchor support or could significantly scale beyond their existing level of funding.
• This funding can cover operating expenses, but we expect most of it to be used for activities that make progress on the fund’s goals — whether through regranting or direct implementation.
• For exceptional proposals, we may consider funding levels beyond $50m. We anticipate higher funding levels will involve more thought partnership from our team.
• While we don’t expect to make grants longer than 36 months, funded proposals may later be considered for additional funding beyond the initial period.

The BJA FY 2026 Capital Case Litigation Initiative aims to enhance legal representation in state capital cases. By providing essential funding, this initiative supports both prosecutors and defense attorneys to ensure equitable legal processes for indigent defendants. The U.S. Department of Justice emphasizes the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens' rights. Applications are due by November 5, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET, marking a critical opportunity for improvement in capital case litigation.

Better Food Policy Fund 

Since its inception, the Better Food Policy Fund has set its strategic direction in a participatory fashion. We are intentionally building capacity for engagement to ensure the Fund aligns with the needs of food policy council stakeholders.   

Thus far, the Fund has engaged 300+ food policy council stakeholders to help co-develop the Fund. We are immensely grateful for the individuals who helped shape the initial direction of this fund. We view this growing stakeholder audience as the people to whom the Fund’s governing body, the Independent Advisory Committee, is ultimately accountable.

Grantmaking

The Better Food Policy Fund invests in US-based food policy councils, empowering community and government collaboration for progressive food policy. We utilize participatory processes to enhance equity and redistribute power in the funding landscape. We seek to celebrate and uplift the work of food policy councils, and believe every food policy council is worthy of financial support.

We define “food policy councils” as councils, networks, coalitions, or other groups working across boundaries at the tribal, municipal, county, state, or regional level.  

We support actions aimed at ensuring an enabling environment for policy change, such as: 

• increasing levels of inclusive and equitable stakeholder engagement in public processes
• engaging systems thinking when tackling complex food system challenges
• facilitating collaboration with and across local government agencies and departments 
• developing or revising local policies and plans  

We define “better food policy” as practices, procedures, ordinances, laws, etc. of governing institutions which strengthen community-based food systems.

We define “civic collaboration” as people joining together at the intersection of community and government to address public issues.

Grant Guidelines

To advance its mission to build a responsible and equitable technology ecosystem, the Kapor Foundation makes strategic grants across three focus areas: (1) Computing Education, (2) Innovation, and (3) Governance.

Within each focus area, we fund research on critical topics at the intersection of racial equity and tech, capacity-building that strengthens coalitions and movement-building infrastructure, and policy advocacy that drives systemic change.

Funding Priorities

We fund organizations and initiatives aligned with our core focus areas:

Given advances in Al, a new vision of education is urgently needed — one that ensures students are equipped with the technical skills to build emerging technologies and the critical skills to navigate their socio-technical implications. We fund computing education initiatives across K-12, postsecondary, and alternative pathways that expand computing participation at scale, shift policy to ensure equitable access, and expand the pipeline of educators prepared to teach computing.

2. 

Al is being designed, developed, and deployed rapidly, yet the communities most affected by its impacts are largely excluded from its creation and subsequent economic benefits. We support organizations and individuals that build responsible Al technologies, leverage technology to close gaps in access and opportunity, and invest in initiatives and coalitions that advance responsible Al in the entrepreneurship and venture capital ecosystems.

3.

As Al adoption accelerates, bolder approaches to regulation are necessary to protect marginalized communities from technological harm, expand economic opportunity, and ensure the benefits of technology reach everyone. We support efforts that build awareness of key policy issues, develop policy agendas, and mobilize coalitions.

For 2026, our priority advocacy areas are: 1) computing education, 2) algorithmic bias, 3) Al safeguards for children, 4) data center development, and 5) surveillance and civil rights.