Best Quality of Life Grants in Arkansas

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Neil Ashcroft Early Career Award for Studies of Matter at Extreme High Pressure Conditions

The award recognizes outstanding theoretical or experimental contributions by an early-career scientist to studies of matter at extreme high pressure conditions. This includes static and/or dynamic compressions within the disciplines of Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Earth and Planetary Science, Soft Matter and Biology. The honor is conferred annually and includes of a $5,000 stipend, a certificate citing the contributions of the recipient, and an allowance for travel to an APS meeting to receive the award to deliver an invited lecture at either the biennial SCCM Conference or the APS March Meeting.

Nominations are active for three years provided the the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline and all eligibility criteria are still met.

The Community Foundation of Shelby County

Our Mission

To inspire donor generosity and transform it into meaningful, lasting impact through charitable gifts.

Our Vision

To be the primary partner for donors who want to advance the community’s quality of life and capacity for excellence.

James P. Humphrey, Black Achievers Scholarship

Shelby County residents who are of African-American descent and a graduating senior at a Shelby County High School maintaining a high school GPA of no less than 2.0.

Selection based upon (in order of priority):

Financial need, academic ability, demonstrated community and school service, and recommendations, and an interview.

Awards Vary.

The AK Chen Memorial Scholarship Fund, administered by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, provides financial assistance to students pursuing higher education in Hawaii. Eligible applicants must be residents of Hawaii, demonstrate financial need, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. Preference is given to students from specific high schools and those majoring in STEM or education fields. Scholarships cover various educational expenses, ensuring support for students' academic journeys.

The Graduate Student Scholarship for Minority Students, offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, supports graduate students from racial or ethnic minority groups who are U.S. citizens. This scholarship aims to promote academic achievement among students enrolled in communication sciences and disorders programs. Applicants must be full-time students and will be considered for multiple scholarship categories, but can only receive one award. The program emphasizes educational support for tuition and related expenses.

This competitive program seeks to encourage organizations to submit grant applications for educational activities focused on healthcare professionals involved in the management and care of people with migraine.

Individual projects requesting up to $200,000 will be considered. Maximum project length is 2 years.

The Community Foundation of Shelby County

Our Mission

To inspire donor generosity and transform it into meaningful, lasting impact through charitable gifts.

Our Vision

To be the primary partner for donors who want to advance the community’s quality of life and capacity for excellence.

Tom and Sandy Shoemaker Skills Scholarship

Adults or graduating seniors who reside in Shelby County, Ohio or in the School Districts of Shelby County, Ohio, who are enrolling in an accredited adult educational program or trade school or pursuing an Associate’s Degree shall be eligible to apply.

Selection based upon:

• Demonstrated interest and passion for a specific career path, demonstrated work experience, demonstrated community or school service and recommendations.

Awards

• One $1,000 scholarship

The Lynne Sherwood Scholarship, offered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, aims to support local youth in achieving their educational aspirations. This competitive scholarship considers various factors including financial need and academic achievement. Applicants must reside in West Michigan and submit necessary documents such as transcripts and the Student Aid Report. Lynne Sherwood's legacy as a community leader and educator continues to inspire future generations through this scholarship opportunity.

The Veterans' Scholarships program, established by the American Australian Association, offers financial support to post-9/11 military veterans from Australia and the USA for graduate studies. With over $2.8 million awarded, eligible veterans can receive up to $40,000 for tuition, travel, and living expenses. This initiative fosters educational opportunities and career development, encouraging veterans to pursue their academic goals in each other's countries.

About Us

For over three decades, the Hamilton Education Foundation (HEF) has been sparking innovation and expanding horizons within our classrooms. Since 1991, this community-powered non-profit has channeled more than $2.5 million from passionate individuals, local businesses, and forward-thinking organizations directly into the hands of Hamilton’s students and teachers. 

By funding transformative workshops, creative projects, and classroom grants, HEF doesn't just support education—it inspires students to dream bigger, rewards academic excellence, and builds a stronger, more vibrant community.

Our Vision

The vision of the Hamilton Education Foundation is to assist in achieving creative and academic excellence for the 21st Century through funding activities and projects for students and educators in the Hamilton School District.

Our Mission

Our mission, in partnership with the community, is to fund, Enhanced, Extended, and Enriched learning opportunities for students and educators in the Hamilton School District.

Student Grants

Evaluation Factors

Applications are reviewed based on:

The NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) aims to support talented postdoctoral researchers in their transition to independent faculty positions. This program provides essential NCI research funding to help awardees establish competitive, independent research careers. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant's organization, ensuring timely consideration for this critical funding opportunity.

The ASTR Po-Hsien Chu International Scholar Award Fund aims to support international scholars facing unique challenges in the U.S. due to their visa status. This initiative offers annual research awards to up to two scholars, with a focus on at least one Asian recipient. The $1000 honorarium promotes access to funding for groundbreaking research in theatre and performance studies and encourages recipients to engage with the ASTR community through conferences and mentoring.

Judy Huang Scholarship

The scholarship was established by Judy Huang to support a college education for students who are Asian, in financial need, and demonstrate perseverance and hard work.

Award Amount:

• $5,000 payable over fours years at $1,250 per year.

The ONR FY27 Young Investigator Program invites cutting-edge research proposals in priority areas that align with the interests of ONR Program Officers. This federal funding opportunity aims to support innovative projects led by early-career researchers, fostering advancements in science and technology relevant to the Navy. Interested applicants can find detailed eligibility criteria and contact information on the ONR website, encouraging collaboration and engagement in impactful research.

The ASTR Brooks McNamara Publishing Subvention supports costs related to reproducing illustrations for publications, including securing rights and acquiring images. It is available to independent or affiliated scholars with terminal degrees who are ASTR members. The award offers up to $600, with preference given to junior scholars. Projects will be evaluated based on their merit within theatre, dance, and performance studies, as well as the scholar's research endeavors.

The NSF MPS Chemistry Research Programs support groundbreaking research in chemical sciences, encompassing areas such as chemical catalysis, measurement, imaging, and theory. This initiative encourages innovative proposals that can lead to transformative advancements, without the necessity of immediate commercial applications. Researchers interested in exploring foundational concepts that could shape the future of chemistry are invited to submit their ideas for funding.

William C. and Anna Rose Chamberlain Memorial

The fund was established in 1926 "for the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," to be used to educate those interested in the ministry; or as a missionary; or ordained professional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); or for some definite religious work in connection with the church. Priority is given to members or former members of Gender Road Christian Church (formerly known as Southeast Christian Church).

Award Amount:

• Minimum $500

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist’s legacy through a variety of initiatives, including exhibitions, loans of artworks, research and publications, conservation, grants, educational programs for the public and the scholarly community, and the publishing of a catalogue raisonné. It is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.

Established and endowed by the artist during her lifetime (1928-2011), the Foundation became active in 2013, on the closing of Frankenthaler’s estate. As the principal beneficiary of Frankenthaler’s estate, the Foundation maintains an extensive collection of her work in a variety of mediums, as well as her collection of works by other artists and original papers and materials pertaining to her life and work.

Cultural Resilience Grant

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports public engagement with the visual arts through philanthropic, educational, curatorial, and research initiatives. It has expanded its grantmaking to sustain museums and visual arts institutions, supporting exhibitions, scholarship, and education across the field. The Foundation’s grantmaking priorities are currently organized across three areas:

• Climate Action and Sustainability
• Visual Arts & Education
• Cultural Resilience
  • Unrestricted support to sustain institutional capacity and core programming across the visual arts field. 
  • The Foundation provides unrestricted support to organizations whose core work is centered in the visual arts. These grants are intended to sustain exhibitions, programs, and institutional activities; support staffing, operations, and organizational capacity; and to maintain continuity during periods of reduced public funding and broader pressures affecting the arts and culture sector.
    • Cultural Resilience support is not project-based and does not require a defined initiative. 

The Girls on the Run Sparking Limitless Potential Scholarship, funded by The Columbus Foundation, empowers high school graduates from the Girls on the Run program to pursue higher education. This initiative not only celebrates the achievements of alumni but also addresses systemic barriers faced by girls of Color, promoting equity and leadership development. By supporting diverse pathways to education, the scholarship aims to create lasting impact and foster a more inclusive future for youth in Central Ohio.

The Performing Arts Global Exchange Grant (PAGE) fosters international performing arts in the U.S., promoting cultural understanding through diverse programming. It offers support to nonprofit presenters who engage artists from a curated roster, focusing on underrepresented regions like Morocco and South Africa. Grants require public performances and community interaction, emphasizing outreach to underserved areas. PAGE is supported by Mid Atlantic Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, aiming to enhance accessibility to global artistic expressions.

The Botany and Beyond: PLANTS III program, funded by the National Science Foundation and the Botanical Society of America, aims to support diverse undergraduate scholars attending the 2025 Botany conference. Participants will engage in immersive mentoring, scientific talks, workshops, and networking opportunities while exploring various botanical fields. With full funding for travel and accommodations, this program fosters an inclusive environment for budding botanists, encouraging professional development in a supportive community.

Radio Flyer is dedicated to supporting organizations that promote outdoor play and well-being for children. They focus on charitable giving to national organizations like The Starlight Children’s Foundation, which aids children’s health, and partner with KaBOOM! to build playgrounds for underprivileged kids. Local nonprofits in the Chicagoland area are also supported, emphasizing education and health for children up to eight years old. This mission aligns with their goal of creating smiles and lasting memories through play.

Who We Are

We are a church of Jesus Christ.

The one God we know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the God we worship and serve. Christ is the center of our faith and practice. We seek the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, the Living Word among us, in our shared and individual lives.

We are a church of the Bible.

The Bible, as the written word that witnesses to the Living Word, is our guide for faith and practice. We bring the best of biblical scholarship to bear upon our understanding of scripture, prayerfully seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our interpretation.

We are a faith community in the Presbyterian tradition.

Our theology is Christian in its commitment to the God of Jesus and reformed in its commitment to salvation by grace and a call to grateful obedience in all of life. The way we govern ourselves is representative. We are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA. The great ends of the church as defined by the denomination’s Book of Order (1) guide the church’s programs and mission. We seek to serve our denomination and tradition primarily through the building of our congregation as a community of faith. Our witness is to the whole of the Gospel; therefore, we do not traditionally identify with any special interest organizations within the church.

We honor tradition.

We value wisdom as passed down or newly gained. We utilize forms of worship and study that have nourished Presbyterian churches for centuries while still open to innovation that honors God in new and relevant ways.

We are an accepting church.

Second Presbyterian honors the grace of God in Jesus Christ by accepting all those who look for a church home. We are a church for those who are single, married, divorced or widowed; for those who are childless, have children at home or children grown; for those who are happy or hurting; for those with great need and those with great resources. We seek to be a church where children know they are valued and where the elderly know they are not forgotten. As far as possible, we wish to honor diversity of opinion within our membership. At Second Presbyterian, we accept each other for who we are and who, by God’s grace, we will become.

We are committed to transforming lives.

Our prayer is to be God’s instrument in reaching and transforming lives, helping members and visitors grow in their Christian faith. We seek to help each other understand what it means to be obedient to the ordination of our baptism.

We are a high commitment church.

We are committed to following in the way of Jesus by providing ministries through which people may grow in grace and express love of God and God’s world. We promote healthy stewardship of resources which includes proportionate giving of one’s time, energy and money to the ministry of the church as an expression of one’s faith (2).

We are a servant church.

We equip members to serve neighbors near at home and far away, proclaiming the justice and compassion of Jesus Christ through word and deed.

We are a metropolitan church.

We are a downtown church with members from all over the Roanoke Valley. People find Second Presbyterian Church because they seek a faith community with a broad vision and a ministry that reaches the valley, nation and world.

Grants and Special Offerings

Beyond our normal budgeted support of agencies ministering to the vulnerable in our community, Second Presbyterian Church provides avenues for additional funding for agencies serving those in need in our community through specific grants, funds, and special offerings. Donations to these funds are always welcome.

Mountain Avenue Fund

The Mountain Avenue Fund was established in 2018 with the objective of supporting local agencies dealing with issues of hunger, homelessness, poverty, and at-risk children.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

McGuire-Holcomb Scholarship Fund

The scholarship was established in memory of the donor’s brother, William F. McGuire; mother, Ruth H. Holcomb; and stepfather Kenneth P. Holcomb. The scholarship provides tuition and books for the education of students who have a physical disability.

Udall Foundation

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to American Indians and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy; provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and to the Native Nations Institute to conduct environmental policy research, research on American Indian and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues, and training; and provides assessment, mediation, training, and other related services through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center or NCECR).

Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy (Native American Graduate Fellowship) recognizes outstanding Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are currently pursuing advanced degrees in health care fields—including, but not limited to, health administration, health education, public health, medical practice, policy, research, or related-degrees—and who have demonstrated a commitment to Native health care. The Native American Graduate Fellowship Program honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III.

The Wyeth Foundation for American Art aims to promote the study and appreciation of historic American art through financial support for research, conservation, and innovative exhibitions. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000 and are awarded to non-profit organizations. The foundation emphasizes the importance of scholarship and excellence in American art, while not funding projects focusing solely on art from the last three decades.

The Teaching the Bible Grant, offered by the Presbyterian Mission Agency, supports Presbyterian-related schools, colleges, and universities in enhancing biblical education. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for initiatives such as lecture series, Bible studies, and new curriculum development. This funding not only encourages academic engagement but also fosters community learning experiences, allowing students to explore and reflect on their faith collectively. Applications are accepted quarterly, with deadlines on the first Friday of March, June, and September.

Cage Family Scholarship Fund

The scholarship honors the Cage Family’s commitment to support students who are working toward a college degree.

Award Amount:

• Minimum $500