Best Biology Grants in Texas

The Hearst Foundation: Culture Grant aims to support outstanding nonprofits that enhance cultural engagement and artistic talent in the U.S. With a focus on programs that reach young people, the grant prioritizes organizations that create lasting impacts in the arts and sciences. The Foundation allocates 25% of its funding to cultural initiatives, favoring established organizations with a history of significant results. Eligible nonprofits must encourage inclusivity and sustainability in their programs.

Texas 501(c)(3) public charities and public entities can access funding for environmental conservation, water resource management, and related programs through Meadows Foundation; projects must benefit Texans. Grants support well-planned, scalable programs across Texas, with emphasis on initiatives like water conservation and other efforts that improve quality of life statewide.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation provides grants to organizations focused on improving the lives of children in urban poverty in the U.S., India, and South Africa. They prioritize projects in education, health, and family economic stability. Grants typically do not exceed 25% of a project's budget or 10% of an organization's annual expenses. The foundation seeks to partner with organizations already making an impact, ensuring funding supports impactful social enterprises.

Texas 501(c)(3) public charities working on sustainability, clean energy, land conservation, water, or related environmental initiatives can seek project funding that advances these strategic priorities. Focused on environmental and sustainability work, the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation invites Texas-based projects that align with its program areas and clearly support its grantmaking strategies.

Private landowners in east-central Texas pastures and hayfields can receive cost-share support to restore native grass and forb vegetation and improve upland bird habitat. Grants from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department provide herbicides, native seed mixes, technical guidance, and use of a no-till seeder, supporting habitat and ecosystem restoration that benefits grassland bird populations and forage quality.

Top-tier 501(c)(3) medical research institutions and public universities conducting basic biological or applied research in Texas can apply for the Kleberg Foundation’s Medical Research Grant. Highly innovative, paradigm-challenging projects may be considered, with priority for institutions that have a long-standing relationship with the foundation and follow its pre-request screening rules.

Early-career PhD scientists pursuing chemistry-related research careers in Texas can receive multi-year postdoctoral support, including a US $231,000 fellowship package, through this program. The Welch Foundation, in partnership with LSRF, funds three-year positions in Texas laboratories across chemistry, biochemistry, biology, materials science, nanoscience, and related fields for qualified applicants worldwide.

Graduate students in biology, botany, horticulture, landscape design, or related fields conducting research on Texas native plants or habitat conservation in Texas can receive up to US $2,500 in project support. The Native Plant Society of Texas funds academic research at accredited Texas universities focused on native plant biology and ecosystem restoration.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Grant supports nonprofit charitable organizations recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Revenue Code. Established in 2002, the foundation aims to empower groups committed to positive change, fostering respect for life and the environment. Their vision emphasizes collaboration for a better future, encouraging applicants to embody these values in their initiatives. With a focus on impactful projects, this grant is an opportunity for organizations striving to make a critical difference in our world.

Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting maternal, perinatal, and infant health can apply for program funding that benefits critically ill babies, vulnerable patients, and their families. The Prolacta Bioscience Foundation advances human health and development, prioritizing grants in communities where its employees live and work, including across Texas.

Schools, nature centers, educational groups, and similar organizations in Texas can receive up to US $600 to create or enhance public Monarch demonstration gardens and Waystations using native milkweeds and nectar plants. With a mission to support native plants and Monarch conservation, Native Plant Society of Texas funds plant purchases only for these biology-related habitat projects.

Sigma Xi members, affiliates, staff, or friends, including those based in Texas and working in biology or related sciences, can be honored through the Evan Ferguson Award for Service to the Society. This annual recognition celebrates outstanding volunteer service to Sigma Xi’s mission with a certificate and engraving on a permanent plaque.

Researchers, students, and amateur biologists studying wading bird biology or conservation in Texas and worldwide can receive US $1,000 - US $7,000 to support field or analytical research. Waterbird Society’s Kushlan Research Award backs projects on species relationships or the status, range, and population sizes of little-known Ciconiiformes, with expectations of peer-reviewed publication.

Texas PhD students in natural sciences needing scholarship support can apply for funding that supports advanced study and research. Community Foundation of West Texas supports biology and related scientific fields in Texas by administering the Lubbock ARCS Chapter Memorial Scholarship Fund, which requires full-time enrollment, U.S. citizenship, and a faculty nomination in eligible research disciplines.

Biology and chemical biology principal investigators at nominated institutions, including several in Texas, can seek up to US $1,035,000 to pursue innovative, high-impact research at the chemistry–biology interface. Grants from Ono Pharma Foundation fund three-year projects that advance transformative science and support the career development of young and mid-career scientists.

Texas graduate students of Polish descent pursuing full-time science or related studies can access funding through the Kosciuszko Foundation for tuition at U.S. colleges and universities or English medical schools in Poland. Awards range from US $1,000 - US $12,000 and may support biology-focused programs among other eligible scientific fields.

Undergraduate natural science majors of Polish descent studying full time in the U.S., including students from Texas, can receive support for biology and related fields through the Drs. James and Wanda Trefil Science Scholarship. The Kosciuszko Foundation awards one competitive US $5,000 scholarship to eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Graduating high school seniors in East Texas planning to study biology, mathematics, engineering, or related fields for careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, or biotechnology can apply for the David G. & Jacqueline M. Braithwaite Scholarship, offering up to US $3,000. Eligible students may attend any college in the U.S., including those in Texas.

Refugee students in Texas planning to study biology or other fields at Abilene-area colleges can apply for the From Harm to Home Scholarship, awarding US $500 - US $5,000 for higher education costs. Offered by the Community Foundation of Abilene, it supports recent arrivals with I94 status attending local institutions.

Graduating high school seniors in specified East Texas counties planning to study biology or related health and biomedical fields at a Texas college can receive scholarship support through the Reuland and Barnhart Orthodontics Scholarship. With a mission to advance education, East Texas Communities Foundation offers up to US $1,000 for one year of higher education costs.

Focused on native plant biology, this scholarship invites Texas undergraduates in biology, ecology, botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, or related fields to pursue advanced study of Texas native plants. Eligible juniors and seniors at Texas colleges can receive US $5,000 - US $10,000 annually for up to two years for tuition and academic or research careers.

Undergraduate students at Texas colleges majoring in biology, ecology, botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, or related fields can apply for the Native Plant Society of Texas’s Kate Hillhouse Scholarship; awards US $2,500 for studies tied to Texas native plants. Applicants must plan careers in native plant conservation or habitat restoration in Texas.

Early-career biomedical assistant professors at nominated U.S. institutions can receive US $75,000 - US $300,000 to support independent research advancing human health. Grants from Pew Charitable Trusts help Texas biology and biomedical researchers at participating universities fund personnel, equipment, supplies, and travel, with flexible support for high-impact basic, translational, or applied projects.

Graduate students researching aquatic plant biology, ecology, or algae management can apply for the Michael D. Netherland Graduate Student Research Grant, a US $55,000 award from Aquatic Plant Management Society. Grants from Aquatic Plant Management Society help Texas biology researchers and other U.S. students advance work on nuisance aquatic vegetation and related management techniques.

Texas institutions of higher education recruiting first-time, tenure-track assistant professors in cancer research can access support to strengthen their programs. Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas provides Texas biology and oncology researchers with up to US $2,000,000 to establish innovative basic, translational, population-based, or clinical cancer research, including prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship studies.

Educational institutions and programs in Texas supporting children’s STEM, biology, or arts education can apply for Fash Foundation grants, with awards from US $1,000 - US $25,000. Funding supports higher education partnerships and initiatives that promote the health, learning, and development of children, especially in Tarrant County and related educational settings.

Texas 501(c)(3) organizations in College Station seeking support for arts, education, environment, health, human services, or public benefit projects can access funding through the Clifton C. and Henryetta C. Doak Charitable Trust. Grants of US $5,000 - US $10,000 may support charitable, scientific, literary, or educational initiatives, including biology-related work.