Best Benton County Grants for Nonprofits in Washington

The Engaging Young Catholics Grants aim to support ministries that provide faith formation to children, teens, young adults, and families. By focusing on the pastoral needs of young Catholics, the program enhances community vibrancy and fosters new leadership within the church. Catholic Extension prioritizes operational support and seed funding for initiatives that develop youth and young adult ministries, ensuring that dioceses can effectively reach and engage younger generations in their faith.

The Building Leaders Grants by Catholic Extension aim to enhance the recruitment, education, and ongoing formation of church leaders. This initiative provides critical funding for the professional development of both ordained and lay leaders in mission dioceses. By fostering partnerships with various organizations, it addresses the need for trained ministers and supports various funding areas, including seminarian sponsorship and diaconate formation, ensuring a robust future for church leadership.

The Building Foundation Grants by Catholic Extension aim to support essential pastoral and administrative functions in under-resourced communities. These grants provide salary subsidies and operational funding to ordained, religious, and lay ministers, ensuring access to Catholic services. Prioritizing areas with significant financial need, this initiative seeks to sustain the church's presence where it is most critical, enabling continued ministry and outreach for those who may otherwise be underserved.

Catholic Extension provides essential funding to support the construction, expansion, or renovation of churches and community facilities. This initiative aims to meet the facility needs of under-resourced Catholic dioceses across the U.S. By focusing on active projects, Catholic Extension ensures that communities can enhance their worship spaces and support local ministries, ultimately fostering a stronger church community. Funding is available for both minor and major requests, with an emphasis on urgent needs and robust funding strategies.

The Wildhorse Foundation offers a Rapid Response Grant for urgent needs throughout the year, with no set application deadline. Typically, one grant of up to $1,500 is awarded annually, adhering to the same guidelines as full grants. Eligible recipients include the Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and various non-profit organizations within the surrounding regions of Oregon and Washington. This grant is not intended for event sponsorship or operational budget supplements.

The Wildhorse Foundation offers grants to support the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and surrounding areas in Oregon and Washington. With a commitment to community welfare, the foundation donates over $1 million annually to various projects, including arts, education, and environmental protection. Organizations must operate within the designated areas and adhere to specific eligibility criteria. The foundation emphasizes charitable giving and aims to enhance the quality of life for tribal members and their communities.

The Community Ties Giving Program by Union Pacific Foundation offers local grants aimed at enhancing community well-being through diverse funding priorities. These include safety initiatives, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. The program emphasizes supporting organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to create impactful projects that resonate with Union Pacific's heritage and mission. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Union Pacific communities and demonstrate a clear need and capacity to deliver effective programming.

The Westinghouse Charitable Giving Program aims to strengthen community ties by providing financial support in key areas such as education focused on STEM, environmental sustainability, and community safety. This program welcomes applications from eligible organizations that meet specific grant criteria, including being tax-exempt and located within 50 miles of a Westinghouse site. The initiative underscores Westinghouse's commitment to advancing education, promoting environmental stewardship, and enhancing community well-being.

The Edith Bishel Fund for the Blind and Visually Impaired, managed by the Three Rivers Community Foundation, aims to enhance the lives of individuals with visual impairments in Southeastern Washington. Established in 1994, this fund provides essential resources and support through an application process. Applicants must have their visual impairment verified by a physician and demonstrate financial need. This initiative ensures continued access to critical services for the visually impaired community.

Baker Boyer is committed to building community legacies through sponsorships and donations. By supporting local non-profits and community programs, they aim to enhance health, education, and economic development in the Walla Walla, Milton-Freewater, Tri-Cities, and Yakima areas. Their contributions include financial support, in-kind services, and volunteer efforts, prioritizing organizations that assist low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. With a focus on creating lasting relationships, Baker Boyer plays a vital role in strengthening community ties.

The Gartner Fund – Child Medical Assistance, facilitated by the Three Rivers Community Foundation, aims to provide medical assistance to children under 12 in Benton and Franklin counties. This fund supports children who have not previously received aid, have a reasonable chance of recovery, and face documented financial needs. The application must be submitted by a medical professional, ensuring that grants are directed to medical providers or for necessary adaptive equipment.

The WAEF Scholarships, funded by the Washington Apple Education Foundation, support over 300 students this year, providing more than $1 million in educational awards. Open to high school seniors and undergraduates in the Tri-Cities area, these scholarships focus on careers in agriculture, particularly agri-business and production agriculture. Applicants may attend accredited trade schools or colleges, and eligibility includes a desire to work within Washington's tree fruit industry.

The KeyBank Foundation offers Community Sponsorships to support local organizations in their fundraising efforts. These sponsorships range from $500 to $5,000 and can fund events or provide general operating support. Applications are accepted from January to October, with a decision made within 90 days. Eligible nonprofits must serve areas where KeyBank operates and adhere to strict ineligibility criteria, including no support for individuals or organizations that discriminate based on various identities.

Mobile Beacon's Connect for Success program addresses the digital divide by providing schools with essential technology resources. This initiative offers up to 25 laptops and 4G devices with 12 months of complimentary high-speed internet service. By targeting students and communities facing digital inequities, the program ensures that all students can complete homework and access educational content from home. With ongoing support options available post-grant, Mobile Beacon is committed to fostering equitable learning environments and empowering educators to enhance digital inclusion.

The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation supports arts and culture organizations through grants typically ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, with a focus on enhancing community vitality. Eligible organizations include nonprofits dedicated to performing arts, visual arts, and historic preservation. The foundation operates on a quarterly grant cycle, ensuring careful review of applications. Grants are limited to tax-exempt organizations, and the foundation does not fund projects outside its service areas in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and California.

The Kaiser Permanente Washington Region Community Health Grant focuses on improving health care access, mental health, housing, and dismantling structural racism. This grant supports nonprofit organizations and community programs to foster sustainable health initiatives. Through a Community Health Needs Assessment, Kaiser Permanente identifies community needs and builds partnerships for equitable health solutions. The grant aims to create lasting impact in Washington communities by addressing crucial health disparities.

The Norm Winn Memorial Conservation Grant, managed by the Keta Legacy Foundation, supports conservation, preservation, and restoration projects in Alaska, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, and Eastern Washington. This competitive grant encourages non-profit organizations to apply for up to $25,000 to implement innovative environmental initiatives. Applicants must demonstrate project feasibility and significant community impact, while ensuring their proposals align with the Foundation's commitment to supporting diverse conservation efforts.

The Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities Grants support initiatives that empower women and children in the Tri-Cities area. Grants, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, prioritize programs that demonstrate cost-effectiveness, community collaboration, and measurable impact. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with the fund's mission to create healthy families and vibrant communities. Focus areas include childcare, mental health, and self-sufficiency, with applications accepted annually.

Youth Lead Project — Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program

The Office of Homeless Youth is making approximately $775,000 in grant funding available for the Youth Lead Projects in the Balance of State Continuum of Care through a federal award for HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP).

The Youth Lead Project was developed by the BoS YHDP Youth Action Board, known as the Youth for Youth (Y4Y) Board, to support professional opportunities for young adults with lived experience of homelessness. Grant funds support these staff positions to address youth homelessness through both direct service delivery activities such as street outreach and case management and leadership activities in local and statewide systems.

Grant funds must also be used to support direct services to youth and young adults, ages 12–24, who meet criteria for Category 1, 2, or 4 of the HUD definition of homelessness at enrollment. Youth Lead Project grants are for supportive services only and do not include housing programs or ongoing rental assistance.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

The Three Rivers Community Foundation offers an Annual Grant Cycle aimed at supporting nonprofits in Benton and Franklin counties. Grants range from $500 to over $10,000, with an average award of $4,000. Eligible applicants include 501c3 organizations. The foundation focuses on program/project grants and impact grants, which provide flexible funding to organizations that have demonstrated effective use of prior funding. Certain ineligible expenses include capital campaigns and political activities.

The WAEF Scholarships - Douglas Fruit offers support to over 300 students with scholarships totaling over $1 million. Funded by contributions from the tree fruit industry, these scholarships are available to students whose parents work in this field. Eligible applicants include high school seniors and current college students with ties to the Washington tree fruit industry, pursuing various degrees. Scholarships can be used at accredited colleges and vocational schools.

The Ferguson Cares Grant is an essential aspect of Ferguson's Sustainability strategy, focusing on social challenges and community wellbeing. This grant supports nonprofit organizations in the U.S. dedicated to affordable housing, skilled trades workforce development, clean water access, and enhancing local economic quality of life. Ferguson aims to create lasting partnerships that drive positive impact within their operational regions, reflecting their commitment to social responsibility and community support.

Ecosystem Enhancement Program

This program aims to support Basin communities, including Indigenous Peoples, to steward and lead ecosystem enhancement and restoration projects that maintain and improve ecological health and resilience in a variety of ecosystems across the Basin. Projects funded through the Program will have a meaningful and measurable landscape-scale impact in supporting and strengthening the health and resilience of the Basin’s natural environment in a changing climate, which is a focus area in the Columbia Basin Management Plan 2024-2034.

This year is a Basin-wide call for eligible project ideas that restore and/or enhance a variety of ecotypes, including terrestrial, aquatic and wetlands. The Trust will identify and support ecosystem enhancement and restoration projects that have an ecological need that is consistent with existing regional plans and research as well as aligns with input received from Indigenous Peoples, community groups and government and technical experts.

How much will the Trust fund?

Up to 75% per cent of total project costs can be requested from the Trust. The maximum amount of Trust funding for any one project is $750,000 with a maximum duration of five years for multi-year projects. 

The CFEW Community Outreach Grants support projects addressing the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of communities in Eastern Washington. Grants range from $500 to $10,000 and prioritize organizations that contribute to local welfare. Examples of funded initiatives include assistance for housing and food, support for women in poverty, and programs aimed at reducing social isolation. This streamlined application process makes it easier for eligible organizations to receive vital funding for their outreach efforts.

The CFEW Horrigan Catholic School Grants support projects that enhance the mission of Catholic education, awarding amounts from $200 to $12,000. Eligible applicants include Horrigan Catholic School, focusing on community outreach and religious education. Previous grants have funded technology purchases like Chromebooks and lab tables, as well as religious artwork for school spaces. This initiative strengthens the Catholic community in Eastern Washington, fostering educational growth since 1981.

The CFEW Lourdes Hospital Grants offer financial support for projects that enhance the mission of Catholic schools. With grants ranging from $200 to $12,000, the focus is on community outreach and religious education initiatives. Eligible applicants include Catholic schools aiming to strengthen their educational programs. Notable past recipients include schools that have acquired technology and artistic resources to enrich their environments. This streamlined application process ensures that impactful projects receive timely funding.