Best Corporate Grants for Nonprofits in California

The James & Ursula Williams Teacher Grants Program : Academics, Arts and Culture Grants:

As a born native of Vallejo, James was generationally admired for his enduring work ethic and was lovingly embraced for his dedication and support to family, friends, and community. Ursula’s self-motivation, persistence, and quest for excellence brought her professional recognition. As a community activist, she shared her leadership organizational skills as a member of community and political organizations who made positive contributions to the community.

In life, they created and took advantage of all opportunities presented to them. Both recognized the important role that education made in creating healthy, happy, and productive lives for themselves, their children, and their grandchildren. The Williams Family hopes to continue their legacy through The James & Ursula Williams Family Fund.

Academics, Arts and Culture Grants:

Grants of up to $500 are available to enhance your classroom curriculum in subjects like history, geography, and literature; and in arts programs such as music, theater, dance, and visual arts. This grant can be used to purchase classroom materials related to these areas of study. Examples: Golden State Biography books, painting supplies, paying for a visiting artist to come to the classroom, etc.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Recreational, Sport, and Exercise Technologies for People with Disabilities aims to enhance rehabilitation services through innovative technological solutions. This initiative focuses on promoting health and exercise among individuals with disabilities by addressing unique rehabilitation challenges. Funded by the US HHS Administration for Community Living, the project spans 60 months, involving advanced research and development to create effective support mechanisms and overcome environmental barriers.

The Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program supports talented early career faculty in the chemical sciences by providing an unrestricted research grant of $100,000. Nominees must demonstrate outstanding research achievements and a commitment to education. Each institution can submit one nomination annually. The program emphasizes innovation and leadership in research while considering factors such as awards, publication success, and contributions to education, particularly at the undergraduate level.

Southern Exposure's Alternative Exposure (AltEx) Grant supports independent and artist-centered projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Launched in 2007, it has awarded over $1.2 million to 260 projects, fostering a national network of regional regranting programs. AltEx provides up to $5,000 for diverse visual arts initiatives, encouraging collaboration among artists. The current application round is open, inviting eligible artists to present their innovative projects to the public, enhancing local art scenes.

The AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science recognizes outstanding early-career scientists and engineers for their significant contributions to public engagement in science. Established in 2010, the award includes a $5,000 prize, a plaque, and recognition at the AAAS Annual Meeting. Eligible nominees must be actively conducting research in STEM fields and demonstrate engagement beyond their job responsibilities, with one awardee chosen annually.

About

Originally conceived by Dr Bruce Mesara in 1990 as a means to carry on his philanthropic efforts beyond his lifetime, the Mesara Family Foundation was re-envisioned by his two children Amy and Douglas in 2014, and received their 501(c)(3) status from the IRS in 2015. Amy and Douglas sought out the assistance of their cousins to build upon the charitable principals on their parents, aunts and uncles.

The foundation is headquartered in Kalamazoo Michigan.

Mission

The mission of the Mesara Family Foundation is to honor the philanthropic principles of the Mesara and Pauch families by supporting carefully selected organizations that share similar values. Our focus is to provide support toward education, conservation and other causes of special family interest where our funding will make a genuine difference.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Edite Balks Walter, M.D. Scholarship Fund

This fund was established to help women seeking degrees in biology, chemistry, physics and human or animal medicine. Dr. Walter is a graduate of the former Springfield High School. Through the assistance of various scholarships, she graduated cum laude from Kalamazoo College. Dr. Walter remains an inspiration and believes, "Women Can Do Science and Should Do Science."

The Healthcare Auxiliary Scholarship, offered by the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, provides two scholarships of $2,500 each for students pursuing careers in healthcare. Eligible applicants must reside in Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury, or Sharon. Preference is given to those who actively volunteer and engage with their community. This initiative aims to support local students in achieving their academic and professional goals in the healthcare sector.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Helen Hamilton Scholarship Fund

Supporting residents of Franklin, Hampden or Hampshire County pursuing degrees in Social Services, Housing Studies, Urban Design and other related fields with a preference for students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

The Cottrell STAR Award recognizes exceptional research and educational achievements of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients. It aims to enhance science education at U.S. and Canadian universities, promoting the Cottrell Scholars' national profile. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize, with applications initiated through nominations. Highlighted at the summer Cottrell Scholar Conference, the award supports a vibrant community of early career faculty committed to innovative research and teaching in the physical sciences.

Grants for Research About Urban Communication Issues

Since our launch in 2005, the Urban Communication Foundation has provided awards and grants to dozens of distinguished scholars, researchers, and journalists to recognize and support provocative work that contributes in significant ways to the discourse around urban communication issues.

While most of our recipients hail from academia and journalism, we also encourage submissions from other practitioners whose work will lend new insights into the discipline, raise broader awareness of related socio-political, economic, and cultural concerns, or influence public policy.

Media Ecology Association / UCF Student Research Grant

The Media Ecology Association invites proposals for a research grant in the amount of $2500 sponsored by the Urban Communication Foundation.

Proposals will be evaluated via anonymous review, and in addition to the stipend, the author(s) will receive complimentary membership in the Media Ecology Association (including subscription to Explorations in Media Ecology) for the year of the award and registration at our annual convention. A program session at the annual convention will be devoted to the research study, and when completed, the study will be published in Explorations in Media Ecology (which would not preclude publication elsewhere).

The Getty Scholars Program fosters innovative research in art history and visual culture by providing a collaborative environment for international scholars. Established in 1985, it supports a diverse cohort focused on an annual theme, offering various fellowship categories for established researchers and emerging scholars. With access to the Getty's extensive resources, residents engage with a vibrant community in Los Angeles. The program also emphasizes the importance of African American art history through targeted fellowships, making significant contributions to the field.

The Getty Postdoctoral Fellowship supports emerging scholars in art history, offering them the opportunity to engage in research projects linked to annual themes or the African American Art History Initiative. Fellows can reside at either the Getty Center or Getty Villa for nine months, receiving a stipend of $35,000. This prestigious program encourages diverse international applicants and fosters intellectual exchange through access to the Getty Research Institute's collections and participation in scholarly activities.

The Science of Science: Discovery, Communication, and Impact (SoS:DCI) program fosters research that enhances the public value of scientific endeavors. It invites proposals that explore mechanisms of scientific discovery, improve understanding of communication outcomes, and assess societal benefits of science. Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches, the program prioritizes proposals that broaden participation in science, engage diverse teams, and support America's leadership in global scientific innovation. The goal is to create impactful, evidence-based policies and advance the science of science.

Community Foundation for Mason County, MI

At the Community Foundation for Mason County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues. As a leader in community philanthropy, building a vibrant community with great opportunities for all, we are focused on advancing education, increasing recreation opportunities, and community and economic development.

The mission of the Community Foundation is to engage donors and connect them with opportunities to make a lasting impact, build community endowment, provide leadership on key issues, and make grants that reflect the communities we serve.

Oriole Foundation / Michael Oakes Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the Oriole Foundation. The Michael Oakes Memorial Scholarship award intends to honor late superintendent, Mike Oakes.

Mike Oakes's spirit of generosity, community service, and passion for education is commemorated by this Oriole Foundation award. With an emphasis on creating a positive community impact, this scholarship recognizes the value of individual and organizational service within the community.

The Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program, managed by the Rural Utilities Service, seeks Letters of Interest for loan applications to fund renewable energy generation and energy storage projects. With approximately $410 million available from the Inflation Reduction Act, the program offers up to 75% financing for project costs, along with potential loan forgiveness options. This initiative aims to enhance energy infrastructure in rural areas, promoting sustainable energy solutions.

About Us

The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU

We want to educate those who agree. Opportunities abound in the media world, but at NYU Journalism, the opportunity to do compelling work that informs, engages, and matters to the societies in which we live drives our faculty, motivates our students, and shapes our approach.

Those who find this their calling will discover encouragement, support, and an endless amount to learn at NYU. Our graduates are able to work anywhere their talents take them, and they do. Students come here not only to gain competence in the journalist’s craft but also the tools to make it better than it is. And those two things are the essence of what we teach.

Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award

Matthew Power was an award-winning journalist who reported empathetically on the human condition. He died in March 2014, while on assignment in Uganda.

About the Award

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award is a grant of $15,000 to support the work of a promising early-career nonfiction journalist on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition.

Offered for the first time in 2015, the Award has been endowed by individuals and organizations touched by the life and work of Matthew Power, a wide-roving and award-winning journalist who sought to live and share the experience of the individuals and places on which he was reporting. Power, a longtime friend of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, died in March 2014, while on assignment in Uganda.

The award proceeds from the recognition that many important stories need to be reported from afar, and that publications do not always have the resources to send a journalist where the story is. The money need not be used exclusively for travel, but we expect that most successful applications will include such expenses. A panel of NYU journalism professors, outside writers, and editors will review the proposals. Finalists will be asked to take part in an interview online.

The judges will be interested in perpetuating Power’s legacy, as his former editor Roger Hodge put it, of “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scenes and lyrical description.” Power was always open to the absurdity that often attends politics and international affairs; he was always searching, as he put it, for “the human truth beneath the sorry facts.” Power’s ultimate ambition, he added, was literary beauty.

That said, judges will be looking for a journalist as singular in his or her own approach as Power was in his. In addition to longform print projects, we will consider audio projects involving substantial reporting and running over 20 minutes in length. The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. The winner will normally receive visiting scholar privileges at NYU, including library access.

The Prospective PK-6 Elementary Teacher Course Work Scholarship, offered by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, provides financial support to college students aiming to become certified elementary teachers focused on mathematics. Eligible candidates must complete their sophomore year, maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, and demonstrate a commitment to teaching. This scholarship promotes high-quality mathematics education, ensuring future educators are well-prepared to inspire students in their learning journey.

The Robert C. Seamans, Jr. Fellowship in Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School supports students excelling in research and management at the intersection of technology and public policy. This fellowship fosters future leadership in these critical areas, ensuring a commitment to addressing pressing public challenges. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged, as the program is designed to promote inclusivity and recognizes the importance of varied perspectives in policy-making.

The Professional Development Scholarship, offered by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, supports educators in enhancing their expertise in history, number theory, or discrete mathematics. This scholarship aids in completing coursework, developing classroom activities, and delivering professional presentations. Eligible applicants must have a minimum of three years of teaching experience and currently teach mathematics at the 6-12 grade levels. Projects must be completed by August 31 of the following year.

The Limited Competition K12 Mentored Research Career Development Program aims to support institutions in developing innovative career pathways for later-stage postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. This initiative encourages applicants from those with existing Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) to foster independent research careers. By creating diverse opportunities across academia, industry, and government, the program enhances engagement in clinical and translational science research, ultimately contributing to significant advancements in health outcomes.

The Mildred Rowlett Scholarship, offered by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation, supports Hart County graduating seniors in their pursuit of higher education. To qualify, applicants must rank in the top 15% of their class and aim for a degree in mathematics or a related field. This scholarship exemplifies the foundation's commitment to enhancing community life through educational opportunities.

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.

Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

PNM Pueblo Education Endowment Everett F. Chavez Scholarship

The PNM Everett F. Chavez Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the life and legacy of Everett F. Chavez. The purpose of the PNM Everett F. Chavez Memorial Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to eligible students from one of the nineteen Pueblo Nations of New Mexico who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in the field of engineering. This opportunity is a merit-based award.

The Ignite Leadership Program, organized by the Society of Women Engineers, empowers early-career women engineers to enhance their leadership skills. Participants will assess their strengths, identify growth opportunities, and create personalized leadership development plans. This virtual program runs from September to December 2025, featuring group discussions and peer coaching. Its goal is to broaden the leadership pipeline within SWE, preparing the next generation of women leaders in engineering and technology.

Community Foundation of Northern Nevada

Established in 1998 as a Nevada nonprofit 501(c) 3 Corporation, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada has distributed more than $200 million in grants and scholarships from over 300 charitable funds to strengthen our Nevada home. 

Scholarship Program

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s Scholarship Program is intended to help students cover the ever-increasing cost of tuition. Some of our scholarships are based on financial need, but others represent an award for achievement. These scholarships typically go to students who have excelled in an academic area or have shown they can balance academics, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. There are also scholarships designated for students who have overcome adversity, students pursuing degrees in high-need areas, and adult learners outside the traditional college age group. Community Foundation scholarships can help cover tuition, books, and on-campus housing.

General Fred Michel Memorial Scholarship

You are eligible to apply for a scholarship if you:

• provide strong evidence of interest in aviation as a career
• are a senior graduating from a northern Nevada high school, or are enrolled in or accepted to an accredited institution of higher education (2-year, 4-year, trade school, or certificate program)
• are pursuing or plan to pursue a degree in a field related to aviation
• have a minimum 1000 SAT and/or minimum 20 ACT score
• have a minimum 2.75 GPA
• agree to maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and submit an unofficial copy of transcripts at the end of each semester you are receiving an award

The BJA FY25 Capital Case Litigation Initiative aims to enhance the quality of legal representation in state capital cases, ensuring effective public representation and support for indigent defendants. This initiative is part of the OJP's commitment to uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and address public safety challenges. Through federal leadership and funding, OJP seeks to bolster law enforcement efforts and combat violent crime, thereby improving community safety and justice.

The Level 1 Rural Outreach Grant, offered by the National Association of Realtors, aims to enhance REALTORS®' understanding of rural issues. With a maximum award of $3,000, this grant is available once per calendar year to associations. It supports educational efforts and promotes smart growth and diversity in rural communities. Grant recipients are required to complete an evaluation form for the funded activities, ensuring accountability and effectiveness in addressing rural challenges.