Best Large Grants for Nonprofit Organizations in California

The AMVETS Veteran, Active Duty & Guard/Reserve Scholarship provides financial assistance up to $12,000 for qualified U.S. Veterans and active military members pursuing undergraduate degrees. This scholarship is designed to bridge the financial gap after all other federal and state aid has been utilized. Eligibility includes being an honorably discharged veteran or active service member, enrolled in an accredited institution, and demonstrating financial need. AMVETS is dedicated to serving those who have served our country.

Napa Valley Community Foundation

We work side-by-side with local donors and nonprofits to tackle the most important challenges our Valley faces.

Our Board and staff are completely dedicated to the people and causes of Napa Valley and represent communities from American Canyon to Calistoga. They share skills, perspectives and the collaborative spirit that define our Napa Valley diversity.

Edward W. Solomon Scholarship

The Edward W. Solomon Scholarship is offered by CalRTA Napa Valley and administered by Napa Valley Community Foundation. It is awarded in memory of Dr. Edward W. Solomon. The Solomon Scholarship is given to support current Napa County teachers/educators who are continuing their education. Previous recipients of the scholarship are eligible to reapply.

In addition, applicants must demonstrate the potential for academic success by having been accepted in an upcoming college or university upper division or graduate level education program or course. Community college courses are acceptable only for current teachers who want/need to supplement their credential authorizations, and if the community college course is acceptable to the CTC Credentialing Office.

About the Foundation

Kern Community Foundation is a vibrant nonprofit enterprise with a powerfully simple mission of growing community and growing philanthropy.

Scholarships

Kern Community Foundation manages more than two dozen scholarship funds. Community stakeholders have created these scholarships to honor their loved ones, to support higher education, and to foster the improvement of students as they pursue their diverse ambitions. Students have access to all our scholarship resources through one simple application.

The Caratan Family Scholarship Fund

The Caratan Family Scholarship Fund was established in 2018. The permanently endowed scholarship fund provides academic support to graduates of Kern County high schools who wish to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics).

The ACS - Fanconi Cancer Foundation Discovery Boost Grant invites innovative proposals for translational cancer research addressing the challenges faced by individuals with Fanconi anemia (FA). This grant supports high-risk, high-reward projects aimed at improving detection, prevention, or treatment of FA-related cancers. With funding of up to $135,000 per year for two years, it encourages research in early detection technologies, prevention mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies tailored to the unique sensitivities of the FA population.

The FWW Research Awards support short-term studies focused on critical women’s health issues such as cardiovascular disease, female cancers, and hormonal influences on health. Eligible applicants include MDs or PhDs affiliated with accredited institutions. Research proposals must align with FWW's priority areas, and financial support must be confirmed to ensure project completion. Note that sociological studies are not funded, and only one application per Principal Investigator is allowed.

About the Foundation

Kern Community Foundation is a vibrant nonprofit enterprise with a powerfully simple mission of growing community and growing philanthropy.

Scholarships

Kern Community Foundation manages more than two dozen scholarship funds. Community stakeholders have created these scholarships to honor their loved ones, to support higher education, and to foster the improvement of students as they pursue their diverse ambitions. Students have access to all our scholarship resources through one simple application.

David Moore Agricultural Scholarship Fund

Established in 2005, the David Moore Agricultural Scholarship Fund (“Fund”), in memory of David Moore, is a permanently endowed scholarship fund. The Fund provides academic support to graduates of Kern County high schools who wish to pursue a career in agriculture. 

The Fund provides financial assistance to students who are U.S. citizens, and graduates of a Kern County high school who demonstrate motivation, perseverance, and a sincere desire to pursue a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and who wish to pursue a career in agriculture. Students are required to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at the time of application

The Rella Lossy Award celebrates Rella Lossy’s legacy by recognizing outstanding new full-length plays from emerging playwrights. This award offers $2,500 to the selected playwright and $1,000 to the producing company, supporting the development of fresh voices in theatre. Eligible companies must be based in specific California counties and maintain membership with Theatre Bay Area. This initiative aims to foster new talent and bring diverse narratives to the stage, enriching the cultural landscape of the Bay Area.

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties. In 2025, more than $1,000,000 was awarded to local students to help them achieve their educational dreams.

The Church of Christ (Christian Disciples) Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Church of Christ (Christian Disciples) Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to help students who have permanent residence in Carroll County, Ohio or had a permanent residence on the date they began their post high school education.

The BJA FY 2026 John R. Justice Formula Grant Program offers loan repayment assistance to local and state prosecutors and public defenders who commit to three years of service. Administered by state agencies, this program aims to alleviate the financial burden on legal professionals dedicated to public service. Applications are due by November 10, 2026, providing a crucial opportunity for eligible beneficiaries to secure support for their educational loans.

Napa Valley Community Foundation

We work side-by-side with local donors and nonprofits to tackle the most important challenges our Valley faces.

Our Board and staff are completely dedicated to the people and causes of Napa Valley and represent communities from American Canyon to Calistoga. They share skills, perspectives and the collaborative spirit that define our Napa Valley diversity.

George & Gwendolyn Goodin Endowment Fund

The George and Gwendolyn Goodin Endowment Fund provides one-year college and university scholarships to Napa County residents who are military veterans, or Napa County residents who are dependents of military veterans who were wounded or died while in active service. The number of scholarships awarded and the amount of each scholarship will be determined by the Fund’s Scholarship Selection Committee.

The Fordney Foundation Grant supports talented individuals in dance, aiming to foster professional careers and enhance community engagement in dance sports. Established in 2002, the foundation offers financial assistance to young dancers (ages 6-25) and promotes ballroom dancing across diverse ethnic backgrounds. Its DanceStart Program aids families in supporting their children's dance education at competitive levels, emphasizing the importance of physical conditioning and personal expression through this art form.

Kiwanis Club of North Modesto

We are a service club of men and women whose primary goal is to help children and young people around the world, starting in Modesto, CA.

Scholarships

The members of the Kiwanis Club of North Modesto (founded in 1966) and the Kiwanis Club of Modesto (founded in 1923) are joining forces to award $2,000 scholarships to as many as 32 students for the 2026-27 academic year. Each year, members of these two clubs perform countless hours of community service through fundraisers, then donate these funds back to nonprofits and young people in our community. It is the hope of the two clubs that scholarship recipients in their adult life will give back to their communities as members of a community service club.

Goals

• To encourage public or private high school graduates (within the boundaries of the Modesto High School District) to pursue education goals, preferably at a California community college, four-year college or university or at a technical/vocational school.

• To recognize academic achievement and to invest in the future of young scholars. 
• To recognize young scholars who have demonstrated a commitment to volunteerism and community service

The AAFP Foundation's Center for the History of Family Medicine Oral History Grant offers up to $3,000 annually for oral history interviews in family medicine. Aimed at researchers, physicians, and students, it encourages the documentation of family medicine's history in the U.S. The grant supports travel and research expenses to enhance the oral history collection, ensuring a diverse representation of experiences and perspectives in the field.

Community Foundation of Mendocino County

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is a county-wide nonprofit organization that administers permanent charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families, businesses, and other organizations.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County Scholarship program provides scholarship opportunities for local students to help pursue their educational goals and achieve their higher education dreams.

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County provides scholarships for all seven regions of the county, as well as for specific academic and professional goals.

Elmer Albertson Scholarship

Created by the Elmer Albertson Trust to to help grow the future workforce of Mendocino County for those attending a Community College, other than Mendocino College, or a Vocational Program (e.g., Registered Nurse, Cosmetology, Dental Assistant, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Medical Assistant, Culinary Arts, Electrician, etc.)

The Winifred Goldring Award, presented by the Association for Women Geoscientists, offers a $2000 cash prize and membership in the Paleontological Society to an outstanding female student in paleontology. Named after the pioneering woman paleontologist Winifred Goldring, the award recognizes students exhibiting exceptional motivation and professional potential. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in graduate studies and provide proof of student status. This award aims to support women's contributions to the geosciences.

The NewSchools: Teaching Reimagined Grant offers a unique funding opportunity of $150,000 to $250,000 for innovative ideas aimed at reimagining the role of educators and enhancing student outcomes. With a focus on leveraging generative AI, the grant supports early-stage organizations and initiatives that prioritize diverse teaching strategies and community involvement. The application deadline is January 8, 2026, with a priority deadline of December 1, 2025, for updates on eligibility.

The Shared Decision Making in Hemophilia Patient Care grant program, funded by Pfizer, aims to enhance patient outcomes through Quality Improvement projects that integrate shared decision-making tools into hemophilia care. This initiative encourages multidisciplinary collaboration to address healthcare disparities and empower patients in their disease management. Eligible organizations include healthcare institutions and professional schools, fostering innovative approaches to improve care for individuals living with hemophilia.

Maryetta’s Mission Scholarship

Established by Maryetta's Mission at the First Church of God of Eldred, PA, this scholarship is awarded to students who are entering or currently in a post-secondary program for Christian-based ministerial studies including majors or fields of study such as theology, music liturgy, youth development, Christian administration, etc.

The National Film Preservation Foundation offers Basic Preservation Grants to nonprofit and public institutions for preserving culturally significant American films. Since 1998, they have provided resources to 337 organizations across the U.S. Grants range from $1,000 to $20,000, facilitating the creation of new film preservation elements and public access copies. With an annual award of 30 to 40 grants, this initiative plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of films that are at risk of being lost.

Community Foundation of Mendocino County

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is a county-wide nonprofit organization that administers permanent charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families, businesses, and other organizations.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County Scholarship program provides scholarship opportunities for local students to help pursue their educational goals and achieve their higher education dreams.

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County provides scholarships for all seven regions of the county, as well as for specific academic and professional goals.

Pearson Family STEM Scholarship Fund

Created by the Pearson Family to support students pursuing careers in STEM.

The Terry Farrell Firefighters’ Fund, established post-9/11, provides vital educational and financial support to families of firefighters across the U.S. With over $10 million distributed in grants and surplus gear, the fund offers scholarships, emergency assistance, and training for first responders. It also supplies rural fire departments with necessary equipment and sponsors health initiatives like blood and bone marrow drives, ensuring comprehensive support for those who serve our communities.

Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation

For over 25 years, the Community Foundation has remained committed to leaving a legacy for future generations by promoting philanthropy, providing charitable opportunities, and facilitating donors’ interests. We work alongside donors and community partners to help meet area needs, create solutions, and inspire action to build a vibrant community today and a stronger community for tomorrow. 

Scholarships

The Community Foundation is home to 50 scholarship funds established by generous individuals, organizations and businesses to help students from our community and surrounding areas pursue their dreams through education. 

Bill Mahoney Memorial Scholarship

The Bill Mahoney Memorial Scholarship was opened in 2021 by Bill's daughter, Mandy, to honor her father's memory. Mr. Mahoney was a long-time teacher of the Arts at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls. This one-time scholarship, ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, is for graduating seniors of WFISD attending any college, university, or vocational school and majoring in the Arts. Recipient must be a U.S. citizen.

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Geographical Area

The official geographic service area of Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc., beginning to our west and traveling clockwise, includes the following communities in addition to Marshfield (It also includes towns and rural areas between these communities.): Chili, Granton, Neillsville, Loyal, Greenwood, Withee, Owen, Spencer, Unity, Colby, Curtiss, Pittsville, Abbotsford, Dorchester, Stetsonville, Medford, Stratford, Rozellville, Hewitt, Auburndale, Blenker, Milladore, Sherry, Arpin.

Norbert H. and Joan LaSee Scholarship

This scholarship is for graduating seniors at Marshfield, Columbus, Spencer, or Stratford High School attending an accredited college, university, or tech school intending to study a career in the trades. Student financial need must be considered. Renewable for 2 additional years.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Westmoreland County Housing Authority Scholarship Fund

The Westmoreland County Housing Authority Scholarship Fund was created at The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, a component of The Pittsburgh Foundation, to encourage higher education and as a result, promote community responsibility, develop self-sufficiency and increase self-esteem. WCHA Scholarships are to benefit high school seniors and adults entering secondary education who reside in Westmoreland County Housing Authority public housing, Westmoreland Non Profit Housing Corporation housing or participate in the Section 8 Program and wish to continue their education.

Award Type: Single Year Award. 

Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation

For over 25 years, the Community Foundation has remained committed to leaving a legacy for future generations by promoting philanthropy, providing charitable opportunities, and facilitating donors’ interests. We work alongside donors and community partners to help meet area needs, create solutions, and inspire action to build a vibrant community today and a stronger community for tomorrow. 

Scholarships

The Community Foundation is home to 50 scholarship funds established by generous individuals, organizations and businesses to help students from our community and surrounding areas pursue their dreams through education. 

Elga Ann Denny Scholarship Fund

The Elga Ann Denny Scholarship fund was created to benefit the graduating seniors of Iowa Park CISD. Elga Ann Denny was a long time resident of Iowa Park. Ms. Denny passed away in May 2022 at the age of 88. In her will, she left instructions to create a scholarship fund for the students of Iowa Park. These funds can be used at any college or trade school, for any field of study. There are a number of one-time $2,000 scholarships available, and (2) $4,000 renewable scholarships available, that could renew for up to 4 years based on GPA. 

The Bellevue Heights Church Foundation, established over 30 years ago, has significantly contributed to humanitarian efforts and theological education by awarding millions in grants. Its Student Endowment Fund supports Master of Divinity students with monthly scholarships, benefiting 35 to 40 students annually. All church members can participate in the Foundation's governance, and grant recipients must provide updates on their projects. Applications must be submitted in hard copy, following specific guidelines.

Scranton Area Community Foundation

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

Scholarships

We are honored to be the stewards of over 90 scholarship funds established by philanthropically-minded individuals in our community. Generous donors entrust us to connect them to dynamic students to provide financial resources for their education through scholarships. Our donors establish scholarship funds with criteria they wish to be met by applicants. Our scholarship committee considers the criteria, evaluates the submitted applications, and chooses the best candidates for each scholarship.

The Paramo Foundation Scholarship Award

The Paramo Foundation Scholarship Award is awarded annually to low income students attending a college or university focused on the trades, including but not limited to, cosmetology programs. The scholarship will provide a full scholarship for one year at a trades school.