Best Cass County Grants for Nonprofits in Nebraska

About ACSM

ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, with nearly 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified fitness professionals.

ACSM Fellowship

CSM Fellow members have demonstrated high standards of professional development and shown a commitment to the goals and long‑range activities of the college.

The purpose of fellowship is to recognize commendable service to ACSM; to encourage continued service to the College in a leadership role with ongoing dedication; also, to recognize distinguished achievement in sports medicine and related disciplines.

About The Community Foundation

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is a community-based social impact investor whose mission is to engage, invest, and lead—working toward a vision of community vibrancy with opportunity for all. Our team of experienced staff and dedicated trustees is committed to boldly leading and supporting transformational community investments. We channel charitable contributions from donors through nonprofit partners that are meeting current community needs and steward community resources responsibly to ensure greater capacity for the future.

No organization has all the answers, but together, with our partners and donors, we have the means and the will to chart a new course—one that will build upon generations of philanthropy and strengthen the fabric of Herkimer and Oneida counties.

Adirondack Construction Scholarship

A scholarship established by Adirondack Construction in Vernon to support the future career goals of students pursuing business or construction management.

The Ian Amendolare Blue Collar Trade Award Fund supports students from West Canada Valley Junior/Senior High School pursuing a degree or certification in trades like HVAC, trucking, welding, or farming. This award emphasizes promise and effort rather than academic grades, reflecting a commitment to fostering talent in essential skilled trades. The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, a leader in community investment, manages this fund to empower local youth and strengthen the community's future.

The Updated National Dislocated Worker Grant Program Guidance addresses the opioid crisis by prioritizing funding for applicants who demonstrate a critical need and have not previously received opioid-related grants. Key updates include eliminating Disaster-Relief Employment as a requirement, emphasizing the inadequacy of workforce resources, and encouraging applications that focus on training qualified professionals in relevant fields. These changes ensure that the program aligns with current policies and effectively supports communities impacted by the opioid epidemic.

The Family Unification Program (FUP) aims to assist families and youth at risk of homelessness by providing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance. It targets families facing housing issues that could lead to out-of-home placement for children and youth aged 18-24 who have aged out of foster care. The program offers flexible voucher durations, with extensions available under specific conditions, ensuring support for those in need of stable housing.

About

The Advancing Communities grant program helps communities across Nebraska and southwest Iowa develop or enhance spaces that are inviting to all citizens, enabling connection through social, recreational, historical and civic engagement. By supporting capital projects that make great community assets — from libraries and youth rec centers to parks, trails, museums and more — we encourage our neighbors to get out and explore.

Advancing Communities Grant

Projects for consideration should align with the following themes:

• Shared spaces such as libraries, parks, trails and community centers — that encourage engagement and make towns more vibrant places to live, work and gather.
• Innovative ideas and forward-thinking approaches that engage multiple generations, introduce new ideas or bring fresh energy into existing community spaces.
• Community-led efforts, including partnerships among public, private and nonprofit sectors, with priority given to initiatives that demonstrate collaboration, local investment and community-driven vision.
• Sustainable, ready-to-launch projects that have secured at least 60% of their total funding and show clear plans for long-term maintenance, sustainability and measurable community benefit.

Grant amounts:

Applicants may request up to $250,000 for one time capital support.

Deadlines:

Applications for this program can be submitted at any time.

The FY26 Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program (TBIPHRP) aims to support impactful health services research that connects research, practice, and policy. It emphasizes building real-world evidence for interventions and clinical guidelines tailored to specific populations. Key features include requirements for clinical trials, preliminary data, and community-based participatory research approaches. The program also offers an Early-Career Investigator Partnering Option to foster collaboration between seasoned and emerging researchers.

The NCI Research Specialist Award (R50) supports clinician scientists involved in NCI-funded clinical trials. This funding opportunity encourages the development of stable research careers by providing salary support and autonomy, allowing clinician scientists to contribute to national clinical trial development and implementation. They play a critical role in sustaining the NCI clinical trials network without serving as principal investigators. This award aims to ensure continuity in cancer research careers.

The NCI Research Specialist Award (R50) supports non-tenure track scientists in cancer research who provide essential contributions within laboratories and core facilities. This award aims to enhance research careers for skilled scientists who do not seek independent investigator funding. Eligible candidates must possess an advanced degree, have at least two years of contribution to NCI-funded research, and dedicate a significant portion of their time to this work. The R50 offers salary support and travel funds to recognize and stabilize these vital roles in cancer research.

The National Swine Resource and Research Center (NSRRC) is a pivotal resource that enhances biomedical research by providing genetically modified models. This centralized facility reduces variability and costs for researchers, allowing them to focus on scientific discovery. NSRRC offers breeding, cryopreservation, and genotyping services, ensuring consistent access to high-quality models. By consolidating these resources, it promotes reproducibility and supports the development of innovative methodologies in research, ultimately advancing our understanding of human health and disease.

The DoW Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Translational Research Award aims to transform scientific discoveries into clinical applications. This program encourages innovative research approaches and requires preliminary data. It prohibits basic research and clinical trials, emphasizing the need for relevant animal models or community-based participatory research for human subjects. Funding supports two research levels, refining ideas into tangible products or evaluating them for clinical trials, with options for early-career investigator partnerships.

Information for Russell Sage Foundation Grant Seekers

RSF makes external grants for social science research projects that address questions of interest under its research priorities. 

Research Priorities

RSF supports high-quality innovative research under four core research priorities:

• Behavioral Science and Decision Making in Context
• Future of Work
• Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
• Social, Political, and Economic Inequality

In addition, it supports research under the following time-limited co-funded research priorities:

• Immigration and Immigrant Integration
• Implications of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision to Ban Race-Conscious Admissions at Colleges and Universities for Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility
• Causal Research on the Criminal Justice System

Overview of Core Research Grants

All research grant applications must be preceded by a letter of inquiry (LOI). RSF has 3 funding cycles per year and only considers proposals that are invited following review of an initial letter of inquiry. After peer review, about 15% of those who submit an LOI will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal. RSF rarely considers projects for which the investigators have not already fully-developed the research design, the sample framework, access to data, etc. Investigators are encouraged to submit an LOI after they have developed and pre-tested survey instruments, completed preliminary data analyses if the data are publically-available or conducted some preliminary interviews for qualitative studies.

Funding

There are two levels of funding for core grants, Trustee-approved grants and Presidential-Authority grants. The maximum grant amount for a Trustee grant is $200,000, including 15% indirect costs. Grants up to $75,000 are considered Presidential-Authority grants. RSF has 3 funding cycles per year and only considers proposals that are invited following review of an initial letter of inquiry. After peer review, about 15% of those who submit an LOI will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal. The final funding rate for core research grants is approximately 6-10% of submitted LOIs.

Implications of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision to Ban Race-Conscious Admissions at Colleges and Universities for Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility - Request for Proposals

The Russell Sage Foundation, in collaboration with the Hewlett, Spencer, and William T. Grant foundations, seeks to support innovative research on the effects of the Supreme Court decision on a diversity of outcomes—from who attends college and where and the extent to which alternatives to race-conscious policies contribute to educational attainment and economic mobility among different groups in the population. Our interests extend beyond the effects on applications, admissions, enrollment, and degree completion and include the downstream effects, including whether and how the decision alters the college-to-career pipeline that many employers rely on to diversify their workforce, and the factors associated with public opposition to and support for race-conscious policies. We are particularly interested in analyses that make use of newly available data or demonstrate novel uses of existing data. We also support original data collection and encourage methodological variety and inter-disciplinary collaboration. 

Read the full RFP for this time-limited co-funded research priority here.

Joyful Heart Foundation

Since 2004, Joyful Heart has been a leading national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse by building a world that prioritizes survivors’ healing.

Our Areas of Focus

We continue to carry out our mission through programming centered on survivors’ needs. We strive to fill gaps where those needs aren’t being met, without duplicating existing programs. In order to build a more compassionate, more informed culture rooted in the possibility and promise of healing, we focus on three key areas: Awareness and Community Building, Policy and Advocacy and Healing Programs.

• Healing Programs and Resources: Creating and fostering a culture of healing and nurturing for survivors and the professionals who support them.
• Policy and Advocacy: Advocating for policies and practices that forge a path to safety, justice and hope for survivors.

• Awareness and Community Building: Creating spaces and conversations that channel a drive for change into action and transformation.

Heal the Healers Grant 

Helping alleviate the effects of secondary trauma for the long-term wellbeing of professionals who support survivors

Building for a System of Care and Compassion

Heal the Healers Grantmaking Program provides critical support for professionals who help survivors heal and seek justice. People working on the frontlines of survivor-centered services are subject to the often overlooked effects of secondary trauma that can emerge as a result of continuous exposure to people who have recently experienced abuse and violence.

The Heal the Healers Grant Fund and Grantee Learning Cohorts provide resources to mitigate the effects of secondary trauma among the practitioners responsible for the earliest stages of survivors’ paths to justice and healing. Creating a safer, more compassionate world for the people who do this work helps lay a foundation for lasting change and a world where every survivor’s healing is prioritized.

The Heal the Healers Fund provides micro-grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit, Tribal, or governmental organizations supporting survivors for training, small capital projects, or organizational activities.

Areas of Support

The Joyful Heart Foundation has established the following guidelines for its Heal the Healers Fund grants to support those working directly with survivors in the following areas.

• Training and/or program development on self-care practices such as training in trauma-informed yoga, breathwork, somatic therapy, etc.
• Small capital items and equipment that specifically allow staff and volunteers to address their self care needs such as daylight lamps for staff or new furniture for a break room.
• Staff activities to build and support connections between colleagues such as, trust building experiences, monthly pizza nights, or bagel Fridays.
• Or any combination of the above. 

In addition to the financial support, grantees will also be invited to join a peer learning community cohort that includes:

• Opportunities to amplify their fellowship/cohort experiences to inspire others in the field
• Virtual peer-to-peer networking opportunities
• Virtual training/presentations by leading healers, therapists and other professionals with expertise in cutting edge vicarious trauma, empowerment, leadership and therapeutic modalities

Target Foundation

At Target Foundation, we envision a world where all families and communities have the resources they need to determine and realize their own joy in life. It’s a reality that is out of reach for far too many families as they struggle for access to economic opportunity, financial stability and the kind of empowerment that lifts up their communities. We believe we have a responsibility to work to remove barriers and to help create that access, resulting in a world where all families can thrive.

Community Engagement Funds

Community Engagement Funds (CEF) is a community grant program that empowers Target stores and distribution center leaders to make meaningful, localized giving decisions that meet the needs of the communities where our team members and guests live, work, and thrive.

• Organizations cannot apply for the same program in both grant cycles.
• Organizations are encouraged to apply during the cycle that best aligns with their program timing.
• A maximum of 10 applications is allowed per organization at any time.

CEF will prioritize nonprofit programs and initiatives aligned to its focus areas:

• Thriving Families; Basic needs and youth development..
• Vibrant Neighborhoods: Community vitalization; Community and green spaces.
• Emerging Creative & Culture: Cultural partnerships and creative programming.
• Economic Opportunity: Workforce development.

The Grant for Grassroots Exchange: Japan Festivals and Events supports cultural projects promoting understanding of Japan through local festivals and events. Aimed at community-driven initiatives, the grant encourages cross-cultural exchange and global perspectives while providing up to $7,000 in funding. Priority is given to projects reaching underserved communities in the Midwest, Mountain, and South regions, involving new participants in K-12 education, and demonstrating potential for replication in other areas.

The Grant for Grassroots Exchange: U.S.-Japan Community Networking supports initiatives that foster connections between grassroots communities in the U.S. and Japan. With funding up to $10,000, projects should enhance mutual understanding through events like workshops and conferences. Eligibility is limited to U.S. organizations with 501(c)(3) status, and priority is given to collaborations with underrepresented groups. This grant aims to strengthen community ties and promote cultural exchange on a local level.

The DoW Toxic Exposures Translational Research Award aims to foster translational research that bridges military-related toxic exposure studies and clinical applications. This program encourages innovative collaborations by allowing for a Partnering Principal Investigator Option, enhancing interdisciplinary partnerships. By integrating basic science with clinical insights, the initiative seeks to expedite the development of impactful health care products and interventions to address toxic exposures faced by military personnel.

The FY26 Toxic Exposures Research Program (TERP) Clinical Trial Award supports clinical trials aimed at addressing health issues from military-related toxic exposures. This initiative encourages collaboration through a Partnering Principal Investigator Option, enhancing interdisciplinary research efforts. Projects range from early-phase trials to large-scale studies, focusing on innovative treatments and management strategies for affected populations. The goal is to expedite the translation of research findings into effective clinical applications.

The DoW Toxic Exposures Investigator Initiated Research Award aims to fund critical studies addressing diseases linked to military-related toxic exposures. This award supports a wide range of research phases, from basic laboratory investigations to translational research involving both animal models and human subjects. Projects may also explore New Approach Methodologies, enhancing our understanding and treatment options for affected individuals. By facilitating innovative research, this initiative seeks to improve patient care and outcomes.

The NIH Blueprint Initiative aims to enhance neuroscience research by funding the development and application of germline and somatic gene-editing techniques. This initiative builds on existing marmoset gene-editing frameworks and integrates New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to improve understanding of human brain function and disease. High-priority areas include complex conditions like autism and schizophrenia. The initiative emphasizes the use of appropriate models to address critical questions in neuroanatomy, cognition, and behavior related to human brain health.

The Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (IRINAH), led by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, focuses on enhancing health outcomes in Native populations. It supports research to identify causes of health issues, develop and test effective interventions, and implement strategies that promote sustainability. Emphasizing community strengths, the initiative aims to rigorously evaluate solutions to reduce health disparities, ensuring interventions can be adapted and shared across diverse communities.

Who We Are

Saginaw County is home. It is a beautiful community you’d be foolish to underestimate. We may have our challenges, but seeing its cities, villages and townships continue to grow and flourish gives us a sense of satisfaction and pride like none other.

Back in 1984, The Saginaw Community Foundation was founded to enhance the quality of life in our county by providing leadership, education, and support for philanthropy. Today, we still continue this mission of supporting the needs of our community through targeted grants, investments, and scholarships.

In addition to our grantmaking and scholarship programs, the Foundation also offers donor advised funds, which allow donors to recommend charitable grants to organizations of their choice. We also manage several endowed funds, which provide ongoing support for specific causes or organizations.

Saginaw Community Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors composed of community leaders and volunteers. A staff of professionals oversee our day-to-day operations and work with donors and community organizations to identify and address community needs.

CTE Scholarships

Dreaming of a career in welding? Maybe managing your own auto mechanics garage fuels your thoughts or you would love to become an electrician. Perhaps studying to become a chef in a culinary arts program suits your tastes.

No matter what your career path may be, there is little doubt that in recent years interest in Career and Technical Education (CTE) has grown. The increased need for workers skilled in the trades has resulted in larger numbers of students seeking out CTE programs.

Schools offering CTE encompass a wide variety of hands-on education, from HVAC to carpentry to cosmetology. In the past, financial assistance has been hard to come by for these areas of study, but that is no longer the case. Saginaw Community Foundation has several scholarship opportunities for those who have the desire to pursue CTE.

According to leading economists, not everyone needs a four-year degree. In fact, millions of good-paying jobs are opening up in the trades. And some pay better than what the average college graduate makes.

For aspiring welders, electricians, carpenters, and other valued skilled trade workers, there is great opportunity to take advantage of tailored CTE programs. The demand is massive as an estimated 3 million trade jobs in the United States remain vacant.

Our CTE scholarship awards range between $500 – $4,000 typically.

Reverend William D. Aldridge, Sr., Scholarship

The Reverend William Desmond Aldridge, the second oldest of five children, was born May 1, 1927, in Europa, Miss. The Reverend Aldridge was called to the ministry in 1944 at the age of 17. He completed three years of study at Rusk College before accepting his first pastorship in 1948. The Reverend Aldridge was named pastor of Christ Community Church on Easter Sunday in 1954, making him one of the longest-serving pastors in Saginaw County.

The Reverend Aldridge taught in the Buena Vista School District for nearly 10 years and has always placed a high priority on encouraging youth to seek academic excellence. Mary Viola “Jean” Aldridge, his wife of 50 years, was a teacher in the Buena Vista School District as well.

The Reverend Aldridge also worked at the General Motors Malleable Iron Plant and retired in 1981 after 28 years of service.

The Rev. Dr. Roosevelt and Dr. Nurame Austin, Sr. Scholarship, established by the Saginaw Community Foundation, honors Pastor Roosevelt Austin's dedication to his church and community. This scholarship supports graduating high school seniors from Saginaw County pursuing undergraduate degrees or Career and Technical Education (CTE) training. With awards ranging from $500 to $4,000, it fosters educational opportunities for students in skilled trades, reflecting Pastor Austin's belief in the power of education.

The Raymond and Mary Jane Barry Educational Scholarship Fund, established by the Saginaw Community Foundation, aims to support students from Saginaw County pursuing careers in technical fields. With awards ranging from $500 to $4,000, this fund honors the Barrys' commitment to education and community service. Eligible applicants must maintain a minimum 2.7 GPA and demonstrate enrollment in a Career and Technical Education program or an undergraduate degree. This scholarship encourages students to overcome challenges with humor and determination.

Unlikely Collaborators Inc

We exist to help people RESOLVE CONFLICT. What kind of conflict are we talking about? The inside kind.

It's our perspective that most of the EXTERNAL conflict in the world is the result of unconscious, unresolved INTERNAL conflict in each and every one of us.

Unlikely Collaborators is an organization that exists to help people resolve conflict by making them aware of and helping them work with their Perception Box.

RFP To Fund Transformative Projects Rooted in the Perception Box™ Framework

This RFP is designed for organizations creating meaningful shifts in how people interpret their experiences, beliefs, and perspectives.

All requests must be project-specific and aligned with the Perception Box framework.

At Unlikely Collaborators, we support people and organizations who are helping others see something about themselves they couldn’t see before. Our work is grounded in the Perception Box, a framework developed by our founder, Elizabeth R. Koch.

The Perception Box is the internal lens through which each of us experiences the world. It is shaped by our beliefs, our past experiences, our identity, and the stories we carry, often without realizing it.

Most of the time, we don’t see this lens. We experience our perspective as reality. But when people begin to notice it, something shifts. There is often more curiosity, less certainty, and more openness to others and new possibilities.

We are not a fit for projects focused primarily on advocacy, external blame, or telling people what to think. We support work that helps people examine how they think.

What this looks like in practice

We are most interested in projects where participants are actively engaged in noticing and questioning their own assumptions. This might include:

• Structured experiences where people reflect on their beliefs and how those beliefs were formed
• Encounters with perspectives that challenge their existing worldview
• Moments of realization where someone recognizes their interpretation may not be the only one
• Practices that build curiosity, self-awareness, and the ability to stay open in the face of difference

Before you get started on your RFP grant application, here’s what to expect:

• At Unlikely Collaborators, we support people and organizations that create meaningful shifts in how individuals see themselves.
• We are not looking for surface-level awareness. We are looking for work that leads to a real moment of recognition, when someone begins to question their own assumptions, reconsider their perspective, or see others differently.
• We prioritize leaders working from lived experience, not distance—people who understand the challenge from the inside and are translating that insight into something others can directly experience.
• The strongest projects are designed to create these moments of reflection in a tangible way. They bring people together in environments that are thoughtful, human, and often unexpected, where insight is felt, not just discussed.

The Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects, funded by the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, invites proposals for innovative water reuse solutions. This program enhances water supply reliability and supports sustainable practices for urban and agricultural communities. By leveraging Federal and non-Federal resources, the initiative aims to address water scarcity and improve hydropower reliability, aligning with national priorities for energy and resource management.

The WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects program invites eligible entities to secure funding for initiatives that enhance water resource management across various sectors, including conservation, infrastructure improvement, and watershed restoration. Priority is given to projects that collaboratively address community needs and yield significant environmental benefits. This funding opportunity aligns with federal priorities aimed at optimizing resource use and improving grant oversight, as outlined in recent executive orders.