Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Connecticut

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 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 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.

Frank A. Weidman Fund

The Frank A. Weidman Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide funds for graduates of Pittsburgh Public Schools to complete college and university studies in the arts and social sciences.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

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 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32) supports eligible institutions in enhancing research training for predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates. This initiative aims to foster a diverse workforce in biomedical and clinical research, ensuring that training programs are comprehensive, engaging, and career-oriented. Key deadlines for applications are set from January 2025 through September 2027, with specific dates for standard and AIDS-related applications.

The Charles Edison Fund Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School supports students aiming to enhance the impact of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program. This fellowship targets those committed to addressing significant public issues through innovative solutions. Ideal for both U.S. and international applicants, it emphasizes merit and financial need, aligning with Harvard's mission to foster public policy leadership and promote a just and sustainable society.

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 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.

Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation was established in 1969 to strengthen, promote, and defend the arts and humanities as essential to democratic societies. Throughout our history, Mellon has held true to our founding commitments, secure in our conviction that the arts and humanities are essential to the health of a multivocal and democratic society. From our earliest days, we have aspired to build partnerships with our grantees, offering expertise and counsel in addition to funding

In recent years, Mellon has expanded on these core principles by actively prioritizing social justice across all of our grantmaking. This strategic shift builds on our long history of advocating for and investing in expanded access to higher education, humanities, and the arts, and addressing historical inequities in these fields. Our vision for Mellon’s future includes a focus on justice for all in all that we do—rooted in the Foundation’s long-held historic belief in the impact and power of the arts and humanities. At Mellon, we make grants to actively support communities and ideas that unlock the power in the arts and humanities that helps connect us all.

Humanities in Place Grant Program

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation actively works with our grantee partners and we are deeply immersed in the fields in which we invest. Our grants are designed to activate the spirit of learning through the creation and sharing of bold new ideas and the inspiration felt in art, expression, spaces, and scholarship. 

From Alaska to Guam and the Borderlands to the Midwest, America is a constellation of unique heritages, traditions, and stories. In communities of all sizes, people are striving to expand the ways we can understand and authentically engage with the history that is all around us. Our Humanities in Place grants fund place keepers, artists, institutions, and storytellers who shine a spotlight on historically overlooked sites, and the communities and stories that surround them. In doing so, they help broaden our shared understanding and open new paths to discover what unites us, what makes us unique, and what we can learn from one another.

The Lyons & Snyder Legal Excellence Scholarship, offered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports students pursuing legal studies. Applicants must demonstrate teaching or counseling experience and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. This scholarship is available to those enrolled or planning to enroll in accredited community colleges or universities across the USA. Since 1964, the foundation has played a vital role in enhancing community welfare through educational grants and scholarships.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications for Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers (P40), aimed at enhancing biomedical research through providing essential resources such as laboratory animal colonies and informatics tools. The initiative supports both the continuation of existing resources and the development of new ones, emphasizing alignment with NIH Institutes and Centers. Applicants are encouraged to consult with NIH staff to ensure their proposals meet program priorities and competitiveness in the grant process.

Golden Garden Scholarship

The Golden Garden Scholarship supports Buckingham and Louisa highschool seniors who plan to attend a two‑year community college or a four‑year university as full‑time students. Established to support first‑generation college students—particularly students of color—with financial need, the award provides $2,500 per year, renewable for up to four years, and seeks candidates who demonstrate an interest in the Arts & Humanities, have a minimum 2.75 high‑school GPA, and a commitment to healthy lifestyle choices. Recipients must reside in Buckingham or Louisa County, remain enrolled full‑time throughout the scholarship term, and uphold good character and citizenship.

William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law - The University of Texas School of Law

The William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law was created in 2004 when the law school joined with Judge William Wayne Justice’s former law clerks and many admirers to establish it in his honor. The Justice Center is a comprehensive resource for students, faculty, alumni, and the community.

Since its inception, the Justice Center has steadily expanded its programming and scope. Dedicated to promoting a culture and habit of pro bono service by all students, the Justice Center includes the school-wide Richard and Ginni Mithoff Pro Bono Program. We also regularly undertake special projects that bring together research and pro bono work on topics as varied as real estate titles in the wake of natural disasters, expunging criminal records, and supported decision-making by persons with disabilities.

Baron & Budd Public Interest Summer Fellowships

In the summer of 2026, the Baron & Budd Public Interest Summer Fellowships Program will provide up to 4 fellows with a $8,000 stipend to work for at least 10 weeks under the supervision of an attorney at a qualified sponsoring organization.

The fellowships are supported by generous funding from Baron & Budd, PC.

This named fellowship is awarded through the Summer Public Service Program.

The Postdoctoral Diversity Enrichment Grant Program, funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, offers $60,000 over three years to support underrepresented postdoctoral fellows in the U.S. and Canada. This initiative aims to enhance their career development through mentorship and networking opportunities. Since its inception in 2013, the program has awarded over 150 fellowships, investing more than $9 million to promote diversity in biomedical research and foster an inclusive scientific community.

The Otto & Aegun Hensens Educational Fund, established in 2018, supports Hawaii high school graduates pursuing degrees in medicine, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. To qualify, applicants must be residents of Hawaii, maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and demonstrate financial need. Preference is given to previous recipients and members of the Aiea Korean Methodist Church. This fund plays a vital role in fostering future leaders in STEM fields.

About Us

Who We Are

The Wayne County Community Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community organization that works to strengthen the community we all share by helping donors make a lasting difference with their philanthropic endeavors – connecting their dreams and passions with causes that matter.

Established in 1978 with a single gift of $1,000, WCCF has become the steward of over 620 separate funds created from bequests and gifts, each with their own philanthropic purpose to support the future of our community now – and for many years to come.

The mission of Wayne County Community Foundation is to provide philanthropic leadership to our community.

Mark W. Carrabine Memorial Math Award

Eligibility:

• This scholarship is available to a student who graduated from high school located in Wayne County, Ohio (including home school), who excel in the field of mathematics.
• Applicant musts be enrolled or enrolling in a two-or four-year higher educational institution.

The selection committee will accept and review no more than one application from each high school located in Wayne County. Student shall submit their application to their respective guidance counselor, who, in consultation with the school’s math department, shall select one application to be forwarded to the selection committee for final consideration.

One Year

$3,000

Varies

Our Consortium

ROAR (Rare Organic Acidemias Research) is a multi‑center study that brings together patients, families, clinicians, and researchers to better understand rare organic acidemias such as PA, MMA, GA‑1, IVA, and others. Our goal is to improve lifelong care and future treatment options for the rare disease community.

ROAR works in partnership with patient organizations, clinicians, and research networks to ensure that study findings are shared, accessible, and meaningful. Families play a central role in shaping our questions and informing our direction.

Rare Organic Acidemias Research (ROAR) Consortium Pilot and Feasibility Grants

The overall mission of the ROAR pilot & feasibility grant is to support small projects which advance diagnosis, enhance clinical trial readiness, and improve therapies and outcomes for individuals with organic acidemias. Potential pilot projects may include data-mining of existing data, genotype-phenotype correlations, observational studies, patient-reported outcomes assessments, focus groups with patients and advocacy groups, interventional clinical trials (with prior NIH approval), biomarker studies, ancillary studies to ROAR clinical projects, or other similar projects. Upon completion of funding, we expect that the data generated from ROAR pilot projects will be leveraged for larger grant applications and larger projects within and outside the consortium. Moreover, we expect that the data generated will inform the design of future clinical trials and clinical studies in organic acidemias and ultimately, will impact the lives of individuals with organic acidemias by improving the diagnosis, management, and treatment for these disorders. 

Annual funding of up to $40,000 (total cost, including indirect costs) is available to support one pilot project for a one-year period. The ROAR Consortium intends to fund at least 1 award this cycle starting on October 15, 2026.

The Hale Kauai Scholarship in Memory of William Moragne, established in 2015, supports Kauai residents pursuing degrees in agriculture or engineering. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be full-time students at accredited colleges in Hawaii or the mainland USA. Preference is given to past recipients who continue to meet the criteria. This scholarship fosters educational advancement within the community, ensuring a brighter future for Kauai's youth.

The Jerry Newson Scholarship Fund, established by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, supports Davidson County residents pursuing education at accredited four-year colleges or universities. This fund honors Jerry Newson Jr., who valued the transformative power of education. Prioritizing students majoring in social sciences, it aims to empower individuals to give back to their communities. With over 30 years of community engagement, the Foundation fosters positive change through collective philanthropy.

The Choose Aerospace SkillPointe Scholarship offers $2,500 to support students pursuing aviation technician programs. Administered by the SkillPointe Foundation, this initiative aims to bridge the skills gap in the aviation maintenance field. With twenty scholarships available, eligible applicants must be planning to attend or currently enrolled in an aviation technical program. Priority consideration may be given to students attending ATEC member institutions, making this a vital opportunity for aspiring aviation professionals.

The Professor Emeritus John Edward Lillich Endowed Scholarship Program, funded by the United Negro College Fund, aims to provide need-based scholarships to students majoring in engineering at HBCUs, with a preference for those attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). This scholarship honors John Edward Lillich, a WWII veteran and advocate for women in engineering, supporting students in their pursuit of education and leadership roles.

The Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues (SMaHT) Program aims to enhance our understanding of biological processes driven by somatic mutations in human tissues through innovative technology development. Since its inception in 2023, the program has produced multi-omic datasets from human tissues representing all germ layers. The NIH is now advancing to Stage 2, focusing on collaborative efforts to refine and implement validated technologies for somatic mutation detection and functional interpretation, promoting rigorous and cost-effective methodologies.

The Zemurray Foundation Grant aims to enhance community well-being by promoting educational and health opportunities, environmental sustainability, and cultural vibrancy. Eligible applicants include organizations recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS or those with a fiscal agent that meets this criterion. A letter of intent may be submitted for consideration, and selected candidates may be invited to submit a full proposal.

The Surveillance and Case Control Study of Stillbirth and Birth Defects (SUCCSSBD) aims to enhance the quality of birth defects and stillbirth surveillance in the U.S. By modernizing data collection through electronic case reporting, the initiative seeks to improve data quality and timeliness. The study will focus on identifying risk factors for birth defects and stillbirths, addressing a significant public health issue that affects thousands of pregnancies annually. CDC funding will support three key components in this effort.

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.

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 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.