Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Connecticut

Judy Huang Scholarship

The scholarship was established by Judy Huang to support a college education for students who are Asian, in financial need, and demonstrate perseverance and hard work.

Award Amount:

• $5,000 payable over fours years at $1,250 per year.

The Spring Scholarships, offered by Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation (MVCF), provide vital tuition support for students pursuing higher education, including college and professional development programs. MVCF fosters community collaboration to enrich the cultural landscape and ensure the sustainability of the Island. Since 1982, their commitment has been to honor the past, support the present, and invest in the future of Martha’s Vineyard's diverse community.

The NIH Career Transition Award (K22) supports exceptional basic and clinical investigators in developing independent research skills through a two-phase program: an intramural appointment at NIH followed by support at an extramural institution. This award specifically aids NINDS intramural neurologist and neurosurgeon scientists in transitioning to independent academic faculty roles, fostering the engagement of clinician-scientists in both funded scientific research and clinical practices.

The Kiwanis Club of Elk Grove offers the Jessie Baker Memorial Scholarship, valued at $1,000, aimed at supporting local students pursuing education in Special Education Teaching or related fields. Applicants must be full-time students from designated Elk Grove high schools, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and demonstrate financial need. A personal essay outlining educational objectives is required, along with participation in school and community activities, ensuring a commitment to both academic and civic engagement.

The Data-Driven Reporting Project (DDRP) supports local news journalists and freelancers in the US and Canada, focusing on document-based investigative projects for underrepresented communities. It provides financial awards up to $35,000, covering 80% of project costs, along with specialized training on Google Journalist Studio tools. Recipients are encouraged to share their core source documents post-publication to benefit the journalism community. Applications are open to small to midsize newsrooms and freelance journalists with proven track records.

The NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Non-Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K22) supports early-career independent researchers to transition from postdoctoral positions to assistant professor roles. This award aims to enhance diversity in the biomedical workforce, offering funding opportunities for innovative research projects. Key application deadlines span from February 2025 to October 2027. The program is funded by the US Department of Health & Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

William C. and Anna Rose Chamberlain Memorial

The fund was established in 1926 "for the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," to be used to educate those interested in the ministry; or as a missionary; or ordained professional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); or for some definite religious work in connection with the church. Priority is given to members or former members of Gender Road Christian Church (formerly known as Southeast Christian Church).

Award Amount:

• Minimum $500

The Canine Cancer Immunotherapy Network (K9CIN) aims to advance canine cancer treatments through innovative clinical trials, paralleling the development of human therapies. This initiative is vital as pet dogs naturally develop cancer, mirroring human responses to treatments. By leveraging NIH support, K9CIN will facilitate research to enhance immunotherapeutic strategies for both dogs and humans, fostering a collaborative environment for veterinary and human medical advancements. Ultimately, this funding opportunity promotes ethical research that benefits both species.

The Lester Little Ag Education Scholarship, offered by the Muskingum County Community Foundation, aims to support graduating seniors pursuing higher education in agricultural studies. Scholarships will be awarded to students from John Glenn, Philo, Tri-Valley, Maysville, and West Muskingum High Schools. Preference is given to those active in their school's ag programs and 4-H, with additional consideration for female applicants, fostering a commitment to agricultural education and community engagement.

The Girls on the Run Sparking Limitless Potential Scholarship, funded by The Columbus Foundation, empowers high school graduates from the Girls on the Run program to pursue higher education. This initiative not only celebrates the achievements of alumni but also addresses systemic barriers faced by girls of Color, promoting equity and leadership development. By supporting diverse pathways to education, the scholarship aims to create lasting impact and foster a more inclusive future for youth in Central Ohio.

The Booker T. Jones Scholarship Fund offers $5,000 to students graduating from MINACT-run Job Corps programs who plan to attend college. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens with a high school diploma or GED, accepted at a four-year historically Black college or university, and have completed technical training at a MINACT Job Corps Center. This scholarship honors the legacy of Booker T. Jones, who dedicated his life to empowering disadvantaged communities through education.

The Bettye Smith Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund honors a dedicated advocate for education, offering two $10,000 scholarships annually to high school seniors in Warren County, MS. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens with strong academic records and demonstrate financial need. This scholarship celebrates the legacy of Ms. Brown, who inspired many to pursue their educational dreams, ensuring her commitment to academic excellence continues to impact future generations.

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation

Mission: In partnership with our community, we ignite positive change and create a legacy of impact.

Scholarships

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation annually awards more than $2 million in scholarships to students pursuing higher education, job training and certification. The Foundation hosts several different scholarship opportunities throughout the year. 

Music Scholarships

Open to Chautauqua County students (K-11) to assist with the cost of music instruction, or high school seniors and college students from Chautauqua County majoring in music. 

Lindsay Lloyd North Korea Freedom Scholarship

The Lindsay Lloyd North Korea Freedom Scholarship (supported by the George W. Bush Foundation) provides one or more annual scholarships for up to $10,000 to lawful permanent residents of the United States, U.S. citizens or refugees who were born in North Korea pursuing an educational program in the United States or its possessions. North Korean-born individuals pursuing a degree in accredited colleges and universities in the United States with South Korean citizenship are eligible to apply.

This scholarship may be renewed on an annual basis by completing the scholarship application in full. Renewal applications will be reviewed alongside first-time applicants.

Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation

Vision: We envision a vibrant, prosperous northern Chautauqua community, rich in opportunity today and tomorrow.

Our Mission

To realize our vision we focus on:

• strategic and responsive grant making
• encouraging local philanthropy and building permanent endowments for the future
• actively serving as a community leader and partner for the benefit and enrichment in our community.

Scholarships

Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation proudly manages over 200 individual scholarship funds,

Alice Reding Connell Nursing Scholarship

The Alice Reding Connell Nursing Scholarship is offered to graduating seniors in northern Chautauqua County who are pursuing a career in registered nursing.

Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation

Vision: We envision a vibrant, prosperous northern Chautauqua community, rich in opportunity today and tomorrow.

Our Mission

To realize our vision we focus on:

• strategic and responsive grant making
• encouraging local philanthropy and building permanent endowments for the future
• actively serving as a community leader and partner for the benefit and enrichment in our community.

Scholarships

Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation proudly manages over 200 individual scholarship funds,

Benson-Cash Family Scholarship

The Benson-Cash Family Scholarship Fund benefits nontraditional students who are attending college or trade school after having been in the workforce.

Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation

Vision: We envision a vibrant, prosperous northern Chautauqua community, rich in opportunity today and tomorrow.

Our Mission

To realize our vision we focus on:

• strategic and responsive grant making
• encouraging local philanthropy and building permanent endowments for the future
• actively serving as a community leader and partner for the benefit and enrichment in our community.

Scholarships

Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation proudly manages over 200 individual scholarship funds,

Chadwick Bay NYS Women, Inc. Scholarship

The Chadwick Bay NYS Women Scholarship supports nontraditional female students in northern Chautauqua County who are returning or currently enrolled in college.

The scholarships we award vary each year based on the unique criteria of each scholarship. In 2025, we awarded over $3 million in scholarships to over 500 students, including $1.3 million to 110 students in western NC through our Disaster Relief and Resilience Scholarship.

Depending on the scholarship, it may pay for tuition, room and board, books, fees and/or other related educational expenses. 

Junior Guild of Rocky Mount Scholarship Fund

This will be outlined in your award notification. The minimum scholarship award amount is $1,000.

NCCF scholarship awards are only issued to not-for-profit institutions and government entities such as public colleges or universities.

SparkForce: The FMA Foundation

Formerly known as Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (or NBT), SparkForce is the charitable foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. While our name has changed, our mission has not. Our purpose is to inspire, attract, and support individuals in discovering an interest in manufacturing and to encourage their pursuit of a manufacturing career.

2020 marked the 50th Anniversary of FMA. Started by one man and his vision, FMA has transformed into an association dedicated to helping metal manufacturers thrive and move the industry forward.

Scholarships

SparkForce, The FMA Foundation, awards scholarships twice each year to students pursuing degrees or certifications related to manufacturing careers.

3 Scholarship Awards, 1 Application

• Community College, Trade School, or University; The U.K. Gupta & Family Scholarship; and The John Grossheim Memorial Scholarship.

Scholarship funds can be used to cover tuition, school fees, books purchased through the college store, and required tools or equipment such as PPE (if available for purchase through the college store). Funds cannot be used for housing, meals, or costs unrelated to the program.

FMA Scholarship: Community College, Trade School, or University

Open to eligible students pursuing degrees or certifications related to a career in manufacturing.

SparkForce: The FMA Foundation

Formerly known as Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (or NBT), SparkForce is the charitable foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. While our name has changed, our mission has not. Our purpose is to inspire, attract, and support individuals in discovering an interest in manufacturing and to encourage their pursuit of a manufacturing career.

2020 marked the 50th Anniversary of FMA. Started by one man and his vision, FMA has transformed into an association dedicated to helping metal manufacturers thrive and move the industry forward.

Scholarships

SparkForce, The FMA Foundation, awards scholarships twice each year to students pursuing degrees or certifications related to manufacturing careers.

3 Scholarship Awards, 1 Application

• Community College, Trade School, or University; The U.K. Gupta & Family Scholarship; and The John Grossheim Memorial Scholarship.

Scholarship funds can be used to cover tuition, school fees, books purchased through the college store, and required tools or equipment such as PPE (if available for purchase through the college store). Funds cannot be used for housing, meals, or costs unrelated to the program.

FMA Scholarship: The John Grossheim Memorial Scholarship

Preference to employees and their dependents of FMA member companies.

This scholarship is funded through the Outside Processors Council (OPC) Endowment.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life of the people of our region by:

• Encouraging philanthropy
• Developing a perpetual, flexible endowment
• Assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs
• Serving as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities
• Promoting efficiency in the management of charitable funds

The Scholarship Program

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 may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. 
• Most scholarships are for students who live in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. However, some are also available to students who live in Berkshire County and Hartford County in Connecticut.
• We offer scholarships to those who attend on either a full-time or part-time basis. 
• Any student who plans to enroll for the upcoming fall semester, in any year of college as an undergraduate or graduate student and who will attend an accredited post-secondary school in the United States may apply.
• 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.

Louis W. and Mary S. Doherty Scholarship Fund

Supporting residents of Hampden County.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life of the people of our region by:

• Encouraging philanthropy
• Developing a perpetual, flexible endowment
• Assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs
• Serving as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities
• Promoting efficiency in the management of charitable funds

The Scholarship Program

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 may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. 
• Most scholarships are for students who live in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. However, some are also available to students who live in Berkshire County and Hartford County in Connecticut.
• We offer scholarships to those who attend on either a full-time or part-time basis. 
• Any student who plans to enroll for the upcoming fall semester, in any year of college as an undergraduate or graduate student and who will attend an accredited post-secondary school in the United States may apply.
• 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.

Liliana Marie Cordes Scholarship Fund

Supporting Hampshire County residents studying music; preference for high school seniors that are residents of South Hadley

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life of the people of our region by:

• Encouraging philanthropy
• Developing a perpetual, flexible endowment
• Assessing and responding to emerging and changing needs
• Serving as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities
• Promoting efficiency in the management of charitable funds

The Scholarship Program

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 may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. 
• Most scholarships are for students who live in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. However, some are also available to students who live in Berkshire County and Hartford County in Connecticut.
• We offer scholarships to those who attend on either a full-time or part-time basis. 
• Any student who plans to enroll for the upcoming fall semester, in any year of college as an undergraduate or graduate student and who will attend an accredited post-secondary school in the United States may apply.
• 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.

Lee Crabtree Memorial Scholarship Fund

Supporting graduates of Springfield public high schools pursuing music; preference for graduates of Springfield Central High School and Springfield High School of Science and Technology.

The Acock – Beverly Acock Memorial Scholarship honors Beverly Acock's legacy by supporting students who excel in artistic pursuits and engage in community service. This scholarship ranges from $100 to $16,000, with an average award of $1,000. Eligible candidates must graduate in the top 25% of their class, reside in Nueces County, and plan to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university following high school graduation.

The Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation offers need-based scholarships to empower members in achieving their educational goals. These scholarships provide financial support of up to $5,000 per year or $2,500 per term for undergraduate students. Applicants may apply for either a merit-based or need-based scholarship, ensuring access to education for all. The foundation aims to create opportunities and promote academic success among its members.

The NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) aims to support talented postdoctoral researchers in their transition to independent faculty positions. This program provides essential NCI research funding to help awardees establish competitive, independent research careers. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant's organization, ensuring timely consideration for this critical funding opportunity.

The HEAL Initiative Whole Joint Health Program aims to advance research on the biological mechanisms of joint pain by exploring the interactions of various tissues within the joint. This innovative program will support clinical studies that focus on non-pharmacological interventions to enhance healing and improve quality of life for individuals suffering from chronic joint pain. By fostering a comprehensive understanding of joint health, the initiative aligns with the NIH's broader goals to reduce chronic pain and opioid dependency.