Search Through Grants for Small Nonprofits in Delaware in the U.S.

Delaware Division of the Arts

The Delaware Division of the Arts offers a variety of grant programs for individual artists, nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations chartered and based in Delaware, and schools and government entities that support arts activities.

Community-Based Program Grants

These grants serve non-profit Delaware organizations, colleges, universities, and government entities that do not have the arts as their primary mission

Arts Access (ACC) Grants

Arts Access grants support the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. The supports organizations that offer occasional arts programs and organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Division’s General Operating Support and Project Support categories.

Arts Access provides small grants of up to 80 percent of eligible cash expenses, not to exceed $1,250, to support the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. 

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF)

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) administers Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) rebates to support non-residential facilities in replacing aging and inefficient equipment and systems with energy efficient alternatives.

Improving the energy efficiency of a business helps to decrease operating costs, reduce energy consumption, and improve environmental performance.

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund rebates are available to perform energy assessments, to make general energy improvements, and to implement custom, site-specific improvements for either new or existing buildings.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Grant Pathway

The combined heat and power (CHP) pathway is designed to encourage the development of CHP in Delaware. Unlike traditional systems that produce electricity and heat separately, CHP, or cogeneration, is the concurrent production of electricity and useful thermal energy from a single source of energy. CHP systems are ideal for businesses with high annual hours of operation and a high thermal load. CHP systems yield increased energy efficiency, reduction in energy operating costs, and improvements in energy resiliency.

CHP Grant Limits

The Fund will not pay more than 60% of the energy efficiency-related project cost for any proposed project as detailed on itemized invoices (see exception for Energy Assessment Pathway in section 5.3). Program funds are limited. Grant awards will not exceed $250,000 per individual address per calendar year. DNREC reserves sole discretion to adjust the program grant caps. Particular consideration will be placed on organizations that support DNREC’s commitment to helping vital, yet vulnerable sectors of the community, including:

• minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses;
• small businesses (defined by the Delaware Dept. of Small Business as 100 employees or less);
• nonprofit organizations;
• educational institutions;
• state agencies;
• and local governments.

To ensure availability, funding must be reserved prior to purchasing any equipment or beginning an audit or energy study.

Grants for CHP projects will be paid at a rate of $500/kW of the installed system, up to 60% of the energy efficiency-related costs, whichever is less.

Accepted CHP Products and Equipment

The following CHP system designs are eligible for review. Professional Engineer (P.E.) signatures are required for the design portion of the project:

• Reciprocating Engine
• Microturbine
• Steam Turbine
• Gas Turbine
• Fuel Cells

Equipment must be new and permanently installed, and meet the minimum 60% annual efficiency requirement.

A decommissioning plan must be provided outlining the proper disposal and recycling details of any pre-existing equipment that will be removed.

Expansion of an Existing System

The incremental expansion of an existing CHP system is eligible. Grants will be calculated based on the incremental expansion of the system, not total system size. Equipment must be new and permanently installed.

Power Purchase Agreements

Third-party vendors and power purchase agreements (PPA) are eligible. The full power purchase agreement with final signatures must be provided prior to receiving grant payment.

Existing and Future Flood Risk Mitigation

Installations must be designed to avoid impacts from flooding, including future sea-level rise. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the Flood Risk Adaptation Map (FRAM) to determine whether the proposed site is within the 100-year, one-meter, sea-level rise floodplain. See site: http://www.firstmap.delaware.gov/FRAM. A flood risk mitigation plan must be submitted with the application as part of the proposed system design plan if the proposed project location is within the floodplain.

CHP Funds Reservations

Funds will be reserved for 18 months on a first-come, first-served basis. Final itemized invoices and supporting documents shall be submitted within 18 months of the reservation date or funds will be forfeited. If the project cannot be completed within the 18-month period of reservation and the applicant wishes for an extension, a milestone accomplishments report and form letter should be submitted to DNREC two months ahead of the reservation expiration date. DNREC reserves the right to either approve or deny any extension request based on currently available grant funds and/or milestone progress achievement.

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF)

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) administers Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) rebates to support non-residential facilities in replacing aging and inefficient equipment and systems with energy efficient alternatives.

Improving the energy efficiency of a business helps to decrease operating costs, reduce energy consumption, and improve environmental performance.

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund rebates are available to perform energy assessments, to make general energy improvements, and to implement custom, site-specific improvements for either new or existing buildings.

Custom Pathway Grants

The custom pathway grant option is designed to encourage non-standard energy efficiency measures, including measures not listed in the prescriptive pathway and prescribed measures bundled into a comprehensive full facility upgrade that maximizes energy savings and cost-effectiveness. Projects qualifying under the custom pathway are generally more complex incorporating aggressive measures that permanently raise the efficiency levels beyond that of standard equipment. New construction project’s energy savings will be determined as the difference between the proposed/installed ECM/system and the current locally adopted energy code baseline parameters.

Retro-commissioning (RCx) measures may be eligible for the custom pathway with restrictions as discussed in additional detail below. RCx measures include the optimization and fine-tuning of existing buildings and systems in order to make them operate optimally and more efficiently, typically through scheduling, sequencing, set point optimization, and controls programming strategies, focusing on the systems in place instead of replacing the existing systems through a retrofit.

“AC Tune-Up” measures (e.g. refrigerant charge adjustment, coil cleaning, airflow adjustment, etc.) for residential style AC units exceeding 65 kBTUh capacity per unit may be eligible for the custom pathway. These measures must be split into their respective activities performed and not bundled together – e.g. specific calculations for a refrigerant charge adjustment, calculations for an economizer repair, etc.

As of July 2024; to help growers maximize savings and boost productivity, the EEIF program will support horticultural lighting projects for commercial indoor agriculture operators. Lighting upgrades are often the easiest way to save energy and improve production processes in cultivation facilities. This incentive is designed to replace high-wattage fixtures with long run hours (16+ hours per day) in year-round residential growing operations. Commercial Horticultural Lighting projects consist of installing energy-efficient LED fixtures for grow houses, greenhouses, and propagation lighting. Rebates for retrofit and new construction horticultural grow lighting projects are available to indoor cultivation businesses that use artificial light to grow plants of all types such as:

• Cannabis,
• Microgreens,
• Vegetables,
• Flowers,
• and Propagation.

Horticultural grow lighting projects are eligible to pursue the single-tier custom grant pathway. For Horticultural projects, the applicant must provide detailed estimated annual energy savings calculations in accordance with pre-approval requirements. LED horticultural fixtures must be listed in either ENERGY STAR or Design Lights Consortium horticultural qualified products list. If you are unsure if your project qualifies as horticultural lighting, contact DNREC to confirm.

Custom Grant Limits

The Fund will not pay more than 60% of the energy efficiency-related project cost for any proposed project as detailed on itemized invoices (see exception for Energy Assessment Pathway in section 5.3). Program funds are limited. Grant awards will not exceed $250,000 per individual address per calendar year. DNREC reserves sole discretion to adjust the program grant caps. Particular consideration will be placed on organizations that support DNREC’s commitment to helping vital, yet vulnerable sectors of the community, including:

• minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses;
• small businesses (defined by the Delaware Dept. of Small Business as 100 employees or less);
• nonprofit organizations;
• educational institutions;
• state agencies;
• and local governments.

To ensure availability, funding must be reserved prior to purchasing any equipment or beginning an audit or energy study.

Custom grants are based on calculated energy and demand savings of retrofit projects, as well as cost-effectiveness and project comprehensiveness.

The custom incentive structure consists of three tiers which are determined by the comprehensiveness or number of end-uses involved in a project. Projects including only one (1) end use are eligible for the Single Tier incentive level (except lighting and RCx). To qualify for the Multi-Tier, a project must include a building energy management system (EMS) or contain at least two (2) end uses (see Section 5.2.2). A project including three or more (3+) end uses is eligible for the highest incentive level known as the Comprehensive Tier. End uses may be gas and/or electric.

Projects that solely deliver savings from retrofit lighting are not eligible for the custom grant pathway (except horticultural lighting projects). A control system that only controls lighting is not an EMS. A control device/system that just establishes the space temperature and a setback temperature is not an EMS. To qualify as an end use for the Multi-Tier, 80% of the lighting must be dimmable as defined by the Design Lights Consortium (DLC). To qualify as an end use for the Comprehensive Tier, lighting must include fixture-integrated or networked lighting controls.

Projects that solely deliver savings from an RCx offering(s) are not eligible for the custom pathway. Preventative maintenance or system “tune-ups” are not RCx measures. To qualify for the custom pathway, the RCx measure must have been identified in an energy assessment/audit performed by a qualified professional. Additionally, RCx offerings are not eligible to “increase” the incentive tiers based on the number of end-uses, for example, a custom project with a space heating end use measure and RCx measure implementation would qualify for the “Single Tier” incentive rate and would require an additional end-use measure to qualify for the “Multi-Tier” incentive rate, or (2) more end uses for the Comprehensive Tier incentive rate.

The grant for a custom application will be paid at the following rates for each tier, up to 60% of energy efficiency-related costs, whichever is less. Multi-tier and Comprehensive tier ECMs must all be complete and final approved to be paid at the tier-level rate.

• Electric Incentive
  • Single Tier
    • $0.20 / kWh
  • Multi-Tier
    • $0.25 / kWh
  • Comprehensive Tier
    • $0.30 / kWh
• Gas Incentive
  • Single Tier
    • $10 / MMBtu
  • Multi-Tier
    • $20 / MMBtu
  • Comprehensive Tier
    • $27 / MMBtu
• Fuel Switch Bonus: If measure is replacing a fossil fuel-fired appliance with an electric alternative, add value to gas incentive rate if applicable.
  • Single Tier
    • +$2 / MMBTU
  • Multi-Tier
    • +$5 / MMBTU
  • Comprehensive Tier
    • +$8 / MMBTU

Typically, the savings generated by these custom measures are site and end-use specific and require a detailed analysis to qualify for a grant. Recognizing this, DNREC reserves the right to require a detailed system design and a predicted performance calculation verified by a professional engineer (P.E.).

All custom applications require documentation of the energy savings information. Acceptable forms of documentation include energy modeling by a consultant or other third party, nameplate data on all existing systems, specification sheets for ALL proposed systems, signature by a licensed professional engineer (P.E.), and/or DNREC-approved calculator tools. Failure to submit acceptable documentation will result in a determination of ineligibility. For example, ASHRAE 90.1 2016 Appendix G simulation may be used to demonstrate beyond-code energy performance, and ASHRAE’s energy cost budget method may be used to demonstrate energy cost avoidances.

Custom Funds Reservations

Project funds will be reserved for 12 months on a first-come, first-served basis. The applicant may request a one-time extension for 60 days. Final itemized invoices, proof of payment, and supporting documents shall be submitted within the 12 months of the reservation date or funds will be forfeited. DNREC will determine if a reservation extension should be granted. 

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF)

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) administers Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) rebates to support non-residential facilities in replacing aging and inefficient equipment and systems with energy efficient alternatives.

Improving the energy efficiency of a business helps to decrease operating costs, reduce energy consumption, and improve environmental performance.

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund rebates are available to perform energy assessments, to make general energy improvements, and to implement custom, site-specific improvements for either new or existing buildings.

Energy Assessment Pathway Grants

For businesses in need of technical assistance to evaluate their facility for cost-effective energy efficient upgrades, grants are available to help with the cost of the audit, feasibility study, and project design. Energy assessment grant payment is structured to encourage identification and installation of identified ECM’s.

Energy Assessment Grant Limits and Participation

The Fund will not pay more than 60% of the energy efficiency-related project cost for any proposed project as detailed on itemized invoices (see exception for Energy Assessment Pathway in section 5.3). Program funds are limited. Grant awards will not exceed $250,000 per individual address per calendar year. DNREC reserves sole discretion to adjust the program grant caps. Particular consideration will be placed on organizations that support DNREC’s commitment to helping vital, yet vulnerable sectors of the community, including:

• minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses;
• small businesses (defined by the Delaware Dept. of Small Business as 100 employees or less);
• nonprofit organizations;
• educational institutions;
• state agencies;
• and local governments.

To ensure availability, funding must be reserved prior to purchasing any equipment or beginning an audit or energy study.

An applicant’s contractor may perform a targeted or comprehensive energy assessment (audit), create a facility’s energy assessment report, and submit an Energy Assessment application with all required documentation and supporting calculations discussed on the application within 30 days of audit completion. DNREC will review and coordinate with the applicant on any additional information needed to evaluate the application for approval. If the application is approved, EEIF may award the customer up to the lesser of (1) 50% of the cost of their energy audit or (2) the audit caps of $5,000 for a targeted energy audit or $10,000 for a comprehensive energy audit (see 5.3.2 below for definitions of each audit type). An additional amount, up to $5,000 for targeted audits and up to $10,000 for comprehensive audits, may be available for applicants who implement measures identified through their assessment AND complete a Prescriptive, Custom or CHP EEIF project. To qualify for the additional audit fund reimbursement, the implemented ECM grant award must exceed that of the total energy assessment grant.

Initial funds will be awarded upon assessment application final approval. Assessment application final approval and grant award does NOT replace the required application for pre-approval prior to ECM installation to reserve award funds. Additional audit grant funds must be requested in writing along with documents submitted for final approval for the Prescriptive, Custom, or CHP EEIF grant. If submitted ECM’s receive final approval from DNREC, the remaining audit funds will be included with the ECM award payment.

DNREC limits the number of energy audits per facility address or contiguous structure to one (1) paid assessment every calendar year unless the facility changes ownership or operational use. DNREC reserves the right to determine qualifying energy conservation measures or timelines for additional grant payments on a case-by-case basis.

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF)

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) administers Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) rebates to support non-residential facilities in replacing aging and inefficient equipment and systems with energy efficient alternatives.

Improving the energy efficiency of a business helps to decrease operating costs, reduce energy consumption, and improve environmental performance.

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund rebates are available to perform energy assessments, to make general energy improvements, and to implement custom, site-specific improvements for either new or existing buildings.

Prescriptive Pathway Grants

Prescribed measures contain technologies where energy savings can be predicted with reasonable accuracy across all applications. The technologies currently eligible for the program include lighting, HVAC & water heating, and appliances & food services equipment.

The program may modify or expand the list of eligible measures under the prescriptive grant pathway at any time. DNREC will notify applicants of any changes on the website and update any published materials.

Prescriptive Grant Limits

The Fund will not pay more than 60% of the energy efficiency-related project cost for any proposed project as detailed on itemized invoices (see exception for Energy Assessment Pathway in section 5.3). Program funds are limited. Grant awards will not exceed $250,000 per individual address per calendar year. DNREC reserves sole discretion to adjust the program grant caps. Particular consideration will be placed on organizations that support DNREC’s commitment to helping vital, yet vulnerable sectors of the community, including:

• minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses;
• small businesses (defined by the Delaware Dept. of Small Business as 100 employees or less);
• nonprofit organizations;
• educational institutions;
• state agencies;
• and local governments.

To ensure availability, funding must be reserved prior to purchasing any equipment or beginning an audit or energy study.

The grant for a prescriptive project will be paid per unit installed at a rate detailed in the corresponding prescriptive grant pathway application, up to 60% of the energy efficiency-related costs, whichever is less. In no event shall DNREC pay a prescriptive rate more than the final unit price detailed on itemized quotes and/or invoices for equipment cost.

Accepted Prescriptive Products and Equipment

The following list details the products and equipment eligible for a grant under the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund Prescriptive pathway. All products must meet the technical requirements described below.

Lighting

All products must be UL-listed and be installed according to local building codes. All products must be installed in such a way that the lighting power allowance complies with the current Delaware building codes.

HVAC and Water Heating Equipment

All equipment must exceed energy code requirements (see 2018 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 2016) and align with minimum efficiency tiers listed in the prescriptive applications.

Appliances & Food Services

All products must be listed on the Energy Star-qualified product list and be installed according to local building codes.

Prescriptive Funds Reservations

Retrofit project funds for applicants that do pursue pre-approval will be reserved for 120 days on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may request a one-time extension for 60 days. Final itemized invoices, proof of payment, and supporting documents shall be submitted within the 120 days of the reservation date or funds will be forfeited. DNREC will determine if a reservation extension should be granted.

New construction project funds will be reserved for a time determined by DNREC commensurate with supplied construction timeline.

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation only accepts unsolicited proposals for specific areas within the education, family economic stability and childhood health sectors in select countries where we work, namely the United States, India and South Africa.

As a guideline, the foundation does not fund more than 25% of a project’s budget or more than 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has always recognized the power of providing grants to partner organizations that we knew were already working hard to improve the lives of urban children living in poverty. By aligning with organizations that are already making a difference, we continue to make an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Foundation priorities:

We fund social enterprises that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, health, and family economic stability (including livelihoods and financial inclusion). These social enterprises may be structured as for-profit or nonprofit entities.

Partnerships

We collaborate with a range of organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact. Our funding advances projects already making an impact in education, health, and family economic stability. Through these enduring and long-standing partnerships, we create lasting change together.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

We have strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Our focus areas include basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. In addition to our philanthropic investments, we also encourage our employees to make a difference by offering robust employee giving and volunteering programs, including the opportunity to direct funds to organizations they support through volunteer efforts, and a matching gifts program that doubles their individual giving to causes they care about. Last year, we invested $350 million in the communities we serve, and employees contributed more than 1 million volunteer hours and directed $65 million through individual giving and matching gifts to support nonprofits.Through our regional U.S. sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities.Sponsorships supporting communitiesBank of America welcomes your sponsorship proposal for opportunities that make our communities a better place to live and work. We are particularly interested in providing support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on:

• preserving neighborhoods;
• educating the workforce for 21st century jobs;
• addressing critical needs such as hunger and emergency shelter;
• arts and culture;
• the environment; and
• diversity and inclusion programs.

Grants are made at the Foundation’s discretion based on our current funding strategies focused on housing, jobs and hunger. 

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

What does this program do?

It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:

• To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.
• Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

Microenterprise Development Organizations must demonstrate experience in managing a Revolving Loan Fund, or:

• Certify that it or its employees have received education and training from a qualified microenterprise development training entity so that the applicant has the capacity to manage such a revolving loan fund.
• Demonstrate that it is actively and successfully participating as an intermediary lender in good standing under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Program or other similar loan programs as determined by the Administrator.

 What kind of funding is available?

• Grants are available to provide technical assistance to rural micro-entrepreneurs or microenterprises, up to $205,000 annually.
  • Funding at the requested level is not guaranteed, and at least 15 percent matching funds are required.
• Loans of $50,000 to $500,000 may be used for establishing a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund managed by the Microenterprise Development Organization.
  • Total aggregate debt is capped at $2.5 million.

What are the loan terms?

• Maximum term is 20 years.
• Two-year payment deferral.
• Must establish a loan loss reserve fund.

What terms are required on loans to ultimate recipients?

• Up to $50,000.
• Fixed interest rate.
• Limited to 75 percent of project cost.

How may the funds be used?

Microlenders may make microloans for qualified business activities and expenses including, but not limited to:

• Working capital.
• Debt refinancing.
• Purchasing equipment and supplies.
• Improving real estate.

Truist Foundation

The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation's grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses.

Inspire Awards

We’re collaborating with MIT Solve to kick off our third year of the Inspire Awards. Nonprofits from across the country are invited to pitch their solution to advance workers through career navigation and workforce development.

This year’s Inspire Awards challenge aims to improve resources and wraparound services for workers seeking reskilling, upskilling, and career transitions to uplift themselves—and their families. For workers looking to develop skills to help them adapt to industry changes, career navigation and workforce development solutions can make an impact. These tools can aid smoother career transitions, foster economic mobility, and empower workers to pursue personal growth.

2025 Truist Foundation Inspire Awards Challenge Question

How are nonprofits providing innovative solutions for the reskilling, upskilling, and career navigation needs of adults who are in the middle or late stages of their careers?

Challenge Dimensions

We are seeking innovative nonprofit solutions that improve resources and wraparound services for adults who are in the middle or late stages of their careers seeking reskilling, upskilling, and career navigation support, including:

• Wraparound Services – Supporting unemployed and underemployed individuals on their journey to economic mobility through innovative and comprehensive resources including transportation support, childcare, mentorship, mental health services, and more.
• Coalition Building – Generating greater buy-in and support for workforce navigation efforts through coalitions, promoting communication and collaboration across diverse sectors and stakeholders including businesses, nonprofits, and government entities.
• Career Navigation – Enabling workers to navigate their career choices more easily, helping to facilitate informed decisions about which high-quality jobs and career trajectories best suit them.
• Upskilling and Reskilling – Providing accessible, high-quality, skill-building and training opportunities for those transitioning between careers or facing unemployment.

Here are the grants for this challenge

• First place: $250,000
• Second place: $150,000
• Runners-up: $25,000
• Audience favorite: $75,000

Guidelines

Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by supporting on-going preservation work and by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for preservation projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector.

A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning: Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach: Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

What does this program do?

This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

What is an eligible area?

Rural Business Development Grant money must be used for projects that benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Check eligible areas. 

What kind of funding is available?

There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. Opportunity grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total Rural Business Development Grant annual funding.

How may funds be used?

Enterprise grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application. Uses may include:

• Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports or producer service improvements.
• Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
• Pollution control and abatement.
• The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
• Distance adult learning for job training and advancement.
• Rural transportation improvement.
• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

Opportunity grants can be used for:

• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

Delaware Community Foundation

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) is a nonprofit organization focused on partnering with donors to build opportunity and advance equity in Delaware.

Our mission is to strengthen Delaware by maximizing community-based philanthropy.

Most DCF grants are from donor advised funds. Nonprofits are invited to apply for the grant opportunities on this page, including the DCF’s Community Impact Grants, which are funded by generous donors who believe in our work to build opportunity and advance equity in Delaware.

Lee & Florence Kvalnes Charitable Fund

These small grants will fund education programming supporting at-risk families for them to become self-sufficient. This includes but is not limited to tuition or daycare assistance, family wellness classes, transportation assistance.

Delaware Community Foundation

The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) is a nonprofit organization focused on partnering with donors to build opportunity and advance equity in Delaware.

Our mission is to strengthen Delaware by maximizing community-based philanthropy.

Most DCF grants are from donor advised funds. Nonprofits are invited to apply for the grant opportunities on this page, including the DCF’s Community Impact Grants, which are funded by generous donors who believe in our work to build opportunity and advance equity in Delaware.

Wilmington New Castle Pediatric Association Fund

These small grants will fund educational programming for pediatric healthcare providers. Supported programs include continuing education credit programming, conference, training for pediatric healthcare providers.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

Delaware Community Foundation

Each year, the DCF awards millions of dollars in grants to support the work of nonprofits addressing Delaware’s greatest needs and opportunities, with an eye to building opportunity and advancing equity.

Most DCF grants are from donor advised funds. Nonprofits are invited to apply for the grant opportunities on this page, including the DCF’s Community Impact Grants, which are funded by generous donors who believe in our work to build opportunity and advance equity in Delaware.

Highmark BCBSD BluePrints

Small grants will support health-related projects, programs and supportive services. Preference is given to programs that fit BluePrints for the Community priority areas.

The community priority areas are:

• increasing access to health care for uninsured/underserved,
• reducing health disparities in minority communities,
• supporting early childhood development with initiatives focused on health,
• recruiting and training health care professionals
• and addressing social determinants of health.

Grants are reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions announced to applicants at the beginning of each month. Small Grants cannot exceed $50,000.

Our Mission

Land O'Lakes, Inc. and the Land O'Lakes Foundation are dedicated to serving the rural and urban communities where our cooperative has members owners, employees, and facilities. Support is focused on organizations dedicated to Hunger Relief, Advancing Education, and Community Vitality.

Region Grants Program

The Region Grants Program is specifically for Land O’Lakes dairy communities in the East and West Regions of our member footprint. The purpose is to improve the vibrancy of the regions where our member-owners are located.

Funds are awarded through two grant rounds: Hunger Relief and Community Vitality.

Funding

• $125,000 total is awarded to both the East and West regions per grant round.
• Total annual program investment is $500,000.
• Organizations may apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.
  • Generally, between 10-20 grantees are funded per grant round.
  • Average grant award is between $5,000 to $10,000.
• Funds are for local programs or projects supporting Land O’Lakes member-owner rural communities and their populations.

Region Grants Open Grant Round: Hunger Relief

Organizations committed to fighting food insecurity and increasing food accessibility:

• Food banks
• Food shelves/pantries
• Prepared meals and meal delivery services
• School meal programs
• Community gardens and local food systems

Delaware Community Foundation

Each year, the DCF awards millions of dollars in grants to support the work of nonprofits addressing Delaware’s greatest needs and opportunities, with an eye to building opportunity and advancing equity.

Most DCF grants are from donor advised funds. Nonprofits are invited to apply for the grant opportunities on this page, including the DCF’s Community Impact Grants, which are funded by generous donors who believe in our work to build opportunity and advance equity in Delaware.

Highmark’s BluePrints for the Community

Highmark BCBSD BluePrints is seeking grant proposals for health-related projects, programs and supportive services. BluePrints for the Community, administered by the Delaware Community Foundation, has contributed over $27 million to the community since its inception in 2007.

Quarterly grants from Highmark’s BluePrints for the Community fund, administered by the DCF, support health-related projects, programs and supportive services. 

Priority areas are:

Healthcare Access

• For example: preventative care, disease specific, health literacy, research, etc.

Economic Stability for families and individuals

• For example: financial resources strains, food insecurity, housing stability, etc.

Social and Community Context

• For example: mental health, physical activities, social connections, etc.

Neighborhood and Built Environment

• For example: safety, transportation, environmental health, infrastructure, etc.

Occasional Special Grants focused on meeting a more specific need may be announced in place of Standard Grants.

Community priority areas are:

• increasing access to health care for uninsured/underserved, reducing health disparities in minority communities,
• supporting early childhood development with initiatives focused on health,
• recruiting and training health care professionals and addressing social determinants of health.

Funding

An organization can request between $51,000 - $250,000 for a program/project in a grant funding cycle. If your request is $50,000 and under, please apply to the SMALL Grants program found in the grant portal. If you are seeking funding greater than $250,000, please

contact us before submitting an application.

Funds may be used to support health programs/projects being led by the submitter in partnership with other community-based and/or minority-led organizations. 

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

About the Presser Foundation

The Presser Foundation was formally established in 1939 under various deeds of trust of the late Theodore Presser. In the charter of incorporation, The Foundation’s purposes are set forth to promote primarily the cause of musical education and musical philanthropy as follows: to provide scholarships for promising students; to increase the value of music education by erecting suitable buildings; and to administer aid to worthy teachers of music in distress.

While The Foundation’s priorities have evolved over time, it has provided much needed funding to further the cause of music for over 75 years. It has been said that Theodore Presser wanted to give back to music what he had made from it. When he died in 1925, he left no children. He had been widowed twice, and the bulk of his fortune was left to The Foundation.

The small staff and Board of Trustees continue to oversee the work of The Foundation. The Foundation is fortunate to have had a founder who clearly stated the purpose which he desired to achieve. The Board of Trustees includes prominent local and national leaders in music. All Trustees share a passion for music and all are committed to carrying out the intentions of the benefactor.

Special Projects Grants

Introduction & Purpose

The Trustees of The Presser Foundation created the Special Projects Committee to consider grant requests that fall outside the Foundation’s core grantmaking programs. Grant amounts typically range from $5,000 to $25,000 annually for music organizations operating in a broad range of music traditions, genres, and styles. In 2024-25, 9% of The Presser Foundation’s distributed funds ($320,230/$3.73 million) went to Special Project grants. This fiscal year (2025-26), the Special Projects Committee will consider applications for:

• General Operating Support for newly established music organizations (up to 5 years in existence).
• Resilience Grants for small music organizations impacted by government funding or policy changes. These grant requests of up to $7,500 are for organizations with operating budgets under $150,000. Organizations seeking support for the following are encouraged to apply:
  • Artistic and/or organizational development (e.g. workforce programming) projects that have been impacted by government funding cuts;
  • Organizations seeking legal, financial, fundraising, or communications guidance to navigate government funding or policy changes;
  • Efforts to share costs and collaborate* with another nonprofit organization to maintain financial stability for the organization; and
  • Other efforts to maintain your organization’s core mission and/or financial viability in response to the changing arts funding landscape will be considered.
  • *Not intended for one-time creative collaborations.

Our Mission

Land O'Lakes, Inc. and the Land O'Lakes Foundation are dedicated to serving the rural and urban communities where our cooperative has members owners, employees, and facilities. Support is focused on organizations dedicated to Hunger Relief, Advancing Education, and Community Vitality.

Region Grants Program

The Region Grants Program is specifically for Land O’Lakes dairy communities in the East and West Regions of our member footprint. The purpose is to improve the vibrancy of the regions where our member-owners are located.

Funds are awarded through two grant rounds: Hunger Relief and Community Vitality.

Funding

• $125,000 total is awarded to both the East and West regions per grant round.
• Total annual program investment is $500,000.
• Organizations may apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.
  • Generally, between 10-20 grantees are funded per grant round.
  • Average grant award is between $5,000 to $10,000.
• Funds are for local programs or projects supporting Land O’Lakes member-owner rural communities and their populations.

Region Grants Open Grant Round: Community Vitality

Organizations committed to strengthening community resources and opportunities, especially in rural areas:

• 4-H, FFA, and ag education programs
• Schools and educational institutions
• City improvement projects
• Fire/Ambulance departments
• Local United Way chapters
• Economic development programs

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education
• entrepreneurship
• enrichment of community
• environment

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities