Best Grants for Small Nonprofits in District of Columbia

The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant Program, funded by Wild Ones, supports projects that foster an appreciation for nature through native plants and natural landscapes. Since 1977, it has empowered schools and nature centers to create educational gardens that engage students and volunteers. Eligible projects include pollinator and rain gardens, tallgrass prairies, and sensory playgrounds, all designed to enhance ecological understanding. Funding is specifically for the purchase of native plants and seeds, promoting sustainable community involvement.

The ASNT Foundation's James J. Treat Scholarship aims to advance education in nondestructive testing (NDT) by providing financial support to students pursuing NDT degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. This initiative honors James J. Treat's legacy in the field and is designed to foster the next generation of NDT professionals. Scholarships will also support faculty development and workforce programs, helping to grow the skilled workforce needed in this vital industry.

The ASNT Foundation offers the Robert B. Oliver Scholarship to support students enrolled in Nondestructive Testing (NDT) programs at U.S. institutions. With a funding amount of $2,500, the scholarship is awarded to students presenting the best original manuscript on NDT. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities and workforce development in the nondestructive testing field, promoting research and training for future professionals.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program supports early-career faculty in research and education, fostering academic leadership. It encourages proposals from diverse candidates, enhancing STEM equity. Awardees may be nominated for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), recognizing innovative research and community service. These awards underscore the importance of science and technology for the nation's future, aiming to connect fundamental research with national goals.

About

At Creative Pinellas, we believe the arts are essential to a vibrant, thriving community. Through programs, partnerships, and advocacy, we empower artists and cultural organizations across Pinellas County—enhancing quality of life, driving economic growth, and inspiring residents and visitors alike.

At Creative Pinellas, we’re all about celebrating the power of the arts to bring people together and make life better. We support local artists, spark creative experiences, and help build a cultural scene that makes Pinellas County an inspiring place to live, work, and play. From gallery shows and public art to festivals and performances, the arts play a big role in drawing visitors to the area—boosting local businesses and showcasing everything our vibrant community has to offer.

Arts Tourism Funding Program: Celebrating Pinellas County’s Creative Spirit Grant

Creative Pinellas is spearheading a transformative new arts tourism funding program designed to position Pinellas County as a premier cultural destination while strengthening its creative economy. On Tuesday, March 24, the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners approved the $500,000 program by unanimous vote. Creative Pinellas will direct the program, which is funded by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater (VSPC) with outreach and event support provided by St. Petersburg Arts Alliance and Clearwater Arts Alliance.

The inaugural program will fund a wide range of experiences created by artists and arts organizations selected through a competitive process. The experiences will shape a countywide, multi-week festival of the arts during Fall 2026 featuring performances, exhibitions, workshops, public art, and immersive cultural experiences across beaches, parks, downtown districts, and cultural venues. It is expected to reach an estimated 2.5 million visitors during that time.

This marks the first time Creative Pinellas has distributed arts funding to support not only individual artists and nonprofits, but also for-profit arts organizations.

Award Amounts and Frequency

• The panel plans to select approximately 20-30 arts experiences, totaling $350,000 to Individual Artists and Organizations. It is possible that more or fewer experiences will be selected. Another $50,000 is planned for those selected to provide opening and closing experiences for the month of the arts.
• The panel reviewing applications will be asked to fund in two categories: individuals and organizations.
• Individual Artists may apply for $5,000 to $15,000.
• Organizations may apply for $15,000 to $50,000.
• The panel predicts to select a very limited number of arts experiences at the higher funding levels.
• All applicants acknowledge that Creative Pinellas may offer funding at a different amount than applied for.

The Oxbow Rescue Grant Program supports animal rescue organizations by providing financial assistance for various projects, including education, outreach, capital improvements, and operational support. With annual funding of approximately $25,000, grants are available to qualified groups that benefit small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Oxbow aims to empower these organizations by offering resources and support to enhance their rescue efforts throughout the year.

The Edith J. Goode Residuary Trust Grant supports organizations focused on preventing cruelty to animals. Letters of inquiry are accepted from February 1 to May 1, leading to a formal application process for selected organizations. The 2024 focus areas include programs assisting pets of unhoused populations, domestic violence assistance that allows caretakers and animals to leave together, and parrot rescues. Grants are one-time awards based on organizational fit with donor intent and social impact.

The Linguistics Program, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), promotes fundamental research in human language. It covers various areas including syntax, semantics, and phonetics, encouraging interdisciplinary projects that explore language production, comprehension, and social factors influencing language change. The program welcomes proposals from qualified scholars, including those focusing on endangered languages, while emphasizing the importance of basic research over applied methods. For more details, refer to the NSF's guidelines.

APA Mission Statement

The American Philosophical Association promotes the discipline and profession of philosophy, both within the academy and in the public arena. The APA supports the professional development of philosophers at all levels and works to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the value of philosophical inquiry.

APA: Nicholas Rescher Prize

The Prize winner will receive a $1,000 award upon delivering the prize lecture. If travel funding presents a financial hardship to the selected winner, and if funds in the Prize endowment are, in the APA’s sole discretion, sufficient to do so, up to $1,000 in travel funding may be provided.

The Nicholas Rescher Prize Lecture will be published in the Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association or any other publication where the APA regularly publishes the other prize lectures. The Nicholas Rescher Prize winner will be recognized by a letter and certificate from the APA, the usual APA announcement of prizes, and appropriate recognition in an APA prize reception.

Nature of the Prize

Winners of the Prize will have made substantial, outstanding contributions to systematic metaphysics, broadly construed, during the course of their careers. The Prize winner must agree to present a lecture (to be named “The Nicholas Rescher Prize Lecture”) on a topic in systematic metaphysics, broadly construed; the lecture should be accessible to a broad philosophical audience. The lecture will be presented at an APA divisional meeting, normally a meeting within one year following the selection of the Prize winner. The lecture will be presented biennially, and will rotate among the divisional meetings on a regular schedule set by the APA.

Nominations

Any APA member may nominate any other APA member for the Nicholas Rescher Prize; self-nominations are not permitted. Nominations must include a brief statement of support from the nominator.

Only members may submit nominations; please sign in to access the nomination form.

To submit a nomination, fill out the nomination form.

Selection Process

The selection committee may provide additional nominees for the Prize during the selection process. Members of the selection committee are appointed by a process determined by the APA, in its sole discretion, consistent with other prizes the association awards.

Award

• Frequency: Every other year in odd years
• Next Award: 2029
• Next Deadline: April 20th, 2028

The ASNT Foundation Fellowship Award offers $20,000 to support research and innovation in nondestructive testing (NDT). Aimed at graduate students and early-career professionals, this fellowship encourages the exploration of groundbreaking ideas and development of new technologies in the NDT field. Recipients will be notified after evaluations, and the award includes opportunities for recognition at the ASNT Annual Conference and presentation of findings at ASNT symposia. This initiative is crucial for nurturing future NDT leaders.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

DNP Registration Reimbursement Grants Available for the APS Global Physics Summit

DNP is pleased to offer a limited number of registration reimbursement grants to encourage graduate student participation in the annual APS Global Physics Summit. This APS meeting provides an excellent opportunity for students in nuclear physics to present their research, interact with potential employers, and hear about advances in a broad range of physics topics.

If the nominee's application is accepted, the award will cover the early registration fee for students presenting in-person. Students will need to register prior to confirmation of receiving the award.

The Simons Foundation's Scientific Software Research Faculty Award supports faculty positions focusing on scientific software development in mathematics and physics. It aims to enhance research capabilities by providing five years of salary support and a $50,000 yearly research allowance. Awardees must have a Ph.D. and demonstrate leadership in scientific software. This initiative addresses the career limitations faced by software experts and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

The ACS Local Section Innovative Project Grant Program aims to empower local sections of the American Chemical Society to devise and execute innovative projects that enhance community engagement and chemistry literacy. By fostering collaboration and inclusiveness, this program encourages sections to implement new initiatives inspired by successful practices from other groups. The goal is to strengthen member involvement and promote sustainable activities that contribute positively to the community's scientific culture.

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

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

The Loris and Merle Coe Scholarship Fund

The Loris and Merle Coe Scholarship Fund assists graduating seniors (including home-schooled students) accepted to any two or four-year college or university who are either a Boy Scout or Girl Scout and have earned either an Eagle Scout Award or rank of Life Scout, Gold Award or Silver Award. 

Amount:

• Varies. Minimum $500

Renewable:

• Yes

About AWS

We Move Welding Forward

Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.

By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals.

Outstanding Achievement Awards

The AWS Outstanding Achievement Awards honor exceptional contributions in welding, spanning historical structures, innovative fabrication, safety, and technical advancements across various categories.

Professor Koichi Masubuchi Award

This award is sponsored by the Center for Ocean Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The award will be given to one individual who has made significant contributions in the advancement of the science and technology of materials joining through research and development. The individual is to be 40 years old or younger and may live in any part of the world. The recipient need not be a member of AWS.

Complete nomination packets may be submitted for consideration to the AWS Awards Committee and must include an introduction letter of support and a complete resume or CV of the individual's qualifications.

The applicant is requested to indicate his/her birth year in the resume to verify that he/she is 40 years old or younger for the year in which the applicant is nominated.

Complete nominations must be received by the deadline of December 31. The award will be presented at the following year's FABTECH show. Submit your nomination to Wei Zhang at zhang.3978@osu.edu or at nationalawards@aws.org.

About AWS

We Move Welding Forward

Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.

By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals.

Outstanding Achievement Awards

The AWS Outstanding Achievement Awards honor exceptional contributions in welding, spanning historical structures, innovative fabrication, safety, and technical advancements across various categories.

Distinguished Welder Award

This award recognizes an individual whose welding skills and experience would earn them the recognition of being an AWS Distinguished Welder.

A complete nomination packet should include information addressing the Definition and candidate's Application Criteria as outlined in the AWS Distinguished Welder Award Nomination Form. The focus of the nomination packet should include specifics of the individual's skills.

About AWS

We Move Welding Forward

Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.

By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals.

Education / Meritorious / Service Awards

The Educational/Meritorious/Service awards recognize individuals who have made notable contributions to the welding industry. From educators who have advanced welding knowledge to those who've exhibited outstanding service, these awards celebrate dedication, expertise, and the advancement of welding as both an art and a science.

Dalton E. Hamilton Memorial CWI of the Year Award

This award, administered by the Certification Committee, is given annually by the American Welding Society as a means of recognizing individuals participating in the Senior Certified Welding Inspector (SCWI) and Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) program whose inspection, American Welding Society, professional activity and civic activities are considered to have enhanced public awareness and opinion of both the Society and the CWI program or otherwise have made an outstanding contribution to the science of welding inspection.

This award is recognized at the National, District and Section levels. The nominee is selected at least 12 months in advance of FABTECH. Selections for the Section and District awards are made during the annual District Conference meetings. District and Section level recognitions are automatic but National level nominee information is submitted to the AWS Certification Committee for final selection.

• A nomination form must be submitted, along with an introduction letter of support and a complete resume or CV of the individual’s qualifications. Complete National nominations must be received by February 1st.

The Lend A Hand Society offers the Book Mission Grant to assist low-income individuals and families by funding the acquisition of books for educational institutions and libraries. This initiative supports various programs focused on emergency assistance and camperships for children. Non-profit organizations across the United States can apply, with grants aimed at enhancing literacy and education. Grantees must provide reports detailing the use of funds and project progress, ensuring transparency and accountability.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

LeRoy Apker Award

The LeRoy Apker Award recognizes outstanding achievements in physics by undergraduate students, and provides encouragement to students who have demonstrated great potential for future scientific accomplishment. Two awards are presented each year, one to a student from a PhD granting institution, and one to a student from a non-PhD granting institution. The award consists of $5,000 for the recipient, $5,000 for their undergraduate institution's physics department to support undergraduate research, a certificate, and reimbursement for travel to an APS meeting to give an invited talk.

Six finalists are selected to present their research for the Apker Award Selection Committee. Each of the finalists will receive an honorarium of $2,000, $1,000 for their undergraduate institution’s physics department to support undergraduate research, reimbursement for travel to the selection meeting, and a certificate.

The NIH's Investigator-Focused Award (Parent R35) aims to support research programs for investigators at all career stages, including Early Stage Investigators. This funding provides stability and freedom in research, allowing for innovative and ambitious studies without the constant pressure of securing new grants. Key benefits include flexibility in research direction, opportunities to tackle significant questions, and a greater potential for scientific breakthroughs, fostering a robust research environment.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Lev D. Landau and Lyman Spitzer Jr. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Plasma Physics

Recognizes outstanding theoretical, experimental, or technical contribution(s) in plasma physics and for advancing the collaboration and unity between Europe and the United States of America by joint research or research that advances knowledge which benefits the two communities in a unique way.

The award may be given to a team or collaboration of up to four persons affiliated with either European or United States institutions.

The award consists of $4,000, a certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient, and a registration fee waiver to attend the meeting at which the award is to be presented.

The person or team receiving the award will be offered an invited talk at the forthcoming annual conference of APS-DPP (usually early November) or EPS-DPP (usually end of June, or first week of July), depending on the affiliation of the recipient(s).

On years that DPP is hosting, in the event of a team larger than five (5), DPP may cap the number of registration waivers.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Leo Szilard Lectureship Award

To recognize outstanding accomplishments by physicists in promoting the use of physics for the benefit of society in such areas as the environment, arms control, and science policy. The lecture format is intended to increase the visibility of those who have promoted the use of physics for the benefit of society. The award consists of $5,000, a certificate citing the contributions of the recipient, plus $2,000 travel expenses for lectures given by the recipient at an APS meeting and at two or more educational institutions or research laboratories in the year following the award. The lectures should be especially aimed at physicists early in their careers.

Nominations will be considered for three review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.

The George William Groh Trust Grant supports medical research initiatives by providing funding to organizations that qualify as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications are accepted year-round, with a deadline of May 1 for consideration at the annual grant meeting. The foundation aims to enhance medical research efforts and contribute to advancements in healthcare.

The Rosenberg Fund for Children supports the educational and emotional needs of children and youth up to age 24 who are linked to targeted progressive activists. Grants can cover tuition, counseling, and other essential services to help beneficiaries thrive despite the challenges faced by their families. The fund emphasizes direct support to programs and providers, ensuring that assistance reaches those most affected by activism-related adversities.

The Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship, funded by the American Association of Geographers, supports community college students pursuing geography. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a US community college and have completed two transfer courses in geography, intending to transfer to a four-year institution. The award includes funding for educational expenses and a certificate of merit, announced at the annual AAG meeting. Compliance with the AAG Professional Conduct Policy is required.

The AWI Implementing Refinement Grant, offered by the Animal Welfare Institute, aims to enhance the welfare of animals in experimentation. Grants up to $8,000 support equipment purchases or staff training for implementing proven refinements. Eligible applicants must be from the U.S. or Canada, and projects should be completed within a year. The grant focuses on improving animal lives beyond basic needs, ensuring no funds are misused for indirect costs or basic care.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Leo P. Kadanoff Prize

This prize recognizes scientists whose theoretical, experimental, or computational achievements have opened new vistas for statistical and or nonlinear physics. The annual prize consists of $10,000, a medal, certificate, travel reimbursement up to $500 for recipients traveling within North America, up to $1,000 from overseas, and a registration waiver to attend the APS March Meeting to give an invited talk and accept the award.

Nominations will be considered for three review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.