Best Marketing Grants for Nonprofits in District of Columbia

About NCCF

For more than 50 years, NCCF has been taking on tough problems to improve the quality-of-life in Northwest CT by supporting nonprofits that speak to the charitable passions of our generous donors.

NCCF is a Community Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity that enables donors to establish funds that support the work of local nonprofits through grants and provide scholarships to local students.

NCCF's Board and Staff champion the causes you care about with smart grant-making designed specifically to adapt over time and provide highly attentive, knowledgeable, and compassionate service that brings donors and organizations together to address community issues.

Scholarship Opportunities and Applications

Through the generosity of fundholders and donors, NCCF has awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships to assist students in Northwest Connecticut with the cost of higher education.

Michele Farley Pittler Scholarship

• Academic Focus: Unspecified
• Award Average: $1,000

The Mae Casali Bonvicini Scholarship, offered by the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, supports Torrington High School graduating seniors aiming for higher education. With awards ranging from $400 to $1,500, this scholarship is designed to ease financial burdens for students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the NCCF’s service area. For over 50 years, NCCF has dedicated itself to enhancing the quality of life in Northwest Connecticut through grants and scholarships.

The Dale A. Nordquist Family Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports students from Clayton, Amery, or Clear Lake High Schools pursuing degrees or training in tech or trade fields. With a commitment to fostering local talent, this scholarship aims to empower future generations by investing in their education and career aspirations. The Foundation has a rich history of connecting local generosity with impactful initiatives that enhance community well-being across the St. Croix Valley.

The Frank Chaney Memorial Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Hudson or Stillwater area high schools pursuing any field within the arts. This scholarship aims to empower young artists and facilitate their educational journeys at any college of their choice, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to enhancing community impact through local generosity and support for the arts.

The Hudson Physicians Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports graduating seniors from high schools in St. Croix or Pierce Counties who are pursuing a career in healthcare. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and financial need will be considered. This scholarship reflects the Foundation's commitment to fostering local talent and enhancing community well-being by investing in future healthcare professionals.

The Kevin & Rita Vance Family Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports students from St. Croix County, WI, pursuing trade degrees. This scholarship is aimed at individuals demonstrating financial need and a commitment to vocational training. The Foundation, a key philanthropic organization in the region, aims to foster community growth and prosperity through support for educational initiatives and charitable funds. This scholarship exemplifies their dedication to investing in local talent and future careers.

The Stinn & Oebser Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports students from Pierce Counties (Wisconsin) and the Harlan Community School District (Iowa) pursuing trade schools, colleges, or universities. Eligible applicants are high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Selection is based on financial need, work experience, and extracurricular involvement. This scholarship aims to empower local students to achieve their educational goals and contribute positively to their communities.

The DOW Combat Readiness – Medical Research Program's FY26 Translational Research Award supports innovative research aimed at improving trauma care outcomes. This program emphasizes hypothesis-driven studies that can transition promising technologies into practical solutions for enhancing casualty survivability. Applicants must provide preliminary data and utilize validated animal models, with a focus on projects that meet a minimum technology readiness level of 4, ensuring a mature translational research effort.

The Edward W. Diskavich Scholarship, established by the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, honors the legacy of Edward W. Diskavich. It aims to support students from Oliver Wolcott Technical High School who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the service area. With awards ranging from $300 to $1,000, this scholarship helps alleviate the financial burden of higher education for deserving students, reflecting NCCF's commitment to enhancing community well-being through accessible educational opportunities.

The DoW Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award supports established neurofibromatosis investigators to lead a virtual research academy. Designed for early-career scholars, this award promotes mentorship and collaboration in neurofibromatosis research. The Academy Director and Deputy Director, both at the Associate Professor level, will oversee pilot research projects that engage scholars and their mentors, fostering a dynamic research environment. This initiative aims to enhance the future of neurofibromatosis research through innovative leadership and collaboration.

The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award Level 4 supports innovative research with the potential for significant breakthroughs in breast cancer. Applications must address key BCRP challenges or justify exceptions, focusing on impactful solutions. This program mandates clinical trials and requires participation from breast cancer consumer advocates. The funding supports single or partnered Principal Investigators, ensuring comprehensive submission processes to avoid administrative withdrawal.

The MASOT Student Poster Awards, organized by the Society of Toxicology, invite graduate and undergraduate students to showcase their research at the annual meeting on November 5, 2025. Participants can win cash awards for their presentations. Eligible students must submit an extended abstract of up to 500 words and be members of MASOT. This event promotes scientific engagement and recognition for emerging toxicology scholars.

The MASOT Student Achievement Award, established by the Society of Toxicology, honors exceptional doctoral student members with a $1,000 prize. This award recognizes academic excellence, significant contributions to toxicology, and leadership within the Society and their institutions. Eligible candidates must be current members enrolled in a Toxicology or Pharmacology Doctoral Program and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5. Recipients cannot reapply in subsequent years, ensuring new talents are acknowledged.

The DoW Ovarian Cancer Academy Early-Career Investigator Award supports junior faculty in conducting innovative ovarian cancer research. Established in FY09, this unique virtual academy fosters mentorship, collaboration, and networking among Early-Career Investigators (ECIs) and their mentors. Participants engage in monthly webinars and annual workshops, enhancing their research skills while contributing to impactful studies in ovarian cancer. The program aims to cultivate a new generation of highly productive researchers in this critical field.

The Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy (OCCTA) supports Early-Career Investigators (ECIs) in clinical trial research aimed at effective ovarian cancer treatments. It provides essential mentoring, networking, and skill development needed for executing clinical trials. The FY26 funding will specifically support translational research and early-phase trials, requiring preliminary data and a commitment of at least 25% effort from the ECI. Mentorship is vital, with a focus on experienced clinical trialists guiding ECIs.

The Retina Society, Inc.

The Retina Society was founded in 1968 exclusively for educational and scientific purposes concerning the diagnosis, care and treatment of diseases and injuries to the retina. The Retina Society began as an outgrowth of alumni meetings of Retina Associates, a retina practice founded in Boston in 1951 by Charles L. Schepens. Dr. Schepens is credited with establishing retina surgery as a sub-specialty.  

Our mission is to reduce worldwide visual disability and blindness by promoting the education and professional interaction of vitreoretinal specialists, providing optimal care for patients with vitreoretinal diseases, and encouraging, through clinical and basic research, the discovery and development of new means to further patient care.

Retina Society Underrepresented in Medicine (RESOURCE) Mentoring Program

The Retina Society Underrepresented in Medicine (RESOURCE) Mentoring Program was created to engage and interest ophthalmology residents from underrepresented populations* in research and in pursuing careers in the retina subspecialty through dedicated mentoring exposure. The program will pair ophthalmology residents from underrepresented backgrounds with Retina Society mentors, with the goal of providing the residents with research and career mentorship.

*The American Association of Medical Colleges definition of underrepresented in medicine is: "Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population." We define the following groups as underrepresented: Black (African American or African), Latino/Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. We will also be considering applicants from LGBTQIA+ and socioeconomically underprivileged backgrounds.

Mentors will work with their designated mentees on research projects that will be presented at the Retina Society Annual Meeting in 2027 and submitted for publication consideration. Mentors and mentees will be acknowledged at the Retina Society Annual Meeting.

The DoW Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Award, funded by the U.S. Army Medical Command, aims to accelerate the implementation of clinical trials that significantly impact ovarian cancer treatment. This award supports diverse trial designs, from early proof-of-concept studies to large-scale efficacy trials, evaluating innovative drugs, biologics, and technologies. By fostering research in this critical area, the program seeks to enhance patient outcomes and advance the understanding of ovarian cancer management.

The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award Level 3 supports transformative research aimed at significant advancements in breast cancer treatment. Applicants must address key challenges outlined by the program, ensuring their proposals demonstrate potential for impactful breakthroughs. This funding mechanism, which permits small-scale clinical trials, emphasizes collaboration by requiring research teams to include two breast cancer consumer advocates and allows for a single Principal Investigator or two partnering PIs.

The BPW/Maine Futurama Foundation offers a $3000 Continuing Education Scholarship to support Maine women pursuing accredited college or training programs. Since 1962, this initiative has empowered women to achieve economic self-sufficiency through educational funding. Eligible applicants must be Maine residents, have completed at least one year of college, and demonstrate financial need. This scholarship is a vital resource for women committed to enhancing their education and career prospects.

The Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, provides a $1,000 scholarship for graduating high school seniors from select Missouri counties. Eligible applicants must major in Agriculture, Natural Resources, or related fields, maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and submit an essay along with two letters of recommendation, one from school personnel. This scholarship aims to support students dedicated to community service and leadership.

The Schilling Technical Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, provides four scholarships of $2,000 each to graduating seniors from select high schools. It is renewable for an additional year if a 2.5 GPA is maintained while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need and submit a FAFSA-SAI, along with a transcript and an essay. This scholarship aims to support students pursuing vocational or two-year accredited education.

The Springfield Area Foundation for Architecture Scholarship aims to support undergraduate students in their third, fourth, or fifth year majoring in Architecture. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, and be residents of specific counties. A portfolio and essay are required for submission, ensuring that the scholarship empowers talented individuals to pursue their architectural studies and contribute to the community.

The DoW Alzheimer’s Transforming Research Award supports innovative research aimed at reducing the risk and preventing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It emphasizes projects that enhance understanding of risk factors and develop effective risk reduction strategies. Clinical research is permitted, but trials and animal studies are not. Collaboration and preliminary data are essential for proposal consideration, and an option for multiple principal investigators is available to foster partnerships.

The Myasthenia Gravis Network (MGNet) Scholar Program is designed to enhance research capabilities in myasthenia gravis through individualized training and mentorship. Funded by the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN), this program supports scholars with up to $75,000 for salary and research costs, aiming to prepare them for independent careers in clinical and translational research. Eligible candidates include MDs, PhDs, and mid-career faculty committed to advancing MG research.

The Dr. Curtis Jones Leadership Award Scholarship, established by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, honors the legacy of Dr. Curtis Jones, a distinguished educator and former Superintendent. This scholarship aims to support a graduating senior from Bibb County Public Schools who exemplifies leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. Awarded annually at $1,875, it is renewable for up to four years, encouraging students to achieve their academic goals while honoring Dr. Jones's commitment to education and community.

The Gravelin Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, awards a $450 grant to a graduating high school senior who has faced significant life challenges, such as illness or trauma. Eligible candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.3, show financial need via a FAFSA-SAI form, and plan to enroll in an accredited two-year, four-year, or vocational institution. Applicants are required to submit a transcript, a personal essay, and details of their community service and school involvement.

The Gunner Lee Thomason Autism Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, provides a $700 grant to a graduating high school senior or undergraduate student dedicated to working with autistic individuals and their families. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate financial need. Preference is given to those from the Truman Lake area. The application requires a transcript, essay, letter of recommendation, and a description of community service and work experience.