Best Quality of Life Grants in District of Columbia

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Lucy C. Perry Scholarship

Preference for funds from this scholarship is given to applicants studying at Indiana University and interested in public health.

The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) program aims to enhance maternal health outcomes by providing technical assistance across all U.S. states and territories. This initiative focuses on implementing best practices to improve safety during childbirth, ultimately saving lives. By supporting jurisdictions and birthing facilities involved in AIM, the program seeks to promote quality improvements in maternal health care, ensuring safer births and better health for mothers and infants.

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Liesel M. Hiemenz Scholarship

This permanent scholarship was established in memory of Ms. Hiemenz, a nurse from Germany. Preference is given to applicants interested in public health.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Joseph and Lorraine Finley Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial support to high school seniors who are residents of the Wayne County town of Walworth and continuing their education at any accredited two-year, four-year, or technical school.

Number and Size of Awards

Four awards of $7,000 each; paid as $1,750 per year for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate study. Award paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Donor Information

This scholarship was established by a couple who believed in education and in helping their community.

Marshall Community Foundation

The Marshall Community Foundation is a partnership of endowed funds established by individuals and organizations. A Board of Trustees, comprised of local community leaders, invest the pooled endowments. Income generated is then available for grants that address charitable needs in our community. Staff and trained volunteers monitor the grants to ensure fulfillment of the grant agreements.

The full circle of philanthropy is poetry in motion. The Foundation receives your gifts, grants to local non-profits, who in turn, give back by providing services to the community. Truly, the Foundation is all about improving the quality of life and making this a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Zink Family Scholarship

A scholarship awarded to residents of Marshall and surrounding townships pursuing an education or advanced training in skilled trades, as defined by the Committee and reflective of current industry needs, including but not limited to the fields of:

• healthcare technician,
• agriculture,
• information technology,
• manufacturing,
• construction or
• automotive.

About

Chicken & Egg Films shapes a more equitable and just world with the catalytic power of documentary films by providing funding, mentorship and industry access to a global community of women and gender-expansive filmmakers. Founded in 2005 by Julie Parker Benello, Wendy Ettinger, and Judith Helfand, and helmed today by CEO Jenni Wolfson, our goal is to disrupt and dismantle barriers to filmmaking caused by gender bias.

Research & Development Grant

Now in its fourth year, the Research & Development Grant supports filmmakers from around the world who have directed at least one feature-length documentary and are in the research & development stage of their next feature-length film.

With continued grant-making support by Netflix, the Research & Development Grant supports directors to ideate and plan for their next feature-length film. Many filmmakers invest their personal resources into their films and face funding challenges when entering into the research & development stages of new projects. It is hard to secure funding for a new project without significant sample material, yet producing material without external funding can be almost impossible. To address this challenge, the Research & Development Grant provides financial support to directors during a filmmaking stage that is too often unpaid and unsupported. 

A total of $450,000 USD will be awarded in the following grant amounts:

• $10,000 USD grants for Research
• $20,000 USD grants for Development

The final number of Research Grants vs. Development Grants disbursed will be determined during the selection process, based on the characteristics and strength of the applicant pool for each category.

The purpose of the Research & Development Grant is to support projects at the early stages of their lifecycle. If you have already raised a significant amount of capital (over 35% of your film’s total budget) and have shot and/or edited a substantial amount of footage, you may not be competitive for this grant, unless you can demonstrate very specific needs for the project (such as previously overlooked research activity). 

We have separated the Research Grant from the Development Grant to allow early-stage projects to receive support without the need to submit all the deliverables required for projects in the development phase. 

We recognize that each documentary is unique and that processes for research and development, fundraising, and production can vary widely. The information provided here is not intended as strict eligibility criteria, but rather as general guidelines to help applicants understand the stage at which we aim to provide support for projects. 

The 2026 Chicken & Egg Films Research & Development Grant is generously supported by Netflix.

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Ruth Westerman Oren Nursing Scholarship

• Recent graduate of an Ottawa County high school or technical school or Ottawa County adult resident making a career transition to nursing
• Pursuing a nursing degree to become a Registered Nurse (RN) through an accredited nursing program within the United States
• Priority given to past recipients who have a strong performance record in their nursing studies

$20K for changemakers with transformative ideas & firsthand insight in early childhood

About the Imagine Award

The Imagine Award by the Promise Fund offers $20,000 in flexible funding (see definition in FAQs) and a six-month cohort-based learning experience for community-rooted early childhood leaders with ideas for transformative impact. ​​Award recipients are at the idea stage and will launch a pilot within six months, testing their solutions with real users, gathering feedback, and refining their approach.

Imagine Award recipients will learn strategies for designing and executing lightweight tests for rapid learning while gaining clarity on their idea's direction using impact and business models. They will craft a compelling story about their work to build future partnerships and run a focused pilot with strong feedback loops for gathering data, all while growing alongside a supportive peer community.

What We Provide

Our grant dollars are flexible and meant to be used at award recipients’ discretion for the pursuit of tests or a pilot of a transformative idea. Read the FAQ for more information.

Direct, one-on-one support from our team to help you learn, get tailored help, and make relevant connections.

Multi-day gathering for peer connection, learning, and pilot design.

Access to a bench of mentors to guide you as you transition out of the program and navigate next steps with your pilot.

Light, tailored coaching to support pilot preparation, launch, and implementation.

Ongoing peer community and resources to continue learning and collaboration

Through the generosity of donors to the Foundation Council, MNRS is able to offer nurse researchers grant opportunities to further their work and contribute to the profession of nursing science. The Foundation and Grants Committee urges you to apply for one of the grant opportunities offered solely to MNRS members. You must remain a member of MNRS for the entire duration of the grant process.

About MNRS Joseph & Jean Buckwalter Dissertation Grant

This grant was made possible through a bequest from the estate of Dr. Joseph and Jean Buckwalter to their son and daughter-in-law, Jody and Kitty Buckwalter. The purpose of this grant is to support the research development of budding scholars in the Midwest Region, especially those with interests in chronic illness and mental health. All applicants MUST be current active members of MNRS to be eligible for this grant.

The Austin Education Foundation Scholarship, established by a committee from the Austin School District, aims to support local high school seniors in their pursuit of post-secondary education. With an estimated total award of $3,500 over four years, the scholarship is designed to honor the legacy of Austin High School Alumni. To be eligible, applicants must belong to the Austin School District and submit an activity resume, facilitating a pathway for deserving students to achieve their educational dreams.

The Cooley, Dearing And Rinker Foundation Scholarship, managed by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, supports graduates from public schools in Winchester, Frederick, Rappahannock, and Warren Counties. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and show commitment to their college education. Award amounts typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, helping students pursue their academic goals. The foundation has a strong history of addressing community needs since its establishment in 2000.

Health Services Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (HSR-ADRD) Program

The HSR-ADRD program seeks to support research that strengthens dementia detection, diagnosis, and post-diagnostic care pathways along the care continuum. Projects may address a range of health services research questions, including, but not limited to, studies examining barriers and solutions to timely access, quality, and care coordination. By supporting rigorous and innovative research, this program aims to generate actionable evidence to improve person-centered, coordinated, and equitable brain health and dementia care.

Program overview

The program welcomes proposals that utilize rigorous methodologies to advance understanding and improvement of cognitive impairment, including MCI and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) detection, diagnosis, and post-diagnostic care.

This award is structured as an individual research grant, with funding administered through the recipient’s institution. Proposals should address one or more Areas of Focus. Areas of Focus represent high-priority research topics for which this program is actively seeking proposals and include: 

• The Value of Early Detection and Diagnosis: Studies should investigate outcomes associated with early detection and diagnosis on at least two levels of the dementia care ecosystem (i.e., individual/families, providers/clinicians, health systems/payers, and policy/society).
• Care Pathways for Individuals with MCI or Dementia: Studies should consider comorbidities and investigate how people are being screened and diagnosed in different settings, and the post-diagnosis pathways for care and treatment, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions or combinations thereof.

Funding overview

• Each HSR-ADRD award is limited to a total of $250,000 U.S. (direct and indirect costs) for a duration of up to two years (awards should be a minimum one year).
• Indirect costs are capped at 10 percent of total direct costs and are inclusive of indirect costs for the implementing institution as well as for any subcontracts.

The Bowman Family Swimming Scholarship, provided by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation, aims to support graduating high school seniors in Hardin County who are active swimmers. Eligible applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be involved with their school's swim team. This scholarship embodies the Foundation's mission to enhance community life by empowering students to pursue their educational goals in athletics.

Charlottesville Promise Scholarship

The Charlottesville Promise Scholarship is a multi-year award that can fund up to $13,000 of the cost of a two or four year undergraduate degree, or a vocational training/professional certificate program at an accredited technical school. Charlottesville Scholarship Program typically awards nine new scholarships each year to seniors attending Charlottesville High School, one potential new scholarship each year to a graduating high school senior residing in Charlottesville City and attending an alternative or non-traditional learning centers listed here, and one potential new scholarship each year to an eligible adult student currently attending or planning to enroll in a post-secondary undergraduate program or vocational training/professional certification program at an accredited technical school.   

Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change. To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to strengthen the evidence base on what works to improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities, and to inform policy and practice at scale.

AV’s Higher Education team seeks to fund rigorous, causal research on programs, policies, and practices that improve student outcomes and deliver stronger returns on investment for students and taxpayers. Our work focuses on strengthening the evidence base on effective student success models and aligning policy and funding incentives to support their adoption and scale.

Causal Research to Improve Outcomes for Part-Time Students

Purpose of the RFP

This RFP seeks to fund rigorous causal research that builds the evidence base on effective programs and policies for part-time students and identifies scalable, cost-effective approaches to improve completion and labor market outcomes. Findings should generate actionable insights to inform institutional practice, system-level decision making, and state policy, with the goal of improving outcomes and maximizing return on investment for students and taxpayers.

Population of Interest

Because enrollment intensity is fluid, proposals do not need to limit eligibility to students who are enrolled part-time at baseline. Instead, studies should focus on interventions that primarily serve or are expected to meaningfully impact students who are more likely to enroll part-time, including:

• Adult learners (age 25+)
• Student parents and caregivers
• Working adults

Interventions may serve mixed-enrollment populations, so long as the proposed study is clearly designed to improve outcomes for these populations.

The Patricia Goodman Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors in the CKCF service area, prioritizing Hardin County residents. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 and intend to pursue a career in nursing or a related medical field. This scholarship aims to empower future healthcare professionals while enriching community life through educational opportunities.

The Paul J. Laninga Memorial Scholarship, established by Tamara Laninga in memory of her husband, supports graduating seniors from Northwest Ottawa County pursuing careers in accounting or business. This competitive scholarship prioritizes students demonstrating financial need and academic excellence, while encouraging applications from those planning to attend public universities. It aims to honor Paul's zest for life and create positive opportunities for future leaders in business.

The Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI) Innovation Awards, offered by the American Society for Radiation Oncology, aim to accelerate innovative ideas in radiation therapy. Currently accepting applications for the 2026 awards, the program focuses on optimizing the combination of radiation therapy and immunotherapy to enhance cancer treatment outcomes. By supporting practical research, ROI strives to transform clinical practices and improve patient care in the fight against cancer.

Patrick Caroselli Scholarship

To provide financial assistance for college to high school seniors in Monroe County whose parents immigrated to the United States and attained citizenship.

Number and Size of Awards

Number of recipients and award amounts vary; award amount may be split between two or more recipients. Award paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters. Average award $5,000; not to exceed the cost of tuition.

Allowed Use of Award

Awards must be used for costs related to enrollment in a higher education program, prioritizing tuition fees.

The North Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary Fund Scholarship, supported by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, offers financial assistance to students pursuing medical and healthcare-related degrees. Established in memory of Marjorie Hren Blohm, this scholarship prioritizes applicants from the Tri-Cities area who demonstrate financial need and academic achievement. Applicants must be at least second-year college students accepted into a relevant program, ensuring that qualified candidates receive the support they need to succeed in their educational pursuits.

Jacqueline Hall Minet Travel Award for Cross-Cultural Understanding

To provide financial assistance to a Brighton High School student or a Rochester City School District high school student so that he or she can participate in a travel experience that offers significant opportunities for involvement in a foreign-language culture.

Number and Size of Awards

Number of recipients and award amounts vary; maximum $2,000.

Allowed Use of Award

Awards may be used for expenses associated with travel abroad programs.

Dr. Jeffrey Hanson Memorial Scholarship

To support those pursuing careers in medicine, particularly primary care. 

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $2,750; paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.  

Allowed Use of Award

Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

American College Of Sports Medicine Foundation Inc

ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, with nearly 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified fitness professionals.

Our Mission: To educate and empower professionals to advance the science and practice of health and human performance.

GSSI Pathways in Sports Science Award | Graduate Student Research & Mentorship Award

GSSI celebrates the passion, resilience, and academic excellence of first-generation college students pursuing graduate degrees in exercise physiology, sports science, kinesiology, and/or sports nutrition. Designed to empower emerging leaders in the field, the award recognizes individuals who are breaking new ground, not only in their families but in the science of human performance.

In addition to research funding, to help promote professional development, award winners will receive one year of 1:1 mentorship from a GSSI scientist. Award winners will also receive complementary registration to ACSM’s 2027 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN.

ACSM requires award winners to:   

• Submit official transcripts if selected as an award winner, 
• Attend the 2027 ACSM Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. 
• Present funded research at a future ACSM Annual Meeting, and   
• Send ACSM a copy of any publications or presentations related to the funded research. 

The Fiscal Year 2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance program aims to enhance flood mitigation funding delivery, focusing on the needs of disaster survivors. This federal initiative, managed by FEMA, provides essential funds to states, territories, and local governments to mitigate flood risks and reduce repetitive damage to properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program. The program supports various activities designed to lower the financial exposure of the NFIP while promoting community resilience against flooding.

About the Awards

The late Dr. James F. Fries, formerly professor emeritus of medicine at Stanford University, came up with the idea for the James and Sarah Fries Prize for Improving Health in a 1987 ascent of Nepal’s Makalu—one of the world’s highest peaks—when his party became trapped in a severe snowstorm and was ultimately unable to scale the mountain.

Following that experience, Dr. Fries returned to sea level and set about establishing a foundation to support a Nobel-like prize for health that now annually awards a $100,000 prize to an an outstanding leader judged by an expert panel to have done the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the field of health.

In 1992 the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award was established in honor of Elizabeth Fries, daughter of James and Sarah Fries. The $50,000 prize is awarded annually to an individual judged to have made substantial contributions to their area of health education and health promotion. Sarah Fries remained active in the Fries Awards for Health program until her death in May 2017, and Jim Fries remained active in the awards until his death in November 2021.

The CDC Foundation is honored to partner with the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation, which established and funds the award. As of 2016, the CDC Foundation manages and administers the Fries Awards for Health program, which include the James and Sarah Fries Prize for Improving Health and the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award.

The grant mechanism will focus on furthering the development of strategies towards improving the outcomes of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) patients through patient advocacy. Work supported through this mechanism will address important areas of need across the entire care continuum and have the immediate potential to increase research efforts, quality of life and survivorship. The overarching theme of the proposals should be centered around using patient advocacy as a tool to develop strategies toward improving outcomes for patients with SCLC. We will encourage applications on a wide variety of topics related to SCLC, including but not limited to the following:

• Patient-Centric Care Models
  • Develop and implement care models that prioritize patient needs and preferences, integrating innovative approaches from diagnosis through survivorship
• Advanced Screening and Diagnostic Technologies
  • Create comprehensive survivorship care plans addressing long-term healthcare needs, focusing on follow-up care, monitoring for recurrence, and managing chronic side effects

• Access and Equity
  • Investigate barriers to accessing quality care, clinical trials, screening and biomarker testing for SCLC patients and purpose solutions to ensure equitable healthcare delivery for diverse populations

• Technology Integration
  • Explore the use of digital health tools and technologies to facilitate better patient-provider interactions, personalized care, and continuous monitoring during the care continuum
• Patient Feedback Mechanisms
  • Establish robust feedback systems to gather patient insights and experiences and use this data to inform continuous improvements in care delivery, diagnostic technologies, treatment approaches, clinical protocols and accessible repositories to facilitate broad research collaboration

The 2026 Strategies Using Patient Advocacy to Improve Outcomes in Small Cell Lung Cancer will grant a minimum of one award of $250,000 for a period two years ($125,000 per year).

Scholarships

Since awarding our first $500 scholarship in 1987, the Saginaw Community Foundation has awarded college scholarships to area students totaling more than $13.7 million, thanks to our generous donors. Each year, over 500 college-bound or career and technical education students benefit from our scholarship awards.

Our single application process makes it easy to potentially qualify for one or more of our 260+ scholarships.

Music Scholarship

At a very early age in Alabama, Lee Essie Smith was a self-taught musician. After losing her mother as a young teenager, she began putting her God-given musical talent to work as a pianist for several churches. By the time she graduated from high school, she had learned the cosmetology trade and met Charlie McMillan, Jr.

After his wife’s death, Mr. McMillan continued his community service with the Democratic Party, Habitat for Humanity and Mt. Olive Baptist Church as an usher. Although he did not serve very long in the military, Mr. McMillan continues to exemplify the values and physical energy of the “Army Strong” slogan. He is the patriarch of the family – always dapper – and a regular attendee at church services.