Best Quality of Life Grants in District of Columbia

Nebraska Community Foundation

Nebraska Community Foundation was established in 1994 by a group of visionaries determined to empower communities throughout the state to grow and prosper. They believed that with the right tools and resources, people could build the hometowns of their dreams.

Through philanthropy, our team helps communities develop strong local economies, high quality of life, and abundant leadership and volunteer opportunities. We empower local leaders to identify community assets, invest in their own resources, and bring about their own positive change. 

BCAFF Scholarships

The Butler County Area Foundation Fund is offering three scholarships to graduating seniors who meet individual scholarship criteria. These scholarships are the Butler County Clinic Scholarship (medical field major); Charles O. & Grace M. Stoops Scholarship in Agricultural or Environmental Studies; and Butler County Area Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Butler County Clinic Scholarship

Funding for the following scholarships through the Butler County Area Foundation Fund has been provided by the Butler County Clinic, P.C.

• Two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded annually. Graduates of Aquinas High School, David City High School, and East Butler High School may apply. Only one scholarship per school will be awarded. Each applicant may be an entering freshman or an upperclassman enrolled for post-secondary education at an accredited school of higher education in a medically-related major.

• One half of the scholarship funds ($1,000) will be paid directly to the school after the student has successfully completed the first semester and achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The remaining half of the scholarship funds ($1,000) will be paid directly to the school after the student has successfully completed the first academic year with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and has declared a major within a medically-related major.

• Upperclassman recipient funds will be paid in full ($2,000) directly to the school after the student has successfully completed a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and has declared a major within the area of medicinal studies.

The Skip Thavenet Scholarship, established by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, honors Louis "Skip" Thavenet and supports students from 42 towns in Connecticut and Rhode Island. This scholarship, which awards approximately $500, aims to assist those pursuing education in technical fields, particularly in welding, manufacturing, and construction management. Since 1983, the foundation has awarded over $11.9 million, demonstrating its commitment to fostering local talent and providing educational opportunities.

The National Science Foundation's Engineering Directorate (NSF ENG) promotes groundbreaking research in chemical, bioengineering, energy, and transport systems. Key programs include Chemical Process Systems, Engineering Biological and Biomedical Systems, Energy, Water, and Resource Engineering, and Transport Phenomena. NSF ENG seeks innovative, transformative proposals that push the boundaries of foundational research, regardless of immediate commercial applications, and emphasizes diverse funding opportunities based on availability.

The Americana Foundation's American Heritage Grant aims to support projects that broaden inclusivity in early American art and narratives, especially for underrepresented groups. Recognizing the historical significance of Americana, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that promote understanding and appreciation of America's diverse heritage. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and municipal entities. The foundation encourages innovative projects that reinterpret early American material culture, fostering a deeper connection to the past for future generations.

The SPFFA Educational Scholarship provides financial support of $5000 for university candidates aiming to teach French in primary and secondary schools. To be eligible, applicants must be American citizens or resident aliens, preferably enrolled in a School of Education and pursuing a Master in Teaching with a focus on French. Additionally, applicants need to maintain a GPA above 3.00, ensuring commitment to their educational goals.

The Pre-College Education Grant from the United States-Japan Foundation aims to foster mutual understanding between young Americans and Japanese through innovative educational projects. The Foundation supports K-12 initiatives that enhance teacher training, develop curriculum materials, and promote Japanese language instruction. With a focus on engaging underserved regions and utilizing technology, this grant encourages collaborative efforts to build networks among educators and students, ensuring a rich exchange of cultural knowledge and experiences.

The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers Teacher Development Grants to support K-12 educators in enhancing their classroom instruction. With grants up to $10,000 per year, individuals or small teams can implement innovative teaching strategies that foster critical inquiry and improve student engagement. This initiative aims to boost educational experiences for diverse learners, encouraging teachers to document and share their methods, ultimately promoting a culture of continuous professional growth.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Robert & Lynn Ness Scholarship

The Robert & Lynn Ness Scholarship was created by ODW Logistics on its 50th Anniversary to honor founder Robert (Bob) E. Ness and his wife Lynn Ness. Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit lead to the founding of the company in 1971. His leadership and commitment to ethics and integrity enabled ODW’s growth over the years. Bob learned the value of hard work, education and perseverance from his parents. He earned his Eagle Scout and attended Wittenberg University where he met Lynn. Lynn was a school teacher and then an active school volunteer as she raised her family. Together Bob and Lynn have invested in education and students throughout their lives. Bob served on the Board at Wittenberg for 25 years, Lynn earned an Honorary Degree from Wittenberg and together they endowed a chair at the university. Bob also served on the school board in Upper Arlington while Lynn spent decades volunteering in the schools and community. Their dedication to family, ODW, and their Christian (Lutheran) faith have inspired the company to develop this opportunity for the families of ODW Logistics. This scholarship is available to dependents of ODW Logistics employees to pursue their educational goals.

The Native American Church Property Grants, administered by the Presbyterian Foundation, support essential repairs and improvements to Native American church properties. This initiative is crucial for maintaining the infrastructure of churches and chapels, ensuring their safety and functionality for congregations and visitors. The program reflects the Presbyterian Church's commitment to serving Native American communities, fostering faith and ministry. Through these grants, urgent needs are addressed, strengthening the presence and mission of Native American congregations within the PC(USA).

Edward E. Ford Foundation

The Edward E. Ford Foundation seeks to improve secondary education by supporting U.S. independent schools and encouraging promising practices. 

• We make Traditional Grants to eligible schools and Associations to help them grow and develop in pursuit of their own missions.
• We make Educational Leadership Grants to eligible schools or groups of schools that consist of larger dollar awards to fewer recipients.
• We encourage collaboration with others in both grant cycles.
• Occasionally, we may make larger, multi-­year Collaborative Innovation Grants in support of projects that have the potential to influence secondary education more broadly and positively affect our democratic society.
• Beyond grant-making, we share what we learn, sponsor strategic meetings, and work with others to identify and respond to the most pressing challenges facing the field of secondary education.

Traditional Grant for Associations

These grants are made in response to requests that can range from $25,000 to $100,000 and that must be matched by additional funds raised by the association at least 1:1.

Associations seeking placement on a Traditional Grant Agenda should be prepared to specify the anticipated dollar value of their proposal when they request placement. This can be months in advance of the date the final version of the proposal will be due, depending on the length of the queue. 

Traditional Grants are awarded based on the quality of the proposal and other considerations in terms of the association’s operation, but it does not identify certain areas of independent school work as favored. That is, you can seek guidance as to what sort of proposals have been funded in the past but association should identify their own greatest institutional need that they think the Foundation can help address.

Step-by-Step Process

• Request Agenda Placement — Please fill out the Agenda Placement form to tell the Foundation a bit more about your association and to help us determine if it is eligible for EE Ford funding.

• Agenda Placement Phone Call — If your association is eligible for Agenda Placement, we will schedule a phone call between your association’s Executive Director and the Executive Director of the EE Ford Foundation. This phone call will serve as an informal introduction and it will determine if Agenda placement is right for your association. No proposal can be considered from associations that have not reserved a place on an upcoming Agenda. If your association is placed on an Agenda, you will receive an Agenda Placement Confirmation email with further instruction.

• Executive Director Meeting — Schedule a 2-3 hour meeting between your association’s Executive Director and our foundation’s Executive Director to be held in our Brooklyn office. The Preliminary Materials will be due one week prior to this meeting (see “Preliminary Materials” under "Required Materials"). 

• Final Submission — Deadline for submission of final materials is January 30 for the April Agenda or April 1 for the June Agenda. When the Board makes its decision about a proposal, the Executive Director communicates this decision within days.

The Tri Kappa Scholarship - Sue Crisman Memorial Scholarship, established by the Crown Point Community Foundation, supports women over 21 who are returning to education after a significant gap and are involved in community service. This non-renewable scholarship aims to enhance the quality of life in South Lake County by providing financial assistance to deserving candidates. Award recipients are invited to a special Scholarship Awards Night, fostering community engagement and recognition.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Marguerite C. Lucas Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by an anonymous donor, who established the Marquerite C. Lucas Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County in honor of Marquerite Lucas. Marguerite C. Lucas had great passion for education. She stressed the importance of perseverance and a "do what you have to do" attitude to pursue your dreams. Her legacy will continue through this scholarship geared towards helping women pursue an education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

The GriffinHarte Foundation Grant aims to foster civil discourse surrounding contentious issues of fairness, equity, and identity. This nonprofit supports initiatives that promote understanding and respect through research and education, focusing on social and economic justice. Eligible applicants include individuals and organizations dedicated to exploring civility and its impact on community dialogues. The foundation emphasizes the importance of identity and diverse perspectives in shaping effective communication strategies. This grant presents an opportunity for meaningful engagement in vital societal conversations.

The ASPCA Research Grants for Shelter Research invite proposals in six key areas including Access to Veterinary Care, Applied Behavior Research, and Shelter Research. These grants aim to fund high-quality research that can significantly benefit animal welfare. Eligible investigators from U.S. entities and certain Canadian organizations are encouraged to apply. The program emphasizes collaboration between shelters and researchers, fostering innovative solutions to improve the well-being of animals in shelter settings.

The ASPO Dustin Micah Harper Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Research Grant supports innovative research projects focused on recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). This grant encourages clinical and translational studies that aim to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of RRP. Eligible candidates include medical professionals and researchers in the U.S. and Canada. This funding opportunity prioritizes junior faculty who have recently completed their training, fostering new insights in RRP research.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Todd Epsten Memorial Scholarship

This opportunity was established in 2014 in honor of Major Brands’ third-generation leader, Todd H. Epsten, who lost his brave battle with brain cancer in 2012. The scholarship provides aid to several students each year, whose academic efforts and community involvement reflect Todd’s commitment to “building our business by building the communities we serve.” Students must be a current full-time employee or spouse/domestic partner, child or grandchild of a current full-time employee of Clever Little Girl, LLC; Clever Little Girl Foundation; or Eagle Brands Sales who will be or are attending a community college, professional program, undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate program at an accredited college.

Battle Creek Community Foundation

Our Mission: The Battle Creek Community Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to expand opportunity and create lasting community benefit for today and tomorrow.

Scholarships

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

BCPS Life Enhancement Scholarship Fund

The purpose of this fund is to provide support to students who are seeking to enhance their lives - either after high school or later in adulthood whether or not they have a traditional high school diploma or a G.E.D. from Battle Creek Public Schools. The donor stated, "You may be a parent or grandparent who has chosen to place your children in BCPS, a graduating senior, a graduate or even someone who dropped out of BCPS, whatever the scenario, you choose to stick with BCPS and stay associated with the district in some way instead of transferring to another district, that speaks volumes to me. This is the primary reason I established the BCPS Life Enhancement Education Fund, I want to support those who support the district and this fund helps me do that."

The Paul E. Henkin School Psychology Travel Grant, offered by the American Psychological Foundation, provides up to $1,500 for student members of APA Division 16. This funding helps cover registration, lodging, and travel expenses for attending the APA Annual Convention. It encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and requires a commitment to a career in school psychology. Eligible applicants must be current student members of APA Division 16 and cannot use the funds for food or materials not included in registration.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Frayssignes-Randall Scholarship Fund

The Frayssignes-Randall Scholarship Fund was established by Phillip Pierre Antoine Randall for the purpose of providing scholarships to graduating seniors and adult graduates of Calhoun County high schools. The Scholarship will remember two families who lived and worked in the Battle Creek area from 1900 to the present. Pierre Frayssignes and his wife, Sidonie immigrated from a small village in southern France prior to WW1. Pierre worked initially in Pennsylvania coal mines and ended up in the Battle Creek area. He knew both C W Post and W K Kellogg personally, working for both at different times. At one time he was the oldest and longest-serving Kellogg factory employee. His youngest daughter was Dr. Randall’s mother, Blanche Sidonie Frayssignes. The Randall family were prairie farmers from English/Irish stock who settled in the Climax area in the late 1800s. Floyd and Kitty Randall lost their first farm to the WW2 expansion of Fort Custer and the Battle Creek airfield, moving north to the Assyria area. Their oldest son was Dr. Randall’s father Charles DuWayne Randall. These names and those of their offspring will be found scattered throughout the historical records of Calhoun County and later, throughout the world. These families placed great value on education, hard work and personal responsibility as a means to self-sufficiency. Scholarship assistance to further individual development is consistent with these values.

The Division 39 Marsha D. McCary Fund Grant for Psychoanalysis aims to enhance public understanding of psychoanalysis and its applications in various fields. This grant supports initiatives that promote psychoanalytic education, research, and services, especially benefiting early career professionals and underserved populations. The American Psychological Foundation encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply, ensuring a broad representation within the field. This initiative fosters the ongoing development of psychoanalysis as a vital discipline in psychology.

Battle Creek Community Foundation

Our Mission: The Battle Creek Community Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to expand opportunity and create lasting community benefit for today and tomorrow.

Scholarships

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

ASMO Manufacturing, Inc. Scholarship Fund

The ASMO Manufacturing, Inc. Scholarship was established to provide scholarships to graduates or graduating seniors from the Battle Creek area seeking educational opportunities beyond high school. The eligible recipients are dependent children or regular employees of ASMO Manufacturing, Inc. "Employees" may be the parent, legal guardian, stepmother, or stepfather of the dependent child. Retirees and former spouses are excluded from these criteria. The recipient must be a high school graduate or a G.E.D. recipient who has been accepted to a college or university in the fall, or students who are already pursuing a full-time course of study at an accredited two (2) or four (4) year college, university, or vocational-technical school. There is a minimum GPA of 2.5. Selection criteria will be based on academic achievement, career plans, and involvement in school and community activities.

The Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) by the Simons Foundation aims to engage undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds in neuroscience research. The program offers paid research assistantships at various labs across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Selected fellows will gain hands-on experience and mentorship during the 2024-2025 academic year, fostering diversity and innovation in scientific research. This initiative supports students in their academic journey while promoting inclusivity in the scientific community.

The Community Foundation of Abilene, established in 1985, aims to enhance community philanthropy by empowering donors and providing scholarships. The 'Another Step Forward' scholarship assists single parents, like Kaye, who have faced challenges in pursuing education. This initiative supports individuals returning to school, ensuring they receive financial help to achieve their academic goals. By offering these opportunities, the Foundation fosters resilience and growth within the Abilene community.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Larry Inman Skilled Trades Scholarship Fund

The Larry Inman Skilled Trades Scholarship Fund has been established to provide scholarships to Harper Creek Community Schools graduating seniors pursing degrees and future employment in the skilled trades. Larry Inman was a Harper Creek High School, class of 1967 graduate. He excelled in many sports, but was an exceptional baseball player. After high school Larry attended Kellogg Community College pursuing a career in Graphic Arts before serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict. Larry fought for his country and was awarded many medals including the Bronze Star. He returned to Battle Creek and retired from the Kellogg Company after 35 years of dedicated employment. Larry was a very kind and generous person who cared about the education of local youth.

The Big Country County Medical Society Alliance Scholarship, established by the Community Foundation of Abilene, supports students from Taylor, Jones, Haskell, or Callahan County pursuing medical degrees. This scholarship encourages local students to enter the medical profession, ensuring a future of healthcare providers rooted in the community. Eligible candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, must be enrolled or accepted into medical school, and must be residents of the specified counties for at least one year.

The Dr. Brady Cox Scholarship, established by the Community Foundation of Abilene, honors the legacy of Dr. E. Brady Cox, a dedicated dentist and community member. This scholarship supports incoming college students pursuing education, medical, or agricultural degrees at accredited institutions. With over 150 scholarship funds, the Foundation empowers local students to achieve their academic aspirations and make a lasting impact in their fields, fostering a culture of philanthropy in Abilene.

DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation

Mission – The Foundation’s mission is to broaden awareness and understanding of agriculture through outreach and education.

Scholarships

The DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is proud to offer numerous scholarships for high school seniors and college students. Preference will be given to applicants of Farm Bureau members or their children with certain eligibility requirements.

College Students Scholarships 

The DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation endeavors to recognize students for their academic, school and community performance while in college. The recognition is in the form of a scholarship to the student’s school of choice. The scholarship award will be sent directly to the recipient’s school to be applied toward college costs. 

Medical Scholarship

The Medical Scholarship program provides funds for students pursuing medical degrees. The scholarship is available to students studying to become physicians, veterinarians, optometrists, nurses, dentists, and other medical professions. To be eligible a student must currently be in medical school, accepted to medical school or a four-year nursing program. Two, $2,000 scholarships will be awarded annually.