Best Diversity Grants for Nonprofits

Diversity grants are available to nonprofits that focus on racial and social justice, gender equality, disability rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, economic empowerment for marginalized groups, and other diversity-related initiatives. Groups working to advance equity, inclusion, and representation are eligible. Some grants focus on specific populations, such as women-led nonprofits, minority-owned organizations, or initiatives serving low-income communities.

Grants in diversity typically have the highest concentration of deadlines in Q1, with 27.9% of grant deadlines falling in this period. If you're planning to apply, consider prioritizing your applications around this time to maximize opportunities. Conversely, the least active period for grants in this category is Q3.

Funders provide diversity grants to support programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, education, and society at large. These grants tackle long-standing inequalities and create opportunities for historically marginalized groups. Grants also aim to fund programs providing resources to marginalized communities, support initiatives fighting discrimination, and help organizations create more diverse and equitable workplaces, schools, and communities.

On average, grants in diversity provide funding between $750 and $3,000,000, with typical awards falling around $21,250 (median) and $217,084 (average). These insights can help nonprofits align their funding requests with what grantmakers typically offer in this space.

Diversity grants for nonprofits are typically funded by private companies (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation), government agencies, and corporate diversity and inclusion programs (Apple, Nike). Corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives (Google Impact Challenge, Bank of America Charitable Foundation) offer grants as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.

To improve the chances of being awarded a diversity grant, nonprofits should:

• Highlight commitment to DEI –Show how your work supports diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Demonstrate that diversity and inclusion are core values within your nonprofit, not just part of a single project.
• Show their impact – Use data and real-world examples that demonstrate how your program benefits underrepresented communities.
• Highlight community involvement – Funders often prioritize projects that actively engage and empower the communities they serve.
• Build partnerships – Collaborate with other nonprofits, advocacy groups, and local leaders to strengthen your application and expand your impact.

Not sure how much to request in a grant application? Learn how to calculate the right amount with our grant request sizing guide.