Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Florida

The Domestic Violence Prevention (DVP) grant from the IHS aims to enhance the capacity of Tribes and Urban Indian Organizations to combat domestic and sexual violence. This initiative promotes culturally appropriate, trauma-informed services, focusing on victim advocacy and collaboration across sectors. It addresses critical issues like human trafficking and child maltreatment, ensuring long-term sustainability through evidence-based practices and data sharing, ultimately improving community health and safety for AI/AN populations.

The Knowles Teaching Fellowship supports emerging high school science and mathematics teachers in the U.S. Ideal candidates possess a strong academic background, leadership skills, and a commitment to teaching. The fellowship emphasizes comprehensive development through mentoring and financial support, including grants for classroom materials and stipends to alleviate financial burdens. By fostering a community of over 500 educators, the program aims to enhance teaching quality and sustainability in the profession over a five-year trajectory.

The NIH Common Fund is launching the RNomics program to advance RNA research through innovative technologies. This initiative focuses on developing tools for comprehensive analysis of RNA molecules, addressing current methodological limitations. Key priorities include sequencing RNA, detecting modifications, and studying RNA function across various biological contexts. The program encourages high-risk, early-stage projects that demonstrate potential for significant impact. Successful Phase 1 projects may transition to Phase 2, aimed at delivering validated resources for the research community.

The RNomics Molecular Standards initiative, supported by the NIH Common Fund, aims to enhance research on RNA molecules by developing standardized references. This program will facilitate the creation, testing, and distribution of RNA molecular reference standards, which are crucial for ensuring consistency and reliability in RNA research. By providing guidance on best practices and planning for long-term availability, RNomics will help advance technologies that analyze RNA sequences and functions, ultimately improving health and disease understanding.

The RNomics Outreach and Coordination (ROC) Center, established by the NIH Common Fund, aims to enhance understanding of RNA molecules through integrated analysis. This center will serve as a hub for data management and community engagement, developing a central data portal, supporting data standards, and coordinating consortium-wide analyses. By fostering collaborations and providing training, the ROC Center seeks to ensure the long-term availability of essential RNomics resources, ultimately advancing health and disease research.

The RNomics Technology Enhancement Centers, supported by the NIH Common Fund, aim to enhance tools for comprehensive RNA analysis, facilitating insights into health and disease. This initiative focuses on developing technologies for RNA sequencing, modification mapping, and functional testing. By fostering collaborations and strengthening existing resources, RTECs will advance the study of RNA molecules, ensuring broad community access to improved experimental and computational methods.

The Faye Lynn Deckard Memorial Scholarship Fund, managed by the Brown County Community Foundation, aims to provide scholarships for students accepted into accredited two- or four-year institutions. This fund supports residents of Brown County pursuing degrees in early childhood education, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder their educational aspirations. Since its inception, the foundation has been dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for local students, reinforcing its commitment to community development and academic achievement.

The Harry D. Poling Scholarship, managed by the Brown County Community Foundation, supports current and former 4-H members pursuing higher education or vocational training. Established to assist students from Brown County, this scholarship prioritizes those seeking CDL or vocational training, emphasizing financial need. Since 1993, the Foundation has focused on educational initiatives, providing numerous scholarships to local graduates and working closely with The Lilly Endowment Inc. for enhanced educational opportunities.

The Dorothy Stewart Memorial Scholarship, managed by the Brown County Community Foundation, aims to foster interest in public and environmental affairs. It provides financial support to graduates of Brown County High School or G.E.D. recipients who demonstrate exceptional citizenship and community involvement. Eligible candidates must pursue a degree in relevant fields, ensuring that the scholarship contributes to the development of future leaders in these critical areas.

Dennis Van der Meer Tennis Foundation

A 2021 International Tennis Hall of Famer, Dennis was the founder of the Professional Tennis Registry Foundation (PTR Foundation), now called Dennis Van der Meer Tennis Foundation, Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), and the Van Der Meer Tennis University.

Dennis Van der Meer Tennis Foundation is a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Dennis Van der Meer Tennis Foundation provides support to deserving individuals and organizations globally. The foundation is also focused on bringing tennis within reach to countless people worldwide.

Natural Disaster Relief Request

The Foundation stands with tennis professionals affected by the devastating hurricanes and other natural disasters in the U.S. in 2024. If you are a tennis pro facing hardships due to recent storms, we are here to help you get back on your feet. Our assistance program provides relief and resources specifically for tennis professionals affected by these events. Together, we can rebuild stronger.

Building a global community of creative problem solvers, effective collaborators, and empathetic individuals through theatre

Our Mission and Goals

The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) is the philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).

ETF advances the field of educational theatre by broadening representation and increasing access for all. ETF’s programs aim to support students, educators and the field at large by realizing three strategic goals:

• Subsidizing new, emerging, and underserved student theatre programs;
• Creating paths for theatre educators to develop new skills; and
• Commissioning research to showcase the value of a theatre education.

Educator & Program Grants

Giving school theatre programs a boost

The Thespian Growth & Excellence Fund is committed to supporting the ongoing development of theatre programs and the pursuit of excellence for educators, students, schools, and communities by offering a number of grants that assist in EdTA membership, teacher support, and programmatic resources for theatre in schools.

By the end of 2024, the Thespian Growth and Excellence Fund has awarded 349 grants to 276 schools, totaling $286,167 in assistance provided to school theatre programs, many at schools with Title 1 designations.

Educator Support ($500)

Can be used for professional development for theatre educators that would benefit their students, including coursework, EdTA’s Theatre Education Conference registration fees, and related travel expenses.

Building a global community of creative problem solvers, effective collaborators, and empathetic individuals through theatre

Our Mission and Goals

The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) is the philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).

ETF advances the field of educational theatre by broadening representation and increasing access for all. ETF’s programs aim to support students, educators and the field at large by realizing three strategic goals:

• Subsidizing new, emerging, and underserved student theatre programs;
• Creating paths for theatre educators to develop new skills; and
• Commissioning research to showcase the value of a theatre education.

Grants for Educators & Theatre Programs

A core piece of the Educational Theatre Foundation’s work is supporting theatre educators and theatre programs directly. We do this through a series of production and educator grants available to both members of EdTA as well as non-members.

EdTA Membership Grant

Theatre matters.

It belongs in our classrooms and communities – now more than ever. Yet the role of the theatre educator has become increasingly complex, and financial support is often uncertain or even eliminated.

To help meet this moment, the Educational Theatre Foundation is proud to introduce the EdTA Membership Grant.

The Norman R. Tilford Field Studies Scholarship Fund, established in 1998 by the AEG Foundation, honors the contributions of Norman R. Tilford. It provides grants to undergraduate and graduate students undertaking field studies in geology. Awards include $1000 for undergraduates and $1500 for both Master’s and doctoral candidates, based on academic merit and potential contributions to the field. This fund promotes hands-on learning and professional development in geosciences.

The Kids to Parks Day School Grants Program offers funding up to $1,000 for Title I schools in the U.S. to enhance student engagement with parks and public lands. This initiative encourages hands-on learning experiences through outdoor activities and stewardship projects, promoting environmental education and healthy lifestyles. Eligible classrooms can apply, emphasizing student involvement in the application process. The program aims to empower students and teachers to foster a deeper connection with nature and their communities.

The Lemelson Foundation Grant supports initiatives in invention education and entrepreneurship, aiming to empower young inventors and foster innovation. With over $300 million provided since its inception, the Foundation focuses on strengthening ecosystems for invention in the U.S. and developing countries. Organizations interested in aligning with their mission are encouraged to take an eligibility quiz and submit inquiries through their contact form. This commitment is crucial for driving impactful solutions to global challenges.

Tides Foundation

Tides is a partner for justice in the social sector, working closely with doers and donors to build the power of historically excluded groups who face systemic barriers. We provide fiscal sponsorship, donor advised funds, impact investing, and a variety of grantmaking solutions to advance social justice and equity. 

Through Tides Foundation, we partner with individuals and families, foundations, corporations, and social change leaders to design and deliver social impact initiatives that shift decision-making power back to the communities we serve. Our mission is our North Star — and a beacon for those who share our commitment to social justice. Together, we work to shift resources and power to communities historically denied both, so they can create a just and equitable future.

Voter Mobilization & Civic Innovation Fund

This fund is designed for organizations that are deeply rooted in community, testing bold or emerging strategies, and able to adapt quickly to changing on-the-ground conditions. The Southern Voter Mobilization & Innovation Fund is a 12-36 month, election-cycle investment designed to support organizations that are: 

• Closest to communities facing the most barriers to political participation
• Testing bold, creative, or unproven civic engagement strategies
• Shifting power to local groups participating in civic engagement
• Responding rapidly to on-the-ground conditions during the 2026 midterms 

Tier 1: SPLC Priority Counties  

Vote Your Voice is most interested in boosting turnout amongst communities historically denied voting access. It has identified the following counties as priorities where turnout among sub-demographic groups is below the state-wide average (especially Black men). We intentionally did not include some counties in major metros areas because of our desire to increase voter engagement activity in other parts of the states.  

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo is launching a competition to promote study abroad programs for Japanese students seeking graduate education in the United States. This initiative invites proposals from American and Japanese non-profit organizations to create innovative programs aimed at increasing enrollment of Japanese students in U.S. graduate schools across various fields, enhancing cross-cultural exchange and educational opportunities.

The Toshiba America Foundation offers grants to K-5 teachers in public and nonprofit private schools, funding innovative projects in math and science education. Designed to support teachers in implementing hands-on learning experiences, these grants encourage creativity and community involvement. Applicants can propose projects that enhance student engagement and foster scientific inquiry. The foundation prioritizes teacher-led initiatives, making it a valuable resource for educators aiming to enrich their classrooms and inspire young learners.

The Monsignor Leo Adamiak Trust Grant provides financial assistance to Ukrainian Catholic parishes in the U.S. and Ukraine, aiming to support their educational and operational needs. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to community service with a history of at least three years. The trust favors projects with measurable impacts and sustainable outcomes, while not supporting general operating costs or for-profit entities. Interested parishes should contact for application materials, as online applications are not accepted.

The FPR Financial Assistance for Events grant, provided by the City of Orlando's Office of Community Affairs, offers up to $1,800 to local nonprofit organizations. This funding is aimed at supporting events that are of public interest and promote community building, diverse cultures, and social awareness within the city limits. Eligible events must be free, non-partisan, and accessible to all residents of Central Florida, fostering good health and social engagement.

The Pets in the Classroom Grant Program provides financial support to educators in the US and Canada, enabling them to incorporate small animals into their classrooms. This initiative aims to enhance students' educational and personal development through direct interaction with pets. The program, established by the Pet Care Trust, invites applications from teachers, librarians, and other school staff who support student learning, fostering a nurturing environment for young learners.

About the Hertz Foundation

Empowering the Nation’s Most EXCEPTIONAL Innovators

The Hertz Foundation identifies and empowers the nation’s most exceptional innovators in science and technology, fueling a lifelong community dedicated to solving our most pressing problems.

Hertz Community

Awards & Recognition

We’ve established several awards to recognize and support Hertz community members who are accelerating solutions to significant real-world challenges, either through their individual careers or volunteering to strengthen the Hertz Foundation’s work. In addition to providing financial and professional support at a critical time, we also hope to generate more awareness within the Hertz community and inspire collaborations that build on the momentum.

Newman-Galas Entrepreneurial Initiative

The Harold Newman and David Galas Entrepreneurial Initiative provides financial and professional support to Hertz Fellows who propose the most innovative entrepreneurial projects, with particular emphasis on collaboration among fellows. Awardees receive investments up to $25,000 to fund their work and receive mentoring from successful entrepreneurs within the fellows community.

Fueling Entrepreneurs

The initiative was established by honorary Hertz Fellow Harold Newman, a former member of our board of directors and a long-time supporter of and generous donor to the foundation. Newman changed the name to the Harold Newman and David Galas Entrepreneurial Initiative in honor of David Galas, a Hertz Fellow and chairman of the board. Through Newman’s substantial endowment, this award has helped enterprising fellows co-found 11 companies and develop new technologies with real-world impact.

The funds are provided with no strings attached, only the expectation that project leaders will be motivated to share their success with the foundation.

About American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF)The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) promotes firsthand exchange of intellectual and creative influence between the United States and the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. ASF offers fellowships, cultural grants, internships/training, publications, exhibitions and other public programs reinforcing the strong relationships between the two regions, honoring their shared values, and appreciating their differences.ASF Public Projects GrantThe American-Scandinavian Foundation promotes the cultures of the Nordic countries in the United States and American culture in the Nordic countries by encouraging programs that will enhance public appreciation of culture, art, and thought. In establishing priorities, the Foundation considers the lasting benefits that may be achieved by any grant and favors projects where its contribution will complement support from other sources. 

Sports Matter Mission

We believe that sports change lives. In addition to physical and mental health benefits, sports have the power to change our perspectives, our character and our communities for the better. This core belief has guided DICK’S Sporting Goods and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation since the beginning – but not everyone has the same access to play. Through grants and other support, The DICK’S Foundation Sports Matter Program helps under-resourced 501c3 organizations, schools and community teams across all 50 states provide opportunities for youth to play sports.

Why It Counts

• Low-Income Kids Play at Half the Rate of Wealthier Peers
• Participation in Team Sports has Declined 4% Since 2017
• One in Three Kids Can't Participate in the Sports They Want 
• Number of Kids Playing Multiple Sports Has Declined

Sports Matter Program

We Believe Every Kid Deserves a Chance to Play

The Sports Matter Program focuses on supporting youth sports in under-resourced communities.

All grant applications are made subject to review of the applying organization’s reputation and activities, and its agreement to comply with applicable terms and conditions. 

About the Foundation

Our Mission

Beyond Batten Disease Foundation was established to eradicate juvenile Batten disease by raising awareness and funds to accelerate research for a treatment or cure.

About Funding

BBDF is dedicated to collaboratively developing, funding, and managing fundamental, preclinical, IND-enabling, translational and clinical research to improve the lives of children and young adults with CLN3 disease. Since 2008, BBDF has been the largest funder of juvenile Batten (CLN3) disease research, ranging from basic discovery research to translation into therapies. To inform our research initiatives, BBDF gathers information from one-on-one meetings, broad group discussions, scientific peer-reviewed publications, conference proceedings, drug pipelines, and tailored merit reviews into the foundation’s decision-making processes. Input comes from across the Research and Development spectrum including academia, biotechnology, the pharmaceutical sector, and clinicians, caregivers, and patients.

Our research funding decisions are based on these research objectives:

1) Supporting basic research to discover new mechanisms of disease, targets, and treatments

2) Supporting projects which facilitate execution of clinical trials such as expanding patient registries

3) Identifying biomarkers and other innovative clinical endpoints

4) Supporting projects that de-risks pharmaceutical investments in Batten disease

Foundation-Directed Research

The largest portion of the foundation’s portfolio is directed research. The foundation fills gaps in juvenile Batten disease research by funding high-impact projects and breakthrough technologies that will lead to disease mitigation and cure.

BBDF’s Principal Scientist regularly interacts with leaders in research and development across the entire therapeutic pipeline for Batten, as well as for adult forms of neurodegeneration (e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease), and other related rare genetic diseases. To supplement this dialogue, BBDF creates specialty boards and steering committees to lead the development of its projects. A specialty board typically comprises ~200 years of combined experience specific to the proposed activity.

Investor-Initiated Research (Applying for a research grant)

In addition to directed research, BBDF accepts and awards research proposals. Because great ideas do not follow a schedule, we do this on a rolling submission basis. All budgets are carefully reviewed along with the proposed body of work. Applicants may be asked to revise their budgets and/or allow BBDF to share a summary of the proposal with other funders for the purpose of gathering additional support. Sometimes, the foundation will offer the applicant additional funding to incorporate additional expertise or methods into his or her plan.

Grants for Research About Urban Communication Issues

Since our launch in 2005, the Urban Communication Foundation has provided awards and grants to dozens of distinguished scholars, researchers, and journalists to recognize and support provocative work that contributes in significant ways to the discourse around urban communication issues.

While most of our recipients hail from academia and journalism, we also encourage submissions from other practitioners whose work will lend new insights into the discipline, raise broader awareness of related socio-political, economic, and cultural concerns, or influence public policy.

Gene Burd Grant for Research in Urban Journalism Studies

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication has partnered with the Urban Communication Foundation to create the Gene Burd Grant for Research in Urban Journalism Studies. The purpose of this annual grant is to stimulate research that explains, enlightens, inspires, and improves the practice and study of journalism and communication in order to advance our understanding of journalism in urban environments.

The NIOSH K01 grant offers vital support for early-career researchers in occupational health, providing 'protected time' for mentorship and professional development. This funding aims to bridge the gap from postdoctoral training to independent research, fostering the next generation of investigators. By emphasizing skill enhancement and independence, the program plays a crucial role in advancing safety and health research. Applicants must articulate their mentorship needs and demonstrate the potential for increased autonomy in their research careers.