Best Fontana Grants for Nonprofits in California

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

Regional Scholarships

We believe that post-secondary education is key to healthy, resilient, and thriving communities and are pleased to partner with generous community donors to create and offer a variety of scholarship opportunities for local students across the region.

Stan and Martha Scarborough Scholarship Endowment (Regional)

Available to individuals, up to 24, from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau County who have aged out of foster care.

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

Regional Scholarships

We believe that post-secondary education is key to healthy, resilient, and thriving communities and are pleased to partner with generous community donors to create and offer a variety of scholarship opportunities for local students across the region.

Traverse City Track Club Scholarship Endowment (Regional)

Available to graduating high school seniors or current college students from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska or Leelanau County. Eligible students will have demonstrated involvement with running, as a high school or college athlete or through participation in organized running events.

The Fiscal Year 2027 Regional Nutrition Hubs initiative by the US HHS aims to enhance nutrition services across regional health centers. By providing targeted technical assistance, the program seeks to improve health outcomes through effective nutritional interventions. This initiative supports HRSA's mission to expand access to high-quality healthcare services, ultimately benefiting communities by addressing dietary needs and managing health conditions. With a focus on collaboration, the program is set to strengthen the health infrastructure at the local level.

The Core State Injury Prevention Program (Core SIPP) aims to enhance public health infrastructure and partnerships to prevent unintentional injuries through data-driven strategies. Focusing on key areas such as traumatic brain injury, falls among older adults, and drowning, it seeks to improve community safety by strengthening data use and fostering collaborations. This initiative supports states in identifying local injury concerns, thus promoting evidence-based prevention approaches and increasing the capacity for sustained public health actions.

The NIH's Investigator-Focused Award (Parent R35) aims to support research programs for investigators at all career stages, including Early Stage Investigators. This funding provides stability and freedom in research, allowing for innovative and ambitious studies without the constant pressure of securing new grants. Key benefits include flexibility in research direction, opportunities to tackle significant questions, and a greater potential for scientific breakthroughs, fostering a robust research environment.

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Scholarships

The Community Foundation is home to a variety of scholarships designated to benefit a graduating senior from Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). 

The Les and Anne Biederman Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund (Central, West)

In keeping with the visions and determinations that were held by the late Les Biederman, this scholarship is available to students who endeavor to pursue careers in nursing or business.

One scholarship awarded annually at each Central and West for a student pursuing a career in business and one scholarship awarded annually at each Central and West for a student pursuing a career in nursing.

About Us

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

USS Indianapolis/Gwinn "Angel" Scholarship

Available to descendants of family members who are directly linked to USS Indianapolis, such as a final crew member (Survivor or Lost at Sea), rescue crew, or honorary survivor. Other unique affiliations with the ship's legacy will be considered by the board of review.  

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Scholarships

The Community Foundation is home to a variety of scholarships designated to benefit a graduating senior from Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). 

Traverse City Administrators’ Association Scholarship Fund (Central, West, TC High)

Available to a worthy senior who is pursuing a career in education.

One scholarship is awarded annually at each Central, West, and Traverse City High School.

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

Regional Scholarships

We believe that post-secondary education is key to healthy, resilient, and thriving communities and are pleased to partner with generous community donors to create and offer a variety of scholarship opportunities for local students across the region.

Traverse City Tourism Hospitality Scholarship Fund (Benzie and Grand Traverse Counties)

Available to graduating high school seniors from Benzie or Grand Traverse Counties, or current NMC students pursuing degrees, industry certifications, or careers in hospitality or tourism-related studies. Preference given to those who are active in school and extracurricular activities, who have demonstrated community responsibility through volunteer efforts, and who have held jobs in the hospitality industry and are excited to continue. Financial need will be considered.

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

Community Partner Scholarships

In addition to Community Foundation scholarships, college-going and college-bound students may be eligible for scholarship opportunities available across the region from our community partners.

Kurt Gamelin STEM Scholarship

Community Partner: Cone Drive, Traverse City, Michigan

The Kurt Gamelin STEM Scholarship celebrates the vision and dedication of our recently retired President, Kurt Gamelin. Throughout his career, Kurt championed STEM education and believed strongly in investing in the next generation of problem solvers and innovators. At Cone Drive, STEM is at the core of what we do every day, driving the engineering, innovation, and precision manufacturing that have defined our company for over 100 years.

Each year, one student will receive a $5,000 scholarship to pursue a college degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, continuing Kurt’s commitment to opportunity, growth, and excellence.

The National Writers Series Scholarships, offered by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, support aspiring writers in 11th and 12th grades from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties. Eligible applicants must submit an online application along with a manuscript in one of the following genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Journalism, or Poetry. This initiative encourages local youth to showcase their creativity and talent in writing, fostering a love for literature and expression.

• Innovative: An approach that brings fresh thinking, tools, or models to homeownership in ways that challenge the status quo and demonstrate a disruptive, future-oriented vision with potential to inspire or shift broader field practice.
• Impactful: A solution with meaningful potential to expand homeownership through knowledge and action, featuring clear and measurable progress indicators that demonstrate capacity to shift trajectories for low- and moderate-income households.
• Bridge-Building: An initiative that effectively connects and unifies a wide range of stakeholders, fostering meaningful collaboration across sectors or perspectives. The strongest submissions will reflect strong community partnerships across the housing ecosystem.
• Durable: A sustainable pathway that addresses root causes of homeownership barriers rather than just symptoms, with compelling evidence of potential to elicit robust support from broad private, philanthropic, and public funding sources over time.

The Home Builders' Association of the GT Area Scholarship, offered by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, supports residents from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau Counties. This scholarship targets individuals pursuing education in the home building industry. Applicants must provide a letter of reference from a member of the Home Builders Association, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and demonstrate community involvement or leadership.

The Emily and Frank Smiddy Scholarship Endowment, established by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, offers financial support to graduating seniors from Benzie County high schools pursuing postsecondary education in sciences or STEM fields. This scholarship can be renewed annually for up to four years, helping students achieve their educational goals and contribute to the community's growth and development.

The Ed and Nessa Laing Scholarship Endowment supports graduating seniors pursuing post-secondary education in trade or technical fields. Established by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, it prioritizes students from Suttons Bay Public Schools, followed by those from Leelanau County and surrounding areas. Financial need and community involvement are key considerations for applicants, ensuring that those who demonstrate leadership and commitment to their communities receive assistance in their educational pursuits.

The Central Lake School District Osborn Scholarship Endowment, established by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Central Lake Public Schools who rank in the top 20 percent of their class and show exemplary academic performance. This initiative reflects the Foundation's commitment to empowering local students and fostering educational excellence within the community. The scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to help deserving students pursue their higher education goals.

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.Joe Brisson Memorial Scholarship Endowment (Regional)Available to a graduating senior from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau County. Applicants must demonstrate adventurous spirit, a passion and zest for life, and will have played in a soccer league, whether school or community related.

The Buckley Schools Marie Guyton Scholarship Endowment, established by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, offers three scholarships annually to graduating seniors from Buckley Community Schools. These include the Marie Guyton Valedictorian Scholarship and the Eleanor Smith Salutatorian Scholarship, both of which require no application, as well as the competitive Marie Guyton Leadership Scholarship. This initiative aims to recognize and support the academic achievements and leadership potential of local students.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is launching the PROSPECT Program to enhance education in critical technologies, targeting an investment of up to $100 million. This initiative aims to develop a skilled workforce across the critical minerals and materials sector, supporting the entire value chain from resource extraction to recycling. By fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and national laboratories, the program seeks to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and energy security.

The Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative, under the Teaching with Primary Sources program, aims to empower organizations in the U.S. and its territories to create innovative projects that leverage digitized primary sources from the Library of Congress. This initiative, named after Reps. Lewis and Houghton, promotes education in civics, democracy, and history, fostering critical thinking and literacy among students. Grants will be awarded based on the proposal's alignment with these educational goals, enhancing community engagement.

The Rural Health Value Program aims to fund one recipient to provide essential analysis and technical assistance for rural stakeholders. This initiative helps them navigate the value-based care landscape in rural healthcare settings. By supporting rural providers, the program seeks to enhance their participation and success in innovative payment and delivery models that emphasize quality care and value-driven strategies. This funding opportunity ultimately aims to strengthen rural healthcare systems.

The Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program enhances rural healthcare access by establishing sustainable residency programs for physicians. Focused on training in accredited rural settings, the program addresses physician shortages by providing start-up funding for various medical specialties, including family medicine and psychiatry. This initiative aims to ensure long-term sustainability through stable funding sources like Medicare and Medicaid, ultimately preparing physicians to serve rural communities effectively.

The Infant-Toddler Court Program's National Resource Center (NRC) focuses on enhancing child welfare practices across the United States. By collaborating with courts, social services, and families, the NRC aims to improve the safety and healthy development of young children involved with the child welfare system. This initiative not only supports families but also fosters nurturing relationships essential for child growth and well-being, making it a crucial resource for communities.

The Infant-Toddler Court Program State Awards empower states and communities to enhance child welfare practices by integrating courts, social services, and families. This initiative promotes safety, healthy development, and nurturing relationships for young children involved in child welfare. Awardees implement the evidence-based ITC approach, sharing lessons learned with local teams, tracking outcomes, and training to ensure effective program expansion across targeted communities.

The Council of Independent Colleges

Founded in 1956, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.

CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.

NetVUE Vocation across the Academy Grants

​One major purpose of an undergraduate education in the liberal arts is to help students shape a philosophy of life. At the same time, undergraduates today are increasingly preoccupied with postgraduate employment. The purpose of this grant program is to help colleges and universities develop more effective ways to strengthen the link between these two purposes of undergraduate education. It is designed to support institutions in their efforts to expand vocational exploration and discernment programs across the curriculum and co-curricular programs, with the following goals:

• to help students develop more effective links between developing a philosophy of life and preparing for a career;
• to include more faculty and students in the work of vocational exploration and discernment; and, in some cases,
• to build connections with community partners, such as local businesses, nonprofits, and other community organizations.

The Council of Independent Colleges

Founded in 1956, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.

CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.

NetVUE Program Development Grants

Colleges and universities that are members of NetVUE are already committed to campus activities that encourage vocational exploration by students. These institutions are making significant investments of their own resources to develop and sustain vocational exploration initiatives. In order to support NetVUE member campuses in their work, Lilly Endowment Inc. has provided funding to CIC to be used for NetVUE Program Development Grants. Many NetVUE campus leaders have observed that grants for program development at even modest levels would enable their institutions to strengthen and expand existing programs significantly.

NetVUE Program Development Grants may be requested in amounts up to $100,000 for use over two years to deepen, expand, or otherwise strengthen programs that are already underway (including those planned or initiated through recently completed NetVUE Professional Development Awards) and supported by the institution itself. A wide range of proposals that augment existing programs in vocational reflection and discernment will be considered; examples include

• mini-grants to support released time for designing or revising courses to include greater engagement with vocational reflection;
• programming that brings faculty members and administrative staff (from, for example, career services, student life, or campus ministry) into partnership for advising, mentoring, and/or experiential learning opportunities; and
• projects that integrate reflection on calling and vocational discernment into an institution’s general education requirements or into their major or minor field requirements.

The Council of Independent Colleges

Founded in 1956, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.

CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.

NetVUE Grants to Individuals for Vocational Exploration

CIC is pleased to announce the first NetVUE grant program for individual projects by staff and faculty members. While NetVUE offers a number of grant programs for institutions, this new program—Grants to Individuals for Vocational Exploration—is its first program designed explicitly for individual projects by faculty members and staff at NetVUE member institutions.

Many employees at NetVUE member institutions engage and contribute to the exploration of vocation in undergraduate education through their scholarship, teaching, and practice. The NetVUE program seeks to support this work by offering them more resources to support new research and pedagogical innovation. Through the NetVUE Grants to Individuals for Vocational Exploration, CIC will offer funding and guidance to support projects that will generate artifacts or products (such as scholarly articles, course syllabi and learning activities, program designs, or other resources) that will develop and expand the existing field of scholarship, conversation, and pedagogy on vocation in undergraduate education.

This grant is intended to support innovative projects in the scholarship, pedagogy, leadership, and/or practice of vocation in undergraduate education. Proposals are welcome from both new and established scholars and practitioners. Particularly welcome are projects that seek to make vocational exploration and discernment available to all students, as well as projects that invite the NetVUE community toward fresh considerations and new frameworks in vocation as a lens for undergraduate education.