Best Grants for Preschools in Maryland

The Louis H. Shaman Charitable Foundation, established by Louis H. Shaman, offers grants to support organizations aiding senior residents in Maryland. With an average of five grants awarded annually, the foundation prioritizes 501(c)(3) exempt organizations that benefit the elderly, disadvantaged, and disabled. Organizations that have exceeded 15% in fundraising expenses over two years are ineligible. Applications are reviewed during the foundation's annual grant meeting.

The Meyer Foundation provides Organizational Development Grants to strengthen nonprofit organizations in the Greater Washington, D.C. region. Focusing on systemic racial and economic inequities, these grants support capacity-building activities such as strategic planning, fundraising, and leadership development. Eligible organizations must have received a Meyer grant since January 1, 2022. Applications are continuously accepted, and prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with Meyer staff prior to submission, fostering a collaborative approach to addressing community needs.

The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Supplemental School Grant FY26 aims to support Maryland local education agencies (LEAs) in providing wrap-around services to economically disadvantaged students. This initiative facilitates students in earning a high school diploma and a two-year associate degree while prioritizing their employment with partner companies. Eligible LEAs can receive $750 per student, requiring a 100% matching of the grant funds to maximize resources for student success.

The Truist Foundation Grants aim to empower communities by providing resources for economic mobility and supporting small businesses, particularly those owned by racially and ethnically diverse individuals. The foundation focuses on enhancing job navigation for disadvantaged workers and building sustainable business ecosystems through collaboration and innovation. By addressing barriers to growth and promoting access to capital and education, the Truist Foundation strives to create equitable opportunities for all.

The Keep Maryland Beautiful Grant Program, led by the Maryland Environmental Trust and partners, offers Community Stewardship Grants of up to $5,000. These grants focus on empowering schools and nonprofits to engage community members, particularly youth, in environmental education and stewardship. By fostering citizen involvement and innovative solutions, the program aims to address local environmental issues, promote awareness, and enhance community well-being through hands-on projects.

The Janice Hollmann Grant offers up to $10,000 to land trusts in Maryland, requiring a 100% match of in-kind services and private funds. Established in 1990, the grant honors Janice Hollmann's legacy in conservation. With support from the Maryland Environmental Trust, it aims to enhance organizational capacity and foster collaboration among land trusts. This initiative has awarded over $465,000 in grants, promoting sustainable practices and protecting natural resources for future generations.

Maryland's Rural Legacy Grant Program aims to protect large, contiguous tracts of land with rich natural and cultural resources from sprawl development. By fostering collaboration between state and local governments and land trusts, the program enhances farms and forests through the acquisition of easements and fee simple estates from willing landowners. Annual applications from local sponsors are reviewed by the Rural Legacy Advisory Committee, which makes funding recommendations to the Rural Legacy Board and ultimately to the Governor.

Maryland landowners and tribes restoring degraded wetlands can receive easement funding and restoration support to conserve land and habitat. Focused on land and habitat conservation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Maryland offers permanent, term, and 30-year easements or contracts, plus technical assistance, to protect wetlands that benefit wildlife, water quality, and flood reduction.

Maryland land trusts, public agencies, and NGOs with farmland preservation programs can access funding through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to purchase agricultural land easements and protect working farms and grasslands. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland, and certain private forestland, which may benefit preschool-serving communities in rural areas.

Agricultural producers in Maryland seeking to improve water management, water quality, or erosion control can receive up to US $50,000 for conservation practices and farm diversification projects. With a mission to support sustainable agriculture, USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service of Maryland provides cost-share assistance for practices like irrigation upgrades, windbreaks, high tunnels, and transitions to organic farming.

Maryland agricultural and forest producers seeking support to enhance on-farm conservation can access funding through USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service of Maryland’s Conservation Stewardship Program. Eligible private agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands receive five-year contracts with annual payments of more than US $7,500 to maintain and expand conservation practices that improve natural resources and operations.

Preschools and other Maryland community organizations can receive up to US $1,000 for tree planting or urban forestry education projects on public lands. Grants from Maryland Department of Natural Resources help Maryland groups enhance urban forests through schoolyard plantings, park projects, or educational materials that raise awareness of trees’ benefits in urban environments.

Maryland businesses, vendors, and individuals with proven animal waste technologies can receive support to implement projects that manage manure and other waste in the state. The Maryland Department of Agriculture funds technologies that reduce nutrients, create alternative products, or generate energy from animal waste, which may benefit preschool or early childhood facilities located on or near farms.

Maryland preschools with school garden or farm-to-preschool activities that involve crop production may be eligible to use this funding for fall-planted cover crops. Maryland agricultural producers can access funding through Maryland Department of Agriculture to reduce erosion and runoff, build soil health, suppress weeds and pests, and protect fields through winter cover cropping.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation offers over 250 scholarships for undergraduate students pursuing dietetics. Applicants complete a single application to be considered for multiple scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000. Eligibility includes enrollment in an ACEND-accredited program and various special criteria. This initiative supports students from diverse backgrounds, encouraging future professionals in nutrition and dietetics. Membership in the Academy is recommended but not mandatory for application.

Maryland agricultural nonprofits, producer groups, government agencies, universities, and other eligible organizations can seek reimbursable funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, honey, hops, grapes, and nursery crops. Maryland preschools with agriculture or garden-based programming may be eligible if projects benefit broader specialty crop producers and industry priorities, with awards ranging from US $15,000 - US $140,000.

Local governments and nonprofit animal welfare organizations in Maryland can apply for the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s spay and neuter grants, awarding more than US $5,000 for free sterilization services and related capital projects. Preschools or early childhood programs partnering on community pet welfare or education initiatives may be eligible if they meet these criteria.

Preschools and other educational programs in Maryland that promote equine education or awareness can seek up to US $3,000 to support projects through the Maryland Horse Industry Board. Funding can increase public participation, advance youth training, support equestrian events, and preserve access to public lands for riding within the state’s horse industry.

The CBT Youth Environmental Education Grant Program aims to enhance youth engagement in environmental education in Maryland and surrounding areas. This program funds projects that allow students to explore local environmental issues through hands-on research, leading to actionable solutions. Grants support various initiatives, including outdoor investigations and educator training, with funds available up to $10,000 for selected projects. This initiative seeks to foster sustainable practices and environmental stewardship among young learners.

The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program, funded by the EPA and Chesapeake Bay Trust, supports innovative green infrastructure projects enhancing community livability. With funding opportunities ranging from conceptual plans to full project implementation, this program aims to reduce stormwater runoff, improve urban green spaces, and boost local water health within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Eligible locations include parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as New York.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation offers over 250 scholarships for graduate and doctoral students pursuing degrees in nutrition and dietetics. With scholarship amounts ranging from $500 to $25,000, applicants can utilize a single application to be considered for multiple opportunities. Eligibility includes enrollment in accredited programs and other criteria such as experience in education or dietetics. Membership in the Academy is encouraged, although not required, for most scholarships.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation offers over 250 scholarships for dietetic interns, allowing a single application to apply for multiple awards. Scholarships range from $500 to $25,000, with eligibility for interns enrolled through June 30, 2024, including those with off-cycle matches. Applicants should consider their career goals in areas like clinical dietetics, culinary arts, and nutrition education. Academy membership is encouraged but not required. Fundraising determines the number of scholarships available each year.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation offers a variety of scholarships for students in the Dietetic Technician Program, with over 250 scholarships available. Ranging from $500 to $25,000, these scholarships help support aspiring dietetic professionals. Applicants need to complete a single application to be considered for multiple scholarships based on eligibility. Membership in the Academy is encouraged but not mandatory for applying.

The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) is inviting proposals aimed at enhancing the profitability of grain production in Maryland. Established in 1991, MGPUB manages a voluntary checkoff program funded by grain producers. The board supports projects related to corn, wheat, barley, sorghum, and rapeseed/canola, focusing on education, promotion, and research to improve public understanding of agriculture. This initiative seeks to provide financial backing for impactful agricultural endeavors.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) offers grants for schools to implement the PLTW Computer Science program from 2025 to 2028. Schools must provide at least one PLTW course in the first year and two courses in the second year. The total grant is $14,000, covering participation fees and training costs. Eligible institutions include public, private, and charter schools located in the U.S., with special encouragement for those serving low-income or minority-majority populations.

The Abelard Foundation, established in 1958, supports progressive social change projects located east of the Mississippi River. With an average grant size of $12,000, they prioritize new initiatives with budgets under $350,000. The foundation emphasizes community organizing, civil rights, and empowering marginalized groups. Eligible applicants must be associated with a nonprofit organization and demonstrate a commitment to local leadership and broader policy connections. The board meets biannually to decide on approximately 15 grants per year, focusing mainly on general support.

Project Lead The Way is offering a rolling grant opportunity for schools to implement the PLTW Engineering program for the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond. Eligible institutions include public, private, and charter schools located in the US. Grant recipients will receive funding to cover participation fees and training costs. Total funding amounts to $16,000, distributed over three years. Schools are encouraged to create pathways for students in engineering through this initiative.