Best Genesee County Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) offers the Statistical and Research Methodology in Education grant (84.305D) to enhance education research through improved statistical methods and tools. This program invites applications focused on Core Grants for developing new methodologies or Toolkits for compiling existing research into user-friendly resources. The initiative aims to ensure these products are rigorously tested and disseminated widely to support effective education research practices.

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) offers a grant to support state education agencies in utilizing longitudinal data systems to inform policies and programs for learners with disabilities. This initiative aims to enhance evidence-based decision-making at both state and local levels, ensuring better educational outcomes for at-risk students. The grant encourages collaboration and effective use of data to promote informed policymaking in special education.

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) offers training programs through the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) to enhance special education research. For FY 2027, the focus is on Methods Training, particularly on analyzing large datasets related to learners with disabilities. This initiative supports early career researchers and current education researchers in developing rigorous methodologies to address significant educational challenges, aiming to inform policy and practice in special education.

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) offers research training programs aimed at advancing education research through two key initiatives: the Early Career Development and Mentoring Program and the Methods Training Program. These programs support emerging researchers in developing their skills and enhancing their research capabilities to address vital education issues. The funding is designed for early career investigators and current education researchers, fostering rigorous and relevant research that informs education policy and practice.

The NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs program seeks to enhance access to computational resources essential for AI-driven scientific exploration. By forming flexible consortia among government, academia, and industry, these hubs aim to foster innovation and workforce development in AI. The initiative aligns with national R&D priorities, emphasizing the critical role of AI in advancing scientific discovery and expanding infrastructure to support this mission across various disciplines.

The Development of Fiscal Year 2027 Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans aims to enhance national safety goals by reducing incidents involving commercial motor vehicles. This initiative, funded by the US Department of Transportation's FMCSA, provides crucial financial support to states and territories. Through the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, the focus is on minimizing crashes, injuries, and fatalities associated with commercial vehicle operations, ensuring safer roads for all.

The DARPA PINPOINT program seeks innovative proposals focused on the physics and nonlinear control of inertial measurement units (IMUs) for tactical and unmanned missions. The initiative aims to break the performance plateau of MEMS IMUs by exploring novel sensor architectures like electromagnetically levitated proof masses and non-linear resonators. This program emphasizes co-designing sensor packages with advanced adaptive control systems to manage complex dynamics, encouraging revolutionary advances in science and technology.

The National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers funding to support administrative expenses that bolster CDC's mission. This initiative enhances partnerships to address health threats both domestically and globally. Projects funded through this grant align with CDC's strategic goals, focusing on measurable outcomes such as program support and participation from various CDC Centers and Offices. Importantly, this grant only supports non-research activities.

The Domestic Violence Prevention grant aims to enhance access to forensic healthcare services for American Indian and Alaska Native victims of domestic violence and related issues. By fostering multidisciplinary partnerships, this initiative promotes trauma-informed care and improves victim support across IHS Areas. The focus is on developing comprehensive, culturally sensitive services that ensure timely interventions and coordinated responses to vulnerable populations, thereby enhancing overall victim well-being and safety.

The Tribal Epidemiology Centers initiative aims to support currently unserved areas through a new cohort of TEC sites. Funded by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services: Indian Health Service, this program seeks to enhance public health capacity within tribal communities, ensuring access to essential health services and resources. The initiative underscores a commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting wellness among Native populations.

The Public Health Nursing initiative aims to enhance the health and wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native men by implementing a culturally sensitive case management model. Through this program, Public Health Nurses will provide preventive health services, facilitate access to care, and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. By promoting early identification and management of health issues, the initiative strives to improve overall community health outcomes through targeted, collaborative interventions.

The National Urban Indian Health Program aims to enhance behavioral health services for Urban Indian communities by fostering awareness, advocacy, and collaboration across the nation. By providing technical assistance and training to Urban Indian Organizations, the program seeks to improve access to culturally relevant behavioral health care for American Indian and Alaska Native populations residing in urban areas, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and community support.

The NIH Common Fund Data Ecosystem aims to enhance the reusability of biomedical data through collaboration between Common Fund programs and external data resources. This funding opportunity encourages projects that connect various biomedical data ecosystems, including the HEAL Data Ecosystem and the BRAIN Initiative. By fostering partnerships, the initiative seeks to improve the accessibility and interoperability of valuable datasets, ultimately advancing research efforts. Note that clinical trials are excluded from this funding opportunity.

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 Urban Indian Health 4-in-1 Program is designed to enhance the health and well-being of urban Native Americans through targeted initiatives in immunization, health promotion, disease prevention, mental health support, and addressing alcohol and substance abuse issues. Funded by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services, this program aims to improve access to essential health services and foster healthier communities among urban Indian populations.

The Youth Regional Treatment Center Aftercare Program aims to support American Indian and Alaska Native youth in maintaining safety, sobriety, and success post-discharge from Youth Regional Treatment Centers. This initiative enhances culturally relevant, community-based aftercare by fostering care coordination, building partnerships, and addressing barriers to improve youth outcomes.

The Urban Indian Health Program - Education & Research collaborates with the US Dept. of Health & Human Services to enhance educational and research opportunities for urban Indian populations. This initiative aims to address health disparities and ensure that urban Indians have access to quality health services and information. By partnering with various urban Indian organizations, the program fosters community engagement and empowers individuals through education and research, ultimately improving health outcomes.

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.

The Home Visiting Research, Improvement, Sustainability and Evaluation Center (HV-RISE) aims to enhance home visiting services for families. By leveraging research, HV-RISE supports programs in testing and implementing effective practices, thereby improving outcomes. This initiative seeks to identify and expand successful strategies, ensuring that families receive the best support possible through evidence-based home visiting services.

About The Lawson Charitable Foundation

The Lawson Charitable Foundation, created in 2021 by Cathy and Tom Lawson, helps those that are working hard to help themselves and others.

For Grant Seekers

The Lawson Charitable Foundation is committed to supporting organizations that drive meaningful change in our communities. While our primary geographic focus is New England, we welcome applications from organizations, doing extraordinary work beyond the region as well.

We are happy to offer two types of grants to support nonprofit organizations making a difference: Impact Grants and Amplify Grants.

Impact Grant

Impact Grants provide funding for programs and initiatives that closely align with our mission of helping those who are working hard to help themselves and others. These grants are designed to support opportunities that create positive change within our focus areas, ensuring resources are directed toward impactful and mission-driven efforts.

The Lawson Charitable Foundation offers Amplify Grants to support nonprofits in New England and beyond, focusing on large-scale initiatives and fundraising efforts. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,000, these funds are intended to inspire additional donations and enhance organizational capacity. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits, aligning with the foundation's mission and demonstrating sustainability beyond the grant period. Priority is given to projects serving New England.

The CAFE Group 

We resource leaders, invest in their genius, and bring people together to reimagine what philanthropy can do.

Founded by Liz and Don Thompson, The CAFE Group is a national nonprofit transforming how change is resourced. 

With a focus on education equity, social capital, and philanthropic transformation, we pair catalytic funding, community-rooted leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen the people and institutions shaping a more just future. Everything we do is grounded in relationship, because we believe the way resources move matters just as much as where they land.

The 1954 Project Luminary Award

The 1954 Project Luminary Award celebrates transformational education nonprofit leaders dedicated to serving Black students and communities through powerful investments in their organizations' ability to create lasting change.

The Luminary Experience

Each Luminary organization gets more than funding. Through The 1954 Project, leaders gain a community, a platform, and space to grow with tailored support over the course of the three year journey.​

• $1 Million, Unrestricted: Catalytic funding to expand what’s working.
• Leadership Coaching + Capacity Support: Guidance from peers and experts who are committed to helping you build a lasting, impactful organization.
• National Network: Luminaries join a powerful community of innovators, change-makers, and visionaries driving systemic progress to support students and communities across the U.S.

The 1954 Project’s Impact Areas

We focus on three interconnected areas critical to advancing equity:

• Innovation in Teaching and Learning: Create education models that center Black students through culturally affirming approaches that challenge traditional structures and transform how learning happens, ultimately serving all students. 
• Diversity in Education: Build pathways that increase and sustain Black educators and education leaders who transform where and how students learn.
• Pathways to Economic Mobility: Build pathways to wealth, ownership, and economic power for Black students, families, and communities through innovative educational programming.

Our Selection Criteria

We seek out extraordinary applicants who embody our values and vision across three categories:

Leader: We look for leaders whose influence and vision contribute to the collective well-being and advancement of the Black community. These leaders:

• Are Visionary: They demonstrate a strategic and pragmatic mindset, articulating a transformative vision for significant, positive change.
• Show Demonstrated Commitment: They embody steadfast dedication to your cause, inspiring and influencing others, and galvanizing community involvement.
• Are Adaptive: They assertively tackle challenges, turning setbacks into opportunities for innovation, while maintaining humility and thoughtfulness in problem-solving.

Organization: We look for organizations that drive significant change, anchored by a deep love for people and driven by the genius within communities of color. These organizations: 

• Have a Defined Problem: They clearly identify the issue they are addressing and explain in detail how your organization tackles root causes. 
• Take a Strategic Approach: They have clear, measurable, and achievable organizational goals with a well-defined strategy informed by thorough analysis. 
• Show Demonstrated Impact: They have a tested model that has produced positive results, incorporating continuous learning and iteration. 
• Have a Transformation Plan: They present a clear plan for using the $1M award to advance your organization's mission, vision, and long-term goals. 
• Embrace Collaboration: They use collaborate to build partnerships based on trust, love, and common goals. 

Radical Imagination: We seek leaders who challenge and redesign societal norms to build a just and equitable future. They demonstrate:

• Community-Rooted Leadership: They maintain and cultivate genuine community ties, integrating professional expertise and personal commitment to drive visionary, impactful strategies. 
• Long-Term Commitment: They are in it for the long haul, committing to sustained impact across generations and prioritizing long-lasting solutions over short-term gains. 
• Collectivism: They embody the philosophy of "I am because we are," actively engaging in collaborative networks and fostering community-reflective solutions. 

The 2026 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program aims to tackle economic, health, and environmental issues in communities through innovative tree resource utilization. By transforming wood from various sources into valuable products like lumber and biochar, this initiative promotes local economies and enhances community resilience. Projects should align with community forestry plans, adhere to safety standards, and provide job creation opportunities, ultimately fostering sustainable urban forest management and utilization.

The FY26 Bureau of Land Management Wildlife Resource Management Program aims to enhance wildlife resource management on public lands across the nation. With a focus on habitat protection, species reintroduction, and collaborative conservation efforts, the program addresses critical ecological needs while supporting the social and economic well-being of communities. Key initiatives include habitat treatments, monitoring efforts, and partnerships with state agencies to ensure effective management and recovery of priority wildlife species.

The FY26 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Threatened and Endangered Species Program aims to conserve and recover endangered and threatened species while balancing land use for energy, minerals, timber, and recreation. By streamlining permitting processes and enhancing data availability, the program seeks to improve the management of BLM Special Status Species and their habitats. Collaboration with partner organizations is vital to achieve these goals and align with national conservation priorities.

The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) aims to enhance access to essential preventive clinical and public health services for children through community-driven initiatives. Funded by the US HHS: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), this program focuses on empowering local communities to implement effective strategies that improve children's health outcomes and promote overall well-being. Projects funded under this initiative will play a vital role in ensuring healthier futures for children.