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Explore grants specifically for 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting diverse missions in education, health, environment, and social justice
32,000+
Available grants
$8.64B
Total funding
$6.3K
Median grant
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The scholarships we award vary each year based on the unique criteria of each scholarship. In 2025, we awarded over $3 million in scholarships to over 500 students, including $1.3 million to 110 students in western NC through our Disaster Relief and Resilience Scholarship.
The McBryde Scholarship Endowment
Recipients will be selected on the basis of academic performance, character and demonstrated need. Consideration also may be given for extra-curricular activities and service to others.
Depending on the scholarship, it may pay for tuition, room and board, books, fees and/or other related educational expenses. This will be outlined in your award notification. The minimum scholarship award amount is $1,000.
NCCF scholarship awards are only issued to not-for-profit institutions and government entities such as public colleges or universities.
North Carolina Community Foundation
At the North Carolina Community Foundation, we bring together generous people and connect them to causes and organizations they care about. Our mission is to inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.
A Focus on Rural
We serve the entire state, with a focus on rural North Carolina. Our 53 affiliate foundations serve as our roots in North Carolina’s rural communities and our expertise provides our fundholders with local insight that strengthens our grantmaking – and our communities.
Scholarships
We partner with donors to administer scholarships for students across the state. All NCCF scholarship opportunities are established with criteria determined by the donor.
Ralph Edwin and Ruby Irene Holloman Davis Scholarship Endowment
Applicants are graduating seniors from high schools in Johnston County who are continuing their education at a college, university, community or junior college, technical school, nursing school, or other post-high school training leading to a degree or associate degree, with preference to those who have financial need.
The scholarships we award vary each year based on the unique criteria of each scholarship. In 2025, we awarded over $3 million in scholarships to over 500 students, including $1.3 million to 110 students in western NC through our Disaster Relief and Resilience Scholarship.
Alpha Beta Chapter Scholarship Fund
Depending on the scholarship, it may pay for tuition, room and board, books, fees and/or other related educational expenses. This will be outlined in your award notification. The minimum scholarship award amount is $1,000.
NCCF scholarship awards are only issued to not-for-profit institutions and government entities such as public colleges or universities.
North Carolina Community Foundation
At the North Carolina Community Foundation, we bring together generous people and connect them to causes and organizations they care about. Our mission is to inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.
A Focus on Rural
We serve the entire state, with a focus on rural North Carolina. Our 53 affiliate foundations serve as our roots in North Carolina’s rural communities and our expertise provides our fundholders with local insight that strengthens our grantmaking – and our communities.
Scholarships
We partner with donors to administer scholarships for students across the state. All NCCF scholarship opportunities are established with criteria determined by the donor.
Helen Tomlinson Hobart Scholarship Endowment
Graduates of a public high school in Johnston County with plans to attend an accredited university or community college with a career objective to become a public-school teacher. “Public high school” does not include schools that are considered or classified as charter schools.
The Community Foundation of NCW is a tax-exempt philanthropic organization that helps individuals, families, businesses, and agencies support charitable causes throughout Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
Bob and Valerie Valaas Health Sciences Scholarship
Bob and Valerie Valaas recognized the need for well-trained medical personnel in the Wenatchee Valley. Bob served on the Central Washington Hospital board of directors for many years, as had his father before him. They also had several children and grandchildren who served the medical community in a variety of roles including physicians, nurses, and radiology technicians. In 2007, Valerie established a scholarship fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Washington to benefit students entering the Allied Health program at Wenatchee Valley College.
The Community Foundation of NCW is a tax-exempt philanthropic organization that helps individuals, families, businesses, and agencies support charitable causes throughout Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
Cascade and Chelan School Districts ELL Scholarship
The Cascade and Chelan School Districts ELL (English as a second language) Scholarship provides financial support for students who have passed the Washington Language Proficiency Test (WLPT) and are pursuing further education.
The Community Foundation of NCW is a tax-exempt philanthropic organization that helps individuals, families, businesses, and agencies support charitable causes throughout Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
Cathryn "Kate" George Frechen Scholarship
The Cathryn “Kate” Goerge Frechen Scholarship Fund was established in 1999 by Kay Sparks, niece of Cathryn “Kate” Goerge Frechen in her aunt’s memory. This scholarship supports graduating seniors from Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools seeking further education in an accredited educational program in the US. The committee seeks to award a promising student who demonstrates financial need and potential scholastic ability (not necessarily demonstrated solely by grades).
The Community Foundation of NCW is a tax-exempt philanthropic organization that helps individuals, families, businesses, and agencies support charitable causes throughout Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
Bob and Nita Paine Scholarship
This scholarship was established by the Paine Family in 2012 to support graduating seniors from Wenatchee or Eastmont High Schools who plan to attend Washington State University. The ideal candidate is an engaging individual with capable communication skills who has been, and continues to be, involved in school activities and the community, and who demonstrates financial need..
Grants for 501(c)(3) organizations provide essential funding to support nonprofit missions across various sectors. These grants empower tax-exempt entities to deliver impactful programs, grow operations, and address community needs.
Discover 8,000+ active grants for 501(c)(3) organizations, with $3.84B available. Instrumentl streamlines the grant search process for nonprofits, offering tools for deadline tracking, customized searches, and access to funder insights.
How common are grants in this category?
Quite common — grants in this category are more prevalent than in others.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for grants for 501(c)(3)?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
In general, any organization that has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status will qualify for these grants.
Grants for 501(c)(3) organizations play a vital role in supporting nonprofit missions across diverse sectors. By providing essential funding, these grants enable tax-exempt organizations to implement meaningful programs, expand their operations, and effectively address pressing community needs.
In general, grants for 501(c)(3) organizations have the highest concentration of deadlines in Q1, with 28.0% 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 Q4.
These grants are designed to help tax-exempt nonprofit organizations positively impact their communities. The funding can cover things like ongoing operations costs, program development needs, and capacity-building efforts.
Funding for all 501(c)(3) charitable organizations varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $0 to a maximum of $188,250,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $37,500, while the average grant awarded is $734,409. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
501(c)(3) grants are awarded by all types of funders, including private foundations, corporations, government agencies, and donor-advised funds. The Ford Foundation and the Gates Foundation are two examples.
Federal, state, and local governments offer grants to support nonprofit operations and specific projects. Other private foundations like the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the Walmart Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, and numerous others provide a wide range of funding opportunities tailored to different charitable causes and sectors.
To increase their chances of securing grants, nonprofits should consider the following strategies:
Learn more about how to conduct effective grant research.
Instrumentl helps nonprofits apply for 501(c)(3) grants more easily. It matches them with the right funding opportunities, analyzes what funders are looking for, and keeps track of deadlines in one place.
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