Best Grants for 501(c)(3)

About AWS

We Move Welding Forward

Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.

By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals.

Counselor and Fellow Awards

The AWS Counselor and Fellow Awards celebrate members for distinguished organizational leadership and notable contributions to welding science and technology.

Counselor Awards

The American Welding Society, in 1999, established the honor of Counselor of the Society to recognize members for a career of distinguished organizational leadership that has enhanced the image and impact of the welding industry. The first class of Counselors was inducted at the 2001 AWS Show.

Election as a Counselor of the Society is demonstrated as evidenced by:

• Leadership of or within an organization that has made a substantial contribution to the welding industry.
• The individual’s organization shall have shown an ongoing commitment to the industry, as evidenced by support of participation of its employees in industry activities.
• Leadership of or within an organization that has made a substantial contribution to training and vocational education in the welding industry.
  • The individual’s organization shall have shown an ongoing commitment to the industry, as evidenced by support of participation of its employees in industry activities.
  • This recognition is selected by the AWS Counselor Committee based on specific criteria at least 16 months in advance of FABTECH.
  • Nominations must be submitted through the online nomination portal by June 1st.
  • Nominations are reviewed/selected at the fall Counselors Committee meeting, with final approval the following year at the spring Districts Council meeting.

A maximum of 5 Counselors are selected each year, as determined by the Counselors selection committee.

The Wisconsin Garden Club Federation Della H. Balousek Scholarship honors a dedicated garden club member, providing three $3,000 non-renewable scholarships for tuition to full-time students at Wisconsin schools. This fund ensures Della Balousek's legacy of education and community spirit continues, supporting students in their academic pursuits. Eligible candidates must demonstrate commitment to their studies and maintain an acceptable major. The scholarship aims to empower the next generation of leaders in the gardening community.

The PLTW Engineering program, in partnership with Ardagh Group, aims to enhance education in local communities over the next decade, impacting over 500,000 PreK-12 students and training more than 5,000 teachers across 2,000 schools in the U.S. This initiative is supported by a $50,000 grant, distributed over three years, facilitating diverse engineering courses and improving educational equity. Ardagh Group, a global leader in sustainable packaging, emphasizes the importance of education in fostering vibrant communities.

The Kaufman Foundation's New Initiative Research Grants aim to foster interdisciplinary collaborations among experienced researchers in Pennsylvania. By encouraging partnerships that blend expertise across biology, physics, and chemistry, this program seeks innovative approaches to fundamental research questions. Up to four grants of $300,000 over two years will be awarded to proposals that showcase transformative intellectual advancements. Investigators must be affiliated with Pennsylvania institutions and reflect diverse scientific backgrounds to effectively address pressing research initiatives.

State Homeland Security Program – LETPA Projects (SHSP-L)

The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for projects that support state and local efforts to prevent terrorism and targeted violence and prepare for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the security of Texas citizens. PSO provides funding to implement investments that build, sustain, and deliver the 32 core capabilities essential to achieving a secure and resilient state.

Per Congressional mandate (911 Act), at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the combined Homeland Security Grant Program funding must be used for Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA). FEMA has increased this requirement to 35%. This solicitation supports state, tribal and local preparedness activities that continue to build law enforcement capabilities to prevent terrorist attacks and provide law enforcement and public safety communities with funds to support critical prevention and protection activities. All LETPA investments must be consistent with capability targets set during the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) process, and gaps identified in the State Preparedness Report (SPR).

The State Homeland Security Program-LEPTA (SHSP-L) is intended to support investments that improve the ability of jurisdictions to:

• Prevent a threatened or actual act of terrorism; and/or
• Protect its citizens, residents, visitors, and assets against the greatest threats and hazards;

Prevention is defined as the capabilities necessary to avoid, prevent, or stop a threatened or actual act of terrorism.

Many activities which support the achievement of target capabilities related to terrorism preparedness may simultaneously support enhanced preparedness for other hazards unrelated to acts of terrorism. However, all SHSP-LEPTA projects must assist grantees in achieving target capabilities related to preventing or thwarting an initial or follow-on terrorist attack.

Funding Levels

Minimum: $10,000

Maximum: None. However, PSO uses a risk-based formula to determine regional allocations. Local agencies should contact their regional COG for amounts historically available to the region and any maximum established by their COG. Additionally, PSO expects to make available approximately $1.5 – $2 million to state agencies in support of 10 - 15 projects under this solicitation and the SHSP-Regular solicitation.

Match Requirement: None

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries offers financial support to underfunded schools to enhance their library collections, promoting literacy and a passion for reading. Eligible applicants include Title 1 public schools and private institutions with at least 50% of students qualifying for financial aid. The grant funds can be utilized exclusively for books, periodicals, and subscriptions, ensuring that all students have access to diverse reading materials. Applications require a designated librarian and completion of necessary documentation.

Appleton Education Foundation

The Appleton Education Foundation, a supporting organization of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, has been working since 1997 to develop a steady source of support for grants now, and for many future generations of Appleton children.

Mission: We raise and direct private funds to strengthen and enhance education in our community.

Big Idea Grants

Established in May 2020, the Appleton Education Foundation (AEF) welcomes opportunities to partner with the Appleton Area School District in support of initiatives that are:

• Transformational,
• Needle-moving,
• Beyond a single classroom,
• District-driven.

Ideas could also come from another community nonprofit organization when the district is a key collaborative partner.

Size & Scope of Big Idea Grants

• One- to three-year financial commitment.
• Grants may be up to $25,000/year, for up to three years.

If AEF makes a large multi-year commitment, it may not have the financial capacity to take on another Big Idea until that commitment is met. AASD is still encouraged to bring ideas forward for review and consideration.

Process

• AASD Leadership Team member initiates a conversation with AEF executive director
• Select inquiries will be invited to complete Big Idea grant application in AEF’s grant portal
• Applicant/team may be asked to present their idea to the AEF executive committee and/or board of directors.
• Projects will be vetted by AEF’s executive committee and approved by the AEF board of directors.

Our Mission

Empower donors to fulfill their passions and dreams by establishing charitable vehicles designed to create a positive and enduring impact on Jewish Buffalo, Western New York and the World.

Dr. Louis Sklarow Award

The Dr. Louis Sklarow Award was established in 1995 in honor of prominent Buffalo Physician and State University of New York at Buffalo Medical School Graduate Dr. Louis Sklarow.

The award is given to an outstanding graduate of Jewish faith from the Jacob’s School of Medicine who has shown by character and medical accomplishment great promise in becoming a fine physician and a person most likely to make a contribution to mankind and bring honor to the Jacob’s School of Medicine.

The Louis Sklarow Memorial Fund continues to fund research for the treatment and cure of Down Syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer through research performed at the University of Buffalo, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and other renown institutions.

The Illinois Community College Board has initiated the Digital Instruction for Adult Education grant to enhance technology access and digital skills for adult learners. This initiative aims to support Title II Adult Education and IELCE programs in upgrading their technology infrastructure, ensuring effective integration of technology in classrooms, and improving distance learning options. By fostering innovation through AI and increasing access to educational resources, the grant will empower individuals with foundational skills to transition into postsecondary education and the workforce.

The NIAID is dedicated to advancing research on medical countermeasures against chemical and radiation threats, focusing on innovative technologies to diagnose and treat exposure effects. The initiative promotes the development of models, biomarkers, and devices that enhance survival and reduce morbidity during public health emergencies. It supports preclinical efforts to address injuries from designated Chemicals of Concern, emphasizing the need for effective solutions in civilian mass casualty scenarios.

Pegpetia Grant Program

The Public, Educational and Governmental Programming and Educational Technology Investment Account (PEGPETIA) grant program provides funding to (1) promote and improve public, educational and governmental programming in Connecticut and (2) support education technology initiatives of boards of education and other education entities.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority awards 50% of funding as PEG Grants to promote and improve public, educational and governmental programming on community access channels in Connecticut, and the remaining 50% is awarded as ETI Grants to support education technology initiatives of boards of education and other education entities.

Eligible Projects

PEG Grants may be awarded for investments that are designed to improve or promote PEG programming. Although funds are available to a wide variety of entities involved either directly or indirectly in producing community access programs, the award of funds to those entities is not the goal of the program. Rather the funds are intended to be used for capital and equipment costs that aid the production and procurement of public, educational and governmental programs. Accordingly, grant recipients are required to file a report with the authority, stating (a) the title, subject and duration (in minutes) of all community access programs facilitated in whole or in part by the grant award; (b) how the programs were distributed through community access channels; and (c) the protocols for ensuring that any programs produced with equipment purchased with PEGPETIA funds are made available in the applicant’s local PEG studio. Additionally, PEG grant recipients must also file a report after project completion enabled by the grant funds to ensure the funding is used appropriately.  

ETI Grants may be awarded for the support of education technology initiatives boards of education and other education entities, including both public and private schools. Accordingly, ETI grant recipients must file a report of the completed project enabled by the grant funds to ensure the funding is used appropriately.

The T-TESS Pilot Districts Support Grant, initiated by the Texas Education Agency, aims to assist school districts in implementing the updated Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS). By providing essential training and resources, this grant seeks to enhance teacher effectiveness, align with educational priorities, and foster sustainable growth within school systems. The program focuses on delivering fair and credible recognition of teaching excellence, ultimately benefiting the educational landscape across Texas.

The Reidsville Area Foundation Grant supports transformative initiatives in Rockingham County, focusing on early childhood education, health, and community development. This grant is open to public charities, government units, and institutions that align with these areas. By fostering partnerships, the foundation aims to enhance the quality of life for residents and build pathways to success for all. Organizations interested in collaboration are encouraged to apply before the monthly deadline.

The Louis K. Snipes Foundation for Animal Care Grant supports organizations in Tarrant County, TX, that focus on preventing cruelty to animals through various care services. With an average grant size of $38,000, the foundation prioritizes requests for capital improvements, equipment purchases, and program support. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and located in Tarrant County, ensuring their efforts benefit local animals in need.

The Vanguard

Remuseum announces The Vanguard, an award and accelerator for innovative leaders in the visual and performing arts, in partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation. The Vanguard’s $100,000 annual award will recognize up to ten leaders who are exploring new ways to strengthen arts institutions, and a year-long accelerator will help them refine, implement, and evaluate their ideas. The first award and accelerator of its kind, The Vanguard celebrates leaders who are ready to center the public in their work in new ways, building models for increased relevance and sustainability in the arts.

The Program

The $100,000 grant that accompanies each award will go to that leader’s institution, to support ideas developed in The Vanguard’s 12-month accelerator program. That program begins with a week-long retreat at Shangri La, the Doris Duke Foundation’s global center for culture and ideas in Honolulu, Hawaii, followed by a year of monthly coaching sessions, regional peer gatherings, and collaborative workshops, culminating in a public presentation of their work and findings to the broader arts community. The accelerator and its curriculum, tailored specifically for cultural leaders, has been designed by Jenny Larios Berlin, entrepreneur in the creative and tech sectors and Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, and will be co-taught with Gregory Bunch, entrepreneur and Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and will be advised by Ethernet Inventors Professor of Entrepreneurship Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.

By year’s end, members of The Vanguard will have built an intellectual kinship with each other while modeling a spirit of innovative leadership for the field. Remuseum will continue evaluating and sharing their work as case studies for cultural organizations broadly, and future classes will continue expanding a Vanguard of leaders (10, then 20, and on) who build models of success for cultural organizations in the 21st Century, allowing arts & cultural institutions not just to survive but to support a stronger and more pluralistic civil society.

The Region One Athletic Fund for Projects Grant aims to enhance students' athletic experiences within the Region One School District. It supports diverse initiatives like coaching, training programs, equipment purchases, and facility improvements, ensuring students achieve their highest physical potential. Applications are welcomed from all community members to sustain and elevate the athletic program, fostering values such as sportsmanship and teamwork. This grant is crucial for projects beyond typical funding, promoting a comprehensive athletic education.

The Clara Blackford Smith & W. Aubrey Smith Charitable Foundation, established in 1978, aims to enhance quality education, health care, and human services for underserved populations in Grayson County, Texas. With a commitment to supporting charitable organizations that align with these goals, the foundation continues Mrs. Smith's legacy as a benefactor of health care. Special considerations are made for initiatives directly benefiting the local community.

State Homeland Security Program – Regular Projects (SHSP-R)

The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for projects that support state and local efforts to prevent terrorism and targeted violence and prepare for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the security of Texas citizens. The Office of the Governor (OOG), Public Safety Office (PSO) provides funding to implement investments that build, sustain, and deliver the 32 core capabilities essential to achieving a secure and resilient state.

This funding supports state, tribal and local preparedness activities that address high-priority preparedness gaps across all core capabilities where a nexus to terrorism exists. All investments must be consistent with capability targets set during the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) process, and gaps identified in the Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR).

The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is intended to support investments that improve the ability of jurisdictions to:

• Prevent a threatened or actual act of terrorism;
• Protect its citizens, residents, visitors, and assets against the greatest threats and hazards;
• Mitigate the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of future catastrophic events;
• Respond quickly to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs in the aftermath of a catastrophic incident; and/or
• Recover through a focus on the timely restoration, strengthening, accessibility and revitalization of infrastructure, housing, and a sustainable economy, as well as the health, social, cultural, historic, and environmental fabric of communities affected by a catastrophic incident.

Many activities which support the achievement of target capabilities related to terrorism preparedness may simultaneously support enhanced preparedness for other hazards unrelated to acts of terrorism. However, all SHSP projects must assist grantees in achieving target capabilities related to preventing, preparing for, protecting against, or responding to acts of terrorism.

Funding Levels

Minimum: $10,000

Maximum: None. However, PSO uses a risk-based formula to determine regional allocations. Local agencies should contact their regional COG for amounts historically available to the region and any maximum established by their COG. Additionally, PSO expects to make available approximately $1.5 - $2 million to state agencies in support of 10 – 15 projects under this solicitation and the SHSP-LETPA solicitation.

Match Requirement: None

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. TEA helps deliver education to more than 5 million students under the leadership of the commissioner of education. The TEA operational costs are supported by both state and federal funds.

The Texas Education Agency administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations.

Pipeline to Leadership (P2L) Cohort 2 Continuation Grant

Program Description

The primary purpose of the Pipeline to Leadership (P2L) Continuation Grant is to maximize the impact of highly effective teachers in reaching as many students as possible by developing strategic staffing models. Through this grant, school system leaders, including principals, recruit and select highly effective teachers to serve in leadership roles alongside campus and district instructional leaders. Through high-quality, job-embedded professional learning, these teacher leaders develop skills in key instructional leadership practices that help drive peer, beginning, and aspiring teachers’ instructional learning and growth. When highly effective teachers step into these leadership roles, school leaders distribute instructional leadership responsibilities, ensuring all teachers, across years of experience and effectiveness levels, receive differentiated and job-embedded supports to maximize their impact on student learning.

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, aims to enhance high-speed internet accessibility across the U.S. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, this initiative accepts applications year-round, with approvals occurring quarterly. To be eligible for the next funding round, applications must be submitted by the end of each calendar quarter, ensuring timely support for broadband development.

The Dover Foundation, established in 1944 by Jack and Charles Dover, focuses on enhancing community lives through support for faith-based, educational, and human service organizations. This private family foundation prioritizes grants to nonprofits in Cleveland County, having awarded millions to local causes since its inception. With values centered on education, community service, and integrity, the foundation is committed to making a meaningful impact and fostering collaboration among residents.

The George F. & Elah P. Evans Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing healthcare and educational opportunities for residents in Harrison and Lewis Counties, West Virginia. This private foundation aims to support charitable organizations that align with its mission, specifically those recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Notably, individual applicants are not eligible to apply for funding under this grant program.

The ArtsActivate Program, initiated by the City of Dallas, encourages community engagement through artistic and cultural projects. Inspired by the Dallas Cultural Plan 2018, it aims to bridge gaps in cultural access and foster a more equitable arts ecosystem. The program invites proposals from non-profit organizations, individual artists, and collectives, focusing on inclusivity and diversity to enrich the cultural landscape of Dallas. This initiative seeks to create meaningful experiences for residents and enhance the city's artistic vibrancy.

The Arts Education Grants by the Arts & Science Council support nonprofit education departments in Mecklenburg County, focusing on high-quality arts and heritage programs for school-age children, especially in Title I schools. These grants aim to enhance access to arts education, promote student achievement, and foster creativity. By aligning with the City of Charlotte's Arts & Culture Plan and Mecklenburg County's strategic priorities, the program seeks to build a more vibrant community through educational opportunities and partnerships.

About McElhattan Foundation

Founded in 2017 following the sale of Industrial Scientific Corporation, McElhattan Foundation invites bold ideas that advance the goals of its four program areas, including Ending Death on the Job.

Zero Electrocution Challenge

Despite decades of regulations, training, and personal protective equipment, workers continue to die from electrical contact every year.

McElhattan Foundation’s Zero Electrocution Challenge seeks breakthrough solutions that present pathways to eliminate life-threatening tasks that lead to fatal electrocution on the job by the year 2050, while increasing enterprise profitability and productivity. This is the inaugural ZERO 2050 challenge, awarding two Winners up to $1 million each.

The Connecticut Sea Grant Arts Support Awards Program offers up to $1000 to artists or groups whose work reflects the beauty and relevance of coastal and marine environments. Eligible participants include Connecticut residents or artists whose work connects to these themes, across all artistic disciplines. Funds can cover production costs, excluding self-compensation. Previous awardees must wait five years before reapplying, ensuring fresh talent and innovative projects continue to emerge.