Explore grants specifically for 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting diverse missions in education, health, environment, and social justice.
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$8.25B
Total funding
$6K
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Safety Net Grants
The safety net grant funding threshold will be $20,000 and will continue to provide essential support to individuals and families facing an immediate crisis. (The single county basic needs grant threshold was $10,000 previously.) The focus on safety net services is a more refined approach from the wide lens of basic needs. By eliminating regional basic need grants, funding becomes more targeted, ensuring equitable grant distribution across counties. (Six-month Single County Safety Net grant application available now)
Single-County Grants
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects people, passion and resources. With our partners, the Community Foundation uses the tools of philanthropy to find solutions to pressing issues. We provide grants to support the work of nonprofits, scholarships to local students and other forms of support to communities working to eliminate barriers to opportunity, prosperity and belonging.
Scholarships
Each year Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports hundreds of students on their college or career training journeys. We are excited to remove barriers to academic success so that students like you can pursue what you're passionate about.
Joshua Esch Mitchell Aviation Scholarship
Open to graduating high school seniors from West Michigan Aviation Academy, or to second year undergraduates from any high school, studying Aviation/Flight Science and have a pilot’s license, with a minimum 2.75 GPA.
Dr. C. D. Rao Memorial Scholarship
Students pursuing engineering studies.
Awards
Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is a resource for local charitable giving. Created by and for the people of San Luis Obispo County, The Community Foundation is an enduring source of charitable funds to meet the changing needs and interests of the region. We envision San Luis Obispo County as an inclusive haven where everyone, regardless of background, feels free to fully participate. In collaboration with our community partners and donors, we seek to foster a safe, respectful environment with ample opportunity for all to reach their potential and contribute to the success of our community.
Scholarships
The Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program was established in 2000 by generous individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to ensure students can pursue their educational dreams. We administer a variety of scholarships for high school seniors and college students. The program awards more than 65 scholarships totaling over $420,000. All scholarships have individual criteria, deadline and requirements.
Yinghsia Shih Li Memorial Scholarship
The purpose of the fund is to support young women graduating from Lucia Mar Unified School District pursue a career in science.
The Denver Foundation
For 100 years, The Denver Foundation has been building a stronger, thriving Metro Denver, Colorado, and beyond. We’ve received $2.1 billion from generous donors and given $1.6 billion in grants to support community initiatives. We’re the foundation of Denver, connecting and collaborating to address the current and future challenges of our community.
The Study Group Scholarship for Women in Law
The Study Group Scholarship for Women in Law is a three-year, renewable scholarship for women students attending the University of Denver’s (DU) Sturm College of Law.
The Study Group Scholarship invests in women who will be equipped to shape a more just and equitable legal system – amplifying the voices and impact of women who continue to face inequalities in the practice of law. By supporting women in law today, we are strengthening advocacy, leadership, and systemic equity for generations to come.
Recipients of The Study Group Scholarship for Women in Law will be known as the Study Group Scholars.
This scholarship was created in 2026 by Debra Lappin, Rosemary Collyer, and Kris Hoeltgren, with a philosophy and commitment to women in law driven by their experience with their own “study group” at the DU Sturm College of Law.
Award amounts may be used toward the recipient’s tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Award must be used for the upcoming academic year.
County-Wide Basic Needs Grants
The Basic Needs Grant Cycle provides funding to organizations addressing urgent and foundational needs within local communities. This grant is designed to strengthen the safety net for individuals and families experiencing hardship by supporting programs that deliver food, clothing, essential items, and safe shelter.
Applicants may request up to $10,000 in funding. Partial awards may be granted based on project need, available funds, and proposal strength.
Funding Priorities
Priority will be given to projects and programs that:
Address Immediate or Chronic Food Insecurity: Including food pantries, meal programs, weekend backpack programs, or other efforts ensuring access to nutritious food.
Provide Essential Clothing: Programs supplying seasonal clothing, winter gear, or everyday clothing in emergency situations for individuals and families.
Meet Critical Essential Needs: Initiatives providing hygiene products, household essentials, baby items, transportation assistance, or other core necessities.
Support Access to Safe Shelter: Emergency shelter, transitional housing, homelessness prevention, and programs improving safety or stability for people without housing.
Use of Funds
Allowable costs may include, but not limited to:
Community Foundation of Randolph County
Our mission is to bring people and resources together to strengthen the quality of life, both now and in the future, for the residents of Randolph County.
The Community Foundation’s work falls into three major categories: grant-making, donor service, and community convening. Our most visible activities are the grants and scholarships we award each year. Most of these awards come from income earned from permanently endowed funds. Scholarships and other grants come from funds that donors have established for specific purposes.
Diana Fahl Sciences Scholarship
In the early 1990’s Diana Fahl began working at Indiana University East, she saw there was a financial need for single mothers. Diana came up with the idea to create a fundraiser cookbook, with faculty, staff and students submitting recipes. Diana served as the editor, and it was a hit; they reached the level for two endowed scholarships. Ten years later Diana saw that the student body had changed to a more traditional student body with a large percentage of freshman students not advancing to sophomore level. Diana proposed a new scholarship as a two-fold scholarship, the high school graduate would receive the first component of the scholarship their freshman year of college, then, as the student proceeds to their sophomore year they would get an increased additional payment from the scholarship. Diana served as editor of this cookbook and two more endowed scholarships were created.
After decades of working with the community and creating needed scholarships, Diana is overwhelmed with pride to have a science scholarship in her name.
This scholarship may be awarded to students who are a Randolph County resident, graduate from a Randolph County school, and plans to pursue a degree in the Sciences (not including nursing) at Indiana University East.
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that was created through the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and is administered at the State and territory level. CSBG funding supports activities that help to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient. In Massachusetts, CSBG funding is at the core of a network of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) which mobilize resources and communities to fight poverty. Through CSBG support, CAAs can respond to the causes and conditions of poverty by delivering services and strategies tailored to meet priority needs unique to their communities.
The Foundation awards scholarships to nontraditional students, students who are not graduating from high school this academic year, who are continuing their education through degree or certificate programs, seminars, workshops, or customized training. The application is open throughout the year, and applications are reviewed and determined on a quarterly basis.
Shaw Family Opportunity Scholarship
Awarded to residents of Caroline County, who are nontraditional (adult) students.
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 $3.43B 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.
What's the typical grant amount funded for Grants for 501(c)(3)?
Grants are most commonly $34,887.
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 29.8% 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 $34,887, while the average grant awarded is $655,609. 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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