Best Grants for BIPOC

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is offering $1.1 million in Small Communities Planning Grants to support climate planning projects in communities with populations under 10,000. This initiative aims to enhance resilience against stormwater issues, improve wastewater systems, and adapt community services to changing climate conditions. By partnering with local governments, the MPCA is addressing the urgent impacts of climate change through innovative, community-centered approaches.

The GLCF Century Fund offers $100,000 annually to tax-exempt charitable organizations in Lynchburg and surrounding counties. This grant supports transformational projects that significantly improve nonprofit operations and community services. Eligible applicants must have 501(c)(3) status and demonstrate a commitment to innovative change. The fund aims to enhance various project categories, including arts, education, and environmental initiatives. Organizations can apply every five years, ensuring a continuous opportunity for impactful funding.

The Conservation Partners Grant Program, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, supports private landowners in implementing regenerative agriculture and conservation practices. By awarding competitive grants, the program facilitates technical assistance for developing management plans and best practices, enabling landowners to maximize the ecological benefits of their lands. This initiative is crucial for enhancing fish and wildlife habitats, addressing pressing conservation issues, and promoting sustainable land stewardship across the United States.

The Andersen Corporate Foundation, established in 1941, aims to enhance lives and strengthen communities where its employees reside. It has contributed over $65 million to various causes, focusing on housing, healthcare, hunger relief, and education. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000, primarily supporting nonprofit organizations that align with these areas, particularly in communities where Andersen operates, ensuring a lasting impact on local initiatives.

Northern Trust

Guided by our founding principles of service, expertise and integrity, we are passionate experts from around the globe who turn ideas into action to help the world’s most successful individuals, families and institutions achieve their goals.

Since 1889, when our founder Byron Smith built Northern Trust on our enduring principles, we have shown time and again that we exist to serve not only clients, but also the community at large.

Corporate social responsibility and philanthropy are essential elements of our mission and culture. Driven by our strategic focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, community engagement and environmental sustainability, we strive to be socially accountable – to ourselves, our stakeholders and the public.

The Northern Trust Foundation Grants

Increasing access to essential human needs will broaden opportunities for Chicago's young people and support them in fulfilling their potential and achieving long-term financial success. The Northern Trust Foundation is focusing its funding on communities in Chicago's South and West Sides by providing general operating support and program grants that specifically target youth ages 16-24.

Funding Priorities & Objectives

Northern Trust prioritizes the following areas to help low-income youth ages 16-24 on Chicago’s South and West sides.

Food Security: Youth who experience food insecurity are more likely to struggle in school and face both mental and physical health challenges. We prioritize funding for programs that:

• Increase access to, awareness of, and participation in free food distribution programs and services
• Raise awareness of, and increase participation in, state and federal nutrition assistance programs (e.g., SNAP, WIC, Summer Food Service Program, etc.)
• Increase access to affordable, nutritious foods for purchase, particularly within food deserts, and leverage innovative solutions to address the issue of access to food

Affordable Housing: Stable housing can serve as the foundation for a secure future. We prioritize funding to organizations assisting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with access to safe and permanent housing through programs that:

• Support youth experiencing homelessness and help navigate and access services available in their local communities with a goal of getting them into permanent housing
• Assist low-income college students by providing supportive services and affordable housing
• Provide temporary or permanent free/affordable housing options for youth; highest priority will be given to programs that focus on moving youth efficiently into permanent housing solutions
• Provide housing-related case management, foster care or other services to youth who are living in unsafe or unstable home environments including LBGTQ+ and youth transitioning out of the foster care system

Educational Excellence: Low-income youth attend and complete college at a much lower rate than their peers. We prioritize funding for programs that support students “to and through” college (including trade schools) and specifically focus on removing barriers for low-income youth that:

• Focus on academic readiness, including college-level coursework during high school, and high school completion with an emphasis on post-secondary school enrollment
• Support post-secondary school persistence, including those that focus on alternatives to remedial coursework
• Assist students through the college search, application and enrollment process, ensuring students ultimately are admitted to, enroll in and attend schools which are a good match and fit for their individual needs
• Provide access to financial aid for low-income youth and/or provide ongoing financial planning and credit building for students and their families, to ensure students complete their post-secondary education

Accessible Healthcare: The transition from child to adult healthcare is a greater challenge for low-income individuals. We prioritize funding to hospitals, healthcare centers and community organizations providing physical or mental healthcare that:

• Provide access to physical or mental healthcare for free or at a sliding scale
• Provide primary and preventative care, including health screenings for young women
• Focus on providing solutions that remove common barriers to care among this population (e.g., telehealth visits, pop-up clinics, after-hours appointments, etc.)
• Raise awareness and provide education of healthcare services and/or Medicaid and assist this population to apply for and access Medicaid

The Ordinance Development Projects grant, offered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, supports the creation of local regulations aimed at benefiting surface water. Eligible activities include ordinance text development, legal work, compliance training, and outreach efforts. Applicants must submit a pre-application by September 15 and a full proposal by November 15, along with a letter of support from the implementing government unit, promoting sustainable management of Wisconsin's natural resources.

The Proposition 4 Grant Program, managed by the California Tahoe Conservancy, aims to enhance watershed health, forest restoration, and climate resilience in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Funded by a $4.1 billion bond approved in 2024, it allocates $54.5 million for various environmental initiatives. Through ongoing grant opportunities, the program seeks to mitigate climate impacts, support biodiversity, and improve public access to natural resources, ensuring sustainable management of California's precious ecosystems.

The Weld Trust offers Cycle Grants to nonprofits, schools, and government entities serving Weld County residents. They accept Letters of Inquiry three times a year for various initiatives including access to resources, childhood literacy, and food security. Eligible organizations can receive up to two grants per cycle and six per year, with funding available for indirect costs up to 15%. This initiative aims to foster health and education within the community.

The NHLBI Career Transition Award (K22) supports postdoctoral fellows and research trainees in the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research, facilitating their transition to independent research roles at extramural institutions. Key deadlines for applications include October 12, 2024, and February 12, 2025, among others, providing ample opportunity for qualified investigators to advance their careers.

IMPACT the Palm Beaches is a philanthropic organization empowering women to fund transformative grants for nonprofits in Central and Northern Palm Beach County. Each year, members contribute to award grants totaling $100,000, fostering community growth. The organization focuses on vital areas such as Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Family, and Health & Wellness. Since 2015, over $1.9 million has been invested in impactful projects, enhancing local services and support for underserved populations.

The Joseph Kennard Skilling Trust Grant supports social welfare agencies in Philadelphia, enhancing community welfare through targeted programs. Established in 1963 by Joseph Kennard Skilling, the trust embodies his lifelong commitment to philanthropy. The foundation prioritizes effective programs, professional management, and community needs, while favoring organizations that assist vulnerable populations. Eligible nonprofit organizations under Section 501(c)(3) are encouraged to apply, particularly those addressing issues like elder care, youth at risk, and rehabilitation of the homeless.

The Fund for Women & Girls Grant aims to empower economically vulnerable women and girls in greater Mercer County through community investment and education. By supporting diverse projects such as early childhood education, mental health services, and workforce development, the grant fosters a collaborative environment for nonprofits. Eligible organizations must possess tax-exempt status and operate within specified geographical areas, ensuring targeted assistance. This initiative reflects a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, enhancing the quality of life for those in need.

The TX AmeriCorps Planning Grant, managed by OneStar, aims to address Texas's social challenges through national service. Engaging over 3,200 AmeriCorps members across 33 organizations, it focuses on disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and support for veterans. This initiative enhances community resilience, improves lives, and fosters civic engagement by directing resources effectively to those in need, contributing to a stronger, more interconnected Texas.

The NAACP X Society Awards Scholarship

The NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship is one of many funding opportunities available to students through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Through the generosity of our donors, we advance efforts to ensure equity in educational opportunity that prepares students for success in school, work, and life.

Scholarship amount: $1,000 to $5,000

This is a non-renewable scholarship opportunity.

The Clean Water Montgomery Grant Program, funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, aims to enhance water quality in Montgomery County through community engagement and innovative projects. Grants support watershed restoration, public outreach, and litter reduction, with funding levels ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 depending on the project type. While matching funds are encouraged for most projects, they are mandatory for permeable paver installations. This initiative fosters sustainable behavior change and encourages creative proposals.

Transformative Care Model

Accelerator Partners (Now Open)

The Accelerator Partner Program is proposed as support for hospitals or other organizations in rural regions that demonstrate strong readiness and commitment to implement the CalRHT Transformative Care Model (TCM) through regional care collaboratives and hub-and-spoke relationships which will seek to strengthen primary and maternity care in rural parts of the state.  

Accelerator Partners will strengthen TCM performance metrics in their service areas while serving as testing sites for innovative care models and evidence-based approaches. Accelerator Partners will demonstrate how integrated service delivery can strengthen access, quality, and sustainability in rural communities.

Lessons learned from these Accelerator Partners will inform statewide scaling and continuous improvement of the regional care collaboratives and hub-and-spoke framework in future years.

The Benter Foundation Grant supports invited organizations whose projects align with the foundation's current priorities. Established in 2007, the foundation focuses on enhancing livability in Pittsburgh, promoting smart transportation, the arts, and global connections. It also aims to broaden access to opportunities for local communities, encouraging young people to pursue education and career development. Through innovative projects, the foundation seeks to create impactful solutions beyond Pittsburgh, fostering community engagement and addressing global challenges.

The Anna May Family Foundation, established in 1999, aims to support organizations in southern Oregon that assist economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly focusing on children, women, elders, and minorities. The foundation prioritizes grants addressing urgent needs, such as abuse victims, at-risk children, and those requiring emergency services. However, it does not fund individuals, completed projects, or operational costs, ensuring that its contributions are directed towards impactful initiatives in the community.

The OPCFHK Conservation Funding program aims to ensure the survival of threatened Asian wildlife, particularly the giant panda and Chinese white dolphin. This initiative encourages innovative conservation projects that deliver measurable results, promote public awareness, and involve local communities. With a focus on endangered species and their habitats, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that align with climate change, marine conservation, and terrestrial wildlife protection, fostering collaboration between local and international researchers.

The SCC Nashville Grant Program, managed by Speedway Children's Charities, supports nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children in middle Tennessee. With over $80,000 distributed in 2024, the program prioritizes funding for organizations addressing homelessness, education, and critical health needs. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on children's welfare. The grant process includes a pre-proposal and an invitation-only full proposal, culminating in a celebration at the Annual Night of Joy.

The Mighty Money Mini Grant from the AWS Foundation aims to empower individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities in Northeast Indiana. By providing quick funding to 501(c)(3) organizations, this initiative supports innovative ideas that enhance community inclusion, education, and accessibility. The grant focuses on initiatives such as social enrichment, education, transportation, early diagnosis, and housing, ensuring that these individuals can live independently and thrive within their communities.

The Sustaining Environmental Systems Grant aims to ensure equitable access to healthy land and water for all Minnesotans. The Mortenson Family Foundation supports community-led environmental solutions and multi-year grants to partner organizations. It prioritizes partnerships that focus on sustainability, racial justice, and community engagement, fostering innovative approaches to restore relationships with nature and address climate change impacts. The foundation seeks organizations that can deliver tangible environmental outcomes while empowering historically marginalized communities.

The Medical Research Grants program offers funding of up to $25,000 for Resubmission Grants aimed at enhancing NIH proposals that were previously scored in the top 50% but not funded. These grants support various research areas, including infectious diseases and cancer, and are particularly focused on junior faculty within Rhode Island's academic and hospital institutions. The funding can cover costs such as data gathering and equipment, but not salary support.

The Service Club Alliance Grant, offered by the Midland Lions Club, focuses on addressing critical needs in the Midland community through collaborative efforts of local service clubs. This grant supports various causes including vision, hunger, and humanitarian efforts, ensuring resources are allocated effectively. By streamlining the application process, the Alliance encourages community organizations to seek funding for impactful projects. The Midland Area Community Foundation facilitates this partnership without making grant decisions, empowering local service initiatives.

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Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program

The Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program offers funding for transportation projects that help meet Clean Air Act requirements. Eligible projects may include:

• Bike-sharing and shared scooter systems
• Purchasing diesel replacements or zero-emission vehicles
• Modernizing or rehabilitating locks and dams
• Building vehicle refueling infrastructure that reduces emissions

The Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) aims to enhance community engagement and positive development for youth under 21 years old through public-private partnerships. Administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, YOP offers tax credits to eligible donors, facilitating funding for local projects that promote self-esteem and reduce youth violence, particularly in high-crime areas. With $6 million in credits available, YOP prioritizes initiatives that foster community-based solutions for youth.

The Provident Bank Foundation's Empowerment Grant focuses on uplifting marginalized communities by providing flexible funding for initiatives that promote economic self-sufficiency. With grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 over two years, the program supports organizations in education, human services, and workforce development. Eligible applicants must demonstrate meaningful community impact and align with the Foundation's funding priorities, which include promoting quality education, social safety nets, and career development opportunities.