Best Grants for International Development

Safe Haven Baby Box Grant

The Arkansas Safe Haven law allows delivery of a child who is thirty (30) days old or younger to a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or medical provider staff member. The child may be left in a designated safety device (often called a baby box) that is voluntarily installed by the medical provider, law enforcement agency, or fire department. The baby box must be physically located on a structured wall of or inside a hospital, law enforcement agency, or fire department; and located in an area that is conspicuous and visible to the employees of the hospital, law enforcement agency, or fire department.

The Safe Haven Baby Box Grant program provides funding to eligible organizations to assist with the costs associated with implementing a Safe Haven Baby Box.

Grant funds may only be used for costs associated with implementing a Safe Haven Baby Box that meets the requirements set forth in A.C.A. § 9-34-202. Applicants are eligible to apply for grant funding to cover up to 50% of the cost.

The California Wildlands Grassroots Fund Grant supports grassroots activists working to preserve California's wildlands and natural habitats. With a maximum award of $10,000, the fund prioritizes projects focused on conservation, environmental advocacy, and community engagement. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and fiscally sponsored individuals with annual incomes of $200,000 or less. The grant aims to empower communities, particularly in rural areas, to advocate for wildlands protection and biodiversity conservation.

May Family Foundation

Eleanor Jean May established the May Family Foundation in 2000, as a gesture of gratitude to the communities that shaped her life. The May Family Foundation is dedicated to identifying programs that strongly resonate with our mission and values as we work together to empower and uplift lives within our communities.

Our foundation provides resources and opportunities that empower young individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. Our goal is to create a brighter future for under-resourced youth in our local communities.

May Family Foundation Mental Health & Counseling Grant

Our foundation strives to be engaged in our local communities beyond grant funding. We support select programs that align with our goals and form a connection through potential volunteering opportunities, site visits, and recognition of successes.

We welcome grant applications for financial support in mental health and counseling:

• Programs and services that improve life for those with physical and mental challenges.
• We support programs that help students deal with a mental health diagnosis and life stressors, to help navigate the changes that occur during early childhood development through college.

The purpose of this program is to enhance, expand, or modify existing maternal health outcome initiatives that prioritize diagnoses identified as severe obstetric complications (SOCs) and reduce SOCs (not present on admission that occur during the current delivery encounter), address gaps in maternal health outcomes, and strengthen community-based systems to ensure high-quality preventive, primary, and specialty services for pregnant or postpartum women. 

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation's Family Stability Grant aims to enhance the quality of life for residents of Mecklenburg County. By investing between $10,000-$50,000 in eligible organizations, the grant focuses on family formation, financial security, innovative housing solutions, and parental engagement. The foundation seeks to empower families through education, support, and resources, ultimately breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty and fostering community involvement.

The Sacramento Audubon Society offers Conservation Grants aimed at supporting community-based projects that protect and restore habitats and wildlife. With a mission to promote the enjoyment and scientific study of birds, the Society encourages initiatives within 50 miles of Sacramento. This funding is designed to foster environmental education and advocate for open space conservation, making a positive impact on local ecosystems and communities.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is seeking proposals for psychiatric residential treatment services for individuals under 21, addressing complex mental health needs. This initiative is aimed at new providers looking to become Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) sites, with contracts anticipated to last from December 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, potentially extendable for up to five years. This RFP represents a critical step in enhancing mental health support for youth in Minnesota.

The Emergency/Medical Workers Behavioral Health Fund aims to support emergency workers facing trauma and anxiety due to their roles. Established by the HealthWell Foundation, it provides financial assistance for treatment-related costs, including copayments for prescription drugs, counseling, and transportation. In 2024, the Foundation awarded over $1.2 billion to underinsured patients, ensuring no one is denied essential healthcare due to financial barriers. This initiative helps address the critical mental health needs of those who serve on the front lines.

The CHPAS Conservation & Education Grants aim to support the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, focusing on wildlife and their habitats. Grants are available for conservation projects, scholarships for educational events, and outreach initiatives to enhance community awareness of wildlife. Funding requests can be made for amounts up to $500, targeting applicants in specific Wyoming counties. This program emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and community involvement in conservation efforts.

Community Change Grants

We understand that many issues can be best addressed when communities work together, pooling resources and expertise, and developing collaborative and creative solutions. By funding cross-organizational initiatives, we can help organizations broaden their outlook and their reach.

Through its Community Change funding, the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation seeks to forge equitable relationships and more just power dynamics among different constituencies relating to young people and their families affected by intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health challenges, and/or substance use disorders.

Community Change projects must be aligned with the Tower Foundation’s goals and involve multiple, diverse stakeholders – especially those most directly harmed by existing conditions and practices – working together towards common ends.

Such work can include (but is not limited to) initiatives that:

• challenge existing beliefs, assumptions, and entrenched practices involving these populations;
• supplement, coordinate, or more effectively resource relevant continuums of care;
• employ creative approaches to workforce recruitment and development that enhance the availability of and access to high-quality, culturally relevant services;
• support coalitions and networks built on community assets; and/or
• employ innovative approaches to creating equitable relationships and practices among elements within and across systems.

The strongest projects will incorporate most, if not all, elements of the Foundation’s values.

What Does the Foundation Want to Accomplish?

For each of the populations it supports, the Foundation has identified a set of grantmaking goals. Community Change grants should promote one or more of these goals:

• Intellectual Disabilities
• Children with intellectual disabilities are identified early and receive services that meet their evolving needs.
• Young people with intellectual disabilities are engaged in meaningful social, vocational, and educational pursuits.
• Families understand intellectual disabilities and secure needed supports.
• Communities embrace persons with intellectual disabilities and provide them with a full-range of supports and opportunities to engage in community life.
• Learning Disabilities
• Children with learning disabilities are identified early, diagnosed and connected to services that meet their on-going individual needs.
• Youth with learning disabilities understand how they learn and pursue resources that support them accordingly.
• Young adults are confident and do not view their learning disability as a liability.
• Young adults with learning disabilities are ready for work and/or educational pursuits.
• Families are informed about learning disabilities and are able to identify and navigate available services.
• Communities value persons with learning disabilities and accommodate their needs.
• Mental Health
• Stigma related to mental illness is eliminated.
• Children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges are identified early and connected to appropriate services.
• Young people with mental health challenges understand and manage their conditions and behaviors.
• Families understand mental health challenges and help members live productive lives.
• Communities offer meaningful opportunities and appropriate support to young people with mental health challenges and their families.
• Substance Use Disorders
• Community members understand the prevalence and harmful effects of alcohol and drugs, and work to address them.
• Resources for substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery are readily available.
• Families provide safe environments that support healthy choices about alcohol and drugs.
• Young people make healthy choices about alcohol and drugs.

About Your United Way

Our Mission

United Way of the Mid-Ohio Valley improves lives by uniting the helpers in our communities to advance the common good.

Our Vision

United Way of the Mid-Ohio Valley will create a tangible impact on the health, education, and financial stability of our communities.

United Way Funding Process

United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley grants is how we invest local dollars in our communities to address specific community-centered issues. Funding decisions are made through an annual competitive application process.

Our grants are invested in high-performing nonprofit organizations that provide programs and services aligned with our four strategic priority areas of Education, Income (Financial Stability), Safety Net, and Health. Awardees help to improve community conditions across our regional footprint in the counties we serve: Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wood, and Wirt in WV, Athens, and Washington Counties in OH.

The Superior HealthPlan Community Grant Program offers $10,000 to Texas-based organizations tackling Non-Medical Drivers of Health (NMDOH). Focus areas include housing stability, food security, and healthcare access. Grants are awarded annually, with applications reviewed by the Superior HealthPlan Grant Committee. Nonprofits addressing issues like housing insecurity, food access, and healthcare literacy are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants must serve the Medicaid population and submit required documentation by April 30, 2025.

The Stream and Wetland Restoration Grant, provided by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, aims to restore natural resources impacted by violations of the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act. Eligible applicants include nonprofit corporations, state and federal agencies, and municipalities. Projects must contribute to strategic investment areas, comply with regulatory requirements, and demonstrate their capacity to manage funds effectively. Leveraging additional resources is essential, with a minimum of 20% required from other sources.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks.

Just as importantly, the DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. The DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education. Our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

IRA Iowa Tree Planting Grant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), received funds to plant trees in public spaces.

The Iowa Tree Planting Grant provides reimbursable grants to purchase trees, mulch, tree staking/protection and supplemental watering by contractor or city staff. The grant is a two-year program.

The Iowa Tree Planting grants are available to community governmental entities, volunteer organizations, and service organizations involved with local urban and community forest services, to plant trees on publicly owned properties within the community to diversify the tree canopy, increase tree benefits, help with energy costs and health disparities, and increase access to parks and nature. 

The Louisiana Forest Productivity Program offers financial assistance to landowners in Louisiana to establish and enhance timber crops. By supporting forestry practices, this program aims to improve productivity and offset costs associated with tree planting and management. Eligible participants must own at least 10 contiguous acres of suitable land and commit to maintaining the forestry usage for ten years. This initiative plays a vital role in promoting sustainable forestry and enhancing the state's agricultural landscape.

The PTES Worldwide Conservation Insight Grants support scientific research and practical conservation efforts aimed at preserving endangered species. Grants range from £3,000 to £10,000 annually, up to a total of £20,000 over two years. Eligible applicants include researchers and conservationists working on critical conservation questions or local actions. The fund prioritizes projects with clear, sustainable outcomes that benefit endangered species and their habitats, particularly in low-income countries.

The Pacific Power Foundation provides Education/STEM Grants aimed at enhancing community vitality through charitable investments. With over $1 million awarded in 2021, eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, and youth organizations. The foundation emphasizes initiatives in electrical safety, energy efficiency, and workforce development. Grants are available in four cycles to ensure thorough evaluation of requests. Exclusions apply to organizations that discriminate or operate outside the service areas of Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power.

The Banner-ASU Neuroscience Scholars Program offers a unique eight-week training opportunity for top undergraduate and graduate students in science and social science. Participants engage in hands-on research alongside leading scientists in the Greater Phoenix area, focusing on neurodegenerative diseases. The program includes mentorship, educational seminars, and a stipend of $4,000 upon completion. Scholars present their findings at a formal symposium, enhancing their professional skills and academic credentials.

The Louisiana Forest Legacy Program aims to protect privately-owned forestlands through land acquisition and conservation easements, ensuring the sustainability of vital natural resources. This voluntary initiative, supported by the USDA Forest Service and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, helps maintain timber production, wildlife habitats, and community benefits while preventing forest fragmentation due to development. By engaging willing landowners, the program promotes responsible forestry practices and safeguards the ecological integrity of Louisiana's forests.

The Bothin Foundation Grant supports nonprofits with capital investments in social services, youth development, arts, and environmental programs, focusing on those serving disadvantaged children, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities in specific California counties. Eligible projects include building renovations, equipment purchases, and vehicle requests, with a preference for immediate, impactful needs. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) compliant and have a direct service focus, ensuring community benefit and sustainability.

The City of Hillsboro Community Impact Grant provides up to $120,000 in funding for nonprofit organizations to address community concerns over three years. Organizations can submit one application per cycle and must be qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Hillsboro residents. Priority areas are identified collaboratively, focusing on unique projects that deliver measurable outcomes and financial stability, especially in housing stability initiatives.

The Greater Lawrence Community Fund Grant provides essential program support for nonprofit organizations in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and North Andover, focusing on hunger, clothing, shelter, and education. The grant favors collaborative projects and evaluates proposals based on documented needs, organizational capacity, and potential impacts. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations committed to non-discrimination. Grants are typically for specific programs that can be assessed within a year, supporting small organizations as needed.

The W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award, administered by the AEESP Foundation, recognizes outstanding graduate students in environmental engineering and science whose research enhances wastewater management knowledge. This prestigious annual award offers a $1,500 honorarium and a plaque for winners, along with a $500 travel stipend for attending the AAEES awards ceremony. Eligible candidates include both Master’s and Ph.D. students who demonstrate exemplary academic performance and innovative research contributions.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) offers the Recycling and Waste Diversion Grant to support projects aimed at reducing solid waste and promoting recycling in Georgia. This grant provides financial assistance for initiatives that enhance recycling infrastructure, improve waste reduction efforts, and encourage innovative recycling processes. Eligible projects include those focused on hard-to-recycle materials and the development of hub and spoke systems. This funding aims to foster sustainable practices and measurable outcomes in waste management.

The Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee Grants Program provides funding for community-driven tree planting and educational projects on public lands throughout Maryland. Aimed at enhancing urban forests, the program prioritizes projects that engage organizations rather than individuals, and encourages initiatives that raise public awareness about the benefits of trees. Projects with matching funds are given preference, supporting the overall quality and quantity of the urban tree canopy.

Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation

Recognizing the growing importance of outdoor recreation to Utah’s economy and quality of life, the Utah State Legislature established the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation in 2022. As part of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the division unites the nation’s first Office of Outdoor Recreation with key state programs, including Utah’s Boating Program, Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program, and outdoor recreation grants and planning. We also work collaboratively with DNR's Division of Law Enforcement Rangers.

Dedicated to fostering a healthy and active lifestyle for all Utahns, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation focuses on four key areas: expanding recreational access, promoting safety and education, ensuring responsible stewardship and sustainable visitation, and driving economic growth through outdoor recreation.

Youth Engagement Grants

The Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE) and Outdoor Classroom Grants provide high-quality, outdoor-focused learning experiences to youth ages 6-18 in Utah. This funding aims to teach youth the physical skills that can make outdoor recreation part of a healthy and active lifestyle. UCORE complements the state’s Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) Initiative and hopes to provide more opportunities so no child is left inside.

The Youth Engagement Grants include the Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE) Grants and the Outdoor Classroom Grants. These two grants provide much needed funding for schools, cities, counties, tribes and non-profits to fund programing as well as outdoor learning spaces.The goals of the grants are to:

• Empower Youth
• Connect Students with Nature
• Teach New Skills
• Foster Stewardship

Projects applying for UCORE or Outdoor Classroom funds should tie into one or more activities included in the Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) Adventure Challenge, which is a year-long effort to provide free, outdoor opportunities to families, schools and after-school programs.  

UCORE and The Outdoor Classroom grant will have two unique applications.

Outdoor Classroom Grants

The Utah Outdoor Classroom Grant funding is dedicated to permanent, built infrastructure that can support student learning and is limited to between $500-$15,000. Eligible entities include nonprofits, public K-12 schools, and tribal organizations. Examples include, but are not limited to, amphitheaters, pergolas, picnic tables, pollinator gardens and other landscaping. Funds from this grant will not support the purchase of materials that may only last one season, including pop-up tents, camp chairs, etc

The FCIDD McNulty Scientist Award, offered by the Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, provides $75,000 annually for three years to support interdisciplinary research on neurodevelopmental disorders. This award aims to enhance understanding of conditions like autism and intellectual disabilities, encouraging collaborations across at least two university departments. Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has contributed over $3 million in grants and aims to improve the lives of individuals affected by developmental disabilities.