Best Grants for Nonprofits Serving Disabled

The Williamsburg Community Foundation (WCF) offers community grants to support initiatives benefiting residents of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County. Organizations can apply for up to $5,000 through a streamlined application process that covers multiple funding opportunities. WCF prioritizes areas such as arts, culture, health, and community wellness, ensuring assistance reaches those in need. The foundation encourages first-time applicants to reach out for guidance before submission.

The East Missouri Foundation Grant supports 501(c)(3) organizations focused on providing essential services such as housing, healthcare, food, and transportation for vulnerable populations including seniors, persons with disabilities, and the homeless. The foundation issues one-time grants for specific purposes and does not fund individuals or organizations outside its defined priorities. Grants are determined by a board of directors committed to enhancing community welfare through targeted charitable initiatives.

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company empowers employees to make a significant impact through collective fundraising, supporting nonprofit organizations in their communities for over 60 years. The Houston Chapter focuses on delivering essential health and human services to diverse groups, ensuring equitable support regardless of gender, race, or background. With employee-led grantmaking initiatives, the ECF fosters community engagement and enhances local welfare, reflecting its commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The AWS Foundation Accessible Communities Fund Grant supports inclusive programs for individuals with disabilities in Noble County. Organizations can apply for grants up to $10,000 to create impactful projects that promote self-determination and integration. The Community Foundation of Noble County emphasizes collaboration and community involvement to address local needs and enhance quality of life. This initiative aligns with their mission to foster positive change and empowerment for all residents.

The Franklin County Community Foundation Grant supports innovative nonprofit projects in Franklin County, focusing on arts, education, community development, environment, and health services. It seeks applications that demonstrate sustainability and impactful outcomes for local individuals and families. Eligible applicants include registered nonprofits or those with a fiscal sponsor. The foundation prioritizes projects that address community needs, particularly in music, health, and early childhood education, while not funding advertising or new staff positions without sustainability plans.

The JSF People with Disabilities Grant supports organizations that empower students with disabilities through education and employment opportunities. With a focus on scholarships and mentorship, the Foundation addresses barriers that hinder access to higher education. It has established partnerships with universities and schools, including Gallaudet University, to create impactful programs. Additionally, it funds initiatives that help transition individuals into the workforce, ensuring inclusivity in educational and professional settings.

The Children's Guild Foundation Grant supports non-profit organizations in Western New York that cater to children with special needs. The Foundation, operational for over a century, focuses on funding impactful programs addressing developmental, medical, intellectual, behavioral, and mental health challenges. By forming partnerships and advocating for systemic change, the Foundation aims to enhance the lives of these children and their families, ensuring their needs are met effectively and efficiently.

About Us

Bay Area Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization created by and for the people of the Bay Area. We offer a range of flexible giving tools to help our donors make a positive impact on the community and causes that align with their interests and passions. In addition to first-rate donor service, we manage our community’s permanent endowment and award grants to address the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities.

Since 1982, our community has used our resources to make charitable gifts more effective. We provide maximum flexibility in establishing, managing, and distributing your gifts. Through our donors’ generosity, we can help support arts and culture, community initiatives, education and youth, environment, health and wellness, human services, and recreation in our area.

Leslie L. Squires Foundation Grant

The Leslie L. Squires Foundation was established in 1987 by Jacqueline M. Squires in memory of her late husband, Leslie L. Squires. Both Jacqueline and Leslie were supportive of many civic and charitable organizations. Both also had compassion for people who have disabilities. As a result, the Squires Foundation was established to benefit Bay County, Michigan persons who are impaired physically or mentally. The Foundation's charitable purposes seek to improve "the social condition of persons with disabilities through education, entertainment, recreation, and special training in preparation for self-support and the full development of useful, happy lives".

Bay Area Community Foundation administers the grant process for the Leslie L. Squires Foundation.

The Sara Rickertsen Special Needs Grant Program, established by the Rickertsen family, honors their daughter Sara, who has intellectual disabilities. This program aims to support organizations in the Lexington area that assist individuals with disabilities. Grants of up to $1,000 are available annually for projects that promote health, social inclusion, education, and employment for people with disabilities, ensuring they lead fulfilling lives.

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council aims to enhance transportation opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities through funded projects. By expanding access to transportation, the council seeks to empower individuals with I/IDD to achieve independence and improve their quality of life. Two projects may receive $50,000 annually for five years, supporting diverse entities in Ohio. This initiative aligns with the council's mission to foster inclusion and community involvement for people with disabilities.

The Council Connect grant from the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council aims to enhance public awareness of developmental disabilities. It will create resources and outreach initiatives to educate communities, especially underserved populations. The selected grantee will coordinate communication efforts to share stories, promote resources, and engage with community organizations. This initiative aligns with the Council's mission to improve independence and inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities, ultimately fostering a more informed and connected community.

The Little League Fund for Youth Sports Grant Program, established in 2016, supports organizations in Lycoming County dedicated to promoting youth sports activities for children under 16 and individuals with special needs. Grants help enhance participation by reducing barriers like fees and equipment costs. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits or local government units, while ineligible requests cover annual campaigns, operating expenses, and multi-year funding. This initiative aims to foster healthy living through sports.

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship

Advancing the science and practice of supporting children to thrive

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is a global initiative supporting researchers working to deepen our understanding of how children thrive. Spanning disciplines from education and psychology to public health, data science, and humanitarian studies, the fellowship brings together early- and mid-career scholars whose work has the potential to generate evidence that matters for children’s lives.

Fellows receive three years of flexible support to pursue rigorous, practically relevant research, and join a cohort of peers working across the fellowship’s themes. In addition to funding research, the program fosters a community of scholars engaged in meaningful exchange with one another and with research, policy, and practice audiences.

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is developed in partnership with the LEGO Foundation, and administered by SSRC as part of its commitment to supporting scholars whose work bridges research and real-world impact.

Research themes

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship welcomes research proposals that advance understanding of children’s thriving through one of the following three themes: the youngest children in crisis and conflict settings; inclusion and wellbeing of neurodivergent children; and children’s learning and development in an AI-enabled world. Applicants may explore the role of play where it is relevant to the research question. The consideration of play is optional and not a condition of eligibility.

About Us

The mission of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (Ohio DD Council) is to create change that improves independence, productivity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. The Ohio DD Council operates under the authority of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) and is a part of the Ohio DD Network. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities assists and supports the Ohio DD Council as the federally mandated designated state agency.

All In Play: Empowering Inclusive Sports in K-12 Schools

This grant will support the development and expansion of inclusive K–12 athletic programs that increase access to meaningful participation for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including those with significant support needs. The goal is to build school and community capacity, not to deliver direct services.

Grantees will implement a train‑the‑trainer model that equips school staff, coaches, and university partners with practical strategies for inclusive sports program design, adaptive coaching, and peer‑to‑peer engagement. Projects must include approaches that prepare trainers to support students across the full spectrum of abilities and to train student peers in disability awareness, communication, and inclusive teamwork.

Funded activities may include developing training materials, delivering trainer sessions, providing technical assistance to schools, building partnerships with university PT/OT programs, and collecting best practices. Projects should emphasize sustainability, replication, and long‑term systems change.

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to:

• Build capacity within schools to design and sustain inclusive athletic programs.
• Train educators, coaches, and university partners to support students with all levels of disability.
• Incorporate structured peer‑engagement models (e.g., buddy systems, mentorship).
• Provide technical assistance that helps schools implement inclusive practices effectively.
• Evaluate training effectiveness and share outcomes.

This grant aligns with ODDC priorities by promoting community inclusion, strengthening local capacity, supporting cross‑disability participation, and fostering collaborative partnerships that lead to lasting systemic change.

The Summit Foundation Grant aims to support various community needs in the Summit area, focusing on education, health, arts, and assistance for individuals with disabilities. The foundation encourages local nonprofits to apply for competitive grants to fund specific programs and initiatives that enhance community welfare. Eligibility requires organizations to be tax-exempt and serve Summit area residents. However, the foundation does not fund general operating support or religious programs. The goal is to create a positive impact on local communities.

The Dermody Properties Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community well-being through support for the arts, education, and families, particularly children and the elderly. Established in 1988, the foundation has provided over $3.65 million in donations to various nonprofits, including grants and scholarships. Eligible organizations must have IRS 501(c)(3) status and be located within 30 miles of Dermody's projects. Grants typically range from $500 to $3,000, reflecting a commitment to corporate philanthropy.

PADDC Community Grants Program

Our Community Grants Program brings together people, with and without disabilities, in a local community initiative to influence social change and improve the lives of everyone in the community. We support ideas that develop generic change, providing benefits to people with disabilities in settings that are the same as those available to community-at-large. If necessary, projects also change that generic community to meet the needs of people with disabilities, affirming the status of people with disabilities as full and equal members.

The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) uses the federal definition of developmental disabilities, as it appears in Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (The DD Act). This definition is based on substantial physical or mental impairment function in three or more major areas of life activity and the age of onset when the disability occurred.

The Robert and Joan Dircks Foundation Grant Program supports non-profit organizations in New Jersey that provide opportunities for disadvantaged individuals. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, the foundation focuses on innovative programs that solve critical issues rather than operational needs. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation does not fund political activities, cultural projects, or operating budgets, ensuring resources directly benefit those in need.

The Hudson-Ellis Grants, offered by the Blue Grass Community Foundation, support charitable organizations in Boyle County, focusing on public education and services for disadvantaged youth and adults. Established through generous donations, these grants aim to address community needs with sustainable and measurable outcomes. Organizations can apply for funding up to $7,500 to create a positive impact in the community. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $160 million in grants, enhancing the quality of life in Central and Appalachia Kentucky.

The Leah M. Sundheimer Foundation Grant, established in memory of Ms. Sundheimer, supports the education, health, and rehabilitation of handicapped individuals, especially children, in Wabash County, Indiana. With an average grant size of $10,000 to $15,000 and funding two to four grants annually, the foundation plays a crucial role in enhancing community welfare through targeted programs. This initiative ensures that the legacy of generosity continues to benefit local citizens for years to come.

The Loudoun Impact Fund Grant, offered by the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, supports organizations that positively impact vulnerable populations in Loudoun County. Grantmakers prioritize projects aiding at-risk children, people with disabilities, and older adults. With donor contributions pooled, the fund aims to address essential needs, health services, and educational support. Interested applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, or faith-based organizations committed to serving diverse communities.

The Beneto Foundation provides grant funding ranging from $1,500 to $25,000 for ongoing or one-time projects that support 501(c)(3) organizations in the greater Sacramento area. Special consideration is given to initiatives serving individuals with disabilities, families experiencing homelessness, or those with extremely low income. New applicants typically receive up to $5,000. Eligible organizations must focus on local community needs and not engage in political activities.

The Access To Recreation Endowment Fund Grant, managed by the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, supports nonprofit organizations in Sangamon County that provide accessible recreation programs for individuals with disabilities. This initiative, initially funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, aims to enhance participation in adaptive sports and activities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage in both indoor and outdoor recreation without barriers.

The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation, established in 1994, focuses on enhancing education, health, cultural experiences, and social welfare for youth with disabilities and economic challenges in the Greater Cincinnati area. It supports arts organizations and recreation initiatives, prioritizing programs that help young individuals realize their potential. Eligible applicants must be recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits and demonstrate benefits to specific counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The Foundation encourages collaboration with other donors for project funding.

The Chicago Board of Trade Foundation Grant offers funding to non-profit organizations in the Chicago area, focusing on initiatives that assist children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and must not discriminate based on race, religion, or sexual orientation. Applications will be assessed based on program effectiveness, community impact, and organizational management. The foundation does not fund individuals, political candidates, or organizations without tax-exempt status.

The TSBVI Access Grant, awarded by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance access to core and expanded curricula for students with visual impairments. This project will provide refreshable braille tablets to eligible braille-reading students in Texas, addressing funding gaps due to changes in federal quota fund availability. Through this initiative, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired will support educational equity for visually impaired learners in the 2025-2026 academic year.

The Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in San Antonio and Bexar County through support for arts, education, health and wellness, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that empower youth, promote health, and protect animal welfare, reflecting Mrs. Kelso's commitment to community enrichment. Organizations eligible for funding are primarily 501(c)(3) nonprofits, dedicated to making a positive impact in these focus areas.