Best Grants for Preschools

21st Century Community Learning Center Program

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program supports eligible organizations in providing academic enrichment activities and a broad array of additional services during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session.

Programs reinforce and complement regular school-day instruction, target students’ academic needs, and provide families with opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education.

Funding Amount Available

The minimum amount awarded to each subgrantee is $50,000, and the maximum award is $400,000.

The Alma Gilmore Doud Memorial Scholarship honors a dedicated community servant from Saginaw. Established by the Saginaw Community Foundation, this scholarship supports students pursuing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs or undergraduate degrees. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and reside in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Priority is given to members of the First Congregational Church. Awards typically range from $500 to $4,000, addressing the growing demand for skilled trades in today's workforce.

The Balcueva Family Memorial Scholarship, established in 1998, honors the memory of four sons lost to congenital heart defects. This scholarship supports students pursuing environmental sciences, reflecting the family's commitment to environmental stewardship. With awards ranging from $500 to $4,000, it aims to inspire future generations to protect our natural resources. Applicants must be Saginaw County residents with a minimum 3.0 GPA, enrolled full-time in undergraduate studies. This initiative reflects the community's values and dedication to environmental preservation.

The Bernice Barlow NAACP Scholarship, awarded by the Saginaw Community Foundation, supports high school seniors pursuing higher education or vocational training. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and be current members or children of members of the Saginaw NAACP Branch. This scholarship honors Bernice Barlow, a dedicated educator and NAACP leader, providing financial assistance to foster educational opportunities in the community. Awards typically range from $500 to $4,000, helping students achieve their career goals.

The Beverly E. Hendricks Nursing Scholarship, established by the Hendricks family, honors Beverly's dedication to nursing and community. It supports students pursuing a Nursing degree at Delta College with a minimum 3.0 GPA, offering financial aid based on need. The scholarship reflects the importance of skilled healthcare professionals in today's society, aiming to enhance the quality of care within the community. This initiative empowers aspiring nurses to achieve their educational goals and contribute to the healthcare field.

The Bob and Betty Grills Scholarship, established by the Saginaw Community Foundation, honors the legacy of Robert and Elizabeth Grills. It supports Michigan residents, particularly from the Great Lakes Bay Region, pursuing degrees in medicine at Central Michigan University. This scholarship aims to alleviate financial burdens for students enrolled full-time in medical doctor, physician assistant, or psychiatry programs, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to enhancing community well-being through education.

The CAC/Robert L. Viera Community Service Scholarship, established in 1998, supports Saginaw County high school seniors pursuing higher education. This award assists students demonstrating financial need and recognizes those with special circumstances allowing part-time college enrollment. The scholarship honors Robert Viera's legacy of leadership in the minority and low-income communities, aiming to empower future leaders through education and community service. Awards typically range from $500 to $4,000, ensuring accessibility to higher education for deserving students.

Request for Proposals

Illuminating the Mekong River Basin

This Request for Proposals invites a community of storytellers to illuminate the complex network of interconnected issues rooted in the Mekong River Basin*. Our goal is to support creative projects across all mediums that elevate Ancestral Knowledge and cutting-edge science into our collective awareness.

We are seeking narratives that explore the delicate pulse of the local and broader ecosystem and the cultural practices that define our relationship with nature, wildlife, and landscapes. We especially encourage projects that bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and modern science and culture, offering a holistic view of the natural world.

*What do we mean by the Mekong River Basin?

The Lower Mekong is a transborder bioregion defined by the “flood pulse”—the unique hydrological heartbeat that reverses the flow of rivers and breathes life into the floodplains. It is an amphibious territory where ecology, wildlife, and human culture do not exist in parallel, but are woven into a single, defensive fabric of survival. The Lower Mekong is a fluid heritage—a geographical space where the survival of a fish, the health of a rice crop, and the persistence of a traditional song are all part of the same biological and cultural loop.

We are particularly interested in stories that address:

Preserving & interpreting the legacy of Maryland's past

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) supports historic preservation and revitalization by providing funding and resources to care for historic sites. MHT serves as the State Historic Preservation Office and operates Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.

Funding

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) provides grants, tax credits, and loans for a variety of historic preservation projects. Explore our funding programs below.

African American Heritage Preservation Program Grants

The African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) provides $5 million in grants to assist in the preservation of buildings, sites, and communities significant to African American history and culture in Maryland. 

The program is jointly administered by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC). 

Preserving & interpreting the legacy of Maryland's past

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) supports historic preservation and revitalization by providing funding and resources to care for historic sites. MHT serves as the State Historic Preservation Office and operates Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.

Funding

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) provides grants, tax credits, and loans for a variety of historic preservation projects. Explore our funding programs below.

Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program

The Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program, administered by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), provides $1 million in funding for the preservation of Maryland’s historic properties and sites. This grant program offers money for important and urgently needed preservation projects that benefit the public.

Preserving & interpreting the legacy of Maryland's past

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) supports historic preservation and revitalization by providing funding and resources to care for historic sites. MHT serves as the State Historic Preservation Office and operates Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.

Funding

The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) provides grants, tax credits, and loans for a variety of historic preservation projects. Explore our funding programs below.

Maryland Heritage Areas Program Project Grants

The Maryland Heritage Areas Program awards approximately $3 million towards capital and non-capital project grants within one or more of Maryland’s 13 heritage areas. These projects highlight Maryland's diverse heritage, enhance local communities, and promote tourism, sustainability, and economic development. 

The Maryland Heritage Areas Program Project Grants provide vital funding to preserve and interpret Maryland's rich history. With approximately $3 million available for capital and non-capital projects, these grants aim to enhance local communities, promote tourism, and support economic development throughout Maryland's 13 heritage areas. The Maryland Historical Trust oversees these initiatives, ensuring the legacy of the state's past is honored and sustained.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Funding

Please note: The Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Funding was formerly known as the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), Transportation Enhancements, Quality Communities, and Safe Routes to School Funding programs.

General Information about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Funding

• This program assists with funding sidewalks, pedestrian crossing improvements, off-road transportation- related trails, downtown transportation improvements, projects that address safety and/or ADA compliance concerns, etc.
• The goal of this program is to improve transportation and safety, encourage healthful activities, and promote economic development, while improving the livability and vitality of local communities
• MaineDOT annually allocates the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program about $4 million in federal funds for this statewide program. Each project has a 10% local match requirement.
• MaineDOT is currently accepting applications for projects to be constructed 3 years out. Communities seeking construction outside of this timeline would need to contact the Program Manager to discuss this request.

MaineDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program

MaineDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Funding was previously known as the Transportation Alternatives (TAP), Transportation Enhancements (TE), Quality Communities (QC), and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding programs. It is a federally-funded program to help communities improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and to provide transportation options that relate to surface transportation under the eligible categories outlined under the FAST Act and prioritized by MaineDOT. These priorities include: 

• Safe Routes to School for non-drivers
• Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities
• Development of Trails and Paths that Serve a Transportation Purpose

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Program principally supports locally-initiated projects that improve the community transportation environment, economic vibrancy, safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, downtown revitalization initiatives and environmental mitigation. There is a required 10% non-federal share required.

Land Acquisition and Planning

Greenspace Equity Program​

The Greenspace Equity Program was established in 2023 through legislation (Chapter 487 of 2023) to provide grants to eligible applicants for enhancing the public health and livability of overburdened and underserved communities by implementing projects to preserve, create, and improve public greenspace in overburdened and underserved communities. Funding for the program is authorized to come from the state share of Program Open Space subject to annual budget actions.

Greenspace Equity Program Grants Proposal Guide

Purpose

The Greenspace Equity Program provides grant funding assistance to eligible applicants for enhancing the public health and livability of overburdened communities and underserved communities by implementing projects to preserve, create, and enhance community greenspace, which includes

• (i) community gardens;
• (ii) community gathering open space areas;
• (iii) community woodlands;
• (iv) green networks;
• (v) parks;
• (vi) trails;
• (vii) urban farms.

Land Acquisition and Planning

Greenspace Equity Program​

The Greenspace Equity Program was established in 2023 through legislation (Chapter 487 of 2023) to provide grants to eligible applicants for enhancing the public health and livability of overburdened and underserved communities by implementing projects to preserve, create, and improve public greenspace in overburdened and underserved communities. Funding for the program is authorized to come from the state share of Program Open Space subject to annual budget actions.

Greenspace Equity Program Grants Proposal Guide - Appraisal Funding

Purpose

The Greenspace Equity Program provides grant funding assistance to eligible applicants for enhancing the public health and livability of overburdened communities and underserved communities by implementing projects to preserve, create, and enhance community greenspace, which includes

• (i) community gardens;
• (ii) community gathering open space areas;
• (iii) community woodlands;
• (iv) green networks;
• (v) parks;
• (vi) trails;
• (vii) urban farms.

This grant round is specifically to provide funds for obtaining independent appraisals in advance of the applicant’s submission of an acquisition application for the FY 2028 Greenspace Equity Program Grant Application.

About Us

The Rural Maryland Council

The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) brings together citizens, community-based organizations, federal, state, county and municipal government officials as well as representatives of the for-profit and nonprofit sectors to collectively address the needs of Rural Maryland communities. We provide a venue for members of agriculture and natural resource-based industries, health care facilities, educational institutions, economic and community development organizations, for-profit and nonprofit corporations, and government agencies to cross traditional boundaries, share information, and address in a more holistic way the special needs and opportunities in Rural Maryland.

Our goals are to:

• Encourage healthy, connected communities throughout Rural Maryland through convening of stakeholders, education, public relations, and advocacy.
• Support the development and growth of vibrant economies in Rural Maryland.
• Foster stewardship of Maryland’s natural resources.
• Maximize RMC outreach, resources and mission through financial and organizational development.

As a collaborative partnership, the RMC operates in a nonpartisan and nondiscriminatory manner. Policy-makers and managers from stakeholder agencies and organizations at all levels of government and the private sector are valued participants. Where practical, the decision-making undertaken by the RMC is made by reaching consensus.

RMC’s vision is a future where all of Rural Maryland is prosperous with thriving resources, vibrant economies, and healthy, connected communities.

Maryland Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Purpose:

To support initiatives that improve access to healthy, locally sourced food across rural communities. The program will support projects that expand post-harvest infrastructure for small farms, enhance food distribution through food hubs and mobile markets, and increase procurement of local foods by institutions such as schools, hospitals, and community organizations. Additional priorities include advancing nutrition education and supporting regional coordination to address food insecurity in rural “hot spot” communities.

Overview

The Submerged Lands Harbor Management and Access Grant (HMA) is administered by the Submerged Lands Program (SLP), a program of the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF). The SLP works to balance the public’s right to access state waters with demand for private and commercial use of those waters. The SLP administers the Submerged Lands Leasing Program which provides limited leases and easements that allow piers and other structures to be built on or over publicly owned submerged lands. Lease and easement revenues are used to support harbor planning and public access improvements through grants to municipalities and state agencies. Maine’s submerged lands include:

• Coastal waters:
  • All land from the mean low-water mark out to the three-mile territorial limit (including islands).
• Tidal Rivers:
  • All land below the mean low-water mark of tidal rivers upstream to the farthest natural reaches of the tides.
• Great Ponds:
  • All land below the natural low-water mark of ponds that are 10 or more acres in size in their natural state.
• Boundary Rivers:
  • Land lying between the banks of rivers that form Maine's border with Canada.

Harkness Foundation for Dance

The Harkness Foundation for Dance is a private grant-making foundation dedicated to invigorating and supporting the dance art form, predominantly in New York City. Since its inception the Foundation has contributed significantly to the dance field, extending grants to over 660 organizations and fiscally-sponsored artists. The Harkness Board of Trustees meets three times annually to consider proposals. The Foundation stands in solidarity with social and racial justice work in the dance field, and we are committed to ongoing evaluation of equitable practices in our grantmaking.

There are four major areas of support:

• Dance creation
• Dance presentation
• Dance education
• Dance medicine/other services to the dance field

Project Grants

Project grants provide targeted support for specific projects. Pilot projects and collaborative projects involving multiple organizations may also be considered.

ADECA Domestic Violence Trust Fund

Domestic Violence Trust Fund is a state funded grant that provides funds to assist certified DV Shelters in Alabama. This program is funded through the Marriage Licenses fees that are collected throughout the State of Alabama.

In order to receive these funds, the agency must be certified through the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The agency must provide the minimum services required under Section 30-6-6 of the Code of Alabama, which includes, but is not limited to, information and referral services, counseling and case management services, temporary emergency shelter for more than 24 hours for adult victims and their accompanying children, a 24-hour hotline, training for law enforcement personnel, assessment and appropriate referral of resident children, outreach services as defined by standards for counties without a physical emergency shelter facility, educational services for community awareness relative to the incidence of domestic violence, the prevention of domestic violence, and the care, treatment, and rehabilitation for persons engaged in or subject to domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Trust Fund operates on the state fiscal year calendar of October 1st- September 30th. Funds are distributed to the agency each quarter. Application for this grant is due annually.

ADECA Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Grant Program

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) grant program assists the state in efforts to

• prevent incidents of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence:
• provide immediate shelter and supportive services to victims of family violence and access to community-based programs for victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence and their dependents;
• provide specialized services for children exposed to family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, including victims who are members of underserved populations. 45 CFR § 1370.10(a).

FVPSA programs operate on the federal fiscal year calendar of October 1st—September 30th. A Request for Applications will usually be issued early spring for applicants seeking funding consideration. Funding decisions will depend on the availability of funds. Awards are for a 12-month period.

Funds from these awards cannot be used as a direct payment to victims or their dependents.

A funding match of at least 20 percent is required for an existing program.

Beyond availability of funds, factors that govern the funding decisions for these grants include how complete the grant application is upon submission and the need for financial support as demonstrated by the application narrative, project expectations (goals and objectives), project coordination and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

Community Momentum Micro Grant Program  

The Community Momentum Micro Grant Program provides flexible, responsive funding for timely, short-term projects that help organizations address emerging needs, seize unexpected opportunities, and remove barriers to program success.

Grant Amount

Awards range from $500 to $3,000.

Organizations may receive up to $3,000 in total Community Momentum Micro Grant funding per fiscal year (July 1–June 30).

Focus & Priorities Areas

• Career-related training
• Post-secondary education
• Other educational initiatives

What We Fund

Community Momentum Micro Grants are intended to support:

• Emerging or time-sensitive needs, including unforeseen or unexpected funding gaps requiring a prompt response
• Unforeseen opportunities, including programs or opportunities not anticipated during traditional grant cycles and unanticipated matching grants.
• Unexpected Small-scale projects that address expected gaps or obstacles to program success (e.g., capacity-building for active programs, removing barriers for program participants)
• Projects should be discrete, achievable within the grant period, and aligned with CFNCM’s mission and service area.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act was established in 1964 to provide recreational opportunities for America’s communities. The intent was to provide a consistent source of funding for the development of local parks, playgrounds, and other recreationalspaces. The fund does not use any taxpayer dollars; rather, it utilizes earnings from offshore oil and gas leases to fund local recreation projects.

Program Goals

• Meet State and locally identified public outdoor recreation resource needs to strengthen the health and vitality of the American people.
• Increase the number of protected State and local outdoor recreation resources and ensure their availability for public use in perpetuity; and
• Encourage sound planning and long-term partnerships to expand the quantity and to ensure the quality of State and local outdoor recreation resources needed.

LWCF assistance can be used to:

• Acquire lands and waters or interests in lands and waters for public outdoor recreation.
• Develop basic outdoor recreation facilities to serve the public; and
• Provide major renovation work for existing outdoor recreation facilities, including replacement; or
• A combination of acquisition and development or renovation.

Health Equity Capacity-Building (HECB) Program

Purpose

In 2021, the HECB grantees worked in partnership with MeHAF staff to develop this aspirational goal statement for the program:

The long-term goal of the HECB program is to provide a foundation for MeHAF and grantees to collectively work toward building a movement for health equity in Maine.

Through the program, grantees and MeHAF will forge new transformative, healing relationships, both between funder and grantee and across communities.

Working together, grantees and MeHAF will craft a system and structure that enables grantees to examine and strengthen their internal systems, skills, resources, networks, and audience so that they each have what they need to pursue their missions and build long-term, sustainable power.

MeHAF will use its voice and influence to spread equitable practices to other funders, the state, and mainstream organizations. 

By learning alongside grantees, MeHAF will build and sustain grant programs that advance justice and equity, and apply that learning across its other programs.

To support this goal, the program pairs unrestricted operating support grants with a cohort learning community and self-selected technical assistance supports, both in group and individualized settings, and works provide ways for grantees to collaborate and connect.

Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Grant Program

The Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Grants Program provides funding for the implementation of programming for prevention from the juvenile justice system and intervention services for youth as alternatives to detention. Funding will be used to promote programming related to CHINS. Programming should be evidence supported or evidence based. Additionally, applicants may include time of a personnel position for the administration purposes of this grant, however, applications prioritizing funds for direct service will be prioritized.

Available Funding

Maximum Dollar Amount per Award

• Rural: maximum - $50,000
• Non-rural: maximum - $100,000 

Housing Opportunities for People Living with HIV/AIDS

This funding opportunity is to support rental assistance and housing-related supportive services for eligible District and Maryland residents living with HIV through the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program.

The mission of DC Health is to promote and protect the health, safety, and quality of life of residents, visitors, and those doing business in the District of Columbia. The agency is responsible for identifying health risks; educating the public; preventing and controlling diseases, injuries, and exposure to environmental hazards; promoting effective community collaborations; and optimizing equitable access to community resources.

The mission of HAHSTA is to protect and improve the health of District residents by preventing, diagnosing, treating, and reducing the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis, while ensuring access to high-quality, coordinated, and culturally responsive care and support services for individuals and communities most impacted by these conditions.

The mission of the CBHCP Division is to strengthen the HIV service delivery system by expanding access to stable housing, enhancing organizational and workforce capacity, and fostering strategic community partnerships that improve health outcomes, promote service coordination, and address structural barriers impacting people living with HIV in the District of Columbia.

The mission of the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program is to provide stable, affordable housing and housing-related supportive services for low-income individuals living with HIV and their households, recognizing housing stability as essential to improved health outcomes, sustained engagement in care, and overall well-being

Farm to Institution Market Development Grants

The Farm to Institution Market Development Grant (formerly Local Food Market Development Grant) is intended to support market development opportunities for local food producers, with a focus on Vermont institutional markets. Funding is provided to help improve local producer access to, and engagement with, schools, hospitals, colleges, correctional facilities, and other local institutions.

Eligible proposals will increase institutional market opportunity for at least one Vermont farm business and increase the amount of local food purchased and served in Vermont institutions. Competitive proposals will focus on collaboration, developing new sales relationships or deepening existing sales relationships, and values-based procurement for institutions serving meals to Vermont residents. Competitive proposals will demonstrate high likelihood of long-term, sustained partnership between Vermont farms and Vermont institutions. 

Examples of institutional markets:

• Colleges and universities  
• Schools  
• Early childhood education facilities
• Correctional facilities  
• Nursing homes  
• Hospitals and healthcare providers

A total of $30,000 is available through this competitive funding opportunity. The minimum award for this grant program is $10,000 and the maximum award is $30,000. Each successful grantee will have two years from the signing of their grant agreement to expend their grant funds and submit all required deliverables. All applicants must demonstrate 25% of the total grant award in matching funds; the matching funds requirement can be met with cash, in-kind, or a combination of both.

Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program - Illinois

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Office of Energy announces the availability of funds from the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund (“EE Trust Fund”). The EE Trust Fund was established by 20 ILCS 687/6-6 to benefit residential electric customers through projects reducing energy demand. Illinois EPA Office of Energy is responsible for establishing a list of projects eligible for grants from the EE Trust Fund and an application process with determined criteria for this grant program.

Illinois EPA Office of Energy is offering funding to public housing authorities, units of local government (municipalities, counties or townships), or nonprofit organizations for implementation of energy efficiency improvements benefitting residents participating in federal, state, or local public housing programs, housing choice vouchers, rental assistance, or subsidized housing assistance programs. Funding will be awarded for projects of up to forty (40) dwelling units per location, with costs not to exceed $20,000 per dwelling unit. The proposed improvement projects must include upgrades identified in an energy efficiency assessment conducted by a third-party assessor within the last five (5) years.

Eligible projects may include:

• Building envelope insulation
• Window replacement
• Space heating and cooling equipment retrofit
• Heating and cooling distribution system retrofit
• Domestic hot water equipment
• Lighting upgrades (indoor and/or outdoor)
• High-Efficiency appliance replacement
• Programmable thermostats

Awards will range from $50,000 to $1,000,000. There is a cost share/match requirement for this program.