Best Gray County Grants for Nonprofits in Texas

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal K–12 education law. ESSA was signed into law in 2015, replacing No Child Left Behind, and reauthorizing the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

ESSA requires every state to measure performance in reading, math, and science. Every school must inform parents about their standards and their results. 

ESSA requires every state to provide parents important information on test performance in reading, math, and science. The report cards must also provide data on graduation rates, suspensions, absenteeism, teacher qualifications, and many other areas. Texas provides maximum transparency for parents and publicly shares performance information on TXschools.gov and in data reports on the Performance Reporting pages.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant includes: 1) Title I, Part A Grants; 2) Title I, Part C Grants; 3) Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 Grants; 4) Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 Grants; 5) Title II, Part A Grants; 6) Title III, Part A ELA Grants; 7) Title III, Part A Immigrant Grants; and 8) Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 Grants.

Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 

Program Purpose, Goals, and Objectives

[ESSA, Section 1401(a)]

The purpose of Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 is to do the following:

• Improve educational services for children and youth in local and state institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth so that such children and youth have the opportunity to meet the same challenging state academic content standards and student academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet;
• Provide such children and youth with the services needed to make a successful transition from institutionalization to further schooling or employment; and
• Prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school and provide dropouts and children and youth returning from jails or institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth with a support system to ensure their continued education and the involvement of their families and communities.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and the Windham School District are the eligible state agencies in Texas.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal K–12 education law. ESSA was signed into law in 2015, replacing No Child Left Behind, and reauthorizing the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

ESSA requires every state to measure performance in reading, math, and science. Every school must inform parents about their standards and their results. 

ESSA requires every state to provide parents important information on test performance in reading, math, and science. The report cards must also provide data on graduation rates, suspensions, absenteeism, teacher qualifications, and many other areas. Texas provides maximum transparency for parents and publicly shares performance information on TXschools.gov and in data reports on the Performance Reporting pages.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant includes: 1) Title I, Part A Grants; 2) Title I, Part C Grants; 3) Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 Grants; 4) Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 Grants; 5) Title II, Part A Grants; 6) Title III, Part A ELA Grants; 7) Title III, Part A Immigrant Grants; and 8) Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 Grants.

Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 

Program Purpose, Goals, and Objectives

[ESSA, Section 1421]

The purpose of Title I, Part D, Subpart 2, is to do the following:

• To carry out high-quality education programs to prepare children and youth for secondary school completion, training, employment, or further education;
• Provide children and youth with the services needed to make a successful transition from institutionalization to further education or employment; and
• To operate programs in local schools, including schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education for children and youth returning from correctional facilities and programs that may serve at-risk children and youth.

Intended beneficiaries are school systems with high numbers or percentages of children and youth residing in locally-operated (including county-operated) correctional facilities for children and youth. 

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal K–12 education law. ESSA was signed into law in 2015, replacing No Child Left Behind, and reauthorizing the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

ESSA requires every state to measure performance in reading, math, and science. Every school must inform parents about their standards and their results. 

ESSA requires every state to provide parents important information on test performance in reading, math, and science. The report cards must also provide data on graduation rates, suspensions, absenteeism, teacher qualifications, and many other areas. Texas provides maximum transparency for parents and publicly shares performance information on TXschools.gov and in data reports on the Performance Reporting pages.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant includes: 1) Title I, Part A Grants; 2) Title I, Part C Grants; 3) Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 Grants; 4) Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 Grants; 5) Title II, Part A Grants; 6) Title III, Part A ELA Grants; 7) Title III, Part A Immigrant Grants; and 8) Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 Grants.

Title II, Part A

Program Purpose, Goals, and Objectives

The intent and purpose of the Title II, Part A, program is to provide resources to school systems to do the following:

• Increase student achievement consistent with the challenging State academic standards;
• Improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders;
• Increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools; and
• Provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders

Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program - Texas

Purpose:

The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for projects that promote a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to improve the justice system’s response to violent crimes against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

Available Funding:

Federal funding is authorized for these projects under the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 Pub. L. No. 113-4 (VAWA 2013). VAWA funds are made available through a Congressional appropriation to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated federal funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Project Period:

Projects may not exceed 12 months and must start on 9/01/2026 and end on 08/31/2027.

Funding Levels

• Minimum: $5,000
• Maximum: No Maximum
• Match Requirement: 30% of the total project (Note: Victim service providers and Native American tribes are exempt from the match requirement.)

About McElhattan Foundation

Founded in 2017 following the sale of Industrial Scientific Corporation, McElhattan Foundation invites bold ideas that advance the goals of its four program areas, including Ending Death on the Job.

Zero Electrocution Challenge

Despite decades of regulations, training, and personal protective equipment, workers continue to die from electrical contact every year.

McElhattan Foundation’s Zero Electrocution Challenge seeks breakthrough solutions that present pathways to eliminate life-threatening tasks that lead to fatal electrocution on the job by the year 2050, while increasing enterprise profitability and productivity. This is the inaugural ZERO 2050 challenge, awarding two Winners up to $1 million each.

About Us

To support our agency's mission of Connecting you with Texas, we deliver excellence to enhance quality of life for all Texans.

Texas Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA) Program

TxDOT administers TA funds for locally sponsored bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects in communities across the state. In large urbanized areas with populations over 200,000, TA funds are also distributed directly to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to administer according to their needs. MPOs and TxDOT are responsible for selecting projects independently of one another.

About Us

Texans voted in 2007 to create the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and to invest $3 billion in the state’s unprecedented fight against cancer. On November 5, 2019, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to continue CPRIT’s work and invest an additional $3 billion for finding and funding the best cancer research and prevention opportunities in the state. CPRIT is now a $6 billion, 20-year initiative – the largest state cancer research investment in the history of the United States and the second largest cancer research and prevention program in the world. 

We accept applications and award grants for a wide variety of innovative cancer-related research and product development and for the delivery of evidence-based cancer prevention programs and services by public and private entities located in Texas.

Dissemination of CPRIT-Funded Cancer Control Interventions

The Dissemination of CPRIT-Funded Cancer Control Interventions (DI) award mechanism seeks to fund programs that facilitate the sharing and uptake of successful CPRIT Prevention Program-supported projects, results, and products through their dissemination and implementation across Texas. CPRIT supports applications surrounding the dissemination of successful projects, as well as the dissemination of products, specific tangible deliverables, or outputs created within a successful project. This award mechanism is open only to completed CPRIT Prevention Program-funded projects that have ended within the last 3 years or to ongoing expansion projects. A DI application may not be submitted while the original preventive service project is ongoing. Applicants may request any amount of funding up to a maximum of $450,000 in total funding over a maximum of 36 months. Up to 2 DI awards are allowed for each previously funded CPRIT Prevention Program project. Only 1 DI application per previously funded CPRIT Prevention Program project is permitted per cycle

About Us

The Texas Music Office supports Texas music businesses, musicians, and communities by strengthening the state’s music industry and fostering economic development through music.

Music Education & Community Program Grant

The Texas Music Office (TMO) administers the Music Education & Community Program Grant (often called the “License Plate Grant”), providing awards for music-related education and community programs sponsored by Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

How it’s funded: The grant fund is supported by Texas Music specialty plate purchases, where $22 of the $30 fee goes directly into this program.

Funding & Timeline

• Award range: $1,500–$3,000
• Project period: up to 12 months
• Next opening: September 15, 2026

About Us

Wisconsin Sea Grant is a statewide program of basic and applied research, education, outreach and technology transfer dedicated to the stewardship and sustainable use of the nation’s Great Lakes and ocean resources.

Headquartered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the institute is housed in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research’s Aquatic Sciences Center. (See our Water and Land Acknowledgement.) Wisconsin Sea Grant is part of a national network of 34 university-based programs funded through the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce and through matching contributions from participating states and the private sector. 

John A. Knauss Marine (and Great Lakes) Policy Fellowship

The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program is accepting applications from graduate students statewide for the National Sea Grant College Program’s John A. Knauss Marine (and Great Lakes) Policy Fellowship Program. The program, established in 1979, provides a unique educational experience to applicants who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one year paid internship. Placement opportunities are numerous and very diverse and have typically included offices within Congress, the Executive Office of the President, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury, Transportation, and Energy, in addition to others. Applicants from a variety of backgrounds including natural and social sciences, law, engineering, and communications can be competitive for this fellowship. Fellowships begin June 1, 2027.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA), as the pass-through entity, is the grantee from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and TEA awards subgrants to non-federal entities such as local educational agencies (LEAs), including school districts, charter schools, and education service centers, and to a lesser degree institutions of higher education (IHEs), and nonprofit organizations (NPOs) who are the agency’s subgrantees.

Texas Strategic Staffing ESC Direct Grant

The Texas Strategic Staffing ESC Direct Grant is a direct grant to fund services for school systems awarded with the 2026-2028 Texas Strategic Staffing Grant for Residencies Grant (via LASO IV). ESCs will supply a Strategic Staffing fellow (TSS Fellow) who will provide technical assistance and other support to school systems and educator preparation program (EPP) partnerships to design and implement paid and sustainable yearlong teacher residencies across SY 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. 

Strategic Staffing technical assistance (TA) will be provided by Education Service Centers (ESCs) through the Texas Strategic Staffing (TSS) technical assistance service. With Education Service Centers providing technical assistance, school systems and EPPs will make informed decisions to develop paid teacher residencies that leverage reallocation and reinvestment of local funds to support teacher residents’ wages while they engage in other instructional responsibilities including substitute teaching, paraprofessional roles, tutoring, and more.

TA providers in this role also serve as critical thought partners for school systems as they establish strong residency systems for the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnerships Program (PREP) Residency Allotment, recruitment mechanisms through PREP Grow Your Own Allotment, and supportive training for host teachers through the PREP Mentorship Allotment.

In addition to TSS fellows, this grant funds Strategic Staffing State Leads. These are full-time Strategic Staffing ESC staff who will play a pivotal role in providing technical assistance throughout the State of Texas by training and coaching TSS Fellows on their respective technical assistance. State Leads are also leading technical assistance for a selection of school systems in Cohort 3 of Pipeline to Leadership (P2L) Strategic Staffing.

EDFA is providing professional development to help school districts implement a school model that redefines an instructional, talent, and comprehensive outstanding student experience across the district to support principals and other school leaders. Initially focusing on the campus leaders at campuses that need the most support in these areas and then ensuring that the district can effectively lead all campuses in these areas over the course of multiple years. These grant funds serve the purpose of supporting the district and particularly instructional leaders including principals and principal managers, as it relates to instruction, talent, and an outstanding and consistent student experience to prepare all students to meet the challenging State academic standards.

The purpose of the State Facilities Incentive Technical Assistance Grant is to provide high-quality facilities support to Texas charter schools and support State Facilities Incentive Grant (SFIG) grantees. The grant activities include providing technical assistance for charter school leaders on smart decision-making related to facilities and growth. This support aims to increase expertise in facilities planning, financing and operations. Grant activities also include supporting SFIG grantees through monitoring and evaluation to ensure awarded SFIG funds are appropriately stewarded. 

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 purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for projects that prevent violence in and around school; and to improve the juvenile justice system by providing mental health services, truancy prevention, diversion services and intervention through community-based and school programs.

Eligible Activities include: Mental Health Services, Education programs or supportive services, Community Programs and Services, Youth Diversion Services and Juvenile Case Managers. 

This grant aims to recruits outstanding mid-stage investigators to Texas, who have demonstrated the promise for continued and enhanced contributions to the field of cancer research.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department provides outdoor recreational opportunities by managing and protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat and acquiring and managing parklands and historic areas. It has inherited the functions of many state entities created to protect Texas' natural resources.

Mission: To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Grants

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program is a competitive grant initiative under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act, aimed at enhancing parks, recreational opportunities, and conservation areas in underserved, urban areas. These investments enable urban communities to create new outdoor recreation spaces, reinvigorate existing parks, and form connections between people and the outdoors.

Managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the nationally competitive ORLP program provides matching grants (up to 50% of total project costs) to assist communities with little to no access to outdoor recreation opportunities in urban areas. Funds can be used for the acquisition and/or development of, or substantial renovation of public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces. Development should encompass essential public outdoor recreation activities and the necessary support facilities for public use. Projects could involve a combination of land acquisition and site development. These projects can cater to a diverse range of public outdoor recreation activities and facilities required to enhance the use and enjoyment for the public. These include, and are not limited to community parks, campgrounds, playgrounds, sport fields and courts, picnic facilities, trails, etc. While facilities that support the use of the recreating public, such as restroom, visitor contact infrastructure, and maintenance facilities can be eligible, most indoor recreation and other buildings such as nature centers, community centers, or education center are ineligible for funding.

Only State Lead Agencies are eligible to submit applications for ORLP grants. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is the State Lead Agency. TPWD may submit on behalf of themselves or an eligible sub-recipient.

ORLP projects must meet two eligibility criteria: The required population in census tracts is set at 25,000 people and the project must be within an underserved community.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations.

Perkins V: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century - Institutions

Program Description

The purpose of the career and technical education (CTE) program is to develop more fully the academic knowledge, technical, and employability skills of students who enroll in CTE programs and programs of study.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations.

Immediate HQIM and Instructional Systems Grant

Program Description

Immediate HQIM and Instructional Systems Grant is up to a three-year program designed to support Texas school systems in building the instructional and systems-level capacity needed to deliver high-quality learning experiences for all students. Recipients will use the grant to participate in the LIFT program. LIFT brings together the highest leverage components of Strong Foundations, Texas Instructional Leadership, and Texas Lesson Study, providing comprehensive support for districts to adopt HQIM and implement Bluebonnet Learning over multiple years.  

Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. TWC strengthens the Texas economy by providing the workforce development component of the Governor's economic development strategy. Texas boasts an incredibly skilled workforce ready to attract enterprise to the Lone Star State. By focusing on the needs of employers, TWC gives Texas the competitive edge necessary to draw business here.

Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund

The Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund (LSWF) is a program to increase the supply of qualified workers for entry-level to mid-level jobs in high demand occupations. In doing so, LSWF will ensure that the Texas workforce is capable of filling available and emerging jobs in this state. Grants may be awarded to public junior colleges, public technical institutes, and nonprofit organizations with an active and current TWC account number to develop and administer training programs to support this goal.

40% of project funding must come from a source other than state government. At least 50% of program participants must be placed into high demand occupations that earn a self-sufficient wage. Program participants must be placed into occupations occurring in the private sector.

The Texas Education Agency is committed to relentlessly focusing on students in low-performing schools. To this end, the Division of System Support provides competitive grant opportunities and technical assistance with the intent to empower and support school systems with the planning and implementation of comprehensive and bold school actions.

This project partners matched technical assistance providers with campuses (school systems) awarded school action fund grants to provide grantees with targeted technical assistance. The technical assistance is intended to support effective implementation of grant proposals.

This initiative is designed to provide programs, resources, and an overall strategy for fostering authentic collaboration among schools, families, and communities in Texas around topics in special education. By establishing strong internal processes with strategic and timely cross-communications, we will increase knowledge and understanding of special education services while improving buy-in and support from all stakeholders.