Best Seed Grants for Nonprofits in Guam

NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice-5 invites multi-institutional proposals aimed at advancing human exploration of the Moon and Mars. This initiative focuses on innovative research to address critical scientific questions and develop technologies for future missions. The program emphasizes community development, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and fostering partnerships to integrate science with exploration goals.

Leadership through Scholarship Fellowship

The yearlong Leadership through Scholarship Fellowship offers training and mentorship for early-career and mid-career faculty with a focus on developing scholarly writing skills for academic advancement and leadership.

Mid-Career Fellows

Mid-career fellows will benefit from tailored mentorship and guidance to reach the next milestone in their careers, including:

• Receive 1:1 mentorship specific to their challenges or roadblocks to promotion or leadership
• Participate in a detailed CV review to determine edits for promotion
• Work as a group with mentor faculty on challenges in scholarship to move forward with stuck projects
• Learn how to navigate mid-career leadership challenges

The tuition cost for fellows is $1200. A limited number of scholarships are available to cover the fellowship tuition due to a generous gift from Drs Marjorie Bowman and Robert Choplin.

Benefits of the Fellowship

The Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs supports new investigators transitioning into entrepreneurship, particularly in small business settings. This NIH initiative aims to bolster their development as Program Directors or Principal Investigators while fostering their research and entrepreneurial skills. By promoting training and mentorship, this grant encourages the growth of promising technologies that align with NIH's mission to enhance health and save lives. Applications are due by 5 PM local time, with optional Letters of Intent recommended 30 days prior.

The Leadership through Scholarship Fellowship is a yearlong program designed for early-career and mid-career faculty to enhance their scholarly writing and leadership skills. Participants will receive mentorship and training to develop personalized career roadmaps, navigate challenges, and create impactful research questions. The fellowship, costing $1200, also offers limited scholarships thanks to generous donations. It equips fellows with vital skills for academic advancement, promoting their potential for leadership roles in their institutions.

The Northeast Asia Council Japan Studies Grants support seminars that enhance knowledge of Japan and improve Japanese language pedagogy. With grants up to $5,000, these projects are aimed at educators and scholars, emphasizing the importance of teaching Japan in academic disciplines. Eligibility includes a detailed project proposal, budget, and current membership in AAS. Preference is given to new projects and those not recently funded by NEAC, ensuring a broad impact on Japanese studies in the U.S.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Ken and Clara Kolberg Family Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Ken Kolberg and family, who established the Ken and Clara Kolberg Family Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Teaching is the family business of the Kolberg Family. Ken started teaching in Muskegon Public Schools after WWII and did so for thirty-seven years. Ken and Clara raised five children, of whom four became teachers - two working in Muskegon. Through the establishment of this Fund, the family is assured of having an impact on students far into the future. This Fund will support Muskegon students pursuing careers in education, especially minority students so greatly needed as teachers in our school systems.

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy

Unlike surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, cell and gene therapies harness the power of your immune system to destroy cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. We fund the research that will make this vision a reality.

Collaborating with partners and funding research fellows, we are transforming cancer treatments today while bringing the world closer to a cure for all cancers tomorrow.

ACGT Investigator Award in Cell and Gene Therapy for SOLID TUMOR CANCERS 

Purpose

Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, Inc. (ACGT) funds breakthrough research that is transforming cancer treatment through cell and gene therapy. This ACGT grant award is for those conducting translational cell and gene therapy research specifically in solid tumor cancers.

Research Objectives

Cell and gene therapy for solid tumors poses major challenges driven by antigen heterogeneity, physical exclusion, immunosuppressive microenvironments, genomic instability, and safety limitations. This RFA seeks innovative, translational cell and gene therapy strategies that directly address these barriers.

Proposed approaches should demonstrate the capacity to: (1) overcome antigen escape through multi-targeted designs that broaden patient populations and account for heterogeneity and resistance due to antigen loss; (2) enhance trafficking, infiltration, and persistence within solid tumor sites; (3) resist or reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment; and (4) incorporate built-in safety and controllability mechanisms suitable for clinical translation. Successful proposals will integrate these elements to enable durable, precise, and scalable therapeutic impact in solid tumors.

Building on the priorities outlined above, this RFP encourages proposals spanning a broad range of cell and gene therapy (CGT) platforms and rational combinations, including but not limited to:

• Engineered T Cell Approaches
• Innate and Alternative Immune Cell Platforms
• Gene Editing & Synthetic Biology Strategies
• Microenvironment-Modulating Strategies
• Combinatorial Approaches

Proposals that integrate multiple strategies to overcome trafficking, suppression, antigen escape, and safety barriers in a coordinated manner are strongly encouraged. Preference will be given to approaches with clear mechanistic rationale and a credible path toward clinical translation in solid tumors.

The Japanese American Community Foundation Grants support programs for the Japanese American and broader Asian American communities. Funding ranges from $2,500 to $50,000 for projects focusing on senior health, history, arts, culture, and youth. Eligible applicants must be registered 501c3 public benefit nonprofit organizations. Note that organizations with open grants cannot apply until their current grant is closed. Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before the full proposal.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

June M. and John C. Vandervelde Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of June M. and John C. Vandervelde, who established the June M. and John C. Vandervelde Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. The Vandervelde's are both long-time Muskegon residents. Many Muskegonites will recognize the name "Vandervelde Furniture" which was located on Broadway in Muskegon Heights for many years. Generations of people bought their furniture from Vandervelde's. June is a long active volunteer for many community organizations, and both have a strong belief in and recognize the importance of a college education. This scholarship fund will assist Muskegon County students as they pursue that education.

The Pittsburgh Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four–year universities, graduate schools, and career/technical schools.

Lightbown Family Scholarship Fund

The Lightbown Family Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for students from Allegheny County pursuing a career in education. Corinne Elsie Lightbown passed away peacefully on Jan. 7, 2017 at the age of 86 having lived a full and rewarding life. Connie, as she was known to friends, loved life, people, friends and family as well as traveling and discussing movies, political issues and literature. She was an English teacher for 34 years with the Mt. Lebanon High School and taught in London, England, and Japan. A firm believer in the value of a good education, she established this scholarship fund in her name to support students in their academic studies. She never married so had no children of her own, yet her many students became a part of her extended family through the years. Many remained in touch with her and considered her as a mentor and friend. It was her wish that this scholarship would continue beyond her life in this same spirit.

• Award varies
• Award Type: Single Year. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply in consecutive years.

Deb & John Quirk Memorial Scholarship

The Hastings Community Foundation is excited to announce the creation of the Deb and John Quirk Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will provide a $10,000 annual scholarship and is renewable for a total award of up to $40,000. One scholarship will be awarded each year. This scholarship is only available to graduating seniors from Hastings High, Adams Central, or Hastings Catholic Schools. Applicants must be focused on impacting social justice through their education and future employment, as illustrated through an essay submitted to the scholarship committee.

The Detter Family Foundation Education Scholarship, offered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, aims to support residents of Allendale Charter Township pursuing post-secondary education. This competitive scholarship considers various criteria including financial need, academic achievement, and personal goals. Applicants can apply just once to be eligible for all applicable foundation scholarships, ensuring a streamlined process for securing educational funding.

The Northeast Asia Council Japan Studies Grants provide funding for small scholarly conferences on Japanese studies in the U.S. These grants, up to $5,000, support events that foster collaboration among scholars, focusing on cutting-edge research. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or Japanese nationals and current AAS members. Priority is given to those securing matching funds and for projects not previously funded by NEAC. Ineligible costs include stipends for organizers and travel to unrelated seminars.

The Wireless Family Fund, supported by Music Movement, provides financial aid to families in the Wireless and Tech Industries, focusing on living expenses, medical bills, and educational support. Grants typically range from $1,500 to $2,500 and are available to families within the United States. Music Movement enriches the lives of individuals with Autism and other developmental differences through music-centric programs that enhance communication, social skills, and emotional expression.

Jane Burns DeWitt Baumann Scholarship

Jane Burns DeWitt Baumann was a life-long resident and educator from Columbus. She attended Columbus City Schools from elementary school through graduation from South High School in 1949, subsequently majoring in Fine Arts and Education at Ohio University. She taught English for twenty years at Linden-McKinley high school and influenced hundreds of students with her passion for reading and writing, inspiring many to pursue their college educations despite trying circumstances. She was a committed advocate of public education. This scholarship honors her service and commitment to public education by supporting a future educator who would not otherwise have the means to attend college.

Award Amount:

• $20,000 payable over four years at $5,000 per academic year

About AWS

We Move Welding Forward

Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.

By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals.

Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships

AWS Foundation Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships provide funding for welding educators to advance their skills and impact in teaching. Aimed at current educators in welding-related fields, these scholarships demonstrate AWS's dedication to enriching welding education.

National Educator Scholarships

Five donor-funded scholarships worth $1,000 to $5,000

• Bechtel Group Foundation Educator Scholarship
• Earl C. Lipphardt Educator Scholarship
• Jackson Safety Educator Scholarship
• Tim Turner Educator Scholarship
• William Kielhorn Educator Scholarship

Funds are paid directly to the educational institution or organization providing the training.

The AWS Educator Professional Development Scholarships are awarded annually in May or June.

About AWS

We Move Welding Forward

Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.

By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals.

Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships

AWS Foundation Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships provide funding for welding educators to advance their skills and impact in teaching. Aimed at current educators in welding-related fields, these scholarships demonstrate AWS's dedication to enriching welding education.

District Educator Scholarships

Each of AWS’s 22 Districts awards educator scholarships worth $500 to $2,000.

To see which District your school is in, view the AWS District and Section Directory.

Funds are paid directly to the educational institution or organization providing the training.

The AWS Educator Professional Development Scholarships are awarded annually in May or June.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors.

Thomas William Bennett Memorial Scholarship Fund

He believed that a person could do anything if they sat down and read how to do it. When WWII started, he was the first man from the state of South Carolina to enlist in the U.S. Army. He quickly rose to captain and spent most of the war in the Pacific (the Queen of Fiji considered him a friend). Later, Thomas had a long career at Harcourt Brace publishing.

The Graduate Education Fund offers scholarships for American and Australian graduate students to study in each other's countries. With deadlines in March and September, eligible applicants can receive up to $40,000 to support their education in fields like Science and Technology. This initiative fosters cross-cultural academic collaboration and requires applicants to be enrolled in accredited programs, ensuring a high standard of educational exchange.

The Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs, funded by the NIH, supports new investigators in entrepreneurship. This grant aims to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of researchers while facilitating their research and development efforts in small businesses. It encourages the employment of Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) who possess strong scientific expertise but limited entrepreneurial experience, fostering innovation aligned with NIH's mission to improve health and save lives.

The Rev. Robert L. Browning Memorial Scholarship, managed by the Decatur County Community Foundation, supports students from Decatur County pursuing careers in ministry or social services, as well as those planning to attend Anderson University. This scholarship is renewable for up to three years and is aimed at graduating high school seniors residing in Decatur County, IN. Preference is given to applicants who attend the Church of God.

About The NRA Foundation

The heart of The NRA Foundation’s mission is preserving the core of our American values and traditions in our steadfast effort to Teach Freedom.

The NRA Foundation Supports Freedom, Family, and the Future of the Shooting Sports

Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. (“NRA Foundation”) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans.

The heart of The NRA Foundation’s mission is preserving the core of our American values and traditions in our steadfast effort to Teach Freedom.

Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. (“NRA Foundation”) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. These activities are designed to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those participating in the shooting sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context. Funds granted by The NRA Foundation benefit a variety of constituencies throughout the United States including children, youth, women, individuals with physical disabilities, gun collectors, law enforcement officers, hunters and competitive shooters.

Awards

The NRA is proud to recognize the contributions of those who have demonstrated dedication to the promotion of the Second Amendment, significantly impacted the preservation of the shooting sports, advanced the purposes and goals of the NRA and exemplified leadership through public service. Each year, women, youth, clubs, law enforcement officers and NRA Foundation volunteers are awarded for their efforts in pursuit of these principles.

NRA Law Enforcement Officer Of The Year Award

NRA's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award was established in 1993 and recognizes an exceptional act or service by a law enforcement officer and is administered by the NRA Law Enforcement Division. Nominations are accepted from anyone having knowledge of the nominee's actions. This includes, but is not limited to, the nominee's agency head, other law enforcement officials, elected officials, fellow officers, community leaders, interested citizens, and NRA members.

The Kretler Scholarship offers up to $1,000 to high school seniors from selected schools in Noble County pursuing degrees in Tool and Die or Mechanical Engineering. This scholarship aims to support students in achieving their educational goals, reflecting the commitment of its donors to invest in local talent. Eligible candidates must maintain a GPA of 3.00 and can reapply in subsequent years, fostering continued academic success in their chosen fields.

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.

Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.

John Masus Memorial Scholarship Fund

Originally the Masus Financial Group Scholarship Fund, the fund was renamed the John Masus Memorial Scholarship Fund as a memorial to John Masus at the time of his passing.

The Fund supports scholarships to graduating high school seniors who reside within the 60510 zip code in Kane County. 

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

The Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) aims to empower exceptional college seniors and recent graduates to excel in cancer research. This year-long program provides hands-on training in research labs, mentorship from Damon Runyon scientists, and support for graduate school applications. SPARK particularly encourages applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, fostering inclusivity in science and preparing future leaders in the fight against cancer. Through SPARK, young talents gain the skills and networks needed for successful careers in biomedical research.

Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors. Applications are accepted from mid-November until mid-March. Scholarship award recipients will be announced at the high school awards ceremony. 

Susquehanna Beekeepers Association College Scholarship

Established by the Susquehanna Beekeepers Association to provide college tuition assistance to students from northeastern Pennsylvania who will major in agriculture or biology.

Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change.

To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to better understand the root causes of problems and strengthen the evidence base on what works to solve them. Using this evidence, we advocate for policy reforms at all levels of government and help build durable, bipartisan coalitions for lasting change.

Causal Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools

The Opportunity

Smartphones are nearly universal among children and adolescents in the United States: 95% of teens reported having access to a smartphone, giving them regular exposure to social media, gaming, and video streaming platforms. While smartphones can support learning and social connection, emerging evidence suggests that using phones during school may also interfere with important educational goals, including student engagement, attendance, and academic performance.

In response, more than 30 states have passed laws restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools in recent years. These policies vary widely, ranging from “bell-to-bell” policies to classroom-level bans on phones only during instructional time. Despite the rapid adoption of these policies, rigorous evidence on academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts remains limited. In the absence of strong research, federal and state policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, lack the information needed to make informed decisions that effectively support student success. Building a robust evidence base is critical for shaping policies and practices that improve learning and well-being in both the short- and long-term.

This RFP seeks to address these gaps by supporting rigorous, causal research on the academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts of cell phone policies in K-12 schools in the United States. We seek studies that generate actionable insights for policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, who are deciding whether and how to implement or refine such policies. This RFP will support both Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Quasi-Experimental Designs (QEDs) that can credibly estimate causal effects. While we are open to a range of research questions, we highlight 2 areas of particular interest below.

What are the overall impacts of policies restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on student-level outcomes, including academic achievement and attainment (e.g., standardized test scores, graduation rates), behaviors (e.g., engagement, attendance, disciplinary actions), and/or mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness)?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on school-level outcomes, including school safety (e.g., reported incidents), school climate (e.g., bullying, social connections), and administrative factors (e.g., costs, logistics, communications with parents)?

• Do initial impacts persist, fade, or grow as schools refine their practices over time?

What factors explain variation in the impacts of cell phone policies?

• Which students, schools, and districts are most impacted by cell phone policies?

• Which policy design features (e.g., what devices are banned, when devices are banned, how devices are stored/locked) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• Which implementation strategies (e.g., training and supports for school staff, consistent approaches for enforcement) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• How do the resource and operational implications of different policy approaches (e.g., costs, staff time, infrastructure needs) influence their effectiveness? How do these factors affect the scalability and sustainability of effective approaches?