Best Hennepin County Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota

Excellence in Medicine Awards

The AMA Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Awards honor physicians and medical advocates who exemplify the highest values of the profession—volunteerism, community engagement, leadership, and service to underserved populations. Each recipient is recognized at a ceremony during the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago and receives a $2,500 grant honorarium directed to a nonprofit health organization of their choice. Since 2005, more than 100 honorees have been celebrated through this program, with over $250,000 awarded to strengthen community health and advance equitable care nationwide. 

Excellence in Medicine Awards- Dr. Edmond and Rima Cabbabe Dedication to the Profession Award

Honors physicians who are committed to expanding knowledge through teaching, conducting research and publishing. Other qualifying virtues include leadership, volunteerism and philanthropic activities in medical and other civic organizations.

Made possible by Edmond Cabbabe, MD, and Rima Cabbabe

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Shirley Lewis McCune Memorial Scholarship

The Shirley Lewis McCune Memorial Scholarship was established at The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County in memory/honor of Shirley Lewis McCune. Her family chose to honor Shirley, who worked for Columbia Gas for many years and was the first female District Manager for the company here in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Award Type: Single-Year award. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply in consecutive years provided they maintain full-time enrollment.

Excellence in Medicine Awards

The AMA Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Awards honor physicians and medical advocates who exemplify the highest values of the profession—volunteerism, community engagement, leadership, and service to underserved populations. Each recipient is recognized at a ceremony during the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago and receives a $2,500 grant honorarium directed to a nonprofit health organization of their choice. Since 2005, more than 100 honorees have been celebrated through this program, with over $250,000 awarded to strengthen community health and advance equitable care nationwide. 

Excellence in Medicine Awards- Dr. Debasish Mridha Spirit of Medicine Award

Recognizes the work of U.S. physicians who demonstrate altruism, compassion, integrity, leadership and personal sacrifice while providing quality health care to destitute, distressed or marginalized populations in impoverished communities.

Made possible by Debasish Mridha, MD

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Sophie M. and John F. Yoney Scholarship Fund

The Sophie M. and John F. Yoney Scholarship Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation by the late Mr. John F. Yoney, to provide to graduates from Chartiers-Houston High School, Peters Township High School and Canon McMillan High School.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

Ann E. Myers Scholarship

Ann E. Myers was born in Tiffin, Ohio in 1951. She held a Bachelor’s Degree from The Ohio State University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Ashland University, and was a National Board Certified Teacher. Teaching elementary school was Ann’s true calling and joy. She began her teaching career in Lancaster, Ohio in 1973. She taught in Lancaster until 1984, at which time she began teaching in the Dublin, Ohio school system. From 1984 until her retirement in 2012, Ann taught at various elementary grade levels at Olde Sawmill, Wyandot, Scottish Corners, and Indian Run. During her teaching career, Ann gave freely of her time to mentor younger teachers. Above all, she loved her students and would do anything for them. After retirement, Ann volunteered her time at Habitat for Humanity, Franklin County Food Bank, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Upper Arlington Library. Ann battled cancer for many years until her death in 2018. Courage and optimism were her best traits. Ann’s husband established the scholarship to ensure that her legacy of teaching young students the wonders of learning would live on. The scholarship establishes that goal by encouraging Dublin High School students to pursue a career in education.

Award Amount:

• $10,000 payable over four years at $2,500 per academic year.

WindSwell Foundation: Scholarship- Additional Licensing

Managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, this scholarship opportunity is for up to $2,500 per year for any Special Educator seeking additional licensing.

Enhancing the Flavor of Plant-based & Fermentation-derived Proteins

As global demand for protein continues to rise, this funding opportunity can help diversify protein sources, strengthen the sustainability of food and agriculture supply chains and contribute to a safer, more resilient global food system. Improving the functionality and flavor of plant-based and fermentation-derived proteins can increase consumer acceptance, open new markets for crops, create value-added opportunities for farmers and processors, enhance farmland health and support economic growth.

To drive such innovation the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Good Food Institute (GFI) have joined forces to support plant-based and fermentation-enabled protein ingredient optimization.

The long-term success of plant-based and fermentation-enabled protein foods depends not only on sustainability and cost but also on their ability to deliver a compelling eating experience. By advancing research in ingredient design, enrichment methods and formulation strategies, we can accelerate progress toward high-protein foods that meet or exceed consumer sensory expectations.

Flavor, inclusive of both taste and aroma, remains a critical barrier to consumer acceptance. While early innovation has made progress, many products on the market still face challenges with off-flavors or insufficient desirable flavors. Improving flavor emerged as a key recommendation from the joint FFAR-GFI global call for ideas and workshop, summarized in The Priorities for Plant-based and Fermentation-enabled Protein Ingredient Optimization Convening report.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Carroll A. Lambton Memorial Fund

The Carroll A. Lambton Memorial Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide undergraduate and graduate scholarships for the educational needs of the employees and children of employees of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) along with members and children of members of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA).

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

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Coach Dave Gray Scholarship Fund

The Coach Dave Gray Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for students who plan on pursing post-secondary education. This scholarship fund was established by John and Shana Mackie in 2017 with funds raised through their 2017 “Party for a Purpose”, an annual party for their friends and family with the goal of raising awareness for a different worthy local ministry or cause each year. John and Shana named the fund in honor of Coach Dave Gray who has dedicated his career to working with youth in Western Pennsylvania. Through his classes, camps, training and other activities, Coach Dave impacts the lives of thousands of kids in a positive way. Dave’s programs instill confidence, self-esteem, promote a healthy, active lifestyle and are fun for kids. This scholarship fund will honor Coach Dave’s commitment to the community and help benefit students from Western Pennsylvania for years to come.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Comptaro, Elden, Lewis Combined Scholarship Funds

The William C. Comptaro Educational Fund, the Laura E. Elden Educational Trust and the Frances L. Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund were created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are residents of Allegheny County, PA planning on pursuing post-secondary education.

Award Type: Single Year Award

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund

The Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for Pennsylvania resident undergraduate students enrolled or planning to enroll in a degree program studying the conservation of wildlife and related fields.

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

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Daniel R. Miller (Fretts) Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Daniel R. Miller (Fretts) Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to provide scholarship assistance for vocational and higher educational opportunities for Scottdale Borough/East Huntingdon Twp. youth. The fund was endowed by Daniel R. (Bob) Miller’s daughter Karen to honor the memory of her father and the Miller & Fretts families of the Scottdale Area. Bob Miller, for whom this scholarship is named, was born and raised in Scottdale. He believed that the core values instilled in him by his immediate Miller and Fretts relatives in the Scottdale area were a contributing factor to his later successful business career and other lifetime experiences.

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide scholarship assistance to a graduating senior from Southmoreland High School who wishes to pursue a career in a traditional trade or modern equivalent (engineering, architecture, design etc.).

Award Type: Single Year Award. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

David R. Miller and Sara G. Miller Scholarship Fund

The David R. Miller and Sara G. Miller Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for first year college students from Western Pennsylvania pursuing courses of study in engineering or manufacturing, or related trades.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Dorothy & Richard Barr Westmoreland County High School Scholarship Fund

The Dorothy and Richard Barr Scholarship Fund was created at The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to provide scholarship support to Westmoreland County High School students who have demonstrated community leadership and strong academic performance. The applicant must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above. The applicant must also show community leadership in the form of volunteer activities inside and outside of school.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Dr. Matthew R. Hadley Scholarship Fund

The Dr. Matthew R. Hadley Scholarship Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships awarded to one or more graduating seniors from McKeesport Area, Clairton City, Steel Valley, South Allegheny or East Allegheny High Schools.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local 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 and career/technical schools.

Dr. Roy D. Hoffman Scholarship Fund

The Dr. Roy D. Hoffman Scholarship Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation was created to assist students in Bedford and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania in acquiring post-secondary education.

Award Type: Single Year. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply.

The Edward J. Ferri Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by The Pittsburgh Foundation, provides financial support to students in Westmoreland County, including employees and their children from Ferri Enterprises. This fund aims to assist graduating seniors from local high schools and has expanded eligibility to include all graduates from Allegheny, Somerset, or Westmoreland County. With a focus on students pursuing vocational, technical or college education, this scholarship emphasizes financial need and community involvement.

Mission

The Mission of the Muskingum County Community Foundation is to improve quality of life in the community by nurturing opportunities and serving needs through collaboration and philanthropy.

Vision

The Envisioned Future of the Muskingum County Community Foundation is that Muskingum County’s quality of life attracts organizations and people to pursue their dreams and practice their passions.

A. Porter Spirit of ZHS Fund

A long time teacher at Zanesville High School. As a new teacher ZHS embraced her and she embraced the Blue Devils. Annette Porter is a first generation college graduate from a single parent home. While her parents supported her decision to go to college, it was necessary to incur personal debt which was and is common. This scholarship is available to help those students who may need a little financial help to take the first step toward college, and also make the collegiate experience less burdensome.

Becoming a Blue Devil was a process. Annette had a lot of help along the way, from Principals, Asst Principals, teaching peers, friends and family, so in an effort to pay it forward she has created this scholarship. “ Everyone of my students had potential, the most difficult thing was to convince them to work toward achieving it”. This scholarship will be awarded to a Blue Devil, not necessarily the most “spirited” but the Best Blue Devil who demonstrated all of the qualities that make up a Blue Devil.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

The AAO-HNS is the world’s largest organization representing otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons – physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck.

About the CORE Grants Program

Since 1985, CORE has awarded more than 800 grants and more than $14 million for research projects, research training, and career development to further the specialty of otolaryngology. These grants, ranging in award size from $5,000 to $150,000, have been essential for increasing the research base for otolaryngology.

The CORE program brings greater scale and less fragmentation and overlap to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery research opportunities, reduces the aggregate costs of the individual grant programs, and enables a comprehensive overview of the spectrum of promising otolaryngology and head and neck surgery research/researchers to promote to NIH and other agencies.

CORE Grants Program: AHNS/AAO-HNSF Translational Innovator Award

The purpose of this award is to support contemporary basic or clinical research focused on neoplastic disease by full time academic head and neck surgeons; to promote novel translational research preferably with biomarker ideas. 

Research supported by this award should be specifically directed toward the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of head and neck neoplastic disease, and may be either basic or clinical/translational in approach. 

About Bush Prize: Minnesota

The Bush Prize program identifies and honors extraordinary organizations that consistently engage and lead their community toward creative solutions, provides them with flexible support to keep doing that work, and supports them to amplify their story to inspire others.

In 2026, two organizations will be selected as Bush Prize: Minnesota honorees. Honorees will receive an award of $250,000. The award is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purposes in the state of Minnesota, including operating costs, program-related expenses, capital expenditures or whatever else would best support the organization's ongoing work.

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation was selected as the community grant partner for Minnesota and began implementing Bush Prize: Minnesota in 2024. The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation operates Bush Prize: Minnesota as a Community Grant Partner of the Bush Foundation.

History of Creative Solutions

Bush Prize: Minnesota honors organizations which have at least three years of history using innovative approaches that offer real solutions for the challenges and issues affecting their community. Bush Prize finalists will be able to identify specific examples of processes, programs or projects that use creative approaches, technologies, collaborations, and methods to drive sustainable change and solve problems more effectively.

Community-led Solutions

Bush Prize: Minnesota honors organizations which understand that communities are best positioned to articulate and effectively respond to today's challenges. Bush Prize finalists will show a consistent commitment to listen, engage and involve the community to ensure the people they serve inform, form and benefit from the organization’s impact.

• Benefits - The community served realizes significant impact and change for the issues and challenges they identify as most critical to them.
• Informs - Work should be shaped by input from the community itself. This means the organization listens to the experiences, needs, and feedback from the community it serves to align its goals and initiatives with the actual needs and priorities of the community.
• Forms - Beyond being informed by the community, the community has an active role in shaping the work. The community is directly involved in designing and implementing programs and solutions, and the organization’s work reflects the values, culture, and strengths of the community.

Culture of Creative Problem Solving

Bush Prize: Minnesota honors organizations that exemplify a culture of innovation and creative community problem solving. Bush Prize finalists will articulate how their organization’s values, policies, practices, people and partnerships allow them to innovate and utilize community assets and resources in creative ways to develop sustainable solutions to community issues.

Transformational Impact

Bush Prize: Minnesota honors organizations which have created meaningful, long-lasting change to address the challenges and issues affecting their community. Transformational impact can happen through ideas of all sizes, within communities of all sizes, and through organizations of all sizes. Bush Prize finalists will have approaches and outcomes that:

• Challenge the status quo and address the root causes of significant community issues and systemic challenges.
• Create sustainable and equitable solutions for community, particularly for communities which have been historically underserved.
• Inspire others in the region and serve as a model for future success.

J. C. & L. A. Duke Employees' Assistance Fund

Grants from the Duke Fund are designed to:

• Help recipients achieve self-sufficiency and/or return to the workplace.
• Provide transitional assistance.
• Improve the quality of life for the employee and their family.

Selection Criteria

The applicant must have experienced a combination of the following factors:

• Financial hardship as a result of a catastrophic illness or accident.
• Lack or depletion of benefits available through the 3M Benefit Plan, personal benefit plans and/or other resources.
• In addition, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that a grant will substantially assist them in overcoming all or a portion of the adversity. Awards will be made without regard to race, creed, color, gender, individual marital status, religion or national origin.

Ocean State Media Scholarship

The scholarship offers awards to residents of Ocean State Media’s demographic market area who demonstrate promise of a successful career in the fields of journalism and/or media.

Scholarship Award Details

Established by Rhode Island PBS in 2017, the Ocean State Media Scholarship offers awards to residents of the station’s demographic market area who demonstrate promise of a successful career in the fields of journalism and/or media. Awards of up to $15,000 will be awarded annually and are renewable for an additional three years.

Raptor Research Foundation

RRF Mission Statement: The Raptor Research Foundation advances the science, conservation, and understanding of birds of prey.

The Raptor Research Foundation (RRF) is the world’s largest professional society for raptor researchers and conservationists. Founded in 1966 as a non-profit organization, our primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors. The Foundation organizes annual scientific conferences and provides competitive grants and awards for researchers and conservationists. The Foundation also provides support and networking opportunities for students and early career raptor researchers.

Fran and Frederick Hamerstrom Achievement Award

The Fran and Frederick Hamerstrom Award is a non-monetary award that recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the understanding of raptor ecology and natural history. The award has no restrictions, but membership in the RRF is encouraged. Nomination packets can be submitted in the spring. Recipients will be announced at the annual meeting. Recipients are invited to give a plenary lecture at the subsequent RRF annual meeting. 

About The Hamerstroms: The award was established in 1990 to recognize and honor the Hamerstrom’s contributions to our understanding of raptor natural history and ecology through their long-term ecological studies. Between them, during their lifetime of research they authored and co-authored over 240 scientific papers, books, and reviews. Fran and Hammie moved from Boston to the midwest, where Fran was Aldo Leopold’s only female graduate student. They settled down in Plainfield Wisconsin where a small army of young researchers got their start in the field helping out on studies of harriers and prairie chickens. 

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Brandon Thomas Lawn Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is in memory of Brandon Thomas Lawn who attended Colonial Forge High School in Stafford County. Brandon was the victim of a work related summer job accident and passed away on August 12, 2003. He was an active Master Altar Server at St. William of York Catholic Church. Brandon demonstrated a deep love of family and faith in God. He was quick to help and listen to others and will be remembered as an individual who strived to achieve. He held a GPA of 4.3, an SAT score of 1440, and was an active member of the National Honor Society.

Brandon’s favorite sport was wrestling. He received three varsity letters in wrestling, one in cross-country, and three academic letters. He was the Commonwealth District Champion for the 2001-2002 season and placed fifth in AAA State Wrestling Competition in the 2002-2003 season. Brandon volunteered as a coach for younger children in other wrestling programs in the Stafford County community. Brandon dreamed of attending the United States Air Force Academy. Brandon was known to his close friends for “doing the right thing, no matter what anyone else thinks.”

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Betty Booker Lontz Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established in August 2013 by Betty Lontz, a life-long swimmer and devoted and beloved swim instructor. Growing up in Bon Air, Virginia, Betty’s parents collaborated with four other families to build the Bon Air Pool. By 5 years old, she was swimming with the Midgets – children several years older – rather than the Mites. By age ten, she was swimming on a National championship relay team and, though the expense of the trip prevented it, invited to the 1960 Olympics.

Betty began teaching swimming when she was 14 years old. She trained with the West Hampton College swimmers while in high school and took a job at the pool at The Homestead when she graduated. The late 1960’s found Betty at Fort Lee, Virginia teaching lifeguarding skills to returning Vietnam veterans preparing for the United States Special Services. It was there she met her first husband, Bill Lontz. Having been known to say, “If I can find a guy who can out swim me, I’ll marry him,” she was true to her word and married him after two dates. They were married 39 years until his death in 2007.

The young couple moved to Europe for two years, where Betty started another swimming program. On returning to Virginia and the Fredericksburg area, she was instrumental in establishing the pool at Curtis Park. Her well-known Fredericksburg Swim School business (originally called Country Swim School) began in 1975. Over the years, Betty taught swimming and water safety skills to more than 10,000 children -- including some who became Olympic caliber swimmers.

Betty Lontz passed away on November 5, 2015. She attributed her lifetime of swimming with her resiliency in the face of the genetic condition Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. “Wellness is my story,” said Betty. She believed that, “it’s just smart for people to stay healthy.” In the face of growing social issues that stem from illness, it just makes sense for people to preserve and grow an asset like physical health. On the individual, societal and global levels, the study of wellness is a key to vitality and well-being, including reducing costs to society. “Pathology is important, but promoting good health and preventing illness make so much sense.”

Each year, at least two $500 scholarships will be given to area graduating high school seniors.

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Baron P. “Deuce” Braswell II Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was created in memory of Baron P. “Deuce” Braswell II of Spotsylvania. Baron was the son of Baron Purnell Braswell and Gwendolyn Sue Braswell and he died tragically January 20, 2006. He was a junior and an honor student at Courtland High School. Baron was a very spiritual person and was an active member of the football, basketball, baseball and track teams, known for thanking God for his athletic abilities.

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Anne Koepfinger Inspiring Educators Memorial Award

Anne Koepfinger, a dedicated Special Education teacher, devoted over 28 years of her life to teaching and positively impacting the lives of countless students with learning disabilities. Her unwavering commitment to education and profound influence on students left an indelible mark on the community.

In remembrance of Anne’s remarkable contributions, her family recently established The Anne Koepfinger Inspiring Educators Memorial Award through The Community Foundation. This scholarship serves as a beacon of hope and encouragement, designed to inspire students to follow in Anne’s footsteps and pursue careers in the field of education.

The Koepfinger family recognized that the best way to honor Anne’s memory was to support and uplift the next generation of educators. They understood that the impact of a dedicated and passionate teacher reaches far beyond the classroom. A scholarship in Anne’s name would not only serve as a tribute to her life and work but would also empower aspiring educators to make a meaningful difference in the lives of future students.

The legacy of a beloved educator continues to inspire and touch the lives of students through this scholarship.