Best Holmes County Grants for Nonprofits in Florida

Mission Catholic dioceses holding major events or supporting their bishop’s education in Holmes County, Florida and other approved areas can apply for Catholic Extension’s Francis Grants. Funding supports occasions like episcopal ordinations, diocesan anniversaries, papal visits, and bishops’ continued education, but is available only to pre-approved poor dioceses, not individual parishes or separate nonprofits.

Holmes County, Florida Catholic school educators can access funding through Catholic Extension to pursue graduate-level leadership training in Catholic school administration. The program covers most tuition plus travel for a one-year online certificate focused on mission effectiveness, operational management, and instructional leadership, building long-term leadership capacity for diocesan Catholic schools.

Adult education, ESOL, and family literacy programs in Holmes County, Florida can apply for Florida Literacy Coalition’s Florida Financial Literacy Initiative grants, offering up to US $5,000 to integrate financial education with literacy and math instruction. Eligible programs include those providing parent literacy, interactive parent-child learning, and age-appropriate education for children.

The Stellar Foundation Grants support 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations focused on enhancing healthcare, education, cultural events, and community services. Established by the Stellar Foundation in 2006, these grants encourage employee engagement in philanthropy and community development. Applications are accepted quarterly, with a focus on projects that demonstrate clear goals and community impact. Organizations must possess the necessary resources to implement their initiatives effectively.

501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Holmes County, Florida can apply for St. Joe Community Foundation’s STJCF Grant Program, with awards of US $1,000 - US $50,000 for projects in education, cultural arts, health, and environmental stewardship. Organizations should be based in, or be county chapters serving, Bay, Walton, or nearby Northwest Florida counties including Holmes.

Organizations restoring or enhancing longleaf pine or bottomland hardwood forests in Holmes County, Florida can seek funding to support on-the-ground habitat and ecosystem restoration projects. Grants from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation help Holmes County, Florida conservation efforts with awards from US $250,000 - US $3,000,000 for voluntary landscape-scale forestry and habitat work within the historical longleaf pine range.

Catholic dioceses with parishes in Holmes County, Florida can apply for Catholic Extension’s Enhancing Pastoral and Social Ministry Grants to strengthen pastoral and social outreach. Funding supports catechetical materials, marriage and family ministries, Catholic media, liturgical life, social outreach to homeless, immigrants, or incarcerated people, and minor support to restore church life after disasters.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services supports and promotes Florida agriculture, protects the environment, safeguards consumers, and ensures the safety and wholesomeness of food. Our programs and activities are so varied and extensive, they touch the life of just about every Floridian.

Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program

The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program is offered to eligible non-industrial private forest landowners by the Florida Forest Service through temporary grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.

Periodic southern pine beetle outbreaks in Florida have resulted in millions of cubic feet of pine timber killed on thousands of acres. The goal of this program is to minimize southern pine beetle damage in Florida by helping forest landowners conduct management practices that can make their pine stands less susceptible to this destructive insect pest.

Forest management practices such as thinning, prescribed burning, other competition control, and use of less-susceptible pine species can improve the health of pine stands and decrease their likelihood of developing southern pine beetle

All payments are made at specified per-acre or per-seedling rates.

Catholic dioceses seeking to strengthen fundraising, financial management, and operational efficiency in Holmes County, Florida can apply for Building Capacity Grants. Focused on institutional Catholic initiatives, Catholic Extension invites approved mission dioceses to support development staff, technology, audits, planning, and training that improve long-term sustainability and stewardship for their parishes and schools.

Community Transportation Coordinators and non-traditional transportation service providers in Holmes County, Florida can apply for the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged’s Innovative Service Development Grant; awards up to US $750,000 to test new transportation services. Funding reimburses eligible trips that improve cost-effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility, and mobility for transportation disadvantaged individuals.

Catholic dioceses and parishes serving Holmes County, Florida youth can seek support for ministries that provide faith formation for children, teens, young adults, and families. Catholic Extension funds Catholic youth ministry, campus ministry, religious education, and young adult programs in designated Extension dioceses through operational support, salary subsidies, or seed money to create or expand these efforts.

Holmes County, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofits and foundations can seek project-specific funding to improve quality of life for residents in Northwest Florida. Holmes County organizations can access funding through Bear Family Foundation for community services that help people live healthier, more productive lives, with grants restricted to approved projects and defined performance areas.

Catholic dioceses in Holmes County, Florida can seek funding to recruit, educate, and provide ongoing formation for seminarians, deacons, and lay or religious leaders. Catholic Extension provides support only to approved mission dioceses, helping strengthen parish and diocesan leadership through tuition subsidies, professional development, and leadership training initiatives.

With a mission to conserve forestland, Florida Forest Service provides Holmes County, Florida landowners and conservation partners with support to protect environmentally important forests from development. Eligible participants can sell land or conservation easements, keeping forests in sustainable private ownership while safeguarding habitat, water resources, and recreation values through the Forest Legacy Program.

Catholic dioceses and parishes providing core pastoral and administrative services in under-resourced areas of Holmes County, Florida can seek funding to sustain or expand a Catholic presence. With a mission to strengthen Catholic life, Catholic Extension provides designated Extension Dioceses with salary subsidies and essential operating support for fundamental ministries.

Units of local government in small urban and rural areas of Holmes County, Florida can seek funding for community development projects such as housing rehabilitation, infrastructure, and downtown revitalization. Florida Commerce administers this HUD-funded Small Cities CDBG program, which may benefit nonprofits partnering with local governments on neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and public facilities.

Catholic dioceses and parishes serving Holmes County, Florida can seek funding to construct, expand, or renovate Catholic churches and related facilities. Catholic Extension provides up to US $100,000 for projects in Extension dioceses, including community, program, residential, or temporary worship spaces, with priority for under-resourced communities and active projects with strong local support.

Grants from Impact100 Gulf Coast help Holmes County, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofits launch or expand high-impact projects across arts and culture, education, environment and recreation, health and wellness, and family services. Eligible organizations must serve residents in the six-county Panhandle region, expend the full US $100,000 project budget within 24 months, and submit one application in a single focus area.

Strategic Giving Pillars 

VyStar Foundation gives to organizations that share our strategic priorities and are working toward the broader goal of doing good in the regions served by VyStar Credit Union. We support impactful work, ideas and innovative solutions.

VyStar Foundation: Military Grant

Ensuring military members, veterans and their families receive the social services they need and the recognition they deserve. 

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Holmes County, Florida can apply for $1,000 - $20,000 to support sustainability, community services, and public safety initiatives. Grants from NextEra Energy Foundation help eligible Northwest Florida nonprofits strengthen local communities, provided they are within FPL Northwest Florida’s service area and meet nondiscrimination and prior-grant requirements.

Rural Infrastructure Fund

The Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) facilitates planning, preparing, and financing of infrastructure projects in rural communities to encourage job creation, capital investment and the strengthening and diversification of rural economies. RIF funds are often used by rural communities as a match for other infrastructure funding programs, such as those offered by the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant, United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development, and the United States Department of Commerce - Economic Development Administration.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 RIF Available Funding

A total of $27 million in funding is available through RIF for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027. Funding in the amount of $22 million is available for eligible rural communities statewide. Additionally, $5 million is available to Panhandle Specific counties including Calhoun, Gadsden, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington.

Up to $300,000 can be awarded for infrastructure feasibility studies, design and engineering activities, or other infrastructure planning and preparation activities.

• Projects located outside a Rural Area of Opportunity - $75,000 with 50% local funds match.
• Projects located within a Rural Area of Opportunity - $300,000
• Projects located within a catalyst site (as defined in Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes): maximum amounts same as above. Local funds match requirements may be waived pursuant to the process in Section 288.06561, Florida Statutes.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public institutions, and qualified municipalities working on housing, youth, environmental, or human services projects in Holmes County, Florida can apply for grants of more than US $1,000. Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund supports local community priorities in designated Weyerhaeuser communities across the U.S. and Canada through seven focus areas, including affordable housing, education, and environmental stewardship.

The Lucas Allen Erin’s Elderberries Scholarship Fund, established by a local entrepreneur, supports Fauquier County High School students pursuing their career goals. This $1,000 award requires applicants to be in good academic standing, demonstrate initiative, and provide a letter of recommendation from their employer. Priority is given to those exhibiting financial need and a work history. Managed by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, this fund aims to empower local students and enhance their educational journeys.

The Mary Beth Williams Memorial Scholarship, managed by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, honors the life of Mary Beth Williams, who tragically passed away in 1997. This scholarship supports students from Rappahannock County with a minimum GPA of 2.5, demonstrating financial need, and pursuing higher education in agriculture or related fields. Award amounts vary, reflecting the foundation's commitment to fostering educational opportunities in the community.

The Lois R. Snead Arts & Crafts Scholarship Fund, managed by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, supports students in Rappahannock County who are pursuing education in arts or crafts. Eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors and demonstrate community service and academic initiative. Priority is given to first-generation students in financial need, ensuring that local talent can thrive in creative fields. This scholarship reflects the Foundation's commitment to fostering community and artistic growth.

The Lane E. Warren Scholarship Fund, managed by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, offers a $1,000 award to a Madison County resident who is a high school graduate or graduating this year. This scholarship honors Lane E. Warren, a promising student whose life was tragically cut short. The selection criteria emphasize financial need and community service, supporting students pursuing college or certificate programs in their educational endeavors.

The Center for Scholarship Administration

The Center for Scholarship Administration (CSA) provides corporations, foundations, trust funds, and individual philanthropists scholarship selection and administration management that is experienced, professional, and cost efficient while lending the program an integrity not inherent in internal selection committees.

Wilson Family Memorial Scholarship

The Wilson Family Memorial Scholarship Fund is providing scholarships for deserving students. The Center for Scholarship Administration, Inc. (CSA), a non-profit, independent organization is the facilitator of the scholarship fund.

You must attend full-time an accredited, public or private, four-year college, university or conservatory training college located in the United States. Recipients must be enrolled full-time each semester and must be working towards a bachelor`s degree in music, or its equivalent.

This scholarship is a multiple year grant that will continue for a maximum of 4 years as long as the student meets the following requirements: attend an accredited college, university or conservatory training college located in the United States pursuing a degree in music, or its equivalent; remain in good academic standing. Students must remain enrolled full-time, continuously throughout the four-year scholarship.