Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Idaho

Grassroots 501(c)(3) and similar tax-exempt organizations working in education, human services, conservation, health, or cultural programs can seek McGraw Foundation support, including general operating or project funding. Although grants generally favor the greater Chicago area, Idaho grassroots groups with qualifying initiatives may be eligible for awards of US $2,000 - US $10,000.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, and tax-exempt religious entities in southwestern Idaho can seek project funding for community programs through the Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation. Focus areas include basic needs, cultural arts, education, environment, health, and rural communities, with awards of US $20,000 - US $35,000 for innovative, sustainable initiatives.

Grassroots 501(c)(3) organizations in Idaho working in areas like education, basic needs, health, environment, or community development can receive funding to advance their local programs. Grants from BECU Foundation help Idaho nonprofits, including those in eligible northern counties, access up to US $50,000 through the People Helping People Awards, with members nominating the organizations they support.

Graduate students conducting drinking water quality, environmental science, or public health research can receive US $3,000 to advance projects with actionable outcomes for the water industry. Focused on water-related environmental research, American Water Works Association invites applicants whose work may ultimately benefit grassroots and community-focused efforts in Idaho and beyond.

Grassroots and other 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Idaho can seek funding for economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing, and community arts and culture initiatives. Grants from US Bancorp Foundation help organizations in designated U.S. Bank communities, with priority for leaders of color and programs advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across multiple “work, home, and play” pillars.

Idaho agricultural producers and land stewards seeking to enhance environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, or habitat restoration can access funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program. This program provides annual payments of more than US $4,000 to maintain and expand conservation practices on working lands, supporting cleaner water and air, healthier soils, and improved wildlife habitat.

Nonprofit charitable organizations in Idaho working on affordable housing, education, workforce readiness, or small business growth can apply for grants of US $10,000 - US $25,000 to strengthen community stability and economic self-sufficiency. Grants from KeyBank Foundation help grassroots groups advance financial literacy, homeownership, academic success, and job creation in eligible communities.

Grassroots nonprofits, public institutions, and qualified municipalities in Idaho serving a Weyerhaeuser community can seek funding for affordable housing, youth development, environmental stewardship, human services, and related priorities. Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund awards more than US $1,000 to community-focused projects that address local needs within its designated operating areas in the U.S. and Canada.

Nonprofit organizations in Idaho working on housing, youth development, financial education, or economic and workforce development can apply for Banner Bank’s Banner Gives Community Support Program. Funding prioritizes programs serving low- and moderate-income residents, so grassroots groups advancing affordable housing, youth success, small business or small farm development, and job creation may be strong candidates.

Grassroots and community-based organizations in Idaho addressing humanitarian aid, child welfare, education, homelessness, or women and family services can access funding through The Father's Table Foundation. This U.S.-wide program offers up to US $750,000 to expand self-sufficiency, sustainability, and emergency relief efforts for women and children, including microfinance, health care, and disaster response projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Idaho and the broader Pacific Northwest can apply for Foster Foundation grants to support social services, education, medical care, and community engagement programs. Grassroots groups serving underserved children, women, seniors, or other disadvantaged residents may be eligible if their projects align with the foundation’s priority areas and serve communities in Idaho or neighboring states.

Agricultural producers, subsistence landowners, non‑industrial private forestland owners, and Indian tribes in Idaho can receive financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices on eligible farm, ranch, and forest lands. Grants from USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service of Idaho help address soil, water, plant, animal, air, and related natural resource concerns, which may benefit grassroots land stewardship efforts.

Undergraduate-focused higher education institutions in Idaho seeking support for small-scale biomedical research can apply for NIH Academic Research Enhancement Awards, with projects up to Up to US $375,000. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health provides Idaho colleges and universities with funding to engage undergraduates and strengthen their biomedical research environment across fields like public health, neuroscience, genetics, and more.

Idaho students conducting vertebrate research can access funding through the Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology to support field and lab project costs. Undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students in accredited degree programs who are or become SNVB members may receive up to US $1,500 for travel, equipment, supplies, and related research expenses.

Early-career medical and health researchers at academic or research institutions in low- or middle-income countries can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award to support mentored clinical research and career development. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help Idaho partners collaborating with LMIC investigators secure approximately US $140,000 for three to five years of protected research time.

With a mission to advance health equity, 501(c)(3) organizations in Idaho can seek PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement grants of US $10,000 - US $50,000 for healthcare access and prevention programs. Funding can support direct and indirect health services, early childhood and parent education, supportive housing services, nutrition, and resilience-building initiatives for underserved communities.

Early-career health researchers at academic or research institutions in eligible low- or middle-income countries, including Idaho-affiliated LMIC scientists, can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award from the National Institutes of Health; awards approximately US $140,000 for three to five years of mentored research career development on country-relevant health priorities.

Focused on education and related community programs, 501(c)(3) organizations in Idaho can apply for grants ranging from US $5,000 - US $20,000 to expand or enhance services. The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust prioritizes educational initiatives, with additional support possible for arts and culture, youth programs, community initiatives, and select environmental or preservation projects.

Idaho grassroots organizations and other entities planning health-related congresses, events, or initiatives can seek sponsorship funding for tangible benefits like exhibit space, banners, or marketing opportunities. Biogen Foundation considers a wide range of neurological and related disease areas, with approval based on alignment with interests, event details, and geographic location.

Grassroots 501(c)(3) organizations in Idaho working on regenerative farming, healthy food access, climate justice, or related environmental and community health issues can seek general operating support through the Clif Family Foundation Open Call. Grants of US $5,000 - US $50,000 prioritize smaller, community-rooted groups primarily focused in the U.S. and its territories.

The Conservation Partners Grant Program, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, supports private landowners in implementing regenerative agriculture and conservation practices. By awarding competitive grants, the program facilitates technical assistance for developing management plans and best practices, enabling landowners to maximize the ecological benefits of their lands. This initiative is crucial for enhancing fish and wildlife habitats, addressing pressing conservation issues, and promoting sustainable land stewardship across the United States.

The Community Ties Giving Program by Union Pacific Foundation offers local grants aimed at enhancing community well-being through diverse funding priorities. These include safety initiatives, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. The program emphasizes supporting organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to create impactful projects that resonate with Union Pacific's heritage and mission. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Union Pacific communities and demonstrate a clear need and capacity to deliver effective programming.

Intermountain Community Care Foundation

Our mission: Helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

Intermountain Health is the largest nonprofit health system in the Intermountain West. We’re dedicated to creating healthier communities and helping our patients thrive.

Intermountain Health was established in 1975, but our legacy of compassion and care extends well beyond that, going back to the late 1800s and the early 1900s in Colorado and Utah respectively. We have since become a 60,000+ person strong nonprofit health system, with operations in six states across the interior West with a shared vision to be a model health system that inspires the future of health.

Intermountain Healthcare, SCL Health, and HealthCare Partners Nevada have now come together to serve communities in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Grants

The Intermountain Community Care Foundation awards grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment. By supporting evidence-based programs and services that strengthen communities, the Foundation is dedicated to helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

What We Fund

We provide grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment.

• Healthcare Access Grants
• Social Drivers of Health Grants
• Child & Family Mental Well-Being Grants
• Utah Education Innovation Grants

Child & Family Mental Well-Being Grants

To qualify for Child and Family Mental Well-Being funding, your program or service must focus on families with children. Funding priority areas include:

• Mental well-being for children, including: reducing suicide deaths; reducing frequent mental distress, anxiety, and depression; decreasing substance misuse
• Advance prevention and early intervention addressing risk and protective factors
• Expand comprehensive, family-centered, mental well-being programs
• Build trauma-informed systems for young children including evidence-based prevention, behavioral health treatment, or related interventions or programs
• Strengthen community behavioral health capacity and collaborations through coalition-building

Requirements

• A full and complete financial audit conducted within the last two years. Submission must include the entire audit, including any findings and the auditor's letter
• A copy of the organization's 501(c)(3) designation letter or a comparable government designation
• A completed W9
• A completed Supplier Form (a blank copy will be provided in the application)

Additional information

• In Utah and Idaho, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $100,000 per year for 3 years (up to $300,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• In Colorado, Montana, and Nevada, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $50,000 per year for 2 years (up to $100,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• A funding request may not exceed 20 percent of an organization’s annual operating budget, e.g., to be eligible for a $50,000 grant, your organization’s annual operating budget must be at least $250,000.
• In general, small equipment and materials are eligible at no more than a total $5,000 cost, but large equipment, construction, and capital costs are not eligible. Consideration will be given if computer equipment is necessary and vital to the success of the project.

The Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation (IFWF) Grant Program aims to support projects that enhance the state’s rich biodiversity. By focusing on habitat conservation, fish and wildlife management, and conservation education, the program provides competitive funding to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and other tax-exempt organizations. Eligible applicants must address specific priorities, ensuring the preservation of Idaho's unique ecosystems and wildlife heritage.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

NAFC Healthcare Services Expansion Fund

The NAFC Healthcare Services Expansion Fund supports the launch or expansion of clinical programs and new service areas that increase access to care for underserved patients. This funding is designed to help NAFC members introduce new services or grow existing programs that address unmet community health needs and improve access to comprehensive, patient-centered care.

The Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, provides financial support to students pursuing careers in natural resources. Applicants must reside in specific Illinois counties and plan to enroll in a full-time program related to fields such as ecology, hydrology, and conservation. Academic performance is a key consideration in the selection process. For more details, contact the Winnebago County Soil & Water Conservation District.

The OECD Conference Sponsorship aims to enhance scientific knowledge and provide essential information to influence policy decisions on sustainable resource use in food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It supports international events that showcase innovative research and developments, inviting applications from scientists in these fields. The event sponsorship encourages collaboration among policymakers, industry, and academia, ensuring that research insights are effectively communicated and utilized in decision-making processes.