Best Grants for BIPOC in Illinois

The Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant, offered by the Petfinder Foundation, provides financial support to adopters of senior pets or bonded pairs. This initiative aims to encourage the adoption of older pets by covering costs such as adoption fees and post-adoption expenses, including veterinary care and supplies. Grants, up to $1,000, are awarded monthly until funds are depleted, ensuring that senior pets find loving homes while alleviating some financial burdens for their new families.

AAYHF's Harvest Scholars Scholarship Program Fund

Attending four-year university or two-year college.

Amount

• (2) $1,500.00

Aimee Melissa Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund

Graduating senior from a high school within Travis, Williamson or Hays counties.

Awards

• (1) $5,000.0

Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship is one of many funding opportunities available to students through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Through the generosity of our donors, we advance efforts to ensure equity in educational opportunity that prepares students for success in school, work, and life.

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship honors the late Agnes Jones Jackson who was a long-time NAACP member from the San Francisco branch.

Scholarship amount:

• $2,000

This is a non-renewable scholarship opportunity.

James Weldon Johnson Scholarship

The James Weldon Johnson Scholarship, powered by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is one of many funding opportunities available to students through the NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Through the generosity of our donors, we advance efforts to ensure equity in educational opportunity that prepares students for success in school, work, and life.

The James Weldon Johnson Scholarship is open to first- or second-year male students who will matriculate to full-time enrollment at an accredited academic institution in Fall 2025.

Scholarship amount:

• $1,500

Amount of Scholarships:

• 15

This is a non-renewable scholarship opportunity.

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Jessie F. Dalman Scholarship

• Graduating senior or graduating early college student who attends public or private school within the primary service area of the Community Foundation or at Hudsonville High School or Hudsonville Unity Christian High School
• Enrolling in a 4-year degree program at an accredited post-secondary school within the United States
• GPA of 3.8 or greater and ranked in the top 10 percent of graduating class
• United States citizen
• Leadership is an additional consideration

About the Chester County Community Foundation

Our Mission

The Chester County Community Foundation connects people who care with the causes that matter, so their philanthropy makes a difference now and forever.

Robert & Doris Hanna Scholarship Fund

Mission

The Chester County Community Foundation honors the long and philanthropic lives of Dr. Robert and Doris Hanna.

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Mark Winia Memorial Soccer Scholarship

• Graduating senior or graduating early college student who attends public, private, or home school in the primary service area of the Community Foundation or in Hamilton or Saugatuck
• Enrolling at an accredited post-secondary school within the United States
• Financial need, a consideration (encouraged to submit the page of the FAFSA Submission Summary showing the Student Aid Index amount)
• GPA of 2.5 or greater
• Club or varsity soccer participant
• High involvement and giving back to the soccer world through participation in activities such as coaching, mentoring, refereeing, or Cleats for Kids
• Recommended by applicant’s club or school soccer coach
• 1,200-character or less essay explaining how you have given back to the sport of soccer beyond participating on teams and being a team captain or co-captain

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Neydon Scholarship for the Children of Widows

• Graduating senior from one of the following high schools: Black River, Holland Christian, Holland High School, West Ottawa, Zeeland East, or Zeeland West
• Enrolling at an accredited post-secondary school within the United States
• Financial need (must submit the page of the FAFSA Submission Summary showing the Student Aid Index amount)
• Child of a widowed mother
• Preference given to those students who are not selected to receive other types of scholarships, particularly full scholarships

The Bridge to Success Grant for Mid-Career/Senior Investigators, offered by the AASM Foundation, supports seasoned sleep and circadian science researchers seeking bridge funding while reapplying for larger grants. Eligible applicants include those with past NIH proposals that were not funded but scored. This initiative aims to retain experienced investigators in the field while ensuring a continued focus on vital research topics. The grant is a part of the AASM Foundation's commitment to advancing sleep research.

The AAP Foundation's Educator Scholarships aim to support future periodontal educators by offering financial assistance to students enrolled in U.S. periodontal postdoctoral programs. Each scholarship provides $12,000, disbursed as $4,000 annually over three years, to help cover tuition and living costs. Recipients must commit to teaching full-time at a U.S. periodontal program for each year they receive funding. This initiative fosters the growth of qualified educators in the field.

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Shelley Speet-Mills Creative Arts Scholarship

• Graduating senior or graduating early college student who attends public, private, or home school in the primary service area of the Community Foundation
• Enrolling at an accredited post-secondary school within the United States
• Financial need (must submit the page of the FAFSA Submission Summary showing the Student Aid Index amount)
• GPA of 3.0 or greater
• Planning to pursue a career in the arts
• Recommended by applicant’s high school art teacher
• This scholarship is potentially renewable and supports one student at a time. 

ASPCApro.org provides tools and resources for animal welfare professionals, veterinary personnel and volunteers. We take a progressive approach to helping the country's at-risk animals, promoting cutting edge research to advance the field.

ASPCA The Rescue Effect Campaign Grants

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) is offering up to $2 million in grants to support adoption at shelters and rescues during the 2026 “The Rescue Effect”, a nationwide campaign that highlights the positive chain of events that occurs when people adopt, foster, volunteer, advocate and donate.

The Rescue Effect will run through the months of August, September, and October 2026, during which grantees must offer a minimum of two (2) fee-waived adoption days/events each month. 

Restrictions and Parameters

Grant funds may be used for any of the following:

• make-ready costs for cats/dogs available for adoption during the Campaign months covered by the grant term (e.g., s/n surgery, microchips, vaccinations, testing, dewormer, flea-tick treatment, heartworm preventative, bloodwork)
• marketing/advertising costs (e.g., adoption promotions, volunteer/foster recruitment)
• waived adoption fees for adoptions occurring during the Campaign months covered by the grant term
• foster program expansion/ramp up
• operating costs related to supporting participation in The Rescue Effect campaign

The NewSchools: Innovative Schools Grant supports education leaders aiming to create new public and charter schools that address the unique needs of today's students. With funding ranging from $150,000 to $250,000, the grant emphasizes equity and innovative educational models. Applications are encouraged before the December 10, 2024 priority deadline, with the final deadline on January 8, 2025. This initiative seeks to empower diverse communities through transformative educational solutions.

The Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award, provided by the American Academy of Periodontology, offers a $10,000 grant to support new periodontal educators. This funding aims to facilitate their entry into teaching and research careers in periodontal education. Eligible candidates must be in their third year of an accredited periodontal post-doctoral training program in the U.S. and demonstrate a strong commitment to education and research in this field.

About Community Foundation of Henderson County

• Mission: Helping people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter.
• Vision: Community Foundation of Henderson County is a highly visible, philanthropic leader directed by an engaged and committed board, staffed by qualified employees, empowering donors at all levels to invest in professionally managed charitable funds that address community needs.

About Dale "Haynes" and Elaine Woolcott Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is for a college-bound student who is a legal resident of Henderson County, North Carolina or Van Buren County, Michigan. The applicant must demonstrate financial need and have a record of community service. Preference will be given to graduates of a Henderson County high school or a graduate of Hartford Public Schools. 

This is a renewable scholarship.

Bill Boehlke Scholarship

Bill Boehlke worked for both the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle SuperSonics as a creative member of their digital communications departments. His imagination, humor and positive personality were appreciated by everyone he worked with. In memory of Bill, his family established this scholarship fund in 2020. The fund will provide scholarships to high school seniors in the state of Washington who are pursuing a career in digital communications, including social media video production. Scholarships will help cover qualified expenses including tuition, books and other expenses necessary for their classes. Scholarships are not renewable. Special consideration will be given to students based on financial needs and the applicant’s history of good character and community service.

Amount:

$1,000 - $5,000

About Community Foundation of Henderson County

• Mission: Helping people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter.
• Vision: Community Foundation of Henderson County is a highly visible, philanthropic leader directed by an engaged and committed board, staffed by qualified employees, empowering donors at all levels to invest in professionally managed charitable funds that address community needs.

About Denis Barton ScholarshipApplicant must be a resident of either Transylvania or Henderson County who has graduated from a public, private, parochial or home school program who wishes to pursue an undergraduate degree at a degree granting college or university and who demonstrates the need for financial assistance in order to attend an institution of higher learning. The applicant should have a cumulative GPA equivalent to a "C average" upon graduation. Preference will be given to students from Transylvania County. Financial need will be more strongly considered than grades. An adult student will be considered for this scholarship if he or she can demonstrate reason as to why he or she did not pursue his or her college education immediately after high school. Such reasons would include but are not limited to military service, medical reasons, family obligations, and/or mission work. The recipient must be awarded the scholarship prior to the age of 30.This is a renewable scholarship.

About Community Foundation of Henderson County

• Mission: Helping people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter.
• Vision: Community Foundation of Henderson County is a highly visible, philanthropic leader directed by an engaged and committed board, staffed by qualified employees, empowering donors at all levels to invest in professionally managed charitable funds that address community needs.

About Dirk and Paige Willms Scholarship

This scholarship is to provide financial assistance for students seeking a higher education leading to a degree, certification or licensure at an accredited institution approved by the Foundation. Student must be a child or stepchild of a current employee in good standing who works as operations personnel with one of the following agencies: All municipal police departments located in Henderson County, Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Hendersonville Fire Department, all Henderson County Volunteer Fire Departments, and the Henderson County Rescue Squad. Students may live within or outside of Henderson County, NC; meet all academic requirements of the attending institution; and be a United States citizen.

This is a renewable scholarship.

The Charles Albert Shull Award, established by the American Society of Plant Biologists in 1971, honors outstanding investigations in plant biology by early-career researchers. Eligible candidates must be ASPB members under 45 years old or within ten years of their doctoral degree. This award recognizes significant contributions to the field, promoting the growth and education of plant scientists. Recipients will present their work at the annual meeting, fostering community engagement and knowledge sharing.

The S&G Labs Hawaii Scholarship Fund, established by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation in 2018, aims to support students transitioning from drug treatment into educational training. Applicants must be Hawaii residents with financial need, maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.5, and enrolled full-time in an accredited institution. Average awards are around $6,000, depending on available funds and applicant qualifications. This initiative fosters equity and opportunity for vulnerable communities in Hawaii.

The Janosik Family Scholarship, awarded by the Delaware Community Foundation, offers a one-time financial assistance of $2,000 for graduating seniors from specific Eastern Shore High Schools. This program emphasizes citizenship qualities, work ethic, and community service as key selection criteria. In 2024-2025, the foundation distributed a record-breaking $850,000 in scholarships to support students pursuing undergraduate degrees, promoting educational opportunities and equity across Delaware.

The Alaska Community Foundation

The Alaska Community Foundation connects people who care to the causes that make a difference and matter most to them. We encourage and nurture philanthropy through building and managing permanent endowments, convening stakeholders, working with partners to strengthen Alaskan communities, and providing donors with flexible giving options that are strategic to their philanthropic objectives.

Scholarships at ACF

Each year, more than 60 scholarships are available to Alaska students—and it all starts with one simple application. With one login and one application, you’ll be considered for every scholarship you may be eligible for. Whether you’re taking your first step toward college, training for a career, or continuing your education, these scholarships are here to help carry you forward, backed by donors who believe in Alaska’s students and the futures they’re building. 

Toby Gamble and Janet Helen Tolan Gamble Educational Fund

Scholarship to benefit students graduating from an Anchorage high school who are interested in vocational studies, pre-med, law, theology, sports or other areas specified in the scholarship guidelines.

The Toby Gamble and Janet Helen Tolan Gamble Educational Scholarship was established at The Alaska Community Foundation in 2015, with the inaugural scholarship cycle beginning in the spring of 2018. The Gambles wanted to support the post-secondary goals of students in Anchorage, a place they made their home for nearly sixty years.

The Alaska Community Foundation

The Alaska Community Foundation connects people who care to the causes that make a difference and matter most to them. We encourage and nurture philanthropy through building and managing permanent endowments, convening stakeholders, working with partners to strengthen Alaskan communities, and providing donors with flexible giving options that are strategic to their philanthropic objectives.

Scholarships at ACF

Each year, more than 60 scholarships are available to Alaska students—and it all starts with one simple application. With one login and one application, you’ll be considered for every scholarship you may be eligible for. Whether you’re taking your first step toward college, training for a career, or continuing your education, these scholarships are here to help carry you forward, backed by donors who believe in Alaska’s students and the futures they’re building. 

Tim Akers Memorial Scholarship Fund

A scholarship fund in memory of Tim Akers to support post-secondary education opportunities for Alaska Native students in the field of technology, education, or engineering.

The Tim Akers Memorial Scholarship supports outstanding Alaskan students in the pursuit of technology education and/or training. Tim Akers played an influential role in the development and production of the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield. Mr. Akers served as a mentor and role model for many young Alaskans with little or no experience working on the North Slope. His guidance helped to establish a solid core of exceptional Alaskan talent in the Prudhoe Bay workforce. Mr. Akers also served as President of the Chuloonawick Native Corporation.

The BJC Scholars Fund Scholarship, backed by BJC HealthCare, aims to support high school seniors from specific Missouri and Illinois counties pursuing higher education. Eligible students can receive up to $12,000 per academic year, renewable for up to ten semesters. This initiative addresses community needs highlighted by the Ferguson Commission, promoting educational opportunities for youth in the regions served by BJC hospitals, which are known for their commitment to healthcare excellence.

The Alaska Community Foundation

The Alaska Community Foundation connects people who care to the causes that make a difference and matter most to them. We encourage and nurture philanthropy through building and managing permanent endowments, convening stakeholders, working with partners to strengthen Alaskan communities, and providing donors with flexible giving options that are strategic to their philanthropic objectives.

Scholarships at ACF

Each year, more than 60 scholarships are available to Alaska students—and it all starts with one simple application. With one login and one application, you’ll be considered for every scholarship you may be eligible for. Whether you’re taking your first step toward college, training for a career, or continuing your education, these scholarships are here to help carry you forward, backed by donors who believe in Alaska’s students and the futures they’re building. 

Ron and Terri Davis Trades Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is established to help deserving students with financial need to complete a certificate or degree in the trades, including an applied Associates Degree leading to employment in the trades.

The Alaska Community Foundation

The Alaska Community Foundation connects people who care to the causes that make a difference and matter most to them. We encourage and nurture philanthropy through building and managing permanent endowments, convening stakeholders, working with partners to strengthen Alaskan communities, and providing donors with flexible giving options that are strategic to their philanthropic objectives.

Scholarships at ACF

Each year, more than 60 scholarships are available to Alaska students—and it all starts with one simple application. With one login and one application, you’ll be considered for every scholarship you may be eligible for. Whether you’re taking your first step toward college, training for a career, or continuing your education, these scholarships are here to help carry you forward, backed by donors who believe in Alaska’s students and the futures they’re building. 

Lucile Hope Special Education Scholarship Fund

The Lucile Hope Special Education Scholarship was generously established in honor of Lucy Hope upon her retirement from the Mat-Su School District where she taught special education for many years and guided the administration of the special education program. It supports Alaskan students seeking post-secondary education in K-12 education with an endorsement in special education. The scholarship is open to students enrolled in an accredited university or college and who have completed at least their sophomore year pursuing a degree or endorsement in post-secondary education.