Best Grants for Global Health in Illinois

Kari Hamaker Performing Arts Scholarship

A scholarship awarded to a student in Marshall, Olivet or the surrounding area, during school or upon graduation, seeking a degree in Performing Arts or for additional enrichment opportunities in performing arts. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. GPA is not a qualifying factor; however, transcripts and test scores are required. Students who receive this scholarship are encouraged to apply for further support in subsequent years.

The Retina Society, Inc.

The Retina Society was founded in 1968 exclusively for educational and scientific purposes concerning the diagnosis, care and treatment of diseases and injuries to the retina. The Retina Society began as an outgrowth of alumni meetings of Retina Associates, a retina practice founded in Boston in 1951 by Charles L. Schepens. Dr. Schepens is credited with establishing retina surgery as a sub-specialty.  

Our mission is to reduce worldwide visual disability and blindness by promoting the education and professional interaction of vitreoretinal specialists, providing optimal care for patients with vitreoretinal diseases, and encouraging, through clinical and basic research, the discovery and development of new means to further patient care.

Retina Society Underrepresented in Medicine (RESOURCE) Mentoring Program

The Retina Society Underrepresented in Medicine (RESOURCE) Mentoring Program was created to engage and interest ophthalmology residents from underrepresented populations* in research and in pursuing careers in the retina subspecialty through dedicated mentoring exposure. The program will pair ophthalmology residents from underrepresented backgrounds with Retina Society mentors, with the goal of providing the residents with research and career mentorship.

*The American Association of Medical Colleges definition of underrepresented in medicine is: "Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population." We define the following groups as underrepresented: Black (African American or African), Latino/Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. We will also be considering applicants from LGBTQIA+ and socioeconomically underprivileged backgrounds.

Mentors will work with their designated mentees on research projects that will be presented at the Retina Society Annual Meeting in 2027 and submitted for publication consideration. Mentors and mentees will be acknowledged at the Retina Society Annual Meeting.

The Dunkirk Community Funds: Marilee & Gayle Gaunt Scholarship, established in 2007 by The Dunkirk Foundation, honors the memory of Betty L. Gaunt's daughters, Marilee and Gayle, who tragically passed away in 1966. This scholarship aims to support residents of Dunkirk, IN, or those living within two miles of its boundary, by providing financial assistance for educational and vocational training at post-secondary institutions.

George Sherman Scholarship

Applicants must be pursuing a two- or four- year degree or advanced education and/or training in the skilled trades and show evidence of involvement in co or extra-curricular activities or volunteerism related to the applicant’s field of interest. Transcripts and scores are requested, but not necessarily a determining factor.

The Delesky-Wetmore Scholarship, established in October 2025 by Cathy Delesky and Doug Wetmore through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, aims to support high school seniors in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, or Colleton Counties, South Carolina. This scholarship focuses on students with financial need pursuing a four-year degree in STEM, finance, or economics, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.5 and above-average ACT or SAT scores.

The American Epilepsy Society offers Seed Grants to support established researchers in exploring innovative research methodologies and collaborations. These grants aim to foster new lines of inquiry in epilepsy research. Notably, proposals that align with specific partner priorities may enjoy waived eligibility criteria, enhancing funding opportunities. This initiative seeks to advance understanding and treatment of epilepsy through novel research avenues.

The American Epilepsy Society's Junior Investigator Research Awards support early-career researchers in epilepsy. The awards, offering up to $50,000 for one year, aim to enhance the ability of new investigators to secure longer-term funding from sources like the NIH. Proposals are encouraged across a range of epilepsy research, including basic, translational, and clinical studies, as well as health services research. This initiative also includes complimentary membership to the AES Annual Meeting.

The American Epilepsy Society offers Research and Training Fellowships for Clinicians, providing up to $75,000 for one year to support clinical fellows or new faculty aiming to advance in epilepsy research. This fellowship encourages proposals across basic, translational, and clinical research. It also includes $1,000 for travel to the AES Annual Meeting, membership benefits, and complimentary registration, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing in the epilepsy research community.

The FY26 Vision Research Program Clinical Trial Award supports the swift execution of clinical trials aimed at improving treatments for service-connected eye injuries and visual dysfunction. This award emphasizes the need for regulatory compliance, including IND/IDE submissions, and requires documentation confirming the application's active status by March 1, 2027. Review criteria focus on clinical impact, research feasibility, recruitment strategies, and ethical considerations, ensuring relevance to military health.

The FY26 Vision Research Program's Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) offers funding for innovative research addressing eye injury and visual dysfunction due to military exposure. This award supports preclinical to early translational studies aligned with specific focus areas. Unique features include two funding levels and a Partnering Principal Investigator Option. Applications undergo rigorous peer review based on research rationale, strategy, and impact, with potential for sharing with the National Eye Institute for additional funding consideration.

The Lipsky-Whittaker LGBTQ Scholarship, established by the SouthCoast Community Foundation, provides financial support to graduates from New Bedford area high schools who identify as LGBTQ+. Applicants must be under 24 years old and enrolled in or accepted to an accredited college. This scholarship aims to empower students committed to addressing LGBTQ+ issues in their communities, contributing to a more inclusive society.

The AABCF Research Grants, offered by the American Association of Birth Centers Foundation, provide funding up to $5,000 for research projects focused on the birth center model of care. Open to individuals and organizations, these grants aim to enhance knowledge and practices in maternity and women's health care. Projects must demonstrate a clear plan and ability to complete the research on schedule, ensuring impactful contributions to the field.

Youth Service America

Youth Service America believes that youth, communities, and our democracy thrive when we all work together for the common good. YSA is a leading global nonprofit that activates young people, ages 5-25, to find their voice, take action, and acquire powerful civic and 21st Century skills as they solve problems facing their communities. YSA supports its activation campaigns with grants, training and resources, and recognition programs for young people and their adult champions. Youth-led projects use Awareness, Service, Advocacy, and Philanthropy (ASAP) strategies to create social and environmental change.

We Serve To Remember Grants

Projects that Engage 100 Youth Volunteers

YSA’s We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day of Service Grants are for organizations, schools, and youth changemakers ages 5-25 to lead service projects on or around September 11, 2026. Programming efforts should also honor and pay tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, their families, and those who rose in service in response to that tragedy. (We suggest starting with eleven reflections about 9/11/01 and related ideas for service or service-learning projects.)

Grantees are required to engage at least 100 youth as volunteers in planning and implementing the service activities.

What are we looking for?

• Projects must be youth-led;
• Projects must include elements to honor and pay tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, and those who rose in service in response;
• Projects must take place on or around September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance (Friday, September 11, 2026) – between Friday, September 4 and Friday, September 18;
• Project organizers must make their best effort to recruit and engage youth volunteers who are not usually asked to serve;

Grantees are also required to provide evidence of volunteer participation and number of hours served. Approved documention includes sign in sheets, copies of pre-and-post-surveys, or reports from school attendance or volunteer management system. These documents must contain a unique identifier for each volunteer, such as the volunteer’s full first and last name, their full first name and last initial, or a volunteer/student ID number.

Reflecting on the spirit of togetherness that brought people together in the days, weeks, and months after September 11th, we are especially looking for ideas that bring together all members of the community.

Kids' Chance of Massachusetts offers scholarships to children of workers who have been severely injured or killed in workplace accidents. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization awards funds based on financial need, with applications accepted annually. Eligible students must be dependents aged 17-22, enrolled full-time in post-secondary education, and demonstrate financial need. Renewal applications are available for previous recipients who maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Manuel And Fillie Garcia Hispanic Scholarship

The Manuel & Fillie Garcia Hispanic Scholarship was established as a permanent fund of Taos Community Foundation in 2011.

The award is available to graduating seniors in Taos and western Colfax counties with preference to Hispanic students pursuing advancement of higher education. The scholarship is available to those applying to 4 year colleges and universities as well as 2 year vocational/trade schools.

The award amount will be determined at the time of committee review. This award is typically renewable for up to three years if a 2.5 GPA is maintained and all required paperwork is returned in accordance with the Scholarship Agreement.

The REACHing Communities (REACH) Consortium (U01) Clinical Trials Optional grant aims to advance health equity among racial and ethnic minorities through cooperative agreements. It focuses on research, outreach, and mentoring diverse students and researchers. Although the grant information has not been updated in over six months, it remains under observation for potential updates. The initiative is part of the FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity's commitment to improving minority health.

The Health Equity Innovation Award (U01) aims to support innovative research that enhances minority health and health equity. Key areas include promoting diversity in clinical trials, improving data visibility for underrepresented groups, and amplifying diverse patient perspectives. This initiative, funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services' FDA, seeks to ensure equitable health outcomes and address unmet needs within varied populations.

The Arthritis Foundation's Clinical Fellowship RFP aims to address the rheumatology workforce shortage by inviting applications from institutions with clinical training programs. It encourages innovative training approaches to prepare future rheumatologists for the evolving needs of the arthritis community. Funding includes $150,000 for a two-year adult fellowship, $225,000 for a three-year pediatric fellowship, and $300,000 for a four-year Med-Peds fellowship, all designed to enhance access to specialized care.

The Ida Halpern Fellowship and Award, offered by the Society for Ethnomusicology, supports research on Native American music in the U.S. and Canada. Established scholars, recent Ph.D.s, and Ph.D. candidates are eligible, while previous awardees must wait three years to reapply. The fellowship includes a $4,000 grant and a $1,000 award for published research, with preference given to studies based on Dr. Halpern's Northwest Coast music collection.

The Craft Artists Emergency Relief Grant provides $3,000 to U.S.-based individual craft artists aged 18 and older who are facing recent, unforeseen emergencies. Established by the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) in 1985, this grant aims to empower artists during critical times, allowing them to use the funds as needed for recovery. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, ensuring timely support for artists in distress.

The CERF: Artist Get Ready Grant offers up to $1,000 to craft artists for safeguarding their studios and preparing for emergencies. Priority is given to underrepresented artists, including BIPOC and folk/traditional artists. Eligible activities encompass studio safety upgrades and disaster readiness. Applicants must be 18 years or older, residing in the U.S. for two years, and not have received this grant in the previous year. Funds must be used within six months, with outcomes documented for CERF+.

The DoW Arthritis Translational Research Award, funded by the U.S. Army Medical Command, aims to support high-impact translational research focused on accelerating findings into clinically relevant solutions for arthritis. This award is intended for preclinical or animal research, emphasizing the significance of the proposed outcomes in advancing arthritis research and benefiting Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. Applications must include preliminary or published data to demonstrate the feasibility and relevance of the research.

The FY26 Arthritis Research Program Clinical Research Award supports innovative clinical research addressing factors and interventions for arthritis. This program encourages proposals focusing on Prevention and Early Diagnosis or Treatment and Mitigation of Disease Progression. Applicants can choose between two research levels, with the requirement of a community collaborator for Research Level 2. Projects should aim to provide actionable evidence to enhance patient care and outcomes, making significant contributions to the field of arthritis research.

Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation

For more than 50 years, NCCF has been taking on tough problems to improve the quality-of-life in Northwest CT by supporting nonprofits that speak to the charitable passions of our generous donors.

NCCF is a Community Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity that enables donors to establish funds that support the work of local nonprofits through grants and provide scholarships to local students.

Russell F. Bruno Scholarship

For Torrington High School graduating seniors who have excelled in the study of English and are planning to major in writing, literature, journalism or a related field.

The MOORE Equity in Mental Health Community Grants Program, initiated by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, aims to enhance mental health services for young people of color. With grants up to $10,000 over two years, it supports community organizations addressing mental health and substance use inequities. Eligible applicants include non-profits with a focus on culturally relevant care and sustainable solutions. The program fosters collaboration and awareness through innovative initiatives aimed at improving access to essential mental health services.

Fuel Up

We’re Fuel Up – an initiative created by America’s Dairy Farmers to help meet the needs of schools across the country when it comes to fueling healthy bodies and healthy minds.

Fuel Up is all about educators, students and partners working together to make a difference in their schools and their communities.

Fuel Up is an initiative focused on helping educators and students fuel wellness in the areas that matter most, like being mindful and staying healthy. Our educational resources, partnerships and grant/funding opportunities aim to broaden access to good nutrition and overall wellness.

School Nutrition Equipment Grants

Nutrition equipment grants are now available through GENYOUth's End Student Hunger initiative, with applications now open in the new School Wellness Portal.

K-12 schools can apply for an equipment grant to help increase students' access to, and participation in, nutritious school meals.

Overview of Fuel Up Equipment Grant

• One of two nutrition equipment kits—each valued at $2,000—is available to qualified K-12 schools to improve access to nutritious foods.

• Your application must demonstrate how the funding will increase your students’ access to and their consumption of dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese). Your local Dairy Council can help you with ideas for how to increase dairy.

• Applications will be evaluated based on a variety of factors, including school enrollment, student reach, in-school support, school location, and the sustainability of the proposed program. Consideration will be given to schools in underserved communities whose students are most at risk for poor nutrition and childhood obesity.

• You are encouraged to contact your local Dairy Council with questions about the application process. They can be especially helpful in suggesting ways to increase dairy consumption at your school.

Schools can visit the GENYOUth School Wellness Portal to review eligibility requirements, explore equipment options, and begin an application.  

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative offers Classroom Resources Grants aimed at enhancing theatre education in under-resourced public schools. Funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the initiative provides essential resources, scholarships, and grants to foster artistic growth. By supporting diverse students and schools, this program opens pathways to careers in theatre, ensuring all young people have access to quality arts education, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of America.