Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits in Illinois

The John S. Renner Memorial Scholarship, offered by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation, supports LGBTQ+ individuals pursuing arts education in postsecondary institutions. This scholarship aims to empower students to achieve their educational and career aspirations, fostering an inclusive environment for all. Applications are open for high school seniors, undergraduates, and returning students, providing a vital resource for those looking to make their dreams a reality. Join us in celebrating diversity and supporting the next generation of artists.

This funding opportunity invites applications for investigator-initiated clinical trials focused on complementary and integrative health interventions delivered remotely or via mobile health technologies. The trials must be fully powered, with no in-person contact, and require justification for this approach. Preliminary data on feasibility and safety must be provided, alongside evidence of clinical benefit. A Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives is mandatory for submission. Key deadlines range from February 2024 to June 2026.

The Carteret County Retired School Personnel Scholarship Endowment offers scholarships to graduating seniors from Carteret County public high schools with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Eligible students must apply for admission to an accredited college or university and plan to pursue a degree in education, demonstrating their commitment to serving as positive role models. Applications open on Dec. 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026.

The National Book Fund (NBF) offers grants to support adult education and literacy programs across the U.S. by providing New Readers Press materials. Grants typically range from $500 to $2,000, with applications considered for higher amounts if justified. Eligible applicants must have a defined project and use materials directly with learners. Priority is given to nonprofit organizations providing free literacy instruction. Note that individuals and lending libraries are not eligible for funding.

OGFA Grow the Future Scholarship

Provides a scholarships to Oklahoma students who are continuing their education in an agricultural-based career/major.

The NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD Summer Research Education Program supports the recruitment of early-stage investigators and aims to provide hands-on research experiences in Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias. Targeting high school students, undergraduates, and science teachers, the program enhances STEM education through authentic research opportunities and educational activities. By fostering early exposure to research, it aims to stimulate interest in AD/ADRD careers and address workforce shortages in this critical field.

About MNA

The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) stands strong for nurses, patients, and quality healthcare everywhere.

We are 22,000 dedicated RNs and other healthcare professionals in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Iowa, who promote the professional, economic, and personal well-being of nurses through collective action. Our members care for patients in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings.

Since 1905, MNA members have effectively influenced healthcare policy and practice; advocating for social justice and public health, as well as nursing practice and policies that enable nurses to provide the quality care patients deserve.

MNA empowers members to use their collective strength, knowledge, and experience to advance and enhance safe and professional nursing practice, nursing leadership, and community health and well-being, including access to quality healthcare for all.

MNA Foundation Scholarships & Grants

The Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF), a non-profit corporation affiliated with the Minnesota Nurses Association, awards scholarships and grants each year to advance the nursing profession and create more opportunities for students to achieve their goals. 

MNA members, members’ dependents and grandchildren, nursing students, and veterans are eligible to apply for MNA Foundation Scholarships.  

40 & 8 Veterans Scholarships

About Patient Advocate Foundation

Patient Advocate Foundation is the nation’s most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford the care they need—while improving the healthcare system for all.

Who we are and our impact

Patient Advocate Foundation provides financial assistance to help patients afford treatment and cost of living needs, personalized case management to navigate complex healthcare and social needs challenges, and a wide array of resources to empower people to take charge of their health. Since our founding in 1996—and joining forces with the PAN Foundation in 2026—we have helped 3.8 million patients navigate and access care, granted over $7 billion in financial assistance, served 350,000 people through personalized case management and elevated the patient’s voice to drive improvements in the healthcare system.

Cushing’s disease or syndrome

Help with healthcare costs for Cushing's disease or syndrome

This TotalAssist fund helps you pay for out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including medication copays, coinsurance, and deductibles, health insurance premiums, and other expenses.

About the disease

Cushing’s Disease or Syndrome, also known as Cushing’s Syndrome, hypercortisolism and hyperadrenalism, is a condition where the pituitary gland releases high levels of the hormone cortisol. It is a rare disease that affects the endocrine system.

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is one of the most well-respected, knowledgeable leaders on charitable giving in the nation. We make giving convenient and efficient for donors through donor-advised funds and other types of charitable giving accounts that maximize and organize giving.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Kansas City Pride Community Alliance Scholarship Fund

The KCPCA Scholarship provides needed financial assistance to support LGBTQ+ students who are resident of Jackson, Clay, Platte or Buchannan counties in Missouri and Johnson, Wyandotte or Douglas counties in Kansas of all background and educational interests. We prioritize LGBTA+ students who need it most and who have some or all of the following experiences:

• People of color, Black, Indigenous
• Trans, Non-binary, Gender Expansive, Two spirit people
• People with disabilities – including people living with chronic illnesses, HIV, neurodivergence, mental health challenges
• People who have or are experiencing housing instability
• People living in rural areas
• People who have financial need without access to financial support
• People who have experienced family rejection.

Award

• $1,000

The MI Association of Professional Insurance Agents Scholarship, offered by the Four County Community Foundation, supports seniors and recent graduates in Michigan planning to pursue a major in Risk Management/Insurance. Award recipients will be honored at the Foundation's Scholarship Celebration in May and announced at local high school events. Up to four awards are available, and students must submit an essay for consideration, reinforcing the Foundation's commitment to education and community development.

The Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Fund provides crucial financial assistance to underinsured patients suffering from this rare blood cancer. Through the HealthWell Foundation, the fund helps cover prescription copays, insurance premiums, and treatment-related costs, ensuring access to necessary medical care. With over $1.2 billion in grants awarded, the program has supported more than 1.1 million patients since its inception in 2004. Its mission is to alleviate financial barriers to essential healthcare, allowing patients to focus on their treatment and recovery.

The Mary H. Rice Scholarship Fund for Native Students, established in honor of the beloved community leader, supports eligible Native American students pursuing higher education. This scholarship, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 per year for up to four years, is available to enrolled members of several Chippewa bands who have graduated high school or earned a GED. It reflects Mary H. Rice's commitment to education and community enrichment in the Chequamegon Bay area.

NIFA requests applications for grants under the RCDG program for FY 2025 to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping nonprofit organizations who in turn provide technical assistance to start, expand, or improve cooperatives and mutually owned businesses in rural areas. This notice is being issued to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing and prepare and submit their applications. This notice identifies the goals and objectives, eligibility criteria, and application forms and instructions.

The purpose of the RCDG program is to enable nonprofit institutions to establish and operate centers for rural cooperative development (Center). The primary objective of the program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping nonprofit organizations who in turn provide technical assistance to start, expand, or improve cooperatives and mutually owned businesses in rural areas.

The goals of a Center funded under this subsection shall be to facilitate the creation of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value added processing, and rural businesses.

The FY 2026 Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot Program offers $11,959,671 in grant funding to enhance transit services for the transportation-disadvantaged. This initiative, led by the Federal Transit Administration, aims to improve coordination for non-emergency medical transportation, benefiting older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income communities. Eligible applicants include state transportation departments and local entities that provide public transit services. This competitive funding opportunity supports innovative projects to better serve these populations.

About Us

Bay Area Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization created by and for the people of the Bay Area. We offer a range of flexible giving tools to help our donors make a positive impact on the community and causes that align with their interests and passions. In addition to first-rate donor service, we manage our community’s permanent endowment and award grants to address the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities.

Since 1982, our community has used our resources to make charitable gifts more effective. We provide maximum flexibility in establishing, managing, and distributing your gifts. Through our donors’ generosity, we can help support arts and culture, community initiatives, education and youth, environment, health and wellness, human services, and recreation in our area.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Scholarship

Inspired by the belief that love and peaceful protest can eliminate social, political, and economic injustice, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., became this nation’s most heralded civil right leader. He aroused blacks and whites alike to protest racial discrimination, war, and poverty. A champion of nonviolent resistance to oppression, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King’s life ended at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968, when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. However short his life was, he greatly advanced the cause of civil rights in this nation. His life serves as an encouragement to each of us to do all that we can to end injustice.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Scholarships are awarded each year to Bay County high school seniors (regardless of ethnicity) who actively embrace Dr. King’s dream of improving racial harmony and social justice. The scholarship award(s) will be at least $1,000 and are non-renewable. The scholarship award(s) will be presented at the annual Great Lakes Bay Regional Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration program held each January.

This scholarship is also available to Midland and Saginaw County students through their respective community foundations.

The Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP) aims to support low-income tenants facing eviction by offering competitive awards to around 16 nonprofit organizations and government entities. These grants will fund no-cost legal assistance, covering pretrial, trial, post-trial, and alternative dispute resolution services. The initiative, backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is designed to ensure that vulnerable tenants have access to essential legal resources, ultimately reducing eviction rates and promoting housing stability.

The Jewish Life Grants by the Charles H. Revson Foundation support organizations in Israel and North America that address social and spiritual needs within diverse communities. With a focus on collaborative efforts, the Foundation aims to empower under-resourced fields and promote courageous leadership. Current initiatives include enhancing civic service and expanding community chaplaincy. Letters of inquiry are welcome, and grants are available for registered nonprofits, excluding endowments and capital campaigns.

The Leffman Healthcare Scholarship, established in 2004 by Dr. Peter and Mrs. Mary Leffman, is designed to support students in financial need pursuing degrees in healthcare. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. This scholarship is administered by the JWCC Foundation, which has been advancing educational opportunities since 1984, enabling students to prepare for future leadership roles in their fields.

The Hilda M. Hill Memorial Vocational/Technical Scholarship, offered by the Four County Community Foundation, supports seniors and recent graduates from Capac, Almont, and Imlay City pursuing vocational or technical programs. Eligible students must have a minimum GPA of 1.50 and can receive up to two awards, with financial need considered. Award recipients will be celebrated at the Foundation's Scholarship Celebration in May, highlighting the Foundation's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in the community.

The Kelsey Nicole Cooper Scholarship Fund, administered by the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, offers scholarships to deserving students from the Martinsville Henry County community, emphasizing volunteerism. Eligible applicants must be graduating seniors or graduates from local high schools, enrolled or planning to enroll in accredited colleges, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. Preference is given to those attending Virginia Tech or involved in the CHILL youth task force. For more information, contact the Foundation.

The Calendar Year 2022 Disaster Water Grants program, administered by the USDA's Rural Utilities Service, aims to provide funding for water infrastructure repairs in areas affected by federally declared disasters during 2022. Eligible applicants include public bodies, non-profit organizations, and tribes, all required to demonstrate capacity and legal authority. The grants support not only repairs but also the enhancement of system resilience to mitigate future risks.

The Tim Scott Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports students from high schools in St. Croix County, WI, and nearby areas who are committed to volunteerism. This scholarship recognizes the importance of giving back to the community and encourages students to engage in meaningful service. With a mission of fostering local generosity, the Foundation connects donors with impactful initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of the St. Croix Valley region.

Scholarships

Grand Haven Area Community Foundation scholarships are awarded competitively based on criteria set by donors. These criteria could include financial need, the school the applicant is attending, academic achievement, as well as personal or career goals. The Community Foundation has a rigorous internal selection process for each scholarship decision, and each applicant is reviewed in depth, and considered thoroughly.

Our scholarship program is simple. You are able to apply once for all foundation scholarships you may be eligible for. Once your application is submitted, you will be eligible for all those for which you meet the requirement.

Arlyn J. Walt Memorical Scholarship Fund

Arlyn J. Walt was a farmer who worked hard to provide, a husband who loved his wife, Kathy, and a good neighbor - always willing to help a friend. He was a third-generation dairy farmer and was known for his kindness and generosity, his love for God, and his passion for the farm. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and active in the Michigan Milk Producers Association. Kathy hopes to continue to inspire future farmers to enable their work to nourish generations with this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students from the Coopersville area interested in studying agriculture.

The Hematology Inclusion Pathway Resident Award supports underrepresented medical residents in hematology in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Participants receive $5,000 for research, mentorship from ASH members, and funding for the ASH annual meeting. Eligible candidates are in internal medicine or pediatric residencies, self-identify as underserved, and must conduct research with an ASH mentor. This program aims to enhance diversity and support crucial blood science research.

Community Foundation of the North State

The Community Foundation builds trust through relationship, integrity, and by providing safe places for donors to give their resources.

We are a nonprofit, public charity serving the people of Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties, with a mission to impact the region through the power of giving.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of the North State manages many scholarship funds that are awarded to graduating high school seniors as well as students already in an undergraduate program. Some scholarships were started by families or individuals; others by businesses or organizations. All scholarships share one important focus: helping young people reach their educational goals.

Matt Solus Memorial Scholarship Fund

The scholarship supports high school or College of the Siskiyous students in Siskiyou County pursuing careers in fire science or law enforcement.

Matt Solus Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Matt Solus, the son of Fred & Elouise Solus of Yreka. Matt was a victim of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Although Matt was on a heart transplant list, he succumbed to the disease at the age of 22. Matt was a 1997 graduate of Yreka High School. The Solus Family were pioneers in Siskiyou County, having first moved there in 1850. Matt was a member of the Explorer Program with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department and had a strong interest in law enforcement and fire science. The scholarship supports students in Siskiyou County pursuing careers in fire science or law enforcement.

Scholarships

Grand Haven Area Community Foundation scholarships are awarded competitively based on criteria set by donors. These criteria could include financial need, the school the applicant is attending, academic achievement, as well as personal or career goals. The Community Foundation has a rigorous internal selection process for each scholarship decision, and each applicant is reviewed in depth, and considered thoroughly.

Our scholarship program is simple. You are able to apply once for all foundation scholarships you may be eligible for. Once your application is submitted, you will be eligible for all those for which you meet the requirement.

Charles and Eleanor Rycenga Education Fund

Charles Rycenga and his wife Eleanor were well known in the Tri-Cities area for their philanthropy and community involvement.

In 1991, Mr. and Mrs. Rycenga established this scholarship fund to assist graduates of Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Western Michigan Christian High Schools to continue their education.

The HealthWell Foundation's Inborn Metabolic or Genetic Bile Acid Deficiency Vitamins and Supplements Fund provides essential financial assistance for individuals facing significant health challenges. By covering copays, deductibles, and related expenses, the fund aims to alleviate the financial burden on underinsured patients. With a commitment to enhancing healthcare access, the Foundation has awarded over $1.2 billion since its inception, ensuring that vital treatments remain accessible to those in need.