Best Private Grants for Nonprofits in Indiana

The SBB Research Group Grant offers $5,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations with a focus on addressing unmet needs through sustainable strategies. The application process is streamlined, consisting of just ten questions. The evaluation includes a review by the Philanthropy Committee, which selects nominees for interviews and finalists for presentations. Winners receive funding and further opportunities, while all finalists receive $1,000. This grant aims to empower organizations with 5 to 49 full-time employees.

About the IP Law Foundation

For nearly two decades, the Foundation—originally established as the American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation—has championed expanded access and opportunity in the intellectual property (IP) law profession. In 2020, reflecting the growth and impact of its mission, the organization adopted a new name: the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law. This change accompanied an expansion of its long-standing programs to attract, support, and empower students committed to careers in IP law.

In 2025, to further clarify its mission and identity, the Foundation streamlined its name to what it is today: The IP Law Foundation.

Jan Jancin Award – AIPLA Past Presidents Award

The Jan Jancin Award is a merit-based award that honors Jan Jancin, who served with extraordinary distinction in numerous IP bar leadership roles throughout his career, including both as president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and as the chair of the Section on Intellectual Property Law of the American Bar Association. The Jan Jancin Award is made possible through the generosity of AIPLA and the ABA IPL Section. The AIPLA Past Presidents Award is a merit-based award that is made possible through the contributions to the Foundation each year by past presidents of the AIPLA.

Award

The winner of the Jan Jancin Award receives a $5,000 cash honorarium, as well as reasonable travel expenses to attend the presentation of the award in person, which is made each year during either the AIPLA Annual Meeting or a meeting of the ABA IPL Section. The winner of the AIPLA Past Presidents Award receives a cash honorarium of $2,500, and is invited to attend the presentation of the award in person at the AIPLA Annual Meeting.

Nomination Process

The dean (or another appropriate faculty member) of a law school has the opportunity to select and recommend a single 2L or 3L student as the law school’s nominee for both the Jan Jancin Award and the AIPLA Past Presidents Award. The recommending faculty member must provide a description, based on personal knowledge of the nominee, of the nominee’s relevant achievements, using criteria such as (1) best grades in IP courses overall, (2) outstanding achievement in specified IP courses, (3) best IP paper written by a student, (4) faculty consensus, and (5) leadership in student IP organizations.

The Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to bolster engineering research capacity by supporting new academic investigators. This initiative is designed for those who have not yet received significant federal funding and are affiliated with institutions below the 'very high research activity' level. By fostering innovation and mentorship, the program seeks to broaden participation in engineering research across the nation.

Law School Admission Council Inc (LSAC) is committed to promoting access in legal education and the legal profession. LSAC will consider grant proposals from institutions for projects focused on one or more of our strategic goals.LSAC Outreach GrantsLSAC's Board of Trustees has made available funds to support cooperative outreach and applicant-pool expansion events. These grants are designed to encourage law schools to work together to promote legal education. At least three LSAC-member schools must work together on each event. Examples of eligible events include law fairs, conferences, workshops, or other events that are a combination of these types.

The AAAE Native American Scholarship, offered by the AAAE Foundation, supports Native American students pursuing aviation studies at accredited institutions. Eligible applicants must be college juniors, seniors, or graduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Selection is based on academic achievements, financial need, and community involvement. Two awards of $2,000 each are available, although amounts may vary. This non-renewable scholarship aims to foster future leaders in aviation.

The Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders Award supports early-career faculty committed to building inclusive campus communities. Funded by the Mellon Foundation, it offers a $20,000 stipend to assist with summer research and academic year support. Eligible candidates are assistant professors in tenure-track positions who have passed their third-year review and are engaged in fostering diversity and inclusion in their academic fields. This fellowship not only aids their research but also emphasizes their role in mentoring underrepresented students.

The AAAE Women in Aviation Scholarship, offered by the AAAE Foundation, provides seven awards of $5,000 each to support female students in aviation programs at accredited institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Eligibility requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 and involvement in community activities. Recipients are selected based on gender, academic achievement, financial need, and a personal statement. Awards are non-renewable and subject to change.

The Community Impact Grants Program, administered by the Union County Foundation, invites competitive grant applications four times a year. This program aims to address the evolving needs of the community by providing seed funding for innovative projects rather than ongoing operational support. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations that serve Union County residents. The program encourages collaboration with other funding sources to enhance community impact and maximize funding effectiveness.

ETC's Community Betterment Committee Funding Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations across the United States. Established in 1975, ETC focuses on fostering community initiatives by awarding grants up to $5,000 semi-annually. The selection process is conducted by a committee of employee volunteers, ensuring that funds are allocated to a variety of deserving causes. This initiative reflects ETC's commitment to enhancing community welfare and supporting local initiatives.

The Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County (CFMJC) supports grant-making to organizations that benefit Jefferson County residents. Since 1991, it has funded diverse causes such as education, health, and welfare. CFMJC prioritizes projects that demonstrate preventative measures and collaboration among organizations while ensuring legal compliance. Grants are not available for political activities or sectarian purposes. This initiative encourages impactful contributions from generous donors to enhance community well-being.

The Mellon Mays Graduate Assistance Program (GAP) supports alumni of the Mellon Mays initiative in their journey to graduate school. By providing resources like structured gap year activities, media resources, and mentoring, the program aims to bridge the transition from undergraduate to graduate studies. It has successfully placed over 90 scholars in advanced programs, fostering diverse perspectives in academia. GAP addresses challenges faced during the gap year, ensuring participants remain engaged and prepared for their academic careers.

The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation, established in 1999, aims to support charitable organizations in the Grand Traverse region. It honors the philanthropic legacy of Art and Mary Schmuckal, who dedicated their lives to community service. The foundation is managed by a volunteer board consisting of family members and friends, ensuring a commitment to wise stewardship of its resources. It welcomes applications from 501(c)(3) organizations throughout the year, focusing on making a meaningful impact in the community.

The Aviation Management Scholarship, offered by the AAAE Foundation, supports students enrolled in aviation programs at accredited colleges in the U.S. or Canada. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, financial need, and active community participation. Up to ten awards of $2,000 each will be given, with at least two designated for ethnic minority applicants. The scholarship aims to foster future leaders in the aviation industry.

The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship offers a $42,000 stipend plus $8,000 for project-related expenses to support early-stage doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences. This fellowship encourages innovative dissertation research and aims to diversify academic methodologies and perspectives. Applicants must be PhD students in relevant fields, with certain eligibility criteria, including not having advanced to candidacy before January 2025. The fellowship promotes inclusive excellence, contributing to a diverse academic community.

Nebraska Humanities Council

The mission of Humanities Nebraska is to help people explore what connects us and makes us human.

There are two organizations that fall under the Humanities Nebraska umbrella — the Nebraska Humanities Council is the entity that conducts programs and makes grants. The Nebraska Foundation for the Humanities works with the Council to secure private funding and advocate for public funding at the state and federal levels to support these programs. A third organization, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, serves as the endowment for both Humanities Nebraska and the Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency.

Sower Award in the Humanities

Humanities Nebraska presents the Sower Award in the Humanities annually to honor an individual who has made a significant contribution to the public understanding of the humanities in Nebraska. This contribution can be made through any combination of time, expertise, or resources. The selection committee will consider how nominees have helped enrich the lives of Nebraskans through the humanities: history, literature, culture, philosophy, and all the ways we explore what it means to be human.

Each year, the Sower Award in the Humanities is presented prior to the annual Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities. The award recipient must be present. In some past years the Sower Award was presented to organizations or communities; as of 2016, only individuals are eligible for nomination. Current board and staff members of Humanities Nebraska are not eligible.

Previous honorees have included:

• Talented humanities faculty who have taken the humanities to the public beyond their classroom;
• Committed volunteers dedicating their time and energy to enhancing the cultural life of Nebraska;
• Thoughtful journalists and filmmakers bringing the humanities to bear on important public issues;
• Generous philanthropists who have directed significant financial support to humanities-related programs and projects accessible by Nebraskans

The Statistics Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, promotes research in statistical theory and methods applicable across various scientific and engineering domains. It supports projects ranging from individual investigators to interdisciplinary teams, fostering advancements in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The program emphasizes the importance of statistical methods in modeling uncertainty and enhancing scientific discovery. For more information, please visit the NSF's official website.

The Benton Community Foundation offers community grants exceeding $2000 to support various projects that benefit local residents. With a focus on collaboration and long-term impact, these grants prioritize initiatives that reach a wide audience and enhance community services. Organizations are encouraged to submit proposals year-round, though certain funding restrictions apply, including the exclusion of political activities and ongoing operational expenses.

The A. Ward Ford Memorial Research Grants, administered by the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, support innovative research projects. Applications are accepted through the ASLMS Research Grant application process. Interested applicants should fill out either the Standard Pre-Application or the Student Application to be considered for funding. This grant aims to foster research excellence and advance knowledge in relevant fields.

The Community Foundation of Boone County offers a Programming Grant Opportunity to support local nonprofits in addressing community needs. Eligible organizations can submit one application per cycle and will have one year to utilize the grant funds. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of life in Boone County by funding programs that tackle local challenges and their root causes.

The AMS Young Scholars Grant Program, offered by the American Mathematical Society, provides grants of up to $15,000 to support summer mathematics programs for talented high school students. Designed to aid established programs, funding should be allocated equally between student scholarships and program expenses. Programs must exist for at least a year, involve a minimum of 20 students, and focus on problem solving or research in mathematics, fostering the next generation of mathematicians.

Residential Fellowships

Fellowships offer scholars the time, space, and support they need to pursue their work and the opportunity to take part in the Center’s vibrant intellectual community.

The National Humanities Center’s Residential Fellowship is one of the most prestigious humanities fellowship programs in the world. Fellows enjoy a beautiful and serene space to write, unparalleled library and reference support, excellent dining services, and a stimulating and supportive intellectual community.

A key feature, meanwhile, that differentiates us from many other fellowships is our residential requirement. Researchers are especially encouraged to apply when they expect to benefit from, and actively contribute to, an in-person community of other humanities researchers. If you prefer a research fellowship that allows you to do field work or to work in your own local space, this may not be the fellowship for you.

To be considered for this program, applicants must select that their institution is an HBCU when prompted in the online application system to identify the type of institution with which they are affiliated. Applicants may apply for a residential fellowship for the fall semester (September through December), spring semester (January through May), or academic year (September through May).

The Regional Scholar Travel Grant, offered by the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES), provides up to $1,000 to support travel for faculty and independent scholars from Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Applicants must present a paper at the ASEEES Annual Convention and meet specific eligibility criteria, including residency in eligible countries and ASEEES membership. This grant aims to promote scholarly exchange and foster participation among junior scholars and first-time presenters.

Cornerstone Grants

Do you volunteer with a nonprofit organization? Would you like additional funding to start or enhance a service project? Organize your own service project!

We know that as an Elks scholar, you already uphold the cornerstones of the Foundation: knowledge, integrity, charity and community. Now, we want to help you do more! The ENF is offering fifteen $500 Cornerstone Grants to any Elks scholar interested in starting or expanding a community service project. We are also offering six $250 bonuses for projects done in collaboration with an Elks Lodge.

Looking for project ideas?

Consider a cause that you are passionate about and partner with an organization addressing that need.

Talk to your sponsoring lodge about what sort of service project they’d like to see at the Lodge. Ask them about charitable projects they are currently involved with, and see if there are any projects they’d like to see enhanced. You can find contact information for a Lodge near you here.

Funding

• The ENF is offering twenty $500 Cornerstone Grants to any Elks scholar interested in starting or expanding a community service project.
• We are also offering fifteen $250 bonuses for projects done in collaboration with an Elks Lodge.

The Ash Grove Charitable Foundation Grant supports public charities with 501(c)(3) status, focusing on capital projects that enhance community life in states where Ash Grove operates. With a commitment to environmental sustainability, education, and human services, the Foundation prioritizes funding for renovation and construction projects. Grants typically reach up to $25,000, aiming to foster better living standards and support local initiatives that are vital for community growth and resilience.

The PLTW Engineering grant, supported by the Arconic Foundation, aims to enhance STEM education by funding the implementation of PLTW Engineering courses in schools. This initiative prepares students for future careers by igniting their passion for engineering. Grants will cover startup costs for new programs or expansions of existing ones. Eligible schools must offer PLTW's Advanced Manufacturing course for the 2026-2027 school year, ensuring access to essential resources and training for educators.

The PLTW Engineering program, supported by Arconic Foundation, aims to expand STEM education in public and charter schools across several states. This grant will help cover costs for necessary equipment and training, focusing on high-need student populations. Eligible schools must implement PLTW's Advanced Manufacturing course by the 2026-2027 school year. The initiative is designed to ignite student interest in engineering and increase enrollment in STEM disciplines.

The Dubois County Community Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and qualified tax-exempt organizations serving Dubois County residents. Organizations must submit a Letter of Intent for eligibility, with applications accepted year-round. The Grants Committee reviews applications every other month, and submissions should be made at least 60 days before events. The foundation prioritizes impactful projects that foster community growth and does not support discriminatory practices or for-profit initiatives.