Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Indiana

About Spirit of Blue

Our Vision

To become the nation’s leading supplemental provider of law enforcement safety equipment and training across the county.

Our Mission

Spirit of Blue is dedicated to the enhancement of officer safety throughout the law enforcement community by fulfilling unfunded safety equipment and training needs.

Safety Grant Program

Spirit of Blue’s primary initiative is the granting of safety equipment and training to municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies in an effort to protect their sworn personnel. 

Most grants are 100% funded, meaning that no match is required. In the majority of cases, Spirit of Blue conducts the procurement of the goods or services being granted so that the recipient agency isn’t burdened with having to negotiate prices, place orders or track delivery. Rarely, if ever, does Spirit of Blue provide cash awards. Once selected, Spirit of Blue will provide the recipient agency with an official grant award letter outlining everything that is contained in the award. The recipient agency must gain acceptance of the grant, whether on the authority of their agency head or by working with their local governing authority as their policy may dictate. There are no reporting requirements after the award of the grant, but agencies are asked to submit a photo to be used in the announcement of their grant.

Grant Application

The Spirit of Blue Safety Grant Program is designed to award equipment, or in some cases training, that will protect officers serving on duty. You should only request items that you can articulate will have a positive impact on officer safety.

The Olney Medal, established in 1944 by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), honors exceptional achievements in textile chemistry and related fields. It recognizes significant contributions to the development of chemical processes and agents in textile manufacturing. Open to all AATCC members for nominations, the award emphasizes the importance of innovation and public recognition in advancing textile sciences, a legacy of its founder, Dr. Louis Atwell Olney.

The Joseph & Evelyn Skora Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Crown Point Community Foundation, supports high school or college students from Lake County, IN, pursuing a degree in Construction Engineering at Purdue University Northwest or Purdue University Lafayette. This scholarship encourages community development by providing financial assistance to deserving students, allowing them to achieve their educational goals and contribute to the local economy. Reapplication is permitted annually, fostering ongoing support for students in need.

The NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) program aims to support early-career scientists transitioning to industry through the Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award. This initiative fosters entrepreneurial skills while enabling small business concerns to hire postdoctoral fellows and early-stage researchers, enhancing their research capabilities. Focused on mentoring and training, the program is designed to ensure that participants develop essential skills for successful careers in entrepreneurship and scientific development.

The Noble County Chess Fund, established in 1996 by Tom Feichter, is dedicated to teaching chess to all elementary school children in Noble County. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities and foster participation in chess competitions. Supported by the Community Foundation of Noble County, it seeks to create a positive impact in the community through the promotion of chess, a game that encourages critical thinking and strategy among young learners.

The Dressage Foundation

The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, whose mission is to cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage in the United States.

In 1989, Lowell Boomer founded The Dressage Foundation (TDF) with a vision: to empower dressage across the country. Since then, we've awarded millions of dollars in grants, helping people across our sport, and across the country, achieve their dreams. From grassroots initiatives to high-performance endeavors, we aim to create a strong, inclusive, and vibrant dressage community.

We strive to cultivate dressage excellence by reducing some of the financial barriers of dressage training and education, and we believe that every aspect of our sport deserves help.

George Williams Young Professional Fund

The George Williams Young Professional Fund supports dressage professionals, ages 25-35, who are committed to the sport and have established businesses as instructors and trainers.   

The George Williams Young Professional Fund was established in 2018 to honor his lifelong commitment to dressage. Applicants should have a strong desire to participate in continuing education opportunities, in order to provide higher-quality instruction to their students. 

The Mary W. Jackson Undergraduate Scholarship, offered by the AIAA Foundation, provides $10,000 to support students pursuing studies in aerospace sciences. Honoring NASA mathematician Mary W. Jackson, this scholarship aims to enhance access to educational opportunities for underrepresented students. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50 and be enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution. This initiative reflects AIAA's commitment to fostering diversity and innovation in the aerospace sector.

The Transform Lake County Grant provides programmatic funding to support 501(c)(3) organizations in Lake County, Indiana. The grant aims to empower nonprofits through initiatives that address basic needs, economic mobility, community enrichment, and safety. Strong proposals should demonstrate innovative solutions and community involvement, especially from organizations with budgets under $2 million. Projects that have not previously received consecutive funding from the Legacy Foundation are encouraged to apply.

About Us

The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU

We want to educate those who agree. Opportunities abound in the media world, but at NYU Journalism, the opportunity to do compelling work that informs, engages, and matters to the societies in which we live drives our faculty, motivates our students, and shapes our approach.

Those who find this their calling will discover encouragement, support, and an endless amount to learn at NYU. Our graduates are able to work anywhere their talents take them, and they do. Students come here not only to gain competence in the journalist’s craft but also the tools to make it better than it is. And those two things are the essence of what we teach.

Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award

Matthew Power was an award-winning journalist who reported empathetically on the human condition. He died in March 2014, while on assignment in Uganda.

About the Award

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award is a grant of $15,000 to support the work of a promising early-career nonfiction journalist on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition.

Offered for the first time in 2015, the Award has been endowed by individuals and organizations touched by the life and work of Matthew Power, a wide-roving and award-winning journalist who sought to live and share the experience of the individuals and places on which he was reporting. Power, a longtime friend of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, died in March 2014, while on assignment in Uganda.

The award proceeds from the recognition that many important stories need to be reported from afar, and that publications do not always have the resources to send a journalist where the story is. The money need not be used exclusively for travel, but we expect that most successful applications will include such expenses. A panel of NYU journalism professors, outside writers, and editors will review the proposals. Finalists will be asked to take part in an interview online.

The judges will be interested in perpetuating Power’s legacy, as his former editor Roger Hodge put it, of “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scenes and lyrical description.” Power was always open to the absurdity that often attends politics and international affairs; he was always searching, as he put it, for “the human truth beneath the sorry facts.” Power’s ultimate ambition, he added, was literary beauty.

That said, judges will be looking for a journalist as singular in his or her own approach as Power was in his. In addition to longform print projects, we will consider audio projects involving substantial reporting and running over 20 minutes in length. The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. The winner will normally receive visiting scholar privileges at NYU, including library access.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications for Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers (P40), aimed at enhancing biomedical research through providing essential resources such as laboratory animal colonies and informatics tools. The initiative supports both the continuation of existing resources and the development of new ones, emphasizing alignment with NIH Institutes and Centers. Applicants are encouraged to consult with NIH staff to ensure their proposals meet program priorities and competitiveness in the grant process.

The Career Awards for Medical Scientists (CAMS), established by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, offers $700,000 over five years to support early career physician scientists transitioning to independence in academic biomedical research. This highly competitive program aims to enhance research innovation and public service by fostering a diverse scientific workforce. Proposals in basic biomedical, disease-oriented, or translational research, particularly those incorporating artificial intelligence or addressing climate change and human health, are encouraged.

The Marcus Foundation focuses on addressing critical needs and systemic challenges, primarily in hunger alleviation and sustainable practices. They seek partnerships with organizations that promote innovative food resources and sustainability. Their funding strategy emphasizes collaboration to amplify resources and enhance impact while fostering immediate solutions to hunger issues. The Foundation believes in long-term stewardship and the importance of sustainability for future generations, aiming to create systemic change alongside immediate support.

Community Foundation for Mason County, MI

At the Community Foundation for Mason County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues. As a leader in community philanthropy, building a vibrant community with great opportunities for all, we are focused on advancing education, increasing recreation opportunities, and community and economic development.

The mission of the Community Foundation is to engage donors and connect them with opportunities to make a lasting impact, build community endowment, provide leadership on key issues, and make grants that reflect the communities we serve.

Oriole Foundation / Michael Oakes Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the Oriole Foundation. The Michael Oakes Memorial Scholarship award intends to honor late superintendent, Mike Oakes.

Mike Oakes's spirit of generosity, community service, and passion for education is commemorated by this Oriole Foundation award. With an emphasis on creating a positive community impact, this scholarship recognizes the value of individual and organizational service within the community.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Frank A. Weidman Fund

The Frank A. Weidman Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide funds for graduates of Pittsburgh Public Schools to complete college and university studies in the arts and social sciences.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Cottrell IMPACT Award recognizes the significant contributions of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients in advancing science through leadership and service. It encourages excellence in academic leadership while raising the profile of awardees nationally. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize and highlights recipients at the Cottrell Scholar Conference and in professional journals, fostering a community of innovative researchers committed to impactful science.

Connecting Passion to Purpose

Marshall County Community Foundation is a public charity where local roots help great ideas take flight. We are community-minded partners and trusted investors. We help shape the vision for Marshall County. Our passion is to connect caring people with opportunities to make an impact.

Our mission is to serve all of Marshall county — its people and its future — by growing and managing endowment funding and fostering philanthropy.

Investing in the Scholars of 
Marshall County

Marshall County Community Foundation administers a number of scholarships, from traditional awards for graduating seniors to those geared towards current students, professionals, and other special circumstances.

Each scholarship has its own application guidelines, deadlines, and application process, so please be sure to read the instructions of the scholarship you’re applying for carefully.

All Marshall County Scholarships

We administer a number of scholarships, which range from the traditional academic and athletic awards to corporate and special circumstances offerings. These scholarships are open to all residents of Marshall County, as long as other requirements are met.

Applying for a scholarship is free, so we invite you to spend some time finding opportunities for which you are a good fit. You can learn more about each scholarship by clicking on each of the below scholarship titles.

Scholarship applicants must intend to major in mathematics at an accredited two-year or four-year public or private institution of higher learning.

The POET Community Impact Grant is a one-time funding opportunity aimed at supporting local nonprofits, schools, churches, and environmentally focused groups. It encourages innovative projects that enhance community welfare, education, and sustainability efforts. Open to organizations and individuals near POET's facilities, this grant reflects POET's commitment to fostering positive change and community development through collaboration and creativity.

The Cottrell STAR Award recognizes exceptional research and educational achievements of Cottrell Scholars and Holland Award recipients. It aims to enhance science education at U.S. and Canadian universities, promoting the Cottrell Scholars' national profile. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize, with applications initiated through nominations. Highlighted at the summer Cottrell Scholar Conference, the award supports a vibrant community of early career faculty committed to innovative research and teaching in the physical sciences.

The Department of the Air Force is soliciting innovative research proposals for technologies that enhance multi-source data processing to improve Battlespace Awareness and automate decision-making processes. With a funding ceiling of approximately $99M and awards ranging from $3M to $35M, this opportunity is open to qualified offerors, including Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). Note that foreign participation is not allowed in this BAA.

The Otto & Aegun Hensens Educational Fund, established in 2018, supports Hawaii high school graduates pursuing degrees in medicine, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. To qualify, applicants must be residents of Hawaii, maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and demonstrate financial need. Preference is given to previous recipients and members of the Aiea Korean Methodist Church. This fund plays a vital role in fostering future leaders in STEM fields.

The Charles Koch Foundation invites innovative proposals for research that aligns with its vision of social progress and mutual benefit. Focused on supporting 501(c)(3) non-profit public charities and universities in the U.S., the Foundation emphasizes original projects of high standards. While it welcomes a broad range of ideas, it typically does not fund for-profit ventures, overhead costs, or certain areas like medical treatment and political activities.

The Community Foundation of Boone County offers an Unrestricted Grant Opportunity to support local nonprofits with grant amounts up to $10,000. Applications will be accepted from August 26 to September 10, 2025, with recipients notified by the end of October. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of life in Boone County by addressing unmet community needs through strategic philanthropic partnerships.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Janine and Sidney Adams, Jr., Aviation Careers Scholarship Fund

The Janine and Sidney Adams, Jr. Aviation Careers Scholarship Fund was established by Janine “Jan” Adams in memorial tribute to her loving husband of 26 years, Sidney “Sid” Adams, Jr. Jan stated that there were three areas of special interest to Sid, economic development, education, and aviation. Establishing this fund honors all three of these areas of special interest. Giving back to his community was paramount to Sid. You could find Sid’s hand on many committees and projects promoting his beloved community, receiving numerous awards and recognition along the way. He was a founding member of Battle Creek Unlimited, serving on its Board for over 25 years, many of those years as chair.

Sid valued education. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University, taught at Western Michigan University and was a life learner never missing an opportunity to take a class, seminar, or workshop. He established a summer aviation camp introducing area youth to careers in aviation. At the advent of the personal computer, Sid jumped in and built his first computer. He then worked with the Kellogg Company on a project that donated to area schools and non-profits over 4,000 laptops and computers that he refurbished with the help of students from the Computer Networking classes at the Calhoun Area Career Center. He worked with these students teaching them software and hardware skills. Aviation was a huge part of Sid’s life. He earned his first set of wings serving as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army. At the age of 46, he became a private pilot purchasing his beloved Cessna Cardinal soon achieving his instrument certification. He joined the Civil Patrol, where he served as a first Lieutenant. Sid was appointed to the Michigan Aeronautics Commission and served 11 years, 2 years as Commission Vice Chair and 3 years as Chair. He was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in 2023. His impact on our community was immeasurable. Jan, a longtime educator with Battle Creek Public Schools, met Sid in his pursuit of giving computers away to youth. Sid’s persistence paved the way for their union, and the rest, “as they say,” is history!

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Edite Balks Walter, M.D. Scholarship Fund

This fund was established to help women seeking degrees in biology, chemistry, physics and human or animal medicine. Dr. Walter is a graduate of the former Springfield High School. Through the assistance of various scholarships, she graduated cum laude from Kalamazoo College. Dr. Walter remains an inspiration and believes, "Women Can Do Science and Should Do Science."

Roy F. Mather Scholarship

Born in 1918, Roy F. Mather, Jr. described himself as the product of the Great Depression. He contributed to his family's livelihood at a young age, caring for his two younger brothers and working a wide range of agriculture-related jobs available in California's San Fernando Valley. During World War II, Roy worked on merchant ships that sailed from northern Chile to Washington's Puget Sound, transporting nitrate for explosives production. After the War, Roy returned to southern California to marry his wife, Geraldine. They had two children and were married 59 years. Roy applied the work ethic developed in his youth to a variety of jobs—as a Fuller Brush dealer and at aeronautical engineering positions at Lockheed and McDonald Douglas. While raising a family and often working more than one job, Roy took classes at night offered through the University of California's extension services – math, science and law. Later, Roy and his wife lived in Latin America which held a special place for them.

Roy retired in 1969, and he and Geraldine moved to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In his early 60's, Roy could swing a heavy Polanski needed to fight forest fires and later was a spotter for firefighting aircraft. In 1975, Roy and Geraldine moved to Vancouver, Washington.

Roy's character, direction and drive were shaped during times that were much tougher than most of us experience today. In commenting on his hope for his scholarship fund, Roy said, "I want the students to be goal oriented and serious. Earnest, really. I know those are broad terms, but they are ones that helped me throughout my life. I want to reward those students who possess these qualities that will contribute to their future success and life fulfillment."

Award Information

Awards are between $2,000 - $3,500 and are at the discretion of the committee.

The Teagle Foundation and the NEH are offering the Cornerstone: Learning for Living implementation grants to enhance the role of humanities in higher education. Aimed at revitalizing student engagement, the initiative supports diverse institutions in creating transformative curricula and fostering community. Grants of up to $350,000 over 24 months will fund faculty development, course redesign, and outreach efforts, ensuring sustainable humanities programs that benefit a wide array of students, particularly in STEM fields.

The Cornerstone: Learning for Living Planning Grants, sponsored by The Teagle Foundation and NEH, aim to revitalize humanities education in higher learning. With a focus on transformative texts and faculty engagement, the initiative encourages diverse institutions to innovate general education. Grants up to $25,000 support curriculum reform and professional development, fostering a sense of belonging and community among students while enhancing their analytical skills and cultural awareness.