Best Grants for Small Nonprofits in Iowa

The Dr. Carol J. Chrisman Nursing Scholarship, offered by the Ashland County Community Foundation, supports registered nurses and nursing students from Ashland County pursuing advanced degrees at Ashland University. This scholarship honors Dr. Chrisman's legacy in nursing and community health, encouraging local nurses to further their education. Eligible applicants include full-time nursing students and those employed in public health within the area, with prior recipients allowed to reapply once.

The Indigo Oak Fund, a Colorado-based private foundation, focuses on empowering women and children through various initiatives. By funding organizations that address issues such as domestic abuse, food insecurity, and gender equity, the Fund aims to improve lives and foster lifelong learning. Their mission emphasizes recognizing individual potential and ensuring equal opportunity for all, making a significant impact in communities across Colorado and the Bay Area.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is launching a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to establish a national consortium focused on improving care for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. This initiative aims to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated primary care interventions through innovative electronic health record (EHR) platforms. By fostering collaborations among researchers and clinicians, the consortium will work to enhance patient outcomes and streamline population health management, paving the way for future advancements in aging care.

Boone County Community Foundation

The Boone County Community Foundation was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment projects in Boone County. The foundation is made up of community minded individuals who have the ability to assess community needs, implement asset development, evaluate area grant applications, encourage partnerships and initiate activities to enhance Boone County.

Mission: The Boone County Community Foundation is a charitable foundation created by and for local citizens to improve the quality of life right here in our communities. We are here to help donors make a positive, local impact by offering a variety of giving tools to help people achieve their charitable giving goals and do good work in our communities that lasts forever.

Grants

Each year the foundation makes grant awards to worthwhile projects located in the county that are identified through a community grants application process. Our foundation’s areas of emphasis include: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.

Three types of grants based on grant amount: Simple Grant; Standard Grant and Impact Grant

Standard Grant

$3,001 - $15,000

The Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Substance Use Research (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) invites applications that address urgent research needs in substance use epidemiology and health services. This funding opportunity encourages pilot studies focusing on emerging drug issues, unexpected prescription drug abuse trends, and timely medical system challenges. Letters of Intent are recommended 30 days before the proposal deadline, emphasizing the necessity for rapid review and funding to address pressing scientific questions.

The Partners in Arts Scholarship, administered by the East Texas Communities Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Smith County who have engaged in performing or visual arts and plan to pursue a related major in college. This scholarship highlights the importance of arts education and aims to empower students to achieve their academic goals. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the arts and meet specific criteria, ensuring that funding is awarded to deserving candidates.

The Juliette Low’s Amazing Girls Scholarship, established in 2011 by the East Texas Communities Foundation, is aimed at female graduating seniors from Smith County who have been active in Girl Scouts. This scholarship supports educational pursuits for students attending any college in the U.S. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.00. The award amount is $1,000, and preference is given to recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award. Reapplication is encouraged.

The CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control invites research proposals aimed at reducing suicide and interpersonal violence among youth aged 10 to 24. This funding opportunity encourages the evaluation of pre-existing primary prevention strategies that have not yet been rigorously assessed. Proposed approaches may include community programs and policies designed to enhance social connectedness, mitigate harmful online behaviors, and address technology-facilitated interpersonal violence.

About Us

Who We Are

The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940 and currently headquartered in Baltimore, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in all fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

What We Do

Through our network of blind members, we coordinate many programs, services, and resources to defend the rights of blind Americans, provide information and support to blind children and adults, and build a community that creates a future full of opportunities.

What We Believe

We are the only organization that believes in the full capacity of blind people and has the power to transform our dreams into reality. We believe in blind people because we are blind people—from our democratically elected leaders to our diverse nationwide membership.

Scholarship Program

Thanks to our generous partners, there are thirty $10,000 merit-based scholarships currently available. All scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, community service, and leadership. The finalists are announced every spring. They then attend our national convention in July when the winners of each individual scholarship are selected. 

The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Scholarship

For more than 100 years the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults has strived to improve the lives of blind and Deafblind children and adults. Best known for annually producing and gifting Braille Calendars, sponsoring the free Braille books for blind children program, and administering the Braille Readers are Leaders contest, the American Action Fund leads in promoting Braille literacy. The American Action Fund is proud to award this scholarship to a deserving and talented blind person. 

Boone County Community Foundation

The Boone County Community Foundation was formed in 2005 to coordinate and provide philanthropic support for community betterment projects in Boone County. The foundation is made up of community minded individuals who have the ability to assess community needs, implement asset development, evaluate area grant applications, encourage partnerships and initiate activities to enhance Boone County.

Mission: The Boone County Community Foundation is a charitable foundation created by and for local citizens to improve the quality of life right here in our communities. We are here to help donors make a positive, local impact by offering a variety of giving tools to help people achieve their charitable giving goals and do good work in our communities that lasts forever.

Grants

Each year the foundation makes grant awards to worthwhile projects located in the county that are identified through a community grants application process. Our foundation’s areas of emphasis include: arts & culture, community affairs & development, education, environmental protection, health, historic preservation and human services.

Three types of grants based on grant amount: Simple Grant; Standard Grant and Impact Grant

Impact Grant

$15,001 and up

The T32 Training Program aims to enhance the participation of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep disorders research. This initiative, funded by the NIH, supports institutions committed to diversity and health disparity populations. By providing training opportunities for students and postdoctoral trainees, the program seeks to foster research that improves health outcomes for these communities. Note that appointed trainees cannot lead independent clinical trials but can gain experience in trials conducted by mentors.

The Utility Arborist Research Fund Grant Program, managed by the TREE Fund and UAA, offers $50,000 in funding for 2024 to support vital research in utility tree care. The program prioritizes proposals focusing on employee safety, service reliability, and regulatory compliance. Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000, with the aim of addressing pressing issues in vegetation management. Applications are welcomed from those aligned with these priorities, promoting safety and efficiency in the utility industry.

The Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) aims to attract researchers in quantitative science and engineering to focus on NIH-relevant health research. This award provides protected time for supervised study and research, allowing professionals from fields like mathematics, statistics, and engineering to integrate their expertise into health-related studies. The K25 is specifically for lead investigators of independent clinical trials or related studies, fostering innovation in clinical research and career development.

The Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards support nonprofits by providing them with essential software, grants, and pro bono assistance to enhance their impact on vulnerable populations. The program aims to foster community connections, promote resilience during crises, and create career pathways in technology. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to utilizing technology in their services, enhancing their ability to support beneficiaries effectively. This initiative empowers nonprofits to leverage technology for greater social good.

The NCMA Education and Research Foundation Grant aims to support the concrete masonry and hardscape industry through research and educational initiatives. With over $2 million invested, the Foundation invites proposals from qualified professionals, emphasizing national and regional benefits. Eligible projects should focus on workforce development, educational opportunities for students, and collaborative efforts with other organizations. Notably, certain entities, such as those involved in political campaigns or proprietary projects, are ineligible for funding.

The Koerner Family Foundation Scholarship, offered by the Four County Community Foundation, supports high school seniors and recent graduates from Almont, Dryden, and Romeo High Schools. Eligible students must plan to major in business, engineering, IT, medical health fields, natural sciences, or vocational training, with a minimum GPA of 2.50. Award recipients will be honored at a Scholarship Celebration in May and at their respective high school awards events.

Michael Dean Guilliams Memorial Scholarship Fund

Fund provides scholarship assistance to deserving students who are pursuing further educational studies in a career and technical field.

Amount

$1,500+

The Zone VI Fellowship in Urban Forestry, funded by the Garden Club of America, aims to promote urban forestry education among U.S. graduate and advanced undergraduate students. Established in 2006, this fellowship awards $7,500 annually to support students studying urban forestry and related fields. Recipients can reapply for additional funding, fostering ongoing research and engagement with the urban forest ecosystem. This initiative highlights the importance of healthy urban forests and their impact on communities.

The Fred J. Brunner Foundation Grant supports organizations that aid vulnerable populations, particularly the young and elderly, through education, shelter, and hunger initiatives. Established in 1956 by Fred J., the foundation distributes grants annually in the fall, focusing primarily on recipients in the greater Chicago area, although exceptions are made. The foundation operates without regard to race, creed, or ethnicity, allowing all recipients to reapply each year.

The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation offers Reintegration Grants aimed at supporting individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. By focusing on abilities rather than symptoms, the foundation promotes recovery through various programs. Their funding helps organizations that maintain a commitment to mental health, ensuring that recipients receive necessary support, such as scholarships and facility management, to enhance their quality of life. The foundation believes in empowering individuals to actively participate in their recovery journey.

The Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) aims to attract researchers with quantitative science backgrounds to NIH-relevant studies. It provides support and protected time for professionals to integrate their expertise in areas like mathematics and statistics with health research. Notably, it does not support independent clinical trials, focusing instead on collaborative experiences under mentorship. The application process involves specific deadlines for submissions, including standard, renewal, and AIDS-related grants, encouraging diverse participation in significant health research.

The AAO-HNSF Bobby R. Alford Endowed Research Grant offers $30,000 for one year to support innovative research in otolaryngology. This grant aims to facilitate the career development of young investigators and promote research that may lead to significant advancements in understanding diseases of the head and neck. Eligible projects should have direct clinical significance for patients and can include basic, translational, and clinical research.

Our Mission

UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to our nation.

UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college.

UNCF’s North Star is to increase the total annual number of African American college graduates by focusing on activities that ensure more students are college-ready, enroll in college and persist to graduation. This is done through a three-pillar strategy. Positioning member institutions as a viable college option for students and investing in institutional capacity to improve student outcomes; creating transformational support programs to ensure students are enrolling and persisting through college completion; building awareness of educational attainment and cultivating college-going behaviors within the African American community.

About the UNCF Lighted Pathways Program

Increasing the number of Black investment management professionals one opportunity at a time

According to The American College and the CFP Board, African Americans only make up 5% of financial advisors and 2% of certified financial planners (CFP), even though African Americans represent 13.4% of the U.S. population.

The UNCF Lighted Pathways programs meets the disparity and lack of Black talent in asset management through the UNCF Lighted Pathways initiative which provides scholarships and internships to African American undergraduate students interested in the investment management industry. Through this initiative, UNCF Lighted Pathways aims to create a career pathway to attract, develop, and retain Black talent for the asset management industry.

The UNCF Lighted Pathways Program excites, educates, and empowers young people by supporting personal and professional development, driving company performance, and providing the asset management industry the talent they need to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. This program offers students a glimpse inside the dynamic, global asset management industries and the career opportunities, potential and rewards within them.

Students are afforded the opportunity to receive $5,000 in scholarships and/or participate in internships in the financial industry provided by the program’s partners.

The WDA Small Grants program supports projects that advance the mission of the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA), which focuses on promoting healthy wildlife, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable solutions to One Health challenges. Eligible projects include educational materials, public outreach, and other initiatives that align with WDA's goals. Funding will not cover overhead or accommodation expenses, and proposals must include measurable objectives that can be achieved within one year.

The West Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association Scholarship, established in 2001, supports students from Ottawa, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, or Allegan County pursuing careers in horticulture or the green industry. Administered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, awards consider financial need and academic achievement. Applicants, including high school seniors and college students, must submit transcripts and additional required documents. This scholarship aims to foster education and partnerships within West Michigan's green industry.

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), promotes active research participation among undergraduate students across various research areas. It supports two mechanisms: REU Sites, which engage multiple students in ongoing research, and REU Supplements, which enhance existing NSF-funded projects. Participants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, and each REU opportunity has its unique application process.

This funding opportunity invites applications for a Research Coordinating Center (RCC) to lead a consortium aimed at optimizing anti-obesity medication (AOM) strategies for children and adolescents. The RCC will manage collaborative trials, focusing on developmental stages for AOM use, treatment effectiveness, and lifestyle interventions. By harmonizing data collection and analysis, the RCC aims to enhance research efforts and outcomes in combating youth obesity while ensuring safe AOM usage.