Best Iron County Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

The DoW Kidney Cancer Early-Career Scholar Award is a unique initiative by the Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators, established in FY19. It aims to foster innovative kidney cancer research through a mentoring program that pairs early-career scholars with experienced mentors. This program not only enhances research capabilities but also builds a robust network of kidney cancer researchers. By supporting promising scholars, the initiative aspires to advance the field and improve treatment outcomes for kidney cancer patients.

The FY26 Parkinson’s Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award supports innovative, multidisciplinary research projects aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The award encourages collaboration among multiple principal investigators, requiring preliminary data and allowing clinical trials to enhance research outcomes. This initiative is vital for fostering impactful discoveries within the four specified focus areas of the program, ultimately improving patient care and management.

The FY 2027 DoN HBCU/MI Program aims to enhance the research capabilities of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions. This initiative promotes innovative solutions to naval science challenges while engaging students and faculty in STEM fields. Key objectives include strengthening research infrastructure and fostering collaborative efforts across institutions. White papers are due by September 18, 2026, and should clearly outline the proposed advancements in naval-relevant science and technology.

The FY26 Kidney Cancer Research Program's Idea Development Award supports innovative research that enhances understanding of kidney cancer, aimed at improving patient outcomes. Proposals should feature a strong hypothesis and a detailed research plan, with team members experienced in kidney cancer research. A unique aspect is the Partnering Principal Investigator option, fostering collaboration between two investigators, ensuring comprehensive project development while allowing for distinct submissions. This award emphasizes impactful partnerships to drive advancements in the field.

The FY26 Parkinson’s Research Program (PRP) Early Investigator Research Award supports early-career researchers in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. It offers two funding levels: Level 1 for fellows requiring a Mentor and Level 2 for independent investigators. The PI must show potential in PD research, with Level 1 emphasizing mentorship and Level 2 needing preliminary data. Research must align with one of the four FY26 PRP Focus Areas, excluding clinical trials.

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), established by Congress in 1988, aims to fund organizations to combat discriminatory housing practices. The Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) educates stakeholders about their rights under fair housing laws. Key components include the National Media Campaign, which promotes fair housing awareness nationally, and local programs that support community-based outreach. HUD oversees the process, ensuring compliance and monitoring of funded initiatives to enhance fair housing practices.

An award from the George and Viola Hoffman Fund may be made annually for student research toward a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation on a geographical subject in Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe includes the countries of East Central and Southeast Europe from Poland south to Romania, Bulgaria, and the successor states of the former Yugoslavia. Topics may be historical or contemporary, systematic or regional, limited to a small area or comparative.

The F26AS00104 State ANS Management Plan 2026 aims to combat aquatic nuisance species through pre-proposals followed by full applications. Managed by the US Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, this initiative requires a 25% cost-share and limits administrative costs to 5%. Applications are due by October 14, 2026, though the funding opportunity closes on December 16, 2026. The plan is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and supporting a coordinated national approach to invasive species management.

MI Healthy Climate Challenge

The MI Healthy Climate Challenge (The Challenge) is Michigan’s boldest call to action yet—putting millions in green energy grants into the hands of Michiganders to accelerate the clean energy transition.

There has never been a more urgent time to act. To reach our climate goals, Michigan must rapidly scale renewable energy, electrification, energy storage, and efficiency efforts. The Challenge is designed to break down barriers, spark new partnerships, and launch transformative projects that deliver real impact.

These grants will fuel high-impact initiatives that cut emissions, create good-paying jobs, and unlock even greater investment in Michigan’s clean energy economy. From energy efficiency and electrification to innovative financing models, we’re seeking bold, catalytic proposals that push boundaries and deliver real solutions for communities.

Local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and more—if you’re ready to lead in the clean energy transition, Michigan is ready to invest.

The "Challenges"

Throughout the year, the MI Healthy Climate Challenge will launch a series of grant competitions to drive clean energy deployment and unlock additional investment across Michigan. 

Go Big, Go Clean is the fourth grant program of the MI Healthy Climate Challenge supporting industrial decarbonization feasibility studies that help Michigan industries evaluate practical near-term decarbonization interventions while also identifying the technologies, conditions, and support needed to achieve deeper emissions reductions over time. Funding can be used to support studies, assessments, analyses, and related planning work that support industrial decarbonization at Michigan facilities. 

The program is designed not only to inform facility-level decisions, but also to help the State of Michigan understand what will be required to accelerate decarbonization across Michigan’s industrial sectors. In addition to highlighting what is feasible today, studies should help clarify what is not yet feasible, what is missing, and what role the state and other partners can play in expediting progress towards industrial decarbonization.

The National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB) provide critical resources for biomedical imaging and bioengineering research. This funding opportunity supports the development of innovative technologies tailored to the needs of basic, translational, and clinical researchers. NCBIB facilitates technology access, training, and dissemination, enhancing collaboration and advancing the field. Applications are encouraged to foster advancements that address complex biomedical challenges.

The Integrated Viral Hepatitis Surveillance, Testing, Treatment, and Prevention Programs for Health Departments (IVH-STTP) aims to strengthen viral hepatitis surveillance and prevention efforts across the United States. By enhancing outbreak response capabilities and promoting testing and treatment in high-impact settings, this initiative seeks to improve public health outcomes. Key components include partnerships, strategic planning, and perinatal hepatitis C programs, ultimately striving for better access to prevention and treatment services, aligning with CDC priorities.

The Evelyn Manning Potter and Vivian Grove Strunk Memorial Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, supports students pursuing careers in the administrative professional field. Established in memory of two dedicated professionals, this scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to qualified individuals, promoting their educational and career aspirations. The foundation offers over 100 scholarships, reflecting its commitment to enhancing the community's quality of life and supporting local talent.

The Carol D. Garling Scholarship, established by Carol D. Garling, provides financial assistance to students pursuing a post-secondary education who have completed at least 30 credit hours at an accredited institution. Offered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, this scholarship is part of a larger initiative to support local students and promote educational advancement within the community. Applications are accepted annually from January to April 1st, encouraging both high school graduates and non-traditional students.

The Bill Dorsey Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, offers scholarships to students at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA). Designed for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, this fund helps cover costs related to their arts discipline. Applications are available in the Fall, supporting the foundation's mission to enhance educational opportunities for local students and nurture their artistic talents.

The Hagerstown Garden Club Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, supports Washington County residents pursuing education in horticulture. Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors and current college students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This scholarship honors the legacy of the Hagerstown Garden Club and is part of a broader initiative to enhance community life through educational opportunities, fostering both personal and professional growth in the horticultural field.

The F26AS00083 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants are part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for Fiscal Year 2026. These grants, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aim to support state-level management plans to combat aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region. Eligible applicants include Great Lakes states and their designees, with funding awarded through a competitive selection process.

The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program offers funding to eligible entities for developing local solutions to water management issues. This initiative supports watershed group development, restoration planning, and project design, promoting stakeholder cooperation and improving water reliability. It aligns with key priorities from the Trump administration, addressing complex water challenges and enhancing federal grant oversight. By facilitating these efforts, the program aims to stretch limited water resources and foster collaborative solutions among diverse stakeholders.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is inviting applications for the Clinical Trial Cooperative Agreement Program. This funding opportunity supports investigator-initiated, interventional clinical trials at various phases. Initial funding will facilitate the preparation needed to start trials, with successful milestones leading to further support. NIAMS emphasizes hypothesis-driven trials that promise significant clinical impact within its research mission.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is launching a funding opportunity for Exploratory Clinical Trials Grants. This program aims to support innovative clinical trials that enhance the understanding and treatment of arthritis and other musculoskeletal and skin conditions. Research proposals should focus on early-stage trials, including first-in-human studies, dose-finding, and biomarker evaluation. The initiative encourages the translation of promising laboratory findings into effective clinical practices, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Lilly Foundation

To extend Lilly’s charitable reach and impact, the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation (Lilly Foundation) was established in 1968 and is supported by donations from Eli Lilly and Company.

The Foundation is a tax-exempt, private foundation supporting programs that align with its philanthropic priorities.

Grantmaking Approach

The Lilly Foundation’s work is guided by a charitable vision of a world where every person has an opportunity to live their healthiest life. Through grantmaking focused on Lilly Foundation’s charitable vision, grants can serve as a catalyst for closing gaps and empowering individuals and communities to thrive.

All proposals should demonstrate clear alignment with at least one focus area and include charitable outcomes that are measurable and consistent with the Foundation’s long-term charitable goals.

Global Health, K-12 STEM Education and Economic Mobility Grant

Focus Areas

Global Health

Lilly Foundation, through its charitable grants, aims to support permissible charitable efforts to improve access to quality healthcare for resource-limited communities in low- and lower-middleincome countries (L/LMICs) and in the United States. Strengthening access to care is essential for enhancing community well-being and supporting economic stability in resource-limited settings.

The Global Health focus area aims to close gaps in quality healthcare by supporting charitable solutions that improve access, bring care closer to where people live, and address the high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in resource-limited settings. To the extent permissible, the Foundation prioritizes charitable efforts related to cardiometabolic health in resource-limited settings.

K-12 STEM Education

The K-12 STEM Education focus area aims to close the gaps for students from low-income communities by supporting programs that foster new pathways and pipelines to STEM education through focused K-12 efforts, concentrating on the critical middle school years. The Foundation’s K-12 STEM Education grants are focused on initiatives that benefit Marion County, Indiana.

Economic Mobility

The Economic Mobility focus area supports charitable and educational programs that strengthen workforce readiness, postsecondary and skills-based educational pathways, and housing stability to promote long-term prosperity. This support is focused on Marion County, Indiana, with the goal of improving economic opportunity for low-income communities and advancing community well-being.

The DOJ FY 2026 BIDEN Program provides funding to support state and local agencies in addressing immigration-related crime. This initiative enables law enforcement to apprehend criminal illegal aliens, analyze gang activity, and enhance court operations related to trafficking crimes. The program facilitates temporary detention and transportation of offenders, promoting collaboration with Homeland Security Task Forces. Applications must be submitted via JustGrants by specified deadlines, with rounds of funding released throughout 2026.

About McElhattan Foundation

Founded in 2017 following the sale of Industrial Scientific Corporation, McElhattan Foundation invites bold ideas that advance the goals of its four program areas, including Ending Death on the Job.

Zero Electrocution Challenge

Despite decades of regulations, training, and personal protective equipment, workers continue to die from electrical contact every year.

McElhattan Foundation’s Zero Electrocution Challenge seeks breakthrough solutions that present pathways to eliminate life-threatening tasks that lead to fatal electrocution on the job by the year 2050, while increasing enterprise profitability and productivity. This is the inaugural ZERO 2050 challenge, awarding two Winners up to $1 million each.

The FY27 Communications and Networking Applied Research program aims to advance technologies essential for Naval operations. This initiative aligns with the Design for Maritime Superiority, focusing on the Naval Tactical Grid (NTG) to ensure seamless connectivity among distributed units. The technologies developed will operate under challenging conditions across multiple domains, enhancing command and control capabilities for effective decision-making in maritime and other operational theaters.

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) aims to combat discriminatory housing practices through funding provided to various organizations. Established by Congress in 1988 and made permanent in 1992, FHIP supports entities that educate the public and enforce fair housing rights. The program offers competitive grants across four initiatives, including the Private Enforcement Initiative, which enables national non-profit organizations to investigate violations and uphold fair housing laws effectively.

About Us

Wisconsin Sea Grant is a statewide program of basic and applied research, education, outreach and technology transfer dedicated to the stewardship and sustainable use of the nation’s Great Lakes and ocean resources.

Headquartered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the institute is housed in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research’s Aquatic Sciences Center. (See our Water and Land Acknowledgement.) Wisconsin Sea Grant is part of a national network of 34 university-based programs funded through the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce and through matching contributions from participating states and the private sector. 

John A. Knauss Marine (and Great Lakes) Policy Fellowship

The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program is accepting applications from graduate students statewide for the National Sea Grant College Program’s John A. Knauss Marine (and Great Lakes) Policy Fellowship Program. The program, established in 1979, provides a unique educational experience to applicants who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one year paid internship. Placement opportunities are numerous and very diverse and have typically included offices within Congress, the Executive Office of the President, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury, Transportation, and Energy, in addition to others. Applicants from a variety of backgrounds including natural and social sciences, law, engineering, and communications can be competitive for this fellowship. Fellowships begin June 1, 2027.

The DoW Rare Cancers Concept Award for FY26 promotes groundbreaking ideas in rare cancer research. This award encourages innovative applications that explore novel courses of investigation without requiring preliminary data. Unique to this program is the prohibition against mentioning the Principal Investigator or collaborators in the proposal materials, ensuring an unbiased review process. This funding opportunity aims to advance scientific discovery in the rare cancer domain.

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) aims to enhance broadband access and adoption on Tribal lands, supporting initiatives for remote learning, telework, and telehealth. Administered by NTIA, this program provides vital funding to eligible entities under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This funding is crucial for fostering digital inclusion and improving connectivity in underserved Tribal communities.