Best Itasca County Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota

Scholarships and Awards

The National Federation of the Blind offers several scholarships and awards that honor blind individuals as well as teachers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and organizations whose work benefits the blind community.

Blind Educator of the Year Award

Recognize a blind educator who strives to guide, uplift, and advocate for their blind students and the needs of blind people.

The Blind Educator of the Year Award was established by the National Organization of Blind Educators, a division of the National Federation of the Blind, in 1991 to recognize outstanding blind teachers.

Every year, the award pays tribute to a blind teacher whose exceptional classroom performance, notable community service, and uncommon commitment to the NFB merit national recognition. A teacher not only provides information but also guidance, advocacy, and love. The recipient of the Blind Educator of the Year Award must exhibit all of these traits and must advance the cause of blind people in the spirit and philosophy of the NFB.

The Award

The Blind Educator of the Year Award is presented at the NFB National Convention.

Who We Are

Our Mission

“The mission of the National Federation of the Blind is to achieve widespread emotional acceptance and intellectual understanding that the real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the misconceptions and lack of information which exist. We do this by bringing blind people together to share successes, to support each other in times of failure, and to create imaginative solutions.”

The NFB of Colorado, a state affiliate of the national organization, shares this mission and works as a whole and in concert with its state-wide chapters to accomplish it.

Announcing the Scott C LaBarre Memorial Scholarship Program for Colorado blind and low-vision post-secondary students

This year the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado will be awarding up to $10,000 in scholarship funds for deserving students. We have decided to expand the eligibility to students attending an accredited technical educational program. Technical programs must be appropriately accredited and at least one year in duration. For questions on whether the program qualifies please reach out to the scholarship committee chairs (contact info below) for a determination.

Each year at its state convention, the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (NFBCO) gives a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind scholars. The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado is an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for all blind persons. Recipients of Federation scholarships need not be members of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado nor the National Federation of the Blind.

All scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, service to the community, and financial need.

Florida Kiwanis Foundation

The Florida Kiwanis Foundation was created in 1971 by Former Kiwanis Governor Robert Thal. Since 1971, Florida Kiwanis Foundation has been supporting Kiwanis Clubs, Divisions, and students make a real impact in the state of Florida.

Our Purpose: To leave a legacy for the children. We are dedicated to supporting Florida Youth to ensure a brighter future and leave a legacy for the children.

Mission: Help children in need. To enable caring individuals, clubs, and divisions to combine their resources of time, talent, and funds to create a greater impact on the needs of children and families in Florida.

Maria Mychaniuk Kiwanis Scholarship

The Maria Mychaniuk Scholarship is dedicated in memory of a quiet, dignified member of the Flagler County community. Ms Mychaniuk believed that students who have a sincere desire to succeed by furthering their education needed to be assisted in doing so and requested that the focus of this scholarship would be to provide an opportunity to those students that may have difficulty qualifying for other awards.

She was a firm believer in community service and in such, asked the Kiwanis Club of Flagler County, through the Florida Kiwanis Foundation, to select a worthy student whose principles of community awareness, service, and commitment to making the area a better place to live would benefit by her generosity. On behalf of Maria Mychaniuk, the Kiwanis Club of Flagler County and The Florida Kiwanis Foundation are pleased to offer this scholarship.

Sailfish Point Foundation Trade and Vocation Scholarship

All public high school students in Martin County.

Will be based on weighted and unweighted GPA, class rank, number of hours working during the school year, family income, extracurricular activities, and community involvement. 

Award:

• $up to $3,500.00

RRCU Gives Foundation Grant

Mission Statement:

RRCU Gives strengthens our region by providing meaningful financial support to nonprofits addressing hunger, housing, and financial education. Through our annual grant awards and major funding initiatives, we help local organizations grow, thrive, and create lasting change.

 We award grants annually, with applications in June and awards in August.

Focus Areas

• Hunger
• Housing
• Financial Education

Established in 1948, the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) – a nonprofit, non-political, scholarly society – is the leading international organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about Central Asia, the Caucasus, Russia, and Eastern Europe in regional and global contexts.  

As a private, non-political international professional organization, we support our members, who are scholars and students in diverse disciplines and specialists in various professions, to share their knowledge and expertise and to foster greater understanding of the region and its impact in the world.

ASEEES Internship Grant Program

The ASEEES Internship Grant Program promotes the entry of young scholars with Russian studies expertise into sectors outside traditional academia, including not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations, business/trade councils, government, media, the arts, museums, publishers, and other non-academic sectors.

Funded by an external grant, ASEEES’s Internship Grant Program provides incoming, current, and recent (i.e. those who have graduated no more than two years prior to the competition deadline) MA, PhD, and professional school students with grants that make it possible for them to accept unpaid or underpaid internships in areas broadly related to Russia, including Russia’s relations with other regions/countries.

Eastern Colorado Scholarship

The Eastern Colorado Scholarship is designed to support post-secondary pursuits of students throughout the region and is funded through contributions from many community members and legacy gifts. 

The Eastern Colorado Scholarship is available to students attending school in Eastern Colorado (Logan County, Morgan County, Phillips County, Washington County, Sedgwick County, and Yuma County). The scholarship is open to students pursuing any kind of secondary education including four-year degrees, two-year degrees, trade schools, etc. 

Scholarship amount:

• $3,000

Number of awards:

• 4

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Roy and Linda Funk Scholarship

The Roy and Linda Funk Scholarship Fund was established to assist students in pursuing additional schooling. This scholarship is available to students from the I-70 corridor on the Eastern Plains of Colorado. Students may only receive this award once; past recipients may not reapply.

Scholarship amount:

• $2,500

Number of awards:

• 2

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Linda Norton Good Neighbor Scholarship

This scholarship is designed to support exceptional students within the Poudre School District who aspire to pursue degrees in finance, economics, business, or real estate. It embodies Linda Norton’s legacy of community service, advocacy, and significant contributions to the field while providing opportunities for the next generation of students in these related disciplines.

Scholarship amount:

• $1,500

Number of awards:

• 1

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Larimer County Scholarship

The Larimer County Scholarship is designed to support post-secondary pursuits of students throughout the region and is funded through contributions from many community members and legacy gifts. 

The Larimer County scholarship is available to students who have participated in community or philanthropic activities designed to strengthen our community. Activities could include volunteering or fundraising to provide funding to local nonprofits or school-based initiatives.   

This scholarship is available to high school seniors living in Larimer County. The scholarship is open to students pursuing any kind of secondary education including four-year degrees, two-year degrees, trade schools, etc. 

Scholarship amount:

• $4,000

Number of awards:

• 3

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Logan County Nurses Scholarship

The Logan County Nurses Scholarship is available to nursing students who reside in Logan County and have been accepted into a nursing program working towards a ADN, BSN, or MSN.

Scholarship amount:

• $2,000

Number of awards:

• 3

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Stephen J. Roy Memorial Scholarship

The Stephen J. Roy Memorial Scholarship is available to high school seniors who reside in Larimer County and are interested in law, government, debate, or similar law-related educational activities.

Scholarship amount:

• $3,000

Number of awards:

• 1

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Susan McGraw Habitat for Humanity Scholarship

The Susan McGraw Scholarship is need-based and is available only to individuals or family members living within a Habitat community in Berthoud, Fort Collins, or Loveland and who seek to further their education to enhance their employment prospects. The scholarship is open to students pursuing any kind of secondary education including four-year degrees, two-year degrees, trade schools, single classes, etc. Eligible applicants may receive scholarships for educational, training, or certification programs at accredited institutions, furthering Susan McGraw’s legacy of fostering education and opportunity within the community.

Scholarship amount:

• $3,000

Number of awards:

• 3

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college, trade or technical school or university.

Dean and Vay Lousberg Scholarship

The Dean and Vay Lousberg Scholarship Fund was established to help aid in the financing of continuing education for graduating students from Northeastern Colorado high schools.

Scholarship amount:

• $2,000

Number of awards:

• 3

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Charmayne Gooch Arts Scholarship

The Charmayne Gooch Arts Scholarship is available to Larimer County students who have the potential to succeed but may not have attained sufficient academic achievement to place them in a position to receive other scholarships. This can include students with a disability or special needs and/or a student who would benefit from a program with less emphasis on academics such as art, writing, music, or visual arts.

Scholarship amount:

• $5,000

Number of awards:

• 3

Scholarship awards are one-time awards. The amount awarded to a selected recipient may be used for the cost of attendance. All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipient’s school and must be used for the upcoming academic year. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s college or university.

Holcomb Family Education Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2008 by the Hall County Optimist Club to honor long-time educators, J.H. Holcomb and his sisters, Margaret, Mildred, and Nell. Applicants must have demonstrated financial need and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. In 2026, one scholarship award of $1,000 will be offered.

Robert Couche Scholarship

The scholarship was established in 1988 by Robert Couche to give scholarships to deserving Black high school graduates living in the Gainesville-Hall County area seeking higher education.

To complete this scholarship, applicants must answer the following essay question: Please describe what you believe are the three most important qualities of a good leader. How have you displayed these qualities in your own life?

In 2026, one scholarship award of $1,500 will be offered.

Patrick Michael Kelley Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the community in memory of Patrick Kelley, an outstanding student at GHS. Patrick was known for his academic ability, musical talent & service. He was a member of the GHS Band, played in two orchestras, was an Eagle Scout, attended the Governor’s Honors Program & was active in youth group. In 2026, this $3,000 scholarship is available to seniors at Hall County/Gainesville City public high schools planning to attend an accredited U.S. college/university.

Mary Joan Keeney Scholarship

The Mary Joan Keeney Scholarship was established in 2017 to honor the memory of Joan Keeney and her dedication to continuing education. In 1992, at the age of fifty-nine, she attended Denver Seminary in Denver, Colorado and completed a life-long dream of earning a Master’s in Counseling. Upon graduation, she volunteered as a grief and bereavement counselor at The First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado. Her life passion was helping others heal and return to love.

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide non-traditional, female students interested in nursing and mental health careers access to funds to help further their education and/or certification. In 2026, two one-time scholarship awards of $5,000 each will be offered.

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. 

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 Robertson Scholarship Fund for Education

This scholarship fund is a memorial to the life of Charles Robertson, established by his wife and family. Chuck was the woodshop teacher at Grand Haven Junior High School for 36 years. During his life, Chuck's leadership and organizational qualities were always present and active. He took a broad world view and always found ways to do good things for others. This scholarship supports students who have graduated from a Tri-Cities area public high school. Chuck enjoyed working with his hands, he was a creative problem solver, and he had a curiosity about the world around him.

This scholarship keeps the memory of Chuck alive and hopefully inspires the award recipients to live a life of passion and active involvement.

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.

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.

Coopersville Endowed Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund opened in 2000 and was formerly a student loan program. It now offers scholarship opportunities to students who wish to continue their education beyond high school.

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.

Allendale Community Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the Allendale Community Foundation and Allendale Charter Township as a way to support a graduate residing in Allendale Charter Township who wishes to pursue a post-secondary education.

Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society preserves Minnesota's past, shares our state's stories and connects people with history in meaningful ways, for today and for tomorrow. Because history matters!

We're part of Minnesota's rich history. Since 1849, we've grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious historical societies in the country. We play an important role in our state's historic preservation, education and tourism; and provide the public with award-winning programs, exhibitions and events.

We owe it to future generations to be good stewards of the past.

Native American Museum Fellowship

The Native American Museum Fellowship (NAMF) Program is a ten-week paid fellowship that will introduce Native community members to the museum field through three weeks of seminar and workshops and seven weeks of an MNHS internship program. These ten weeks are designed to engage and expose fellows to relevant cultural resources within MNHS and partnership sites, the broader public history of Minnesota and neighboring states, and professional opportunities within the museum field– ranging from Tribal historic preservation to exhibit curation. Fellows will learn about career paths and the various requirements for working in museum spaces, both on and off of reservation lands, as well as the particular challenges faced by Native American communities in terms of preserving tribal history and disturbing the institutionalized historical narratives of who Native people were and are.

The first three weeks of the program will be an in-depth seminar that will focus on the function of museums, cultural resources, public history, and tribal historic preservation fields. Through a mix of readings, podcasts, videos, discussions, exhibit analyses and guest speakers, fellows will come to have a better understanding of the day-to-day workings of museums and historic sites, and the values and practices that inform these institutions. The cohort will travel often to MNHS partnering sites and will have the opportunity to visit various Native organizations in or around the Twin Cities. Fellows will be placed within the Minnesota Historical Society network for the remainder of the fellowship where they will complete a hands-on internship experience of their choice.

Participants in the program will receive a living expense stipend for the duration of the program as well as travel expense reimbursement, a stipend pending completion of the seminar portion of the program, and a paid internship for the remaining seven weeks.

Topics covered

• Collections
• Conservation
• Tribal and Institutional Partnerships
• Tribal Historic Preservation
• Cultural Resource Stewardship
• Exhibitions
• ​Archaeology/NAGPRA
• Section 106
• And more!

Program Requirements

NAMF is designed as a ten week hybrid program with a home base of the Minnesota History Center, located in St. Paul. The 3-week seminar portion of the program has mandatory in-person attendance to receive the full stipend. A 20-hour per week paid internship could be all in-person or hybrid, depending on the internship supervisor. Travel to historic sites and communities will be required throughout the program period with travel arranged through program staff. 

Please Note: Fellows are expected to find their own housing upon accepting their letter of admittance. Mileage accumulated from out-of-town trips and lodging used during seminar will be reimbursed (within reason) to eliminate financial barriers during your time as a NAMF fellow.