Best Jackson County Grants for Nonprofits in Indiana

Request for Proposals: Launchpad Funds

Background

Coefficient Giving is increasing its giving, primarily to prepare for the billions of dollars in new philanthropic capital that may become available in the coming years. Our increased giving in global health and wellbeing is a temporary surge, with two objectives: to smooth funding and pull forward initiatives we expect to be cost-effective, and to help create an ecosystem of regrantors and implementers with the capacity to allocate this new money as cost-effectively as possible. Additional context on our scaling is provided in this blog post. 

With new potential capital on the way, we want to increase the supply of actionable and fundable plans to address some of the world’s hardest problems. We’re looking for specific, credible strategies to convert funding into measurable progress. Our ideal funds are:

However, we are also open to funds that are thematic and don’t have a quantified goal — for example, a fund organized around a promising type of intervention. Such funds still need to be led by a single, identifiable person who is accountable for the fund’s direction.

Through this request for EOIs, we aim to seed or scale Launchpad Funds that can grow to $100m+ over the next few years. We don’t seek scale for its own sake; it is a proxy for the ambition of the fund, and a signal that the problem is large and tractable enough to justify deploying significantly more capital over time.

What we will fund

• We expect to support established ideas that have either not yet secured anchor support or could significantly scale beyond their existing level of funding.
• This funding can cover operating expenses, but we expect most of it to be used for activities that make progress on the fund’s goals — whether through regranting or direct implementation.
• For exceptional proposals, we may consider funding levels beyond $50m. We anticipate higher funding levels will involve more thought partnership from our team.
• While we don’t expect to make grants longer than 36 months, funded proposals may later be considered for additional funding beyond the initial period.

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I program invites proposals for groundbreaking aerospace concepts, aiming to transform potential in aeronautics. This initiative supports innovative research through multiple award phases, focusing on Phase I requirements and evaluation criteria. A virtual forum will be held on October 7, 2026, to discuss the Appendix’s details and clarify submission guidelines. Additional information will be available on the NSPIRES page, ensuring participants are well-informed about the process.

The National Parks Business Plan Internship aims to enhance the operational health of national parks through a graduate-level program that trains students in business management and NPS operations. Participants will engage in substantive analysis, gain insights into park management, and promote federal careers in conservation. This initiative seeks to involve underrepresented graduate students from disciplines such as business administration and public policy, fostering a commitment to stewardship of public lands.

This funding opportunity aims to enhance the cancer surveillance workforce through education and support for certified Oncology Data Specialists. The initiative will improve the quality and completeness of cancer data collected by the National Program of Cancer Registries. By fostering collaboration and promoting the value of cancer surveillance data, this program seeks to empower public health actions, research, and policy-making, ensuring a robust response to current and future cancer-related challenges.

About

What We Do

The Achieve Foundation promotes high-quality education that prepares South Orange-Maplewood School District students for the future.

We support our students, families and educators by addressing inequities, inspiring innovation and fostering community.

Riecke Professional Development Fellowship

About the Program

Achieve’s Michelle T. Riecke Fellowship funds summer professional development opportunities for faculty.

Fellowships are awarded to individuals (up to $3,000) and/or teaching teams (up to $5,000).

This year, Achieve awarded $9,111 to support four professional development programs for six teachers.

The Michelle T. Riecke Teaching Fellowship was established with the Achieve Foundation in 2004 in memory of former Board of Ed president Shelley Riecke, who passed away at age 39.

The Fellowship fosters outstanding teaching by enabling educators to undertake continuing education in their fields in the summer, and inspiring them to share the new knowledge they acquire with their District colleagues upon their return to school.

While fellowships are awarded for both subject-specific and broader educational interests, faculty are encouraged to look for programs that nurture their professional passion.

About the Russell Sage Foundation

One of the oldest American foundations, the Russell Sage Foundation, was established by Mrs. Margaret Olivia Sage in 1907 for “the improvement of social and living conditions in the United States.” In its early years, the foundation undertook major projects in low-income housing, urban planning, social work, and labor reform. The foundation now dedicates itself to strengthening the methods, data, and theories of the social sciences to diagnose social problems and improve social policies. It also funds researchers at other institutions and supports programs intended to develop new generations of social scientists.

Margaret Olivia Sage (MOS) Grants

The Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) is launching a new competition, the Margaret Olivia Sage (MOS) Grants, to support research by multi- or inter-disciplinary teams on social, economic, and political challenges with generational consequences for social and living conditions in the United States. Such challenges are typically national in scope, involve both systemic and individual factors, and the questions they raise are as urgent for policymakers and communities as they are for researchers.

About

Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.

Awards

Excellence in Research

The Mensa Foundation’s Awards for Excellence in Research recognize researchers who are building new knowledge in intelligence.

Presented annually, these awards honor exceptional work published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at professional conferences.

Details

A prestigious recognition in the field, the Awards for Excellence in Research celebrate innovative contributions that redefine how intelligence, giftedness, and related fields are studied and applied.

Award Components

Criteria for Entry

Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation

The Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation goes beyond food aid to create lasting change. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships and volunteer action, Stop Hunger tackles the root causes of food insecurity.

In 2025, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and the Hunger Center awarded grants to 131 programs representing 118 communities in 37 states plus the District of Columbia. Collectively, these programs provided an estimated 22,000 backpacks full of shelf-stable food items for students to take home for the weekend or holidays when school meals are not served.

Since 2006, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has been a driving force behind weekend and holiday hunger relief for students across the U.S. Through support of food backpack programs, the Foundation partners with local food banks and schools to discreetly provide K-12 students with backpacks filled with nutritious, shelf-stable meals. These backpacks are distributed in safe, familiar settings – typically on the last school day before a weekend or school break – ensuring that all children who rely on free or reduced-price school meals don’t go hungry when school is out.

K-12 Backpack Grant

The K-12 Backpack Grant is an initiative launched by the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and administered in partnership with the Congressional Hunger Center to support community backpack programs. Grants of $1,000 will be issued to community organizations with established backpack feeding programs that provide students with shelf-stable, nutritious meals when school is out of session.

The BJA FY 2026 Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act Program aims to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting civil rights offenses that resulted in death before December 31, 1979. This funding opportunity is part of the DOJ's broader commitment to enhance public safety, protect civil rights, and ensure justice for victims of violent crime. Applications are due on November 20, 2026.

The F26AS00023 FY2026 Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program offers crucial financial support for marine mammal rescue efforts. This initiative aims to assist eligible participants in the recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals, provide emergency response to stranding events, and enhance scientific research on marine mammal health. The program prioritizes applications that effectively address species-specific needs and bolster the capacity of stranding networks, ensuring the welfare of marine wildlife under the management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

About Us

advancing the science of water ®

Who We Are

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

5424 - Adaptive Control Frameworks to Unlock Full-Scale BNR Potential

Grant Information

• Identify and categorize the dominant failure modes of current aeration and process control implementations under real-world operating conditions.
• Develop guidance on data and instrumentation requirements for utilities to support adaptive control, including the characterization of existing sensor infrastructure and the use of soft sensors where hard sensors are limited.
• Develop practical adaptive control frameworks and implementation guidance that utilities can deploy without dependence on proprietary black-box tools or specialized data science expertise, including hybrid approaches that augment conventional controls with data-driven models (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), digital twins) for variable flow and concentration conditions.
• Benchmark control performance against biological capacity indicators across multiple full-scale facilities to quantify the gap between achievable and realized biological nutrient removal (BNR) performance.

About Us

advancing the science of water ®

Who We Are

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

5432 - Validating Reverse Osmosis Conductivity Profiling for Pathogen Log Reduction Value Credit

Grant Information

• Validate conductivity profiling against pathogen removal by establishing the relationship between conductivity-profile response and MS2 bacteriophage removal under intact and controlled membrane integrity-defect conditions.
• Demonstrate the robustness and applicability of conductivity profiling across representative reverse osmosis conditions, including new and aged membranes, different defect types and severities, operating conditions, variations in feedwater quality/composition/salinity, and temperature.
• Develop a validation implementation framework that defines testing procedures, log removal value calculation methods, sensitivity and performance criteria, continuous monitoring, alarm/response thresholds, and operational requirements needed to support regulatory pathogen log removal values credit for reverse osmosis.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Broadband Readiness

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. To be competitive, projects must demonstrate:

• They meet a goal of the Federal Act (Section 105 (a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974)
• The particular planning project addresses established long-term community priorities;
• The funds granted will have a significant impact on the overall project;
• The community has demonstrated a strong commitment to the project and its sustainability; and
• The project is ready to proceed upon grant award and will be completed within 12 months.

The grant assesses broadband infrastructure needs and develops a roadmap to expand high-speed internet access at the municipal or regional level. Broadband Readiness Plans may be created for the community level or regional level.

• Plans for a single community may request up to $50,000.
• Plans for regional applicants may request up to $70,000.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Comprehensive Plan

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement.

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from local units of government for programs funded through the State CDBG program. Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located. Eligible planning activities consist of all costs associated with data gathering, study, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans.

Comprehensive Plan is a community-driven planning process that assesses assets and sets coordinated strategies for land use, services, economy, housing, infrastructure, environment, broadband, and historic resources. 

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Utility Studies

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from local units of government for programs funded through the State CDBG program. Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located. Eligible planning activities consist of all costs associated with data gathering, study, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans.

• Single Utility Study ($30,000)
  • A single utility study evaluates the condition, needs, alternatives, costs, and implementation steps for one utility system to determine the most viable, fundable solutions and guide immediate planning and investment decisions.
• Two Utility Study ($60,000) 
  • A Two Utility Study examines two water systems (typically drinking water plus wastewater or stormwater) together to identify conditions, needs, and service gaps and sustainability measures; and deliver prioritized, fundable action steps to operationalize and finance the recommended improvements.
• Master or Three Utility Study ($90,000)
  • A Master Utility Study provides an integrated assessment of all community-controlled water systems (drinking water, wastewater, stormwater), identifies needs and service gaps, evaluates coordinated alternatives with lifecycle and environmental analyses, and delivers prioritized designs, cost estimates, operating budgets, permitting and financing options, and a implementation plan.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Downtown Revitalization Plan

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from local units of government for programs funded through the State CDBG program. Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located. Eligible planning activities consist of all costs associated with data gathering, study, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans.

Downtown Revitalization Plan assesses current conditions, establish a vision, and prioritize actionable projects and strategies to revitalize the downtown economy, public spaces, buildings, infrastructure, and community engagement 

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Economic Recovery Plan

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from local units of government for programs funded through the State CDBG program. Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located. Eligible planning activities consist of all costs associated with data gathering, study, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans.

Economic Recovery Plan identifies strategies to recover and bolster the local economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Indiana Arts Commission

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) is an agency of state government that works directly with communities, creatives, and organizations to harness the power of creativity to strengthen Indiana. Through its programs and services, the IAC funds and supports arts experiences, arts education, and the arts economy to enhance the quality of life for Indiana's people and places.

Mission Statement: We champion and invest in arts and creativity to strengthen Indiana’s people and communities.

Traditional Arts Indiana Apprenticeship

The Traditional Arts Indiana (TAI) Apprenticeship Program supports the continuation of cultural practices in Indiana communities by funding up to six apprenticeship pairs each year, enabling apprentices to learn essential knowledge and skills in traditional art forms from master artists. TAI hosts this apprenticeship program in partnership with the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The TAI Apprenticeship Program supports traditional cultural expressions of a community or group. Examples might be making an object, playing a tune, or practicing a dance. Nevertheless, each creative practice is rooted in a community. It is “traditional” in that it entails skills, aesthetics, and values that are transmitted over time within a family, community, religious, or occupational setting.

If selected, master artists will receive an honorarium with additional funds to cover the cost of apprenticeship materials and resources. Each master artist will host an apprentice formally for nine months. At the end of this period, apprenticeship pairs will showcase their traditional practices at a public event. There will be additional opportunities for master artists and apprentices to participate in future TAI events.

A better world, built with better teamwork

We bring Atlassian's funding, tools and teamwork expertise to help nonprofits drive greater impact.

Our mission

Atlassian's mission is to unleash the potential of every team. The Atlassian Foundation extends that mission to teams solving the world's hardest problems.

Atlassian Foundation – Open Call for Proposals

The Atlassian Foundation is deploying US$8 million over the next two years to help disadvantaged learners thrive in the AI era. If you're driving collective action in this space, we want to hear from you.

Reshaping education for the AI era will take teamwork

The Atlassian Foundation focuses on education because it's the most empowering force in the world – it's the key to breaking cycles of poverty and disadvantage.

But that key is slipping out of reach for far too many. UNESCO estimates that more than 250 million children are out of school. And for those in the classroom, learning isn't guaranteed: 57% of children worldwide (nearly one billion) lack the basic skills they need for the era they're growing up in. AI can expand access and accelerate learning. It can also widen inequality where it lands unevenly.

No single organisation can tackle a challenge this complex. That's why the Atlassian Foundation is backing collective action: coordinated efforts by multiple players to solve shared problems at scale. Atlassian's mission is to unleash the potential of every team, so we're uniquely positioned to power these efforts. We've spent 20+ years learning what makes teams work well together, and we're offering that expertise – plus our funding, tools and hands-on support – to help collective action initiatives drive greater impact.

We believe a better world is built with better teamwork, and collective action is teamwork at its most ambitious. Together, we want to shape a future where emerging technology closes gaps for learners the current system leaves behind, rather than widening them.

About this open call

In this open call, we're seeking partnerships with collective action initiatives that are working to improve education for disadvantaged learners in the AI era.

What our partners will receive

Each partnership will include:

The CDBG Planning Grant - Economic Development Plan, administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, supports local governments in developing strategic plans for long-term economic growth. This grant utilizes Community Development Block Grant funding to facilitate comprehensive planning efforts that address community needs, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible applicants include counties and cities, promoting collaborative initiatives to enhance economic resilience.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Environmental Assessment Plan

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from local units of government for programs funded through the State CDBG program. Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located. Eligible planning activities consist of all costs associated with data gathering, study, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans.

Environmental Assessment Plan evaluates potential environmental impacts of proposed projects and identifies measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects on air and water quality, biodiversity, land use, and community well-being. 

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Historic Preservation Plan

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from local units of government for programs funded through the State CDBG program. Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located. Eligible planning activities consist of all costs associated with data gathering, study, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans.

A Historic Preservation Plan identifies and documents historic resources, sets a preservation vision, and prioritizes compliance driven rehabilitation, funding, and maintenance actions.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with Indiana communities to build relevant and economically thriving places where people want to live, work and grow.

Mission: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs works with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to aid communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.

CDBG Planning Grant - Feasibility Study Plan

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from local units of government for programs funded through the State CDBG program. Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located. Eligible planning activities consist of all costs associated with data gathering, study, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions to implement such plans.

Feasibility studies evaluate existing conditions, identify needs and a future vision for public facilities (e.g., fire stations, libraries, community centers), and assess viability, costs, benefits, and risks to guide implementation. 

About Us

advancing the science of water ®

Who We Are

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

5434 Preparing for UCMR 6: Understanding Occurrence of Trifluoroacetic Acid and Emerging Ultrashort-Chain PFAS

Grant Information

• Characterize the occurrence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and other ultrashort-chain organofluorine compounds included in the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) in representative U.S. drinking water systems.
• Evaluate changes across existing full-scale treatment processes using source and finished water samples to identify treatment trains that demonstrate measurable removal or reduction of these compounds.
• Develop a response and communication protocol to support utilities when communicating the results of the sampling and potential detection of TFA and other UCMR 6 ultrashort-chain organofluorine compounds.

About Us

advancing the science of water ®

Who We Are

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.

5433 - Optimizing Membrane Biofouling Control in Potable Water Reuse Treatment Trains

Grant Information

Main Objective: Evaluate alternative biofouling control chemicals and operational strategies to optimize performance across the potable reuse treatment train while maintaining treatment performance and finished-water quality. Supporting objectives include:

• Identify and assess alternative biofouling control chemicals and operational strategies that can reduce membrane fouling and differential pressure, reduce cleaning frequencies, minimize degradation of ultraviolet transmittance (UVT), and reduce lifecycle cost.
• Evaluate treatment-train performance impacts, including effects on membrane system performance, membrane lifespan, UVT, and ultraviolet advanced oxidation processes (UV-AOP) performance and energy demand, finished-water quality, and concentrate management.
• Quantify lifecycle benefits and tradeoffs associated with selected strategies, including energy and chemical consumption, membrane replacement and cleaning frequency, monitoring and reporting requirements, operator safety and chemical handling, environmental considerations, and capital/operating and maintenance costs.

Arnold Ventures

Overview

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change.

To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to better understand the root causes of problems and strengthen the evidence base on what works to solve them. Using this evidence, we advocate for policy reforms and help build durable, bipartisan coalitions for lasting change.

Request for Proposals

Causal Research on the Impacts of K-12 School Policies 

The next several years present an important opportunity to shape the future of state K-12 education policy. States are making consequential decisions about curriculum, assessment, and accountability systems; school choice and governance policies; and teacher and leader workforce policies. High-quality research in these areas will help policymakers distinguish between reforms that are merely appealing and those that meaningfully improve student outcomes over the long term.

Through this request for proposals (RFP), Arnold Ventures seeks to support research studies that estimate the causal effects of actionable, politically viable U.S. K-12 education policies that can be influenced at the state level and have the potential to improve outcomes at scale. Competitive proposals should employ rigorous causal research methods and, where feasible, examine not only short-term educational outcomes but also longer-term impacts on postsecondary and/or labor market outcomes using administrative data. Given the pace of state policymaking, we place a high value on research that can inform decisions quickly and will give preference to studies that can be completed within 18 months of project kickoff and/or produce actionable findings by the end of 2028.

Fall 2026 Early Childhood Education Funding Cycle

Overall Early Childhood Education Program Blueprint

The Stranahan Foundation’s Early Childhood Education grant program supports efforts to improve access to high-quality early care and education for young children (birth to five), especially those from low-income families. We do this by investing in strategies that strengthen, support, and retain a high-quality, thriving early educator workforce.

The Foundation has a history of supporting professional development (PD) and learning systems through its Provider strategy (). We believe strong professional development systems are essential for building a skilled early childhood workforce and creating positive learning environments for young children.

The Fall 2026 funding cycle is available for organizations that align with this Provider strategy.

Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity will provide up to $750,000 to support early childhood education providers in strengthening existing professional development (PD) systems. Funding is intended to improve a specific area of an established PD system—not to build a brand-new system from scratch or put the foundational elements in place.

What kind of improvements can funding support?

Organizations should focus their projects on strengthening their professional development systems. The Stranahan Foundation defines a strong professional development system as one that includes:

• Connect learning opportunities that build on one another over time.
• Use adult learning best practices.
• Align staff learning to educator competencies, credentials, career growth, or compensation.
• Provide learning experiences that are individualized, scaffolded, and responsive to educators’ needs, experience, and goals.
• Have dedicated leadership and organizational capacity to support ongoing implementation.

• Gather regular feedback from staff and families.
• Use standardized assessment and evaluation tools to understand what is working and where improvements are needed.
• Make ongoing improvements based on what is learned.
• Support reflective practice, peer learning, and collaborative inquiry among educators.

• Offer both individual and group learning opportunities, such as training, professional learning communities, coaching, and mentoring.
• Provide learning opportunities on an ongoing basis rather than in a one-and-done situation.
• Connect internal and external learning opportunities to make the best use of available resources.
• Support classroom implementation through observation, modeling, feedback, and continuous improvement cycles.

• Provide learning experiences that are practical, relevant, and easy to apply in daily work.
• Include fundamental topics such as family engagement, effective instruction, developmentally appropriate practice, and classroom management.
• Align with established standards, research, and effective practices in the early childhood field.
• Equip educators to support all learners, including multilingual learners, children with disabilities, and children impacted by trauma or adverse experiences.