Search Through K–12 Education Grants in the U.S.

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Culture Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Social Service Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund direct-service organizations that tackle the roots of chronic poverty by applying effective solutions to the most challenging social and economic problems. The Foundations prioritize supporting programs that have proven successful in facilitating economic independence and in strengthening families. Preference is also given to programs with the potential to scale productive practices in order to reach more people in need.

Funding Priorities in Social Service

In the recent past, 15% of total funding has been allocated to Social Service. Organizations with budgets over $5 million have received 75% of funding in Social Service.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted for new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and general support

Funding

Minimum grant size is $100,000.

Laird Norton Family Foundation

The Laird Norton Family Foundation (LNFF) is a private family foundation in Seattle, Washington, with a mission to honor and reflect the family’s shared values through giving and engage the family in philanthropy as a platform for strengthening family connections.

Primary Grantmaking Programs  

Our grantmaking reflects the values of the Laird Norton family. We give in program areas that reflect the family's shared interests:

Arts in Education

Our Arts in Education grantmaking program supports equitable educational opportunities for students using arts integrated and culturally informed instruction, including sustained professional development for public school teachers. Funding will be directed toward programs that seek to enhance students’ educational outcomes in public Pre-K through grade 12 classrooms rather than to simply increase participation in, or appreciation for, the arts.

• Our current support focuses on organizations that provide: long-term, push-in, professional development opportunities for public Pre-K through grade 12 teachers and schools; programs that aim to serve students furthest from educational justice; and programs with culturally relevant instruction and are focused on the whole child.

Climate Change

Climate change is a global, complex challenge facing our world. The goal of our Climate Change program is to help the planet heal and mitigate adverse impacts of climate change for all people, communities, and the natural world. Grantmaking is centered around carbon sequestration work and recognizes organizations as the experts and stewards to advance climate and environmental justice. Grantmaking is focused in the West Coast of the US.

•  We are focused on supporting work that increased the abilities of forests, coastal ecosystems, and agricultural lands to sequester carbon. Through projects involving healthy forests, blue carbon, and regenerative agriculture, we seek to learn from and follow the lead of communities impacted first and worst as our planet changes. 

Human Services

• Our Human Services grantmaking program supports organizations working directly with youth and young adults (age 12-25) who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, and/or involved with child welfare, juvenile legal or behavioral health systems. Grantmaking is currently only with organizations in King County, WA. 

• Our current support prioritizes organizations that are created and led by the communities they seek to serve, that acknowledge and seek to address racial and social injustice in their work, and that offer programming with the aim of preventing youth and young adult homelessness and creating systems change.

Watershed Stewardship

​Watersheds have social, ecological, and economic significance. The goal of the Watershed Stewardship program is to create enabling conditions for long-term social and ecological health and resilience in places of importance to the Laird Norton Family. Currently, we prioritize work in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as a few key watersheds in the Western United States, consistent with the Laird Norton family's priorities.

We take a long-term view on healthy watersheds and invest in organizational capacity with an eye to future resilience. We encourage our partners to focus not on single-species recovery or restoration to historical conditions as a primary end-goal, but to also consider the potential value of significantly altered — but functioning — ecosystems as we continue to face the impacts of climate change and other natural and human-caused changes into the future.

​We believe the wellbeing of the people who live in a place must be considered alongside ecological goals; understanding the diverse interests and values of a watershed’s human inhabitants is an important component of long-term success. ​

The NSF STEM K-12 program in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) in the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) supports fundamental, applied, and translational research that advances STEM teaching and learning and improves understanding of education across the human lifespan and a range of formal and informal settings.

The NSF STEM K-12 program encourages innovative, multidisciplinary, and potentially transformative projects that build theory, generate new knowledge, and inform education practices in a rapidly evolving technological landscape with advances in emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI). It supports fundamental, applied, and translational research that enhances STEM teaching and learning and across the human lifespan and in a range of formal and informal learning settings. In addition to building theory and informing practice, the program seeks projects that produce new tools and frameworks; harness exemplary formal and informal learning; and unlock new avenues of scientific inquiry and discovery in STEM education to strengthen the Nation's standing as a global leader in STEM innovation.

Proposals submitted to the STEM K-12 program may focus on learning or instruction in any field(s) of STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) and may involve a variety of contexts in which teaching and learning take place, including formal education (pre-K to 12) and informal learning environments. The program also supports projects that identify and address salient issues involved in translating research into educational practice for any STEM field, as well as projects that leverage insights from educational practice to drive fundamental research.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

The Affirm Cares Employee Foundation

Our 501(c)(3) non-profit was established by Affirm in late 2019. We aim to make a significant and meaningful impact in the communities where we work and live.

Purpose

Affirm Cares gives grants to and partners with local organizations that make a meaningful impact in our pillar focus areas. We empower organizations working to provide financial literacy and inclusion, alleviate housing insecurity and homelessness, encourage civic engagement, promote community enrichment, and technology education. We support sustainable and scalable initiatives with a measurable impact in at least one of our three pillars: 

• Financial Literacy and Inclusion
• Vibrant Communities
• Technology Education and Training

Focus Areas

Affirm Cares volunteers share our time, funding, and energy to support:

• Financial literacy & inclusion: Provide fair and responsible credit for communities and businesses, credit education support, and nonprofit investments focused on equitable economic growth.
• Technology education & training: Support access to technology for K–12 coding academies and bootcamps, as well as providing workforce development and support for small urban and rural businesses.
• Vibrant communities: Partner with organizations focused on housing insecurity, homelessness, civic engagement, neighborhood preservation and revitalization, small business development, and community enrichment.

Funding

 Awards will typically range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 barring exceptional circumstances. 

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborate with a wide range of nonprofit organizations that align with our strategic funding priorities. We prioritize our funding to activities and programs that have a broad reach and support the needs of underserved communities. We aspire to have a positive impact on the communities we serve by using our financial and volunteer resources and business expertise in collaboration with community organizations to help solve complex societal problems.

• Financial health
• Housing affordability
• Small business growth
• Sustainability

We may also support other local needs in eligible communities such as disaster relief, arts and culture, civic engagement, education, human and social services, and workforce development. However, opportunities are limited as our intent is to direct the majority of our giving within our major focus areas.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

AAUW believes in building a more equitable future through transformative STEM education. Our Community Action Grants offer up to $75,000 to support nonprofits and educational institutions dedicated to helping girls in grades K–12 build the skills, confidence, and preparation they need to thrive in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

These grants are designed to support programs that provide hands-on learning, mentorship from women in STEM, family involvement, and confidence-building experiences. AAUW is particularly interested in reaching girls from historically underrepresented communities, ensuring that all young women can succeed in STEM fields. 

Why We Do This Work

AAUW’s approach is rooted in the belief that when girls are immersed in supportive, engaging STEM environments — where they learn from relatable role models — they develop lasting interest, confidence, identity, and skills. This foundation not only helps them persist in STEM education and careers but also breaks down stereotypes, strengthens self-belief, and fosters the diverse leadership needed to close the gender gap.

Reading is Fundatmental Matching Grant

Since our founding in 1966, RIF has fostered local partnerships to bring books and literacy materials to children in under-resourced communities to create a culture of literacy and foster opportunities for children to read, learn, and grow. RIF is committed to providing high-quality, diverse books in print and digital formats that provide opportunities for children to see themselves represented in the books they read and extend their worldview through diverse characters and experiences. Our matching grant program enables local literacy partners to double their impact by partnering with RIF to drive reading outcomes for children in their community. Through our matching grant program, RIF matches 100% of local dollars to bring books and literacy resources to children that need them most. The matching grant program empowers local innovation and long-term sustainability to create collective impact centered on providing critical access to diverse books and literacy resources. All educational institutions and youth-serving organizations are eligible to apply.

Explore the Grantee Spotlights below to see how our program is making a difference in communities nationwide. The Matching Grant program is now open for applications for three RIF programs:

• Books for Ownership,
• Read for Success, and
• Skybrary.

RIF’s matching grant program maximizes your impact by doubling your dollars through RIF’s support. The grant program can benefit your organization from two different perspectives:

• The RIF grant award doubles the amount of money you have to purchase RIF programs for the children you serve with RIF’s match equal to your local investment.
• The RIF grant award enables you to purchase high-quality RIF programs at just half the cost. For example, RIF books cost $4/book but with the matching funds, you’ll be able to obtain the books at just $2/book.

Skybrary

Skybrary for schools is a web-based digital library for K-3 students featuring hundreds of eBooks across multiple subject areas, each with optional narration; real-world video field trips; standards-aligned lessons; and easy-to-use teacher management tools. It combines several key components that help children develop their literacy skills: high-interest books, read-to-me features, and encouragement for independent reading. When applying for the Skybrary grant, please note that a single Skybrary classroom subscription can provide access to the service for up to 35 students.

Funding

RIF will have an ask ceiling of $30,000 meaning RIF will match up to $15,000 due to high demand. Remit payment to RIF for your organization’s local match (50%) amount of the grant award by the set deadline.

The matching grant is provided in the form of a Skybrary classroom subscription. Each individual subscription costs $179 and supports a classroom of up to 35 students.

Each dollar requested from RIF must be monetarily matched by the grantee. The entire dollar amount (local match plus RIF grant award) will be converted into a RIF program award.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

Garden Grant Program

Kids who grow veggies, eat veggies, so school gardens can make a big difference. Through our Garden Grant program, schools and non-profit organizations turn outdoor spaces into powerful hands-on learning gardens that connect kids with food, spark their curiosity and support classroom curriculum.

About the Program

At Whole Kids Foundation, we know that the more kids know and feel connected to their food, the more curious they become about how things grow or taste, and the more willing they are to try new foods. This is why we believe in edible garden learning spaces!

Our Garden Grant program provides a $3,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at either a:

• K–12 School
• Non-profit organization (501(c)(3) in the US/Registered Charity in Canada) that serves children in the K-12 grade range

Our Mission

Our employee-funded and employee-driven HDR Foundation and global philanthropic funds support community organizations and activities that align with our core values and areas of expertise. We award grants addressing three focus areas: education, healthy communities and environmental stewardship.

Our Areas of Focus

The foundation's focus areas mirror HDR's breadth of knowledge and expertise, complementing the work we do as professional problem-solvers with our personal commitment to make an impact in the communities where we live. 

Education

Our company, clients and communities benefit from a well-educated, skilled and informed population. We believe education is perhaps the most powerful tool for reducing poverty, improving health and advancing prosperity. We fund educational grants addressing education from pre-K through college.

Healthy Communities

With a globally recognized healthcare design practice, we value the importance of healthcare and healthy communities. Promoting healthy living at the community level brings the greatest health benefits to the greatest number of people. We fund grants that address active lifestyles, wellness education and preventative healthcare.

Environmental Stewardship

We promote the value of environmentally responsible practices to our clients, employee-owners and communities. We are all responsible for the use, stewardship and protection of our natural environment. We support grants that address restoration, renewal, conservation and sustainable best practices of our global resources.

Cooperative Education Fund

The Cooperative Education Fund supports cooperative research, sponsors cooperative education events and scholarships and develops cooperative education materials and programs.

Each year, the Cooperative Education Fund offers:

• 10-15 grants to support cooperative education programs
• 12-15 event sponsorships
• Individual scholarship support through a grant to the Ralph K. Morris Foundation

The Cooperative Education Fund prioritizes grants for:

• research about cooperatives,
• development of educational materials,
• scholarships to organizations hosting educational events, and
• sponsorship for National or Regional events.

Funding

The Fund provides $100,000 - $140,000 in grants, scholarships, and sponsorships annually. Grants range between $1,000 - $10,000. Over $1,250,000 has been given out in the past ten years. 

Mission Statement

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics advocates for high-quality mathematics teaching and learning for each and every student.

Enhancing Student Mathematics Learning through the Use of Tools and Technology Grants (Pre K-12)

The purpose of this grant is to encourage the innovative use of technology and other tools to help teachers and students visualize and concretize mathematics abstractions.

Proposals

• The focus of the proposal should be on the mathematics being taught and innovative uses of the tools and technology. 
• Proposals must include a plan for evaluating materials and the anticipated impact on students' learning.
• Materials may include, but not be limited to, books, calculators, tablets, computers, or related equipment as well as professional development in the use of the designated tools and technology. 

True Inspiration Awards

The True Inspiration Awards® program was created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A® founder S. Truett Cathy. Through these annual grants, it is our pleasure to celebrate and support nonprofit organizations making an impact in their local communities.

S. Truett Cathy Honoree

One organization will be selected as the S. Truett Cathy Honoree. The S. Truett Cathy Honoree embodies the generous, innovative spirit of Chick-fil-A’s late founder — pioneering new ways to solve problems and serve others.

Category winners

In 2025 we will continue to support nonprofits with a total commitment of $6 million in grants ranging from $30,000-$350,000.

Sixteen organizations will be awarded for their work in these areas.

Caring for People (four winners): Programs or projects supporting educational initiatives, including fostering character and leadership development, academic excellence and community involvement in underserved youth.

Caring through Food (four winners): Programs or projects focused on addressing hunger and food insecurity facing children and their families.

Community (four winners): Programs or projects focused on providing housing and other direct services to support young people and their families.

Caring for our Planet (four winners): Programs or projects that show care for our environment and our planet, or that demonstrate environmental stewardship through initiatives directly related to our other True Inspiration Awards categories of food, community and people (i.e., community beautification, education opportunities, community gardens, outdoor classrooms, etc.) 

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

About Us

Founded in 1951, The Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation is a private, family foundation established in Oklahoma. ​Our purpose is to support charitable organizations in the United States, both large & small, with a preference on education & the state of Oklahoma. Our mission is to provide resources to Religious, Charitable, Scientific, Literary & Educational organizations & programs that traditional philanthropic sources might avoid.

Funding Areas

• Education: Organizations & projects supporting educational endeavors from pre-K to 12 & higher education, including but not limited to, endowments, scholarship funds and vocational technical programs.
• Construction: Brick & mortar projects including equipment to support renovations & new construction.
• Health & Wellness: Institutions supporting health & wellness through scientific research, health care & quality of life projects.
• Religion: Organizations & projects supporting faith-based & humanitarian endeavors.
• Literacy: Organizations & projects supporting innovative programs & increased literacy outcomes.
• Arts & Culture: Institutions & projects supporting the arts aimed at enriching the quality of life for the community. 

Background

The Public Humanities Projects program supports projects that bring the ideas of the humanities to life for general audiences through public programming. Projects must engage humanities scholarship to analyze significant themes in disciplines such as history, literature, ethics, and art history. Awards support projects that are intended to reach broad and diverse public audiences in non-classroom settings in the United States. Projects should engage with ideas that are accessible to the general public and employ appealing interpretive formats.

All projects must focus on one of the following topic areas:

• The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
• American Military Valor
• The American Dream and Economic Freedom
• America’s Role on a Global Scale

Projects may be international (but must include audiences in the US and grant funds may not be used to support presentation of content to audiences outside the US), national, regional, or local in focus and should reach a broad public audience. We welcome projects tailored to particular groups, such as families, youth (including K-12 students in informal educational settings), underserved communities, and veterans.

Implementation Grants

Implementation awards support projects that are in the final stages of preparation to “go live” before the public. Activities may include final scholarly research and consultation, design, production, and installation of a project for presentation to the public. The period of performance must include the required minimum exhibition time.

Implementation awards range from up to $100,000 to $750,000, with a period of performance

from 12 to 48 months. The amount of funding that your organization can apply for is dependent on the type of project and your average annual operating costs for the three most recent fiscal years. If required to file, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations should refer to their 2023 Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax), part one, line 18.

• Level I: Organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $1,000,000 may request up to $250,000.
• Level II: Organizations with an annual operating budget of between $1,000,000 and $10,000,000 may request up to $500,000.
• Level III: Organizations with an annual operating budget greater than $10,000,000 may request up to $750,000

Our Mission

The Hansen Family Foundation provides opportunities to domestic, international, secular, and non-secular organizations that support the American way of life, which is defined by the principles of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 

Causes

Children

The Hansen Family Foundation supports causes dedicated to helping children both home as well as abroad. Learn More

Education

The Hansen Family Foundation believes that a decent education should be made available to everyone, young or old, the world over. Learn More

Animals

The Hansen Family Foundation believes in helping those who cannot speak on their own behalf. Learn More

Environmental

The Hansen Family Foundation is dedicated to preserving the world we all share. Learn More

Humanitarian

The Hansen Family Foundation views the plight of our fellow man as an opportunity to actively engage and effect change. Learn More

Arts & Culture

The Hansen Family Foundation supports all forms of artistic and cultural endeavors. Learn More

Description

Recognizing the importance of Japan America Societies (JAS/JS) in fostering mutual understanding between the U.S. and Japan on a grassroots level, Japan Foundation (JF) New York aims to support the JAS in its work during and beyond the pandemic with the Capacity Building Grant Program. In order to further strengthen JAS in the NAJAS network and to enhance their effectiveness in carrying out their mission, this program supports capacity building projects that demonstrate feasibility and organizational sustainability and will lead to organizational growth. Successful applicants will be awarded grants of up to $30,000 for up to 12 months.

Project Categories

JF welcomes proposed projects that fall under (but not limited to) one or more of the categories below.

• Fundraising
  • Research and implement income generation plans that ensure sustainability and growth of the Society.
• Strategic Planning
  • Develop a strategic plan/ Strategize and develop a plan that aims to build organizational capacity and ensures organizational leaders, board members and staff have a clear and unified understanding of the Society’s long-term goals and priorities beyond the pandemic.
• Public Relations Development
  • Create and implement PR and marketing strategies that raise the visibility of the Society and lead to increased engagement with the community.
• Program Development
  • Create and implement innovative programming that will contribute to overall organizational sustainability by reaching new and wider audiences
• Membership Development
  • Create and implement a plan to increase membership and to strengthen the networking ability of the Society, expanding reach to other interest groups such as local businesses, Japan-related organizations, and young professionals.
• Professional Development
  • Professional development programs for the Society’s leadership, staff, and volunteers that will enhance individual and/or group skill sets relevant to organizational growth and sustainability.

Grant Coverage

The grant amount is up to $30,000 and inclusive of indirect costs. Grant coverage is for up to 12 months.

• Personnel (staff salary) & Honoraria (web developer, consultant, speaker etc.)
• Travel (transportation costs) and Per Diem (hotels and meals)
• Conference Costs (room rental, interpretation fees, AV equipment rental etc.)
• Report & Publication Costs (editing, translating, printing costs, etc.)

JF will support indirect costs of up to ten percent (10%) of the actual direct costs JF supports. Rent and other administrative costs are considered indirect costs by JF.

Our Mission

The Society for American Music is dedicated to the study, teaching, creation, and dissemination of all musics in the Americas. As a scholarly, collegial, and inclusive organization, we serve a wide and diverse array of academics, librarians, composers, performers and members of the general public. We instill passion and appreciation for all aspects of American music and musical cultures by:

• holding collegial annual conferences that feature scholarly presentations, musical performances, and opportunities for social interaction and professional development of its members;
• disseminating high-quality research and thoughtful articles and reviews through the peer reviewed Journal and the online Bulletin;
• offering financial support for research at libraries, archives, and other venues in the United States and abroad
• presenting annual awards that recognize outstanding scholarship, dedicated service to the Society, lifetime professional achievement, and significant contributions to the American musical culture;
• partnering with other local and national organizations to sponsor outreach initiatives designed to engage the general public with innovative programming;
• furnishing creative curriculum support for K–12 and university educators interested in integrating American music into their classrooms;
• advocating for the sustained support of humanities research, music librarianship, and musical composition, as well as greater access to the resources of American music; and
• serving as a resource for media outlets and the general public.

Hampsong Education Fellowship in American Song

The Hampsong Education Fellowship in American Song is awarded competitively to educators at any phase of their careers who wish to help students and the general public understand American history and culture through the medium of song, by developing curricular or co-curricular projects that utilize materials from the Song of America database and Voices Across Time, or other primary resources in American song. Song of America is an online database created by the Hampsong Foundation for the purpose of understanding American culture through classic song; Voices Across Time is a resource guide created by the Society for American Music and the University of Pittsburgh Center for American Music, offering materials and strategies for using historic American songs as primary sources for studying American history and literature.

The Fellowship (up to $1,000) may support the development of print and / or online curricular resources, performances with associated curricular resources, collaborative ventures that include non-musicians or non-music scholars and educators, lecture-recitals, illustrated performances or other innovative approaches, as long as the focus of the project is in keeping with the related goals of Voices Across Time and Song of America.

Nordstrom Community Grant

Nordstrom is dedicated to supporting causes that support youth and families. We award over $1 million in Community Grants each year across the U.S. as part of this commitment. The Community Grants program is designed to support hyper-local grassroots organizations addressing critical community needs within our focus areas of:

• Providing basic needs, food, shelter and clothing to fulfill the essentials necessary for families to thrive
• Creating opportunities for youth and families to achieve economic mobility, for example through workforce development training, mentorship, scholarships and grants

If your organization falls into either of these categories, we encourage you to apply. 

Helping Build Better Futures

Our mission is to deliver great value to our customers every day. For over four decades, our deep commitment to the principles of providing value and caring for others has helped define our culture. It extends beyond the walls of our stores, distribution centers, and offices, and into our local communities around the world. The intersection of these principles defines our global community mission:

Deliver great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future.

Our Social Impact Areas

We bring our community relations mission to life around the world by focusing our giving on four social impact areas where we believe we can have the most impact and are critical to helping families and children succeed and thrive.

Basic Needs

We are passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations that help fill critical basic needs such as a warm meal, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep for vulnerable families.

Education & Training

Our efforts have focused on quality enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide skills, resources, and opportunities to support school and career success for children, teens, and young adults.

Patient Care & Research

We support organizations that deliver services to families and children facing health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

Empowering Women

We support programs that provide services ranging from help for those fleeing domestic violence, to others that offer education, training, and job placement resources.