Best Grants for Minorities in Missouri

Missouri Arts Council

The Missouri Arts Council supports the arts that strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of our state.

Established as a state agency in 1965, the Missouri Arts Council is a division of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Council is funded through the Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Cultural Trust, and National Endowment for the Arts.

The Missouri Arts Council is the state agency dedicated—as public leader, partner, and catalyst—to broadening the growth, availability, and appreciation of the arts in Missouri and fostering the diversity, vitality, and excellence of Missouri’s communities, economy, and cultural heritage. The grants we award make possible quality arts programming to communities both large and small throughout the state. We provide grants to arts projects that meet our strategic goals:

• Engage people in meaningful arts experiences
• Grow Missouri’s economy using the arts
• Strengthen Missouri education through the arts

In addition to funding, we provide technical assistance in community development, fundraising, marketing, grant writing, arts education, artistic disciplines (visual arts, music, literature, theater, dance, festivals, and film/media) and more.

Annual Grants

Annual Grants are designed for experienced Missouri Arts Council applicants with large budget arts projects. The annual application is extensive and more demanding with a rigid deadline schedule, a more competitive review process, and a longer turnaround. While the request amount is higher, organizations receive a smaller percentage of their request based on our funding. 

Annual Grants: Organizations of Color

Organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Organizations where a majority of the board and staff (combined) are American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (as reflected in the Demographic section of the application).
• The mission of the organization has historically served people of color. Supports arts projects created by and/or targeted to African-American, Asian-American, Latino/Hispanic, and Native American communities. 

Missouri minority-serving athletics programs and NCAA Division II conference offices can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association to create full-time, entry-level administrative internships. Awards of US $30,000 support intern salary plus professional development, helping increase ethnic minority and women’s representation in areas like compliance, budgeting, student-athlete welfare, and diversity initiatives across eligible Division II members.

Missouri NCAA Division II conferences and institutions seeking to expand ethnic minority and women’s representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Grants support full-time positions over five years with duties such as strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, diversity initiatives, and student-athlete welfare, within a broader U.S. and Canada program.

NCAA Division II member colleges creating new assistant coaching positions to increase ethnic minority and gender representation can receive US $48,000 over three years for salary, wages, and benefits. With a mission to enhance diversity in athletics, the National Collegiate Athletic Association provides Missouri institutions and other Division II schools with support for inclusive sports coaching roles.

Missouri NCAA Division III member institutions seeking to create new assistant coaching positions that increase ethnic minority and gender representation can receive salary and benefits support through this grant. The National Collegiate Athletic Association provides two years of matching funding for these diversity-focused coaching roles, supporting efforts that benefit minority student-athletes and campus communities.

NCAA Division III conferences and institutions in Missouri and nationwide can receive funding to create full-time, mid- to senior-level athletics administration positions that enhance ethnic minority and gender representation. National Collegiate Athletic Association support covers roles involving strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, diversity initiatives, and student-athlete welfare over a five-year commitment.

Missouri minority health and physical education professionals with at least ten years in HPERD settings who are long-standing SHAPE America members may be eligible for the E.B. Henderson Award. Missouri minority educators can access funding through Society of Health and Physical Educators, which honors exemplary scholarship, mentorship, and service to ethnic minorities and underserved populations.

Presbyterian undergraduate students, including those from minority communities in Missouri, can receive scholarship support for their first associate or bachelor’s degree through this program. Grants from Presbyterian Mission Agency help U.S. PC(USA) church members attend accredited colleges full-time in 2025–2026, with awards up to US $6,000.

Students of color pursuing higher education, including those from Missouri, can receive up to US $3,000 for college costs through scholarships administered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. With a mission to support minority students, the foundation offers one-year awards that can be reapplied for annually and used toward tuition, fees, and living expenses.

Nonprofit organizations with a 5+ year track record serving Black, Latina, and Native American women and girls can seek funding to recruit and retain them in college-level computing programs in Missouri and nationwide. Reboot Representation Tech Coalition prioritizes multi-geometry, research-backed initiatives that leverage existing infrastructure and demonstrate strong impact data.

Undergraduate engineering students from marginalized ethnicities or genders in Missouri can apply for the Architecture Foundation of Oregon’s renewable PAE Diversity in Engineering Scholarship, awarding up to US $20,000 for tuition and other direct educational costs. Eligible students must attend a U.S. 4-year college and be pursuing climate-focused engineering fields.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) and 509 organizations working on minority and community-focused initiatives, including Black, Hispanic, and other underrepresented groups, may be eligible for operating support through Deluxe Corporation Foundation’s ERG Grant Program. Focus areas include financial literacy, STEM/STEAM, entrepreneurship, women’s and veterans’ services, disaster recovery, and human dignity, with eligibility extending nationally and to parts of Missouri and nearby regions.

Minority students in Missouri pursuing marketing, advertising, design, or computer science studies can apply for the Diversity in Advertising Scholarship to support their education. Focused on advancing opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, Innovia Foundation considers academic achievement plus school, work, and community involvement; previous recipients may reapply.

Minority high school seniors and GED students pursuing higher education, primarily students of color who have overcome significant obstacles, may be eligible for renewable US $3,000 scholarships, including those from Missouri. Community Foundation of South Puget Sound’s Learning Seed Foundation Scholarship supports students with significant financial need and a demonstrated commitment to others.

Minority high school seniors and recent graduates pursuing postsecondary education can receive scholarship support for higher education or technical training; awards are US $1,000. Focused on expanding educational access, The Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond invites applicants of African American or other minority heritage from Louisa or Fluvanna County public schools to apply.

Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students in STEM fields, including those from Missouri, can apply for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s Indian Motorcycle Academic Scholarship, awarding US $5,000 per year for education costs. Eligible applicants must be AISES members with a 3.0+ GPA and enrolled or descendant citizens of recognized Indigenous communities.

American Indian and Alaska Native LSAMP alumni starting STEM PhD programs in the U.S. can apply for Montana State University's Louis Stokes Bridge to the Doctorate support, which provides a total of US $88,000 in stipends and education allowances. Missouri students who meet these criteria and seek graduate-level minority support may benefit.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in literature, communication, journalism, or related fields studying full-time in the U.S. can receive need-based support through this fellowship. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help Missouri and other U.S. Indigenous students with tuition and academic costs, with awards determined by financial need and Tribal eligibility certification.

Native American and Alaska Native college students in Missouri facing financial hardship can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s KuuKuupa In Memoriam Endowed Fund, with awards ranging from $100 to $30,000 per year. This one-time emergency relief scholarship supports food, housing, utilities, educational technology, and similar urgent needs for degree-seeking students at accredited U.S. institutions.

With a mission to support higher education access, Native Forward Scholars Fund provides Missouri Indigenous students with need-based scholarships for full-time graduate study at accredited U.S. institutions. American Indian and Alaska Native students, including eligible descendants who can document Tribal affiliation, may receive annual awards from $100 to $30,000 in any field of study.

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.

Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

Land Conservation and Indigenous Languages Scholarship

The purpose of the Land Conservation and Indigenous Languages Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at an accredited institution and pursuing degrees with a focus in Indigenous languages, natural resources, land management, and conservation or cultural preservation. 

This opportunity is a need-based award.

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.

Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

Lynne Ruth Lafin Elmore Sucher Scholarship

This opportunity is provided to honor the life and legacy of Lynn Ruth Lafin Elmore Sucher.

The purpose of the Lynn Ruth Lafin Elmore Scholarship program is to provide financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students attending full-time at an accredited institution pursuing mathematics, Medicine, or life sciences are eligible to apply.

This opportunity is a need-based award.

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.

Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

Native Forward Student Relief Funding

Native Forward Scholars Fund established the Student Relief Funding to assist Native students who are facing financial hardships and challenges by providing them with a one-time relief award. The fund will be utilized to help support students in emergency situations that includes, but is not limited to, food insecurity, emergency travel costs, emergency housing costs, educational technology or technology-related resources, or other educational expenses.

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.

Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

NextEra Energy (NEE) Foundation Scholarship

The purpose of the NextEra Energy (NEE) Foundation scholarship, in partnership with NextEra Energy Foundation, is to provide financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at an accredited institution and pursuing degrees with a focus in environment, energy, cultural sustainability, or a major in a STEM or STEM-related discipline. Native American students pursuing degrees that prepare them for the renewable energy workforce are encouraged to apply. 

This program will award 16 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 per academic year. This opportunity is a need-based award.

The Native Forward Direct Scholarship supports American Indian and Alaska Native students by providing mid-year funding opportunities to alleviate educational costs. With over 50 years of experience, Native Forward has empowered more than 22,000 students from diverse backgrounds. This scholarship recognizes the limited access these students face in higher education and aims to enhance their academic journeys while fostering community engagement and mentorship through a strong alumni network.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in library science at accredited U.S. institutions, including those from Missouri, can receive need-based tuition support through the Jeanette Elmer Scholarship. With a mission to advance Indigenous education, Native Forward Scholars Fund provides funding for full-time, degree-seeking students who document Tribal affiliation or qualifying descent.

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.

Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship

The Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund is provided in honor of members of the Hillman, Barnett, and Adkins families. The purpose of the Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund is to provide financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students enrolled at an accredited not-for-profit college/university, vocational school, or Tribally controlled college or university (TCU) and pursuing degrees with a focus in Fine Arts (studio arts), Performing Arts (music, drama, musical theater, dance), Creative Writing, Art History, Visual Communication, Photography, Culinary Arts, Film (Cinematography, Screenwriting), or Fashion Design & Jewelry Design.

This opportunity is a merit-based award.