Best Grants for Museums in Missouri

The Virginia H. Glasson Charitable Trust Grant supports Christian charitable organizations and preferred beneficiaries. It funds projects in areas such as education, scientific research, religious activities, and arts and culture. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code, located in states such as California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, and Washington D.C. However, individuals cannot apply for funding.

The Urban Agriculture Cost-Share Grant Program supports small agribusinesses in urban Missouri, offering funding for projects that enhance agribusiness sustainability and economic growth. Eligible projects include business plan development, community gardens, and training programs for workforce development. Grants cover up to 75% of project costs, with a maximum award of $10,000, aimed at fostering local agricultural initiatives and infrastructure. This program encourages innovation in urban farming and aims to strengthen local economies.

The Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant aims to enhance the well-being of military service members, veterans, and their families through non-clinical arts engagement programs. Funded by the Mid-America Arts Alliance, grants of $10,000 to $25,000 support diverse artistic activities in various settings. Projects should foster creative expression, social connectedness, resilience, and independence, ultimately empowering military-connected individuals to thrive through art and community involvement.

The Missouri State Parks Bus Grant Program provides funding to schools and nonprofit organizations to cover transportation costs for field trips to state parks and historic sites. This initiative aims to enhance outdoor learning experiences for children, connecting them with nature while promoting cultural and recreational opportunities. Eligible costs include bus mileage, charter services, and driver wages. The program supports a maximum of two grants per school district to ensure broad access to these valuable educational resources.

Carney’s Kids Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults through financial support and positive publicity for non-profit organizations. By hosting community events and fundraising activities, the foundation partners with over 50 charities to enhance children's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Their mission includes providing educational assistance and supporting families in need, ensuring disadvantaged children have pathways to realize their potential. This commitment reflects a holistic approach to child welfare in the community.

The MO Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) empowers agricultural producers to enhance their conservation practices and improve resource management on their lands. This program offers financial incentives based on conservation performance, encouraging sustainable agriculture across 70 million acres in the U.S. All producers, regardless of operation size, can apply, ensuring inclusivity. CSP contracts last five years, with the option to renew, promoting long-term stewardship of land while benefiting local ecosystems and communities.

Arbor Rising Grant, established in 2010, is a NYC-based nonprofit providing unrestricted multi-year funding and capacity-building support to nonprofits focused on alleviating poverty. The grant process occurs every three years, with the next round in 2025 being invitation-only. Eligible organizations must demonstrate high potential and effective leadership, typically operating on a modest budget. Arbor Rising prioritizes applicants from the NYC metro area while expanding to cover the lower 48 US states.

Community Foundation of the Ozarks

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) provides philanthropic leadership to build stronger communities. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.

We help donors achieve their philanthropic goals through professional management and investment of charitable funds. We work with nonprofit organizations to help them fulfill their missions through fund administration, grantmaking and learning opportunities. We award scholarships to deserving students to help them achieve their educational goals.

Cardinals Fly Together Fund — School Matching Grants

The Springfield Cardinals Fly Together Fund has been created to provide grants to area schools to give students the opportunity to attend a Springfield Cardinals (AA Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) home baseball game. Educational Day Field Trips are an excellent opportunity to incorporate learning through various pre-game educational topics along with the experience of attending a live sporting event.   

Matching grants may be awarded as full or partial requests to provide an amount equal to the amount contributed by the school for a Springfield Cardinals educational day field trip. For example, a full grant will cover 50% of the ticket cost for tickets requested through the grant. A partial grant will cover 25% of the ticket cost for tickets requested through the grant. (Transportation costs and food & beverage expenses are the responsibility of the school and not included in the grant.)

The MO Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a key initiative by NRCS aimed at assisting farmers and forest landowners in integrating conservation practices into their operations. EQIP offers both financial and technical support to address vital natural resource issues including water quality, soil health, and erosion control. Applications are accepted year-round, and special provisions exist for historically underserved producers, ensuring equitable access to vital resources for sustainable agricultural practices.

The MO Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) offers Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) to protect the viability of agricultural land by limiting non-agricultural uses. Aimed at landowners, including tribes and local governments, the program prioritizes applications that enhance conservation values and protect contiguous agricultural acres. Benefits include safeguarding the nation's food supply, promoting environmental quality, and supporting local partnerships for land stewardship. Applications are accepted year-round, with funding cycles extending into future years.

The MO Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) offers Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) to assist landowners in restoring and protecting wetlands that have been degraded by agricultural practices. This program enhances habitat for wildlife, improves water quality, and mitigates flooding, while providing landowners with financial support for easement acquisition and restoration efforts. NRCS prioritizes applications that significantly benefit migratory birds and other wildlife, ensuring ecological sustainability and resilience against climate change.

CSA Midwest Region: Beth Dunlap Award

 The Midwestern Region presents The Beth Dunlap Award at the Regional Symposium. The award will be offered to a person who has made contributions worthy of the highest commendation and the achievements will have continued importance. Beth Dunlap was one of the founding members of the Midwestern Region. A fashion illustrator and artist, she passed away in 2009.

The Windgate Charitable Trust Grant supports contemporary craft and visual arts in the U.S. It offers funding for fellowships, residencies, educational outreach, and materials for craft programs. The foundation prioritizes strengthening visual arts in colleges and expanding K-12 art-integrated programs, providing opportunities for artists and educators to enhance their skills and foster creativity among students. Organizations with previous funding from Windgate can apply through the grantee portal.

The THCF: Community Grants for Wildlife Conservation supports initiatives across Missouri, encouraging proposals that enhance regional wildlife efforts. Starting in 2024, organizations can apply for funding for up to three consecutive years, promoting sustainability and impactful conservation projects. Eligible applicants include nonprofits dedicated to improving wildlife habitats and conservation strategies. This program aims to foster collaboration and maximize funding impacts to benefit the local ecosystem and communities throughout the state.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

American Truck Historical Scholarship Fund

The American Truck Historical Society’s George Schroyer Memorial Scholarship Fund provides two (2) annual scholarships, and the Cummins Scholarship provides one (1) scholarship to graduating high school seniors or undergraduates who intend to further their education at a two-year or four-year accredited U.S. college or university or vocational/technical school that have certification programs.

Financial need, community service, and extracurricular activities will also be taken into consideration. Applicants must be family members (child, stepchild, or grandchild) of current members in good standing for 2 years of the American Truck Historical Society. Preference for all scholarships will be given to applicants pursuing positions in the trucking or transportation industry.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

American Truck Historical Society: Louis Semple Clarke Educational Fund

The American Truck Historical Society’s Louis Semple Clarke Educational Fund scholarship provides one (1) annual scholarship to graduating high school seniors or undergraduates who intend to further their education at a two-year or four-year accredited U.S. college or university or vocational/technical school that have certification programs.

Financial need, community service, and extracurricular activities will also be taken into consideration. Applicants are restricted to Autocar Company employees and family members (child, stepchild, or grandchild). Preference for all scholarships will be given to applicants pursuing positions in the trucking or transportation industry.

Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis and disbursed in equal payments.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Brian's Fund Scholarship

Brian’s Fund Scholarship will be awarded to an eighth grader who has been accepted at one of the following Kansas City Catholic high schools: Bishop Miege High School, Bishop Ward, Cristo Rey, Notre Dame De Sion, Rockhurst High School, St. James Academy, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Pius X, St. Teresa’s Academy or St Thomas Aquinas.

Missouri museum staff who are students and also employed by Chicken N Pickle may be eligible for this scholarship to support their higher education. Missouri students with at least a 2.0 GPA, enrolled full- or part-time, can access funding via Greater Kansas City Community Foundation; awards are US $1,000 and may be renewed with reapplication.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Frederic S. Lee Heterodox Economics Scholarship Fund

The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide scholarships for tuition and fees, up to three classes per semester, for doctoral heterodox economics students.

The fund will not provide scholarship aid for dissertation credit hours or for credit hours that are not directly relevant for the completion of the doctoral program’s course work.

Scholarships will be awarded prior to the fall and spring semesters on an annual basis.

Scholarships are not automatically renewed; however, previous recipients may reapply.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Helen Anita and William E. Evans, Jr., M.D. Scholarship Fundicate

Dr. Bill, as he was affectionately known, practiced family medicine in the Greater Kansas City area all of his working life. He was ably assisted by his devoted wife (Helen) Anita for most of that time. Since Dr. Bill was a disabled veteran, he had occasion to frequent the VA hospital and held a special place in his heart for numerous employees of the hospital. His burning desire was to reward those special people who had administered to him by setting up this program to offer monetary assistance to their children. The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide scholarships to the children of employees at the Kansas City VA Medical Center who plan to attend summer camp.

Consideration will be given to an applicant’s financial need, extracurricular involvement and past academic performance. Scholarship assistance shall be awarded primarily to applicants who wish to use the assistance to attend a summer camp in the Greater Kansas City area, although camps outside the Kansas City area may also be considered.

Scholarship recipients are required to submit a written reflection following the completion of the camp, which describes his/her experiences and specifically details what the recipient learned from this opportunity.

The scholarship is non-renewable. Previous applicants and past recipients of the scholarship may reapply each year.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Jerry Sharp Memorial Scholarship Application

This scholarship is in memory of Jerry Sharp who promoted motorcycle racing throughout Missouri.

Consideration will be given to financial need and the student’s work and community service record. 

These scholarships will be supplemental for students who have already earned athletic and/or academic scholarships. This scholarship is not automatically renewable, however, students may reapply for subsequent years.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Kansas City Country Club Scholarship Fund

The Kansas City Country Club Scholarship Fund supports a successful path for our employees, their children and step children to attain a degree or trade school degree creating an increasingly valuable asset for themselves and their families.

Length of employment is taken into consideration when applying, There are no restrictions on length of employment or full or part time status. Applicants will be considered based on academic performance, community service, extracurricular activities and financial need.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Life on Purpose Scholarship Fund

We provide scholarships for college tuition and expenses to students who demonstrate an interest in developing their unique potential in and beyond the classroom and using their talents to foster the well-being of themselves and others. This scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years ($10,000 per year) pending all requirements are met.

Cohort

The cohort program is grounded in developing authentic, meaningful relationships and connections. Learning experiences are designed to explore our strengths, personalities, guiding principles, and unique potential in a safe and accepting environment. If selected for this scholarship, you can expect to meet scholars, instructors and leaders all focused on improving themselves, their relationships, and the community.

The DPS’ strategic priorities encompass several key initiatives including; building relationships with external stakeholders, identifying hazards and threats to public safety, maintaining sufficient capacities to perform statutorily required responsibilities and utilizing federal and state programs to protect, as well as provide impactful service to Missouri citizens. The grant opportunity provides resources to combat drug related crimes. 

The Neighborhood Empowerment Grant program supports Kansas City's communities by funding projects that enhance public safety, neighborhood identity, and quality of life. By fostering community engagement and supporting local initiatives, this grant empowers neighborhoods to thrive. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit Neighborhood Associations registered with the City of Kansas City and the State of Missouri. This initiative is vital for building stronger, safer, and more vibrant communities, ensuring the needs of residents are prioritized.

The Research Foundation

The Research Foundation invests in health-centered programs and partnerships that benefit health care students and professionals, patients, and people in the Kansas City community.

The Research Foundation story began in 1965 when Research Hospital Foundation was formed to raise funds to help Research Hospital provide health care services to the community. For nearly 40 years, the foundation provided support to Research Medical Center to bring the latest in medical advancements and treatments and to provide a broad base of services to serve the health care needs of patients in the greater Kansas City community. With the purchase of Research Medical Center by the for-profit health care company HCA in 2003, The Research Foundation became an independent 501c(3) non-profit organization.

The Research Foundation serves the community and carries on the spirit of the original foundation through our many health-centered programs and partnerships.

Dr. Nancy O. DeBasio Faculty Leadership Award

The Dr. Nancy O. DeBasio Faculty Leadership Award is given annually to a nursing faculty member in honor of Dr. Nancy O. DeBasio, who served as president and dean of Research College of Nursing from 1992 to 2017. The purpose of this award is to recognize a rising leader and nurse educator who exemplifies the four pillars of leadership, as framed by Chris Lowney: self-awareness, ingenuity, love, and heroism. 

• Self-Awareness – An understanding of personal strengths and weakness as part of a worldview of nursing and health care
• Ingenuity – Confident innovation in adapting to changes in education, the community and the world
• Love – Engaging students and colleagues with a positive attitude that unlocks their potential and fosters their growth
• Heroism – Energizing self and others with ambitions and passions for heroic excellence in every aspect of life

Faculty will be eligible for the award once every three years.

See the nomination requirements here.

The David B. Lichtenstein Foundation, a private philanthropic organization, supports various charitable initiatives in Missouri. Established in 1947, it focuses on cancer awareness, assistance for special needs individuals, health and welfare services, food banks, and zoological education. The foundation aims to foster innovation and outreach in these areas, ensuring lasting impacts on the community through strategic funding and support. Proposals must align with the foundation's mission and be relevant to Missouri-based organizations.