Best Private Grants for Nonprofits in Kentucky

The Packaging Innovation Program by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) seeks innovative research proposals to develop sustainable packaging alternatives for U.S. specialty crops. With increasing restrictions on single-use plastics, this initiative aims to enhance global market access for U.S. producers. Collaborating with Clemson University and the Foundation for Fresh Produce, the program supports three research tracks, focusing on applied R&D, technology acceleration, and pilot-scale manufacturing projects to advance eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Mission: To continually improve the Marion Area community through philanthropy, leadership and civic engagement. Eugene & Cecilia Reszczynski ScholarshipThe Reszczynski Scholarship, created in 2002, is one of the oldest at Marion Community Foundation. It makes awards each year to students who score in the top 50th percentile of the ACT or SAT and have attended a high school in Marion County for two or more years. This scholarship honors the late Eugene and Cecilia Reszczynski and their passion for helping others. 

The Child Protection Compact Annual Program Statement invites proposals aimed at combating child trafficking through collaborative efforts between the United States and other countries. This initiative focuses on enhancing the capacity to prosecute traffickers, providing care for victims, and implementing preventive measures. Organizations interested in applying must align with the objectives of the CPC to ensure comprehensive support and effective intervention against all forms of child trafficking.

The George C. Decas Scholarship, managed by the SouthCoast Community Foundation, offers financial support to graduating high school seniors from Wareham, Massachusetts. Established to assist local students, the scholarship awards recipients over four years contingent upon their academic progress. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities and foster community development, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to philanthropy and regional improvement since 1995.

The Dr. Richard Allen Williams & Genita Evangelista Johnson/Association of Black Cardiologists Scholarship offers $5,000 to African American/Black medical students interested in cardiology. This scholarship is part of the AMA Foundation's Physicians of Tomorrow program, which has awarded over $61 million in scholarships since 1950. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. medical school and entering their final year. The funds are designated for tuition costs only.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Leonard and Edna K. Blomdahl Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Edna Blomdahl, who established the Leonard and Edna K. Blomdahl Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Through all their years together, both Leonard and Edna were known for their countless acts of hospitality, citizenship and service. Late in 1998, she established the fund, designating that it be used for scholarships to graduating seniors from the White Lake area of Muskegon County.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Louise M. Cryderman Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Louise M. Cryderman, who established the Louise M. Cryderman Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Louise Cryderman was Muskegon's first legal assistant and active in many women's groups during her career. She worked for Stephen H. Clink, founder of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County and Landman, Latimer, Clink, and Robb law firm. She realized the importance and effectiveness of making a charitable gift that keeps on giving. Since she had no children and was a widow when she died in 1977, she left the bulk of her estate, including her house, to the Community Foundation. According to her wishes, this scholarship is to help worthy students with the cost of higher education.

The TFEC Student Emergency Assistance Fund provides crucial financial support for students facing unexpected hardships that threaten their continuation in post-secondary education. Grants of up to $500 per application are available, with a total funding limit of $1,500 for re-applications. This initiative is part of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities' mission to bolster local educational opportunities and foster community resilience, ensuring that students can overcome financial barriers and achieve their academic goals.

Scholarship amounts vary depending on the scholarship applied for. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many awards as they are eligible to increase the likelihood of receiving one or more awards.

Scholarships can be used for cost of attendance, direct education expenses, including tuition, books, and/or other school-related fees.

If you receive an award, be sure to complete your scholarship acceptance form (online portal). Scholarship awards are paid directly to the academic institution by the end of August.

DeKalb County Dental Society Fund

This Fund provides scholarship support for high school seniors from a DeKalb County high school determined by DeKalb County Dental Society.

The York Rotary Foundation, supported by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, offers scholarships to assist York County students in pursuing higher education. These scholarships reward academic excellence and community involvement, with a focus on graduating seniors and adult learners. There are 11 specific scholarships available, each with unique criteria. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities and foster community growth.

Marion Community Foundation is the area’s leading philanthropic organization, providing charitable donors the opportunity to easily create endowment funds to benefit and support our community through grants and scholarships. We serve communities throughout Marion County through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement.

Mission: To continually improve the Marion Area community through philanthropy, leadership and civic engagement. Kaufman Family Memorial ScholarshipThe Kaufman Family Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 2019 to honor the adventurous spirit of Martin T. Kaufman II. 

The Bill Cox Memorial Scholarship offers a $1,750 award to graduating seniors from Spokane High School, aimed at supporting their educational aspirations. Applicants must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher, demonstrate financial need through FAFSA-SAI, and submit a transcript along with an essay detailing community service and school activities. A letter of recommendation is also required. The scholarship application period will reopen on January 1, 2026 for the 2026–27 academic year.

The H. Lyman Mooney Music Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, provides a $450 scholarship to a graduating senior from Marshfield High School pursuing music studies. Applicants must submit their transcripts, demonstrate financial need through FAFSA-SAI, and provide a letter of recommendation from their music teacher. The scholarship application period will reopen on January 1, 2026, for the 2026–27 academic year, aiming to support students in achieving their educational goals.

The Vida Wight Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of Vida Luisa Demuth Wight, supports young women pursuing higher education in fields like dance, psychology, and agriculture. This scholarship aims to honor Vida's vibrant spirit and commitment to empowerment by aiding those who demonstrate passion for their studies and a strong work ethic. Preference is given to students of color, promoting diversity and inclusion in educational opportunities.

The National Cancer Institute invites applications for the validation of biomarkers and assays for cancer detection and treatment. This funding opportunity supports both analytical and clinical validation of assays, emphasizing the importance of human samples. The program encourages multi-disciplinary collaboration and aims to enhance the performance and reproducibility of cancer assays across clinical laboratories. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time during the designated deadlines each year.

The NSF MPS Chemistry Research Programs support groundbreaking research in chemical sciences, encompassing areas such as chemical catalysis, measurement, imaging, and theory. This initiative encourages innovative proposals that can lead to transformative advancements, without the necessity of immediate commercial applications. Researchers interested in exploring foundational concepts that could shape the future of chemistry are invited to submit their ideas for funding.

Community Foundation for Muskegon County

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

The mission of the Community Foundation is to engage donors and connect them with opportunities to make a lasting impact, build community endowment, provide leadership on key issues, and make grants that reflect the communities we serve.

Scholarships

Our scholarship funds seek to empower and encourage Muskegon County residents to pursue their dreams, hone in their gifts, and give back to our community.

If you’re a high school or homeschooled senior, current college student, early college senior, or adult learner, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County may have a scholarship for you. We manage one of the largest scholarship programs in our area, with over $1 million committed to students in over 500 new and renewed scholarships awarded each year.

Darrell H. and Rosaline M. Smith Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Rosaline M. Smith, who established the Darrell H. and Rosaline M. Smith Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Rosaline a former Treasurer for the City of Muskegon, and Darrell Smith, a longtime employee of the Muskegon Post Office, who cared deeply for each other and shared more than 50 years of marriage. Music was something they loved and had very much in common. The Darrell H. and Rosaline M. Smith scholarship was created to honor Darrell, who is no longer with us, and to provide a helping hand to graduating seniors of any Muskegon County high school who have demonstrated academic achievement and will pursue a music degree.

The Mr. & Mrs. W.L. Boyd Schooling Scholarship, established in 1953, provides up to $8,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors from Collin County, Texas high schools. Eligible students must maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA and complete the FAFSA before applying. This initiative, supported by the Communities Foundation of Texas, aims to empower students pursuing higher education at accredited institutions within Texas, fostering community growth and development.

The STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship (SMRS), offered by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), provides funding up to $10,000 for occupational therapy graduates and clinicians from underrepresented backgrounds to enhance their research representation. This scholarship supports participation in mentored research experiences at different institutions, focusing on building critical skills in research methods. By pairing awardees with experienced mentors, the program aims to foster diversity and inclusion within the occupational therapy field.

Overview

GEAR is a small grant offered by East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF). This grant is intended to be a catalyst for growth and development of conservation-based organizations by supporting operational costs essential for in-situ fieldwork. GEAR addresses the financial challenges organizations face when their needs fall outside large-scale project-based funding.

We aim to respond to applicants within 4 weeks of receiving the application. Funding requests up to $1,000 are anticipated, though larger requests may be considered or partially funded. Recipients must use the funds within 12 months and submit a brief report by the end of that period.

Proposals should fall within one of the three categories defined below:

• Field equipment: supplies required to monitor, survey, and assess species and habitats including, but not limited to, technology, software, tools, clothing, PPE and transport.
• Outreach: supplies needed for public engagement through schools, awareness campaigns, and activities including, but not limited to, pamphlets, books, stickers, digital content creation and signage.
• Professional development: training needed for organizational growth and greater capacity. Opportunities may include, but are not limited to, symposiums, workshops, conferences and training. Additional associated costs such as travel and housing can be included and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The Georgia and Constantine Decas Family Scholarship, established by the SouthCoast Community Foundation, aims to support graduating high school seniors from Wareham, Massachusetts. This scholarship is awarded annually and provides funding for up to four years of education, contingent on the recipient's academic progress. With a commitment to enhancing community well-being, this scholarship reflects the Foundation's dedication to philanthropy and the support of local students in achieving their educational goals.

The Giana Foundation Scholarship offers one-year scholarships of up to $5,000 for graduating high school seniors from public schools in Dallas, Collin, or Denton counties. Eligible students must pursue a degree in Visual and/or Performing Arts and maintain a GPA of at least 2.5. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, and fees at any accredited college or university in the U.S. Up to four scholarships are awarded annually, promoting educational opportunities in the arts.

The Permobil Foundation offers sponsorships and grants to enhance the lives of individuals with mobility limitations. Committed to promoting independent mobility as a basic human right, the Foundation supports organizations that align with its mission through event sponsorships, grant funding, employee engagement, and in-kind donations. Applications are accepted monthly, with an emphasis on initiatives that yield significant community impact. The Foundation prioritizes relationships with Permobil employees and critical community needs.

Delaware Fine Arts Scholarship

Awards:

• One time award of $5,000. Students may reapply each year. 

The Elizabeth Abrams Memorial Scholarship, established by the Communities Foundation of Texas, offers a one-time award of $3,000 to graduating seniors from specific Plano high schools who were part of their swim teams. Eligible applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and meet SAT and ACT score requirements. This scholarship honors Elizabeth "Lizzie" Abrams and supports students pursuing their educational goals.

The ASRM/PSF Combined Pilot Research Grant, funded by the Plastic Surgery Foundation, aims to support innovative research in reconstructive microsurgery. By providing up to $10,000 for 1-year pilot projects, this grant encourages the development of surgeon scientists and promotes the advancement of scientific knowledge and clinical practices in the field. The initiative fosters collaboration among key organizations dedicated to enhancing research funding for impactful studies.