Best Lafayette Grants for Nonprofits in Indiana

501(c)(3) nonprofits in Lafayette, Indiana and surrounding Tippecanoe County can seek more than US $10,000 to fund capital items or new program start-up costs. With a mission to strengthen local quality of life, Greater Lafayette Community Foundation supports arts, education, health, human services, environment, animals, and community development initiatives.

Nonprofit organizations serving Tippecanoe County, including Lafayette, Indiana, can apply for Greater Lafayette Community Foundation’s Field of Interest Grants to support programs such as at-risk youth services, cancer care, literacy, basic human needs, and community beautification. These funds may benefit 501(c)(3) organizations addressing local community priorities.

We administer a number of scholarships, which range from the traditional academic and athletic awards to corporate and special circumstances offerings. Applying for a scholarship is free, so we invite you to spend some time finding opportunities for which you are a good fit.

Karen Schlosser Memorial Scholarship

The purpose of the fund is to provide an annual scholarship to a Marshall County resident attending Purdue University. 

The Karen Schlosser Memorial Scholarship is not renewable to previous recipients. 

The Horizon Bank Community Grant Program aims to enhance local communities by funding initiatives in education, arts, and economic development. With grants starting at $5,000, the program supports 501(c)(3) organizations addressing housing needs for low- to moderate-income families. Applications are accepted annually, with a strong emphasis on corporate citizenship and community involvement. However, grants are not available for political activities or organizations that discriminate. This commitment reflects Horizon Bank's dedication to fostering community growth and responsibility.

The Greater Lafayette Community Foundation offers Spring Grants to support local non-profits in Tippecanoe County. With a rich history of philanthropy, the foundation connects donors to vital community needs. Eligible organizations must hold non-profit status and can apply for funding for capital items or new program expenses. However, the grants do not cover endowments, individual support, or completed projects. This initiative aims to foster growth and address pressing community challenges.

Brinker International provides Lafayette, Indiana 501(c)(3) nonprofits with monetary or in-kind dining certificate support for programs serving children, youth, and hunger relief. Eligible organizations must submit requests at least six weeks before an event, and may receive support once per calendar year through the online application process.

The Old National Bank Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations for community impact initiatives across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Focused on four key areas—Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment—the foundation prioritizes programs that support underrepresented communities. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with the foundation’s funding priorities to qualify for grants, which can be applied for every two years.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities in Lafayette, Indiana can seek funding for community development, climate resiliency, and workforce or STEM education projects. With a mission to power community vitality, Duke Energy Foundation provides up to US $20,000 on a rolling basis for programs serving areas reached by Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.

The Old National Bank Foundation provides sponsorships to enhance community initiatives in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Their mission focuses on social responsibility, supporting underrepresented groups, and aligning with the Community Reinvestment Act. Sponsorships cover events such as fundraisers and sporting events, emphasizing active engagement and measurable impact. The Foundation aims to improve quality of life through strategic partnerships and meaningful contributions.

Graduate students pursuing Purdue University degrees who are permanent Marshall County residents or past Perkins scholarship winners can receive tuition support through the Samuel Elliott Perkins IV Memorial Scholarship. With a mission to back higher education, Marshall County Community Foundation provides scholarships that may benefit Lafayette, Indiana students in fields like veterinary science, pharmacy, and other graduate studies.

Graduating high school seniors or residents from Knox, Daviess, Greene, Sullivan, Pike, or Gibson counties pursuing a degree at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana can apply for the Southwest Indiana Purdue Scholarship, awarding US $2,680. With a mission to support higher education, Daviess County Community Foundation assists students preparing for college and agriculture-related careers.

The IUSCCC Early Career Investigator Award offers funding for pilot research projects in cancer research and population science. Sponsored by the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, this award is open to Associate level members and IUSCCC trainees aiming to advance their careers. The funding duration is one year, with a maximum budget of $50,000, encouraging innovative proposals that meet eligibility criteria. Applicants must not have prior funding from similar mechanisms or national competitive grants.

High school seniors in Marshall County, Indiana pursuing higher education at Purdue University can receive scholarship support for college costs. With a mission to support local students’ college preparation, Marshall County Community Foundation provides the Samuel Elliott Perkins IV Memorial Scholarship for eligible residents, including those connected to Lafayette, Indiana through Purdue’s Tippecanoe County campus.

Faculty investigators conducting diabetes, obesity, or metabolic disease research in Lafayette, Indiana can access funding through the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. Awards up to US $50,000 support innovative, high-risk pilot projects expected to lead to major extramural grants, with allowable costs including graduate stipends, essential travel, and publication fees.

Indiana Alcohol Research Center Pilot Project Program

The NIAAA-supported Indiana Alcohol Research Center (IARC) is soliciting proposals for pilot projects from investigators who want to develop research on alcohol use disorders. Applications pertinent to basic mechanisms of alcohol misuse, neurophysiological and behavioral phenotypes of drinking, and genetic underpinnings of alcohol preference are welcome. The purpose of an IARC pilot grant is to allow an investigator to obtain preliminary data leading to extramural funding. Previous experience in research on alcohol use and/or alcohol use disorder is not required.

Pilot projects are limited to $50,000 (direct costs) per year for two years.

The Large Collaborative Grant RFA, sponsored by the Executive Associate Dean for Research at Indiana University School of Medicine, aims to support large, interdisciplinary grants. Open to full-time faculty, it encourages collaboration and innovative research. Up to $75,000 is available per application, with a requirement for matching funds. This initiative seeks to enhance research capabilities and advance the goals of IUSM through collaborative efforts.

The Stark Neurosciences Pre-Clinical Neuroimaging Pilot Grant supports innovative, high-risk animal imaging projects with funding up to $10,000. Aimed at established neuroimaging investigators, it encourages research that diverges from ongoing interests. Eligible applicants include faculty from Indiana University and partner institutions, while collaborations are welcomed. The initiative promotes the submission of major extramural grants and prioritizes image acquisition and processing costs, ensuring effective use of resources in advancing neuroscience research.

The Stark Neurosciences Pre-Clinical Neuroimaging Pilot Grant offers up to $10,000 in seed support for innovative, high-risk animal imaging projects utilizing the Bruker BioSpec 9.4T PET-MRI scanner. Open to new investigators at Indiana University and partner institutions, the grant aims to foster groundbreaking research in the neurosciences. Collaborations are encouraged, and the program emphasizes the importance of developing submissions for major extramural funding opportunities. Eligibility excludes faculty in visiting ranks and postdoctoral fellows.

The Indiana CTSI (IUSM) Core Equipment Grant invites proposals from designated IU School of Medicine Cores for equipment purchases that enhance research capabilities. Funding between $5,000 and $100,000 is available, with consideration for higher amounts if matching funds are identified. Eligible applicants must demonstrate the potential for new technologies and broad user engagement, with preference given to projects leveraging additional funding sources.

The Indiana CTSI Core Facilities offer Pilot Funding for research projects that utilize advanced technologies and expertise. This funding program encourages proposals that showcase scientific merit and the potential for generating extramural funding or novel intellectual property. Successful projects are expected to lead to new grants or enhance existing ones, thereby contributing to the growth of research and innovation within partner institutions.

T32 Postdoctoral Training Awards in Translational Research

The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) T32 Postdoctoral Training Awards, funded in part by NCATS, are designed to provide promising postdoctoral fellows with the opportunity to be mentored in research-intensive multi-disciplinary settings toward the goal of developing careers across the spectrum of translational research.

The emphasis of the Indiana CTSI postdoctoral training awards in translational research is to move findings from basic laboratory and pre-clinical research (referred to as T1 research) toward the development of new treatment options or interventions or clinical trials (referred to as T2 research) to eventual dissemination or clinical implementation (referred to as T3 research) to studying population health outcomes and health metrics (referred to as T4 research). The phases of translational research may not necessarily be linear and can jump steps depending on the research project and the starting point. The goal of the Indiana CTSI is to make awards at all of these stages.

Funding for all postdoctoral training awards is for up to two years (with the 2nd year of funding contingent upon review and demonstration of satisfactory progress). Benefits include salary support as well as health insurance and research training related expenses.

Faculty investigators developing new diabetes or metabolic disease research techniques that could be used in a Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases core facility can apply for up to US $50,000; awards support one-year pilot and feasibility projects. Eligible researchers include those at Indiana University campuses, Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, and IBRI, including those based in Lafayette, Indiana.

Lafayette, Indiana medical faculty researchers can access funding through Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute for innovative diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disease projects. Eligible investigators hold independent faculty appointments at Indiana University, Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, or Indiana Biomedical Research Institute, with awards up to US $50,000 for one year to generate data for larger extramural grants.

Faculty investigators conducting diabetes, obesity, or metabolic disease research in Lafayette, Indiana can seek pilot funding to launch innovative, high-risk projects. Grants from Indiana CTSI help researchers at Indiana University, Purdue University, Notre Dame, and affiliated institutes generate preliminary data and build interdisciplinary collaborations leading to major extramural awards, with awards up to US $50,000 for one year.

College sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students in engineering at Ball State, Purdue, University of Evansville, Trine, or Rose-Hulman can apply for Hamilton County Community Foundation’s Michael & Anna Kurty Scholarship. Students from areas including Tippecanoe County (Lafayette, Indiana) pursuing chemical, electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering who demonstrate financial need and a 2.5+ GPA may be eligible.

The Ralph E. and Dee Bennett Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Crown Point Community Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing a degree in Construction Management or Engineering Technology at Purdue Northwest or Purdue Lafayette. Applicants must be full-time students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and may reapply annually. This scholarship aims to enhance educational opportunities and foster academic success in South Lake County.

The Ross Wagner Foundation Scholarship offers significant financial support for students pursuing degrees in various engineering fields, including civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. With awards up to $25,000 annually, students can receive up to $100,000 over four years. Applicants must maintain a B average, work in engineering labs, and be enrolled in top-ranked engineering schools in the U.S. and Canada. This scholarship honors Ross Wagner's legacy, promoting excellence in engineering education.