Best Lake County Grants for Nonprofits in Indiana

Broadening Narratives

Broadening Narratives supports diverse stories and collections that expand our understanding of who we are. ​

Our Vision for Broadening Narratives

We work to ensure that those whose stories are being told through collections are included in the decisions about how those stories are told. We seek to broaden the kinds of narratives being told, particularly stories that have never been told, or have been told incompletely or inaccurately.  

This includes stories from culturally specific communities including people of color, LGBTQ+ perspectives, working-class experiences, and small community stories.

We support collections that tell stories that have not been told, have been told incompletely, or have been told inaccurately. We require that those whose stories are being told be included in the decision-making process.

What is broadening narratives?

Why collections? And what do you mean by “Broadening Narratives”? What drove this change in strategy and approach to your collections work? ​

Read this answer and more here.

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), aims to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of community football fields. With grants up to $250,000, this initiative addresses the critical lack of safe recreation spaces in low-income neighborhoods, ensuring children and adults have access to well-maintained facilities for gathering and exercise, ultimately fostering community health and well-being.

The Alphawood Foundation, a private grant-making organization based in Chicago, focuses on supporting initiatives that promote equity, justice, and human rights. They award grants to non-profits in areas such as arts education, LGBTQ+ health and rights, and community empowerment, particularly for marginalized groups. Their funding emphasizes unrestricted operational support, prioritizing organizations aligned with their mission and that primarily serve the Chicago metropolitan area and Northwest Indiana.

The Knight Foundation Fund for Gary, Indiana aims to revitalize downtown by attracting and retaining talent, enhancing economic opportunities, and reducing blight. By investing in local entrepreneurship and community engagement, the foundation focuses on bridging economic divides and fostering a vibrant urban core. Eligible projects must target the Gary area and align with the foundation’s mission to support informed and engaged communities. Priority will be given to initiatives that strengthen connections to key local assets.

The PLTW Gateway program, in partnership with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by supporting schools in eligible counties to implement PLTW Gateway units. With a total grant of $20,000, schools are encouraged to offer at least one unit per academic year, fostering real-world skills and engagement in STEM fields. This initiative seeks to increase access and participation in high-quality STEM learning experiences, ultimately preparing students for future careers.

The PLTW Computer Science program, supported by Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education in various communities by funding schools to implement PLTW courses. This partnership promotes student engagement with real-world challenges, preparing them for future careers in technology. With a total grant of $20,000, schools must offer multiple PLTW courses over two years, ensuring access to quality education for underserved populations.

The PLTW Engineering program, in partnership with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by providing grants to public and charter schools in specific counties. This initiative empowers students to engage with real-world challenges through hands-on learning experiences. Eligible schools must offer PLTW Engineering courses, ensuring access to quality education for students from diverse backgrounds. With a total grant of $40,000 over two years, this program seeks to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.

The Center for Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases offers a Pilot & Feasibility Grant to support innovative research in diabetes and metabolic diseases. This grant invites applications for new research techniques applicable in CDMD Core facilities with awards of up to $50,000 for one year. Eligible applicants include independent investigators from specific Indiana institutions, focusing on high-risk projects that may lead to major extramural grant submissions.

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 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.

About Knight Foundation

John S. and James L. Knight believed that a well-informed community could best “determine its own true interests” and was essential to a well-functioning, thriving democracy. They pursued those beliefs, building and leading one of the largest and most successful newspaper companies in American history.

For 75 years, Knight Foundation has supported the people, ideas and insights that lead to thriving communities. The foundation invests in local journalism, arts and culture and community development in the 26 cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers.

Since our founding in 1950, we have been committed to the communities we serve and to providing those communities with the tools they need for residents to thrive.

Knight Cities Challenge

Knight Foundation is currently accepting applications for the Knight Cities Challenge, a $5 million open call inviting individuals and organizations across its 26 communities to submit new, creative ideas for projects that can spark change and leave a lasting local impact.

Building on a long history of open challenges across programs, Knight democratizes access to grantmaking to unlock the best and brightest ideas. This spring, KCC returns to invest in its first cohort of community-centered solutions to local challenges and help promising ideas take root and grow.

Project ideas must focus on at least one of Knight’s investment areas: strengthening local news and information, creating pathways for economic opportunity or cultivating connection through arts, culture and the places that bring people together.

You may submit one idea, either as an individual or on behalf of your organization. While you are limited to one application as the lead applicant, you may collaborate on other projects submitted by different partners. Each individual or organization may receive funding for only one project.

For large institutions such as universities or city governments, schools or departments are considered separate entities. 

The Center for Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases offers a Pilot & Feasibility Grant aimed at fostering new diabetes-related researchers and supporting innovative, high-risk projects. This grant, up to $50,000 for one year, is directed to new investigators without prior NIH support. It promotes interdisciplinary collaboration among Indiana University campuses and encourages applications that may lead to significant extramural funding. Eligible applicants must be independent investigators with necessary resources for proposed research.

The Center for Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases Pilot & Feasibility Grant aims to support innovative diabetes research by established investigators with no prior work in the field. The program offers funding of up to $50,000 for one year, encouraging applications from faculty at various Indiana institutions. This initiative seeks to promote interdisciplinary collaborations and aims to advance research that leads to major extramural grant submissions, fostering new insights into diabetes and metabolic diseases.

The Center for Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases Pilot & Feasibility Grant offers funding up to $50,000 for innovative research projects aimed at diabetes and metabolic diseases. This program encourages early-career physician-scientists and established investigators to explore new ideas that diverge from their current research. The funding is intended to foster collaborations and support major grant submissions, making it an excellent opportunity for researchers at Indiana University and partner institutions.

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.

Lake County, Indiana 501(c)(3) nonprofits facing documented losses from federal or state funding cuts can access funding through Legacy Foundation’s Lake County Resilience Grant. Awards up to US $40,000 per year may support essential services, urgent operational needs, and capacity-strengthening activities to maintain stability and community impact.

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.

About the Indiana Department of Homeland Security

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) leads Indiana's emergency planning and operations, first responder training and fire and building safety. The State Fire Marshal and State Building Commissioner oversee fire and building safety efforts, including the enforcement of building codes and a fire investigations unit. The agency certifies and trains thousands of first responders and hosts state-level exercises each year. IDHS also supports county emergency management agencies and runs the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which leads response and coordination efforts for large-scale incidents.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program

Executive Summary

The NSGP improves and increases the physical/cybersecurity and facility/target hardening of nonprofit organizations’ facilities at risk of a terrorist of other extremist attack, ultimately safeguarding the lives and property of the American people.

There are two funding sources appropriated for nonprofit organizations: 1) NSGP - Urban Area (NSGP-UA), and 2) NSGP - State (NSGP-S)

NSGP - State (NSGP-S)

NSGP-S funds nonprofit organizations located outside of a FY 2025 Designated highrisk urban area. Under NSGP-S, each state will receive an allocation for nonprofit organizations in the state located outside of FY 2025 Designated high-risk urban areas.

NSGP-S: Nonprofit organization must be located outside of Marion and Hamilton counties.

The Chi-Cal Rivers Fund Grant, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, aims to enhance the waterways of the Chicago and Calumet region. This initiative focuses on reducing stormwater runoff through nature-based infrastructure, improving fish and wildlife habitats, and promoting community engagement. The program supports projects under three main categories: habitat quality improvement, stormwater solution expansion, and activation of restored natural areas, encouraging strategic investments for ecological resilience.

Apply for Chicago Region Land Conservation Grants

We offer general operating and project grants to organizations that further natural and working land protection and stewardship in the greater Chicago region, with emphasis on integrating climate resiliency, advocacy, and inclusive conservation strategies. ​

Primary Goals of the Foundation’s Chicago Region Land Conservation Strategy