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Get large grants for nonprofits scaling impact through capital projects, innovation, strategic growth, or infrastructure
32,000+
Available grants
$8.64B
Total funding
$6.3K
Median grant
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The Department of Natural Resources’ Watershed and Climate Services Grants Gateway
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Watershed & Climate Services (WCS) is committed to providing technical and financial assistance to Maryland’s communities that are challenged by intense storms, changing sea levels and increasing flooding, while balancing growing populations, economic growth, and increased tourism and recreation. These trends make the already challenging task of restoring the Chesapeake Bay, safeguarding people and infrastructure and managing natural resources even more complex.
Grants Gateway provides a resource for partners seeking technical and financial support for projects that foster healthy and resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies. Grants Gateway provides a centralized hub to streamline the grant application process for governments, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
Eligible projects across six programs (as above) will improve water quality, restore local waterways, increase community flood planning, develop the next generation of environmental stewards, improve shorelines, and plan for beneficial reuse.
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund (Outcome 1)
There are two tracks including the traditional competitive grant program and the Pay for Performance track.
Pay for Performance Track
In addition to the traditional competitive grant program, the Trust Fund is soliciting pay for performance contracts that provide the following:
Pre-Proposal Meetings are required for all Pay for Performance Proposals; site visits are required for stream restoration projects and strongly encouraged for other restoration practices.
The Department of Natural Resources’ Watershed and Climate Services Grants Gateway
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Watershed & Climate Services (WCS) is committed to providing technical and financial assistance to Maryland’s communities that are challenged by intense storms, changing sea levels and increasing flooding, while balancing growing populations, economic growth, and increased tourism and recreation. These trends make the already challenging task of restoring the Chesapeake Bay, safeguarding people and infrastructure and managing natural resources even more complex.
Grants Gateway provides a resource for partners seeking technical and financial support for projects that foster healthy and resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies. Grants Gateway provides a centralized hub to streamline the grant application process for governments, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
Eligible projects across six programs (as above) will improve water quality, restore local waterways, increase community flood planning, develop the next generation of environmental stewards, improve shorelines, and plan for beneficial reuse.
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund (Outcome 1)
There are two tracks including the traditional competitive grant program and the Pay for Performance track.
Traditional Competitive Grant Program
What kind of projects are supported by the Trust Fund?
Implementation-ready restoration proposals can be submitted under this funding source. Example projects can include, but are not limited to: wetland restoration, afforestation and other tree planting projects, riparian buffer restoration, stormwater best management practices, stream restoration, meadow plantings, and agricultural best management practices.
Projects must address water quality in the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic Coastal Bays by reducing non-point source pollution, namely nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. Projects should be cost-effective, located in targeted areas, and be implementation-ready. Competitive projects will be large-scale, multi-partnered efforts with demonstrable water quality benefits. Proposed projects should demonstrate the ability to construct within 12 months of award. Additionally, the state is interested in supporting projects that provide desirable co-benefits (Maryland Code, Natural Resources § 8-2A-04), including:
Funding is only available for projects located in the Maryland portions of both the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the Atlantic Coastal Bays. Tree planting projects are eligible for all of Maryland. Public and private lands are eligible. Site visits are required for all stream restoration projects.
Large grants for nonprofit organizations provide significant funding to expand programs, enhance infrastructure, and scale operations. The following grants empower nonprofits to address large-scale challenges, foster sustainability, and create meaningful community impact.
Discover 8,000+ funding opportunities for nonprofits, with $3.84B available. Instrumentl connects nonprofits to tailored large-scale grants, offering tools for tracking deadlines, customized searches, and insights to achieve transformative growth.
How common are grants in this category?
Quite common — grants in this category are more prevalent than in others.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for Large grants for Nonprofit Organizations?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
Nonprofits eligible for large grants typically have a proven track record of success and are ready to take on big projects with a lot of financial backing. Organizations with solid programs, strong financial management, and the ability to show long-term impact tend to receive these types of grants. Nonprofits working on large-scale initiatives in areas like healthcare, education, the environment, or economic growth are often prioritized. It’s important to show that your organization can handle the size of the project and funds required.
Based on Instrumentl’s live grant database for large grants, grant deadlines are most common in Q1, accounting for 28.0% of all submission dates. The slowest period for new grant opportunities in this category falls in Q4, making it a less competitive time for preparation and strategic planning.
Large grants exist to support projects that need significant financial resources. Funders want to invest in initiatives that lead to long-term impact, often focusing on areas like public health, education, climate action, and economic growth. The goal is to support projects that have the potential for wide reach, solve big problems, and continue making a difference long after initial funding runs out. Large grants focus on creating long-lasting, sustainable solutions.
Funding for large grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $0 to a maximum of $188,250,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $37,500, while the average grant awarded is $734,409. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
Large grants are most commonly funded by government agencies, major foundations, and large corporate programs. Government agencies provide funding for public service projects in areas like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Major foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation offer grants for projects focused on systemic change and social impact. Corporations also support large initiatives, especially those aligned with their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
To improve the chances of receiving large grants, nonprofits should:
Need help writing a strong funding request? Follow our step-by-step guide to crafting compelling grant proposals.
Instrumentl simplifies the process of applying for large grants by offering an intuitive platform that helps nonprofits discover relevant funding opportunities, track deadlines, and analyze funder-giving patterns. The platform's automated alerts ensure users never miss a deadline, while detailed funder insights help organizations tailor their applications to align with grantor priorities.