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33,000+
Available grants
$9.00B
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$6K
Median grant
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About
Founded in 1979, the SOM Foundation’s goal is to advance the design profession’s ability to address the key topics of our time by bringing together and supporting groups and individuals, each with the highest possible design aspirations. The Foundation’s award programming was established in 1981 and currently offers seven annual awards across the United States, Europe, and China. The awards support students and faculty of architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, urban design, and engineering to undertake rigorous interdisciplinary research that can help shape our future.
China Fellowship
Fellowship
The $15,000 China Fellowship is awarded annually to one student in the last two years of either an undergraduate or graduate program in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, or urban design in the People’s Republic of China to conduct independent travel and research that contributes to the SOM Foundation’s current topic. The China Fellowship was created in 2006 to support emerging design leaders to broaden their education and contribute to their future professional and academic careers.
Topic: Exploring the Potential of Mobility Corridors
This year’s topic aims to explore how every scale of movement infrastructure shapes our built environment. How might new approaches to mobility corridors provide sustainable growth, from improving how people and goods move from place to place to supporting the ecosystems, communities, and activities that surround them? Ultimately, how can existing or proposed interconnected systems help define the future of our cities?
Driving University Impact: Expanding the Public Exchange Network Grant
How the Public Exchange Network Works
No single university – even a large R1 – has enough faculty expertise available to meet the needs of every partner. The Public Exchange Network was designed to help universities work together seamlessly to build robust partnerships and generate more collective impact. Universities joining the network are independent but affiliated members, with full control over their own program and project portfolios. As a national network with local, on-the-ground capacity, Public Exchange Network members can also share approaches that work, scale solutions to common problems, and build cross-regional partnerships together.
As an institutional partner in the Public Exchange Network, universities will build capacity to develop, test and implement solutions to the most urgent problems in their regions and beyond. Universities joining the Public Exchange Network get:
Public Exchange Network Expansion grants will cover 75-80% of the minimum estimated annual costs for two years to launch a new Public Exchange. To launch a Public Exchange, universities must have the following in place: (1) a staff executive director with experience launching and leading social impact partnerships, (2) a project seed fund, and (3) a modest operations budget. We also recommend some in-kind project management support from an existing university staff member. The grant includes a two-year Public Exchange Executive Director (ED) compensation subsidy of $300,000 to launch the Public Exchange on campus, and a 2-year license to use the Public Exchange brand. New Public Exchange Network members will also receive ongoing support and guidance from current Public Exchange leadership and staff at USC and WashU, including recruitment support and intensive training for hiring and onboarding an executive director, a sub-site on the Public Exchange website, incubation and project management support from current Public Exchange staff, and a suite of tools for developing and implementing Public Exchange projects.
About F. R. Bigelow Foundation
F. R. Bigelow Foundation funds programs and helps shape initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods and downtown Saint Paul, while enhancing the quality of life in the East Metro area.
Since its founding in 1946, F. R. Bigelow Foundation remains committed to its founding principle of making the Saint Paul community a better place to live, learn and grow. From 1946 through today, the Foundation has invested deeply into neighborhoods across the East Metro, with an emphasis on Saint Paul.
Systems Change Grant Program
Our Systems Change Grant Program supports efforts to help systems adapt, transform and/or be disrupted to achieve more equitable results.
F. R. Bigelow Foundation believes that our community should not only benefit from our work, but inform and form it as well. Creating solutions to today’s issues requires a collaborative approach. Our work is also rooted in a commitment to racial equity.
The goal of our Systems Change Grant Program is to support efforts to help systems adapt, transform and/or be disrupted to achieve more equitable results.
To do this, we support organizations, programs or initiatives in or serving the East Metro working to address root causes of issues impacting the East Metro.
General operating support will be awarded to organizations, programs or initiatives in or serving the East Metro working to address root causes of any issue impacting the East Metro (including, but not limited to, the five funding priorities of our Community Solutions Grant Program).
In 2026, up to $1,200,000 is available for this grant program, and we anticipate awarding approximately two to three grants.
The Foundation’s Systems Change Grant Program seeks to address root causes of any issue impacting the East Metro, including, but not limited to, the five funding priorities of our Community Solutions Grant Program:
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 $3.34B 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.
What's the typical grant amount funded for Large Grants for Nonprofit Organizations?
Grants are most commonly $32,500.
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 29.7% 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 $32,500, while the average grant awarded is $633,837. 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.