Best Grants for Minorities in Arkansas

Nonprofit organizations, hospitals, public schools, and government agencies in Arkansas can seek funding for programs serving African American and other underserved residents, including education, health, youth development, families, and economic development. With a mission to strengthen communities, Arkansas Community Foundation provides support that considers impact, sustainability, collaboration, and local financial backing; typical awards range from US $1,000 - US $2,500.

Arkansas colleges and athletic conferences serving minority communities can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association to create full-time, entry-level athletics administration internships. Grants provide US $30,000 for intern salary plus professional development support, helping increase ethnic minority and women’s representation in Division II athletic administration roles for one academic year.

Arkansas NCAA Division II conferences and institutions seeking to increase ethnic minority and women’s representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Grants support five-year, full-time administrative positions with responsibilities like strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, diversity initiatives, and student-athlete welfare, within a broader national program.

NCAA Division II member colleges creating new assistant coaching positions to increase ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics can apply for this coaching enhancement grant, including schools in Arkansas. With a mission to support diversity in sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association provides US $48,000 over three years toward salary, wages, and benefits.

NCAA Division III conferences and institutions working to increase ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles in Arkansas can apply for the Strategic Alliance Matching Grant. This National Collegiate Athletic Association program supports full-time positions handling strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, diversity initiatives, and student-athlete welfare over a five-year commitment.

Arkansas NCAA Division III member colleges and universities can receive funding to create new assistant coaching positions that increase ethnic minority and gender representation in any NCAA-sponsored sport. National Collegiate Athletic Association provides Arkansas athletic programs with two years of salary and benefits support, helping advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Division III coaching staffs serving minority athletes.

Arkansas minority health and physical education professionals with long-term SHAPE America membership can be honored for scholarship, mentorship, and service that expand opportunities for ethnic minorities and underserved groups. Arkansas minority educators can access funding through Society of Health and Physical Educators’ E.B. Henderson Award, which recognizes up to two outstanding members annually across the U.S.

Presbyterian undergraduate students in Arkansas and across the U.S. seeking their first associate or bachelor’s degree can receive scholarship support for full-time study at accredited colleges or universities. Grants from Presbyterian Mission Agency may particularly benefit Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American Presbyterian students through its Financial Aid for Service programs.

Focused on postsecondary education for minority youth, The Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond invites students of African American or other minority heritage to apply for the John E. Thomasson Scholarship. Arkansas students may be eligible if they attended Louisa or Fluvanna County (Virginia) public schools and are admitted to an accredited college or technical school.

Graduating high school or GED students pursuing higher education who are primarily students of color and have significant financial need may be eligible for the Learning Seed Foundation Scholarship, including minorities in Arkansas studying in the U.S. Community Foundation of South Puget Sound offers about US $3,000, renewable for up to three additional undergraduate years.

Focused on minority education, Innovia Foundation invites Arkansas students of color studying marketing, advertising, design, or computer science to apply for the Diversity in Advertising Scholarship. Eligible applicants must live within Innovia’s 20-county service region, attend an accredited institution, and demonstrate academic achievement; community service and work experience receive special consideration.

Students of color pursuing higher education, including those from Arkansas, can seek scholarships supporting college costs such as tuition, fees, and room and board. With a mission to support educational opportunities, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts provides up to US $3,000 for one academic year, and applicants are considered for multiple scholarship funds through a single application.

Nonprofit organizations with a 5+ year track record serving Black, Latina, and Native American women and girls can seek funding to recruit and retain them in college-level computing programs, including in Arkansas. Reboot Representation Tech Coalition prioritizes multi-geometry, research-backed initiatives, which may benefit minority-serving education and equity programs.

Undergraduate engineering students from marginalized ethnicities or genders in Arkansas can apply for the Architecture Foundation of Oregon’s PAE Diversity in Engineering Scholarship, awarding up to US $20,000 for tuition and other direct educational costs. Eligible students study mechanical, electrical, renewable energy, architectural, or civil engineering at a U.S. four-year college and are passionate about climate justice.

Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students in STEM, including those from Arkansas, can apply for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s Indian Motorcycle Academic Scholarship, awarding US $5,000 per year for academic study. Eligible applicants must be AISES members, full-time students in qualifying STEM fields, and meet tribal or Indigenous ancestry and GPA requirements.

American Indian and Alaska Native students in STEM who are U.S. citizens and entering a PhD program can apply for Montana State University's LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate support, awarding US $88,000 in stipends and education allowances. Eligible scholars from Arkansas and nationwide must also have participated in an undergraduate LSAMP program.

The Estelle Massey Osborne Scholarship supports exceptional African American nurses pursuing master's degrees. Applicants must have at least two semesters remaining in their program, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.6, and hold a current RN license. This scholarship, provided by Nurses Educational Funds Inc., honors Estelle Massey Osborne, the first African American nurse to earn a master's degree in the U.S. It aims to promote nursing leadership through financial assistance for advanced education.

Rene Hernandez Scholarship Fund

Hispanic graduating seniors in Travis and Williamson county.

Awards

• (1) $2,000.00

The Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program supports federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and organizations in advancing health-related research. It aims to enhance research careers and infrastructure through a competitive application process. Funded by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services, this initiative invites eligible entities to apply, ensuring that only high-quality proposals undergo peer review for potential funding.

The Community Foundation of Shelby County

Our Mission

To inspire donor generosity and transform it into meaningful, lasting impact through charitable gifts.

Our Vision

To be the primary partner for donors who want to advance the community’s quality of life and capacity for excellence.

James P. Humphrey, Black Achievers Scholarship

Shelby County residents who are of African-American descent and a graduating senior at a Shelby County High School maintaining a high school GPA of no less than 2.0.

Selection based upon (in order of priority):

Financial need, academic ability, demonstrated community and school service, and recommendations, and an interview.

Awards Vary.

The Richmond African American Scholarship, established by The Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, aims to support African American students from public high schools in Richmond. This scholarship provides financial assistance for college expenses and is awarded to students based on academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement. Eligible candidates must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and plan to enroll in a full-time Baccalaureate program at an accredited institution after graduation.

Judy Huang Scholarship

The scholarship was established by Judy Huang to support a college education for students who are Asian, in financial need, and demonstrate perseverance and hard work.

Award Amount:

• $5,000 payable over fours years at $1,250 per year.

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is one of the most well-respected, knowledgeable leaders on charitable giving in the nation. We make giving convenient and efficient for donors through donor-advised funds and other types of charitable giving accounts that maximize and organize giving.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Kansas City Pride Community Alliance Scholarship Fund

The KCPCA Scholarship provides needed financial assistance to support LGBTQ+ students who are resident of Jackson, Clay, Platte or Buchannan counties in Missouri and Johnson, Wyandotte or Douglas counties in Kansas of all background and educational interests. We prioritize LGBTA+ students who need it most and who have some or all of the following experiences:

• People of color, Black, Indigenous
• Trans, Non-binary, Gender Expansive, Two spirit people
• People with disabilities – including people living with chronic illnesses, HIV, neurodivergence, mental health challenges
• People who have or are experiencing housing instability
• People living in rural areas
• People who have financial need without access to financial support
• People who have experienced family rejection.

Award

• $1,000

Osborn scholarship

The Osborn scholarship is for BIPOC students with demonstrated financial need, who are enrolled in or planning to pursue an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree program in landscape architecture or civil engineering. Priority will be given to students with a demonstrated a commitment to developing public infrastructure and/or public places in the State of Washington. The intention of the scholarship is to create opportunities for those who have faced historic barriers to access to these professions in the United States. The scholarship founders believe that the design challenges of the 21st century require diverse voices to solve. They look forward to the stronger design solutions to which future scholarship recipients will contribute. Scholarship applicants must demonstrate the grit, resiliency and aptitude that is necessary for success in these professions. This may be demonstrated by any combination of at least two of the following characteristics: overcame a significant personal challenge to maintain at least a B average at school, honor roll grade point average, demonstrated ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, demonstrated service contributions to their community.

Awards

• $5,000 - $10,000

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible

Latino Scholarship Fund

To support graduating Latino high school seniors from Hampden and Hampshire Counties.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

CRST Wicozani Wiwokiaye Oyate Scholarship for Nursing

To provide financial support to Native American students pursuing a registered nursing degree.

For a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) member aiming to earn a nursing degree, if there are no eligible CRST candidates, the scholarship will be accessible to another tribal member. Proof of tribal enrollment is required for both applicants. This scholarship is available to students in their second through fifth years who have sustained a GPA of 2.0 or above. When applying for this scholarship, articulate how your nursing education will contribute to enhancing the health outcomes of Native American communities.

(Pronunciation is: Wee-Cho-Zan-Ee, Wee-Woke-Ee-Eye-Aye, Oh-Yah-Tay. Which is Lakota for "Health Helpers Society")

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Latino Breakfast Club Scholarship Fund   

To support graduating Latino high school seniors from Hampden County.

Additional Guidelines

Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.

Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.

Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.