Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Louisiana

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Mathy Mezey Scholarship

In 2013, the John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc. created a permanent NEF Scholarship for $50,000 in honor of Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, a noted international geriatric expert. Funds from this scholarship will be used to award nurses engaged in graduate geriatric nursing programs.

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program is inviting proposals focusing on two main topics: understanding the drivers of changing wildfire regimes and assessing smoke impacts from prescribed fires and wildfires. Researchers are encouraged to improve forecasting models and explore scenarios that can inform management practices. Proposals should address key research needs to enhance ecological benefits and minimize air quality impacts, ensuring effective methodologies for tracking emissions and understanding their public health implications.

The grant mechanism will focus on furthering the development of strategies towards improving the outcomes of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) patients through patient advocacy. Work supported through this mechanism will address important areas of need across the entire care continuum and have the immediate potential to increase research efforts, quality of life and survivorship. The overarching theme of the proposals should be centered around using patient advocacy as a tool to develop strategies toward improving outcomes for patients with SCLC. We will encourage applications on a wide variety of topics related to SCLC, including but not limited to the following:

• Patient-Centric Care Models
  • Develop and implement care models that prioritize patient needs and preferences, integrating innovative approaches from diagnosis through survivorship
• Advanced Screening and Diagnostic Technologies
  • Create comprehensive survivorship care plans addressing long-term healthcare needs, focusing on follow-up care, monitoring for recurrence, and managing chronic side effects

• Access and Equity
  • Investigate barriers to accessing quality care, clinical trials, screening and biomarker testing for SCLC patients and purpose solutions to ensure equitable healthcare delivery for diverse populations

• Technology Integration
  • Explore the use of digital health tools and technologies to facilitate better patient-provider interactions, personalized care, and continuous monitoring during the care continuum
• Patient Feedback Mechanisms
  • Establish robust feedback systems to gather patient insights and experiences and use this data to inform continuous improvements in care delivery, diagnostic technologies, treatment approaches, clinical protocols and accessible repositories to facilitate broad research collaboration

The 2026 Strategies Using Patient Advocacy to Improve Outcomes in Small Cell Lung Cancer will grant a minimum of one award of $250,000 for a period two years ($125,000 per year).

Scholarships

Since awarding our first $500 scholarship in 1987, the Saginaw Community Foundation has awarded college scholarships to area students totaling more than $13.7 million, thanks to our generous donors. Each year, over 500 college-bound or career and technical education students benefit from our scholarship awards.

Our single application process makes it easy to potentially qualify for one or more of our 260+ scholarships.

Music Scholarship

At a very early age in Alabama, Lee Essie Smith was a self-taught musician. After losing her mother as a young teenager, she began putting her God-given musical talent to work as a pianist for several churches. By the time she graduated from high school, she had learned the cosmetology trade and met Charlie McMillan, Jr.

After his wife’s death, Mr. McMillan continued his community service with the Democratic Party, Habitat for Humanity and Mt. Olive Baptist Church as an usher. Although he did not serve very long in the military, Mr. McMillan continues to exemplify the values and physical energy of the “Army Strong” slogan. He is the patriarch of the family – always dapper – and a regular attendee at church services.

The Emerge Grant, established by the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, supports women and nonbinary individuals aged 25 and older from Georgia and Montana. With grants up to $2,500 annually, recipients can pursue technical, vocational, or degree programs at accredited U.S. institutions. This initiative, rooted in Rankin's legacy, aims to empower those demonstrating financial need. Applicants will be informed about their status, ensuring transparency in the selection process.

The Jeannette Rankin National Scholar Grant supports women and nonbinary students aged 35 and older, providing up to $2,500 annually for technical or vocational education, associate’s degrees, or first bachelor’s degrees. This grant, renewable for up to five years, aims to empower those facing financial need, fostering better futures for American women. Recipients are selected based on their applications, ensuring that all candidates are informed about their status.

The CTTSS Graduate Students Research Award, offered by the Society of Toxicology, recognizes outstanding research by current Ph.D. students in translational and clinical toxicology. Recipients are announced at the SOT Annual Meeting, with the first-place winner receiving a cash award and certificate. This award aims to encourage innovation and academic growth among graduate students in the field of toxicology, enhancing the impact of their research on human, animal, and environmental health.

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.

Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.

Kendall’s Kindness Scholarship Fund

The Kendall’s Kindness Scholarship Fund was created by the Maffia Family in loving memory of their daughter, sister, niece, and granddaughter Kendall Marie Maffia (6/12/2000-10/11/2021). This scholarship has been established to provide two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from either St. Charles North High School or St. Charles East High School. The Kendall’s Kindness Scholarship is intended for students who are planning to continue their education at a 4-year college and will major in an Arts-related degree.

Kendall’s family and friends want Kendall’s kind-hearted, gentle, loving, and passionate spirit to continue to impact others. The Kendall’s Kindness Scholarship Fund has been established to support young people who are interested in art, have a passion for their community, and exhibit the gentle spirit and kindness that Kendall showed others every day.

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

This grant mechanism will focus on furthering the development of novel strategies towards improving the treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). Work supported through this mechanism will address important areas of need across the entire care continuum and have the immediate potential to increase survivorship. It is expected that correlative translational research will be proposed that will enhance the understanding of SCLC.The overarching theme of the proposals should be centered around understanding the biology of SCLC and developing strategies toward improving outcomes for patients with SCLC. We will encourage applications on a wide variety of topics related to SCLC, including but not limited to the following:

• Advanced Screening and Diagnostic Technologies
  • Utilize liquid biopsies and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to enhance early detection and monitoring of SCLC, providing non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic solutions
  • Investigate the clinical utility of blood-based biomarkers for improving SCLC diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, and predicting outcomes
  • Leverage artificial intelligence for the early detection of SCLC

• Disease Progression and Acquired Resistance
  • Study of molecular + clinical characteristics of rapid progressors vs. long-term responders in SCLC to tailor personalized treatment approaches
  • Leverage radiomics to identify predictive or prognostic factors such as treatment response, risk of pneumonitis, and likelihood of brain metastases
  • Investigate the underlying mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy in SCLC
  • Identify and validate biomarkers indicative of disease progression and/or therapeutic resistance

• Biomarkers and Immuno-Oncology
  • Identify and validate biomarkers that can predict greater responses to immunotherapy treatments in SCLC, enhancing patient selection and treatment efficacy

• Biospecimen-based research
  • Leverage real-world patient tissue and/or blood samples to enable:
    • Longitudinal studies of SCLC progression from limited-stage to extensive-stage disease
    • Investigation of tumor and microenvironmental changes before, during, and after treatment to understand the evolution of resistance
  • Develop a centralized infrastructure for biospecimen collection, with standardized protocols and accessible repositories to facilitate broad research collaboration

These awards provide a maximum of $500,000 in funding over a period of three years.

The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program aims to ensure the sustainability of primary care residency training in community-based ambulatory patient care centers. By providing essential funding, this program supports the development of healthcare professionals who are equipped to deliver high-quality care, particularly in rural and underserved areas, enhancing the capacity to meet diverse health needs across various populations.

Nearly a decade ago, HCLTech Grant was launched by the HCLFoundation to enable cross-sector collaboration and empower non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to play a decisive role in building a stronger, future-ready India. Today, HCLTech Grant has invested nearly $18 million in groundbreaking projects and is recognized as one of the largest grant programs in India—impacting over 27,000+ villages across 22 states and 2 UT's

HCLTech Grant for Climate Action in Americas Edition III

The future of cross-sector climate collaboration

We’re proud to bring our learnings and innovations from India to the Americas. As part of our global CSR strategy, we’ll start by investing $5 million over five years to impact-focused, Americas-based NGOs to supercharge their replicable, scalable and sustainable climate action projects. As a $13.7 billion technology company with over 218,000 people worldwide, our mission is to bring together the best of technology and people to supercharge progress for our clients, our people, our communities and our planet.

We’re looking to supercharge innovative, replicable, scalable and sustainable climate solutions. If the work you do fits the following criteria, our mission is to amplify your impact:

Prerequisites

• The organization’s bylaws should expressly permit engagement in purpose-driven projects and, where relevant, climate action initiatives, in accordance with the legal regulations of the country of registration.
• The proposed project must be designed for direct implementation by the applicant organization. Sub-granting of HCLTech funds is not allowed.
• The grant amount must not be used solely for infrastructure development / purchase of fixed assets like land, buildings, and vehicles, among others. Further, proposed infrastructure development costs must be spent in line with project objectives and activities defined.
• The applicant organization, including its governing body members, must not have any pending litigations.
• The applicant organization must not be blacklisted by any government agency, department, ministry, donor or international agency.
• The organization must not have faced cancellation of its license, registration or membership from the country-specific regulatory or statutory body.
• The applicant organization or its board members or employees must not have any political or religious affiliations.

Three organizations will be selected each year—first place will receive $500,000 and two runners-up will receive $250,000 each for a two-year project.

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.

Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.

Eleanor C. Hungar Scholarship Endowment Fund

This fund was established to administer a bequest from the estate of Eleanor Hungar.

Miss Hungar (1905-2005) attended Greenman Elementary School. She was a graduate of West Aurora High School and Illinois State University at Normal. Miss Hungar was a beloved and greatly admired teacher. She had a profound influence on the children whose lives she touched.

To this day, former students fondly recall her extraordinary kindness to those who had the good fortune to learn at her side.

In keeping with her lifelong devotion to children, she bequeathed a portion of her estate to provide scholarships for students entering the field of elementary education.

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Dobe E. and Jacqueline C. Ulmer Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

For a graduating senior who is hard-working, focused, thoughtful, caring, selfless, and dedicated to continuous learning.

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $1,000; paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters. A second award of $500 may also be given.

Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri

The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri Inc. was established in 2009 as a 501(c)3 public charity to help donors support their favorite charities while receiving maximum tax advantage.

We serve as a vehicle for charitable giving, helping donors give to the causes they care about. Donor gifts will strengthen nonprofits increasing programs and services. 

McLaughlin, Delbert & Mary Teaching Scholarship

This fund was established in memory of Delbert and Mary McLaughlin by their son, Bill McLaughlin to provide academic scholarships to graduating seniors of the St. Joseph School District pursing a degree in Education.

Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri

The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri Inc. was established in 2009 as a 501(c)3 public charity to help donors support their favorite charities while receiving maximum tax advantage.

We serve as a vehicle for charitable giving, helping donors give to the causes they care about. Donor gifts will strengthen nonprofits increasing programs and services. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to establish a fund with us. 

St Joseph School District Foundation Tarpley, Bill Scholarship

This fund was established in honor of Bill Tarpley, who served as Principal of Central High School by his family and friends. The fund provides graduating seniors with a learning disability an opportunity to attend vocational school or college.

Guidelines:

• One scholarship will be awarded on a one-time basis and disbursed in August.

Amount:

• No less than $300 depending on available funds.

The Ryder Sroufe Memorial Scholarship, established by the Community Foundation of Whitley County in 2025, honors the legacy of Ryder Carl Sroufe. This scholarship supports young individuals who embody enthusiasm, humility, and compassion, reflecting Ryder's spirit of kindness and service. It aims to empower the next generation of leaders and helpers, ensuring that Ryder's values of hard work and community commitment continue to thrive. Eligible students are recognized for their efforts to strengthen their communities.

The Bernhard H. Singsen Scholarship, offered by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation, supports young men from local high schools in pursuing a full-time liberal arts education. This scholarship aims to foster careers in education, civil or social service, and medicine. Open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and returning students, it embodies the foundation's commitment to empowering youth and enhancing community engagement in San Luis Obispo County.

The Burt W. and Virginia Polin ELKS Bureau Scholarship, offered by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation, supports high school seniors, undergraduates, and returning students in their educational pursuits. This scholarship honors the legacy of the Polins and the values of the Elks Club, promoting charity, justice, and community service. With the foundation's commitment to inclusivity and support, applicants are encouraged to apply for this opportunity to help achieve their academic and career goals.

The Dorsi Blastervold Family Scholarship, offered by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors and graduate students from the Lucia Mar Unified School District with a minimum GPA of 2.9. This scholarship aims to help students achieve their educational goals and foster a diverse and inclusive community. Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open, encouraging students to reach new heights in their education and careers.

About Us

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is a resource for local charitable giving. Created by and for the people of San Luis Obispo County, The Community Foundation is an enduring source of charitable funds to meet the changing needs and interests of the region. We envision San Luis Obispo County as an inclusive haven where everyone, regardless of background, feels free to fully participate. In collaboration with our community partners and donors, we seek to foster a safe, respectful environment with ample opportunity for all to reach their potential and contribute to the success of our community. We invite you to join us in celebrating diversity, making sure all of our neighbors feel seen, and free from dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, as we shape a future where all residents can flourish. 

2025-2026 Scholarship Applications

Big dreams start here! With support from generous individuals, families, and businesses, the Community Foundation offers scholarships that help San Luis Obispo County students reach new heights in their education and careers.

Garris Family Scholarship

The Garris Family Scholarship was established to support deserving students from public high schools or home-schooled programs in San Luis Obispo County in achieving post-secondary education. 

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Joseph and Lorraine Finley Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial support to high school seniors who are residents of the Wayne County town of Walworth and continuing their education at any accredited two-year, four-year, or technical school.

Number and Size of Awards

Four awards of $7,000 each; paid as $1,750 per year for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate study. Award paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Donor Information

This scholarship was established by a couple who believed in education and in helping their community.

Marshall Community Foundation

The Marshall Community Foundation is a partnership of endowed funds established by individuals and organizations. A Board of Trustees, comprised of local community leaders, invest the pooled endowments. Income generated is then available for grants that address charitable needs in our community. Staff and trained volunteers monitor the grants to ensure fulfillment of the grant agreements.

The full circle of philanthropy is poetry in motion. The Foundation receives your gifts, grants to local non-profits, who in turn, give back by providing services to the community. Truly, the Foundation is all about improving the quality of life and making this a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Zink Family Scholarship

A scholarship awarded to residents of Marshall and surrounding townships pursuing an education or advanced training in skilled trades, as defined by the Committee and reflective of current industry needs, including but not limited to the fields of:

• healthcare technician,
• agriculture,
• information technology,
• manufacturing,
• construction or
• automotive.

The Bowman Family Swimming Scholarship, provided by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation, aims to support graduating high school seniors in Hardin County who are active swimmers. Eligible applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be involved with their school's swim team. This scholarship embodies the Foundation's mission to enhance community life by empowering students to pursue their educational goals in athletics.

$20K for changemakers with transformative ideas & firsthand insight in early childhood

About the Imagine Award

The Imagine Award by the Promise Fund offers $20,000 in flexible funding (see definition in FAQs) and a six-month cohort-based learning experience for community-rooted early childhood leaders with ideas for transformative impact. ​​Award recipients are at the idea stage and will launch a pilot within six months, testing their solutions with real users, gathering feedback, and refining their approach.

Imagine Award recipients will learn strategies for designing and executing lightweight tests for rapid learning while gaining clarity on their idea's direction using impact and business models. They will craft a compelling story about their work to build future partnerships and run a focused pilot with strong feedback loops for gathering data, all while growing alongside a supportive peer community.

What We Provide

Our grant dollars are flexible and meant to be used at award recipients’ discretion for the pursuit of tests or a pilot of a transformative idea. Read the FAQ for more information.

Direct, one-on-one support from our team to help you learn, get tailored help, and make relevant connections.

Multi-day gathering for peer connection, learning, and pilot design.

Access to a bench of mentors to guide you as you transition out of the program and navigate next steps with your pilot.

Light, tailored coaching to support pilot preparation, launch, and implementation.

Ongoing peer community and resources to continue learning and collaboration

Armstrong County Community Foundation

The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,

• Gives grants, scholarships, and organizational support to address the needs of our community.
• Builds a permanent endowment to help our donors create a legacy through this endowment.
• Promotes informed philanthropy to increase and sustain charitable resources for the region.
• Provides leadership and builds partnerships to identify and solve community issues.

Joan Tatsak Memorial Scholarship

Joan Tatsak was a beloved friend, colleague and mentor to many of our friends and neighbors here in Armstrong County. She inspired and encouraged her peers and coworkers to achieve and strive for excellence. This unique fund is a fitting memorial. The Joan Tatsak Memorial Fund is a non-traditional scholarship fund that offers grants for entrepreneurship, leadership and scholarship.

Scholarship Details

• Available to Adult Students
• Nonrenewable

All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.

The Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs aims to support early-career scientists transitioning into entrepreneurship. Funded by the NIH and CDC, this initiative encourages small business concerns to apply for SBIR Phase I and Fast-Track grants. Key components include research funding, entrepreneurial training, and mentorship. Potential applicants are urged to prepare their projects and identify mentors, ensuring the inclusion of experienced personnel committed to the project. This opportunity is tailored for first-time Principal Investigators.

Armstrong County Community Foundation

The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,

• Gives grants, scholarships, and organizational support to address the needs of our community.
• Builds a permanent endowment to help our donors create a legacy through this endowment.
• Promotes informed philanthropy to increase and sustain charitable resources for the region.
• Provides leadership and builds partnerships to identify and solve community issues.

Michael Petronchek Musical Scholarship Fund

Mike Petronchek was a well known musician in our community. During the 40′s Mike played trombone in Angie Sgro and Johnny Murphy’s Dance Band. He loved the Big Band sound and attended many of the formal dances that were held at Laube Hall in Freeport to benefit charity. Mike served as a radio operator with the 8th Air Force during World War II because of his great “ear”. He received his bachelor’s degree from IUP and his master’s from Penn State.

For nearly four decades Mike shared his love of music with children here in Armstrong County. He was the Ford City High School music director from 1958 through 1984 and organized the county’s first elementary school band at Lenape Elementary. In his honor, the Michael Petronchek Musical Scholarship Fund was established for Ford City High School graduates pursuing an education in music.

Scholarship Details

• Available to High School Seniors
• Nonrenewable

All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.