Best Lyon County Grants for Nonprofits in Iowa

The NCI Research Specialist Award (R50) supports clinician scientists involved in NCI-funded clinical trials. This funding opportunity encourages the development of stable research careers by providing salary support and autonomy, allowing clinician scientists to contribute to national clinical trial development and implementation. They play a critical role in sustaining the NCI clinical trials network without serving as principal investigators. This award aims to ensure continuity in cancer research careers.

The NCI Research Specialist Award (R50) supports non-tenure track scientists in cancer research who provide essential contributions within laboratories and core facilities. This award aims to enhance research careers for skilled scientists who do not seek independent investigator funding. Eligible candidates must possess an advanced degree, have at least two years of contribution to NCI-funded research, and dedicate a significant portion of their time to this work. The R50 offers salary support and travel funds to recognize and stabilize these vital roles in cancer research.

The Karim Thomas Ziyad Memorial Engineering Scholarship Fund supports students from Washington County or nearby areas pursuing a career in engineering, especially in Mechanical Engineering. Established in memory of Karim Thomas Ziyad, this scholarship aims to empower deserving students to achieve their educational goals. The fund is part of the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland, which offers numerous scholarships to enhance educational opportunities for local students.

The Carver, We’ll Find a Way Scholarship Fund, established by the Carver Family, offers scholarships to local students passionate about helping others. This fund is part of the Community Foundation of Washington County, Maryland, which manages over 100 scholarships aimed at supporting both high school graduates and non-traditional students pursuing further education. The foundation seeks to enhance the quality of life in Washington County through educational support and community engagement.

The Art Richards Scholarship Fund of Children In Need, Inc. offers scholarships to graduating clients of Children In Need, empowering them to pursue secondary education in academics or trades. Established in 1998, this fund was inspired by Art Richards' vision to uplift children living in poverty in Washington County, MD. Through local partnerships, the fund supports educational opportunities and honors community values, ensuring every child has the resources needed to thrive.

The Artist’s Palette Scholarship Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, supports students pursuing careers in cosmetology, aesthetics, barbering, nail technology, and massage therapy. This fund is designed to assist deserving individuals from Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania in achieving their educational goals. Scholarships are made possible by local families and organizations dedicated to enhancing community welfare and honoring significant contributions to the community. Applications open annually from January to April.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is set to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) focused on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomics. This initiative aims to explore how genomics can enhance health and well-being while addressing its broader societal impacts. The NHGRI encourages applications from diverse academic disciplines to promote innovative and replicable research approaches that effectively analyze the consequences of genomic advancements.

The Samuel Hunter Agricultural Education Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, aims to support students graduating from WCPS high schools, especially those from Smithsburg High School. This scholarship is designed for students pursuing post-secondary education in agricultural fields, with a preference for FFA/4-H participants. With its commitment to enhancing local education, this scholarship not only honors community contributions but also promotes vital career paths in agriculture.

The Saint James School Scholarship Fund provides essential financial assistance to deserving students in the greater Washington County area. Established by local families and organizations, this fund aims to honor individuals and promote education. With over 100 scholarships available through the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, it supports both high school graduates and non-traditional students pursuing continuing education. This initiative strengthens the community and fosters educational opportunities for all.

The Ryan Myers Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, supports graduating seniors from various educational backgrounds in Washington County. This scholarship honors Ryan Myers' legacy, encouraging students pursuing higher education, trade schools, or apprenticeships. Ideal candidates reflect Ryan's positive spirit and aspirations, aiming to make a meaningful impact in their communities while achieving their academic and career goals.

The Rotary Club of Hagerstown Sunrise Foundation Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to graduating high school students and non-traditional learners pursuing a degree or certificate in various fields. This initiative, supported by the Community Foundation of Washington County, aims to honor local contributions and foster educational opportunities. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to community service and leadership. Scholarships open annually in January and close on April 1st, benefiting the community for generations.

The Robert and Jenilie Palla Education Fund offers scholarships to graduating WCPS seniors who have participated in Cross Country and/or Track & Field Teams. This initiative, supported by the Community Foundation of Washington County, Maryland, aims to honor local students and encourage their academic pursuits. With a commitment to enhancing the community's quality of life, the fund exemplifies the importance of education and athletics in shaping future leaders.

The Richard and Mary Myerly Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, supports low-income students pursuing careers in photography or fine arts at accredited institutions. Established in memory of Richard and Mary Myerly, this scholarship invites applications from students in Washington County and surrounding areas, promoting educational opportunities and honoring community values. With over 100 scholarships available, this initiative aims to empower the next generation of artists and photographers.

Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) 

The program provides grant funding to help preserve, conserve, interpret, enhance, and educate the public about Iowa’s historical assets. The Historical Resource Development Program provides funding for documentary collections, historic preservation and museums. 

What:

• Up to $50,000 with a required match. Match ratios vary.

Museum Project Types

If your project focuses on the care and collection of museum objects, you will want to apply in the museums category.

Projects in this category may include, but are not limited to:

• Public education, staff training, or consultation related to museum activities
• Cataloging
• Conservation survey of collections
• Treatment of collections
• Artifact acquisition
• Artifact conservation
• Interpretation of artifact collections
• Exhibitions
• Equipment, supplies, and facilities related to artifact preservation

The Remsberg-Trout Scholarship Fund supports local students pursuing STEM degrees. One scholarship assists a senior from Williamsport High School, while two additional scholarships are available for graduates from other Washington County public high schools. All applicants must be members of the National Honor Society. This initiative, part of the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, aims to foster educational opportunities and enhance the community's future.

The Quinn Alec Hoover Legacy Scouting America Scholarship Fund supports graduating seniors from Scouting America in the Mason Dixon District, encompassing Washington County, MD, and parts of Pennsylvania. Established by the Community Foundation of Washington County, this scholarship honors the legacy of Quinn Alec Hoover, aiming to recognize and assist students who embody the values of scouting. Applications open annually in January, closing by April 1st, promoting community engagement and educational advancement.

The Paul Lawson Memorial Aviation Scholarship is dedicated to supporting deserving students aged 15-25 from Maryland and West Virginia who are pursuing aviation lessons. Established in memory of Paul Lawson, this scholarship aims to empower young individuals to achieve their dreams in aviation. Offered by the Community Foundation of Washington County MD, it reflects the commitment of local families and organizations to enhance educational opportunities in the community.

The Jon Christopher Gauss, Jr. Wrestling Scholarship Fund, established by his parents, supports high school wrestlers pursuing post-secondary education at accredited institutions. This initiative, part of the Community Foundation of Washington County MD, aims to honor Jon's legacy while empowering students to achieve their educational goals. The scholarship enhances community engagement and provides vital financial assistance to promising athletes, ensuring that their dedication to wrestling translates into academic success.

Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) - Documentary Collections

You should apply in the Documentary Collections category if your project focuses on preserving historical materials that contain recorded information such as documents, records, newspapers, photographs or similar types of items.

Resources in this category can include a variety of resource formats, such as albums, atlases, blueprints, broadsides, diaries, drawings, electronic records, films, ledgers, letters, maps, memoirs, minutes, newspapers, newsletters, oral histories, pamphlets, postcards, plats, photographs, photographic negatives, programs, reports, videotapes, and other multimedia materials.

Examples of documentary collections category projects include: 

• Processing collections – organizing, sorting, cataloging, arranging/describing, producing indexes, lists, inventories, and finding aids.
• Microfilming documents and records, with the proper preparation of material and adherence to professional microfilming standards
• Purchasing archival supplies such as UV filters, acid-free folders, boxes, envelopes, Mylar and tape for encapsulation.
• Formatting alternatives such as paper, microfilm, fiche, electronic, and also preparation of materials for re-formatting.
• Format or convert historical records collections, digitize for public access and make them freely available online.
• Provide consistent onsite researcher access to physical collections.
• Demonstrate the value of the informational contents of the collections to the understanding of Iowa’s history.
• Outlining in projects the use of archival best practices.
• Developing budgets that accomplish the project in a cost-effective manner.
• Outlining activities that bring researchers to the collections included in the project as well as the rest of the repository’s holdings.

Iowa Economic Development Authority

Mission

Strengthen economic and community vitality by building partnerships and leveraging resources to make Iowa the choice for people and business. Through two main divisions – business development and community development – IEDA administers several state and federal programs to meet its goals of assisting individuals, communities and businesses. IEDA works to achieve its mission and goals to benefit Iowans while maintaining a high level of transparency. 

Open 4 Business

Description

Main Street Iowa and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) are proud to announce the availability of Main Street Iowa Open 4 Business grants.

A state appropriation was made to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for the Main Street Iowa Program to assist participating cities improve the physical and economic health of their designated Main Street districts. This state appropriation will allow Main Street Iowa to offer Open 4 Business Grants to participating communities for business expansion projects.

 A map showing eligible Main Street districts is available on our web site at https://www.iowaeda.com

Each program may receive a single award from this funding round. Only one application per program is allowed. The local Main Street Iowa program MUST be the applicant on behalf of the local business owner(s) as the grant beneficiary.

Main Street Iowa staff will review all applications for eligibility, project impact within the designated Main Street district, business innovation, and opportunity for continued growth, enhanced revenue, and sustainability. 

All awarded projects must agree to provide Main Street Iowa with appropriate budgetary information and expenditures. 

The PRIMARY goals of the MSI Open 4 Business grant are:

• Stimulate and support business expansion projects in Main Street districts
• Create a positive climate for additional district investment
• Support local revitalization efforts
• Demonstrate “Main Street at work” in the local community
• Provide local Main Street programs with an exclusive financial incentive program
• Create additional jobs and business growth

These goals will be achieved through:

• Quality business expansion projects with enhanced revenue opportunities
• Creating unique business locations and product offerings
• Strategic investment by IEDA into key local projects
• Research and utilization of appropriate available financial resources/programs
• Creating local job and business opportunities

Awards will be made to the applicant Main Street organization, hereafter referred to as the Grantee, for disbursements to locally designated grant beneficiaries. A 25% owner investment is required for all awarded grant funds.

Business Pitch/Video

Each business will be required to submit a video (3-minute maximum) in addition to an online application and project budget describing how the business would use the Open 4 Business grant funds if awarded. Be creative and have fun! The video should be concise, informative, and tell the story of how the Open 4 Business grant funds would assist the business and community with continued business growth and development. Judges will not view videos beyond the first three minutes. Videos are not required to be professionally produced and will be judged on content rather than level of production. 

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks.

Just as importantly, the DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. The DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education. Our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

IRA Iowa Tree Planting Grant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, through the USDA Forest Service & National Association of State Foresters 2023 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), received funds to plant trees in public spaces.

The Iowa Tree Planting Grant provides reimbursable grants to purchase trees, mulch, tree staking/protection and supplemental watering by contractor or city staff. The grant is a two-year program.

The Iowa Tree Planting grants are available to community governmental entities, volunteer organizations, and service organizations involved with local urban and community forest services, to plant trees on publicly owned properties within the community to diversify the tree canopy, increase tree benefits, help with energy costs and health disparities, and increase access to parks and nature. 

Office of the Attorney General

The attorney general is the State of Iowa's chief legal officer. The attorney general has general charge, supervision and direction of the state's legal business. The Office of the Attorney General provides legal advice and representation to most of the state's major departments, boards, commissions, authorities, officials and institutions. The office further represents the State of Iowa in state administrative law and Iowa District Court matters, the Iowa Court of Appeals, the Iowa Supreme Court, lower federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Criminal Justice Grants

The Victim Assistance Section of the Iowa Department of Justice (“Department”) seeks applications from qualified nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, law enforcement offices, prosecutor offices and other governmental organizations to support victims of violent crimes through the criminal justice system.

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to distribute state and federal funding to eligible applicants who will respond to, and support victims of violence, investigate, or prosecute crimes against women, collect evidence, or provide training to those who perform these duties. 

The Mark Mayden Scholarship, established in 2006 by the Community Foundation of Dickinson County, honors the legacy of Mark Mayden, a devoted supporter of agribusiness. This $700 scholarship aims to assist hardworking students from Dickinson County in pursuing technical or vocational education, fostering opportunities for future generations. By rewarding initiative and talent, the scholarship reflects Mark's belief in the transformative power of education and hard work, ensuring that deserving students have the support they need to succeed.

The Loren Engel Memorial FFA Scholarship, established by Margaret Engle in 2005, honors Loren Engel’s dedication to agriculture and leadership. This $300 scholarship is available for graduating high school students from Dickinson County who have served as FFA chapter officers, demonstrating commitment to agricultural education. The Community Foundation of Dickinson County aims to support local students pursuing technical or vocational education, ensuring future generations can thrive in their community.

The Vanguard

Remuseum announces The Vanguard, an award and accelerator for innovative leaders in the visual and performing arts, in partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation. The Vanguard’s $100,000 annual award will recognize up to ten leaders who are exploring new ways to strengthen arts institutions, and a year-long accelerator will help them refine, implement, and evaluate their ideas. The first award and accelerator of its kind, The Vanguard celebrates leaders who are ready to center the public in their work in new ways, building models for increased relevance and sustainability in the arts.

The Program

The $100,000 grant that accompanies each award will go to that leader’s institution, to support ideas developed in The Vanguard’s 12-month accelerator program. That program begins with a week-long retreat at Shangri La, the Doris Duke Foundation’s global center for culture and ideas in Honolulu, Hawaii, followed by a year of monthly coaching sessions, regional peer gatherings, and collaborative workshops, culminating in a public presentation of their work and findings to the broader arts community. The accelerator and its curriculum, tailored specifically for cultural leaders, has been designed by Jenny Larios Berlin, entrepreneur in the creative and tech sectors and Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, and will be co-taught with Gregory Bunch, entrepreneur and Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and will be advised by Ethernet Inventors Professor of Entrepreneurship Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.

By year’s end, members of The Vanguard will have built an intellectual kinship with each other while modeling a spirit of innovative leadership for the field. Remuseum will continue evaluating and sharing their work as case studies for cultural organizations broadly, and future classes will continue expanding a Vanguard of leaders (10, then 20, and on) who build models of success for cultural organizations in the 21st Century, allowing arts & cultural institutions not just to survive but to support a stronger and more pluralistic civil society.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is launching a funding opportunity for the ancient DNA for Modern Genomics (aDMG) program. This initiative aims to create an ethical resource of ancient human DNA to enhance understanding of modern human traits and health. By leveraging both existing and new aDNA data, the program seeks innovative collaborations that integrate ancient and contemporary genomic information. Researchers with expertise in population genomics are encouraged to apply.

The NHGRI's Analysis, Visualization, and Informatics Lab-space (AnVIL) program is set for a limited competition renewal to enhance a cloud-based platform that supports genomic research. With over 5 petabytes of data accessible to researchers, AnVIL fosters collaboration and innovation while adhering to FAIR principles. The renewed focus will include improved scalability, interoperability, and robust security measures. Additionally, training initiatives will ensure researchers maximize the potential of AnVIL's multimodal datasets. The funding opportunity is expected in 2027.