Best Large Grants for Nonprofit Organizations in Maine

The Indigo Oak Fund is a Colorado-based foundation dedicated to empowering individuals through support for education, the arts, and social justice. Focused on fostering lifelong learning and creative expression, the Fund aids various programs that enhance community engagement. It supports both youth and adult initiatives, including classes and community events in diverse artistic disciplines. By prioritizing equal opportunity and personal potential, the Fund strives to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and the community.

The Officers’ Research Grants on Reducing Inequality support studies aimed at understanding and addressing inequalities affecting youth ages 5-25 in the U.S. This initiative funds descriptive, intervention, and measurement development studies focused on academic, social, behavioral, and economic outcomes. The William T. Grant Foundation encourages research that identifies specific inequalities and explores effective programs or policies to mitigate these disparities while addressing systemic issues such as racism and structural inequality.

The Albert J. Beveridge Grant for Research in the Western Hemisphere, awarded by the American Historical Association, supports research on the history of the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Grants, funded by the Beveridge Memorial Fund, are available annually and can cover various research expenses, including travel and access fees. Preference is given to advanced doctoral students and non-tenured faculty. Eligibility is limited to AHA members, ensuring a focus on high-quality historical scholarship.

The NSF National Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Teams program aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and marketable technologies. By providing NSF-funded researchers with entrepreneurial education, mentoring, and funding, it accelerates the transformation of foundational discoveries into viable products and services. Participants engage in hands-on customer discovery and business model assessments, leading to improved product-market fit and strategic partnerships. This initiative fosters collaboration between academia and industry, enhancing the commercialization of deep technologies.

The Rapoport Doctoral Dissertation Grants support PhD students conducting innovative research in American political behavior. Funded by the Rapoport Family Foundation, the grants offer up to $15,000 for survey research. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program at an accredited U.S. university and have completed all preliminary requirements. The foundation emphasizes originality and transformative potential in research proposals, aiming to foster diverse approaches to understanding political behavior.

The Gilbert Memorial Fund Grant supports organizations conducting innovative medical research. Established in memory of the Gilbert family, this fund aims to promote advancements in various areas of medicine. Applications are accepted year-round, with a review meeting held annually on March 1. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $40,000, and eligible organizations must be recognized as 501(c)(3) entities. This initiative reflects a commitment to enhancing healthcare through research and development.

About Us

The Wenner-Gren Foundation is a private operating foundation dedicated to providing leadership in support of anthropology and anthropologists worldwide.

Our Mission

The Wenner-Gren Foundation is committed to playing a leadership role in anthropology. We help anthropologists advance anthropological knowledge, build sustainable careers, and amplify the impact of anthropology within the wider world. We dedicate ourselves to broadening the conversation in anthropology to reflect the full diversity of the field.

Global Initiatives Grant

General

Since the program’s launch in 2020, the Wenner-Gren Foundation has funded a small number of initiatives that meet a need not already addressed by our other programs. Global Initiatives Grants help support innovative projects that benefit the discipline as a whole by creating the conditions for anthropologists to do better work. Over the years we have awarded initiatives in which a small amount of money has had a wide and lasting impact, building capacity for the discipline to thrive.

We are eager to receive applications from individuals based in countries, regions, and communities where anthropology is disadvantaged or under threat. Our total budget for this program is modest, so the competition is fierce.

In the past, we prioritized projects aimed at building capacity by addressing specific themes, including the impact of Covid-19 on anthropology, the struggle for racial justice in the discipline, the ethical treatment of human remains, and supporting paleoanthropology in East Africa.

From 2026–2030, Global Initiative Grants will be making a single award giving priority to innovative projects in public anthropology that are designed to reach broad, general audiences. Applicants may draw on any combination of anthropological tools, theories, and methods to share disciplinary knowledge in ways that are accessible, pioneering, and socially consequential.

Successful projects will push public anthropology in new directions. Initiatives may take the form of targeted, high-impact interventions responding to emerging crises and opportunities, or longer-term efforts to create the infrastructure needed to sustain public engagement beyond the grant period. Proposals seeking to establish enduring programs must provide a detailed and realistic plan for ongoing financial, technical, and administrative support.

Award Money

One grant of up to $80,000 will be awarded each year. Funding is nonrenewable. There is no limit to the duration of the grant.

The ASNT Foundation Fellowship Award offers $20,000 to support research and innovation in nondestructive testing (NDT). Aimed at graduate students and early-career professionals, this fellowship encourages the exploration of groundbreaking ideas and development of new technologies in the NDT field. Recipients will be notified after evaluations, and the award includes opportunities for recognition at the ASNT Annual Conference and presentation of findings at ASNT symposia. This initiative is crucial for nurturing future NDT leaders.

The Rosenberg Fund for Children supports the educational and emotional needs of children and youth up to age 24 who are linked to targeted progressive activists. Grants can cover tuition, counseling, and other essential services to help beneficiaries thrive despite the challenges faced by their families. The fund emphasizes direct support to programs and providers, ensuring that assistance reaches those most affected by activism-related adversities.

The ASNT Foundation offers the Robert B. Oliver Scholarship to support students enrolled in Nondestructive Testing (NDT) programs at U.S. institutions. With a funding amount of $2,500, the scholarship is awarded to students presenting the best original manuscript on NDT. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities and workforce development in the nondestructive testing field, promoting research and training for future professionals.

The MPS Materials Research Programs, funded by the National Science Foundation, aim to enhance the understanding of materials and their diverse applications. These programs cover areas such as biomaterials, ceramics, condensed matter physics, and electronic materials. With an emphasis on transformative research, NSF MPS encourages proposals that are innovative and foundational, without the necessity for immediate commercial outcomes, fostering long-term advancements in materials science.

About Us

Alpha Omega Alpha, founded in 1902, is the national medical honor society. Its mission is: dedicated to the belief that in the profession of medicine we will improve care for all by:

• recognizing high educational achievement;
• honoring gifted teaching;
• encouraging the development of leaders in academia and the community;
• supporting the ideals of humanism; and
• promoting service to others.

Medical Student Service Leadership Project Grant

AΩA is committed to preparing future leaders in medicine and health care. Leadership is about making a positive difference and can be developed through education, observation, experience, and by working with leader mentors. Service learning provides excellent opportunities for students to develop as servant leaders. Only one team from each school may be nominated.The Grant

The grant is a $9,000, two-year grant – $5,000 the first year, and $4,000 the second year. The grant will be paid to the sponsoring institution. 

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Irwin Oppenheim Award

This award recognizes outstanding contributions to physics by early career scientists who publish in Physical Review E (PRE). The annual award consists of a $5,000 stipend, a certificate, registration waiver and travel reimbursement to attend the APS March Meeting, and an invitation to speak at the conference.

The Economic Research Rescue Fund, established by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), provides emergency grants up to $250,000 for economics-related research projects whose NSF funding has been terminated. This initiative aims to support Principal Investigators facing disruptions in crucial research that holds significant societal benefits, amidst reduced NSF support. Eligible projects must have previously received NSF funding and be linked to a practicing PhD economist. This fund seeks to sustain vital economic research during challenging times.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Richard A. Isaacson Award in Gravitational-Wave Science

This award recognizes outstanding contributions in gravitational-wave physics, gravitational-wave astrophysics, and the technologies that enable this science.

The annual award consists of $5,000, a certificate, travel reimbursement and a registration waiver to attend the APS April Meeting to give an invited talk and accept the award.

Nominations will be considered for three review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Rolf Landauer and Charles H. Bennett Award in Quantum Computing

This award recognizes recent outstanding contributions in quantum information science, especially using quantum effects to perform computational and information-management tasks that would be impossible or infeasible by purely classical means. The award is given annually and will consist of $5,000 and a certificate citing the contributions of the recipient, plus an allowance for travel to an APS meeting to receive the award and deliver an invited lecture.

The AAO-HNSF Health Services Research Grant provides $10,000 for one year to support research that enhances the effectiveness and appropriateness of medical practices in otolaryngology. Projects should yield clinically significant findings within the award period and can be innovative in nature. Eligible applicants include otolaryngologists from the U.S. and Canada, with support letters required from Department Chairs. Funding cannot be used for Principal Investigator salaries or clerical support, and detailed budgeting is crucial for application.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Stanley Corrsin Award

To recognize and encourage a particularly influential contribution to fundamental fluid dynamics.

The Prize consists of $5,000, an allowance for registration and travel to the meeting at which the Prize is awarded, and a certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient. The award will be presented annually at the Division of Fluid Dynamics annual meeting and will be accompanied by a Distinguished Lecture from the Award winner.

Nominations will be considered for three review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Stuart Jay Freedman Award in Experimental Nuclear Physics

This award is presented annually to an outstanding early career experimentalist in nuclear physics. The award will consist of an $5,000, a certificate, a registration waiver, and an allowance for travel to the Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP) to give an invited prize talk and receive the award.

Nominations will be considered for two review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Thomas H. Stix Award for Outstanding Early Career Contributions to Plasma Physics Research

Recognizes an individual researcher who has made outstanding contributions (theoretical, experimental, computational, or technical) in plasma physics early in their career. Areas of plasma physics covered by the award include, but are not limited to: fundamental plasma physics, fusion plasmas, astrophysical or space plasmas, low-temperature plasmas, or high-energy-density plasmas.

The award consists of $5,000, a certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient, and a travel reimbursement of up to $1,000 to attend the APS Division of Plasma Physics (DPP) meeting. Information on allowable travel expenses appears here.

The recipient will be asked to deliver an invited talk at the DPP meeting and will receive a meeting registration waiver.

The award will be presented annually.

Nominations will be considered for three review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.

Dwight Nicholson Medal for Outreach

This award recognizes the humanitarian aspect of physics and physicists created through public lectures and public media, teaching, research, or science related activities. Recognition consists of a stipend of $3,000, Nicholson medal, and a certificate which includes the citation for which the recipient has been recognized. Up to $1,500 will be available for the recipient's travel expenses to the meeting at which the Medal is presented. It will be presented annually.

The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust Grant supports education and research in ornamental horticulture, funding projects that enhance public gardens, promote ornamental plants, and support related educational initiatives. Grants typically range up to $20,000, with a maximum of $25,000, focusing on project support rather than general operating expenses. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) public charities and similar entities worldwide, while the Trust does not fund individuals or capital campaigns.

DICK'S Sporting Goods offers a Sponsorships & Donations Program aimed at supporting youth sports leagues and organizations. They prioritize requests that promote community engagement and character development through sports. Eligible organizations must operate in areas with a DICK'S store and adhere to anti-discrimination policies. The program evaluates requests monthly, with sponsorships up to $25,000 and donations up to $250. Support may include gift certificates or coupons for teams and events, fostering an inclusive sports culture.

The Alfred P. Sloan Economics Grant Program aims to provide essential public goods through innovative research that enhances U.S. economic progress. With a focus on equity and technological advancement, the program supports projects addressing pressing economic issues, such as competitiveness, regional development, and the economics of caregiving. By fostering rigorous, unbiased research, the foundation seeks to empower communities and inform policy, ultimately improving quality of life across the nation.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program supports early-career faculty in research and education, fostering academic leadership. It encourages proposals from diverse candidates, enhancing STEM equity. Awardees may be nominated for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), recognizing innovative research and community service. These awards underscore the importance of science and technology for the nation's future, aiming to connect fundamental research with national goals.

The AAO-HNSF Resident Research Award provides $10,000 to support innovative resident research in otolaryngology. It encourages projects that enhance patient safety and quality improvement, focusing on collaboration with preceptor investigators. Applications must include letters of support and a detailed budget. This grant aims to foster original, scientifically valid research that can significantly advance the field of otolaryngology and improve healthcare outcomes.

This funding opportunity supports the establishment of Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers to enhance biomedical research through the provision of specialized laboratory animals and related resources. It seeks to promote scientific rigor and reproducibility by facilitating the development of new methodologies that complement traditional research. Centers must align with multiple NIH Institutes and focus on integrating innovative approaches like cell culture and computational models, fostering collaboration and advancement in human disease modeling.