Best Marion County Grants for Nonprofits in Tennessee

Nonprofit and public entities in Marion County, Tennessee undertaking multi-state economic and community development projects can apply for Appalachian Regional Commission’s ARISE grants; awards up to US $10,000,000 for planning or implementation. Funding supports regional initiatives in economic development, workforce readiness, community revitalization, and tourism across eligible Appalachian counties.

Black Appalachian oral storytellers with strong cultural ties to Marion County, Tennessee and other ARC-designated Appalachian counties can receive US $5,000 fellowships to sustain and share Black storytelling traditions. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s CALT Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship honors fellows at the “In the Tradition…” National Black Storytelling Festival and supports ongoing community-based story-sharing.

State and local agencies, local governing boards, nonprofits, tribes, and higher education institutions in Marion County, Tennessee can seek support for critical infrastructure and workforce or business development projects. With a mission to strengthen Appalachian communities, Appalachian Regional Commission provides flexible Area Development investments in water and wastewater systems, transportation, broadband, entrepreneurship, worker training, and related regional economic initiatives.

Marion County, Tennessee 501(c)(3) arts organizations in Commission-recognized disciplines can access funding through the Tennessee Arts Commission for general operating support. Eligible rural nonprofits must be chartered in a Tennessee rural county, have a three-year Commission funding history, a minimum $30,000 budget, and may request up to US $25,000 with a 1:1 cash match.

Nonprofit organizations and local government entities in Marion County, Tennessee can receive US $1,000 - US $25,000 to support rural arts projects that enhance community vitality and engagement. Grants from Tennessee Arts Commission help fund performances, festivals, exhibitions, workshops, artist residencies, public art, accessibility improvements, and related administrative or technical support across recognized artistic disciplines.

Focused on land and water conservation, eligible organizations in Marion County, Tennessee can seek National Fish and Wildlife Foundation support for restoring forests, grasslands, and freshwater habitats. Grants of US $250,000 - US $750,000 back projects that enhance wildlife, improve soil and water health, and expand conservation practices on working agricultural and forest lands.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in eligible Central Appalachian counties, including Marion County, Tennessee, can apply for South Arts’ In These Mountains Infrastructure Grants, awarding US $30,000 for organizational infrastructure needs. Funding supports tools, training, planning, equipment, and other non-programming costs that strengthen folk and traditional arts, especially in rural and underrepresented communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, or those with a fiscal sponsor, can seek funding for programs, projects, or operations that advance healthcare, education, housing, animal welfare, veterans’ services, the arts, or community and economic development. Focused on broad community needs, the Dwayne Hawkins Family Foundation invites Marion County, Tennessee nonprofits to apply for quarterly-reviewed grants.

With a mission to support community-focused nonprofits, the Dwayne Hawkins Family Foundation provides Marion County, Tennessee 501(c)(3) organizations with sponsorship funding for fundraising events that offer public visibility and recognition. Eligible nonprofits may request support for galas, golf tournaments, charity walks, benefit dinners, and similar promotional initiatives in the communities the foundation serves.

Educational and health-focused 501(c)(3) public charities, academic institutions, and government entities working on reproductive health and rights in Marion County, Tennessee can apply for funding to expand access to abortion and contraception. The Educational Foundation of America supports litigation, direct support for providers, abortion funds, and communications and advocacy efforts, with a special emphasis on the Appalachian region.

Nonprofit land trusts and conservation organizations in Marion County, Tennessee seeking to permanently protect large forest blocks may be eligible for capital grants supporting conservation easements or fee acquisitions. Marion County nonprofits can access funding through Open Space Institute to preserve high-priority habitat on the Southern Cumberland Plateau and cover associated transaction and limited stewardship costs, with some support also available to state or local agencies.

Nonprofits and public entities in Marion County, Tennessee can seek funding for economic development, public infrastructure, water and wastewater projects, workforce development, tourism, and community revitalization efforts. Grants from Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development support Appalachian Regional Commission priorities, offering up to US $1,000,000 for construction and US $500,000 for non-construction projects in eligible Tennessee counties.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and eligible schools in Marion County, Tennessee can seek funding for STEM education, environmental sustainability, or community safety and wellness projects. Grants from Westinghouse help improve science and math learning, protect land, air, and water, and enhance public safety and quality of life near its local facilities.

Rural hospitals and 501(c)(3) organizations partnering with them in Marion County, Tennessee can seek funding to develop arts-based health and wellness programs. Focused on arts and rural health, Tennessee Arts Commission offers up to US $25,000 for projects like artist-led classes, healing arts spaces, murals, and other creative interventions in hospital settings.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Marion County, Tennessee with existing programs that teach broadband use and digital skills to families or seniors may be eligible for US $2,500 - US $50,000 to expand their impact. Spectrum supports technology access and digital literacy initiatives in its service markets that partner with low-income or multicultural urban or rural communities.

Local governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations in Marion County, Tennessee can seek funding to build, renovate, or expand rural arts and cultural facilities through the Rural Arts Facilities Fund. Grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission provide up to US $200,000 for capital improvements, accessibility upgrades, and essential equipment that support ongoing arts programming.

Grassroots, community-led 501(c)(3) organizations in Marion County, Tennessee can seek technical assistance funding to build organizational capacity and skills for social justice work. Focused on social, economic, racial, and environmental justice in Central Appalachia, Appalachian Community Fund supports training in leadership, fundraising, planning, financial management, community organizing, and related areas.

Nonprofit, community-led organizations doing LGBTQ organizing and services in Marion County, Tennessee can seek up to US $2,000 to build capacity and strengthen institutional resources. With a mission to fund grassroots social change, Appalachian Community Fund prioritizes new and emerging efforts, especially those led by or serving LGBTQ youth in Central Appalachia.

Nonprofits and local partners in Marion County, Tennessee working on economic development, workforce training, job creation, or nonprofit capacity may be eligible for the POWER Initiative, with awards up to US $2,500,000. With a mission to revitalize coal-impacted Appalachian communities, Appalachian Regional Commission supports implementation and planning projects that diversify economies and build competitive workforces.

Literary Arts Fund

Grants Overview

The Literary Arts Fund will award at least $50 million in grants to the nonprofit literary arts field over the next five years, concluding in 2031.

With a short timeline, the fund’s grantmaking has a strategic focus on the areas of the literary arts ecosystem where it determined it could have the greatest impact— that is: supporting independent U.S.-based literary arts nonprofits whose primary mission is directly serving adult writers of creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and hybrid works in making their artistic work and sharing it with readers outside of school and academic settings. Please review the fund’s full eligibility requirements to learn more.

General Operating Grants Applications 2026 Guide

Background

The Literary Arts Fund was established in 2025 to dramatically increase funding for and the visibility of the nonprofit literary arts field toward ensuring a healthy and more robust U.S. literary culture in support of creative writers. The fund will award at least $10 million in grants to the nonprofit literary arts field in each of the next five years, concluding in 2031. The first open call is for 2026 general operating grant applications.

The National Cancer Institute's PAIRS program aims to explore innovative cancer therapies by leveraging synthetic vulnerabilities that interact with tumor responses to radiation therapy. This initiative supports the development of targeted drug-radiation combinations, focusing on precision medicine to optimize treatment efficacy while minimizing harm to normal tissues. By consolidating prior funding opportunities, PAIRS encourages research that addresses context-dependent vulnerabilities, enhancing therapeutic strategies and aligning with NIH's scientific goals.

About Samaritan Health Services

We’re a nonprofit network of hospitals, clinics and health services caring for more than 290,000 residents in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast and portions of Marion and Polk counties. We work together to provide highly reliable and innovative medicine with world-class quality in a way that supports the values of the communities we serve. That includes caring for all people, regardless of their ability to pay.

Health Education Scholarships

One of the many keys to maintaining a healthy, prosperous community is ensuring a sustainable supply of excellent health care providers. To achieve this, Samaritan Health Services offers numerous scholarships to local students pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well continuing education or specialty training for current medical providers.

Each year, Samaritan awards more than $25,000 in scholarships for health care education to ensure the communities we serve receive the best care possible well into the future.

Virginia Welch Scholarship

Each year the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Auxiliary awards the Virginia Welch Scholarship to students planning to pursue a career in a medically-related field. The scholarship is named in honor of Virginia Welch, a head nurse who became Good Samaritan’s administrator in 1951 and served until 1967. To date, more than $320,000 has been awarded to students pursuing a career in health care.

High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in, or accepted to, a program to pursue a career in a medically-related field in a hospital setting are eligible to apply.

The NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research program aims to support innovative clinical trials focused on chronic eye diseases. This funding opportunity encourages multifaceted research addressing the causes, treatment, and rehabilitation of vision conditions, ensuring comprehensive oversight by the NIH. The program includes components like Chair's Grant and Coordinating Centers, fostering collaboration among researchers to enhance public health outcomes related to vision.

About Samaritan Health Services

We’re a nonprofit network of hospitals, clinics and health services caring for more than 290,000 residents in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast and portions of Marion and Polk counties. We work together to provide highly reliable and innovative medicine with world-class quality in a way that supports the values of the communities we serve. That includes caring for all people, regardless of their ability to pay.

Health Education Scholarships

One of the many keys to maintaining a healthy, prosperous community is ensuring a sustainable supply of excellent health care providers. To achieve this, Samaritan Health Services offers numerous scholarships to local students pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well continuing education or specialty training for current medical providers.

Each year, Samaritan awards more than $25,000 in scholarships for health care education to ensure the communities we serve receive the best care possible well into the future.

Frank Girod, MD, Medical Scholarship

The Frank Girod, MD, Medical Scholarship was established by the Lebanon Community Hospital Development Council and was funded by numerous contributions made by the late Girod’s friends and family.

The Girod Medical Scholarship is awarded to medical students in honor of the lifetime contribution to health care made by Girod of Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and to assist new students of medicine to make similar contributions. The scholarship is coordinated by the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation and is designed to help residents of east Linn County who are attending medical school.

About Samaritan Health Services

We’re a nonprofit network of hospitals, clinics and health services caring for more than 290,000 residents in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast and portions of Marion and Polk counties. We work together to provide highly reliable and innovative medicine with world-class quality in a way that supports the values of the communities we serve. That includes caring for all people, regardless of their ability to pay.

Health Education Scholarships

One of the many keys to maintaining a healthy, prosperous community is ensuring a sustainable supply of excellent health care providers. To achieve this, Samaritan Health Services offers numerous scholarships to local students pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well continuing education or specialty training for current medical providers.

Each year, Samaritan awards more than $25,000 in scholarships for health care education to ensure the communities we serve receive the best care possible well into the future.

Samaritan Albany General Hospital Volunteer Services Scholarship

The Samaritan Albany General Hospital Volunteer Services is proud to offer scholarships each year for tuition, books and required program supplies to students pursuing higher education in a human medical field. Samaritan Albany General Hospital Gift Shop sales and miscellaneous special event proceeds are used to fund the scholarships.

Linn County students currently attending college and majoring in a medical field are invited to apply for the Samaritan Albany General Hospital Volunteer Services Scholarship. 

About Samaritan Health Services

We’re a nonprofit network of hospitals, clinics and health services caring for more than 290,000 residents in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast and portions of Marion and Polk counties. We work together to provide highly reliable and innovative medicine with world-class quality in a way that supports the values of the communities we serve. That includes caring for all people, regardless of their ability to pay.

Health Education Scholarships

One of the many keys to maintaining a healthy, prosperous community is ensuring a sustainable supply of excellent health care providers. To achieve this, Samaritan Health Services offers numerous scholarships to local students pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well continuing education or specialty training for current medical providers.

Each year, Samaritan awards more than $25,000 in scholarships for health care education to ensure the communities we serve receive the best care possible well into the future.

North Lincoln Hospital Foundation Medical Training Scholarship

The North Lincoln Hospital Foundation is committed to supporting the growth and development of healthcare professionals. Through the Medical Training Scholarship program, eligible applicants can receive up to $1,500 to help cover tuition costs for certification programs or degrees in nursing, diagnostic imaging, laboratory sciences, and other medical or technical fields.  

About Samaritan Health Services

We’re a nonprofit network of hospitals, clinics and health services caring for more than 290,000 residents in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast and portions of Marion and Polk counties. We work together to provide highly reliable and innovative medicine with world-class quality in a way that supports the values of the communities we serve. That includes caring for all people, regardless of their ability to pay.

Health Education Scholarships

One of the many keys to maintaining a healthy, prosperous community is ensuring a sustainable supply of excellent health care providers. To achieve this, Samaritan Health Services offers numerous scholarships to local students pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, as well continuing education or specialty training for current medical providers.

Each year, Samaritan awards more than $25,000 in scholarships for health care education to ensure the communities we serve receive the best care possible well into the future.

Mary Decker Scholarship

The North Lincoln Hospital Foundation is honored to offer scholarships to aspiring health care professionals who live in Lincoln County. The Mary Decker Scholarship Fund was created in 2006 with the support of many friends and colleagues in the health care community and the North Lincoln Health District Board. The intent is to honor and recognize Mary’s many years of service to her community and the state by providing scholarships to further career development in health care. The fund provides scholarships for qualified applicants to pursue a degree in a medical or paramedical field at an accredited school of their choice.