Best Capacity Building Grants for Nonprofits in Maryland

The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund Grant, established in 2024, supports innovative floriculture research and education. This partnership between the Gloeckner Foundation and AFE aims to enhance advancements in floriculture through substantial funding. Grants are available for university and college projects, emphasizing significant research importance and public accessibility. Projects can include funding for research assistants and must be accompanied by detailed outlines. Indirect costs and salaries are not covered.

The Clarence and Bonnie Shaffer Scholarship, administered by the Marshall County Community Foundation, aims to support students affiliated with Trinity United Methodist Church pursuing post-secondary education in ministry, music ministry, or education. Preference is given to first-year undergraduates, but graduate students may also qualify if no undergraduates apply. This scholarship represents a commitment to nurturing local talent and fostering educational opportunities within the community.

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Mary E. Berger Scholarship Fund

The Mary E. Berger Scholarship was established with a gift from Mary E. Berger and a future gift by the estate of Mary E. Berger to assist high school students who wish to attend college or university or professional school to pursue studies in art, music, history, political science, English, journalism and related liberal arts subject.

Scholarship Overview

Since 1980, the Northern New York Community Foundation has awarded more than $28 million in scholarships to students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

Evergreen STEM Scholarship

The Evergreen STEM Scholarship is a $3,000 award for the first year of undergraduate study. Scholarship award decisions will be made in the summer 2026. Scholarship award checks are not presented until summer 2027 as students head to college.

The Transformative Organizing Grants, funded by the Arch Community Fund, aim to bolster grassroots movements advocating for systemic change. These grants, ranging from $15,000 to $25,000, prioritize organizations with 501(c)(3) status and an annual budget under $1 million. The focus is on empowering community leadership through anti-capitalist solutions, promoting intersectionality, and addressing immediate needs while fostering long-term structural change. Eligible groups are encouraged to apply for support in their transformative organizing efforts.

The Gryphon Scholarship Program, administered by Scholarship America Inc., aims to support high school seniors and recent graduates from select metropolitan areas pursuing full-time undergraduate studies. With a focus on students demonstrating financial need, this initiative aligns with Scholarship America's mission to eliminate financial barriers to education. By fostering access and affordability for underserved communities, the program empowers students to achieve their academic goals while also promoting responsible debt management in their educational journey.

About RWJF

At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we take bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We take our responsibilities seriously, and pledge to work in ways that reflect our values.

Connecting Champions for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Health Professions

RWJF seeks to fund one lead organization or consortium to serve as a national network-weaver for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the health professions. The selected grantee will connect and support leaders, organizations, and institutions across the ecosystem, strengthening relationships, aligning strategy and communications, and facilitating shared learning and collective action. By building the connections and infrastructure needed for collaboration, the grantee will help advance belonging, accountability, and systems change across health professions education and healthcare institutions.

Achieving a healthcare system grounded in equity requires both a diverse health professions workforce and institutions committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). While diverse teams improve quality of care and health outcomes, RWJF has learned that increasing representation alone is insufficient without addressing structural and institutional barriers that shape belonging, leadership, advancement, and accountability. Structural racism and other forms of systemic inequity continue to limit opportunity across the health professions education and healthcare institutions.

Lasting change requires not only supporting diverse leaders, but also strengthening connections among educational institutions, healthcare organizations, professional associations, accrediting and credentialing bodies, students, advocates, community actors, and others within the health professions ecosystem, whose relationships, actions, practices, and mindsets shape health outcomes for the communities they serve. These relationships create the support, trust, shared learning, and coordinated action necessary to advance DEIB and build a more equitable healthcare system. 

Timothy B. Snyder Memorial Scholarship Fund

Fund provides financial scholarships to deserving young men and women from high schools in the counties of Botetourt, Halifax and Shenandoah.

Amount

• $1,000+

The Ed & Mildred Schroeder Scholarship, offered by the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, aims to enhance the quality of life in the Coastal Bend through educational support. This scholarship is available to graduating seniors or current college students pursuing a degree in education, demonstrating financial need, and enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. By providing effective grants and scholarships, the foundation fosters community philanthropy and addresses local educational needs.

The Rachael and Ben Vaughan Foundation offers grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 for projects focused on animal rights, education, environmental preservation, poverty reduction, and religious initiatives. The foundation prioritizes local Texas projects but accepts applications from outside the state. Grants are awarded only to tax-exempt organizations, and projects should be completed within twelve months. The foundation aims to support initiatives that benefit local communities without duplicating existing efforts.

The Latham Foundation for the Promotion of Humane Education, established in 1918, emphasizes humane education to foster kindness and respect for all living beings. With a focus on innovative programs for teenagers and animal-assisted activities, the foundation invites U.S. organizations, particularly nonprofits, to apply for grants. However, funding does not extend to capital projects, salaries, or conference travel. Latham aims to instill core values that promote compassion within communities and across nations.

The Musician Health & Services Program, funded by The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, provides essential support for professional musicians facing financial hardships due to medical or mental health issues. This program offers navigation assistance to help applicants access healthcare resources and financial aid for living and medical expenses. Eligible participants include musicians and music industry professionals residing in Oregon or Clark County, Washington. The program aims to alleviate the financial burdens associated with medical treatments and living costs.

The John Ben Snow Prize, awarded by the North American Conference on British Studies, recognizes the best book by a North American scholar focusing on British Studies from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. This prestigious annual award includes a $500 prize and encourages authors who are U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents to submit their works. Nominations can be made by authors or publishers, with discretion advised for multiple entries.

The Donaghue Foundation's Greater Value Portfolio Grant Program aims to enhance healthcare value by funding innovative research projects for two years, with awards up to $400,000. It encourages proposals that address issues such as high costs, disparities, and inefficiencies in care. Eligible applicants include Ph.D. researchers at nonprofit institutions partnered with healthcare organizations. The program seeks actionable solutions to improve patient care and reduce the burden of low-value healthcare on communities.

The Judith R. Walkowitz Article Prize, awarded annually by the North American Conference on British Studies, recognizes the best published article addressing gender and sexuality in British culture. This prize honors Professor Walkowitz’s significant contributions to the fields of gender and cultural studies. Open to scholars in North America, it encourages diverse perspectives across disciplines and time periods, with a cash award of $250 to support ongoing research and scholarship in British Studies.

The M.A. Essay Prize, awarded by the North American Conference on British Studies (NACBS), recognizes exceptional original research by students in stand-alone M.A. programs in the U.S. and Canada. With a prize of $500, it encourages scholarly excellence and invites winners to submit their work for publication. Faculty nominations are required, ensuring deserving candidates receive recognition for their academic contributions, thereby fostering a vibrant academic community within British studies.

The NACBS Undergraduate Essay Prize, awarded by The North American Conference on British Studies, recognizes outstanding essays on British topics from undergraduates at U.S. and Canadian universities. Each year, up to eight prizes of $100 are given, encouraging submissions from diverse fields including History, English, and Cultural Studies. This initiative aims to promote scholarly engagement with British Studies, fostering a deeper understanding of its historical and cultural contexts during the 2023-24 academic year.

Feld Entertainment's Charitable Contributions aim to support children in need through various initiatives. Their donations have significantly impacted organizations like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They offer cash and in-kind contributions to help underserved communities, providing tickets to nonprofit youth organizations and funding educational programs in the performing arts. Employees are encouraged to engage in local charity events, reinforcing the company's commitment to making a difference in the communities they serve.

The Dennis Schuman Charitable Foundation Grant supports qualified Jewish organizations and charities in the United States, focusing on arts, education, health, human services, public benefit, and religion. Established by Dennis Schuman, the foundation continues his philanthropic legacy, providing funding exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. Organizations must be exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to qualify for funding.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking to enhance the Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN) through the establishment of a Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) and Data Coordinating Center (DCC). This initiative aims to improve emergency care outcomes by supporting trials that focus on effective treatments for non-stroke neurological and cardiovascular emergencies. Although applications are not currently being solicited, this notice allows potential applicants to prepare collaborative proposals.

The Univest Local Philanthropic Giving Program has a rich history of supporting local communities for over 150 years. With a focus on youth education, health services, economic development, and arts, Univest empowers registered nonprofits in Greater Philadelphia and beyond. Their commitment is evident through employee volunteerism and financial contributions, ensuring stronger community ties. This program primarily supports Univest customers, reinforcing the belief that a strong business is rooted in a thriving community.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from a high school in Lackawanna County who demonstrates academic excellence, good citizenship, participation in athletics, and who is active in a faith or religious-based organization.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from a high school in Luzerne County who demonstrates academic excellence, good citizenship, participation in athletics, and who is active in a faith or religious-based organization.

The Indigo Oak Fund, based in Colorado, is dedicated to enhancing education, the arts, and social justice, particularly through its Equal Justice Under the Law Grant Program. This initiative supports organizations that promote fairness in the justice system, rehabilitation, and civic engagement. By funding programs focused on personal empowerment and equal opportunities, the fund aims to foster lifelong learning and improve lives, particularly for women and children in need.

The SC Ministry Foundation provides annual grants aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations aligned with the mission of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. These grants can be used for core programs, planning, and program expansion. Eligible organizations must demonstrate financial sustainability and avoid duplication of services. The application process starts with a pre-application survey, and funding decisions are typically made by June 30. Priority is given to projects in education, healthcare, and social services.

The Historical Transportation Marker Program provides grants to commemorate significant transportation methods used before 1945, such as canals, bridges, railroads, and aircraft. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities in the U.S. Grants aim to recognize historical facts with clear inscriptions, supported by documentation, while ensuring markers are publicly accessible near existing sites. This initiative highlights the evolution of transportation and its impact on community development.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology to support innovative research at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Biological Sciences. These fellowships aim to cultivate expertise in both fields, enabling scientists to leverage AI for breakthroughs in biotechnology and bio-system design. The program encourages proposals that utilize existing biological data and infrastructure to enhance discovery and innovation, ultimately benefiting human lives and the U.S. economy.