Best Quality of Life Grants in Maryland

This grant opportunity from the US Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, aims to examine the effectiveness of family navigation models that divert non-urgent mental health concerns from emergency departments. The initiative seeks to enhance mental health service engagement, provide necessary resources, and support families in overcoming barriers to help-seeking. Key deadlines for applications range from February 2025 to October 2027.

The Delaney L. Wykle Nursing Scholarship, managed by the Beckley Area Foundation, aims to support nursing students from Raleigh and Summers counties in West Virginia. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, possess a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be enrolled in an accredited four-year nursing program. This scholarship helps empower students to achieve their educational goals while enhancing community health services in Southern West Virginia.

The ASSP Foundation Academic Scholarships provide vital financial support to students in environmental health and safety programs. With over $6 million awarded since 1990, the foundation aims to enhance career prospects through education and leadership development. In the 2024-2025 academic year, $215,000 was allocated to 117 recipients, fostering a sustainable talent pipeline in EHS. This initiative not only promotes the profession but also ensures a safer future for workers by encouraging new talent to enter the field.

The 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) Program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to enhance career pathways and professional networks in the museum sector. This initiative focuses on developing current museum staff, recruiting new professionals, and fostering partnerships that promote effective workforce training. By emphasizing peer learning and alternative career pathways, the program seeks to create a robust and diverse museum workforce across the nation.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $304 million in scholarships to more than 3,400 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive academic advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $136 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s scholarship programs are designed to encourage and support outstanding students who work hard and have financial need. Our scholarships provide financial assistance and academic support to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. In addition to the monetary award, students join a thriving network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars.

Young Scholars Program

The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for exceptionally promising 7th grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities.

Program Experience

Educational Advisers support Young Scholars to maximize high school experiences and to go on to thrive at the nation’s top-performing colleges. Our programming and support may include:

• Identifying an appropriately rigorous high school.
• Engaging in four-year planning and goal-setting.
• Funding for academic and extracurricular opportunities, such as music and art lessons, supplemental academic classes and technology.
• Annual summer programs, including two required Young Scholar programs.
• Year-round Young Scholars community programming.
• Networking opportunities with a high-achieving peer community.

The NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards aim to enhance the commercialization of innovative technologies for heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders. This program supports small businesses in developing promising projects that have previously received SBIR or STTR Phase II funding, facilitating their journey towards regulatory approval. The initiative emphasizes partnerships between awardees and investors, prioritizing applications that demonstrate a strong potential for clinical relevance and commercialization.

The NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Small Market Awards aim to accelerate the commercialization of innovative technologies targeting heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders. This funding opportunity addresses the significant gap between SBIR Phase II awards and regulatory approval. Small businesses focusing on rare diseases or young pediatric populations are encouraged to apply, fostering partnerships with investors and advocacy groups to advance projects toward commercialization and regulatory clearance.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching a funding opportunity for Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) as part of its effort to combat HIV/AIDS. This initiative aims to support innovative clinical trials and implementation research to improve prevention and treatment strategies. With a focus on both domestic and international research sites, CTUs will play a crucial role in addressing the HIV epidemic and enhancing participant recruitment and retention. This funding opportunity is authorized under the Public Health Service Act.

The Special Wildlife Funds - Duck Stamp Grants program in Canada focuses on the development of waterfowl propagation areas specifically for the Mississippi Flyway. It supports projects in Manitoba and Saskatchewan aimed at enhancing breeding populations of migratory waterfowl. This initiative is funded through the sale of State Migratory Waterfowl Stamps and is targeted at not-for-profit organizations dedicated to the conservation and promotion of wild waterfowl, ensuring sustainable habitats and effective management practices.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching a funding opportunity for up to four Clinical Trials Network Laboratory Centers (LCs). These LCs will support HIV prevention and treatment strategies by providing necessary laboratory infrastructure and technologies for clinical trials. They will ensure rigorous laboratory testing and oversight, enhance sample integrity, and utilize advanced data management systems to meet evolving demands in HIV research and testing.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is calling for applications for four Leadership and Operations Centers (LOCs) as part of its HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Network initiative. These LOCs will guide research on HIV therapeutics, prevention, and treatment strategies across diverse populations. The initiative aims to enhance evidence-based practices and improve health outcomes for individuals affected by HIV, ultimately contributing to the goal of ending the HIV epidemic.

The Helen M. Heitmann Young Scholar Award, presented by SHAPE America, honors young professionals who have made significant contributions to research in curriculum and instruction within health and physical education. Eligible candidates must be current SHAPE America members and have 3 to 6 years of experience post-doctorate. This award emphasizes active involvement and scholarship in the field, encouraging innovative research that enhances educational practices for preK-12 students.

The FY 2027 Service Area Competition (SAC) funding aims to enhance health services in underserved communities across the U.S. by providing grants for comprehensive preventive and primary care. This initiative allows for a competitive selection of service areas, ensuring that health centers can effectively deliver high-quality healthcare. Additional service areas may be announced throughout the year to accommodate changes in service availability, supporting continuous care for those in need.

The Curriculum and Instruction Honor Award, presented by SHAPE America, recognizes outstanding contributions to health and physical education curriculum research. This prestigious award highlights the importance of effective instructional practices that prepare students for active and healthy lives. Award recipients are selected based on their scholarship in health education and physical education, demonstrating commitment to excellence since the organization's founding in 1885. SHAPE America advocates for quality education and promotes the well-being of preK-12 students across the United States.

The Bob Zylstra STEM Scholarship, offered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, supports undergraduate students who identify as female or as students of color from West Michigan. This scholarship aims to empower students pursuing STEM majors by removing barriers to education and fostering diversity in these fields. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to help students achieve their academic and career aspirations.

About

Building a community of journalists committed to better health care reporting.

We believe accurate, contextual and balanced health care reporting is more important than ever.

People depend on health care stories to make life-altering decisions every day.

Awards, Grants, & Fellowships

Ambitious freelancers who want to tackle an in-depth reporting project often find that the fee from a potential publisher doesn’t come close to covering their costs and time. Grants and fellowships can fill that gap, but freelancers have to know about them in order to apply. In this section, the Freelance Center is compiling a list of non-AHCJ grants, fellowships and awards (for when the hard work is done).

Sunshine Award

Presented by AHCJ’s Right-to-Know Committee

AHCJ’s Right-to-Know Committee established the Sunshine Award at Health Journalism 2026 as a way to elevate the work of journalists like STAT’s Bob Herman who fight for government transparency. We plan to continue this tradition annually from now on. Award winners receive free registration and a one-night hotel stay for our annual conference, a free year of AHCJ membership, a trophy and a certificate.

The NIAID is focused on advancing the research and development of next-generation malaria vaccines, aiming to leverage innovative vaccine design techniques. This initiative not only aims to enhance malaria prevention but also serves as a model for combating other mosquito-borne diseases. By utilizing cutting-edge methods such as structure-based immunogen design and combination vaccines, the program seeks to significantly reduce both parasite infection rates and the overall disease burden associated with malaria.

About

Building a community of journalists committed to better health care reporting.

We believe accurate, contextual and balanced health care reporting is more important than ever.

People depend on health care stories to make life-altering decisions every day.

AHCJ U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship

This opportunity is for U.S.-based journalists.

Issues with the U.S. health care system are often obvious — from large swaths of uninsured residents and junk insurance plans, to high maternal mortality rates and preventable medical errors. But what is at the root of issues like these? What could an equitable health care system look like? 

Through the U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund, you can pursue a significant reporting project related to the U.S. health care system at the local, regional and/or national level.

This fellowship allows mid-career journalists to maintain their regular employment while working on a major project over a 12-month calendar year. You’ll pursue the projects with the support of your newsrooms or arranged outlets, which commit to publish or air the work.

We believe that issues of health equity impact every facet of the health care system, which is why we’re specifically interested in projects focused on health equity. This might include racial disparities within a community, gaps in public health inclusion, unstable housing, insurance access, food insecurity, violence as a health issue, how health care institutions or systems are applying a racial equity lens to their policies and practices or otherwise addressing inequities or disparities, or other examinations of systemic problems that have become so apparent over the last few years.

Guidance is provided by AHCJ mentors through customized seminars on health care systems, conference calls and email consultations. The fellowship covers the cost of attending the seminars and the annual AHCJ conference, as well as a $2,500 project allowance to defray the cost of field reporting, health data analysis and other project-related research. In addition, you will receive a $5,000 fellowship award upon the successful completion of the project.

The Cynthia and Alan Baran Fine Arts and Music Scholarship Fund, established by passionate artists Cynthia and Alan Baran, aims to support young individuals pursuing their dreams in visual arts and music. This fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, offers scholarships to rising college students majoring in Fine Arts or Music, emphasizing the importance of creativity and academic achievement. With a commitment to fostering talent, this initiative empowers future generations to thrive in the arts.

This funding opportunity invites renewal applications for existing NINDS-supported clinical trial cooperative agreements (U01) that require additional time and resources. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) expects applicants to request only what is necessary for trial completion, without introducing new aims. Discussions with NINDS prior to submission are encouraged. Eligible applications must be renewals of previously approved cooperative agreements under specified NIH funding announcements.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) will announce the Phased Large Awards for Comparative Effectiveness Research on December 2, 2025. This funding aims to support high-quality, patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research projects. The initiative encourages applicants to engage with patients and stakeholders to address critical healthcare dilemmas and improve decision-making. Projects should compare established clinical alternatives with evidence of efficacy, targeting vital health issues across diverse populations.

The Juliette P. Doster Scholarship Fund honors the legacy of Mrs. Doster, who dedicated forty years to improving healthcare in Calhoun County. This renewable scholarship supports students pursuing associate's or bachelor's degrees, as well as approved workforce training programs. Awarded yearly for up to four years, recipients must maintain academic standards. Funding varies based on the Community Foundation's annual income, and the award covers tuition, housing, supplies, and other educational expenses.

Stanislaus Community Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students in order to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We believe that by investing in our students, we are investing in a brighter future for Stanislaus. 

Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship Fund

Applicants must be students currently enrolled in a teaching credential program, current student teachers, current teacher interns, students enrolled in a speech therapy program, or students enrolled in a school psychology program. Colleges considered: CSU Stanislaus, U.C. Merced, U.O.P., UMass Global, Teachers College of San Joaquin, Sacramento State University and CSU East Bay.

Award Amount:

• $3,000

QBE Foundation Inc.

The QBE Foundation’s focus is on creating strong, resilient and inclusive communities. We work in partnership with community organizations, working in climate resilience and inclusion – two areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact.

The QBE Foundation is one component that reflects our company’s focus, involvement, and investment in the neighborhoods where we do business, and where our employees live and work. The QBE Foundation also empowers our employees to volunteer with colleagues and community partners to make a difference for those in need. Employees can also coordinate fundraisers that are matched by the foundation.

QBE Foundation Local Grant Program

This program supports high-impact, community-based initiatives aligned to our focus on climate resilience and inclusion.

• Climate Resilience:
  • Helping communities prepare for, adapt to, and recover from climate-related risks, including preparedness, financial resilience, and risk reduction solutions.
• Inclusion:
  • Expanding access to opportunity for underserved communities through economic inclusion, workforce pathways, and removing systemic barriers.

Multiple grants of $30,000 will be awarded across our two focus areas.

The Solid Waste Management Grant Program, administered by the USDA's Rural Utilities Service, invites applications for FY 2027 funding. This initiative aims to enhance solid waste management in rural communities through technical assistance and training. Eligible organizations can receive grants to develop sustainable waste management practices, addressing critical issues like water pollution and emerging contaminants, while promoting hazardous waste collection. This program supports operational improvements and capital financing applications to ensure long-term environmental health.

The Bob Skiera Memorial Fund Building Bridges Initiative Grant Program supports urban forestry research and collaboration. With a maximum award of $30,000, it aims to enhance communication between arborists, urban foresters, and various professionals. The program welcomes proposals that explore the benefits of urban forests, policy implementation, and ecosystem services. This initiative honors Bob Skiera's legacy, fostering trust and cooperation within the urban planning community for sustainable urban forestry practices.

The Parole Rotary Foundation Grant, established by the Rotary Club of Parole (Annapolis), aims to support local 501(c)(3) organizations in Anne Arundel County. With over 60 active members, the club focuses on educational and welfare programs for families and children. The foundation is funded through member donations and fundraising efforts, promoting impactful projects that align with its mission of making a positive difference for youth and the community.