Best Grants for Global Health in Massachusetts

The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation Grant Program supports 501(c)3 non-profits dedicated to making real food accessible and fostering community growth. Established in 2011, this initiative aligns with Chipotle's mission to cultivate a better world. Eligible organizations can apply through an invitation-only process, focusing on those paving the way for a better future. The foundation also offers mentorship and resources to innovative ventures in the food industry.

The Jerry and Martha Taylor Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, supports students from Rock Island County pursuing post-secondary education. With awards of up to $1,000, this scholarship is not renewable and is open to applicants with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Preference is given to students majoring in journalism, theater arts, or special education, or those attending accredited trade schools.

The SAF National Awards Program recognizes outstanding contributions to forestry through various awards, including the Employer Leadership Award. This award honors employers who significantly support SAF members' professional engagement. Recipients receive a $500 honorarium, complimentary convention registration, and travel expense support. The program aims to celebrate the achievements of individuals and organizations in promoting sustainable forestry practices and enhancing professional development, ultimately driving excellence in natural resource management.

The SAF National Awards Program celebrates outstanding contributions to forestry through various awards, including the Outstanding Local Unit Achievement Award. This award recognizes local units for their sustained leadership or special projects that benefit the Society of American Foresters and the forestry profession. Each awarded unit receives a $500 honorarium, complimentary convention registration, and funding for travel expenses, ensuring recognition and support for their impactful efforts in forestry.

The New Mexico Veterans Memorial Scholarship, established in 2024, supports graduating high school seniors in New Mexico who embody the Medal of Honor Core Values: Courage, Sacrifice, Integrity, Commitment, Patriotism, and Citizenship. This scholarship encourages students to explore and reflect on these values through a personal essay and community service. Preference is given to students from Albuquerque High Schools, fostering a commitment to excellence and civic duty among the youth.

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 Gifford Pinchot Medal, awarded by the Society of American Foresters, honors exceptional contributions by forestry professionals in North America. Recognizing achievements in administration and practice, this medal is presented every odd-numbered year at the SAF national convention. Recipients receive a $500 honorarium, complimentary registration, and up to $500 for travel expenses. This prestigious award highlights the importance of leadership and innovation in the forestry profession.

The Cancer Prevention and Control Programs aim to eliminate cancer through collaborative efforts among state, territorial, and tribal organizations. Funded by the CDC, this program supports initiatives such as breast and cervical cancer screening, cancer control planning, and cancer surveillance. By fostering partnerships and community involvement, the program seeks to improve health outcomes and achieve the mission of 'All People Free of Cancer.' This comprehensive approach ensures that resources are effectively coordinated to address the cancer burden in communities.

The Presenter Consortium for Jazz Grant, offered by Chamber Music America, supports U.S.-based presenters collaborating to engage professional jazz ensembles. This grant provides up to $39,000 for expenses like ensemble fees, concert production, and marketing. Each consortium can include up to three presenters and aims to enhance the jazz experience through live performances and streamed concerts. Eligible projects must involve CMA’s New Jazz Works grantees, fostering creativity and community engagement in jazz.

The SAF National Awards Program recognizes exceptional contributions to forestry through its Honorary Membership award. This accolade is presented to individuals whose impact on the field is acknowledged by their peers, highlighting their distinguished service in advancing forestry knowledge and societal awareness. Awardees receive lifetime membership in SAF along with complimentary convention registration. The program seeks to honor those, including non-professional foresters, who have made significant strides in forestry, both domestically and internationally.

In 2025, the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County awarded over $233,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors of the county’s public and private high schools. Nearly 50 different students earned money toward their college costs. Scholarships are available for a variety of applicants. Some are specific to schools, majors, need, or interests.

CFMJC scholarships may be used for tuition and related expenses like fees and required equipment at accredited colleges and universities. Room and board are not covered.

Madison Chautauqua Scholarship for the Arts in Memory of Bob Fourhman

Criteria evaluated:

• Letter of recommendation and artwork samples

Required materials:

• Letter of recommendation from a person knowledgeable about your talent and accomplishments in your art form; and
• An uploaded sample of your work (maximum 3 photos or 1 short video/audio clip)

Scholarship amount:

• $1,200 | 1 scholarship

The SAF National Awards Program includes the John A. Beale Memorial Award, recognizing exceptional voluntary service in forestry by SAF members. Established to honor John Beale's legacy, this award is presented at the SAF national convention and includes a $500 honorarium, complimentary registration, and up to $500 for travel expenses. Nominees must demonstrate sustained commitment to the SAF and its mission, showcasing leadership and promotion of forestry principles.

The Young Forester Leadership Award, presented by the Society of American Foresters (SAF), recognizes exceptional leadership from young forestry professionals under 40 years old. This award highlights contributions to forestry through innovative projects and sustained leadership roles. Recipients receive a $500 honorarium, complimentary registration for the SAF national convention, and support for travel expenses up to $500. This prestigious accolade aims to encourage the next generation of forestry leaders to excel in their professional endeavors.

The 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program aims to enhance the capabilities of eligible institutions by fostering collaboration with federal and non-federal entities. This initiative supports the White House's commitment to promote excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). By strengthening institutional teaching, research, and extension capacities, the program helps ensure that HBCUs can effectively contribute to innovative solutions in education and community development.

The Cancer Prevention and Control Programs aim to enhance cancer outcomes by funding partnerships among national, state, territorial, and tribal organizations. These initiatives focus on evidence-based strategies for cancer surveillance, prevention, and control, specifically targeting breast and cervical cancer screening for underserved populations. Through collaboration, the program seeks to improve clinical services and cancer survivorship, ultimately striving towards the vision of 'All People Free of Cancer' by leveraging resources and community involvement.

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 HIV Care Grant Program aims to enhance access to comprehensive, high-quality HIV care and treatment for low-income individuals in Pacific Island territories. Funded by the US HHS: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), this initiative supports states and territories in developing effective systems of care, ensuring that those affected by HIV receive the necessary treatment and support to improve health outcomes.

The Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation aims to enhance the lives of children and young adults in the U.S. by providing financial support to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on arts, education, health, and welfare. Grants, capped at $10,000, must be utilized within one year and are not automatically renewable. The foundation seeks to support smaller charities that may not receive broad public backing, thus creating a more significant impact on individual communities.

This grant aims to enhance national immunization programs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region by focusing on capacity building, disease control, and outbreak response. It seeks to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce morbidity and mortality, and improve access for under-immunized populations. The initiative will promote sustainability through evidence-based decision-making and program evaluation, aligning with CDC goals to address public health threats and improve overall immunization impact in the region.

The SAF National Awards Program recognizes excellence in forestry through various awards, including the Award in Forest Science. This award acknowledges significant research contributions in quantitative, economic, managerial, and social sciences, promoting advancements in forestry. Recipients receive a $1,000 honorarium, a complimentary SAF convention registration, and travel expense support. Established in 1996, this award highlights the importance of innovative research that impacts both national and international forestry practices.

City of Boston Office of Workforce Development 

The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) works toward the full participation of all Boston residents in the city’s economic vitality and future. It connects low-income residents with job training and employment opportunities. It also promotes lifelong literacy and educational pathways.

OWD focuses on competitive workforce development initiatives and policies. These initiatives aim to put Boston’s youth and adults on career paths toward economic security. OWD stresses the importance of collaboration with the City’s workforce development and education initiatives. The emphasis is on empowering Bostonians to fulfill their educational and employment aspirations.

Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a U.S. Department of Labor program to serve youth who face education, training, and employment barriers.

Grant Description

WIOA Youth funding is a US Department of Labor formulary grant for youth facing education, training, and employment barriers. Information and resources on WIOA Youth are available on the Department of Labor’s website. The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) manages WIOA Youth funding in partnership with the Boston MassHire Workforce Board and its Youth Council, and under the supervision of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Under this Request for Grant Applications (RFGA), organizations will be eligible for up to three years of funding on this schedule: FY26, the open and competitive year during which applications may be submitted by all eligible entities, FY27, the first year of refunding open only to awardees from the previous year, and FY28, the second year of potential refunding. 

Overview

OWD envisions an integrated and coordinated system of services that stabilizes marginalized youth and transitions them towards career-oriented education, training, and employment. For FY27, consistent with WIOA federal guidelines, we will prioritize programs and services that place out-of-school youth ages 18-24 on a pathway toward post-secondary attainment or career-level employment.

Our systemwide goals are also as follows:

• Youth are on a pathway to and through post-secondary education or training;
• Youth have access to evidence-based services designed to eliminate barriers to employment and training;
• Youth have access to timely, high-quality, and specialized services representing the required 14 program elements stipulated by WIOA, particularly stabilization services;
• OWD and providers have meaningful and high-quality data to improve services and outcomes for youth;
• We invest time, money, and staff resources in building a coordinated system with connections both between organizations and linkages to broader networks of economic opportunity.

With our system-wide goals in mind, five key principles guided the selection of FY26-funded programs:

• Programs are framed around a multi-step intervention model;
• Programs have well-defined and robust transition processes to the post-program step;
• Program policies and protocols are evidence-based and appropriate for the population;
• Youth are on a pathway to the attainment of post-secondary credentials needed for employment in high-demand occupations;
• Programs leverage multiple internal and external partnerships to ensure the integration of high-quality, youth-focused services. 

Under WIOA regulations, "low-income " is defined to include youth living in a high-poverty area, homeless individuals, foster children, or recipients of SNAP, SSI, or income-based public assistance. A high-poverty area is defined as a Census tract, a set of contiguous Census tracts, an Indian Reservation, tribal land, or a Native Alaskan Village or county that has a poverty rate of at least 25% as set every five years using the American Community Survey 5-Year data. Our definition of homelessness encompasses both youth who meet the standard established by the McKinney-Vento Act as well as youth experiencing housing instability, couch-surfing, or other forms of instability outside the Act’s definition. 

Priority Target Populations

Within the above eligibility requirements under WIOA, the Boston Private Industry Council and Office of Workforce Development have determined the following priority target populations under this RFGA:

• Out-of-school youth between the ages of 18-24 years old.
• Court-involved; homeless or runaway; in foster care or aged out of the foster care system; pregnant or parenting; youth living with a disability; young men of color; documented immigrant youth.
• Low-income youth who are: identified as having foundational skills needed or English Language Learners, residing in Boston Housing Authority (BHA) facilities or utilizing a housing voucher, in post-secondary schools with a GPA less than 2.0, living in a single-parent household, truant, residing in a high-poverty area, or failed the MCAS in the most recent round.
• Individuals with disabilities who need pre-employment transition services, including job exploration, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, self-advocacy instruction, counseling on enrollment opportunities in comprehensive transition or post-secondary education programs, and instruction in self-advocacy to maximize opportunities for competitive, integrated employment. 

Out-of-School Youth Eligibility

• Resident of Boston
• U.S. Right to Work Documentation
• Selective Service registration for males
• Not attending any school (as defined under State law)
• Not younger than 18 or older than age 24 at time of enrollment. Because age eligibility is based on age at enrollment, participants may continue to receive services beyond the age of 24 once they are enrolled in the program; and One or more of the following: A school dropout; a recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low-income individual and is either basic skills deficient or an English language learner; an offender; a homeless individual, a homeless child or youth, or a runaway; in foster care or has aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under sec. 477 of the Social Security Act; pregnant or parenting; an individual with a disability; and a low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

Burger Family Foundatio

Our Mission

Inspired by our daughter Penelope and the powerful symbolism of the extra 21st chromosome, our foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Through direct financial assistance, therapy, community, and the healing power of ranch life, we’re building spaces that foster hope, purpose, and belonging.

Pens Pearls

Named after Penelope, Pens Pearls is the financial support arm of our foundation, providing direct assistance to families navigating the unique joys and challenges of raising a child with a disability. From therapy grants to life-changing opportunities, we’re here to lighten the load and ensure every child has the resources they need to thrive.

Through Pens Pearls, eligible families can apply for funding to help cover essential needs, services, or opportunities that make a meaningful impact in their lives. The Burger Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and this program is one of the ways we work to create lasting change—one story at a time.

Qualifications for Pens Pearls Grant Program, are deemed by the strict bylaws of the Burger Family Foundation. Funds are paid directly to provider. 

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Rita Reis Wieczorek Scholarship for Maternal-Infant and Pediatric Nursing

Created in 2020, by Rita Reis Wieczorek, EdD, RN, PNP, FAAN, together with NEF. Dr. Wieczorek is an NEF Board Member Emeritus and longtime board member. This scholarship is the first NEF Scholarship to focus on maternal-infant and pediatric nursing. For over four decades Dr. Wieczorek has devoted her career to providing the best maternal-infant and pediatric care to her patients as well as teaching the highest standards of care to master's and doctoral nursing students, motivating them to excel in their care for the well-being of mothers, infants and children.

The Mentored Career Development Award (K01) from the NIH aims to diversify the biomedical research workforce by supporting candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. It provides mentoring and training in research independence, focusing on cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic diseases, and sleep disorders. Eligible institutions can guide faculty members in special studies, but applicants should not lead their own clinical trials. This initiative promotes diversity and enhances research capability in health disparities populations.

RRCU Gives Foundation Grant

Mission Statement:

RRCU Gives strengthens our region by providing meaningful financial support to nonprofits addressing hunger, housing, and financial education. Through our annual grant awards and major funding initiatives, we help local organizations grow, thrive, and create lasting change.

 We award grants annually, with applications in June and awards in August.

Focus Areas

• Hunger
• Housing
• Financial Education