Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Massachusetts

The Dayton Daily News Si Burick Scholarship honors the legacy of sports editor Si Burick, awarded annually to a graduating senior from specific counties in Ohio pursuing journalism. The scholarship emphasizes academic success and journalistic aspirations, supporting students with a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need. Established by The Dayton Foundation, this initiative reflects a commitment to fostering talent in journalism while contributing to the community's cultural and educational landscape.

The Dorothy Reynolds Scholarship, established by The Dayton Foundation in 2013, supports seniors graduating from Dayton Public High Schools or members of St. Benedict the Moor Church. Eligible candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate leadership, provide community service records, and show financial need. Additionally, applicants must submit proof of acceptance to an accredited college or university. This scholarship aims to empower students in the Greater Dayton area to pursue higher education.

The Dunbar High School - Carson/Byars Scholarship Fund, established by The Dayton Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Dayton Public Schools who have participated in varsity sports. This scholarship aims to recognize scholar-athletes who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement, and personal growth. By providing financial assistance, the fund encourages these students to pursue higher education and continue their journey of success. The Dayton Foundation, a key philanthropic partner in Greater Dayton, has a long history of supporting education and community development.

The It Gets Better Project is offering 50 grants of up to $10,000 each to public and charter schools across the U.S. to enhance inclusivity for LGBTQ+ youth. Schools can propose projects such as enhancing library resources, artistic installations, or establishing support groups. The initiative aims to empower LGBTQ+ students and foster a supportive environment, ensuring that every school can participate in uplifting their communities and promoting equality.

The Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Awards, established by the National PTA, recognize excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion among PTAs. These awards honor outstanding efforts to foster inclusivity and end discrimination, celebrating PTAs that actively promote these values. Each year, three awards are granted to state, district, and local PTAs, with winners receiving cash awards, plaques, and recognition at the National PTA Convention, enhancing community engagement and commitment to educational equity.

The Dayton Catholic Women's Club Scholarship, established in 2010, supports female high school graduates of the Roman Catholic faith in their pursuit of higher education. With a commitment to promoting unity and cooperation among Catholic women since 1923, this scholarship awards $1,000 to eligible applicants who demonstrate financial need and are members of a Dayton area Roman Catholic Church. This initiative reflects the organization's dedication to educational advancement and community support.

The Dayton Daily News Community Solutions Scholarship, established in 2005 in honor of Mike Peters, aims to support graduating seniors from Miami Valley high schools. This $1000 scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate academic success and a commitment to solving community issues. Applicants must have been accepted into an accredited college or university and provide insights into their community contributions and future plans for impact. This initiative fosters civic engagement and supports future leaders.

The Established Clinician Investigator Award to Support Mentoring (KS1) is designed to provide established clinician investigators with dedicated time for mentoring early-career clinician research scientists. This initiative by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health (NIH) aims to enhance the quality of mentorship, fostering the development of future leaders in clinical research. It supports a sustained commitment to training and guidance, ensuring a robust pipeline of skilled professionals.

The Cecilia Hollis Memorial Scholarship, established in 1995, supports students from the Miami Valley, Ohio, pursuing degrees in engineering, technology, or industrial technology. This renewable scholarship offers $2,000 to both graduating high school seniors and current college students. Eligible applicants must be accepted to or enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or university and should aim to major in the specified fields, ensuring a bright future in technical careers.

The Beachler Family Scholarship, established by the Beachler Family, supports students from Northmont High School in pursuing a business administration degree. Eligible candidates include graduating seniors or college students from Northmont who are accepted into an accredited college or trade school. The scholarship awards $3,500 to assist with educational expenses, promoting further education and career development in business.

The Gusto Impact Awards, launched by Gusto, honor small businesses making significant contributions to their communities. With $325,000 in prizes across five regions, winners will receive advertising and cash rewards to enhance their impact. Eligible candidates are small businesses in the U.S. with under 75 employees and less than $7 million in revenue. This initiative celebrates local heroes, from baristas to nonprofits, showcasing the vital role of small enterprises in driving community progress.

The Excellence in Community Practice Award, presented by the Society for Vascular Surgery, honors members demonstrating exceptional leadership in their communities as practicing vascular surgeons. This prestigious award recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to patient care and community health, showcasing their commitment to advancing vascular surgery. Nominees must have a minimum of 20 years of experience and be SVS members for at least 5 years, highlighting their dedication to the field.

The Mentored Career Transition Award (KT1/R00) offers a biphasic funding opportunity for up to 5 years, supporting the transition of postdoctoral researchers to independent faculty positions. The first phase provides 1-2 years of mentored career development, while the second phase grants up to 3 years of independent research support, contingent upon satisfactory progress and faculty appointment. This grant aims to enhance the capacity of early-career researchers in achieving research-intensive roles.

The Elaine M. Hothem Memorial Scholarship, established by friends and family in 2023, honors the legacy of Elaine Hothem, a passionate advocate for education and literature. Administered by The Dayton Foundation, this scholarship supports graduating high school seniors and current college students from Centerville or Washington Township, Ohio, who plan to major in history, education, or library science. Recipients are expected to have a history of community involvement and extracurricular participation.

The IBMA Foundation is pleased to announce the permanent endowment of the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship, funded by a $50,000 gift from Rick and Wendy Lang of New Hampshire. Rick Lang is a GRAMMY-nominated writer who serves as the chair of the IBMA Songwriter Committee and volunteers with the IBMA Songwriter Mentor Program.

The Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship is awarded annually to a student planning to study songwriting at the college level. Applicants are not required to have a declared major in songwriting, but they must already have demonstrated skills as a songwriter and plan to further their study of the art on a higher education level. Applicants must be current IBMA members. 

The first two recipients of this scholarship were Heather Alley (2020), a student at Morehead State University in Morehead, KY, and Jessica Lang (2021, no relation to the donors), a student at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

“Our goal with the scholarship is to help our youth be able to afford to further their educations in the music field and realize their dreams,” the Langs said. “Young people are the future of bluegrass music, and we are glad to be able to help them along their journey! We are beyond excited about finally endowing the scholarship. This means it will perpetuate and be available to students each and every year.”

The new endowed fund is held at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in Nashville, TN, which invests and administers more than $500 million in charitable funds. The Rick Lang Music Songwriter Endowment Fund will distribute annual income to the IBMA Foundation to use in funding one or more Rick Lang Music Songwriter college scholarships each year and for expenses of administering that scholarship program.

Gifts to support this endowed scholarship are welcome from additional individuals, organizations and corporations interested in supporting the future of bluegrass songwriting.  

The Neil Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award, presented by the IBMA Foundation, recognizes emerging academic scholars who deliver exceptional research on bluegrass music at juried conferences. Recipients earn a $500 honorarium and entry to the IBMA Business Conference and Awards Show. This award honors Neil Rosenberg, a prominent bluegrass historian, and aims to support graduate students and recent PhDs in their scholarly endeavors, promoting the preservation and study of bluegrass culture.

The Freda B. Kirby Scholarship, established by The Dayton Foundation, provides financial support for graduating high school students from the Miami Valley to pursue higher education at community colleges or universities. This renewable scholarship emphasizes the importance of academic achievement, requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA. The Dayton Foundation, a leading philanthropic organization since 1921, is dedicated to enhancing the community's social and economic well-being through strategic grantmaking and support for education, workforce development, and other vital initiatives.

The Mike Auldridge Memorial Scholarship, established by the IBMA Foundation, honors the legacy of Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Mike Auldridge. It awards a $1,000 to $2,000 scholarship to students studying Dobro, steel guitar, or acoustic guitar at the college level. Applications are due by June 1 for the fall semester. This initiative supports the foundation's goal of fostering bluegrass music education and preserving its rich heritage.

The Katy Daley Broadcast Media & Sound Engineering Scholarship, funded by the IBMA Foundation, supports individuals pursuing studies in broadcasting or sound engineering with a bluegrass music focus. Annually, $2,000 scholarships are available to current IBMA members, including adults seeking continuing education. Eligible fields include radio, television, digital media, and sound engineering. The application deadline is June 1 for fall semester scholarships, promoting professional involvement in the bluegrass music industry.

The J. D. Crowe Banjo Scholarship, established by the IBMA Foundation, honors the legacy of renowned bluegrass musician J. D. Crowe. Funded by a generous $20,000 donation from Arthur Hancock III, this scholarship aims to support aspiring banjo players pursuing their education at the collegiate level. Eligible candidates must showcase high performance skills on the banjo and demonstrate a commitment to the bluegrass music industry, ensuring Crowe's influence continues for future generations.

Our Story

The IBMA Foundation was created by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2007 with a bequest from the Richard Barnhart estate. Mr. Barnhart was a musician from northern Virginia who loved bluegrass and wanted to support educational programs for children. Since the beginning, our goal has been to support bluegrass-music-related educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities.

In our early years we produced Discover Bluegrass, an educational video that has been used in thousands of classrooms and libraries around the world. We have hosted dozens of teacher workshops and artist trainings. We created a bluegrass lesson plan competition and provided a network for leaders of after-school bluegrass programs.

Our project grants, which now total $25,000 a year, support bluegrass-related initiatives throughout the world. We also fund Bluegrass in the Schools Mini-grants ($7,000/year) which help schools to hire bluegrass bands for school programs. The Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award recognizes excellence in academic research. Six college scholarships are granted for students working in various areas of the bluegrass music industry. The Arnold Shultz Fund supports increased participation of people of color in bluegrass music with grants that total $30,000/ year. Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants for Young Musicians (age 18 and younger) help young people go to bluegrass music camps and workshops, take lessons, and purchase educational materials.

IBMA  Foundation Project Grants

The IBMA Foundation awards project grants each year, usually in amounts between $1,000 and $2,500. The deadline to apply is December 2. Projects must align with the Foundation’s mission in one of the following areas

• Arts & culture
• Education
• Literary or academic programs
• History preservation

The IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship offers a financial award ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 for students pursuing bluegrass music or related studies at the college level. Established by the IBMA Foundation, this scholarship aims to support future leaders in the bluegrass music industry. Applicants must submit their application by June 1 for a fall semester scholarship. This initiative highlights the foundation's commitment to fostering educational opportunities within bluegrass music.

The John and Charlotte Michael Family Memorial Scholarship, established in 1995 by The Dayton Foundation, honors the legacy of the Michael family by providing scholarships to students from Germantown, Farmersville, and Jefferson Township. This initiative reflects the Foundation's commitment to philanthropy, community development, and educational support, ensuring that deserving students have access to opportunities that foster their academic and personal growth.

The Jonathan Dewberry Porter Memorial Scholarship, established by the family of Jonathan Porter, a dedicated veteran and Central State University Upward Bound graduate, supports graduating seniors from the program. This scholarship aims to assist students who demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 2.0, helping them pursue further education at colleges or technical schools, thereby continuing Jonathan's legacy of aiding others in achieving their dreams.

The Julie Clare Bergman Scholarship, established in 1995 by family and friends, honors Julie's legacy by supporting students in graphic arts. It is aimed at high school seniors and current college students from Montgomery County, Ohio, who pursue a degree in graphic arts at accredited institutions. This scholarship prioritizes talent over academic performance and is geared towards those demonstrating financial need, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in the community.

The Justin McCurdy Memorial Scholarship, established by The Dayton Foundation, honors the legacy of Justin McCurdy, an aerospace engineer passionate about learning and sports. This scholarship supports graduating seniors from Springboro, Centerville, or Clearcreek Township with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who demonstrate a strong work ethic and financial need. It aims to empower students to continue their education at four-year colleges, fostering both academic and athletic excellence.

The Thomas L. McKenzie Research Award, offered by SHAPE America, supports emerging researchers in physical education and public health. With a funding pool exceeding $600,000 since 1997, it provides annual awards of up to $2,000 to graduate students and early career professionals (within 4 years of graduation) who are members of SHAPE America. The focus is on behavioral research related to physical activity, particularly in natural environments, contributing to disease prevention and promoting overall health.