Best Grants for Small Nonprofits in Michigan

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for the R33 grant aimed at advancing emerging technologies in cancer research. This funding opportunity seeks projects that demonstrate significant progress in technology development, focusing on cancer biology, early detection, and clinical diagnosis. Eligible proposals must showcase innovative methodologies that enhance research capabilities, with a strong emphasis on technical validation and broad applicability in cancer applications.

The First Book Grant for Scholars of Color (FBG) offers up to $55,000 to support early-career, pre-tenured scholars of color in completing significant research projects related to Christian faith and life, religious trends, and social issues. This grant aims to facilitate the publication of their first book, enhancing the connection between academic scholarship and the church in North America, while prioritizing projects that are already underway.

The Pulitzer Center offers U.S. Local News Reporting Grants aimed at supporting freelance and staff journalists in producing in-depth investigative reporting for local news outlets. This initiative seeks to amplify underreported stories crucial to community engagement, particularly those addressing systemic issues. The grants are available on a rolling basis, encouraging diverse voices in journalism. Applicants must provide a project description, budget estimate, and distribution plan to qualify for funding that covers essential reporting costs.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for innovative technologies aimed at cancer research and clinical care. This funding opportunity supports early-stage projects focused on proof-of-concept studies to assess the feasibility of new methods and tools. Applications should demonstrate significant technical innovation, targeting advancements in cancer biology, early detection, clinical diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology. Technologies may include novel analysis platforms, imaging technologies, and biospecimen processing innovations, with a focus on cancer applications.

Success Scholarship (NCF)

Provides scholarships to students in Council Rock School District who have received Emotional Support services during their school years.

The Community Foundation of Marquette County distributes over $130,000 annually in scholarships to benefit aspiring students in Marquette County.

Marquette Senior High School Class of 1977 Scholarship Fund 

Provides scholarships to MSHS graduating students who best represent the character, ideals and drive of the Class of 1977. The recipient shall use the scholarship to pursue a college degree or vocational education program of their choice. 

Distribution Process

• CFMC scholarship recipients will be contacted in June requesting student enrollment verification
• Scholarships can only be distributed once student’s information is received
• Scholarships will be distributed to the college/school/university indicated by student
• The scholarship must be used for tuition and fees required for the enrollment or attendance of the student at a qualifying educational institution; fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at such an educational institution; and room and board, within the first semester of first year of students enrollment
• That year’s recipient must claim the scholarship within that fiscal year to be distributed (by 12/31/xx)

The Alcon Foundation Grant aims to enhance eye care services and improve patient access, with a focus on educational and training programs. The foundation also supports cultural and community development initiatives that uplift the quality of life in areas where Alcon operates, including cities like Fort Worth, Houston, and Irvine. However, it does not fund non-501(c)(3) organizations, athletic leagues, or fundraising events, among other exclusions.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Marguerite C. Lucas Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by an anonymous donor, who established the Marquerite C. Lucas Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County in honor of Marquerite Lucas. Marguerite C. Lucas had great passion for education. She stressed the importance of perseverance and a "do what you have to do" attitude to pursue your dreams. Her legacy will continue through this scholarship geared towards helping women pursue an education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

About Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD) ALWD supports its members’ professional development as teachers, scholars, and leaders through both teaching and scholarship grants. These grants provide funding for legal writing professionals to pursue their scholarly interests and to develop innovative teaching materials. In funding grants, ALWD focuses on providing resources to those who do not have other sources of funding for these endeavors.

ALWD also supports projects that preserve the history of ALWD, honor community contributions, and make ALWD’s history accessible to scholars, teachers, and practitioners into the future.ALWD Teaching GrantsIn furtherance of ALWD’s commitment to the professional development of legal research and writing faculty, ALWD funds annual teaching grants that allow legal writing faculty to spend their summers exploring innovative teaching ideas and producing teaching tools, materials, and curriculum that will assist others in the field. 

Stark Community Foundation

Since 1963, Stark Community Foundation has been helping individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits like you support the causes you care about.

In addition to personalized donor services, we manage a competitive grantmaking program and award grants to address local needs. Today, the Foundation stewards over 1,000 charitable funds totaling $485 million in assets and has granted more than $300 million to nonprofits in our community and beyond.

Scholarships

Stark Community Foundation is one of the area’s major sources of college scholarship support— thanks to the generosity of caring individuals, families and businesses that have created scholarship funds.

The Foundation currently manages more than 100 scholarship funds that support hundreds of deserving students each year from Stark and Carroll counties.

The Louise Nader Khourey Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Louise Nader Khourey Memorial Scholarship Fund assists graduating high school seniors planning careers in foreign language education OR senior-level undergraduate or graduate foreign language students who have met the criteria for student teaching in a licensure program. 

This scholarship is renewable.

The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation's Creating Opportunity & Independence Grant supports programs and research that enhance the quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It welcomes applications from nonprofit organizations and rehabilitation facilities in the U.S. and Canada, focusing on projects that foster independence, community participation, and capacity-building. Priority is given to initiatives that demonstrate broad impact and involve individuals with SCI, ensuring their needs and perspectives shape the proposed activities.

The Reeves Foundation supports research aimed at understanding and treating macular degeneration, a condition that has personally affected the founder's family. Established in 1997, the foundation allocates 50% of its grants to research and the other half to local charities in Columbus, Indiana. Nonprofit organizations exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3) are eligible to apply, but funds cannot be used for administrative costs. The foundation prioritizes equipment purchases and partnerships with other funding sources.

Who is Stand Together?

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, a unique network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society.

Foreign Policy Grants

A government’s most important task is to secure the rights and liberties of its citizens—in part, by providing for the common defense. For this reason, the United States should maintain a strong military to keep America safe, prosperous, and free.

In recent decades, the United States has pursued an approach to foreign policy known as primacy or liberal hegemony. This foreign policy has required active and aggressive U.S. military engagement around the globe that has undermined our safety and imperiled our prosperity and liberties.

The Trust supports scholars and institutions interested in challenging the current approach, providing alternative visions for U.S. foreign policy, and engaging in research that can bridge the gap between ideas and policy. The Trust is especially interested in foreign policy research projects from political science, international relations, history, or economics. However, proposals from all fields will be considered on their merits.

Grant Info

We are especially interested in research that:

• Explores topics and issues related to a grand strategy of restraint.
• Examines the role of values and ethics in the formulation of U.S. foreign policy.
• Addresses the unintended consequences of U.S. military actions abroad and explores the costs and impact of engagements in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other places where significant counterterrorism efforts have been conducted.
• Considers the impact of U.S. military engagement abroad on American society—for instance, the effect of our foreign policy decisions on civil liberties or the health and welfare of veterans.
• Explores the concept of threat inflation and problematizes theories of credibility and reputation in relation to U.S. foreign policy.
• Analyzes executive–legislative relations in foreign policy, including the constitutional division of war powers.
• Examines the impact of domestic interest groups, businesses, think tanks, and the permanent national security bureaucracy on U.S. foreign policy.
• Explores the growth of the intelligence and national security establishments since 9/11.
• Surveys the costs, risks, and impacts of foreign aid and alliance commitments.
• Studies the costs and benefits of burden-sharing and burden-shifting with current allies.
• Scrutinizes Pentagon spending, force structure, and the strategic demands of U.S. defense policy—including structural incentives for military expenditures.
• Considers the consequences of an increasingly multipolar world, especially as concerns principal geostrategic regions (e.g., Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Western Pacific).
• Explores how changes in technology (such as A2/AD) that impact the offense-defense balance can be leveraged to support a sound approach to grand strategy.

Grant Criteria

Please submit a brief of no more than 3 pages that details the scope of the project. We are open to any type of project: papers, communications campaigns, conferences and convenings, school tours, and much more (we welcome creative ideas).

Funding

Funding levels are commensurate with the requirements of the research and the potential for the research to advance an understanding of critical issues. Accepted proposals may also receive support to disseminate the research findings.

The Alpha Omega Alpha/Pharos Poetry Award

To encourage students to write effective poetry. Winning poems are published in The Pharos.

The Award

Up to 5 poems will receive a $1,500 award. The winning entries will be published in The Pharos.

The Jordan Fund, established by John & Kelly Olerud in 2003, is dedicated to supporting children with special needs and their families. This grant-making organization assists children with substantial disabilities up to age twenty-one, covering costs for respite, therapy, and essential equipment not provided by insurance. By funding 501(c)(3) organizations, the Jordan Fund aims to enhance the quality of life for these children and their families.

Central Kentucky Community Foundation

Established in 1960 as North Central Education Foundation, Central Kentucky Community Foundation is one of more than 780 community foundations in the United States today. We serve the Lincoln Trail Region, offering our donors and partners a variety of ways to touch our community through philanthropic giving.

J.T. Wiglesworth Automotive Scholarship

The applicant must be graduating senior from a school in Hardin County

Central Kentucky Community Foundation

Established in 1960 as North Central Education Foundation, Central Kentucky Community Foundation is one of more than 780 community foundations in the United States today. We serve the Lincoln Trail Region, offering our donors and partners a variety of ways to touch our community through philanthropic giving.

James and Betty Holeman Scholarship

The applicant must be a graduating senior from a high school in the Lincoln Trail Region of Kentucky (Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties)

The ASPCA Research Grants for Shelter Research invite proposals in six key areas including Access to Veterinary Care, Applied Behavior Research, and Shelter Research. These grants aim to fund high-quality research that can significantly benefit animal welfare. Eligible investigators from U.S. entities and certain Canadian organizations are encouraged to apply. The program emphasizes collaboration between shelters and researchers, fostering innovative solutions to improve the well-being of animals in shelter settings.

The NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health® (U19) aims to enhance worker well-being by funding research and translation activities that address harmful exposures and improve working conditions. Priority areas include high-risk occupations, young workers, and chronic diseases. The initiative emphasizes strong project coordination, scientific rigor, and economic evaluations. Projects must utilize the NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire and share findings with the HERO Clearinghouse, fostering innovative solutions for employers and workers.

The Bee Grant Program, offered by the Whole Kids Foundation, supports K-12 schools and non-profits in enhancing or establishing bee programs with live bees. The Traditional Bee Grant provides up to $1,500 or equipment for new initiatives, while the Renewal Bee Grant offers $500 to previously funded projects. Eligible applicants must ensure strong support from their organization and have a knowledgeable beekeeper as a mentor. This initiative emphasizes bee education and conservation, fostering awareness among students.

The Home Visiting Research, Improvement, Sustainability and Evaluation Center (HV-RISE) aims to enhance home visiting services for families. By leveraging research, HV-RISE supports programs in testing and implementing effective practices, thereby improving outcomes. This initiative seeks to identify and expand successful strategies, ensuring that families receive the best support possible through evidence-based home visiting services.

Community Foundation of Randolph County

Our mission is to bring people and resources together to strengthen the quality of life, both now and in the future, for the residents of Randolph County.

The Community Foundation’s work falls into three major categories: grant-making, donor service, and community convening. Our most visible activities are the grants and scholarships we award each year. Most of these awards come from income earned from permanently endowed funds. Scholarships and other grants come from funds that donors have established for specific purposes.

Inspiring Randolph County-Jammie Michael Scholarship Fund

“The idea of this scholarship came when I started researching possible scholarship opportunities for my son Reece. He was a Junior at the time and the thought of planning and paying for college felt overwhelming. I reflected on the time Reece spent in school and was reminded of all the hours spent studying, the tears, fights, and late nights. Reece worked so hard and, over time, achieved great things. It became my goal to make sure every student knows we, as a community, believe in them and their dreams and they too, can achieve big things. Every student needs to know that rewards come to those that have qualities like perseverance, grit, determination and the power to rise above challenges. I’m inspired every day by the kids that put in the work.

My family and the community supported this goal of mine and made this scholarship possible for our kids. The Inspiring Randolph County Jammie Michael Scholarship Fund honors one Randolph County graduate with $1,000 to be paid to a post-high school education of their choice.” – Jammie Michael

The Mullick Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations focused on education, community impact, culture, and health. Based in Saline, Michigan, it aims to build intergenerational pathways to success. Organizations must be tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) to apply. The board reviews inquiries quarterly, potentially inviting promising applicants for further discussions. This grant offers a unique opportunity for nonprofits to enhance their impact in the community.

Community Foundation of Randolph County

Our mission is to bring people and resources together to strengthen the quality of life, both now and in the future, for the residents of Randolph County.

The Community Foundation’s work falls into three major categories: grant-making, donor service, and community convening. Our most visible activities are the grants and scholarships we award each year. Most of these awards come from income earned from permanently endowed funds. Scholarships and other grants come from funds that donors have established for specific purposes.

East Central Ag Crop Insurance Agency Scholarship Fund

Wanting to give back to the community of Randolph County, the owners of East Central Ag Crop Insurance Agency felt there was a need to create a scholarship solely for those students who are pursuing higher education in agriculture, whose ultimate goal is an agricultural-based career. It is awarded to a Randolph County senior pursuing education in the field of agriculture with a G.P.A. of 2.7 or higher.

The Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation is committed to enhancing community awareness of hospice and palliative care services. It supports nonprofit organizations that provide end-of-life care and grief recovery resources. Through educational initiatives and financial grants, the Foundation aims to promote excellent hospice care and assist caregivers. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and the Foundation does not fund administrative costs or general funding. Grant applications are accepted once per year.

The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) aims to enhance access to essential preventive clinical and public health services for children through community-driven initiatives. Funded by the US HHS: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), this program focuses on empowering local communities to implement effective strategies that improve children's health outcomes and promote overall well-being. Projects funded under this initiative will play a vital role in ensuring healthier futures for children.

Ryan Lesher Student Athlete Memorial Scholarship (NCF)

Provides scholarships to Council Rock South and North High Schools for students who participated in multiple sports and maintained a GPA over 3.0.