Best Grants for BIPOC in Minnesota

The Fisher Family Lost Acres Scholarship Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, provides financial assistance to students pursuing agriculture, horticulture, or related majors. Eligible applicants include undergraduate and graduate students planning to enroll in accredited post-secondary institutions in the U.S. Scholarships can reach up to $3,000 and may affect other financial aid. Students are encouraged to check with college financial aid offices for guidance on potential implications.

The Diana and Leon Feffer Scholarship Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, provides financial support to residents of Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties. Eligible students include undergraduates and graduates attending accredited institutions in the U.S. Students can receive up to $3,000, which may affect financial aid. Scholarships can cover tuition and other educational costs, and recipients should confirm tax implications with their colleges or tax advisors.

AmeriCorps Vista

AmeriCorps is the federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture.

Founded in 1965, AmeriCorps VISTA is a federal anti-poverty national service program designed to provide resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to strengthen efforts to address poverty and poverty-related problems in the United States. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, now known as AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps VISTA Request for Concept Paper

Projects must be developed in accordance with AmeriCorps VISTA core principles:

• an anti-poverty focus
• community empowerment
• sustainable solutions
• capacity building

Project applications must address one of the following areas:

• Economic Opportunity
• Healthy Futures
• Education
• Veteran and Military Families

The NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) fosters innovative educational initiatives aimed at pre-college students, promoting their interest in STEM fields, especially in biomedical and behavioral sciences. This program supports both classroom projects and informal science education activities, such as after-school programs and library events. Emphasizing the development of quantitative and computational skills, SEPA seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers through engaging educational experiences.

The Lenora Jane Perdue Scholarship, offered by the North East Community Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Westfield Academy, Ripley Central School, and North East High School pursuing a degree in education. Applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. This scholarship aims to encourage and assist students dedicated to a career in teaching, fostering the next generation of educators in their community.

The Albany Area Education Foundation (AAEF) provides grants to faculty, staff, and administrators in the Albany Area Schools to enhance educational experiences. The foundation focuses on creating unforgettable learning opportunities, integrating advanced technology, and collaborating with community members to offer hands-on vocational training. By securing private funding, AAEF aims to innovate and expand academic, artistic, and athletic programs for students, ensuring a well-rounded educational environment.

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund's Career Awards at the Scientific Interface provide $560,000 over five years to support early-career researchers transitioning from physical and computational sciences to biological sciences. Launched in 1999, these awards aim to enhance academic research careers for U.S. and Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents, fostering a diverse and innovative scientific workforce essential for advancing human health.

The Smart Growth Grants program, managed by the National Association of Realtors, aims to enhance community development through educational initiatives aligned with Smart Growth Principles. Available in three levels, the grants support REALTOR Associations in promoting sustainable land use, community planning, and stakeholder engagement. Maximum awards range from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the grant level. Note that the program is currently not accepting applications for 2025 and will reopen in January 2026.

Unless noted otherwise in the scholarship description and criteria statement, applicants can attend accredited schools of their choice within the United States.

CFNJ scholarships awards vary. On average, awards range from $500 to $2,500. However, the award could be larger based on the number of qualified applicants and the parameters set by donors who have established the funds. 

James L. and Ruby L. Murray Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to a college-bound, graduating senior from one of the following high schools: Trenton High School, Ewing High School, Cherry Hill High School West, or East Orange High School. Applicants must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in history, social science, or political science at any college/university of their choice within the United States. Students also must have achieved a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better.

The National Urban Indian Health Program aims to enhance behavioral health services for Urban Indian communities by fostering awareness, advocacy, and collaboration across the nation. By providing technical assistance and training to Urban Indian Organizations, the program seeks to improve access to culturally relevant behavioral health care for American Indian and Alaska Native populations residing in urban areas, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and community support.

The Bee a Rae of Sunshine Foundation – MaKenzi Rae Cash Memorial Animal Compassion Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Carroll County, aims to support students dedicated to animal welfare. Eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors from Carroll County, Maryland, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least 125 service hours. This scholarship reflects MaKenzi Rae Cash's love for animals and her commitment to kindness and anti-bullying advocacy.

The Capacity Accelerator for Tribal Offshore Wind Engagement, launched by the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to empower Tribal Nations in offshore wind energy decision-making. This initiative offers up to $7.1 million in cash prizes and technical assistance through three phases: Capacity Needs, Capacity Development, and Engagement. Each phase is designed to support Tribes in outlining their priorities, building capacity, and implementing impactful projects in offshore wind energy.

About Borealis Philanthropy

Borealis Philanthropy is a philanthropic social justice intermediary that works to resource grassroots leaders and social justice movements for transformative change. We help funders expand their reach and strengthen their impact through donor collaboratives that support a variety of issues, communities, and movements. Borealis is home to nine donor collaboratives, including the Disability Inclusion Fund and Disability x Tech.

DIF x Tech Fund

For the Disability Inclusion Fund at Borealis, part of our efforts for disability rights and justice includes the ways disability and technology are working towards shared goals in our movements. The DIF x Tech initiative, supported by the Ford Foundation’s Technology & Society Program and the MacArthur Foundation’s Technology in the Public Interest, invites proposals that are working to bring about transformational change at the intersections of disability, justice, and technology

About the Disability Inclusion Fund and DIF x Tech

The Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) supports U.S.-based groups run by and for people with disabilities to lead transformational change. The Fund is supported by donors including the Presidents’ Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy, which is comprised of foundation presidents who are committed to disability inclusion as part of improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within philanthropy.

Part of the efforts of disability rights and justice includes the ways disability and technology are working towards shared goals in our movements. This newly launched initiative is housed at the Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) and supported by Ford Foundation’s Technology & Society Program and the MacArthur Foundation’s Technology in the Public Interest. 

DIF x Tech Fund Values

All Disability x Tech award decisions will align with the DIF guiding values. The DIF guiding values are:

• Participation: Movement funding accountable to the disability rights movement. Those impacted by injustice/exclusion should be involved in strategies to advance justice/inclusion.
• Intersectionality: Acknowledging that disabled people have multiple and intersecting social and political identities that can influence their ability to have access and inclusion including race, gender identity, class, sexual orientation.
• Radical inclusion: Deeply committed to removing barriers and ensuring access so that those most affected by intersecting identities can participate, valuing lived experience.
• Leadership of those most impacted by ableism: Emphasis is given to organizations led by people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation, particularly disabled people of color, queer, gender nonconforming and women with disabilities.
• Cross-movement solidarity: Intentional focus on collaboration and bridge- building amongst disability justice activists and across movements.
• Sustainability: Resources and tools that support the growth of grassroots disabled-led organizations, and expand operational capacities for ongoing movement building. 

What we fund

We invite proposals that are at the nexus of technology, disability rights and justice. This opportunity may be a good fit for your organization, if you are doing work in any of these areas below:

• Disabled people sharing technical skills and knowledge with others in the community.
• Disabled people leading policy, rights, and disability justice activism work related to tech. 
• Disabled people participate in all stages of the design and development of new tech that will enrich lives of people with disabilities.
• Enabling collective and equitable access to digital infrastructure. 
• Expanding the participation, leadership, and thought partnership of overlooked and under-resourced people with disabilities in all areas of the technology sector.
• Partnerships between disability-focused engineering design labs and maker spaces within schools, centers for independent living, or local nonprofit organizations.
• Permissible Policy Work:
  • We may support nonpartisan policy education and advocacy related to disability and technology. Any lobbying must remain within applicable 501(c)(3) limits and Borealis grant restrictions.

Self-Defense Grants for MMIR Day

Facilitators, educators, organizers — May 5th is the Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Relatives. In honor of that day, we are offering mini grants to host a self-defense workshop for Indigenous girls and gender-expansive youth.

Why self-defense?

• Native women are murdered at 10x the national rate
• 84% experience violence in their lifetime
• Over 5,700 Native girls go missing each year

We also name the invisible crisis:

• Indigenous people from Mexico & Central America (Maya, Nahua, Zapotec, Mixtec, Lenca, and others) living in the U.S. face detention, deportation, and disappearances that are rarely counted in MMIR data.
• When a Tzotzil 18 year old like Royer Perez Jimenez dies in ICE custody, the silence is deafening.

Self-defense must include all Indigenous relatives.

XCNC has:

• $500 mini grants for stipends, space, supplies, and translation.

What we ask:

• Plan a workshop between May 5–31, 2026, rooted in community care.

The AOAP Swim Lesson Grant aims to enhance drowning prevention by providing financial support to aquatic facilities for swim lessons and life jackets. With a minimum allocation of $10,000 annually, the program seeks to offer at least 100 free lessons to low-income participants and distribute 500 life jackets each year. It encourages non-profit organizations to apply, ensuring a focus on education and safety in aquatic environments. This grant represents a significant step towards making swimming accessible and safe for all.

The Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) Award recognizes exceptional K-12 educators for their contributions to Earth Science education. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the award aims to stimulate interest in Earth Sciences among students. Eight national finalists are chosen annually, ensuring broad recognition and encouraging teaching excellence. Nominees can apply themselves or be nominated by colleagues, allowing for two awards in an educator's career to honor both early and late career achievements.

The Arnold Ventures RFP invites proposals for causal research on community safety and the criminal justice system. This initiative aims to generate evidence that informs effective policies to enhance safety and fairness in justice. Applicants should propose robust research designs capable of isolating treatment effects, focusing on real-world outcomes in the U.S. Preference is given to interventions with potential for policy adoption and led by early-career researchers or those without previous funding from Arnold Ventures.

The HFM Foodservice Scholarship Fund supports students in Hawaii pursuing education in Culinary Arts or Agriculture. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7, and attend an accredited institution in the U.S. Preference is given to prior recipients in good academic standing. This scholarship aims to empower future leaders in the foodservice industry by providing financial assistance to deserving candidates.

The Guru Krupa Foundation Grant supports charitable causes in social, educational, and religious/cultural areas, rooted in Hindu values. The foundation prioritizes projects that aid the underprivileged, enhance education, and preserve cultural heritage, particularly in India and the US. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and demonstrate a commitment to effective accounting practices. The foundation seeks specific projects with measurable outcomes, focusing on direct funding for programs rather than administrative costs.

Committee of 100 Academic Scholarship

Awards:

• One time award of $5,000.

About AWS

We Move Welding Forward

Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.

By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals.

Education / Meritorious / Service Awards

The Educational/Meritorious/Service awards recognize individuals who have made notable contributions to the welding industry. From educators who have advanced welding knowledge to those who've exhibited outstanding service, these awards celebrate dedication, expertise, and the advancement of welding as both an art and a science.

Howard E. Adkins Memorial Instructor Membership Award

The Howard E. Adkins Instructor Membership Award is sponsored by Mrs. Wilma Adkins and family, and is given as a means of recognizing high school, trade school, technical institute or community college instructors whose teaching activities are considered to have advanced the knowledge of welding to students in their respective schools.

This award is recognized at the National, District and Section levels. The nominee is selected at least 12 months in advance of FABTECH. Selections are made during the annual District Conference meetings for all three levels. District and Section level recognitions are automatic but National level nominee information is submitted to the AWS Education Committee for final selection.

The Louisville Institute offers the Grant for Researchers to support academic research in North American Christianity and related fields. Grants of up to $55,000 are available for sabbatical leaves, research projects, and necessary resources. This flexible program combines previous grants to meet contemporary academic needs. Applicants can apply individually or as teams of up to three, provided they are based in the U.S. or Canada. Projects bridging scholarship and church life are of particular interest.

The Delta Project Learning Garden Grant Program, supported by the Captain Planet Foundation, enhances STEAM education through outdoor learning experiences in school gardens. It offers resources such as raised garden beds, a mobile cooking cart, and online lessons to foster student engagement with nature and healthy eating. This initiative not only enriches the educational landscape but also promotes community involvement, as Delta employees volunteer for garden installation and maintenance, ensuring a sustainable and impactful learning environment.

The Orphan Kitten Club’s Mightycat Grant Program offers financial assistance to individuals and organizations dedicated to saving neonatal kittens. Funding supports essential needs such as medical care, supplies, and innovative programs aimed at improving survival rates. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and independent rescuers with a proven track record in kitten care. The program's mission is to enhance rescue efforts and provide vulnerable kittens the opportunity to thrive and find loving homes.

The Pillager Education Foundation Grant supports student excellence in academics, arts, athletics, and community activities through innovative funding. As a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation, it manages contributions to enhance educational opportunities and community engagement. Interested applicants should contact the fund's advisory team for guidance on the application process. This grant aims to empower students and enrich their learning experiences, ensuring sustainable support for future generations.

The Pop Culture Collaborative offers Major Grants to support initiatives that promote long-term narrative change and social justice through pop culture. Targeting U.S.-based nonprofits, for-profits, and individuals, these grants aim to engage mass audiences in transformative experiences. With a focus on communities often marginalized, the Collaborative's efforts are designed to foster a pluralistic society where everyone belongs. Grants range from $20,000 to $200,000, depending on project scope and duration, with applications reviewed biannually.

The Delano Area Community Foundation Grant aims to strengthen communities through local philanthropy. Established in 2014, it focuses on creating a sustainable funding source for community needs. The foundation invites 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government units, and public schools in the Delano area to apply for grants that enhance education, promote development, and enrich cultural activities. With over $10,000 awarded since its inception, it fosters community engagement and supports impactful projects.