Best Large Grants for Nonprofit Organizations in Minnesota

AD Osherman Scholarship

Benefiting first-generation students in Texas.

Funding

Four (4) scholarships awarded out:

• $3,500 for students pursuing a 4-year degree
• $2,500 for students pursuing a 2-year degree

One-time award. Previous recipients may reapply as long as all eligibility requirements are met.

Camillo Family Scholarship 

Benefiting dependents of Camillo Properties, Camcorp Entities, or LCI Services employees.

The Camillo Family Scholarship was created to provide dependents of employees of Camillo Companies (Camillo Holdings, LCI Services, Legend Homes, Millmark Capital, and SimplyHome) with scholarships to further their education.

This is a renewable scholarship, meaning recipients can renew the award and claim up to 4 years of funding if they meet the GPA and enrollment requirements and complete the renewal application for each academic year they plan to be enrolled.

Multiple scholarships awarded for the 2026-27 academic year. Award amount varies by college/degree type:

• 4-Year College/University - The scholarship is comprised of up to four annual awards of $5,000, for a total award of up to $20,000. The four annual awards may be received over a period of up to five years.
• 2-Year College/Trade School - The scholarship award is comprised of up to two annual awards of $2,500, for a total award of up to $5,000. The two annual awards may be received over a period of up to three years.

What can the scholarship be used for?

The scholarship will be mailed directly to the student's college to be used towards tuition, required academic fees, and/or book expenses. 

Scholarship funding cannot be distributed directly to the student. 

The NIDCD Research Dissertation Fellowship for Au.D. Audiologists (F32) supports rigorous biomedical research training and dissertation research for doctoral candidates in clinical, behavioral, or biomedical sciences. Funded by the NIH, this fellowship aims to enhance research capabilities and knowledge in the field of audiology. Key deadlines for applications include April 8, August 8, and December 8 for the years 2025 to 2027, ensuring timely opportunities for aspiring researchers.

Transportation Assistance Grant

The Transportation Assistance Grant program was established to help members of the MS community remain as independent as possible, and ensure all people with MS have the transportation necessary to get the best medical care.

The program provides funding for reasonable paratransit fees. In partnership with Lyft and Uber, the program can also provide funding for transportation to and from appointments for MS care, limited to neurologist visits and infusion centers, at no cost to the person with MS.

The Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) focuses on genome-scale research to tackle vital biological, societal, and economic challenges. It promotes innovative tools and resources for the plant research community to explore significant scientific questions. The program emphasizes high-impact data accessibility and integration while supporting training and career development. PGRP offers two funding tracks: the Research-PGR Track for fundamental biological inquiries and the TRTech-PGR Track for advancements in functional plant genomics.

The MNAF Linda Knauff Clinical Practice Project Grant supports Minnesota Nurses Association members in conducting research that aligns with MNA's organizational goals. It promotes best practices through literature reviews, workgroup convening, policy development, and quality improvement initiatives. Applicants must be MNA members engaged in direct patient care, complete their projects within two years, and submit periodic reports. Preference is given to first-time applicants whose projects meet quality standards.

The MNA Associate Member Scholarships provide financial assistance to MNA associate members who are typically undergraduate nursing students. Offered by the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation, these scholarships aim to support the professional development and educational goals of nursing students, contributing to the advancement of the nursing profession and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. Eligible candidates include MNA members, their dependents, and veterans, fostering a commitment to nursing excellence.

The Mary Eliza Mahoney Scholarships, offered by the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF), provide financial support to nursing students, members of healthcare unions, their dependents, and veterans. Each scholarship awards $2,500 per semester for a maximum of four semesters, totaling up to $10,000. This initiative aims to enhance nursing education and promote the professional growth of future nurses, ensuring access to quality healthcare for all.

The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) program aims to enhance maternal health outcomes by providing technical assistance across all U.S. states and territories. This initiative focuses on implementing best practices to improve safety during childbirth, ultimately saving lives. By supporting jurisdictions and birthing facilities involved in AIM, the program seeks to promote quality improvements in maternal health care, ensuring safer births and better health for mothers and infants.

Who We Are

Community foundations began nationally in 1914 and are publicly-supported, 501(c)(3) philanthropic organizations that hold, administer, invest and make grants from both endowed and non-endowed funds established by individuals, families and others. They were designed to be simple, flexible, convenient, tax-wise, cost-effective and perpetual charitable vehicles.  

Our Community Foundation was established in Roanoke in 1988. With our growth, we expanded into the Martinsville/Henry County area in 2005. Today, we administer many hundreds of named endowment funds ranging in size from a minimum of $10,000 to millions of dollars. To date, donors have also committed very significant resources to the Foundation through future estate gifts.

Information for Scholarship Seekers

Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, the region’s community foundation, administers a variety of scholarships to reward and assist capable and deserving students based on the criteria established by the fund donors.

Specifics of the Foundation’s scholarship program may be subject to change from time to time. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Foundation at (276) 656-6223.

Ashby C. and John T. Pinkard Scholarship Fund

 Fund provides higher education scholarships to deserving young men and women.

The Amit Gosalia Scholarship in Private Practice Audiology, funded by the American Academy of Audiology, offers two $1,500 scholarships to full-time audiology students (AuD, PhD) who demonstrate exceptional promise and have completed their first year of studies. Eligible candidates must be enrolled at a U.S. university for the Fall 2025 semester and cannot graduate in Spring/Summer 2025. This initiative aims to support future audiologists pursuing careers in private practice.

The Continued Achievement Scholarship, offered by the American Academy of Audiology Foundation, provides $2,000 to two promising audiology graduate students in the U.S. It recognizes students for their potential as clinical audiologists based on their resumes and personal statements. This scholarship aims to support full-time graduate students (AuD, PhD) in good standing, fostering their professional development and commitment to the audiology field.

The Judith Blumsack Scholarship, offered by the American Academy of Audiology Foundation, awards $500 to a full-time graduate student in audiology who demonstrates exceptional clinical skills and commitment to clinical research and community service. Established in honor of Dr. Judith Blumsack upon her retirement, this scholarship acknowledges her significant contributions to the field and aims to inspire future audiologists to excel in their professional journey.

The American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR) Sally Banes Publication Prize celebrates outstanding publications that explore the relationship between theatre and dance. This award alternates between recognizing books and essays based on even and odd years, respectively. Eligible works must have been published within the last two years. The award includes a $500 prize and free conference registration, encouraging scholarly contributions to the field.

Myasthenia Gravis Rare Disease Network (MGNet)

The Myasthenia Gravis Rare Disease Network (MGNet) is a consortium of academic medical centers partnering with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and Conquer MG as well as collaborators in other research groups and industry. We are working together to enhance therapeutic development for this rare disease.

Diseases Studied

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and its subtypes:

• Early-onset acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody (Ab) positive MG, which primarily affects women
• Late-onset AChR Ab positive MG with a disease bias towards men
• Paraneoplastic thymoma-associated MG
• Muscle specific kinase (MuSK) Ab positive
• AChR/MuSK antibody negative MG

Goals, Mission, & Vision

The goal of MGNet is to advance therapeutic development. To do so we have four specific aims:

• Improve the tools scientists and doctors have for performing clinical trials through rigorous monitoring of patients over time and evaluate better measures of how patients are doing.
• Identify objective measures (biomarkers) to show how the disease is responding to treatment and better predict treatment response or side effects, to improve the design of clinical trials and care of patients in clinical practice.
• Enhance the education of young investigators focusing their careers on rare diseases and specifically MG.
• Improve the awareness of scientists, physicians, and the public regarding the unique needs of patients with MG through training of clinician scientists and engagement of the patient and scientific communities in clinical research and therapeutic development.

Scholar Awards

Objectives

There is a critical need for investigators prepared to conduct clinical and translational research in myasthenia gravis (MG). The MGNet Scholar Program provides individualized training and mentorship in one of two tracks, Clinical Research or Biomarker Development Research.

Award Description

The MGNet Scholar Program provides mentored research training to prepare Scholars for an independent research career in the field of MG. The MGNet Scholar Program is 1 year in duration and selected Scholars receive up to $100,000 to support salary, research costs and didactics with potential for renewal. The program will provide an additional $3,000 to travel to MGNet sites to learn specific skills and/or to scientific meeting(s) to present the results of their research. If available for renewal, the program requires approval after interim report and is contingent on demonstration of adequate progress on the research and career development plan. Indirect costs are not allowed. Scholars are encouraged to transition to NIH (e.g., K award), departmental, or private foundation support for their research and further career development.Research must constitute at least 50% of each Scholar’s professional effort. Each Scholar must form a 2-3-member advisory committee to include a primary mentor, an additional clinician investigator or collaborator, and a MGNet faculty sponsor. The advisory committee will meet with the Scholar at least quarterly to review progress and each Scholar will develop an individual academic career development plan and renew it with the committee at least every 6 months.

The Capacity Building for Global, Regional, and National Immunization Programs aims to enhance immunization efforts in key countries, focusing on the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases like polio and measles. By strengthening immunization services and surveillance systems, the program will better address emerging health threats and reach under-immunized populations. Additionally, it will support sustainable practices through National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups and manage the National Stop Transmission of Polio program in Pakistan.

The Our Village Grants by the Jack and Jill of America Foundation aim to support 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations dedicated to uplifting African American families. These grants focus on programs that address educational and economic disparities, particularly those exacerbated by the pandemic. Initiatives may include digital learning resources, tutoring, and support for health and food security. The foundation prioritizes organizations that align with their mission to create lasting positive impacts in under-resourced communities.

Pfizer supports the global healthcare community’s independent initiatives (e.g., research, quality improvement or education) to improve patient outcomes in areas of unmet medical need that are aligned with Pfizer’s medical and/or scientific strategies.

Pre-clinical Investigation of anti-TFPI-mediated Rebalancing Mechanisms in Non-Hemophilic Bleeding Disorders

There remains a scientific gap in understanding of the role of anti-TFPImediated hemostatic rebalancing in the context of inherited or non-hemophilic bleeding disorders. This competitive grant program encourages competitive submissions focsed on generating preclinical/foundational data exploring the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of TFPI modulation in bleeding disorders other than hemophilia.

Funding

• Individual projects requesting up to $50,000 USD will be considered. Request for study drug or compound is allowed (max $50,000 USD), additionally to the study project costs.
• Maximum project length is 1 year.

The Minnesota STEM and Youth Leadership Grants, offered by the H.B. Fuller Company Foundation, focus on empowering young individuals through STEM education and leadership development. These grants are intended for tax-exempt organizations that serve communities near H.B. Fuller facilities, aiming to address racial inequities in education and employment. The initiative underscores the company's commitment to community support and creating opportunities for youth to thrive in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

The mission of Susan G. Komen® is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.

Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research (CCR) Grants

Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research (CCR) Grants foster promising breast cancer researchers who are in the early stages of their faculty careers by providing support for up to three years of “protected time” for research career development under the guidance of a Mentor Committee. We seek to support those who will emerge as the next key leaders in the fight against breast cancer.

CCR Research Focus: Research projects must be hypothesis-driven, breast cancer-focused studies. They may be considered basic, translational, clinical and/or population science in nature and should align with Komen’s research priorities and mission to save lives from breast cancer. 

The APSF/FAER Mentored Research Training Grant aims to enhance anesthesia patient safety by funding promising anesthesiologists who are within 10 years of their first faculty appointment. This two-year grant, totaling $300,000, supports the development of independent researchers focused on perioperative safety. Recipients must allocate 60% of their time to research and career development. With this initiative, the APSF and FAER seek to cultivate the next generation of safety scientists in anesthesia.

The Joseph James Scholarship, managed by 10,000 Degrees, offers support to students from Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy who graduated between 2013 and 2019. Eligible candidates can receive funding for up to two years, depending on their attendance duration. This scholarship aims to combat educational segregation and provides recipients with access to vital internship opportunities, enhancing their career readiness and skill development in various fields.

The Investigator Initiated Research (IIR) Grants program by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation aims to enhance patient safety in anesthesia care through innovative research. Grants up to $200,000 (or $300,000 with waiver) are available for projects addressing critical safety issues, with a focus on studies leading to measurable improvements in outcomes. The program encourages collaboration and creativity, prioritizing research that lacks alternative funding sources, while also supporting junior investigators with mentorship opportunities.

The Quality Improvement Awards, sponsored by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), aim to enhance patient safety during anesthesia care. This initiative invites current trainees and recent graduates to showcase their quality improvement projects. Winners will receive sponsorship to attend the Stoelting Conference in Massachusetts, where they will present their work. The APSF is committed to promoting a culture of safety and learning in anesthesia, ensuring that no one is harmed by anesthesia care.

The Samuel Robinson Award is a scholarship for college juniors and seniors attending Presbyterian-related institutions. To qualify, students must memorize the Westminster Shorter Catechism's 107 questions and answers within 18 months. Eligible applicants for 2024 are those graduating in 2024 or 2025. This award encourages academic achievement and religious education among students committed to their faith and educational pursuits.

The DoW Bone Marrow Failure Idea Development Award supports innovative, high-impact research aimed at understanding and curing bone marrow failure diseases. This grant is available to both Established Investigators and Early-Career Investigators, with no preliminary data required for applications. Reviewers assess proposals based on specific criteria tailored to the investigator's career stage. The focus is on achieving interpretable results that contribute significantly to the field.

The Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) aims to enhance state food testing laboratories' capabilities, supporting an integrated food safety system. By prioritizing sample testing and food defense preparedness in microbiology, chemistry, and radiochemistry, this cooperative agreement facilitates method development and expands testing capacity, ensuring safer food for consumers.