Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Minnesota

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

John "Jack" and Jo Schils Scholarship Fund

The John "Jack" and Jo Schils Scholarship Fund was established by the Schils family in 2020 as a memorial tribute to John "Jack" Schils, a multi-sports coach, athletic director, teacher, principal, father, grandfather, husband and friend to many. This fund supports students from the Battle Creek Public Schools District where Jack was employed from 1958 until his retirement in 1986.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Lillian A. Jones Scholarship Fund

This fund was established in memory of Lillian A. Jones to support academic scholarships for graduate students who are Calhoun County residents. "Often times students finish their undergraduate degree and are in debt or just don't have the funds to continue on to higher degrees," said Lillian speaking about her fund, "There is a real need for these students too."

Bucks County Foundation

Since our founding in 1979, the staff at BCF have been working closely with donors, local leaders, and nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in Bucks County. Our work with local charitable organizations helps to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families across the county.

Scholarships

The Bucks County Foundation is proud to support students throughout Bucks County in their pursuit of higher education and attainment of academic, trade and life skills that translate into economic self-sufficiency. Through the generosity of donors in our region, we manage over 100 scholarship distributions for a wide variety of students with diverse educational journeys.

Steven Pannepacker Memorial Scholarship (NCF)

Provides scholarships to students at Council Rock North and South High Schools who excel in academic studies and participates in extracurricular activities and community service.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Stetler - Piper Family Scholarship Fund

The Stetler – Piper Family Scholarship Fund was established for the purpose of providing scholarships to graduates of Calhoun County High Schools or adult residents of Calhoun County pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities.

The JAMS Foundation-ACR Initiative for Students and Youth RFP aims to support conflict resolution education and training for Pre-K to 12th grade students and adults working with them. This initiative encourages peaceful interactions through conflict resolution strategies, addressing cultural understanding and systemic policy changes in educational settings. Funding is available for programs that enhance these skills in various community contexts, ensuring effective transfer of conflict resolution skills from adults to youth.

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Geographical Area

The official geographic service area of Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc., beginning to our west and traveling clockwise, includes the following communities in addition to Marshfield (It also includes towns and rural areas between these communities.): Chili, Granton, Neillsville, Loyal, Greenwood, Withee, Owen, Spencer, Unity, Colby, Curtiss, Pittsville, Abbotsford, Dorchester, Stetsonville, Medford, Stratford, Rozellville, Hewitt, Auburndale, Blenker, Milladore, Sherry, Arpin.

International Studies Scholarship

This scholarship is for students attaining any post-secondary degree. Student must have taken a world language for 3 years (high school applicants) or 3 semesters (college applicants). Preference to students majoring in International Studies, Cultural Studies, or any World Language. This scholarship can be renewed for up to 3 years if the applicant still meets the criteria.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Teresa Sue Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund

Teresa Sue Davis was born and raised in Battle Creek. Her name is not well-known, nor is she lauded for large philanthropic donations to the community. But like so many other city residents, she left an unforgettable mark on her family and the lives of others. Some may consider her contributions small. To those she touched, they were immeasurable. She was a 1984 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School and held many jobs in the community. No job was perhaps more important than as a mother, where she often selflessly pushed her children to achieve their life goals. This scholarship was established as a helping hand to graduates of Battle Creek Public Schools so that they may pursue their dreams of higher education.

The Joan Mitchell Fellowship supports 15 US-based artists in painting and sculpture with $60,000 over five years. It offers crucial financial resources, skills development, and community building. The fellowship also includes workshops, consultations, and opportunities for residencies, particularly for those in their fourth year or beyond. The program emphasizes diversity, encouraging nominations from underrepresented artists to foster a rich cultural discourse in the arts.

Nellie G. Allen Curiosity Shop Scholarship

Award:

• One-time award of $1,000.

The Flexible Support Grant: Tier 3, offered by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, provides up to $15,000 for arts organizations with an annual operating budget of $200,000 or more. This funding aims to enhance access to the arts in a 9-county area of southcentral Minnesota, supporting operational needs, organizational capacity, and arts programming. Eligible projects may include staff support, facility improvements, or programming events, fostering a vibrant arts community.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Ty Larson Fuller Scholarship Fund

The Ty Larson Fuller Scholarship Fund was established by the Fuller family and the Family Enrichment Center to honor the life of Ty Larson Fuller. Ty, was a young man with a determined spirit, who despite many challenges in his life, fought the odds to reach his goals. He also valued being a team player, building skills, and spending time with his family. This scholarship supports foster, adoptive, and kinship students under the age of 26 as they pursue higher education in the skilled trades.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Gerald D. Barnes Family Scholarship Fund

Gerald D. Barnes, a 1942 Colon High School graduate, was a standout four-year varsity first baseman. Following high school, he attended Argubright Business College for one year. He married Vera H. Kellogg in 1944, a 1942 graduate of Battle Creek Central - one of only two of 13 siblings to graduate high school. Vera played baseball during the time men where off at war and Gerald often kept score for her team. Their honeymoon was spent at a Detroit Tigers game and their love of baseball continued their entire lives. In 1945, Gerald was drafted into the U.S. Army and they put his business education to good use processing soldiers coming home from WWII. As a veteran he had been called a hero, but disagreed stating, "Those who fought overseas were the true heroes." Once discharged in 1946, he wore a flag pin every day, proudly displaying his love of Country and rests forever with his pin over his heart.

Following his service, Gerald worked at Post Cereals Carton and Container Division in Battle Creek for 40 years. Higher education was not common amongst Gerald's generation, but he and Vera understood their children and grandchild would need it to succeed and to this end, supported their education in every way they could. Their daughter received a certificate from Kellogg Community College and retired from Battle Creek Public Schools after 44 years. Their son earned a Bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University, and after serving our Country during the Vietnam conflict, earned his Master's from Utah State University. Their grand-daughter graduated from BCCHS 50 years to the day after Vera, and received her Bachelor's degree from Drury University. Through this scholarship, the Barnes family leaves a legacy that will support Battle Creek Public Schools graduates in obtaining higher education in a skilled trade field.

The TESOL Teacher of the Year Award, presented by National Geographic Learning, honors exceptional English language teachers who have demonstrated outstanding dedication in the classroom for at least three consecutive years. The winner receives $1,000, a one-year TESOL membership, and free registration for the TESOL International Convention, including travel accommodations. This recognition not only highlights the importance of teaching excellence but also fosters a community of learning and collaboration among educators around the world.

The Flexible Support Grant: Tier 1, provided by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, offers grants up to $5,000 to support arts organizations with an operating budget of $0 - $74,999. This funding aims to enhance Minnesotans' access to the arts through operational support, organizational capacity efforts, and diverse arts programming in the 9-county region of southcentral Minnesota.

The Flexible Support Grant: Tier 2, offered by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, provides up to $10,000 to arts organizations within a 9-county area in southcentral Minnesota. This grant supports operational costs, enhances organizational capacity, and funds arts programming, ensuring equitable access to diverse art forms for the community. It specifically targets organizations with annual budgets between $75,000 and $199,999, promoting sustainable arts initiatives that enrich local culture.

Athletes for Animals Grants offer essential funding to non-profit animal welfare organizations in the U.S. and Canada. These grants support programs focused on adoptable companion animals, specifically canines and felines, ensuring they are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Organizations are encouraged to demonstrate their commitment to animal welfare by not euthanizing adoptable animals. Applications are accepted semi-annually, with a wait period of 18 months between applications.

The TESOL Leadership Mentoring Program connects TESOL members with experienced leaders for mentorship and professional development. Participants receive free registration to the annual convention, up to $1,000 for lodging, and the opportunity to build lasting relationships within the TESOL community. This program is designed for members in good standing, with a preference for individuals from underrepresented groups, fostering inclusivity and active participation in the association's initiatives.

The DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) supports U.S. citizens and permanent residents pursuing Ph.D. degrees in high-performance computing fields. Established in 1991, this fellowship offers financial aid, professional development, and practical research experiences. It aims to cultivate a diverse community of scientists who contribute to national workforce needs and encourages students to engage in impactful research at DOE laboratories and institutions. Eligible candidates can focus on computational sciences, applied mathematics, and related disciplines.

The Next Generation of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program Trial Innovation Network aims to tackle significant challenges in multi-center clinical trials. By enhancing trial efficiency and safety through innovative solutions, the initiative seeks to improve the design and execution of these studies. Key areas of focus include safety monitoring tools, trial leader mentorship, and advancements in digital health technologies. This program invites eligible organizations to apply for funding to promote groundbreaking clinical research.

The Initiative Foundation's Emerging Needs Grants offer vital support to nonprofits in Central Minnesota facing unexpected challenges. These grants enable organizations to stabilize and adapt, ensuring they continue to meet pressing community needs. With a focus on immediate impact, the funding is available to 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating in the region, allowing them to address service gaps and enhance their operations during crises.

The Just Tech Fellowship, supported by the Social Science Research Council, aims to empower diverse researchers and practitioners to address injustices arising from new technologies. With a two-year award of $100,000 annually, this fellowship fosters collaboration and community engagement, promoting equitable tech futures. It focuses on the intersection of technology and social justice, encouraging insights from historically marginalized groups to inform structural change and create a more just society.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is set to announce a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for multi-site investigator-initiated clinical trials. This initiative aims to support a range of clinical trials addressing efficacy and implementation research. The funding mechanism includes a two-phase approach (UG3/UH3), with a total award duration of up to seven years. Investigators are encouraged to prepare proposals that demonstrate scientific rationale and operational plans for these important studies.

Nikon USA is dedicated to supporting innovative initiatives that align with its marketing strategies and community impact. They seek sponsorship proposals that demonstrate unique ideas, enhancing brand engagement and consumer reach. However, applicants must be over 18 and submit requests at least six months prior to their program. Nikon prioritizes USA-based entities and cannot support individual projects or certain causes. For more details, please submit your request through their designated online form.

Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. Working with a wide range of partners and practitioners in the U.S. and around the world, our initiatives have impacted over 4.4 million students and 180,000 teachers across 173 districts and in 27 countries to date.

Digital Promise was authorized by Congress in 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush, and formally launched by President Barack Obama in September 2011. Startup support came from the U.S. Department of Education, Carnegie Corporation of New York, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since then, Digital Promise has grown rapidly with support from both original and new funders.

AIMS EduData Initiative

The Advancing Innovative Math Solutions (AIMS) EduData Initiative, funded by the Gates Foundation, seeks to build sustainable and scalable research infrastructure to advance math learning. AIMS EduData especially encourages applications from graduate students and early career professionals, educators with research roles, such as those working in district research offices, and researchers located at minority serving institutions or Title I school districts. Successful applicants will conduct original research using datasets provided by leading digital learning platforms (DLPs) and participate in a growing community.

RightOn Education and Teachley Math RFP

For education researchers and practitioners

Benefits for successful applicants:

• Opportunity to investigate associations between features of a Digital Learning Platform and mechanisms supporting student learning, engagement, motivation, and instructional practice.
• Opportunity to contribute to the education R&D movement by expanding its capacity and skills, providing feedback to DLPs about the utility of their datasets and insights about their features, and demonstrating the affordances and value of conducting research through DLPs.
• Involvement in a dynamic, supportive community of digital learning providers and researchers
• Two proposals will be funded

This solicitation offers opportunities to run experiments in two DLPs. One enables research with Teachley Math, an intervention that includes interactive digital games and problem-solving modeling tools, lessons and formative assessment data for students in grades K-5. The second enables research with RightOn Education, an online digital learning platform for grades 7-10 that allows teachers to create or select math games, engage students in feedback and reflection on their thinking, and access real-time information about student misconceptions. 

Teachley Math

Teachley Math is particularly interested in research investigating:

• Through what mechanisms does feedback shape outcomes?
• What sequences of tool actions best predict eventual correctness?
• What are common error patterns and do they vary by grade level?
• Do process measures add predictive validity beyond final-answer accuracy?

The Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Grant supports U.S. public charities dedicated to advancing aviation science and technology through research and development of improved aircraft. Established in 1984 by Emil Buehler, a visionary in aeronautical science, the trust perpetuates his passion for flight. Proposals should align with the foundation's mission to enhance the aviation field. Deadlines for submissions are June 1 for September meetings and December 1 for April meetings.

The ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships provide recent humanities PhDs with the opportunity to work with nonprofit organizations focused on social justice. Over 24 months, fellows receive a stipend of $70,000 in the first year and $72,000 in the second, along with relocation funds and health insurance. The program emphasizes diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all eligible scholars to enhance their professional skills in meaningful roles.

The Basil L. King Scholarship Foundation offers four-year scholarships to St. Lucie County residents pursuing careers in Health Sciences. Applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.00 or higher, although those with a GPA of 2.5 may be considered under special circumstances. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years with continued eligibility. Preference is given to students who intend to return to the Treasure Coast after graduation, ensuring support for local talent.