Best Grants for Preschools in Mississippi

The California Casualty Music & Arts Grant supports K-12 public schools facing budget cuts that threaten their music and arts programs. Eligible applicants, who must be active employees of public K-12 schools and members of specified educator associations, can request grants of $250 for music or arts needs. This initiative aims to enhance creative education across the states, excluding AK, HI, MA, MI, NY, and WI. Applications received by July 15 will be notified by November 30.

The Volunteer and Civic Engagement Mini-Grants program, managed by Volunteer Mississippi, aims to support diverse projects promoting community service. Eligible organizations, including nonprofits and public entities, can apply for funding between $1,500 and $10,000. Projects may involve mentoring, social justice advocacy, environmental restoration, and literacy initiatives. Applications are accepted until August 7, 2025, or until funds are depleted, making it crucial for interested parties to act promptly.

The AmeriCorps Mississippi - FY2025 Formula AmeriCorps Grants provide funding opportunities aimed at various entities including educational institutions, local governments, and non-profit organizations. These grants enable applicants to engage AmeriCorps members to enhance community service efforts. New applicants who do not currently manage AmeriCorps State & National Funding may qualify for a Planning Grant, with exceptions requiring a formal request. This initiative supports community strengthening through dedicated service.

The JWDDBF Service Learning Program, administered by the Joe W & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, supports K-12 schools in Louisiana and Mississippi. This initiative encourages students to engage with their communities through service learning projects that connect academic curriculum with real-world problems. By providing funding, the program enhances students' critical thinking, collaboration, and empathy while fostering positive relationships between schools and communities. The Principal’s Award also incentivizes schools to participate in these enriching experiences.

The JWDDBF: SupportSTEM Grant Program aims to enhance STEM education in K-12 schools in Louisiana and Mississippi by funding innovative curriculum implementation and instructional support. Eligible applicants include K-12 schools, universities, and non-profits with three years of operation. Grants can be requested for amounts up to $20,000, covering essentials like professional development, STEM kits, and ongoing programs. However, funds will not support capital projects or one-time events.

Bureau of Behavioral Health FY27 Notice of Funding Opportunities

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is now accepting applications for a series of competitive grants made available through funding appropriated to the agency.

Consumer Education Program

This funding is to provide state-wide evidence-based support and educational programs free of charge to those living with mental illness, their caregivers, and their family members.

Educational programs are to include but are not limited to:

The Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 12-class course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. The course is taught by trained family members and provides current information on major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and others; information about medications; strategies for handling crises and relapse; and most of all, how to cope successfully with a major challenge in your life, which will in turn allow you to best support your mentally ill loved one to work toward recovery.

In Our Own Voice (IOOV) unmasks mental illness using speaker stories to illustrate the individual realities of living with mental illness. Participants gain a better understanding of what it is like to live with mental illness and stay in recovery. In Our Own Voice can change attitudes, preconceived notions and stereotypes regarding mental illness.

Peer-to-Peer is a recovery-focused educational program for adults who wish to establish and maintain wellness in response to mental health challenges. The course provides critical information and strategies related to living with mental illness.

The Provider Education program helps people who work with individuals living with mental illness understand the experience of mental illness from individual and family perspectives. Through exposure to personal stories, participants may gain tools that increase their empathy and professional skills thereby improving patient care.

The Davison Bruce Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the mind, body, and spirit of humankind by investing in health, education, economic assistance, and Christian outreach. Their grantmaking program focuses on supporting vulnerable populations through wellness services, life skills training, and sustainable rehabilitation. By prioritizing community needs, the foundation aims to facilitate systemic change and empower individuals to regain their independence, thereby enabling them to bless the world.

Bureau of Behavioral Health FY27 Notice of Funding Opportunities

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is now accepting applications for a series of competitive grants made available through funding appropriated to the agency.

Certified Peer Support Specialist Training Development and Program Maintenance

Notice of Funding Opportunity FY 2027: Request for Proposal

The Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Behavioral Health Services/ Division of Peer Recovery and Support is now accepting funding proposals for the state fiscal year 2027. This proposal application is eligible to all Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) certified providers in good standing. The selected organization will need to be aligned with national best practices and standards and approved by the MS Department of Mental Health. However, DMH certification is not a guarantee of funding. All submitted proposals will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers using the posted competitive grant scoring rubric. Not all submitted proposals may be funded, but comprehensive feedback will be provided to all providers, particularly if their application was not funded for the current fiscal year.

The funding associated with this grant opportunity is meant to defray a proportion of operational costs for the service.

Cash requests will only be signed and processed for payment after the Department of Mental Health has received required data outcomes and/or metrics specific to the respective grant.

A Certified Peer Support Specialist – Mental Health/Substance Use (CPSS-MH/SU) is an adult with lived experience involving mental health and/or substance use conditions who demonstrate his/her own success in self-directed recovery. The purpose of this grant is to support the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of a statewide peer support services program that strengthens the behavioral health workforce, expands access to peer-delivered services, and promotes recovery-oriented systems of care. The selected provider will develop standardized training curriculum, deliver education and outreach activities, and provide operational support to sustain high-quality peer support services throughout the state.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program in Mississippi, managed by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, promotes environmental sustainability through Wetland Reserve Easements. This program supports migratory waterfowl and other wildlife, enhances water quality, and combats climate change. Eligible landowners can receive 100% funding for permanent easements and partial funding for restoration. These efforts not only protect biodiversity but also offer opportunities for scientific and recreational activities, ensuring the preservation of valuable wetland ecosystems.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in Mississippi, administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, offers agricultural producers the opportunity to enhance their conservation practices and earn payments based on performance. By developing tailored conservation plans, the program supports landowners in achieving sustainable management goals, improving productivity, and increasing resilience against market and environmental challenges. Participants benefit from additional payments for adopting innovative practices that contribute to healthier ecosystems and land management.

Bureau of Behavioral Health FY27 Notice of Funding Opportunities

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is now accepting applications for a series of competitive grants made available through funding appropriated to the agency.

Family (Parent/Caregiver) Peer Support Development and Program Maintenance Notice of Funding Opportunity FY 2027: Request for Proposals

The Parent/Caregiver Peer Support Program will need to be developed and maintained by the selected agency in alignment with national best practices and standards and approved by the MS Department of Mental Health.

(Certified) Peer Support Specialist Professional- Parent/Caregiver is a biological parent, adoptive parent, or relative caregiver with permanent legal custody who is raising or has raised a child with an emotional, social, behavioral, and /or substance use disability. The Specialist Professional provides support and guidance to parents/caregivers in navigating the child serving systems and advocating with them to help their child/youth.

Competitive AmeriCorps Grants

Summary Statement

This is a funding opportunity for Institutions of higher education; local governments, school districts; nonprofit organizations; State Service Commissions; States and US Territories; Indian Tribes; and public health departments to apply for AmeriCorps members to strengthen communities through service.

Purpose of AmeriCorps State and National Funding

AmeriCorps improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving.

AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations that engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is a person who does community service through AmeriCorps.

Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits. After successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

The Bureau of Victim Assistance (BOVA) was established to provide statewide assistance to victims of crime. The journey through the justice system can be traumatic, especially for victims of crime. BOVA offers victims and their loved ones a single point of contact they can turn to before and after their offender is sentenced.

Victim Compensation

The Victim Compensation Program provides financial assistance to innocent victims of violent crime and their eligible family members. The Program helps to reduce the financial burden resulting from a violent crime by reimbursing eligible victims/family members for their crime-related expenses not covered by any other benefit source (insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, disability/death benefits, Workers’ Compensation, etc.). Limitations do apply. You can read more about this program here. View our Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights Victim Resources Insert Card here.

Eligible applicants may be reimbursed for crime related expenses associated with:

• medical/dental treatment
• rehabilitation
• mental health services
• lost wages
• loss of support (dependent[s] of homicide victim)
• tuition loss
• funeral costs
• limited transportation costs
• repair/replacement of exterior windows, doors, and locks damaged during a crime,
• domestic violence temporary housing and relocation
• crime scene cleanup

Bureau of Behavioral Health FY27 Notice of Funding Opportunities

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is now accepting applications for a series of competitive grants made available through funding appropriated to the agency.

State of Mississippi

Transitional Outreach Program (TOP)

The Department of Mental Health/Bureau of Community Mental Health Services is now accepting requests for proposals for state fiscal year 2027.

Please note that all grants are contingent on funding by the Mississippi State Legislature and/or the Federal Government. The submission of this application to the Department of Mental Health is not a guarantee of funding.

This application is eligible to all Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) certified providers who are in good standing. However, DMH certification is not a guarantee of funding. All submitted proposals will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers using the posted competitive grant scoring rubric. Not all submitted proposals may be funded, but comprehensive feedback will be provided to all providers, particularly if their application was not funded for the current fiscal year. The funding associated with this grant opportunity is meant to defray a proportion of operational costs for the service. Unless otherwise directed, please submit your proposal for the same budgeted amount as last fiscal year. Multiple awards are available with a funding amount of $62,655.

The intent of the Transitional Outreach Program is to provide youth/young adults with SED/SMI and other high-risk factors, ages 14 -21 years, with the services and resources necessary to become independent and productively engaged in the community. The goals include, but aren’t limited to the following:

• Expand community capacity to serve transitional age youth with SED;
• Provide access to services/supports specific to this population. 
• Increase the target population’s ability to obtain independent living and interpersonal skills.
• Assist youth/young adults in achieving educational goals.
• Identify goals that include obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.
• Participate in youth team/council (SOC Youth Council if applicable, Open Up MS, etc.)

Mississippi Department of Mental Health

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is committed to making available a comprehensive system of services and supports so all Mississippians have access to the least restrictive and most appropriate level of services and supports that will meet their needs. Our system is person-centered and is built on the strengths of individuals and families while meeting their needs for special services. Services should be provided on a continuum of where the person is at that time and what their needs are.Inspiring hope, helping individuals on their road to recovery, and improving resiliency are key factors to the success of the people we serve.

Pregnant and Parenting Women and Men with Dependent Children (PPWMDC) Childcare Specialist Program

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (MSDMH), Division of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Services (DADATS) is continuing a temporary pilot program to address the childcare needs of the Pregnant and Parenting Women and Men with Dependent Children (PPWMDC) Program.

One specific need is the educational and developmental needs of children of the clients who are in treatment. This grant continuation is designed to enhance the PPWMDC programs that may need assistance in this area. Each PPWMDC program will need to hire an Early Childhood Development childcare specialist for children (ages 2-5 years) of the mothers and or fathers who are in treatment. The temporary program is designed to allow the child to receive structured instruction, learning, and nurturing, while housed in a controlled and inviting setting. Being in this type of setting will enhance the child’s development and/or growth, which will alleviate idle time and the notion of baby-sitting the child or children.

The hired childcare specialist should have a minimum of 4 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Development. 

The funding associated with this grant opportunity is meant to defray a proportion of operational costs for the service. 

The Hurricane Katrina 20th Anniversary Disaster Preparedness Grants, funded by the ASPCA, offer up to $500,000 to enhance disaster preparedness for animals in high-risk coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Grants between $20,000 and $50,000 will be awarded to eligible non-profit organizations and municipal agencies focusing on animal welfare or disaster assistance. This initiative aims to improve the safety and well-being of animals during disasters, reflecting lessons learned from past experiences.

National Geographic Society: Request for Proposals

Award Overview

The National Geographic Society (NGS) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for academic researchers and graduate students investigating topics related to geography education in select states and locations. Awards of up to $10,000 (for researchers) and $5,000 (for graduate students) are available to support research projects.

At NGS we spark curiosity, empower exploration, and inspire change. We fund inspiring changemakers around the world who use the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. 

We welcome submissions from researchers across disciplines but successful proposals must include research related to educational approaches or processes including but not limited to specific learning activities, learning outcomes, or educational tools that advance knowledge. Research that illuminates barriers and/or advances access for those farthest from opportunity is encouraged. 

Research proposals should generate new knowledge, and can either be new or scaled up versions of existing successful projects (e.g. evaluating a different group of learners or geographic area). 

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Kansas Association of Independent Crop Consultants Scholarship Fund

The Kansas Association of Independent Crop Consultants created this scholarship fund to award to a qualified individual majoring in an agricultural field.

Creative West

Established in 1974 as a nonprofit U.S. Regional Arts Organization (USRAO), Creative West was founded on the belief that place matters to the creative process. Fifty years later, communities of place, practice, experience, and identity remain fundamental to our work, framing our understanding of how culture is creatively produced and collectively experienced.

Creative West empowers artists and culture-makers with direct, practical resources, delivered regionally.

We offer practical, equity-centered learning experiences and funding opportunities that connect and inspire artists, culture-bearers and communities to build a more inclusive sector, strengthen the arts field, and catalyze change.

National Arts Futures Fellowship

The National Arts Futures Fellowship (NAFF) is a six-month virtual leadership development program rooted in democracy, wellness, and belonging. It calls on early and mid-career arts and culture professionals from all backgrounds to step into their power as civic leaders and cultural innovators—building the skills, networks, and vision needed to shape a future where creativity drives justice, care, and connection.

Fellows join a national network committed to strengthening public life, nurturing collective wellness, and fostering deep belonging across communities. Together, they learn, experiment, and act—advancing a shared vision of leadership that is sustainable, community-rooted, and future-focused.

Each fellow enters NAFF with a Personal Action Project (PAP)—a concrete idea they will develop and implement with support from peers, coaches, guest experts, and flexible seed funding of $250–$1,000. Projects may include launching a cultural initiative, organizing a community campaign, supporting artist-led advocacy, seeking a public leadership role, or piloting another form of civic or community action. Throughout the fellowship, each project evolves through coaching, peer feedback, strategy sessions, and real-world experimentation. Fellows conclude the program by sharing their project, leadership growth, and next steps at the National Fellows Summit.

What’s New in Cohort Two?

• Cohort Two expands NAFF from six to seven monthly sessions and adds two new elements that support fellows in moving their Personal Action Projects from development into implementation:
• Seed Funding: Fellows may request $250–$1,000 in flexible funding to test, pilot, or implement their projects during the fellowship.
• Artists Thrive Framework: Fellows will use the framework to assess their work, identify opportunities for growth, and strengthen artist-led advocacy, collaboration, and community impact.

Guiding Principles

• Democracy — Use the arts to strengthen civic participation, expand public trust, and make decision-making more accessible and inclusive.
• Wellness — Treat care, rest, and healing as strategic leadership tools for sustaining movements and communities.
• Belonging — Create spaces where leaders can thrive together across differences, build trust, and celebrate shared humanity.

What kinds of projects are supported?

Examples: Running for office, launching cultural programs, organizing campaigns, supporting policies. Projects can be local, regional, or national in scope.

The Emerging Traditional Artists Program (ETAP), presented by South Arts Inc., supports early-career traditional artists from Appalachian Regional Commission-designated counties. With a $5,000 award, artists can access training, networking, and mentorship opportunities to enhance their skills and community impact. This initiative aims to preserve traditional arts and culture while fostering a new generation of artists dedicated to their craft and cultural heritage.

The John Wesley Johnson Legacy Fund is dedicated to supporting and empowering students from East Mississippi attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). By investing ​in the education of these scholars, the Legacy Fund seeks to promote equity, enhance career opportunities, and cultivate future leaders who will contribute positively to their communities and beyond.  Two Scholarships will be awarded for $1,500 each.

The Dean William C. Flewellen Jr. Scholarship Fund, established by the Central Alabama Community Foundation in 1987, supports students attending Mississippi State University in the College of Business. This renewable scholarship is available to graduating seniors from specified counties with a minimum 3.0 GPA and an ACT score of 27. The fund exemplifies a commitment to educational advancement and community support, ensuring that local students have access to higher education opportunities.

The Express Health Information Outreach Awards aim to enhance public health by increasing access to biomedical information for U.S. health professionals and the general public. These awards support projects that improve health information literacy among consumers and caregivers, ensuring they can effectively find and utilize health information. Focused on partnerships and outreach to underrepresented communities, the initiative seeks to promote healthy behaviors, prevent illness, and improve health outcomes through informed decision-making.

Lawrence and Lucimarian Roberts Scholarship Fund

The Lawrence and Lucimarian Roberts Helpline Scholarship Fund was established in July 2002 to help individuals further their education in human service professions such as psychology, counseling, social work, or other majors in the behavioral health and science field. The applicant must be currently enrolled in a two- or four-year college or university in the state of Mississippi or a high school senior who is planning on attending a two- or four-year college or university in the state of Mississippi. The applicant should have an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale) from a state or private college or university or from a public or private high school. The individual must have family residency in Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River or Stone counties.

South Arts, Inc. offers Professional Development Grants for Arts Organizations to enhance the skills and knowledge of Southern arts entities. These grants aim to support operational stability and growth, focusing on organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less. Eligible applicants include a range of arts organizations within South Arts' nine-state service area. The program emphasizes first-time opportunities and requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match, ensuring a commitment to professional development in the arts.

The ASB Research Award (Professional), offered by the Association of Southeastern Biologists, honors outstanding research by professional members (not students) with a $1000 grant. Applicants must be the primary author of a manuscript published after the last ASB annual meeting and must present their findings at the upcoming annual meeting. The awardee is recognized at the Closing Banquet, emphasizing the importance of attendance. This initiative promotes scientific advancement and networking among biology professionals.

Project Lead The Way is offering a rolling grant for schools to implement the PLTW Biomedical Science program for the 2026-2029 academic years. Eligible schools can receive up to $14,000 to cover participation fees and training costs. This grant encourages public, private, and charter schools across the U.S. to enhance their science curriculum, supporting students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Schools must commit to offering specific courses during the grant period to qualify for funding.