Best Private Grants for Nonprofits in Mississippi

The Wireless Family Fund, supported by Music Movement, provides financial aid to families in the Wireless and Tech Industries, focusing on living expenses, medical bills, and educational support. Grants typically range from $1,500 to $2,500 and are available to families within the United States. Music Movement enriches the lives of individuals with Autism and other developmental differences through music-centric programs that enhance communication, social skills, and emotional expression.

The Edna and Erma Memorial Scholarship, established by The Dayton Foundation in 2018, supports women from Montgomery County, Ohio, pursuing education degrees. It is aimed at female high school seniors and adult learners returning to college, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated financial need. This scholarship reflects the Foundation's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and empowering women in the community.

About Americans for the Arts

Building Collective Power for the Arts

Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading arts advocacy organization. We mobilize advocates, produce trusted research, and secure bipartisan wins that protect funding and expand arts access nationwide — work we've been doing for more than 65 years.

Americans for the Arts advances the people, organizations, and systems supporting arts and culture across America through advocacy, research, and national convening.

We envision a nation where freedom of creative expression is upheld as a fundamental human right, where arts and culture are woven into the fabric of civic life, resourced in every community, and accessible to everyone.

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Strengthening Leadership Capacity of Local Arts Agencies

Given the essential role of LAAs, and to meet this important moment, AFTA seeks an energized and experienced consulting team with expertise to help it develop a comprehensive strategy to strengthen leadership and field capacity across the LAA ecosystem. This work is not intended to operate in isolation, but rather to complement and build upon existing efforts already underway in the field. The focus is on identifying where AFTA can add value through targeted, strategic support that enhances and aligns with broader sector-wide initiatives. 

This effort will focus on empowering LAA agency leaders—a critical component of AFTA’s strategic direction—to expand their capacity, foster innovation, and advance equity in a rapidly evolving environment. Building on existing efforts across the field, AFTA will invest in strong, effective LAA leadership, broaden cultural access and participation nationwide, and position the field for a more vibrant, resilient, and sustainable future. 

With approximately 2,200 LAAs nationally validated in AFTA’s LAA Wayfinder, the selected consulting team will help AFTA gain a deeper understanding of the gaps, needs and opportunities shaping LAA leadership capacity, with attention to Native, rural, small, midsize, and large communities, and identify where AFTA is uniquely positioned to contribute. These insights will guide AFTA’s future direction in its service to LAAs nationwide and ensure AFTA’s contributions complement—rather than duplicate—the work of other entities, collectively strengthening the broader LAA ecosystem.  

In addition, by intentionally working in partnership with peer organizations and stakeholders across the field—and by understanding gaps in coverage and opportunities for growth—AFTA will be positioned to work with partners to support the expansion of the LAA network in communities where local public cultural infrastructure is limited or absent. This collaborative approach will help ensure more equitable access to arts and culture while reinforcing the role of LAAs as essential community anchors, particularly in underserved regions. 

The Charles H. Revson Foundation's Education Grant Program promotes equitable access to knowledge and resources, supporting innovative projects in public libraries, community news publications, and the education of discerning news consumers. This program aims to empower students and strengthen community engagement through education. Eligible applicants are registered nonprofits in the U.S., while individuals and certain project types, such as film or biomedical research, are ineligible for funding.

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

June M. and John C. Vandervelde Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of June M. and John C. Vandervelde, who established the June M. and John C. Vandervelde Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. The Vandervelde's are both long-time Muskegon residents. Many Muskegonites will recognize the name "Vandervelde Furniture" which was located on Broadway in Muskegon Heights for many years. Generations of people bought their furniture from Vandervelde's. June is a long active volunteer for many community organizations, and both have a strong belief in and recognize the importance of a college education. This scholarship fund will assist Muskegon County students as they pursue that education.

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

Ken and Clara Kolberg Family Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Ken Kolberg and family, who established the Ken and Clara Kolberg Family Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Teaching is the family business of the Kolberg Family. Ken started teaching in Muskegon Public Schools after WWII and did so for thirty-seven years. Ken and Clara raised five children, of whom four became teachers - two working in Muskegon. Through the establishment of this Fund, the family is assured of having an impact on students far into the future. This Fund will support Muskegon students pursuing careers in education, especially minority students so greatly needed as teachers in our school systems.

The Owen Family Foundation Grant supports charitable organizations primarily in East Texas and the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, focusing on health, education, human services, and religious initiatives. Organizations must have a 501(c)(3) status and past funding is required for Twin Cities applicants. The foundation is committed to promoting philanthropy and ensuring access to funding for eligible charities, while maintaining a non-discriminatory policy.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grants aim to enhance the life-saving capabilities of public safety organizations. Established in 2005, the foundation supports funding for life-saving equipment, prevention education, scholarships, and disaster relief initiatives. Eligible applicants include public safety entities located within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant. This program emphasizes early application submission, as only a limited number of applications are accepted quarterly.

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.

Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.

John Masus Memorial Scholarship Fund

Originally the Masus Financial Group Scholarship Fund, the fund was renamed the John Masus Memorial Scholarship Fund as a memorial to John Masus at the time of his passing.

The Fund supports scholarships to graduating high school seniors who reside within the 60510 zip code in Kane County. 

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

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.

BC Chapter of the American Institute of Architects George J. Donovan Memorial Scholarship

Provides scholarships to students who attend high school in Bucks County and plan to pursue a career in Architecture by pursuing a major such as, but not limited to, Architecture, Architecture Engineering, Civil Engineering, CAD Technology Sustainable Design.

Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change.

To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to better understand the root causes of problems and strengthen the evidence base on what works to solve them. Using this evidence, we advocate for policy reforms at all levels of government and help build durable, bipartisan coalitions for lasting change.

Causal Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools

The Opportunity

Smartphones are nearly universal among children and adolescents in the United States: 95% of teens reported having access to a smartphone, giving them regular exposure to social media, gaming, and video streaming platforms. While smartphones can support learning and social connection, emerging evidence suggests that using phones during school may also interfere with important educational goals, including student engagement, attendance, and academic performance.

In response, more than 30 states have passed laws restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools in recent years. These policies vary widely, ranging from “bell-to-bell” policies to classroom-level bans on phones only during instructional time. Despite the rapid adoption of these policies, rigorous evidence on academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts remains limited. In the absence of strong research, federal and state policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, lack the information needed to make informed decisions that effectively support student success. Building a robust evidence base is critical for shaping policies and practices that improve learning and well-being in both the short- and long-term.

This RFP seeks to address these gaps by supporting rigorous, causal research on the academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts of cell phone policies in K-12 schools in the United States. We seek studies that generate actionable insights for policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, who are deciding whether and how to implement or refine such policies. This RFP will support both Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Quasi-Experimental Designs (QEDs) that can credibly estimate causal effects. While we are open to a range of research questions, we highlight 2 areas of particular interest below.

What are the overall impacts of policies restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on student-level outcomes, including academic achievement and attainment (e.g., standardized test scores, graduation rates), behaviors (e.g., engagement, attendance, disciplinary actions), and/or mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness)?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on school-level outcomes, including school safety (e.g., reported incidents), school climate (e.g., bullying, social connections), and administrative factors (e.g., costs, logistics, communications with parents)?

• Do initial impacts persist, fade, or grow as schools refine their practices over time?

What factors explain variation in the impacts of cell phone policies?

• Which students, schools, and districts are most impacted by cell phone policies?

• Which policy design features (e.g., what devices are banned, when devices are banned, how devices are stored/locked) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• Which implementation strategies (e.g., training and supports for school staff, consistent approaches for enforcement) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• How do the resource and operational implications of different policy approaches (e.g., costs, staff time, infrastructure needs) influence their effectiveness? How do these factors affect the scalability and sustainability of effective approaches?

The Project SEED Fellowship aims to provide high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with hands-on summer research experiences in chemistry and related fields. Over 50 years, it has engaged more than 11,000 students, offering mentorship and support for college readiness. Participants work under the guidance of scientists for 8 to 10 weeks, with opportunities for scholarships and travel grants, thereby fostering interest in STEM careers and promoting diversity in the sciences.

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type.

Georgia E Frank Scholarship

The mission of the Georgia E. Frank Scholarship Fund is to support graduating Carroll County high school students of all backgrounds and needs as they pursue their dreams of being a teacher. As Georgia was a life-long Family and Consumer Science teacher in Carroll County, this fund aims to invigorate, encourage, and support aspiring young educators as they transition from high school to the collegiate stages of their training. As a teacher, Georgia encouraged her students to love what they do, to do it well, in order to make the world around them a better place to live. We hope this fund provides assistance to similarly minded young people as they pursue their future teaching career.

The BJA FY 2026 Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program aims to enhance school safety by funding initiatives that train staff and students, develop threat assessment teams, and implement technology solutions like anonymous reporting systems. This program supports effective strategies to identify and mitigate risks of school violence, ensuring students have the tools necessary to foster a secure learning environment while adhering to the guidelines set forth by the STOP School Violence Act.

The Judith A. Ingram Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, honors the legacy of Judy Ingram, a dedicated educator who inspired many in elementary education. This scholarship supports graduating seniors from local school districts planning to major in elementary education, emphasizing academic achievement and financial need. It aims to foster future educators who will continue Judy's commitment to nurturing young minds and enhancing educational opportunities in the community.

The GCA: Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship in Conservation Horticulture, provided by the Garden Club of America, offers an annual research grant of up to $4,500 for graduate students in biology or horticulture. This fellowship aims to promote the conservation of rare and endangered flora in the U.S., particularly focusing on the southeastern region. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in a U.S.-based institution, with preference given to those studying plants native to the Carolinas.

The Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Corridor Community Grants, provided by Keep America Beautiful, aim to empower communities to revitalize and beautify MLK corridors across the U.S. These grants support various projects, including murals, community gardens, and cleanup efforts, contributing to the initiative's goal of beautifying 25,000 communities by 2026. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local governments, and community organizations, with a focus on sustainable impacts and local engagement.

The JAMS Foundation / NAFCM Mini-Grant Program offers funding to support innovative community mediation programs that foster sustainability and growth. This initiative emphasizes conflict resolution training for local leaders, enabling them to effectively address community issues. Through structured peer interactions, grantees share best practices and insights. Resources generated by the program are freely accessible to enhance the wider community mediation field, ensuring shared knowledge and enhanced practices across the nation.

The ISF Policy Scholarship Program offers financial assistance ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for scholars dedicated to improving Muslim representation in media and government. Since 2009, ISF has awarded 747 scholarships to students in fields that influence public policy and opinion, such as political science and international relations. With a commitment to mentorship and real-world experience, ISF aims to foster positive narratives about American Muslims and encourage their involvement in the policymaking process.

The ISF Narrative Film Grant, established by the Islamic Scholarship Fund, supports emerging Muslim filmmakers by providing funding for narrative films in production or post-production stages. With a focus on compelling storytelling and positive portrayals of the Muslim community, the grant offers mentorship and networking opportunities to enhance the filmmakers' projects. Since its inception in 2014, it has awarded $625,000 to over 111 filmmakers, promoting diverse narratives that resonate with audiences.

The Piñon Foundation Grant supports 501(c)(3) organizations and educational institutions focused on enhancing the education, health, and well-being of children and the elderly. Although it primarily funds initiatives in West Texas, the Dallas Fort Worth area, and Oklahoma City, it is open to proposals from other regions that can positively impact community growth. The foundation believes in the transformative power of education and health to foster community success and development.

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.

Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships

AWS Foundation Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships provide funding for welding educators to advance their skills and impact in teaching. Aimed at current educators in welding-related fields, these scholarships demonstrate AWS's dedication to enriching welding education.

District Educator Scholarships

Each of AWS’s 22 Districts awards educator scholarships worth $500 to $2,000.

To see which District your school is in, view the AWS District and Section Directory.

Funds are paid directly to the educational institution or organization providing the training.

The AWS Educator Professional Development Scholarships are awarded annually in May or June.

The Research on Research Security Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to foster collaboration between STEM researchers and research security practitioners. It encourages interdisciplinary approaches to enhance evidence-based research on security issues. Proposals can include conferences, workshops, and planning grants, as well as international partnerships, to address U.S. concerns in research security. This initiative is vital for developing a robust community in this emerging field.

The National PTA Outstanding Advocacy Awards recognize exemplary efforts by state, local, and individual PTA advocates dedicated to improving the education, health, and well-being of children. Established by the National PTA, these awards highlight four categories of advocacy: Outstanding State PTA Advocacy, Outstanding Local PTA Advocacy, Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year, and Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year. Awardees will be celebrated at the National PTA’s Legislative Conference in March 2026.

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.

Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships

AWS Foundation Welding Educator Professional Development Scholarships provide funding for welding educators to advance their skills and impact in teaching. Aimed at current educators in welding-related fields, these scholarships demonstrate AWS's dedication to enriching welding education.

National Educator Scholarships

Five donor-funded scholarships worth $1,000 to $5,000

• Bechtel Group Foundation Educator Scholarship
• Earl C. Lipphardt Educator Scholarship
• Jackson Safety Educator Scholarship
• Tim Turner Educator Scholarship
• William Kielhorn Educator Scholarship

Funds are paid directly to the educational institution or organization providing the training.

The AWS Educator Professional Development Scholarships are awarded annually in May or June.

The Mifflin Memorial Fund Grant supports nonprofit organizations in human services and education, particularly those serving low-income and minority populations. This private fund also contributes to environmental and conservation initiatives, and occasionally cultural organizations for specific projects. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt nonprofits, ensuring that grants are directed towards impactful community services and educational opportunities.