Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Mississippi

The Toshiba America Foundation offers grants of $5,000 or more to support innovative STEM projects for grades 6-12 in public and nonprofit private schools across the U.S. These grants encourage teachers to implement project-based learning in their classrooms. Founded in 1990, the foundation aims to enhance STEM education by providing necessary resources and support for educators to inspire their students. Applications require school official endorsement and must focus on innovative teaching methods.

The Planetary Science Enabling Facilities (PSEF) program by NASA invites proposals for research facilities that support the Planetary Science Division. It aims to enhance scientific collaboration and innovation by providing resources to a diverse range of institutions, including emerging and undergraduate colleges. Proposals should highlight the scientific merit and community need for these facilities, ensuring that they serve a broad user base committed to advancing planetary science.

Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports the artist’s legacy through a variety of initiatives, including exhibitions, loans of artworks, research and publications, conservation, grants, educational programs for the public and the scholarly community, and the publishing of a catalogue raisonné. It is dedicated to promoting greater public interest in and understanding of the visual arts.

Established and endowed by the artist during her lifetime (1928-2011), the Foundation became active in 2013, on the closing of Frankenthaler’s estate. As the principal beneficiary of Frankenthaler’s estate, the Foundation maintains an extensive collection of her work in a variety of mediums, as well as her collection of works by other artists and original papers and materials pertaining to her life and work.

Visual Arts & Education Grant

The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports public engagement with the visual arts through philanthropic, educational, curatorial, and research initiatives. It has expanded its grantmaking to sustain museums and visual arts institutions, supporting exhibitions, scholarship, and education across the field. The Foundation’s grantmaking priorities are currently organized across three areas:

• Climate Action and Sustainability
• Cultural Resilience
• Visual Arts & Education
  • Project-based support for exhibitions, publications, public programs, and academic initiatives that advance the presentation, study, and interpretation of the visual arts.
  • The Foundation supports discrete, institutionally grounded projects that advance the presentation, study, and understanding of the visual arts. Competitive proposals typically include:
    • Exhibitions, publications, and public programs focused on modern and contemporary art
    • Projects that expand access to collections, archives, and curatorial research
    • Academic and institutional initiatives in art history, studio practice, visual studies, museum and curatorial studies, conservation, and related areas of scholarship and teaching—particularly those involving university museums, galleries, and special collections
    • Conferences, programs, or initiatives led by professional organizations whose missions address the visual arts
    • Exhibitions and scholarly or public programs related to the 2028 centennial of Helen Frankenthaler
    • Projects must be clearly defined in scope, duration, and outcomes, and supported by appropriate institutional capacity. Requests for Visual Arts & Education funds should not be framed as general operating support. 

The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a pioneering space mission concept aimed at discovering life beyond our solar system, as highlighted in the Astro2020 survey. The HWO-PSI program seeks to reduce risks for future missions by advancing scientific investigations that inform mission design. As HWO enters its pre-formulation phase, it addresses significant astrophysical questions and technical challenges, ultimately striving for groundbreaking discoveries in our understanding of the universe.

Bengier Foundation

After lots of hard work and more than a bit of luck, Gary and Cynthia were able to retire from professional business careers at an early age. They decided then to try to give back a little to their community and to others less lucky than they. So the Bengier Foundation was formed in 2004 to give a helping hand to bright, hardworking young people who need a little help to find their own success.

One of our goals is to help – in a small way – to focus attention on the need to increase our American educational capital. The dropout rate statistics are shocking. We must do more to help the next generation prepare for the increasing demands of our ever-more sophisticated information economy. The Bengier Foundation believes that we must give everyone a chance to achieve their potential.

Bengier Foundation Grants

The foundation's mission is to provide educational experiences that motivate, broaden and qualify bright, hard working young people who have limited means and limited opportunities to enlarge their expectations of what they can accomplish in life.

• By motivate we mean to change a young person’s expectations about themself, by providing experiences which pique their interest, or that let them see themself in a role or career that they never previously imagined.
• By broaden we mean to allow a young person to have experiences that broaden their perspective of the world or cause them to view it and their role in it differently.
• By qualify we mean to help a young person gain the experiences and education that will allow them to succeed in college and in life.

The ASPCA Right Horse Grants aim to enhance equine adoptions and support community equines by funding programs that boost shelter capacity or assist in keeping owned equines in their homes. Grants between $5,000 and $50,000 are available, with a total funding pool of up to $750,000. Eligible applicants include ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Partners and organizations committed to the welfare of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Proposals should clearly outline the objectives and expected impacts.

ASPCA Reimagining Racers: Grants for Adopting Out Retired Racehorses Grant

ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Partners, ASPCA Right Horse Industry Partners, and organizations actively participating in the warm-up ring (defined as groups that are actively working to achieve the 13 criteria for Partnership and are participating on myrighthorse.org) are invited to apply for a grant to support an increase in capacity and/or efficiency of programs aimed at adopting out retired Thoroughbred racehorses. 

Funding requests for this grant initiative should focus on:

Activities that increase capacity, decrease length of stay, reduce cost of care or increase efficiencies, and/or improve humane outcomes in other ways. Examples:

• Training programs
• Programs that engage new adopters and grow the market share for adoption
• Medical make-ready or rehabilitation with a focus on innovation and/or sustainability
• Collaborations with other equine industry organizations to increase support for retired racehorses

Proposals will be evaluated on their potential (within the 12-month grant term) to: 

• Increase capacity (the number of horses that can be rehabilitated, trained, and placed)
• Decrease length of stay
• Decrease cost of care
• Reduce risk, harm or suffering for retired racehorses

Requests may be for the creation of new programs or the expansion of existing programs. Programs that test innovative ideas are welcome.

Grant Amounts

Grants will generally range from $10,000-$40,000, with a maximum individual grant amount of $60,000. The total funding amount available for this grant opportunity is $200,000. 

Eligibility

ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Partners, ASPCA Right Horse Industry Partners, and active Warm-Up Ring participants (defined as groups that are actively working to achieve the 13 criteria for Partnership and are participating on myrighthorse.org) whose mission or operations focus significantly on serving retired Thoroughbred racehorses are eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. Adoption organizations must be up to date on reporting data biannually to the Equine Welfare Data Collective (EWDC). If you’re unsure about your eligibility, you may contact therighthorse@aspca.org to confirm before applying.   

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans. We invite all voices to join us in working together to improve the lives of animals in need.

The Michael Scott Kramer Memorial Scholarship, offered by the San Juan Island Community Foundation, is designed for post-secondary students pursuing education in fields like recreation, adventure tourism, and marine trades. This scholarship honors Mike Kramer, a beloved outdoorsman, by encouraging students to embrace life and adventure. Candidates should demonstrate community service, a strong work ethic, and a passion for their studies. It aims to inspire the next generation to live authentically and pursue their dreams.

The Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship, presented by the Commercial Space Federation and the Matthew Isakowitz Foundation Programs, is an annual scholarship aimed at college students passionate about the commercial space industry. Recipients are awarded $1,000 and gain internship consideration and networking opportunities with industry leaders. The program emphasizes the importance of space policy knowledge, encouraging students to follow Matthew Isakowitz's legacy of kindness and generosity while pursuing careers in this evolving field.

The Two-Year College Biology Teaching Award, sponsored by the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT), recognizes outstanding biology educators in two-year colleges who implement innovative teaching techniques. This award highlights the importance of culturally responsive pedagogies that foster equity and inclusion in various learning environments. Recipients receive a $500 travel honorarium, a recognition plaque, and one year of complimentary NABT membership, supporting their professional development and commitment to enhancing biology education.

The Prof. Chan Two-Year College Award for the Engaged Teaching of Biology recognizes outstanding contributions by Two-Year College faculty who develop and implement innovative, inclusive pedagogical approaches. Sponsored by Sarah McBride and John Melville, this award emphasizes the impact of teaching on a broader student population and includes a $500 travel grant for the NABT Professional Development Conference, fostering professional development and collaboration among biology educators.

The Academic Career Excellence (ACE) Award (K32) supports early-stage postdoctoral scholars through rigorous research and career development over three years. Applicants must submit their proposals up to a year before or two years after starting their postdoctoral positions. This award emphasizes innovative research ideas and strategic planning for training and mentorship, aiming to cultivate independent investigators in research fields aligned with the missions of NIH Institutes and Centers.

The Brave Heart Foundation Grant aims to uplift underserved populations, focusing on children and families through education, health, and community action. With a commitment to funding impactful programs in Indiana, the Foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate clear community benefits. Larger funding requests are accepted from previously funded agencies, ensuring continuity and accountability. This grant serves as a vital resource for initiatives that enhance the well-being of those in need, fostering positive change within local communities.

The Bigglesworth Family Foundation's Access Grants aim to strengthen nonprofit organizations in delivering essential legal services to underserved communities. Ranging from $1,000 to $3,500, these grants provide access to critical tools and resources. The application process is streamlined, ensuring a review within 30 days, with a limit of two applications per organization annually. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on legal services, as applications outside this area will not be considered.

The URM Travel Grants, established by the American Economic Association (AEA), support junior faculty from underrepresented minority groups in economics, including American Indian, Black, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander individuals. These grants cover up to $1,000 in expenses for meals, travel, lodging, and conference registration to attend the annual ASSA meetings. The initiative aims to enhance the professional development of URM junior faculty and promote diversity within the economics field.

The Vanguard

Remuseum announces The Vanguard, an award and accelerator for innovative leaders in the visual and performing arts, in partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation. The Vanguard’s $100,000 annual award will recognize up to ten leaders who are exploring new ways to strengthen arts institutions, and a year-long accelerator will help them refine, implement, and evaluate their ideas. The first award and accelerator of its kind, The Vanguard celebrates leaders who are ready to center the public in their work in new ways, building models for increased relevance and sustainability in the arts.

The Program

The $100,000 grant that accompanies each award will go to that leader’s institution, to support ideas developed in The Vanguard’s 12-month accelerator program. That program begins with a week-long retreat at Shangri La, the Doris Duke Foundation’s global center for culture and ideas in Honolulu, Hawaii, followed by a year of monthly coaching sessions, regional peer gatherings, and collaborative workshops, culminating in a public presentation of their work and findings to the broader arts community. The accelerator and its curriculum, tailored specifically for cultural leaders, has been designed by Jenny Larios Berlin, entrepreneur in the creative and tech sectors and Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, and will be co-taught with Gregory Bunch, entrepreneur and Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and will be advised by Ethernet Inventors Professor of Entrepreneurship Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.

By year’s end, members of The Vanguard will have built an intellectual kinship with each other while modeling a spirit of innovative leadership for the field. Remuseum will continue evaluating and sharing their work as case studies for cultural organizations broadly, and future classes will continue expanding a Vanguard of leaders (10, then 20, and on) who build models of success for cultural organizations in the 21st Century, allowing arts & cultural institutions not just to survive but to support a stronger and more pluralistic civil society.

The Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences recognizes individuals or institutions promoting inclusiveness in the chemical sciences. This award includes a medal, a $1,250 grant, and reimbursement for travel expenses up to $1,500 for attending the ACS regional meeting where the award is presented. Eligible nominees must foster programs that increase participation from diverse groups in the chemical enterprise.

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program enhances access to scientific and engineering instruments in higher education and not-for-profit research organizations. By funding up to $4 million for multi-user instruments, MRI supports advancements in research capabilities and training for future instrument users. Institutions can submit multiple proposals across defined tracks, ensuring opportunities for critical research tools that propel science and engineering forward, while fostering innovation and education in instrument design.

The Marsh Foundation Grant provides funding for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes, focusing primarily on medical research in El Paso, Texas. Established under the will of Edward N. Marsh, the foundation offers grants ranging from $52,000 to $150,000, with an average total giving of $200,000 annually. Organizations must qualify as 501(c)(3) entities to be eligible, although there are no geographic limitations. Applications are accepted year-round, with a deadline of June 30 for review.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Thomas and Richard Larrimer Scholarship Fund-Franklin County

This scholarship was established by Terrence Larrimer to honor his grandfather, Thomas Larrimer (1879-1915), and his father, Richard Larrimer (1903-1987). Both men grew up and were educated in Washington Court House. When Thomas Larrimer died in a work related accident, Richard assumed responsibility for his own education and that of his two younger brothers. Richard Larrimer graduated from The Ohio State University Law School in 1925 and founded Larrimer & Larrimer, a Columbus law firm specializing in Worker's Compensation. Through this scholarship Terrence wishes to recognize his father's commitment to education and by focusing the scholarship on science and engineering, to emphasize the importance of these disciplines in our nation's future.

The FY26 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program's Platform Clinical Translation Award facilitates early-phase clinical trials for innovative healthcare technologies, catering to the needs of military Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. The program allows collaborations among multiple Principal Investigators and mandates an external advisory board with patient advocate involvement. Approximately $30M is allocated to fund two applications, each capped at $15M, over a maximum period of four years, with funding contingent on performance milestones.

About Us

Columbus Citizens Foundation celebrates Italian heritage and culture through a broad range of philanthropic and educational activities. The Foundation’s Scholarship program has supported thousands of deserving Italian American students, offering them a chance to fulfill their academic dreams and excel in their endeavors. Since 1929, the Foundation’s most public activity is organizing New York City’s annual Columbus Day Parade, the largest celebration of Italian-American heritage and achievement in the world. CCF offers many programs throughout the year celebrating Italian language, culture, history, and the many connections between Italy and the United States that extend across several centuries and continue to the present day.

CCF Medical School Scholarship

Since 2017, Columbus Citizens Foundation has been awarding scholarships to promising medical school students of Italian heritage. The scholarship that launched CCF’s medical school offerings in 2017 is primarily funded by, and candidates selected in partnership with, the Morgagni Medical Society, an organization founded in 1890 in order to foster the professional, intellectual, and economic development of Italian American physicians.

In 2021, CCF launched the Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Medical School Scholarship, to be awarded annually to Italian American students who exemplify the values and determination of Dr. Fauci. The scholarship supports students with great academic prowess seeking financial aid at the graduate level in medical and public health fields of study.

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.

Clemens-Clair Future Educators Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is named for Clemens J. Rosen and Clair J. Hemphill – two fathers who encouraged and paid for their daughters to pursue college educations. Both believed an educated woman had more opportunities and would be better able to take care of herself and her family.

Clemens Rosen (1919-2016) did not finish grade school as he was needed on the farm. However, nobody could beat him in Scrabble. He served in WWII on a B24, was shot down twice and was held in a Nazi POW camp until the end of the war. He then took employment in Peoria, IL, first working for Western Electric and then as a foreman for Caterpillar Tractor Company.

Clair Hemphill (1912-1979) finished high school and was a life-long farmer in Elwood, Illinois. Clair’s father was a farmer as was his grandfather and others before him. Clair’s mother was a teacher until she married. He had a strong belief in women pursuing education and was proud that his daughter did just that.

This scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship, awarding $5,000 for two consecutive years providing that students maintain their enrollment status. 

Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors. Applications are accepted from mid-November until mid-March. Scholarship award recipients will be announced at the high school awards ceremony. 

Susquehanna County Township Officials Association Scholarship

Established by The Susquehanna County Township Supervisors Association to provide a college scholarship to a graduating senior from Susquehanna County who will major in governmental affairs or political science.

The B-INSPIRE program aims to foster behavioral interventions that enhance interest and preparedness for careers in biomedical research. It invites applications that propose innovative studies addressing motivation and persistence in research-oriented individuals. The initiative also encourages analyses of existing data to improve intervention methodologies. Successful projects should yield findings that support the implementation of diverse strategies across academic levels, ultimately enriching the biomedical research workforce.

Clifford H. Spicer Memorial Scholarship

Clifford Spicer, founder of Spicer Engineering, was a registered professional engineer and professional land surveyor. A member and past president of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, Michigan Society of Land Surveyors, Michigan Waterworks Association and Michigan Water Pollution Control Federation, he served also on the Board of Appeals on Zoning for the City of Saginaw for 21 years.

At Spicer Engineering’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 1994, Mr. Spicer was honored by community leaders, including Governor John Engler and employees of Spicer Engineering. Former Saginaw Township Manager Frank Jones remarked, “Clifford Spicer … instilled in all employees his own extremely high professional work ethic. A finer gentlemen and engineer I have yet to meet.” Mr. Spicer died in 1997 at the age of 94.

Individual Provider Grants empower medical providers to contribute to communities through medical mission trips. These grants fund nonprofit organizations to assist with program costs. Applications are accepted year-round, but should ideally be submitted 30-60 days prior to the mission for timely processing. The Making a Difference Foundation reviews all applications monthly; however, meeting eligibility does not ensure funding at the requested amount.