Best Quality of Life Grants in Missouri

The Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, aims to enhance diversity in the academic research community. It provides funding of $250,000 and a $20,000 annual expense allowance for early-career researchers committed to fostering an inclusive scientific culture. Eligible applicants must hold a PhD or MD, commit to at least 75% research effort, and have no more than 24 months of postdoctoral experience. This initiative empowers fellows to become leaders in science.

The Foundations of Trusted Systems initiative seeks innovative research to develop secure, resilient, and affordable technologies for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber systems. This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) aims to establish trusted foundations for hardware and software, building on previous work to enhance information processing systems. Researchers are encouraged to submit white papers for evaluation and potential funding.

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Research Training Grant supports institutions in developing clinical and translational science training programs. This program aims to enhance the research training of postdoctoral individuals holding doctoral degrees, ensuring a diverse pool of scientists equipped to tackle critical health challenges. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization, and non-U.S. entities are not eligible.

The L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship empowers women postdoctoral scientists by providing annual grants to support their research in STEM fields. This initiative not only recognizes their contributions but also encourages them to serve as role models for future generations. With a long-standing partnership with the AAAS, the program has awarded over $5 million to 105 scientists, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing women's roles in science and technology.

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) offers predoctoral training grants aimed at enhancing clinical and translational science. Administered by the NCATS, this program supports institutions in training aspiring researchers for a PhD or equivalent, ensuring a diverse cohort of scientists equipped to tackle pressing health challenges. The ultimate goal is to cultivate a skilled workforce capable of advancing biomedical research and addressing community health needs effectively.

The Japanese-Language Education Project Grant supports initiatives that enhance Japanese language education across various regions. Offered by the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, this grant targets workshops, seminars, and original projects that connect language learning with Japan Studies. Eligible applicants include non-profit educational organizations in the U.S. Projects should benefit multiple programs, ensuring a broad impact on Japanese language education. The deadline for applications is two months before the project start date, which must be between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.

The ACLS Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future program offers summer opportunities for current PhD students in the humanities and social sciences to engage with organizations addressing the evolving American religious landscape. This initiative aims to cultivate future leaders by providing practical experiences that demonstrate the value of doctoral training beyond academia. Supported by the Templeton Religion Trust, the internships encourage collaboration between fellows and community organizations, fostering a deeper understanding of spiritual infrastructures.

The PLTW Gateway Program Expansion, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, aims to enhance STEM education in schools across the United States. With a total grant of $10,000 for the 2026-2027 academic year, this initiative focuses on expanding existing PLTW Gateway programs, allowing schools to introduce new units and train additional teachers. Since 2007, Lockheed Martin's support has enabled over 300 programs, providing critical skills to more than 77,000 students nationwide.

The PLTW Gateway program, supported by Lockheed Martin, offers grants for schools to implement STEM and CTE-aligned curricula. Aimed at enhancing educational access for students, it provides funding of $10,000 for the 2026-2027 academic year. Eligible schools include public and charter institutions across the U.S. This initiative, part of a long-standing partnership since 2007, addresses the critical need for future engineers and scientists, benefiting over 77,000 students through innovative coursework.

The Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science celebrate outstanding contributions by women in STEM fields. These awards recognize early-career female researchers who demonstrate exceptional achievements, face challenges, and inspire the next generation through outreach. Winners receive prizes totaling $50,000, mentorship opportunities, and invitations to prestigious ceremonies. This initiative promotes inclusivity and aims to enhance the representation of women in science, thereby supporting a diverse and equitable scientific community.

The Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science, particularly in the Science Outreach category, honors initiatives that empower girls and young women in STEM fields. With a focus on engagement and retention, the awards aim to celebrate projects that encourage participation in natural sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. Winners will receive significant cash prizes and opportunities for mentorship, creating pathways for future generations of women in science.

The Hometown Partners Giving Circle Grant Program aims to strengthen communities in Aurora, Marionville, and Verona by fully funding impactful projects. The program, managed by the Aurora Area Community Foundation, invites nonprofit organizations to submit proposals. Eligible applicants include IRS-approved entities that serve the local area and can attend a check presentation on May 17, 2025. Grant submissions are accepted from March 17 to April 11, 2025, fostering collaboration and community enhancement.

The RTK Scholars Program, funded by RTK Environmental Group, provides a $1,500 scholarship to support students pursuing careers in science, particularly in environmental studies, biology, and engineering. This initiative aims to cultivate the next generation of experts in environmental testing and technology. Eligible applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be enrolled in an accredited institution. The application deadline is May 31 each year, promoting academic excellence and dedication to environmental sciences.

American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Our mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community, and champion scientific integrity. Our vision is a world built on science.

What We Do

More than 145 years after our founding, we remain a champion for chemistry, its practitioners and our global community of members.

We’re recognized as a leading publisher of authoritative scientific information. Our 80+ peer-reviewed journals are ranked the “most-trusted, most-cited and most-read.”

We empower our members to advance chemistry, elevate their career potential, expand their networks, inspire future generations, collaborate globally and build communities that provide scientific solutions.

We provide broader networks that facilitate connections and open doors in a way no other professional organization can match!

ACS Graduate Student Success Grant

Purpose

To support graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.), within one year of degree completion, whose education and training were disrupted due to termination or cancellation of research grants. Funding will be given to the Principal Investigator (PI) of the lab. This one-year award, the ACS Graduate Student Success Grant, will enable students to complete their degree programs. The grant seeks to lower the risk of a declining number of U.S.-trained chemists with advanced degrees, thereby preserving the strength and continuity of the scientific community.

Description

The ACS Graduate Student Success Grant provides $25,000 for one year to a faculty member who lost funding after October 1, 2024, that supports one or more graduate students. The award will also connect supported graduate students to ACS career development resources and programming to catalyze their transition into the workforce.

The grant funds will be awarded to exclusively support graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) who are within one year of degree completion and in need of funds to ensure degree completion. This grant supports currently enrolled graduate students who conduct research related to the chemical sciences in a department at a U.S.-based institution of higher education. Each institution of higher education can receive a maximum of one ACS Graduate Student Success Grant.

Applicant must provide a signed letter on institutional letterhead from the Vice President of Research (or equivalent), confirming the institution’s support, including the following:

• The PI’s loss of funding due to grant termination or cancellation after October 1, 2024.
• The names, current academic status, and anticipated graduation time of the impacted graduate students.

The Owensville Area Community Foundation Grantmaking Program supports local 501(c)(3) organizations and other IRS-approved entities in enhancing the quality of life in the Owensville area. Governed by a knowledgeable Board of Directors, this program provides flexible grantmaking tailored to community needs. Grants up to $500 are available, with a focus on non-discrimination in funding use. The program aims to empower local leaders and foster impactful community initiatives.

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries offers financial support to underfunded schools to enhance their library collections, promoting literacy and a passion for reading. Eligible applicants include Title 1 public schools and private institutions with at least 50% of students qualifying for financial aid. The grant funds can be utilized exclusively for books, periodicals, and subscriptions, ensuring that all students have access to diverse reading materials. Applications require a designated librarian and completion of necessary documentation.

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.

American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Our mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community, and champion scientific integrity. Our vision is a world built on science.

What We Do

More than 145 years after our founding, we remain a champion for chemistry, its practitioners and our global community of members.

We’re recognized as a leading publisher of authoritative scientific information. Our 80+ peer-reviewed journals are ranked the “most-trusted, most-cited and most-read.”

We empower our members to advance chemistry, elevate their career potential, expand their networks, inspire future generations, collaborate globally and build communities that provide scientific solutions.

We provide broader networks that facilitate connections and open doors in a way no other professional organization can match!

ACS Catalyst Scholarship

Description

The ACS Catalyst Scholarship is an education initiative designed to support undergraduate students pursuing chemistry or chemistry-related fields. This scholarship offers support to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need or hardship. This program provides $10,000 in funding, with the possibility of renewal in future years, to help students continue their academic journey.

Must plan to pursue a career in the chemical sciences.

Funding for this scholarship is paid directly to accredited colleges or universities to cover essential educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, and books.

The SLEEP Travel Grant for AASM Patient Advocacy Roundtable, funded by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation, aims to enhance sleep health by supporting organizations with limited financial resources. This grant offers $2,000 for travel and registration to the SLEEP 2026 meeting, fostering connections among members of the AASM Patient Advocacy Roundtable. This initiative emphasizes the importance of advocacy in sleep medicine and encourages participation in vital discussions surrounding sleep health.

About McElhattan Foundation

Founded in 2017 following the sale of Industrial Scientific Corporation, McElhattan Foundation invites bold ideas that advance the goals of its four program areas, including Ending Death on the Job.

Zero Electrocution Challenge

Despite decades of regulations, training, and personal protective equipment, workers continue to die from electrical contact every year.

McElhattan Foundation’s Zero Electrocution Challenge seeks breakthrough solutions that present pathways to eliminate life-threatening tasks that lead to fatal electrocution on the job by the year 2050, while increasing enterprise profitability and productivity. This is the inaugural ZERO 2050 challenge, awarding two Winners up to $1 million each.

American Society of Civil Engineers 

The American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 160,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries. Founded in 1852, ASCE is the nation’s oldest national civil engineering society.

ASCE stands at the forefront of a profession that plans, designs, constructs, and operates society’s economic and social engine – the built environment – while protecting and restoring the natural environment.

G. B. Mann Scholarship

All scholarships are awarded on an equal opportunity basis to current high school senior students who attend school in the Dallas Branch region (Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall Counties) and who will be attending an institution of higher learning in the 2026 Fall Semester in pursuit of a degree in Civil Engineering.

About G. B. Mann

The (Dallas) Branch Scholarship Fund was established in the early 90s when David Schnurbusch was the Branch president. In 1993, the Fund received a large boost from George Boley Mann, when he contributed a large sum of his retirement investments to the Fund. Numerous Dallas area high school and college students have benefited from his large and kind endowment. He did not want any publicity for this contribution.

An ASCE Past President and Life Member, Mr. Mann received a degree in Civil Engineering from SMU. During WWII he worked in Ordinance Department at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. He retired from Texas Department of Transportation after 34 years of service. He was active in ASCE and NSPE. He contributed to the construction of numerous Texas highways. He mentored many young engineers.

Duane Roberts Scholarship

The Duane Roberts Scholarship was established in memory of Duane Roberts, a Kalamazoo Public Schools graduate, community activist, and KPS Board of Education member, to provide scholarship support to KPS minority students.

KZCF scholarships may be applied to any items under your school’s cost of attendance (COA). Each school has a different COA that may include items such as tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, health insurance, etc. Scholarship payments are sent directly to your institution. 

This scholarship is a one-time award, meaning that it will not repeat in subsequent years. The money awarded can be applied to your education costs alongside other scholarships or funding that you may receive, and there are no necessary steps once funds are sent.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Inc.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center litigates, educates, advocates, and provides grants to nonprofits to eradicate social injustices. 

We pursue litigation through our own efforts as well as funding others in the following fifteen issue areas: Access to Benefits, Children’s Rights, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Due Process, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Native American Rights, Prisoners’ Rights, Refugee and Immigration Rights, Voting Rights, and Veterans’ Rights.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Grant

We make grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across fifteen issue areas. The Center funds litigation matters that are consistent with our namesake Barbara McDowell’s past legal efforts and her beliefs regarding social justice.

Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded. 

The SLEEP Travel Grant for Medical Students and Residents, offered by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation, provides $2,000 to support medical students and residents attending the SLEEP meeting. This grant fosters career development in the sleep field and is available to those currently enrolled in accredited medical or residency programs. The funding is aimed at enhancing sleep health through research and community engagement, aligning with AASM's mission.

The SLEEP Travel Grant for Sleep Technologists and Advanced Practice Providers, funded by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation, offers a $2,000 grant to support first-time attendance at the SLEEP 2026 meeting. This initiative aims to enhance engagement among non-physician members of the sleep team, such as sleep technologists and advanced practice providers, while promoting networking opportunities within the sleep community.

Thomas S. Ritter Memorial Scholarship Fund

The purpose of this scholarship fund is to assist students who are attending or plan to attend a college or university and who have demonstrated a strong work ethic both inside and outside of the classroom.

Award

• Varies

The Herman Frasch Foundation Grant, administered by the American Chemical Society, supports research in agricultural chemistry with practical benefits for U.S. agriculture. Eligible applicants include tenured or tenure-track faculty within seven years of their first appointment. Grants of $50,000 annually for five years are available, with a focus on training students and disseminating research findings. The next application period opens on November 5, 2026, following a five-year cycle.