Best Grants for Autism Programs in Nebraska

Dick & Judy Hoyt Inclusion Grant

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism is excited to collaborate with the Hoyt Foundation for the Dick and Judy Hoyt Grant for Inclusion. Our joint effort is driven by a shared vision of fostering a society where individuals with autism and other disabilities are embraced and valued within their communities. In tribute to the pioneering spirit of Dick and Judy Hoyt, we will be distributing $50,000 through this community grant to support people with autism and other disabilities. Successful ways grant funds can be used: 

• Side-by-side participation with non-disabled peers in a swim program, the grant provides a private lifeguard to allow individualized support to ensure an inclusive experience.
• Grant provides the purchase of a racing chair to allow an individual with a disability to run in races with non-disabled peers.
• Competitive horseback riding supported by the grant to purchase specialized equipment to allow a rider to compete against non-disabled peers.
• Grant provides the purchase of an adaptive ski prosthetic to allow an individual to participate side by side with non-disabled peers on their high school ski teams.
• Participation in dance training and competitions to allow a student with a disability to compete in a dance competition with non-disabled peers, grant lessons, and staff to assist in dance training.
• Grant provides a mobile stand to allow a student with a disability to participate side by side with non-disabled peers in the college marching band. 

The Vineyard Family Foundation

The Vineyard Family Foundation is the product of decades of work across three generations and five states. Having enjoyed the benefits of our hard work and community patronage, the Vineyard family has chosen to provide to others what so many have graciously provided to us. 

What Sets Us Apart

The Vineyard family has always been committed to its communities. Whether supporting Boys & Girls Clubs, pediatric hospitals, the Ronald McDonald House, arts organizations, or youth recreation leagues, the family has taken a great interest in the care, health, and education of children and the families that nurture them. We take great pride in personally administering our Foundation’s charitable giving, resulting in fewer expenses and more funding for those organizations aligned with the Foundation’s purpose.

Grants

• Supporting Our Communities and Their Families
• Working Towards the Health, Education, and Overall Well-Being of Parents and Their Children

You are steps away from creating an opportunity to receive full or partial funding of your charitable organization. So that you use your time wisely, we offer the following advice for your efforts:

• As a family foundation, we are prohibited from funding individuals or any entity that is not an IRS-recognized Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity or a Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3) support organization. Thus, while we cannot award a scholarship to an individual, we can fund a 501(c)(3) charity that provides such scholarships.

• If you qualify as a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or a support organization pursuant to Section 509(a)(1-3), we will need the IRS Determination Letter confirming as much, as well as a statement signed by your organization’s President or Chief Executive Officer verifying that your organization’s purposes, structure, and operations have not changed substantially since the date of the IRS’s Determination Letter.

• If you are a “supporting organization” under IRS Code section 509(a)(1-3), please provide a list of the public charities that you support. Please also advise whether you are a Type I, Type II, or Type III supporting organization. If you are a Type III supporting organization, please advise whether you are “functionally integrated” with your supported public charity and provide an explanation of that relationship.

Supported Charities

The Vineyard family has historically provided funding for family-related charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, pediatric hospitals, autism-related organizations, and youth recreational leagues. The Foundation looks forward to continuing this support and extending itself to educational, research, and cultural experiences that focus on the needs of children and their parents.

Nebraska autism research teams conducting clinical trials can access funding via US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command for studies on treatment or management of autism. Awards up to US $1,500,000 support trials from early proof-of-concept through large-scale efficacy studies, with required community collaboration and options for partnering early-career investigators.

Autism researchers and research institutions in Nebraska can seek funding to develop innovative, high-risk/high-reward studies that improve outcomes for Autistic individuals. With a mission to advance autism science, US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command provides up to US $750,000 for Idea Development projects, including collaborative Partnering Principal Investigator proposals.

Early-career or transitioning autism researchers in Nebraska and other eligible U.S. locations can seek funding for innovative, high-impact autism studies or early-phase clinical trials. US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command provides up to US $750,000, with strong encouragement for projects involving community partners such as Autistic individuals, caregivers, or community-based organizations.

Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis in Nebraska seeking higher education or job training can apply for this scholarship supporting autism-related educational goals. With a mission to encourage and assist autistic students, Erie Community Foundation provides funding that may benefit those pursuing post-secondary education or vocational programs; Autism Society NWPA members receive preference.

Research institutions and investigators conducting autism-related studies in Nebraska and other eligible U.S. locations can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to support multi-site Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Network R01 projects. Awards up to US $10,000,000 back collaborative, cutting-edge research using advanced technologies and methods to deepen understanding of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism research institutions and collaborative research centers in Nebraska and other U.S. jurisdictions can seek major project and center funding to advance autism science using cutting-edge technologies and methods. Grants from US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health support Autism Centers of Excellence P50 awards up to US $10,000,000 across eligible locations.

Autism researchers conducting SPARK Research Match studies that recruit undersampled groups in Nebraska and across the U.S. can receive funding for participant incentives. Simons Foundation supports autism research by providing up to US $10,000 per study in e-gift cards for individuals from undersampled genetic ancestries participating in online or remote SPARK-based projects.

K-12 public schools, districts, libraries, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Nebraska and across the U.S. can receive US $500 - US $10,000 to run autism peer education and awareness initiatives. Organization For Autism Research funds projects using its Kit for Kids materials, with strong encouragement for districts and organizations serving low-income communities.

Community organizations and stakeholders creating practical autism resources in Nebraska can apply for US $1,000 - US $15,000 in grants from Organization For Autism Research. Funding supports tools that improve autistic individuals’ physical health and quality of life, such as guides, curricula, toolkits, or multimedia, developed and led by community members rather than researchers.

Nebraska nonprofits running autism programs can access funding through Anderson Foundation for Autism to improve quality of life for people with autism. U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations may apply for up to US $50,000 to support, sustain, or expand services and initiatives that benefit individuals on the autism spectrum.

Focused on urgent autism support, this program invites Nebraska families facing immediate safety risks to seek funding for effective autism treatments and services. The Autism Care Today SOS Program serves low-income households across the U.S., and may help Nebraska autism programs connect eligible families with rapid assistance when physical safety is in jeopardy.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Nebraska serving autistic adults with programs in work, home, social engagement, or health can apply for funding from Next for Autism. Grants up to US $25,000 support evidence-based, high-impact services, with priority for low-income, underserved, and rural communities across the U.S.

Predoctoral researchers studying autism and cardiovascular or brain health in Nebraska and across the U.S. can apply for Autism Speaks and American Heart Association fellowships, offering US $80,000. With a mission to advance autism-related health research, Autism Speaks provides support for projects using implementation science to improve real-world outcomes and health equity.

Parents and legal guardians seeking funding for children’s autism-related music therapy in Nebraska can apply for US $1,500 - US $2,500 to support qualified local or online therapists. Music Movement supports music-centric programs for youth with autism, learning differences, developmental challenges, serious illnesses, and at-risk backgrounds across the U.S.

Parents or legal guardians of children and young adults with autism or other learning differences in the U.S., including Nebraska, can receive in-kind funding for musical instruments to foster self-expression and growth. Grants from Music Movement typically range from US $500 - US $1,500 in instrument support, with items shipped directly to recipients.

Young adults and adults (18+) with autism or other developmental differences in the U.S. can apply for Music Movement’s Independent Living Initiatives, awarding US $1,500 - US $5,000 for housing programs, camps, retreats, and continued education or therapy. Nebraska families may benefit when seeking support for autism-related independent living needs.

Families of individuals with autism needing help with medical, nutritional, personal, or educational expenses in Nebraska can apply for this need-based support. Focused on direct autism-related needs not covered by insurance or schools, MyGOAL gives preference to first-time applicants and awards grants directly to primary caregivers for the benefit of the individual with ASD.

Autistic students in Nebraska needing financial help for education or recreation can receive US $500 through the Varghese Summersett Autism Scholarship. With a mission to support autism-focused opportunities, Varghese Summersett provides U.S. residents with funds for camps, tutoring, schooling, or other tools that help them progress and improve quality of life.

Families of children with autism in Nebraska can apply for Autism Care Today’s national grants, which fund treatment products and services like ABA therapy, assistive technologies, safety equipment, medical tests, and social skills or summer programs. Awards are paid directly to approved providers and vendors rather than to individuals.

Nonprofit organizations running autism-related or other health and wellness, education, or Native community programs in Nebraska can seek support for services and initiatives assisting people in need. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation supports these efforts through the Yocha Dehe Community Fund, prioritizing projects that promote health, education, Native arts and culture, environmental protection, and Native rights.

The Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology, offered by the Simons Foundation, aim to support early-career researchers pursuing fundamental studies in plant biology. Candidates with diverse backgrounds, including engineering and computational modeling, are encouraged to apply. This flexible program enables collaborations between disciplines, fostering innovative approaches to plant science. Eligible applicants should have obtained their Ph.D. within the last three years and may include both U.S. citizens and foreign researchers. Awards will be granted to nonprofit research institutions.

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award honors exemplary nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that foster collaborative partnerships across sectors. Annually, a national competition showcases numerous organizations demonstrating impactful community partnerships. Six organizations receive recognition, including the Thomas J. Moran Award, which offers $100,000, and the Frances R. Hesselbein Award, granting $75,000. Since 1996, the award has acknowledged 262 partnerships, emphasizing Mutual of America's commitment to societal improvement through collaboration.

The True Inspiration Awards, established by Chick-fil-A in 2015, recognizes nonprofit organizations that significantly impact their communities. In 2025, the program will distribute $6 million in grants, ranging from $30,000 to $350,000, to sixteen selected organizations. Categories include Caring for People, Caring through Food, Community, and Caring for our Planet, with a focus on educational initiatives, food security, housing services, and environmental stewardship, honoring the legacy of founder S. Truett Cathy.

State Farm's Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants aim to enhance community safety, development, and education. Focused on long-term impact, they support initiatives in auto and home safety, disaster preparedness, affordable housing, and educational programs. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. However, funding is not available for individuals, religious programs, or organizations outside the U.S. By addressing critical community needs, these grants foster safer and more resilient neighborhoods.

The Saw Island Foundation offers grants focusing on education, science, and health, primarily targeting nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their education grants support scholarships and program partnerships, while science and health grants aim to enhance life experiences through improved health outcomes. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, and the foundation emphasizes innovative collaborations that demonstrate measurable impact in their communities.