Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in New York

The RFP for the Rural Rental Housing Preservation Academy offers no-cost training sessions aimed at empowering rural housing providers to acquire and preserve affordable housing financed by USDA, HUD, and LIHTC. Participants will engage in peer learning, receive targeted technical assistance, and access expert guidance tailored to their needs. This initiative seeks to enhance the preservation of affordable housing opportunities, particularly those with rental assistance, in rural communities across the region.

Carl Hill Memorial Scholarship

Awards:

• One time award of $500.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's Innovative Conservation Program (ICP) has funded innovative water savings projects since 2001, with $250,000 available biannually. The program aims to evaluate and demonstrate the reliability of new water-saving technologies. Nearly 400 proposals have sought $36 million in funding. The ICP, supported by multiple agencies, encourages projects that can benefit Southern California's water efficiency, inviting proposals from outside its service area to enhance regional water management.

The Gifford Pinchot Medal, awarded by the Society of American Foresters, honors exceptional contributions by forestry professionals in North America. Recognizing achievements in administration and practice, this medal is presented every odd-numbered year at the SAF national convention. Recipients receive a $500 honorarium, complimentary registration, and up to $500 for travel expenses. This prestigious award highlights the importance of leadership and innovation in the forestry profession.

The BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program aims to support community organizations and tribal governments in providing essential mentoring and transitional services for individuals returning from correctional facilities. This initiative targets those assessed as moderate to high risk for recidivism, addressing their needs both pre-and post-release. By fostering successful reintegration into society, the program contributes to public safety and reduces recidivism rates, aligning with the mission of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $304 million in scholarships to more than 3,400 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive academic advising, career pathway counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $136 million in grants to organizations that serve such students.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s scholarship programs are designed to encourage and support outstanding students who work hard and have financial need. Our scholarships provide financial assistance and academic support to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. In addition to the monetary award, students join a thriving network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars.

Young Scholars Program

The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for exceptionally promising 7th grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities.

Program Experience

Educational Advisers support Young Scholars to maximize high school experiences and to go on to thrive at the nation’s top-performing colleges. Our programming and support may include:

• Identifying an appropriately rigorous high school.
• Engaging in four-year planning and goal-setting.
• Funding for academic and extracurricular opportunities, such as music and art lessons, supplemental academic classes and technology.
• Annual summer programs, including two required Young Scholar programs.
• Year-round Young Scholars community programming.
• Networking opportunities with a high-achieving peer community.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching a funding opportunity for Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) as part of its effort to combat HIV/AIDS. This initiative aims to support innovative clinical trials and implementation research to improve prevention and treatment strategies. With a focus on both domestic and international research sites, CTUs will play a crucial role in addressing the HIV epidemic and enhancing participant recruitment and retention. This funding opportunity is authorized under the Public Health Service Act.

The SAF National Awards Program celebrates outstanding contributions to forestry through various awards, including the Outstanding Local Unit Achievement Award. This award recognizes local units for their sustained leadership or special projects that benefit the Society of American Foresters and the forestry profession. Each awarded unit receives a $500 honorarium, complimentary convention registration, and funding for travel expenses, ensuring recognition and support for their impactful efforts in forestry.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching a funding opportunity for up to four Clinical Trials Network Laboratory Centers (LCs). These LCs will support HIV prevention and treatment strategies by providing necessary laboratory infrastructure and technologies for clinical trials. They will ensure rigorous laboratory testing and oversight, enhance sample integrity, and utilize advanced data management systems to meet evolving demands in HIV research and testing.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is calling for applications for four Leadership and Operations Centers (LOCs) as part of its HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Network initiative. These LOCs will guide research on HIV therapeutics, prevention, and treatment strategies across diverse populations. The initiative aims to enhance evidence-based practices and improve health outcomes for individuals affected by HIV, ultimately contributing to the goal of ending the HIV epidemic.

The NIAID is focused on advancing the research and development of next-generation malaria vaccines, aiming to leverage innovative vaccine design techniques. This initiative not only aims to enhance malaria prevention but also serves as a model for combating other mosquito-borne diseases. By utilizing cutting-edge methods such as structure-based immunogen design and combination vaccines, the program seeks to significantly reduce both parasite infection rates and the overall disease burden associated with malaria.

About the Emporia Community Foundation

Our Mission

To connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.

Never Let Go Fund

The purpose of the Never Let Go Fund is to provide funds to qualified individuals to cover expenses related to the treatment of childhood cancer. Grant requests will be considered for children under the age of 18.

St. Baldrick's Foundation

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. It started with a friendly dare: would you shave your head to raise money for kids’ cancer research? What happened next would change the world. This bold act of baldness has gained major momentum, since its start in 2000. Today, we have more than 1,000 head-shaving events taking place around the world at pubs, restaurants, schools, churches, parks, firehouses, military bases – you name it. It is our constituents’ way of changing the world, in a meaningful way. Volunteers also raise funds through athletic challenges, livestream fundraisers and many other activities.

Since the Foundation's first grants as an independent charity in 2005, St. Baldrick's has invested more than $380 million in childhood cancer research grants worldwide.

About Allied World

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd, through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions. The company operates under the brand Allied World and has supported clients, cedents and trading partners with thoughtful service and meaningful coverages since 2001. Since the inception of St. Baldrick’s, Allied World has supported childhood cancer research through the Foundation, and it is the largest of many reinsurance company sponsors, making this life-saving mission a top priority.

Survivorship and Supportive Care Research Grant

These grants are for specific one-year research projects which are hypothesis-driven and focus on areas related to survivorship and supportive care of children and adolescents with cancer. Examples include but are not limited to: studies related to the burden of morbidity, cause-specific mortality, understanding the pathogenesis of treatment-related complications, patient-reported outcomes or quality of life, health communication, health promotion, and psychosocial support across the trajectory from diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care.

Projects must have direct applicability and relevance to pediatric cancer. They may be in any discipline of basic, clinical, translational, or epidemiological research.

The SAF National Awards Program recognizes outstanding contributions to forestry through various awards, including the Employer Leadership Award. This award honors employers who significantly support SAF members' professional engagement. Recipients receive a $500 honorarium, complimentary convention registration, and travel expense support. The program aims to celebrate the achievements of individuals and organizations in promoting sustainable forestry practices and enhancing professional development, ultimately driving excellence in natural resource management.

About Colin Farrell FoundationThe Colin Farrell Foundation is committed to transforming the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disability through education, awareness, advocacy, and innovative programs. Inspired by his two sons, he is excited and deeply humbled by the hope that the Colin Farrell Foundation can help those who the larger systems of governance have neglected.

CFF Innovation GrantsWe’re looking for bold, scalable solutions focused on one or more of these priority areas:

• Affordable co-housing models for individuals and families
• Employer-partnered day programs and inclusive job opportunities
• Tools and technologies that enhance accessibility at home and in community spaces
• Cross-sector collaborations between public, private, and nonprofit organizations

The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant supports the recovery and care of sick or injured marine mammals through federal assistance to the U.S. National Marine Mammal Stranding and Entanglement Response Networks. Eligible applicants must provide a Prescott Letter of Eligibility, confirming their participation in the network. This program aims to enhance marine mammal health monitoring and response capabilities across the country, ensuring timely and effective interventions for stranded marine life.

The upcoming National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funding opportunity aims to explore the effects of HIV immunotherapies on central nervous system (CNS) outcomes. It seeks to identify mechanisms, benefits, and risks associated with these therapies, focusing on overcoming CNS-specific barriers. The initiative encourages collaborations to develop strategies for achieving sustained virologic remission and improving neurological outcomes for individuals with HIV, particularly targeting neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation.

Funded by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), this money is for arts and cultural projects that contribute to creative experiences for audiences in Brooklyn. The best proposals share how the project will impact the cultural life of their audience and community.

In 2026, Brooklyn Arts Fund distributed $625,000 to 136 projects across Brooklyn.

Request for Proposals

Community Care Corps encourages organizations across the country to apply for 18-month grants ($30,000–$200,000) to develop and scale innovative volunteer programs that provide nonmedical assistance to older adults, adults age 18 and older with disabilities and family caregivers.

Projects funded through this initiative will increase the number of community-based volunteer programs available to provide nonmedical assistance while decreasing the number of older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers who need assistance in maintaining independence in the community but are unable to obtain help. In doing so, the initiative will strengthen community-based supports that help people maintain independence, reduce unmet needs, and improve overall well-being.

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF) offers grants to support thoroughbred health, welfare, and education. Focused on enhancing equine research and safety in racing, TERF prioritizes funding for scholarships, educational programs, and veterinary medicine. Eligible applicants must be recognized 501(c)(3) organizations, with a commitment to transparency in reporting. This initiative aims to significantly impact the thoroughbred industry by fostering improved care and understanding of these horses, contributing to their overall welfare.

The MRFBC Young Investigator Team Award supports innovative research in immuno-oncology for melanoma, offering up to $150,000 annually for two years. This funding targets U.S.-based researchers aiming to enhance clinical outcomes for melanoma patients or deepen the scientific understanding of immuno-oncology. The MRF collaborates with key institutions to address challenges in melanoma research, fostering partnerships that maximize research potential and impact.

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Rita Reis Wieczorek Scholarship for Maternal-Infant and Pediatric Nursing

Created in 2020, by Rita Reis Wieczorek, EdD, RN, PNP, FAAN, together with NEF. Dr. Wieczorek is an NEF Board Member Emeritus and longtime board member. This scholarship is the first NEF Scholarship to focus on maternal-infant and pediatric nursing. For over four decades Dr. Wieczorek has devoted her career to providing the best maternal-infant and pediatric care to her patients as well as teaching the highest standards of care to master's and doctoral nursing students, motivating them to excel in their care for the well-being of mothers, infants and children.

The Melanoma Established Investigator Award offers up to $125,000 annually for two years, aimed at established melanoma researchers or senior researchers transitioning into melanoma research. Eligible applicants include Associate Professors or higher, with both tenured and non-tenured faculty encouraged to apply. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for this funding opportunity provided by the Melanoma Research Foundation.

RRCU Gives Foundation Grant

Mission Statement:

RRCU Gives strengthens our region by providing meaningful financial support to nonprofits addressing hunger, housing, and financial education. Through our annual grant awards and major funding initiatives, we help local organizations grow, thrive, and create lasting change.

 We award grants annually, with applications in June and awards in August.

Focus Areas

• Hunger
• Housing
• Financial Education

The Saltonstall Foundation offers residency programs for writers and artists in New York, promoting diversity and inclusion. Eligible applicants must be at least 21 years old and reside full-time in New York State. The program spans 2, 3, or 4 weeks, with stipends available to support participants. There are no application fees, and additional financial assistance may be provided based on need. This initiative encourages creative individuals to engage in a nurturing environment.

Burger Family Foundatio

Our Mission

Inspired by our daughter Penelope and the powerful symbolism of the extra 21st chromosome, our foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Through direct financial assistance, therapy, community, and the healing power of ranch life, we’re building spaces that foster hope, purpose, and belonging.

Pens Pearls

Named after Penelope, Pens Pearls is the financial support arm of our foundation, providing direct assistance to families navigating the unique joys and challenges of raising a child with a disability. From therapy grants to life-changing opportunities, we’re here to lighten the load and ensure every child has the resources they need to thrive.

Through Pens Pearls, eligible families can apply for funding to help cover essential needs, services, or opportunities that make a meaningful impact in their lives. The Burger Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and this program is one of the ways we work to create lasting change—one story at a time.

Qualifications for Pens Pearls Grant Program, are deemed by the strict bylaws of the Burger Family Foundation. Funds are paid directly to provider. 

The Cancer Prevention and Control Programs aim to eliminate cancer through collaborative efforts among state, territorial, and tribal organizations. Funded by the CDC, this program supports initiatives such as breast and cervical cancer screening, cancer control planning, and cancer surveillance. By fostering partnerships and community involvement, the program seeks to improve health outcomes and achieve the mission of 'All People Free of Cancer.' This comprehensive approach ensures that resources are effectively coordinated to address the cancer burden in communities.