Best Private Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

The Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) by the National Park Service aims to enhance outdoor recreation and support compatible land uses near military installations. This program, funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, provides up to 50% of project costs, encouraging collaboration with the Department of War. Projects must involve land acquisition and align with national priorities to ensure public outdoor access in perpetuity, directly benefiting both military and civilian communities.

The Northwood Woman’s Club Scholarship offers one-year scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 for female students pursuing education at accredited institutions in the U.S. Established in 1953, the scholarship aims to support women in their academic endeavors without restrictions on the field of study. Eligible applicants must be female residents of Dallas or Collin County, Texas, with a minimum GPA of 2.5. This initiative fosters educational growth and community development.

The Horticulture Printers Scholarship, established in memory of Harold & Beky Vanberg, offers up to $5,000 for dependents of Veritiv employees. This one-year scholarship can be applied at any accredited U.S. college or university. Selection criteria include academic achievement, SAT/ACT scores, civic involvement, and financial need. Since 1953, Communities Foundation of Texas has partnered with donors to support educational opportunities, fostering thriving communities through accessible scholarship programs.

About Us

We are YOUR Community Foundation! Our mission is to bring people and resources together to strengthen the quality of life, both now and in the future, for the residents of Randolph County.

The Community Foundation of Randolph County, Inc. is here to make our community the very best place to live, work, and raise a family. As a non-political private organization, we are uniquely able to provide grant money for innovative projects that have a major impact on our community.

Rosemary Shockney Memorial Scholarship

Open to all Randolph County schools. Educational scholarship for students who are accepted into and attend accredited two- or four-year public or private institutions of higher education. 

About Us

Who We Are

The Wayne County Community Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community organization that works to strengthen the community we all share by helping donors make a lasting difference with their philanthropic endeavors – connecting their dreams and passions with causes that matter.

Established in 1978 with a single gift of $1,000, WCCF has become the steward of over 620 separate funds created from bequests and gifts, each with their own philanthropic purpose to support the future of our community now – and for many years to come.

The mission of Wayne County Community Foundation is to provide philanthropic leadership to our community.

Wayne County 4-H/FFA Doyle Findley Scholarship

Term: One Year

Amount: Varies

Number Awards: Varies

About Us

Who We Are

The Wayne County Community Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community organization that works to strengthen the community we all share by helping donors make a lasting difference with their philanthropic endeavors – connecting their dreams and passions with causes that matter.

Established in 1978 with a single gift of $1,000, WCCF has become the steward of over 620 separate funds created from bequests and gifts, each with their own philanthropic purpose to support the future of our community now – and for many years to come.

The mission of Wayne County Community Foundation is to provide philanthropic leadership to our community.

Roy S. Bates Scholarship

Roy S. Bates (1916-2004)

Roy Bates was born August 28, 1916, in a farmhouse in Chester Township, Wayne County, Ohio. A breach baby, Roy’s arms and legs were broken during delivery; miraculously, the baby survived and the only permanent impairment was a crooked right arm that couldn’t be raised above the shoulder. Roy was a bright, precocious child who entered Chester High School at age 13 where he played on the varsity basketball and baseball teams and graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1933.

Bates attended the College of Wooster where he was an outstanding intramural basketball and baseball player. After graduating from Wooster in 1937, Roy accepted a position teaching social studies at Chester High School. He was appointed Chester’s basketball coach in 1938, and he became the baseball coach in 1942. When Chester became a part of Northwestern High School in 1951, Bates was appointed basketball and baseball coach at the new school. When his coaching career ended in 1967, his varsity coaching record stood at 475-52 in baseball and 441-84 in basketball. Bates was the first coach in Ohio history to win state championships in both baseball (1959) and basketball (1965, and he was the first coach to be elected to both the Ohio Coaches Baseball and Basketball Halls of Fame.

A world traveler, Bates led eight senior class trips, 12 basketball team trips and about 40 National Education Association trips to every continent except Antarctica. From 1948 to 2001, Bates conducted more than 14,500 sports shows on Wooster Radio. He also officiated basketball, baseball, and softball games for more than 30 years.

After Bates retired from Northwestern in 1977, he assisted with college basketball programs at Indiana University, Cornell University, the University of Colorado, and the College of Wooster. Through his personal investments, he established the Roy S. Bates Scholarship Fund at Wayne County Community Foundation to help student athletes pursue their dreams of higher education.

The Om & Shanti Scholarship, funded by the Communities Foundation of Texas, offers four-year awards of up to $6,000 annually for graduating high school seniors from public high schools in Dallas or Collin Counties. Applicants are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and preference is given to those pursuing a degree at an accredited Texas institution. This initiative aims to support local students in their educational aspirations.

The Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages LLC Scholarship, offered by Communities Foundation of Texas, awards up to $5,000 to dependents of full-time Coca-Cola employees pursuing higher education in the U.S. Eligible applicants include high school seniors, college students, and graduate students with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Scholarships can be renewed annually for up to four years, providing ongoing support for education. Note that dependents of Executive Leadership Team members are not eligible.

The AGD Foundation Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada that provide free oral cancer screenings and education, particularly for underserved communities. Established in 1972, the AGD Foundation aims to enhance public oral health and raise awareness about oral/oropharyngeal cancer. By promoting early detection and education, the foundation seeks to improve survival rates and empower communities. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations demonstrating a commitment to community health.

About the Foundation

Kern Community Foundation is a vibrant nonprofit enterprise with a powerfully simple mission of growing community and growing philanthropy.

Scholarships

Kern Community Foundation manages more than two dozen scholarship funds. Community stakeholders have created these scholarships to honor their loved ones, to support higher education, and to foster the improvement of students as they pursue their diverse ambitions. Students have access to all our scholarship resources through one simple application.

Nickel Family Scholarship for Agricultural Education

The Nickel Family Scholarship for Agricultural Education (“Fund”) was established in 2015 by Adele Nickel, on behalf of the Nickel Family and the Nickel Family Trust. The permanently endowed scholarship fund provides academic support to Central Valley students interested in Agriculture.

The scholarship is available to students admitted to community colleges, and public and private colleges and universities, including accredited technical schools.

The National Centers for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NCBIB) provide critical resources for biomedical imaging and bioengineering research. This funding opportunity supports the development of innovative technologies tailored to the needs of basic, translational, and clinical researchers. NCBIB facilitates technology access, training, and dissemination, enhancing collaboration and advancing the field. Applications are encouraged to foster advancements that address complex biomedical challenges.

About the Community Foundation

Our mission:

To inspire people and communities to build and distribute charitable funds for good, for Adams County, for ever.

Our vision:

To be a leading resource in promoting philanthropy among people of all means who wish to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to Adams County, and creating opportunities to develop and strengthen our communities.

Barbara B. Ernico Fund for Leadership Development

Barbara B. Ernico, the Community Foundation’s founding Executive Director, created the Fund for Leadership Development to help strengthen Adams County’s nonprofits.

Objective

Enable Adams County nonprofit executive directors and boards of directors to participate in training opportunities that increase their knowledge and effectiveness. Consideration may be given to training for strategic planning, reorganization, leadership development of staff and/or board members, and any other activities that will strengthen the nonprofit’s ability to carry out their mission.

The Julian U. Stein Lifetime Achievement Award honors a SHAPE America professional who epitomizes Dr. Stein's exemplary leadership in education, mentorship, and advocacy for individuals with disabilities. With over 45 years of dedication to the field, Julian Stein has made significant contributions through writing, public speaking, and community service. This award recognizes those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving lives through physical activity and educational programming for individuals with disabilities.

Northern New York Community Foundation

Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

JP North Country Music Scholarship

 Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence county students in the Class of 2026 who plan to pursue studies in music are encouraged to apply.

The Carol D. Garling Scholarship, established by Carol D. Garling, provides financial assistance to students pursuing a post-secondary education who have completed at least 30 credit hours at an accredited institution. Offered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, this scholarship is part of a larger initiative to support local students and promote educational advancement within the community. Applications are accepted annually from January to April 1st, encouraging both high school graduates and non-traditional students.

About Us

Overview

The Alaska Community Foundation connects people who care to the causes that make a difference and matter most to them. We encourage and nurture philanthropy through building and managing permanent endowments, convening stakeholders, working with partners to strengthen Alaskan communities, and providing donors with flexible giving options that are strategic to their philanthropic objectives. ACF also manages the Pick.Click.Give. program.

Mission

Inspiring the spirit of giving and connecting people, organizations, and causes to strengthen Alaska’s communities now and forever.

Vision

ACF envisions an Alaska where communities come together and have resources to thrive.

Dorothy and Dona Lee Croft Scholarship Fund for Young Musicians

The Dorothy and Dona Lee String Music Scholarship is for students who display talent, dedication to string instruments and a serious commitment to advance in music education through a non-profit music camp.

Dorothy Croft (1910-2009) helped found the Odessa Symphony, serving as the first concertmaster. The Odessa Symphony evolved into the present Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale. In 1949, she became a charter member of the Odessa Music Teachers Association, serving as its first president. She was a founding member of the Odessa Civic Concert Association, serving intermittently as its president. She was an early supporter of the Permian Playhouse of Odessa and later of the Globe of the Great Southwest. Dorothy Croft believed that money shouldn’t stop people from chasing their dreams and taught her students multiple lessons beyond just violin.

Dona Lee Croft was an international performer from the age of fourteen, giving concerts throughout Europe, Mexico, and the USA, the last concert performed in Carnegie Hall. A student of such eminent violinists as Nathan Milstein, Bela Katona and Ivan Galamian, she was a Professor of Violin at the Royal College of Music for 20 years where her lessons were filmed by the Albeniz Foundation of Spain, then shown throughout Europe. She has recorded two CDs, the first featuring violin music of Schumann, Kreisler, Brahms, Debussy, and Vieuxtemps and the second 'Violin Music of the 20th Century’.

The Bill Dorsey Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by the Community Foundation of Washington County, MD, offers scholarships to students at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA). Designed for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, this fund helps cover costs related to their arts discipline. Applications are available in the Fall, supporting the foundation's mission to enhance educational opportunities for local students and nurture their artistic talents.

The Festus & Helen Stacy Foundation provides grants to non-profit organizations worldwide, especially those focusing on evangelism, leadership development, holistic ministries, and media outreach. Established in 1980, the foundation aims to support projects that address the needs of the marginalized and promote generous giving. Grants are typically awarded for specific initiatives in South Florida, nationally, and internationally, particularly in emerging nations. Organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) to be eligible.

The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) supports small-scale research grants at institutions with limited NIH funding, enhancing undergraduate biomedical research experiences. Eligible institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than $6 million in NIH support over the past seven years. This funding opportunity encourages institutions to foster research environments that benefit undergraduate students while addressing significant NIH research interests through minimal risk clinical trials.

About Us

Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc. is a public, 501-C-3 charity. There are 30 community foundations in Wisconsin and more than 750 in the nation. The purpose of all community foundations is to accumulate charitable dollars that impact a specific geographic region in areas such as education, the arts, economic development, recreation, environmental protection, health care, and social services. They may be relatively small, as we are (assets of $14 million), or very large, as is the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (assets over $400 million).

Most people are familiar with private foundations, established by individuals, families, or corporations. Typically, in order to establish a private foundation, one has to have considerable wealth. You could say Community Foundations are much more democratic. We are, in a sense, an umbrella foundation containing many small foundations. We call those small foundations “funds.”

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Lloyd Crossman Scholarship (2025)

The ASCAP Foundation Mariana & Paul Williams "Sunlight of the Spirit" Award supports organizations dedicated to addiction recovery through music. Established by the ASCAP Foundation and Paul Williams, the award recognizes efforts that improve lives affected by addiction. Eligible nominees must be 501(c)(3) organizations with a commitment to music-based recovery. The award includes a $5,000 prize to further their impactful work in the community, fostering healing through the therapeutic power of music.

Seattle Foundation is an agent of change, igniting powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

At Seattle Foundation, we believe that community is more than a place. It’s the shared understanding that our joy and well-being are tied to one another. Every day we work with nonprofits, philanthropists, and partners like you to strengthen community by igniting powerful philanthropy and advancing long-term solutions. Because it takes all of us to create a joyful region where every person can thrive.

Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of The Links, Supplemental Scholarship

The Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated was established in 1955 with a commitment to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the identities, culture, and economic survival of African-Americans and persons of African descent. The Supplemental Support Scholarship is for college students in need of tuition assistance or who have basic or urgent need for financial support.

Seattle Foundation is an agent of change, igniting powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

At Seattle Foundation, we believe that community is more than a place. It’s the shared understanding that our joy and well-being are tied to one another. Every day we work with nonprofits, philanthropists, and partners like you to strengthen community by igniting powerful philanthropy and advancing long-term solutions. Because it takes all of us to create a joyful region where every person can thrive.

Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Scholarship

The Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated was established in 1955 with a commitment to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the identities, culture, and economic survival of African-Americans and persons of African descent. Scholarships will be awarded to qualified high school seniors who reside in King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Clallum and Jefferson counties; are U.S. citizens, preference given to students of African American descent; and demonstrate exemplary leadership in their family, school, and the African American Community. Scholarship awards up to $15,000.

The ACUMEN Scholarship, provided by the East Bay Community Foundation, aims to support financially challenged students from Youth Spirit Artworks, Oakland Tech High School, and McClymonds High School. Each year, up to three scholarships are awarded, with amounts of $5,000 for 2-year colleges and $8,000 for 4-year colleges. This initiative is designed to assist students with educational costs, encouraging their commitment to higher education.

The Mary Katherine "Katy" Williamson Scholarship Fund honors the memory of Katy Williamson, established by her family after her passing in 2005. This scholarship supports students pursuing degrees in healthcare, both human and animal, at accredited institutions in the U.S. Recipients may renew the award annually for up to four years, contingent on maintaining eligibility. The fund reflects Katy's love for animals and nature, aiming to empower future generations to contribute positively to society.

The TFEC Aspire to Rise Scholarship Fund, managed by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, offers financial support to non-traditional students aged 22 and older who have faced challenges in their educational journey. This scholarship is aimed at those pursuing higher education or vocational training, with special consideration for applicants without a post-secondary degree. Additionally, it supports individuals preparing for the GED, fostering opportunities for personal and professional growth in South Central Pennsylvania.

The TFEC Student Emergency Assistance Fund provides crucial financial support for students facing unexpected hardships that threaten their continuation in post-secondary education. Grants of up to $500 per application are available, with a total funding limit of $1,500 for re-applications. This initiative is part of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities' mission to bolster local educational opportunities and foster community resilience, ensuring that students can overcome financial barriers and achieve their academic goals.