Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Northern Mariana Islands

The Transformational Partnerships Fund offers catalytic grants of up to $100,000 for colleges and universities to explore innovative partnerships. These grants aim to enhance student success by facilitating collaborations that can significantly change institutional operations. Priority is given to partnerships involving diverse student populations and those expected to yield better outcomes. This opportunity supports institutions in assessing transformative possibilities, making it an essential resource for educational advancement.

The Council of Independent Colleges

Founded in 1956, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.

CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility.

NetVUE Grant Programs

NetVUE offers a variety of grants to member institutions, supporting programming for students and professional development for faculty members and staff. Grants support projects ranging from one to four years in length. Grant programs are tailored to differing circumstances among member institutions, including their particular areas of interest, their bandwidth and capacity for administering projects, and the depth of their previous engagement with vocational exploration and discernment. NetVUE grants are administered by the Council of Independent Colleges, with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

NetVUE Professional Development Awards

Colleges and universities that are members of NetVUE are committed to campus activities that encourage vocational exploration by students. Many NetVUE campus leaders have observed, however, that supplemental funding at even modest levels to support opportunities for the professional development of staff and faculty members would enable their institutions to strengthen vocational exploration programming. In an era of careful institutional budgeting, institutional operating funds are not always available for such professional development opportunities. NetVUE Professional Development Awards seek to address this need.

NetVUE Professional Development Awards may be requested for use over one year for professional development activities that enhance the knowledge, skills, and expertise of faculty and staff members who play important roles in undergraduate vocational initiatives. The purpose of this grant is to develop campus conversations about vocation and to deepen the capacity of those who lead vocational exploration efforts at NetVUE member institutions. A special initiative within this grant, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion, allows for proposals of up to $25,000.

Funds may be used for a range of purposes, but not to substitute for faculty and staff costs that the institution is presently providing for its vocational exploration activities. Grant funds could, for example, support reading groups, faculty/staff retreats, or bringing speakers to campus; funds may be used to provide materials, pay expenses for travel and/or meals, and offer modest stipends.

The Bobo Kochevar Scholarship Fund, under the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to support Rockridge High School graduates pursuing post-secondary education. This fund empowers students to achieve their academic goals in vocational, technical, or four-year college programs, fostering community development across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. By investing in the education of local youth, the scholarship contributes to vibrant, sustainable communities and supports initiatives that enhance educational opportunities and cultural preservation.

The Bauer Trust Fund Grant supports charitable organizations benefiting blind or handicapped persons. Established by Anthony F. Bauer, it aims to provide lasting support for those in need. To be eligible, organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and primarily operate in Connecticut. The fund does not support general operating costs, endowments, individuals, or political activities. This initiative reflects Mr. Bauer's legacy of generosity and commitment to aiding vulnerable communities.

The ASTS: Veloxis Fellowship in Transplantation Grant offers $42,500 per year for two years to support clinical training in solid organ transplantation. This grant is aimed at current transplant surgery trainees who have completed their surgical residency and are committed to the field. Awardees must attend the ASTS Award Ceremony and complete their fellowship at the same institution for the duration of the award, ensuring a focused and comprehensive training experience.

Founded in 2016, this program supports nonfiction filmmakers or filmmaking teams working on their first or second feature-length documentary.

In this year-long program, 9 filmmakers will receive:

• $40,000 USD in grant funding for the production of their feature-length film
• Mentorship with Chicken & Egg Films team members
• Two creative retreats focused on career building and creative development
• Travel stipend for director and producer upon acceptance to a forum or market during program year
• Tailored industry meetings and funder connections
• Peer support from their cohort

You do not need a fiscal sponsor to apply for the (Egg)celerator Lab. However, if you are selected for the Lab, you must secure a US fiscal sponsor, or be a 501(c)(3), to receive the funds. If granted, we can help advise on finding a fiscal sponsor. 

The AINA Grant-in-Aid program, established by the Arctic Institute of North America, provides funding of $1000 to support young investigators, particularly graduate students, in their research related to Arctic issues. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. or Canadian academic institution. The funding can cover travel, supplies, and equipment but not salaries. The program emphasizes the relevance and quality of research proposals that engage the Arctic community.

American Gastroenterological Association

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA represents members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice, and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research, and educational programs of the organization.

AGA-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This award provides funding for three years to early-career faculty (i.e., investigator, instructor, research associate or equivalent) working toward an independent career in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research.

Objective

The objective of the AGA Research Foundation Research Scholar Award (RSA) is to support early-career investigators working toward independent and productive research careers in digestive diseases by ensuring that a major proportion of their time is protected for mentored research (i.e., a minimum of 50 percent effort dedicated to the proposed project). This award will support junior faculty (not fellows) who have demonstrated exceptional promise and have some record of accomplishment in research pertaining to inflammatory bowel disease.

Review all of the benefits AGA Research Scholar Award recipients are entitled to on the award policies page.

Application Requirements

• Maintain AGA membership throughout the three-year duration of the award.

• Applicants must self-assign their proposal to one of the following categories:
  • Clinical: Research involving direct contact with human subjects or using clinical data to address problems related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or outcome of human diseases (e.g., clinical epidemiology). This category also includes research related to health care delivery (e.g., health services, health IT).
  • Basic/Translational: Research with a primary goal of understanding basic biology or disease mechanisms. This category can involve animal subjects, cell culture, human biospecimens or human data as resources for laboratory- or informatics-based investigation.

• Resources allocated through this award are intended to support the career development of the applicant. The applicant must allocate a minimum of 50 percent effort to the proposed project.

• Applicants are required to have a sponsor and mentor for the award; one individual may serve in the capacity of both positions. A sponsor (typically a division chief or department chair) is an individual who takes responsibility for the quality assessment of the proposed research project, the quality of the research environment within which the project will be undertaken, and the experience and expertise of the principal investigator and other key researchers involved. A mentor will supervise the principal investigator’s research activities ensuring timelines and deliverables and will work with the applicant to create a research career development plan.

• The intent of this award is to foster the scientific independence of junior investigators. Applicants whose research activities become incorporated into a grant application from a senior mentor will need to delineate clearly the scientific and experimental distinctions between their respective programs. This requirement applies both to pending applications submitted prior to review of this award and to applications submitted during the term of the RSA. It must also be clearly stated how the work submitted by the applicant is that of the applicant and not that of the senior mentor(s).

• A complete research facilities and resources form must be submitted.

• Biographical sketches for the applicant, mentor and other key personnel must be submitted.

• Applicants resubmitting a revised application from a prior cycle must include a resubmission report describing responses to reviewer feedback and other major changes since the most recent past submission.

• Upon notification of receipt of this award, the recipient must provide institutional approval from the appropriate committee(s) for use of human subjects or animals. If approval is not necessary, then the recipient must provide documentation from the appropriate regulatory committee.

• Recipients must submit scientific and financial progress reports to AGA annually and final reports 60 days after the end date of the award period. Report templates and instructions are provided to awardees at the time of acceptance. Second and third year funding are contingent upon the submission and accuracy of this documentation.

• All publications, presentations, abstracts, and patent applications arising from work funded by this program must acknowledge support of the AGA–Takeda Pharmaceuticals Research Scholar Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

• Additional pre-award policies are available on the Research Award Policies page.

Award Overlap

• At the time of application submission, applicants may not hold, or have held, an NIH K01, K08, K23, K99, R00, R01, R21, R29, Veterans Affairs Career Development Award or any award with similar objectives from non-federal sources (e.g., the American Liver Foundation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).

• Applicants who have held a K12 or KL2 in the past are eligible to apply. Applicants with an active K12 or KL2 may apply in the final year of their active K12 or KL2 so long as the award will end before the Research Scholar Award term begins.

• If a applicant is granted the award and notified of a comparable award from another agency prior to the first payment of this award, then the recipient must select one of the two awards (i.e., the recipient may not retain both awards).

• If the recipient is notified that a comparable award has been granted after the first payment of this award, then the recipient may retain up to 50 percent of the remainder of his or her AGA award. AGA must be notified by the recipient via email within two weeks of receiving notification of additional funding.

The Amazing Grace Sulak Scholarship, established in 2017 by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, honors Grace Sulak and aims to support high school seniors from Bluffton, May River, or Hilton Head Island High Schools. To be eligible, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate involvement in athletics and community service. This scholarship reflects the foundation's commitment to empowering local youth through educational opportunities.

The Wexner Davidson Fellowship (WDF) is a transformative leadership development program designed for Jewish communal professionals in North America aged 26-36. Over three years, Fellows engage in cohort-based learning at biannual institutes, receive coaching, and deepen their Jewish knowledge while building a strong professional network. This initiative fosters personal and professional growth, equipping the next generation of leaders to serve their communities effectively and connect with a global alumni network.

The Pride in the Hills Scholarship, established by the Connecticut Community Foundation, offers a one-time award to graduating high school students who identify as LGBTQ+ or as allies of the LGBTQ+ community. This initiative, part of the Foundation's commitment to support local students, reflects over a century of dedication to enhancing educational opportunities in the Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills region. With generous donor support, this scholarship aims to help students achieve their college dreams.

For 30 years, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has served as a partner in philanthropy to credit unions, with a mission to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. A great example of this collaborative philanthropy is our scholarship program. 

More than 20 credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina have active managed funds at the Foundation. The generosity of these credit unions helps hundreds of high school seniors as well as undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarship funds each year.

As a member of any of the following credit unions, you may apply for a scholarship. 

Palmetto Citizens Scholarship Fund

At Palmetto Citizens, we're committed to giving back to our members and community, beyond just providing low-cost financial services. We're excited to partner with the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation to award TWENTY individual members with a $1,000 Pametto Citizens Scholarship!

The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation offers a General Fund Scholarship if you are not chosen, or are not eligible, to receive a Palmetto Citizens Scholarship. You are automatically entered into this General Fund Scholarship by submitting an application for the Palmetto Citizens Scholarship (cannot be awarded both). 

For 30 years, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has served as a partner in philanthropy to credit unions, with a mission to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. A great example of this collaborative philanthropy is our scholarship program. 

More than 20 credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina have active managed funds at the Foundation. The generosity of these credit unions helps hundreds of high school seniors as well as undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarship funds each year.

As a member of any of the following credit unions, you may apply for a scholarship. 

About NUFCU

Neighbors United Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, not-for-profit financial cooperative, offering a wide array of financial services and products to meet our members’ needs since 1961. We are owned by our members, and excess income is returned to them in the form of lower fees, and more attractive rates.

Membership in Neighbors United Federal Credit Union is open to persons who live, work, worship, or attend school, and businesses and other legal entities located in the following counties in South Carolina: Greenwood, Laurens, Edgefield, Abbeville, Newberry, Saluda, and McCormick.

Neighbors United Federal Credit Union Scholarship Fund

With a Neighbors United FCU Scholarship, you have the chance to win the funds you need to start your college experience!  

Students can apply for the Neighbors United scholarship of $1,000.

For 30 years, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has served as a partner in philanthropy to credit unions, with a mission to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. A great example of this collaborative philanthropy is our scholarship program. 

More than 20 credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina have active managed funds at the Foundation. The generosity of these credit unions helps hundreds of high school seniors as well as undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarship funds each year.

As a member of any of the following credit unions, you may apply for a scholarship.

Piedmont Advantage Credit Union (PACU) 

Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and founded in 1949 within the aviation industry, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union (PACU) serves member-owners, who reside, work, worship, attend school or operate a business in one of the six counties it serves in North Carolina or who are employed by one of its many employer companies. These six counties are Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg and Rockingham.

Piedmont Advantage Credit Union Scholarship Fund

For high school seniors and beyond, pursuing all kinds of academic dreams.

While there is no set limit on the number of scholarships awarded, we average six $1,000 scholarships yearly.

This scholarship isn’t just for high school seniors. It’s for any PACU member ready to take the next step with continuing their education. 

For 30 years, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has served as a partner in philanthropy to credit unions, with a mission to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. A great example of this collaborative philanthropy is our scholarship program. 

More than 20 credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina have active managed funds at the Foundation. The generosity of these credit unions helps hundreds of high school seniors as well as undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarship funds each year.

As a member of any of the following credit unions, you may apply for a scholarship. 

Curis Financial Credit Union is also a proud South Carolina state-chartered financial institution, operating under the supervision of the South Carolina Department of Banking to ensure financial integrity and excellence. 

Curis Financial Credit Union Scholarship Fund

We are proud to announce Curis Financial Credit Union will award four $2500 college scholarships to help deserving students further their education.

The Acock – Beverly Acock Memorial Scholarship honors Beverly Acock's legacy by supporting students who excel in artistic pursuits and engage in community service. This scholarship ranges from $100 to $16,000, with an average award of $1,000. Eligible candidates must graduate in the top 25% of their class, reside in Nueces County, and plan to enroll full-time at an accredited college or university following high school graduation.

The Battaglia Family Endowed Scholarship, established by the Battaglia family, supports students in the Coastal Bend who require financial assistance to pursue higher education. Candidates can seek two-year or four-year degrees, vocational training, or certifications. Scholarships range from $100 to $16,000, averaging $1,000, with amounts influenced by fund growth. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, and reside in the designated counties.

The Masonic Scholarship, offered by the Beatrice Educational Foundation, provides a $500 award to graduating seniors of Beatrice High School. This scholarship recognizes good citizenship and moral character without requiring academic standing or financial need. It can be used at any accredited institution of higher learning, with a preference given to children of Masons or members of Jobs Daughters and Demoley. This initiative supports students aiming to further their education.

The Pharmacy Leadership Scholars program, offered by the ASHP Research and Education Foundation, is a competitive grant initiative aimed at early-stage pharmacist researchers focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare. With funding of up to five $10,000 grants, this program fosters collaboration and leadership development among grantees. It encourages innovative research addressing DEI gaps, aiming to empower pharmacists to enhance healthcare access and quality for diverse populations. This initiative is pivotal for shaping future leaders in pharmacy.

The Ruth Scholarship, established by the McPherson County Community Foundation, honors the legacy of Central Kansas women who valued education, family, and community. This scholarship aims to support female graduates of McPherson High School with a minimum GPA of 2.5, who actively participate in school or employment and demonstrate financial need. One $750 scholarship will be awarded to help recipients achieve their educational goals.

The Kiwanis Club of McPherson Scholarship, sponsored by the McPherson County Community Foundation, offers three $700 awards to graduating seniors from McPherson County pursuing post-secondary education in law enforcement, medical fields, or education. This initiative aims to support local youth in their educational endeavors, ensuring that the community's charitable goals are met through sustainable investments and memorializing the values of donors.

The Mcnenny, George W. Scholarship offers a $500 award to graduating seniors from Beatrice High School pursuing careers in art or architecture. Established by the Beatrice Educational Foundation, this scholarship requires high academic achievement and exemplary citizenship, along with a faculty recommendation. The Foundation, founded in 1987, provides financial support to enhance educational opportunities within the Beatrice School District, managing a $3.8 million Endowment Fund to grant over $55,000 annually in scholarships.

The Miller Family Scholarship offers financial assistance to graduating seniors from the North East, PA school district or residents of North East. This renewable scholarship is aimed at students pursuing college, university, or vocational education, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. It supports local talent and encourages higher education in the community.

The Jacey Sarah Cantrell Memorial Scholarship, established by the McPherson County Community Foundation, honors a dedicated student and teacher. This $500 scholarship is available to graduating seniors of Canton-Galva High School and students in the USD 419 district pursuing post-secondary education. Jacey Cantrell, remembered for her academic excellence and love for teaching, exemplifies the spirit of this award, supporting future educators in their journey to make a difference.

The Hanson Family Educational Foundation Scholarship, administered by the McPherson County Community Foundation, offers a $1,500 award to graduating seniors pursuing education at a public institution. Priority is given to McPherson County residents and those planning to attend Emporia State University. This initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to enhancing community welfare through educational support and philanthropic engagement.

The Arnold D. Ducanes, MD Scholarship, administered by the Decatur County Community Foundation, supports Greensburg Community High School graduates pursuing post-secondary education in Allied Health. The scholarship aims to ease educational financial burdens while fostering community health professionals. If no qualified applicants are found, it may extend to deserving Decatur County residents already enrolled in the field. Notably, members of the Ducanes family are ineligible for this award.

About Decatur County Community Foundation

Decatur County Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter. 

Our Mission

To inspire the generosity of our community to create a lasting impact.

​We help visionary donors practice highly effective charitable giving; award grants to not-for-profits doing good in the community; award scholarships to ease the financial burden of education for students; provide leadership to make Decatur County a better community.

Online Scholarships

The following scholarships are managed by the Decatur County Community Foundation. Complete details for each scholarship are available on the individual online scholarship application.

Colleen Bray Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is for students seeking certification in dog grooming, vet tech, or any secondary education in animal sciences.