Best Financial Assistance Grants in Ohio

The Excellence in Medicine Awards, presented by the AMA Foundation, honor exemplary physicians and medical advocates committed to volunteerism, community engagement, and leadership. Since 2005, this prestigious program has celebrated over 100 honorees, recognizing their vital contributions to underserved populations. Awardees receive a $2,500 grant honorarium to support a nonprofit health organization of their choice, collectively awarding over $250,000 to enhance community health and promote equitable care across the nation.

The James P Geiss And Margaret Y Hsu Foundation offers subvention awards to support not-for-profit academic presses in publishing books that align with its mission. Awards range from $5,000 to $7,500, with the possibility of exceeding this for projects requiring additional resources. Eligible applicants include publishers with not-for-profit tax status. The Foundation prioritizes applications that support first-time authors and enhance publications with visual elements like maps or illustrations.

Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship is one of many funding opportunities available to students through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Through the generosity of our donors, we advance efforts to ensure equity in educational opportunity that prepares students for success in school, work, and life.

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship honors the late Agnes Jones Jackson who was a long-time NAACP member from the San Francisco branch.

Scholarship amount:

• $2,000

This is a non-renewable scholarship opportunity.

The American Italian Benevolent Society Scholarship, administered by the Crown Point Community Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors and college students of Italian descent residing in Lake or Porter County. Eligible applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and can re-apply annually. Preference is given to those with family ties to the Society, ensuring that community values are upheld while providing essential financial assistance for education.

Alger Regional Community FoundationThe Alger Regional Community Foundation (ARCF) is a locally based 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Alger County through grants and scholarships.

ARCF is a unique institution. It is a permanent, yet flexible, collection of endowment funds contributed by people from all walks of life who want to make a difference in our community.

Munising Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Unendowed FundGiven to an Alger County graduate who has completed one full year (2 semesters) in the medical field. Students may receive scholarships twice, providing college transcripts.

The McElhattan Foundation focuses on innovative solutions to end workplace fatalities by 2050. It invites proposals that develop new technologies, particularly those that eliminate dangerous tasks at work. The foundation partners with the National Safety Council’s Work to Zero program to enhance safety practices. Organizations seeking funding should be established non-profits with a history of successful collaboration, and grants typically start at $50,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, fostering impactful initiatives.

The Recordings at Risk Grant, administered by CLIR, supports the preservation of rare audio and audiovisual media of scholarly value through digital reformatting. With funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the program aims to award $6.75 million across twelve competitions, offering grants between $10,000 and $50,000. It encourages U.S. nonprofit institutions to preserve vulnerable media, helping them to develop strategies for effective digital reformatting and promoting best preservation practices.

National Association for Plant Breeding

We are the culmination of a grass roots effort by plant breeders from around the USA to engender support for the work of plant breeders and to raise public awareness for the important work of plant breeders. We are led by an all-volunteer team nominated and elected by the membership.

The NAPB has a diverse membership of public and private sector scientists working to improve a wide variety of plants and graduate students working towards advanced degrees in plant breeding. We meet annually during the summer months enabling field tours to walk among the plants that our hosts are working to improve.

The National Association for Plant Breeding was formed as an organization to advance excellence in research, education and outreach in the field of plant improvement. 

NAPB Borlaug Graduate Scholars

The Borlaug Scholars program for graduate students was established by the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) and funded through the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF). Our aim is to develop the next generation of plant breeding leaders. Students attending U.S. universities looking to enter the workforce in less than two years are encouraged to apply. Self-nominations are encouraged. Borlaug Scholars will be paired with volunteer mentors who are professional NAPB members committeed to the professional development of the recipients. Each recipient will receive financial support for travel, lodging, and meals to participate in the NAPB Annual Meeting (or similar, if virtual meetings). Gratis meeting registration and student membership in NAPB, for non-members, is included.

Aimee Melissa Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund

Graduating senior from a high school within Travis, Williamson or Hays counties.

Awards

• (1) $5,000.0

Taka Domingo HLP Vocational Scholarship

The HLP Hamakua Community Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed to benefit the people of Hamakua. Taka Domingo was one of the original board members when HLP was established after the closure of sugar. He was an electrician and County Councilman representing the Hamakua District. The Taka Domingo HLP Vocational Scholarship was established after his death in August 2016. 

Individual award amount: $2,000. 

Possible trades include: welding, tourism, fire science, electrical, early childhood education, agriculture, auto body, auto mechanics, diesel mechanics, carpentry, culinary and others not listed.

U.S. Writers Aid Initiative

PEN America is an organization of writers and their allies, and that solidarity is never more important than when members of our literary community face crises. PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative, part of the PEN America Writers Emergency Fund, offers grants for writers in the United States facing acute financial need following an emergency situation.

The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists in addressing short-term financial emergencies. To be eligible, applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. The fund is limited, and not every application can be supported.

Grant decisions are made on a quarterly basis by a volunteer committee of literary peers in consultation with PEN America staff, using the following guidelines to evaluate professional credentials:

• Publication of one or more books. (Writers who are only self-published or published by a press that charges for publication are not eligible.)
• Multiple essays, short stories, or poems appearing in literary anthologies or literary journals (either online or in print) in the last two years.
• A full-length play, performed in a theater by a professional theater company. Productions in academic settings qualify if the author is not a student at the time of the production.
• Employment as a full-time professional journalist, columnist, or critic, or a record of consistent publication on a freelance basis in a range of outlets during the last two years.
• Contracted forthcoming books, essays, short stories, poems, or articles for which the name of the publisher can be provided.
• Other qualifications that support the applicant’s professional identity as a writer.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Muskegon Surgical Associates Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the Muskegon Surgical Associates, P.C., who established the Muskegon Surgical Associates Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. The doctors in this surgical group wanted to fulfill their corporate responsibility and contribute back to the community. This scholarship award is for medical school students.

The Limited Competition: Biomedical Research Environment & Sponsored Programs Administration Development (BRE-SPAD) Program aims to enhance the research capacity of resource-limited institutions. By focusing on essential areas like biomedical research environment and sponsored programs administration, this initiative seeks to foster rigorous and reproducible biomedical research. Eligible organizations are encouraged to submit proposals addressing their specific needs, thereby expanding the pool of qualified researchers and strengthening the settings for NIH-funded research.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Muskegon Eagles / Monsignor Kehren Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the Muskegon Eagles, Chapter 668, and Monsignor Kehren, who established the Muskegon Eagles Monsignor Kehren Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Monsignor Kehren served St. Mary's Church in downtown Muskegon for many years. When he died, Chapter 668 of the Muskegon Eagles established this in his honor. The award is supported through an annual bowling tournament held by the Eagles. Thanks to their generosity, the spirit of Monsignor Kehren endures as part of the Muskegon community, granting the lasting gift of education to the youth of Muskegon County.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Margaret A. Wright Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Margaret Wright, who established the Margaret A. Wright Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Margaret worked as a secretary for the Norge Corporation, the County of Muskegon and Muskegon Construction. She enjoyed sewing, ice skating and exercising at the Y. When she passed, she left a gift through her estate to create a scholarship fund that will support will support Muskegon County graduates that are pursuing a specific trade or skill.

The ROSES25: B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research program invites proposals for foundational research in heliophysics. The submission deadline for Step-1 proposals is May 1, 2026, with Step-2 deadlines announced 60 days prior. Amendments include an increase in Step-1 proposal length from two to three pages and clarification on budget expectations per award. Individuals may serve as Principal Investigators for only one proposal, with exceptions for specific institutional requirements.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Muskegon County Medical Society Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the members of the Muskegon County Medical Society, who established the Muskegon County Medical Society Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. This scholarship provides assistance to individuals pursuing projects or programs relating to health, science education and/or service.

The Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to transform open-source research into sustainable ecosystems that tackle national and societal challenges. This initiative promotes innovation across various sectors, including AI and cybersecurity, by fostering strong governance and broad user engagement. PESOSE invites proposals to establish and enhance open-source ecosystems, ensuring their safety, security, and effectiveness in meeting emergent needs.

The ENF Community Investments Program - Freedom Grants will award $1,000 grants to 1,000 Lodges for projects focused on veterans and active-duty military families in 2025-26. Eligible projects must address five key areas: employment, homelessness, current military members and their families, health, and educational support. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for service members and their families, ensuring that local needs are met through community-driven efforts.

 About NPCF

The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation (NPCF) began in December 2000 when nine concerned citizens from Virginia’s Piedmont region were searching for solutions to the charitable needs in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, and Rappahannock counties. With modest beginnings, our funds have grown to over $39 million in support of local charities, scholarships and community need in our northern Piedmont region.

NPCF manages a wide variety of funds established by local individuals, families, businesses, or charitable institutions. Through our investment strategies, the returns from these funds are put back into the community through grant cycles, and scholarships, along with the personal causes the fund holder holds dear. 

On the nonprofit side, the staff at NPCF is committed to building deep bonds with our region’s nonprofits, educating and supporting them in their health as businesses and their resilience in their missions of supporting our most vulnerable. 

We believe that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. By working on both sides of the equation — growing our citizens’ resources while maximizing local nonprofits’ use of those resources — NPCF is ensuring that each link in the chain is healthy, strong, and contributing to the wellness of the Northern Piedmont community. 

Scholarships

Northern Piedmont Community Foundation manages the scholarship application process for dozens of scholarships for students in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, and Rappahannock counties (as well as a handful serving students from surrounding counties too). 

St. Luke’s Foundation Scholarship Fund (Universal Application)

The St. Luke’s Foundation Scholarship is open to seniors who are residents of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, or Rappahannock counties, and are alumni of any private school in Culpeper County, although priority is given to St. Luke’s alumni. The qualifying candidate should possess a minimum GPA of 3.0, demonstrate good academic standing, have community service experience and possess an academic record that displays leadership and initiative. Up to three scholarships are available for $1,000 – $2,000 depending on GPA. This award is renewable for all four years provided the student maintains a GPA of 3.0 and submits transcripts annually to NPCF

Beyond the Net Grant Program

The Internet Society Foundation’s Beyond the Net Grant Program offers funding to support Internet Society Chapters to implement innovative projects that make a local impact by providing meaningful access to an open, trusted, and globally-connected Internet, as well as strengthening the Chapters’ presence in the surrounding community. 

Program Objectives

• Strengthen the impact of the Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation’s mission and global initiatives with complementary local activities. 
• Develop new and strengthen existing relationships and partnerships at the local level.

Focus Areas

The Foundation will support Internet Society Chapters to implement initiatives within one or more of the following thematic areas:

Projects that support community-centered connectivity for unconnected and under-connected populations by providing easy, sustainable solutions, and training on productive use of the Internet.

Projects that make access affordable and resilient for unconnected and under-connected populations by improving, supporting, or advocating for the development of local Internet interconnection infrastructure (e.g., IXPs).

Projects that equip recently connected people with knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their communities online.

Projects that advocate for and educate policy makers, courts, decision makers, and commercial entities about threats to the Internet as an open and accessible platform for free expression and the exchange of ideas, safeguarding fundamental rights, ensuring the well-being of users, and fostering trust in digital technologies.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

J. K. Stanford Memorial Award Fund

Rose "Rossie" Miller, a passionate advocate for the community, and her family established this scholarship in memory of their loved one, J. K. Stanford, who was a talented auto mechanic. According to Rose, "my brother J.K. was so good of a mechanic, it seemed like he could simply listen to a car run and tell you what was wrong. He was a compassionate, kind-hearted person, who had a love of cars from an early age." Rose stated, "having received scholarship funds myself, I feel blessed to finally be able to give back to the community." The Stanford family witnessed the realities of not having certification and made a commitment to removing that barrier for others. This scholarship will benefit individuals obtaining certification as an auto or heavy equipment mechanic, an opportunity J.K. never had due to lack of funds. Recipients shall prove to be passionate about and persevere towards their educational goals while maintaining high academic standards.

The Dr. Mark K. Setter Leadership in Periodontology and Dental Implantology Award honors the legacy of Dr. Mark Setter, a distinguished figure in periodontology. Established by the AAP Foundation, this annual $10,000 award recognizes a full-time periodontal resident who exemplifies exceptional leadership qualities in promoting periodontology and dental implantology. The recipient is selected based on their impact on peers and the community, underscoring the importance of mentorship and the advancement of the field.

The Charles W. Finley Visiting Scholar Education Grants, established by the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, honor Dr. Finley's legacy by providing $2,000 grants to accredited U.S. periodontal programs. These funds support honoraria, travel, and seminars featuring prominent speakers in periodontology, requiring matching funds from the institutions. The grant also mandates a formal presentation to the entire dental school, fostering educational opportunities for students and faculty alike.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is set to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for randomized controlled trials examining the long-term effects of nutritional interventions on risk factors for age-related chronic conditions. This initiative seeks to enhance understanding of how various dietary practices can influence health throughout the life span, emphasizing the need for studies with at least five years of follow-up. Researchers are encouraged to prepare collaborative proposals in response to this upcoming funding opportunity.

The Kramer Scholar Award for Excellence, funded by the American Academy of Periodontology, offers a $10,000 scholarship to outstanding third-year students enrolled in accredited U.S. periodontal graduate programs. Selection is based on academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership, and community involvement. Finalists must present their application research at the AAP Annual Meeting. This prestigious award aims to encourage excellence in periodontics through support and recognition of dedicated students.

The AAP Teaching Fellowships, funded by a $1 million commitment from the American Academy of Periodontology, aim to support early-career periodontal educators by providing $25,000 in debt relief. These fellowships are available to qualified faculty within their first three years of full-time teaching at U.S. periodontal training institutions. Each Teaching Fellow receives $5,000 annually for five years, contingent upon continued teaching. Interviews for finalists will occur during the AAP Annual Meeting at their own expense.