Best Grants for Small Nonprofits in Ohio

The Community Foundation of Shelby County

Our Mission

To inspire donor generosity and transform it into meaningful, lasting impact through charitable gifts.

Our Vision

To be the primary partner for donors who want to advance the community’s quality of life and capacity for excellence.

IUTIS Club Scholarship

Selection based (in order of priority):

• Academic ability, community and school service, and recommendations. Preference given to students who participated in the IUTIS Softball Program.

Awards

• Two $500 scholarships

4-H Beef Club Fund

The 4-H Beef Club Fund, established by the Whitley County 4H Beef Club, provides educational scholarship support for any member of Whitley County 4-H intent upon studying Agriculture at an accredited college or university in pursuit of a 2 or 4 year degree in the field.

The Virginia Randolph Scholarship, established in 1963, honors the legacy of a pioneering educator in Henrico County. Managed by The Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, this scholarship supports graduating high school seniors who demonstrate academic promise, community service, and financial need. It ensures a lasting tribute to Virginia Randolph’s commitment to education and helps empower the next generation of leaders in the region. Eligible students can receive tuition assistance for higher education pursuits.

The Marie Darlin Prize, administered by the Juneau-Douglas City Museum and overseen by the Juneau Community Foundation, honors exceptional artistic and scholarly works that reflect Southeast Alaska's cultural heritage. Awarded annually, the prize of $5,000 recognizes individuals or collaborations committed to the region's social and cultural history, community advocacy, and Indigenous identity. Eligible applicants include writers, visual artists, and performers who have produced significant works within the last five years.

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, known in the MS community as MS Focus, is a nonprofit organization focused on providing free services that address the critical needs of people with MS and their families, helping them maintain the best quality of life. 

The symptoms of MS are unpredictable and may increase in severity over time. This presents physical, emotional, and financial challenges families must face. MS Focus is here to provide the support, education, and assistance needed to adapt to these challenging circumstances. Our primary focus is on providing individuals with MS the help they need to maintain their health and well-being, to continue to be productive and independent, and to keep a roof over their heads and a safe environment in their home. We do so with empathy, resourcefulness, and conscientious care.

Whom does MS Focus serve?

Our resources assist people who have MS, their families and caregivers, regional support groups, and healthcare professionals. Our programs and grants are available in the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Online resources, such as our educational materials or audio programs, are available throughout the world.

Assistive Technology Program

The Assistive Technology (AT) Program may help locate, partially fund, or provide full funding for one of a wide range of devices. These allow those with MS to function more independently in their daily lives, as well as more easily participate in recreational, educational, and vocational activities. These include:

• Aids for daily living
• Communication devices
• Computer aids
• Environmental control systems
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Orthotics
• Seating, positioning, and mobility devices
• Aids for vision and hearing
• Cooling aids

The Rahsaan Roland Kirk Scholarship for the Arts, offered by The Columbus Foundation, honors the legacy of the innovative jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk. This scholarship supports seniors from Columbus City Schools who are pursuing studies in music, music performance, or the arts. With a focus on artistic freedom and excellence, it aims to empower young artists to continue the rich traditions of Black American musical expression while fostering creativity and cultural appreciation in the community.

The Indian Highway Safety Traffic Records Forum Grant is exclusively available for federally recognized tribes without an existing grant for FY 2027. This program, managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, supports initiatives aimed at enhancing traffic safety through data collection and analysis. Eligible tribal employees can apply for funding to cover registration and travel expenses for attending the Traffic Records Forum from August 3-5, 2027, promoting improved traffic records and safety measures.

The Ohio Green Beret Support Group Scholarship, administered by The Columbus Foundation, aims to support Green Berets and their families in Ohio. This scholarship provides financial assistance for postsecondary education and training, including degrees and certifications, to those facing hardships due to military service. By honoring the service and sacrifice of these elite soldiers, the scholarship fosters educational opportunities and long-term support for deserving military families.

The Mary Eleanor Morris Scholarship, established by the estate of Mary Eleanor Leonard Morris, supports educational opportunities for graduating seniors from Logan County, Ohio. This scholarship reflects Morris's enduring commitment to community service, benefiting students from various local high schools. Eligible candidates must not hold significant national scholarships and must plan to attend an accredited educational institution in the U.S. This initiative aims to empower local youth and foster their educational aspirations.

The Kiwanis Club of Columbus offers the Service Leadership Scholarship to graduating seniors of Columbus City Schools. This scholarship aims to recognize students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. The club, part of Kiwanis International, fosters leadership and service through various local initiatives. By supporting these students, the Kiwanis Club contributes to their educational pursuits and encourages ongoing community engagement, making a lasting impact on both the individuals and the community.

HealthPath Foundation of Ohio

HealthPath Foundation of Ohio is a regional health foundation advancing health equity through strategic grantmaking and intermediary services that support improved health outcomes across Ohio’s communities.

Our Purpose

HealthPath believes health is a human right. Our purpose is to eliminate barriers that drive health inequities and prevent Ohioans from achieving their best health.

Advancing Oral Health Equity

Building on the strengths of communities and organizations serving older adults (60 and older) and individuals with disabilities, HealthPath will award two-year grants of up to $50,000 to nonprofit and safety-net health organizations in fourteen counties to expand and enhance oral health equity. A total of up to $250,000 in funding will be awarded through this RFP.

Funding Priorities

HealthPath seeks to support organizations addressing oral health inequities for older adults (60 and older) and individuals with disabilities through community-based programs, education, outreach, advocacy, and service delivery. Funded initiatives may include, but are not limited to:

• Oral Health Integration
• Cross-Sector Collaboration
• Data-Driven Approaches
• Expanding Access to Care
• Provider Training and Support
• Safety Net Infrastructure
• Dual-Eligible Supports

Donald and Mary Frink Scholarship

The scholarship provides support for students who are hearing impaired.

Award Amount:

• Minimum $1,000

The GAR Foundation supports nonprofits in Akron, Ohio, focusing on initiatives that enhance education, community development, and cultural enrichment. They prioritize strategic collaboration across sectors to foster vibrant community solutions. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations benefiting Akron residents. However, the foundation does not fund special events, anniversaries, individuals, national or religious organizations, and medical research, ensuring a targeted approach to grantmaking.

The Kelsey Nicole Cooper Scholarship Fund, administered by the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, offers scholarships to deserving students from the Martinsville Henry County community, emphasizing volunteerism. Eligible applicants must be graduating seniors or graduates from local high schools, enrolled or planning to enroll in accredited colleges, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. Preference is given to those attending Virginia Tech or involved in the CHILL youth task force. For more information, contact the Foundation.

L’Oréal Paris Celebrates 20 Years of Women of Worth

For 20 years, L’Oréal Paris has honored women who uplift their communities through service. These non-profit leaders, our Women of Worth, each receive $25,000 to support their causes, mentorship from the L’Oréal Paris network and a national platform to share their stories.

The JSF People with Disabilities Grant supports organizations that empower students with disabilities through education and employment opportunities. With a focus on scholarships and mentorship, the Foundation addresses barriers that hinder access to higher education. It has established partnerships with universities and schools, including Gallaudet University, to create impactful programs. Additionally, it funds initiatives that help transition individuals into the workforce, ensuring inclusivity in educational and professional settings.

Our Story

Established over 50 years ago, our founders redefined local philanthropy, fostering connections around a shared sense of place and purpose. As Virginia's largest community foundation, we bring people together to pool resources, co-create solutions and align actions for impactful change in the Richmond region.

Scholarships are offered to students living in the Richmond region and other Virginia locations. Each scholarship was established by a generous individual, family, or organization with a desire to assist high school students, recent high school graduates, and adult learners to continue their education. 

Claude V. Simmons Scholarship

The Claude V. Simmons Scholarship Fund was established to support post-secondary educational opportunities for qualifying members of the Church of Francis de Sales in Mathews County, Virginia.

Awards

• $6,600

The Craig Newmark Philanthropies Grants, established in partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation, aim to support military and veteran communities through funding initiatives that enhance health and well-being. Since 2020, this program has positively impacted over 1.6 million veterans, service members, and their families. The grants focus on improving health determinants, increasing access to healthcare, and facilitating veterans' successful transitions to civilian life.

Community Foundation of the North State

The Community Foundation builds trust through relationship, integrity, and by providing safe places for donors to give their resources.

We are a nonprofit, public charity serving the people of Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties, with a mission to impact the region through the power of giving.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of the North State manages many scholarship funds that are awarded to graduating high school seniors as well as students already in an undergraduate program. Some scholarships were started by families or individuals; others by businesses or organizations. All scholarships share one important focus: helping young people reach their educational goals.

Matt Solus Memorial Scholarship Fund

The scholarship supports high school or College of the Siskiyous students in Siskiyou County pursuing careers in fire science or law enforcement.

Matt Solus Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Matt Solus, the son of Fred & Elouise Solus of Yreka. Matt was a victim of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Although Matt was on a heart transplant list, he succumbed to the disease at the age of 22. Matt was a 1997 graduate of Yreka High School. The Solus Family were pioneers in Siskiyou County, having first moved there in 1850. Matt was a member of the Explorer Program with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department and had a strong interest in law enforcement and fire science. The scholarship supports students in Siskiyou County pursuing careers in fire science or law enforcement.

Impact 100 Perry County Grantmaking Program 

A small group of women came together in December 2016 with one thing in mind – forming a local organization to bring transformational grants to Perry County. The model they have used was established in Cincinnati, Ohio by philanthropist Wendy Steele. Using Wendy’s model, this local group founded Impact 100 Perry County and soon after, adopted the tag line “The Power of Women Giving as One,” which accurately describes our mission. Individually, $500 donations cannot make much of an impact on an organization, but when combined with a group of others, can have a significant impact on a 501(c)3 organization, public school or government entity. 

This year, Impact 100 Perry County will award one lump sum grant to one local non-profit organization in the amount of $16,000. If your organization has a project that could utilize up to that amount, please precisely describe the project and how it could benefit the community.

The Salem Community Foundation Scholarship supports local college students in their educational pursuits. Established in 1966, it provides financial aid to sophomores, juniors, and seniors whose initial scholarships have ended. For the 2025-2026 academic year, $112,400 was awarded to deserving applicants. To qualify, students must be residents of Salem City or Perry Township, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, and enroll in at least 6 semester hours. This initiative aims to uplift the community by investing in the education of its youth.

Buesching-Tucker Memorial Scholarship

This Scholarship is available to any Whitley County resident. Applicants may be current students, non-traditional students, home-school students, and traditional graduating high school seniors with aspirations for a nursing career or obtaining a degree in music.

In loving memory of our amazing mother, sister, aunt, and “Gummi”, and our dear father, uncle, brother, and “Baba” we establish this scholarship to honor Nancy Buesching Tucker and Robert Lewis Tucker residents of rural Churubusco. Our family invites you to apply hoping that in some small way we can aid you in becoming as gifted a nurse as Nancy was or as entertaining a musician as Bob was.

The Bausch Foundation, established by Bausch Health Companies Inc., supports global charitable initiatives focused on disease prevention, improving patient outcomes, and education related to its core businesses. The Foundation also aids disaster recovery efforts and assists underserved communities. Applications for funding are accepted continuously, with quarterly reviews, ensuring timely support for impactful projects. All submissions must be unsolicited, and decisions by the Advisory Committee are final, fostering a transparent giving process.

Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia

Our Community Foundation was established in Roanoke in 1988. With our growth, we expanded into the Martinsville/Henry County area in 2005. Today, we administer many hundreds of named endowment funds ranging in size from a minimum of $10,000 to millions of dollars. To date, donors have also committed very significant resources to the Foundation through future estate gifts.

Our Mission:Enabling people who love their community to easily give back.

Scholarships

Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, the region’s community foundation, administers a variety of scholarships to reward and assist capable and deserving students based on the criteria established by the fund donors.

Joycelyn “Fudgie” Lee Farrelly Music Education Scholarship Fund

Fund provides higher education scholarship assistance to deserving students who intend to pursue a degree in music or music education.

About FFAR

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) advances food and agriculture science to develop tools, technologies and information that benefit farmers, consumers and the environment. We connect funders, researchers and farmers through public-private partnerships to support audacious research addressing the biggest food and agriculture challenges. Our unique public-private partnership model allows us to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to identify research opportunities that help farmers adapt to current challenges. 

H5N1 Risk to Swine Research Program

The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) has partnered with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Pork Checkoff to fund a $4 million research program to enhance prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response capabilities for H5N1 influenza in the U.S. swine herd.

As part of SHIC’s strategic mission to respond to emerging disease threats, SHIC monitors disease outbreaks nationally and internationally for their potential risks to the U.S. swine herd. H5N1 influenza is an emerging disease identified as a priority for U.S. pork industry prevention and preparedness due to the growing number of diverse mammalian species susceptible to infection and the unprecedented 2024 H5N1 outbreak impacting U.S. dairy herds.

Proposals should clearly state which of the below SHIC/FFAR/NPB H5N1 Risk to Swine Research Priorities will be addressed through the project. 

SHIC/FFAR/NPB H5N1 Risk to Swine Research Priorities

• Diagnostic Surveillance. 
• Introduction and Transmission Risks.
• Caretakers of Pigs.
• Biosecurity Practices
• Safety of Pork
• Mitigating Production Impact. 
• Business Continuity. 

The Berry Family Foundation Grants aim to support entrepreneurial initiatives and strengthen the Dayton community. Emphasizing core beliefs such as the importance of free enterprise and the encouragement of youth education, the foundation seeks to partner with organizations that align with these values. Funding requests are evaluated based on their potential to improve community quality of life and enhance organizational sustainability. Please note that requests from ineligible organizations will not be considered.

Scholarships

Since awarding our first $500 scholarship in 1987, the Saginaw Community Foundation has awarded college scholarships to area students totaling more than $13.7 million, thanks to our generous donors. Each year, over 500 college-bound or career and technical education students benefit from our scholarship awards.

Our single application process makes it easy to potentially qualify for one or more of our 260+ scholarships.

Gregory Keith Jones Memorial Scholarship

The Gregory Keith Jones Memorial Scholarship was established in remembrance of the creative energy, kindness and passion that embodied his much too short time on this earth. This beautiful soul would spread joy, love, and the gospel through music.

Greg was a 1997 graduate of Saginaw High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in project management. Along with his gifts of writing music, singing, and playing keyboard and bass, Greg was also a lover of math and tutored young students who struggled with the subject.

The Gregory Keith Jones Memorial Scholarship was established as an enduring legacy to a kind, loving, humble and giving man. May his spirit continue to live on.