Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Ohio

The Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary Scholarship, administered by the Delaware Community Foundation, offers a one-time award of $500 to graduating high school seniors residing in specific Delaware zip codes. Applicants must demonstrate good academic performance and financial need. This scholarship is part of a broader initiative where DCF awarded $850,000 to 245 students for the 2024-2025 school year, aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and equity within the community.

Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation

The Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF), a non-profit corporation affiliated with the Minnesota Nurses Association, provides funding for nursing research grants and scholarships.

Each year, MNAF provides thousands of dollars in scholarships and grants to members and students. They are excellent opportunities to advance the nursing profession through research and education. Members are encouraged to apply.

MNA Legacy Scholarships

Children, grandchildren, or dependents of active or retired MNA members in good standing are eligible to apply for an MNA Legacy Scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate program. 

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

Nicholas & Rose Offenbacher Scholarship Fund

Rose (Van Ness) Offenbacher graduated from Athens High School in 1939. She attended the Nichol's Hospital Nursing program and became a licensed practical nurse. She later graduated from KCC and became a registered nurse. During this time, she worked in several doctors? offices in Battle Creek and then for Leila Hospital, where she became charge nurse of the ICU/CCU and PCU. Rose married Nicholas Offenbacher in 1940. Nick graduated from Union City High School, and worked at Oliver Corporation and then Clark Equipment Company. Rose made provisions in her Trust Documents to establish a Scholarship Fund to benefit graduating seniors of the Athens Area Schools.

The Generation III Scholarship, offered by the Delaware Community Foundation, provides a one-time award of $1,000 to Delaware residents graduating from high school or current post-secondary students. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and intend to study a Construction or Skilled Trade at an accredited institution, which may be located outside Delaware. This scholarship supports the Foundation's mission to enhance community equity and opportunity through education.

The Matthew B. Robinson Scholarship, offered by the Muskingum County Community Foundation, supports students from Muskingum County High Schools pursuing degrees in Special Education. Applicants must be freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at a 4-year accredited institution, maintaining a minimum 2.5 GPA. This scholarship is part of the foundation's mission to enhance community quality of life through education and philanthropy, bolstering local talents and fostering future educators.

Udall Foundation

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to American Indians and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy; provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and to the Native Nations Institute to conduct environmental policy research, research on American Indian and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues, and training; and provides assessment, mediation, training, and other related services through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center or NCECR).

Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy (Native American Graduate Fellowship) recognizes outstanding Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are currently pursuing advanced degrees in health care fields—including, but not limited to, health administration, health education, public health, medical practice, policy, research, or related-degrees—and who have demonstrated a commitment to Native health care. The Native American Graduate Fellowship Program honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III.

The Child Protection Compact Annual Program Statement invites proposals aimed at combating child trafficking through collaborative efforts between the United States and other countries. This initiative focuses on enhancing the capacity to prosecute traffickers, providing care for victims, and implementing preventive measures. Organizations interested in applying must align with the objectives of the CPC to ensure comprehensive support and effective intervention against all forms of child trafficking.

The Max Kade Foundation Grant supports educational institutions and charitable organizations recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS. It emphasizes Germanic studies and transatlantic exchanges through various programs, including postdoctoral research, faculty exchanges, and language teacher training. The foundation aims to foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration between the U.S. and German-speaking countries, offering funding opportunities for innovative educational initiatives.

The Diane and Jeff Johnson Scholarship, established by the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, supports Goshen residents pursuing higher education. With an average award of $3,500, this scholarship aims to ease the financial burden of education, allowing recipients to focus on their academic goals. Importantly, academic excellence is not a criterion for selection, ensuring accessibility for all qualified applicants. This initiative reflects NCCF's commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Northwest Connecticut through educational support.

The McKernon Scholarship, offered by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, supports financial need-based students from Pierce County, particularly targeting graduates of Elmwood High School and non-traditional learners pursuing their first degree. The Foundation, a prominent philanthropic organization, aims to foster local impact through generous donations, having facilitated over $100 million in grants since its establishment in 1995. This scholarship embodies their mission to enhance community prosperity and empower individuals through education.

The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award offers a one-time, need-based grant of up to $10,000 for pre-collegiate musicians aged 8-18 participating in From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship. This award aims to support talented young musicians facing financial barriers in their pursuit of classical music education. Applicants must demonstrate strong musical ability and are required to fully engage in the fellowship program to receive the award.

What is a Community Foundation?

We are one of more than 750 similar tax-exempt public charities throughout the United States that work to make their community a better place to live. We are a local organization staffed by residents of the community and led by a board of trustees who have an in-depth knowledge of the issues that shape our County.

This Community Foundation was created by and for the people of Washington County MD, and exists to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens, now and for generations to come, by building community endowments, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Hub City Ravens Roost Inc. #124 “4th and 29” Scholarship Fund

Named for a legendary Baltimore Ravens miracle play, this scholarship recognizes one student’s effort in any area (personal, academic, music, sports, art, etc.) that has led to a brighter future.

The Lester Little Ag Education Scholarship, offered by the Muskingum County Community Foundation, aims to support graduating seniors pursuing higher education in agricultural studies. Scholarships will be awarded to students from John Glenn, Philo, Tri-Valley, Maysville, and West Muskingum High Schools. Preference is given to those active in their school's ag programs and 4-H, with additional consideration for female applicants, fostering a commitment to agricultural education and community engagement.

Building Bridges Documentary Fund

The Building Bridges Documentary Fund provides funding for independent documentary projects about the Muslim experience in the United States. The Fund’s goal is to support filmmakers and works that contribute to a fuller spectrum of narratives on the U.S. Muslim experience.

We fund the following project phases with the stated range of possible funding: 

• Research & Development ($10K to $25K)
• Production ($50K to $100K)
• Post-production ($50K to $100K)

Consider the diversity of the U.S Muslim population. According to the Pew Research Center in 2023-2024 Muslims in the United States identified as:

• 30% White and/or Asian
• 20% Black
• 11% Hispanic
• 8% Other or Multiracial
• 21% of Muslims are born in the U.S. or have at least one parent born in the U.S.
• 33% of U.S. Muslims live in the South, followed by Northeast (29%), Midwest (20%), West (18%).

The Building Bridges Documentary Fund is supported by the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation. CAAM is honored to be a part of this multi-year journey with our colleagues in the Program: the Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau, and the Sundance Institute. 

CAAM is also collaborating with the independent filmmaking community to provide support for workshops on various aspects of sustainable filmmaking practices. 

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 Stephen Hales Prize, established in 1927 by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), honors the Reverend Stephen Hales for his groundbreaking contributions to plant biology, particularly noted in his 1727 work, Vegetable Staticks. This prestigious award is given annually to an ASPB member who has made significant contributions to the field. The recipient is invited to present their work at the Society's annual meeting, fostering engagement within the plant science 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.

Scholarship amounts vary depending on the scholarship applied for. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many awards as they are eligible to increase the likelihood of receiving one or more awards.

Scholarships can be used for cost of attendance, direct education expenses, including tuition, books, and/or other school-related fees.

If you receive an award, be sure to complete your scholarship acceptance form (online portal). Scholarship awards are paid directly to the academic institution by the end of August.

CHS Inc. Scholarship Fund

This Fund was created as a lasting memory to the legacy of the Elburn Cooperative and to support the communities that strengthen the cooperative.

The CHS Inc. Scholarship is available to high school graduates and current undergraduate students at an accredited college or university. Applicants must be a family member of an eligible CHS Inc. customer or employee. This scholarship is administered by the Community Foundation.

Southern Tier Military Support Group Scholarship

This scholarship fund will honor the work of the Southern Tier Military Support Group. The annual distribution will be available for a scholarship award for nontraditional students who are veterans, or for graduating high school seniors who are the children or dependents of a veteran or who are planning to enroll in an ROTC program during their college education.

The Carol & Joseph Tafelski Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Erie Community Foundation, supports Erie High School students pursuing degrees in healthcare or medical research. With a total of over $800,000 in scholarships given in 2023, applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 and be accepted into an accredited four-year college or university. This initiative aims to empower students to achieve their educational goals and contribute positively to the community.

The Dr. Michael J. Relihan Scholarship, offered by the Erie Community Foundation, awards deserving graduating seniors from Erie County high schools who have been accepted into accredited post-secondary institutions. In 2023, over $800,000 was distributed in scholarships to support more than 500 students in their pursuit of higher education and vocational training, empowering the next generation to achieve their academic and career goals.

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

John Jurkas Law Enforcement Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the family and friends of John Jurkas, who established the John Jurkas Law Enforcement Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. John Jurkas served the City of Muskegon Police Department for 34 years, during which he established the reputation as a detective with the shrewd ability to solve crime. Mr. Jurkas completed his distinguished career as investigator for the Muskegon County Prosecutor. Following his death in 1991, family and friends established this to assist young people who wish to continue this tradition of excellence in law enforcement. The fund provides awards to Muskegon County students pursuing careers in law enforcement. These scholarships ensure that John Jurkas will continue to promote excellence in the field of law enforcement through the lasting gift of education.

What is a Community Foundation?

We are one of more than 750 similar tax-exempt public charities throughout the United States that work to make their community a better place to live. We are a local organization staffed by residents of the community and led by a board of trustees who have an in-depth knowledge of the issues that shape our County.

This Community Foundation was created by and for the people of Washington County MD, and exists to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens, now and for generations to come, by building community endowments, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Lawrence and Genevieve Martin Scholarship Fund

This scholarship honors Larry and Geney Martin by assisting a young man or woman graduating from a Washington County, MD public high school who plans to pursue a career in the building industry.

The DefIANt Scholars Program, initiated by the Erie Community Foundation, provides scholarships aimed at students with disabilities. In 2023, over $800,000 was awarded to more than 500 deserving students to support their pursuit of post-secondary education. This initiative emphasizes breaking down barriers and misconceptions within educational environments, with a preference for applicants from Erie County, fostering inclusivity and opportunity within the disabled community.

Scholarship amounts vary depending on the scholarship applied for. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many awards as they are eligible to increase the likelihood of receiving one or more awards.

Scholarships can be used for cost of attendance, direct education expenses, including tuition, books, and/or other school-related fees.

If you receive an award, be sure to complete your scholarship acceptance form (online portal). Scholarship awards are paid directly to the academic institution by the end of August.

Cindy Graves Nursing Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is intended for students who are pursuing an additional degree or certification in nursing to grow professionally and better serve their patients. Students may attend any accredited educational institution, college, or university.

This Fund honors Cindy Graves, a DeKalb County public health nurse who had a tremendous impact on the community. Cindy was a registered nurse at Kishwaukee Hospital for 30 years – working as a pediatric nurse and emergency room RN, house supervisor, ER charge nurse, EMS educator, EMS coordinator, and ER director (2005 – 2012). From 2012 until the time of her passing Cindy worked at the DeKalb County Health Department as the director of community health and prevention, health promotion and emergency preparedness. Cindy was very active in the community and with her church.

The Rolland J. Van Hattum Award honors individuals for their outstanding contributions to audiology and speech-language pathology within school settings. Recipients receive a plaque and $2,000, with an additional $500 awarded to their school system. This award commemorates Rolland J. Van Hattum, whose dedication to these fields greatly impacted educational services. Eligible nominees include clinicians directly employed by school systems, who demonstrate exceptional commitment through innovative programs or support for these essential services.

Scholarship amounts vary depending on the scholarship applied for. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many awards as they are eligible to increase the likelihood of receiving one or more awards.

Scholarships can be used for cost of attendance, direct education expenses, including tuition, books, and/or other school-related fees.

If you receive an award, be sure to complete your scholarship acceptance form (online portal). Scholarship awards are paid directly to the academic institution by the end of August.

Ed and Kim Kapper Physical Therapy Scholarship Fund

Created in memory of Ed Kapper, this Fund provides scholarship support for a high school graduate of a DeKalb County school who is attending an accredited physical therapy program at an accredited college or university.