Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits

The NALMS Achievement Awards: Secchi Disk Award recognizes outstanding contributions to lake management by its members. NALMS aims to unite citizens, scientists, and professionals to ensure the protection and management of lakes and reservoirs. This prestigious award is open to NALMS members, with nominations encouraged from any individual or entity. However, current board and committee members are ineligible. The award celebrates those who significantly advance NALMS's goals and objectives in fostering lake ecosystem awareness and management.

This funding opportunity aims to support urgent research evaluating policies that impact health behaviors related to obesity. It is designed for studies that can only be performed with expedited review due to the time-sensitive nature of the research. Applications must demonstrate a compelling need for immediate funding to explore new policies or programs affecting dietary habits and physical activity, with the expectation that successful proposals will receive funding within four months.

The Grants for Creative Individuals program by the Mass Cultural Council offers unrestricted $5,000 grants to support artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners in Massachusetts. This initiative aims to promote creativity and cultural expression across diverse disciplines while ensuring equitable access. The grants are awarded based on a review process that prioritizes geographic diversity and the needs of historically underfunded communities. Eligible applicants must be 18+, residents of Massachusetts, and not enrolled in full-time education.

Humane Housing Grants

The Buhl Regional Health Foundation (BRHF) invites proposals from nonprofit organizations serving Mercer County to support initiatives that strengthen Humane Housing for children, youth, and their families. Humane Housing is one of the seven Vital Conditions for a Thriving Community Framework now guiding BRHF’s funding strategy. This is a foundational factor influencing long-term well-being.

In Mercer County, access to safe, stable, and dignified housing remains a critical determinant of physical, emotional, and mental health. Youth who experience housing instability or unsafe living conditions face significant barriers to healthy development, educational success, and long-term thriving. Through this RFP, BRHF seeks programs that prevent housing instability, improve living conditions, promote family stability, and ensure that all young people have access to safe environments where they can grow, learn, and thrive. Projects may focus on prevention, early intervention, housing-related support, or innovative community partnerships that strengthen long-term stability for youth and families.

Focus Areas

Proposals should clearly address one or more of the following priority areas and reflect the principle that Humane Housing is a vital community condition essential for child well-being:

Programs that prevent youth homelessness or housing displacement

• Transitional housing support for youth or youth-led households
• Family stabilization programs that keep children safely housed
• Efforts that reduce unsafe or unstable living situations

Improving Housing Conditions

• Program that addresses critical home repairs that allow youth to remain safely housed 
• Program that addresses environmental hazards (mold, air quality, utilities issues) 
• Partnerships offering safe, temporary placements for youth in crisis

Housing Navigation & Supportive Services

• Case management, advocacy, and navigation for families facing housing challenges
• Coordinated care approaches that reduce system barriers
• Programs connecting families to long-term housing solutions

The Chartercare Wellness/Obesity Prevention/Nutrition Education Grant supports health initiatives in Rhode Island, offering up to $25,000 for programs aimed at enhancing wellness, nutrition education, and obesity prevention, particularly for disadvantaged groups. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing. Proposals should detail program scope, patient impact, care improvement strategies, timely access to services, and outcome tracking methods. Preference is given to innovative solutions addressing critical needs.

Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance 

The Council serves as the advisory body for programs affecting victims of crime. We are a granting agency to programs statewide for services to victims of crime. Funding sources include:

• Federal Victims of Crime – Victim Assistance Grant (VOCA)
• Federal Family Violence Prevention & Services Grants (FVPSA)
• State Domestic Violence Dedicated Account

Family Violence Prevention and Services/Domestic Violence Shelter and Supportive Services/Grants to States (FVPSA)

Description

This funding is to be used by eligible applicants to prevent incidents of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence; to provide immediate shelter, supportive services, and access to community-based programs for victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their dependents; and to provide specialized services for children exposed to family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, including victims who are members of underserved populations.

Match requirement:  20% of Total Project Cost (Award + Match); not applicable to tribes

Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance 

The Council serves as the advisory body for programs affecting victims of crime. We are a granting agency to programs statewide for services to victims of crime. Funding sources include:

• Federal Victims of Crime – Victim Assistance Grant (VOCA)
• Federal Family Violence Prevention & Services Grants (FVPSA)
• State Domestic Violence Dedicated Account

State Domestic Violence (DV) Project Grants

Description: Provides funding for projects for the purpose of aiding victims of domestic violence and other crimes.

Match requirement: 25% of Award (not applicable to tribes)

About Us

Utah became the first state in the nation to consolidate employment and public assistance programs by creating Utah Department of Workforce Services in 1997. Today, more than 2,200 Workforce Services employees assist individuals in preparing for and finding jobs, meeting workforce needs of Utah businesses, administering temporary assistance, and providing economic data and analysis.

Through a collaborative approach, the department has served millions of Utahns and has become a leader on several statewide initiatives. These include intergenerational poverty, homelessness, affordable housing, supporting refugees, helping rural communities, serving veterans and individuals with disabilities, and getting Utahns trained and back to work.

Emergency Food (EFN/QEFAF) Grants

The Emergency Food Network (EFN) is a grant program for non-profit 501(c)(3) agencies and local government programs including emergency food pantries, food banks, prepared meal sites, and others whose primary mission is to meet the emergency food needs of low-income Utahns. EFN funds are distributed statewide through the State of Utah, Department of Workforce Services, Housing and Community Development Division, State Community Services Office (SCSO) to eligible entities. EFN funds may be used by eligible entities for costs of providing emergency food services including operations, transportation, supplies (excluding food or other commodities directly distributed to clients), equipment capacity building, technical assistance and staffing.

The Qualified Emergency Food Agency Fund (QEFAF) is also a state-funded competitive grant available to qualified emergency food agencies in Utah. The application to be a qualified emergency food agency is included within the grant application.

Eligible activities under the QEFAF grant include activities related to:

• Warehousing food and food ingredients.
• Distributing food and food ingredients to other agencies and organizations providing food and food ingredients to low-income persons.
• Providing food and food ingredients directly to low-income persons.

READY Communities grant program

The READY Communities Funding Collaborative is a new public-philanthropic pilot grantmaking program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA), coordinated by Grantmakers In Aging (GIA), and supported by Pennsylvania’s philanthropic organizations. 

The Collaborative will align state and philanthropic funding to support Pennsylvania’s communities in becoming accessible, inclusive, vibrant places for older adults, people with dementia, and neighbors of all ages.  

The Funding Collaborative will advance Aging Our Way, PA—the Commonwealth’s 10-year Multisector Plan on Aging (MPA). This plan serves as a roadmap for the state to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have the supports they need to age with dignity and independence.  

Grant applicants may propose small-scale, neighborhood-level projects or larger efforts with a regional reach. All projects must align with at least one of the Aging Our Way, PA priority areas listed below:

• Unlocking Access
• Aging in Community
• Gateways to Independence
• Caregiver Supports
• Education and Navigation 

The intention of this pilot grant program is to fund new and innovative programs, support the expansion of existing programs to serve new populations, and/or enhance the delivery of existing programs in new ways. Projects should demonstrate potential for scalability, shared learning, and cross-community benefit.

Examples of Projects That Can Be Funded:

• Hosting a memory café or social connection program
• Developing an intergenerational creative arts program
• Launching a new culturally appropriate community program for addressing end-of-life needs
• Developing or expanding a village, hub, or navigation model
• Scaling a community dementia awareness initiative
• Growing a coalition or multisector partnership to apply for the Age-Friendly Communities designation or improve age-friendly programs and design

Organizations can request $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000. 

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program offers grants to County departments, public agencies, and non-profit organizations for various community needs, including education, environmental awareness, and public safety. Eligible non-profits must focus on one or more specified areas, while public agencies can enhance community quality of life. Priority is given to capital projects and one-time expenses. Grant funds cannot be used for prohibited purposes such as religious activities or political campaigning.

The CFNWPA Catholic Social Ministry Grant supports projects that align with Catholic social teachings and serve the 13 counties of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. Funding is available for initiatives that provide counseling services, marriage support, community building, elderly care, and emergency services for the poor. Eligible organizations include Catholic nonprofits and parishes. The grant prioritizes projects that demonstrate sustainability and community impact, fostering long-term support for vital ministries.

About Us

Agriculture has a rich history in Connecticut and plays a major role in our state’s economy. The Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is dedicated to protecting this legacy.

Through thoughtful and comprehensive programs, we foster a healthy economic, environmental, and social climate for agriculture in CT. We manage programs to:

• Develop, promote, and regulate farms and businesses
• Protect agricultural and aquacultural resources
• Enforce laws for domestic animals
• Promote understanding of agriculture’s diversity, cultural heritage, and contribution to CT’s economy

Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant

A statewide grant program funded through S.A. 25-1 to improve local food access and agricultural supply chain resiliency. To learn more check out the press release below.

The purpose of CT DoAg’s LFPA grant program is to provide CT Grown farm products to underserved communities, at no cost to the individual, while maintaining and improving the CT agricultural supply chain resiliency. This is done through:

Establishing and strengthening partnerships across the food supply chain to ensure access to fresh, nutritious, culturally appropriate food in underserved communities.*

Purchasing from small ** Connecticut producers to build and expand market access and opportunities.

CT DoAg has a total of $1,550,000 available to award through a competitive grant process. The selected applicant pool shall be considerate of geography and reach to ensure distribution and sourcing throughout the state.

Funding for the 2026 LFPA Grant is provided by the State of Connecticut in Special Act 25-1 through the Budget Reserve Fund. 

Healthy Living in Rural Delaware: Diabetes Wellness Program

Overview

The State of Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, seeks professional services to provide up to 500 rural Delaware residents with diabetes will receive continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, when not otherwise covered by insurance, to support real-time monitoring and timely adjustments in health behaviors and medication use.

The Colorado Health Foundation

The Colorado Health Foundation is a statewide philanthropic organization that champions the overall health and well-being of every Coloradan. We do this by advocating for and investing in solutions and policies that drive health equity and racial justice.

Our mission is to improve the health of Coloradans. We believe that health and well-being can be in reach for everyone. So, every day, we collaborate with organizations and communities across the state to break down the many systemic inequities that stand in the way of health. When every Coloradan has the power to be healthy, our entire state is stronger.

Colorado Health Foundation: Advocacy Rapid Response Funding

Advocacy Rapid Response Funding aims to fund short-term advocacy initiatives (three-to-nine months in length) that ensure Coloradans’ interests and priorities are front and center in shaping policy decisions that will have long-term impacts on creating health equity in Colorado. Our Rapid Response funding focuses on advocacy work that reflects the following priorities:

• Creating equity in access to and use of high-quality, comprehensive primary care
• Supporting children to move their bodies safely and conveniently on a daily basis
• Enhancing services and supports that foster social-emotional development and resiliency of young children
• Ensuring teens and young adults have access to the resources they need to support healthy minds
• Ensuring adults have access to local recovery resources that promote healthy minds and productive lives
• Supporting access to affordable, safe and high-quality housing options

The Strengthening Services to Prevent the Infectious Disease Consequences of Drug Use initiative aims to enhance prevention services for infectious diseases among people who use drugs (PWUD). It encompasses two components: a biennial survey to assess service gaps and capacity, and increased support for testing and treatment services. The initiative seeks to improve data utilization in service provision, ultimately increasing testing for HBV, HCV, and HIV, and ensuring more PWUD engage in treatment and care.

The FY25-FY26 Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) grant program aims to enhance transportation through the deployment of innovative technologies. It focuses on improving safety, mobility, and efficiency while fostering economic competitiveness. Projects funded will prioritize core infrastructure improvements and address roadway congestion, aligning with the Trump Administration's goals. The program emphasizes economic opportunities and community benefits, ensuring that selected projects contribute positively to families and communities, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.

Hungry for Music

The Hungry for Music story began in 1992, when Founder and Director Jeff Campbell (in photo) organized a street musician concert to benefit the homeless. Within three years, he formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to expanding opportunities in music for children.

Since then, Hungry for Music has placed more than 27,000 instruments into the hands of aspiring musicians. Children whose trajectory has been altered by the uplifting and life-changing gift of music.

We've delivered everything from guitars and trombones to violins and xylophones to kids in 50 states and 35 countries.

We collect and redistribute more than 2,000 instruments annually and, in our 31-year journey, we've become a full-time force for good in the musical community.

Request an Instrument

Hungry for Music collects and distributes instruments including brass, woodwinds, strings, electric keyboards, drums and other percussion, as well as amps and accessories.

Who Hungry for Music Helps

• Music teachers at Title One schools who identify children who cannot participate because of lack of funding.
• Music directors at innovative after-school music programs.
• Social workers who have young clients who would benefit from music therapy.

We only accept requests from public school music teachers, administrators, after-school/summer music program directors, and social workers. 

In our history, we have supported music programs in 40 different countries through stateside sponsors (i.e. business, school, church). We do not accept requests directly from international programs.

After-School & Summer Programs

Hungry for Music supports more than three dozen after-school/summer music programs annually across the United States. To be added to our distribution, a site visit is required.

The Anne Arundel County Forestry and Forested Land Protection Grant Program, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, aims to fund forestry projects and land protection initiatives in Anne Arundel County. This program focuses on cost-effective reforestation and greening efforts to enhance protected forested land, improve soil and water quality, reduce erosion, and provide essential ecological services. By supporting these initiatives, the program contributes to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

The Community Collaborative Research Grant Program (CCRG), supported by North Carolina Sea Grant and the William R. Kenan Jr. Institute, aims to address coastal issues through collaborative research. Proposals should engage local knowledge experts alongside scientific leaders, focusing on themes like healthy ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. Projects that benefit rural and underserved communities are prioritized. Awards range from $5,000 to $25,000, with an emphasis on developing tools for resource management and enhancing community engagement.

Caring For Denver Grants focuses on community-centered solutions addressing mental health and substance misuse in Denver. The initiative prioritizes equitable access to culturally relevant care, emphasizing the importance of community-based organizations. By supporting peer specialists and care navigation, the foundation aims to improve access and outcomes for marginalized populations. Grant applicants must be nonprofit organizations or government entities serving Denver residents. This funding opportunity seeks to uplift voices affected by historical trauma and promote innovative approaches to mental health care.

The Walser Foundation

Every car you buy or service at Walser fuels something bigger.

A portion of every sale supports the Walser Foundation, funding post-secondary education, career training, and workforce development initiatives. These programs help shape the next generation of innovators and change-makers in the communities we serve.

The Walser Foundation invests in brighter futures through grants, scholarships, and select sponsorships that empower generations with the stability and mobility to shape their own futures and the community around them.

Community Partners Grant

The Walser Foundation accepts grant applications from designated 501(c)3 organizations based in Minnesota and Kansas that focus on post-secondary education and workforce development.

Funding Priorities

The Walser Foundation is focused on existing grant partners in 2026. We are unable to accept new applicant inquiries until 2027. As we shift our giving focus to post-secondary education and workforce development, 2026 is a transition year dedicated to exiting and returning partners. Our giving will be directly aligned with the following areas:

• Career and technical education
• Career-connected learning opportunities
• College and career readiness
• Internships
• Job placement programs
• Scholarships
• Secondary and post-secondary education
• Technical apprenticeships

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation offers sponsorships for events in the Kansas City area, with a focus on connecting people and supporting vital programs. Funding amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on event size and benefits. Organizations not currently funded by the Foundation are eligible to apply, with one request considered per year. Note that current grantees are ineligible, and sponsorships are not retroactive or recurring.

The Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for early career professionals to engage in marine and Great Lakes science and policy within the U.S. government. This one-year, paid fellowship encourages graduate students from accredited programs to explore impactful coastal resource issues. Interested applicants should connect with their local Sea Grant program or the National Sea Grant Office for guidance, especially if they are from Massachusetts, to ensure a competitive application.

The Memorial Foundation for Children Grant Program aims to enhance the lives of children in the Richmond Metropolitan Area by funding nonprofit organizations focused on Education and Health and Wellness. Prioritizing evidence-based programs, it supports initiatives that demonstrate long-term impact and serve low-income families. Grants are awarded biennially, emphasizing collaboration among organizations to tackle significant issues affecting children from birth to age 21. The program seeks to ensure that all children can reach their full potential.

The NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program provides critical funding for farmers and ranchers seeking sustainable agricultural solutions. Launched in 1992, this competitive program supports innovative on-farm research and education projects, allowing individuals to apply for grants up to $15,000 or collaborate for up to $30,000. By empowering farmers with resources, NCR-SARE encourages practices that enhance livelihoods while promoting environmental stewardship.

The Greater Memphis Area Grants by AutoZone aim to support nonprofit organizations in Shelby County, Tennessee. These grants focus on improving community health, education, and development with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Eligible organizations can apply for project or capital campaign grants that align with AutoZone's strategic pillars. However, funds are not available for individuals, religious organizations with specific missions, or other ineligible purposes, ensuring contributions benefit the wider community.

Recovery High School Program

The goal of this state-funded continuation grant is to support the implementation of Recovery High School (RHS) Programs, as set forth in Massachusetts General Laws M.G.L. c. 71, § 91 . Operated in partnership with a public school or educational collaborative, Recovery High SchoolRHS programs offer Massachusetts students with a substance use disorder an alternative educational option in which they engage students in a process of growth and development to support their recovery while still working towards their high school diploma. These programs work with students to co-design plans and pathways that are personalized to each student’s needs and goals.

This grant supports the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (Department's or DESE's) Educational Vision and priorities by supporting the whole student using culturally responsive practices to meet their academic needs and support their improved and continued attendance in school while preparing them to pursue their post-secondary goals.