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Get operating grants for nonprofits covering essential expenses, staffing, program delivery, and organizational sustainability.
33,000+
Available grants
$9.00B
Total funding
$6K
Median grant
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Joyce C. Willis Equity in the Arts Award
The Joyce C. Willis Equity in the Arts Award is a new competitive grant as of 2025. Similar to our Creation of New Work grant, this award is designed to:
We hope this new program will provide greater support for artists of color in the Greater Hartford.
Building a global community of creative problem solvers, effective collaborators, and empathetic individuals through theatre
Our Mission and Goals
The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) is the philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).
ETF advances the field of educational theatre by broadening representation and increasing access for all. ETF’s programs aim to support students, educators and the field at large by realizing three strategic goals:
Educator & Program Grants
Giving school theatre programs a boost
The Thespian Growth & Excellence Fund is committed to supporting the ongoing development of theatre programs and the pursuit of excellence for educators, students, schools, and communities by offering a number of grants that assist in EdTA membership, teacher support, and programmatic resources for theatre in schools.
By the end of 2024, the Thespian Growth and Excellence Fund has awarded 349 grants to 276 schools, totaling $286,167 in assistance provided to school theatre programs, many at schools with Title 1 designations.
Equipment Upgrade (up to $5,000)
Can be awarded to help school theatre programs with large technical purchases that upgrade the resources available for theatrical use, such as lighting and sound equipment.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Connecting people, passion and resources
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects people, passion and resources. With our partners, the Community Foundation uses the tools of philanthropy to find solutions to pressing issues. We provide grants to support the work of nonprofits, scholarships to local students and other forms of support to communities working to eliminate barriers to opportunity, prosperity and belonging.
Our Mission is to build and manage our community’s permanent endowment and lead the community to strengthen the lives of its people.
We envision a magnetic and interconnected West Michigan community.
Integrity, Excellence, Inclusion, Sustainability and Bold Aspirations
Give and Receive Openly, Build Trust with Each Other, Create Brave and Safe Space, Embrace Vulnerability, Accountability
Our North Star
For West Michigan to grow and prosper, we must make sure that everyone can apply their talents and creativity to fuel our future. It is only by connecting across perspectives and overcoming inequities that we can build and sustain an inclusive economy and thriving community.
Opportunities for students
Apply for scholarships to support your ambitions
Each year Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports hundreds of students on their college or career training journeys. We are excited to remove barriers to academic success so that students like you can pursue what you're passionate about.
Scholarship Fund Details
Support for West Michigan Students
Attending college or trade school increases opportunity and opens doors to careers. Donor partners who establish a scholarship fund give students a boost on their path to higher education. Students who complete the general scholarship application are considered for these scholarships.
Open to graduate students who are 2+ year residents of Kent County attending college in the state of Michigan and with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
About
Created by the community for the good of the community, the GLCCF is here to turn problems into opportunities through strategic grant making and initiatives created to address our region’s most pressing needs. We work with you to identify your charitable goals, and we ensure that they are carried out efficiently.
Work with us to make the kind of impact you want to see in your community. Let us take on the financial complexities and paperwork, while you focus on the important things like fostering good works throughout our community.
When you give to the Greater Lake City Community Foundation, you are making an investment that will benefit the community, now and in the future.
GLCCF Trade School Scholarship
To award scholarships annually to qualified applicants who intend to pursue education to gain a trade school certification.
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Connecting people, passion and resources
The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects people, passion and resources. With our partners, the Community Foundation uses the tools of philanthropy to find solutions to pressing issues. We provide grants to support the work of nonprofits, scholarships to local students and other forms of support to communities working to eliminate barriers to opportunity, prosperity and belonging.
Our Mission is to build and manage our community’s permanent endowment and lead the community to strengthen the lives of its people.
We envision a magnetic and interconnected West Michigan community.
Integrity, Excellence, Inclusion, Sustainability and Bold Aspirations
Give and Receive Openly, Build Trust with Each Other, Create Brave and Safe Space, Embrace Vulnerability, Accountability
Our North Star
For West Michigan to grow and prosper, we must make sure that everyone can apply their talents and creativity to fuel our future. It is only by connecting across perspectives and overcoming inequities that we can build and sustain an inclusive economy and thriving community.
Opportunities for students
Apply for scholarships to support your ambitions
Each year Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports hundreds of students on their college or career training journeys. We are excited to remove barriers to academic success so that students like you can pursue what you're passionate about.
Scholarship Fund Details
Support for West Michigan Students
Attending college or trade school increases opportunity and opens doors to careers. Donor partners who establish a scholarship fund give students a boost on their path to higher education. Students who complete the general scholarship application are considered for these scholarships.
Open to students who are residents of Kent County. Preference to Challenge Scholar students through 2032.
About Community Foundation of South Alabama
Since its inception, the Community Foundation has grown to over 500 funds and awarded over $98 million in grants and scholarships throughout the eight counties of southwest Alabama, improving the lives of many residents in our corner of the world.
We amplify the gifts from generous donors through wise investment, support others in efforts to enhance our community, and lead and collaborate on initiatives which have a broad impact.
Scholarships
The more than 40 scholarship funds at the Foundation were created by generous donors who wanted to help the students in our community achieve a brighter future. We are committed to assisting the most promising students with scholarships for professional certificate programs, two and four-year undergraduate degrees and graduate school. The scholarship funds at the Foundation award grants to high school, community college and university students to be used for tuition, books, and fees.
Hooper W. Matthews Jr. ScholarshipFund
The scholarship provides tuition assistance to juniors or seniors at the University of FL School of Forestry/Natural Resource Conservation, Milton Branch. Students must be from Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, or North Baldwin. Scholarships are based on merit and financial need. Students must major in natural resource conservation, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and can be either full-time or part-time. Community or volunteer service is preferred. Recipients are eligible to reapply.
About
It is the mission of the Community Foundation of Whitley County to inspire philanthropy, enrich community, and serve donors by creating an enduring source of charitable assets.
Whitley County Retired Teachers’ Association Scholarship
Established by the Whitley County Retired Teachers’ Association to ensure students pursue the field of teaching, this scholarship is available to a graduating senior from any public high school in Whitley County who is planning to attend a 4-year college or university in pursuit of a Baccalaureate degree.
Utah Department of Health and Human Services
The current health and human services model and accompanying policies have led to a fragmented system of services creating unnecessary barriers and challenges to accessing care for those most in need. These systemic challenges contribute to inequities in health outcomes and determinants of health. A consolidated department will reduce these challenges and improve outcomes for all Utahns, particularly those within communities where disparities are greatest.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services will support and serve all individuals and communities throughout Utah. It will do so through effective policy and the operations of an effective and efficient seamless system of services and programs that is centered around the individuals and communities the department serves.
FAST 4.1: Value-Based Care Models
This opportunity will help prepare Utah’s rural providers to transition to value-based care models by delivering comprehensive needs assessments, training, and robust data infrastructure for quality reporting and interoperability. This program will work towards operationalizing a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) to centralize administrative functions like billing and IT, while collaborating with insurers to pilot new payment models.
Mission & Vision
Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.
Our Mission:
We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.
Our Vision:
We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.
Elizabeth Schmidt Nursing Scholarship
Purpose of Scholarship
To provide financial assistance to graduate nursing students studying to become nurse practitioners for the expenses associated with higher education.
Number and Size of Awards
Two awards of $18,000 each; paid as $6,000 per year for up to three consecutive years of graduate study. Award paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.
Donor Information
This scholarship was created by the estate of Elizabeth Schmidt to provide scholarships for nursing students and graduate nursing students studying to become nurse practitioners from Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, and Yates Counties to attend colleges and universities in the same four county area.
Mission & Vision
Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.
Our Mission:
We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.
Our Vision:
We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.
Do It 4 Ur Kidz Scholarship
Purpose of Scholarship
To provide financial assistance to head-of-household, single parents for post-secondary education to help them improve their lives and those of their children.
Number and Size of Awards
Number of recipients and amounts vary; paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.
Donor Information
A former St. John Fisher College professor who understood and greatly admired the hard work and challenges of single-parent students created this scholarship to support their higher education endeavors and to improve their employability, their lives, and the lives of their children.
Mission & Vision
Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.
Our Mission:
We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.
Our Vision:
We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.
Dale Lawrence and Rosalie Viener Rockwell Educational Scholarship
Purpose of Scholarship
To provide financial assistance to students with profound hearing loss for the expenses associated with pursuing higher education.
Number and Size of Awards
One award of $10,000 each to one student at Rochester School for the Deaf and one student within the eight-county region.
Award is divided into equal annual installments paid over four consecutive years of undergraduate study and is paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.
Operating grants for nonprofits provide essential funding to support day-to-day operations, staff salaries, and infrastructure. The following grants help organizations build capacity, maintain sustainability, and focus on achieving their mission-driven goals.
Explore 8,000+ funding opportunities for operational support, with $3.34B in resources. Instrumentl helps nonprofits secure essential funding by offering grant discovery tools, deadline tracking, and strategic funder analysis to ensure long-term success.
How common are grants in this category?
Quite common — grants in this category are more prevalent than in others.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for Operating grants for Nonprofits?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
What's the typical grant amount funded for Operating Grants for Nonprofits?
Grants are most commonly $32,500.
Nonprofits of all types can apply for operating grants, but they are especially useful for organizations needing flexible funding to support the core work of their mission. Operating grants are ideal for nonprofits involved in general population well-being. Specific sectors include healthcare, education, social services, and the arts. Unlike project-based grants that fund specific initiatives, operating grants help with essential costs like staff salaries, rent, and general admin costs. Funders often look for groups with a clear mission who serve a meaningful purpose and have potential for long-term impact.
Based on Instrumentl’s live grant database for operating, grant deadlines are most common in Q1, accounting for 29.7% of all submission dates. The slowest period for new grant opportunities in this category falls in Q4, making it a less competitive time for preparation and strategic planning.
Operating grants exist to help nonprofits function smoothly and grow effectively. The goal is to give organizations the financial means they need to focus on their mission, serve their communities, and support long-term stability. These grants allow nonprofits to improve everyday operations, invest in staff development, and expand programs. Funders want to see nonprofits thrive, not just survive, and providing operational support is a key element to making that happen.
Funding for operating grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $0 to a maximum of $188,250,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $32,500, while the average grant awarded is $633,837. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
Operating grants are often funded by private foundations like the popular Ford Foundation. Some government agencies offer grants to strengthen nonprofit infrastructure, especially in sectors like health, education, and social services. Corporate giving programs may also support nonprofits that align with their values and create lasting impact.
To improve the chances of getting operating grants, nonprofits should:
For more advice on finding and winning operating grants, check out our step-by-step guide to general operating grants.
Instrumentl simplifies the process of applying for operating grants by offering an intuitive platform that helps nonprofits discover relevant funding opportunities, track deadlines, and analyze funder-giving patterns. The platform's automated alerts ensure users never miss a deadline, while detailed funder insights help organizations tailor their applications to align with grantor priorities.
Check out how Habitat for Humanity delivered over 200% ROI within just a few weeks.