Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits

The Dime Bank Foundation Grant supports organizations that enhance community well-being, focusing on affordable housing, basic human services, and educational programs. Established in 1998, the foundation has three grant cycles annually, requiring a post-grant report within a year of funding. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and serve specified regions in Connecticut and Rhode Island. The foundation prioritizes projects that foster self-sufficiency and collaborative efforts for underserved populations.

The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society Grant offers funding up to $5,000 for projects that promote bird conservation and education in the SFVAS territory. Eligible applicants include non-profit groups and individuals focused on research, educational initiatives, and conservation efforts. Applications should be submitted four weeks prior to the board meeting for consideration. This grant supports diverse projects, enhancing knowledge and resources for avian conservation and public education.

The Building Equitable Opportunity Grant by the Connecticut Community Foundation aims to address systemic disparities affecting low-income communities in Waterbury. By combining various grant areas, the initiative focuses on creating equitable pathways to economic mobility through education, advocacy, and job development. The program targets BIPOC families and emphasizes culturally responsive education, community collaboration, and support for underserved populations, fostering long-term economic resilience and systemic change.

Collection Event Grants provide funding for the collection of electronic waste and other hazardous materials, including household hazardous waste, tires, and pharmaceuticals. Grants, ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, support discrete collection events coordinated with certified recyclers and local authorities. Eligible applicants include government units and recognized organizations in Oklahoma. The program promotes safe disposal practices and environmental stewardship, ensuring responsible management of e-waste and hazardous materials.

The New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection Program (NJCEED) is dedicated to improving cancer outcomes through education, outreach, and screening services for breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers. Targeting individuals at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level who are uninsured or under-insured, NJCEED offers comprehensive support including case management and treatment facilitation. This vital initiative aims to enhance awareness and access to preventive care in New Jersey.

The Illinois Community Canopy Grant, offered by Trees Forever, supports disadvantaged communities in enhancing their tree canopy through tree planting projects. Grants range from $3,000 to $15,000 for first-time applicants, with eligibility for up to $20,000 for milestones like establishing a tree board. The program emphasizes volunteer involvement and requires a diverse selection of tree species to promote long-term forest health. This initiative aims to fortify community forests and prepare for environmental challenges.

About Us

In the mid-1980s, a rapid rise in housing prices and an increase in the pace of development threatened the rural character and historic settlement patterns of Vermont. As a result, in 1986, a coalition of affordable housing, conservation, and historic preservation advocates approached the state legislature with a plan to form a unique agency that would review and fund projects to address a range of community needs. In response, the Legislature passed the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund Act in 1987.

The newly created Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, or VHCB, was charged with a dual goal mission:

to create permanently affordable housing and conserve and protect Vermont’s agricultural, forest, recreational, and natural lands, as well as historic properties. Since our founding, we have remained true to this mission by supporting projects that benefit Vermont communities in perpetuity, guided by our core values: equity and access, affordability and economic vitality, environmental sustainability and resilience, and quality of life.

Donated Easement Funding Program

The Donated Easement Funding Program provides grants to help cover transaction and stewardship costs for conservation easements donated by willing landowners. The program is designed to make voluntary land conservation more accessible and affordable by reducing financial barriers that often prevent donated projects from moving forward. 

The Active Transportation Grant Program aims to promote increased use of active transportation modes, such as biking and walking, throughout California. This program consolidates various federal and state transportation efforts and allocates significant funding annually to enhance safety and mobility for non-motorized users. The ATP also focuses on advancing public health and ensuring that disadvantaged communities benefit from transportation improvements, ultimately striving to make California a leader in active transportation initiatives.

The Hortense and Louis Rubin Community Health Fund, established in 2018, has invested over $2.9 million in health initiatives to enhance kidney health in the Greater Capital Region. This fund, managed by the Community Foundation, focuses on improving public health outcomes by supporting projects that promote healthy lifestyles, health equity, and access to preventive services, especially for vulnerable communities affected by chronic kidney disease.

The FY26 Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) aims to enhance research capabilities in eligible states by increasing the number of university researchers and institutions conducting relevant science and engineering research. Sponsored by the Department of Defense, this program will fund multiyear awards to promote research aligned with national security needs. Applications require a multi-stage submission process, emphasizing early registration and timely proposal submissions.

The Pigeon River Fund Grant aims to enhance the ecosystems of Haywood, Buncombe, and Madison counties in North Carolina. Supporting projects that improve water quality, wildlife habitats, and public access, the grant encourages community awareness and engagement in conservation efforts. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $35,000, with specific priorities for projects addressing local water quality issues. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities within the service area.

The St. Boniface Episcopal Church Grant aims to assist non-profit organizations in continuing Christ's ministry. By fostering partnerships, it provides financial aid and encourages parish involvement in projects that address hunger, homelessness, and children's education. The grant prioritizes works of mercy consistent with the Baptismal covenant and emphasizes programs that promote community support and engagement, aiming to build lasting relationships with recipients to respond effectively to local and global needs.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation offers the BUILD Grants Program aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of rural communities in North Dakota. This initiative addresses social determinants of health and focuses on key areas such as economic stability, education access, healthcare quality, neighborhood environments, and community context. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 will be awarded, prioritizing applicants with strong community collaborations and sustainability efforts.

South Arts Inc

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture.

In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors such as the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs. Why? Because South Arts believes that the arts elevate the region, increasing connectedness and inspiring meaningful change in the process.

Our mission: Advancing Southern vitality through the arts.

Arts in Community Grants

Program Description

Arts in Community Grants are designed to support deeper engagements between Southern communities and artists. Through these grants supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, we aim to increase access to the arts, expand audiences for artists, and broaden our reach. Eligible projects require a Southern artist/company visiting another Southern state for public activities, offering access to arts programming by professional artists. Funding supports Southern film directors, traditional artists, visual artists, performing artists, or writers:

• film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation),
• traditional arts (music, dance, storytelling, and visual arts/crafts),
• visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media),
• performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance), and
• literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry).

Projects require an artist or artist ensemble and a host or partner organization. Project must include at least two in-person or live, virtual public activities – both a public presentation (a film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement activity (a workshop, demonstration, lecture, facilitated discussion, or master class). The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match.

The grant aims to enhance access to newborn hearing and pulse oximetry screenings in out-of-hospital settings across Minnesota. By providing portable screening equipment, it seeks to ensure timely identification and intervention for infants who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) and those with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). This initiative aligns with state mandates to improve newborn health outcomes and connect families with essential services.

The Esther Tomljanovich Strategic Initiatives grant from the Medica Foundation supports transformative projects aimed at advancing health equity. With a funding capacity of up to $200,000 over two to three years, the initiative focuses on innovative proposals in healthcare workforce development, women's health, aging services, dental programs, and housing stability. Grantees are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes and foster collaboration within their communities, emphasizing the importance of addressing unique health needs.

The Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program aims to eliminate derelict fishing traps nationwide. Focused on collaboration, it emphasizes standardized data collection, quantifying impacts, and comprehensive data sharing. With an annual budget of up to $1,475,000, the program supports 6 to 15 projects, providing grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 for 18-month initiatives. This effort significantly enhances marine resource conservation by reducing bycatch mortality and removing abandoned traps.

The Direct Services Grant Program, initiated by the John T. Gorman Foundation, aims to support organizations addressing the basic needs of vulnerable Maine residents, including hunger, housing, and crisis support. This grant prioritizes initiatives that strengthen families and empower communities, ensuring that essential services are accessible. The Foundation seeks to bolster educational achievements for young children, aid successful transitions for older youth, and support low-income families and seniors, ultimately fostering a thriving community in Maine.

The Christopher Family Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations focused on employment, entrepreneurship, and food security, primarily in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. They aim to support pathways to family-sustaining wages, foster local entrepreneurship, and enhance food access. Eligibility includes organizations that demonstrate excellence, collaborative learning, and a commitment to the community. The foundation prefers programmatic support and does not fund individuals, governmental entities, or housing services. Overall, CFF seeks to empower the community and improve quality of life.

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in North and South Carolina, focusing on education, healthcare, human services, and the arts. With a commitment to strengthen communities and support fiscal responsibility, the foundation aims to enhance lives through meaningful projects. Organizations must demonstrate a track record of success to be eligible for funding, which is generally awarded for special projects and capital needs.

The Fine Arts Initiative Grant, established by the Maryland General Assembly, aims to enhance arts education for prekindergarten-12 students in local education agencies. This program supports funding for dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual art, ensuring students meet or exceed state standards. With an anticipated 25 grants available, the initiative promotes alignment with COMAR 13A.04.16, focusing on comprehensive arts education and fostering creativity in Maryland's youth.

The Clowes Fund focuses on supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals in New England, particularly in Massachusetts. It offers grants for immigrant services, workforce development, arts education, and K-12 education, with specific priorities for communities with high immigrant populations. Applications are open to first-time grantees and returning organizations, with a strong emphasis on transparency and accessibility in the funding process.

About the Living Well Foundation

The Living Well Foundation is a non-profit public charity that was established upon the sale of a local public hospital in 2006. Its goals are to enhance the quality of life and health of the citizens of Ouachita Parish and the 7 surrounding parishes and to assist in collaborative and innovative networking within the region. The Living Well Foundation supports several projects in the northeast Louisiana area that seek to improve the medical, dental, and behavioral health of the population, especially kids.

Specific initiatives include dental hygiene clinics with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) Department of Dental Hygiene, suicide prevention/intervention, dementia/Alzheimers cognitive deficit disorders, and school-based health centers with local school boards and medical providers, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and others. Other projects that provide behavioral health support services on school campuses and in communities are supported with area non-profit agencies and clinical professionals.

Grant Information

Grants are typically awarded to non-profits whose projects address the following:

• Activities related to rendering care to the sick and injured or in the promotion of health;
• Activities designed and conducted to promote the general health of the community; and,
• Activities undertaken in cooperation with public or private institutions or agencies engaged in providing health services to residents of the District.

The Foundation favors making grants that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• The grant would help assure the continued existence or creation of accessible, affordable health care facilities or services in the District or the service area that are responsive to the needs of the community.
• The grant would support the provision of health care to the disadvantaged, the uninsured, and/or the underinsured.
• The grant would support the goal of improved health care or wellness to the service area.
• The project would include an education component within its goals for participant self-sufficiency or self-awareness over time.
• The project would have a plan of sustainability upon conclusion of Foundation funding.

The Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of Arlington youth through significant financial contributions. They provide grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that focus on youth programs in areas like athletics, health, education, and the arts. Recently, a $1 million donation supported the North Texas Youth Education Town, which offers educational and recreational services. This initiative aims to create a sustainable impact on the community and support local youth for years to come.

The External Collaborative Research Grants by Boehringer Ingelheim support academic and clinical scientists in proposing research studies. These grants facilitate collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, which may provide intellectual and financial support. Applicants must assume full responsibility for their research while complying with regulatory standards. The funding should cover research costs, excluding salary support for the collaborative partner. Interested investigators must apply online for consideration.

The Bogliasco Fellowships, awarded by the Bogliasco Foundation, provide a unique opportunity for individuals in the arts and humanities to develop significant new work in a serene Italian setting. Open to all ages and nationalities, these one-month Fellowships foster creativity and collaboration among exceptional artists and scholars. Candidates must demonstrate notable achievements in their fields and can apply multiple times, with previous recipients waiting five years before reapplying. A conversational level of English is required to thrive in this international community.

The APS Community Impact Grants aim to address diverse community needs across Arizona through support for education, small business, arts, human services, environment, and community development. By focusing on under-resourced populations, these grants foster inclusivity and resilience. Nonprofits can apply annually for funding, with additional consideration for projects that enhance community engagement and quality of life. This initiative highlights APS's commitment to empowering local organizations to create a positive impact in their communities.