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Council on Foundations
The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership association that serves as a guide for philanthropies as they advance the greater good. Building on our 75-year history, the Council supports over 1,000 member organizations in the United States and around the world to build trust in philanthropy, expand pathways to giving, engage broader perspectives, and co-create solutions that will lead to a better future for all.
Council Awards
Our awards program recognizes excellence in philanthropy and honors leaders for their dedication to explore creative ways to advance the common good and fund solutions for complex issues. The Council Awards recognize exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact across the philanthropic sector.
Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking
The Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking was originally created and endowed by friends and colleagues in 1984 as a tribute to Robert Scrivner, a former staff associate of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and first executive director of the Rockefeller Family Fund.
This prestigious award has historically recognized outstanding creativity in grantmaking at the individual level. Starting in 2021, it now recognizes a grantmaking organization that, with a combination of vision, principle, and commitment, is making a critical difference in an innovative way.
Award Criteria
Through your nomination, you can acknowledge the work of a trustee or staff member working in philanthropy who has made a critical difference in the field and demonstrated leadership in times of crisis, charting new paths for the social sector.One supplemental material upload is required (no more than five total items) may be uploaded to provide documentation and support of achievements. These supplemental materials may include, but not limited to: reference letter, endorsement, or letter of support for the nomination from the community leadership (i.e., nonprofit, grantee partner, or a government leader), videos, news articles, report, or publication, organizational strategic plan or annual report, or individuals resume.
The Council on Foundations prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, sex, ethnicity, religion, or national origin, to each such award.
The Community Foundation of Hancock County offers educational support for Hancock County, Indiana adults who are seeking post-secondary training or schooling to improve their career prospects. There are also some opportunities provided by specific businesses in the area. The application is open year-round until all funds are used.
Adult Re-Education Fund
Established by John and Linda Zimmermann, this scholarship provides support to adults who wish to obtain additional education and/or training in order to increase employment opportunities.
Mission and Vision
The Mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the Coastal Bend by building community endowment and addressing social, educational, environmental, and cultural needs through the awarding of grants and scholarships.
The Foundation’s Vision is to provide the Coastal Bend with:
Scholarships
The CBCF scholarship is open each year. Scholarships awarded will be for the following academic year. Scholarships are available only to students who graduated from a high school in one of the counties in the CBCF Service Area: Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio. Thanks to our generous donors, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation (CBCF) offers scholarships to students from over 100 funds.
Wilson - Chase Wilson Memorial 4-H Scholarship
Purpose
In memory of Chase Wilson, a former outstanding Nueces County 4-H member, who died in 1985 as a result of a tragic accident. Chase was a senior student at Texas A&M University in the College of Agriculture. He was due to graduate in the spring of 1985 with plans of a career ahead. The scholarship was established by his family to encourage 4-H members to continue their education beyond the high school level.
The Community Foundation of Hancock County offers educational support for Hancock County, Indiana adults who are seeking post-secondary training or schooling to improve their career prospects. There are also some opportunities provided by specific businesses in the area. The application is open year-round until all funds are used.
Nancy King “Dare to Dream” Fund
The purpose of this fund is to honor the Greenfield Kiwanis Club, a group whose members were like family to Nancy, through the provision of scholarships to persons who wish to obtain additional education.
About the North Valley Health Education Foundation
The North Valley Health Education Foundation (NVHEF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health through education. Since its founding in 1973, the Foundation has supported students pursuing healthcare careers and strengthened communities across Northern California’s North Valley.
NVHEF serves as a regional connector—bringing together students, educators, healthcare institutions, donors, and community leaders who share a commitment to a strong and sustainable healthcare workforce.
Healthcare Scholarships
The North Valley Health Education Foundation (NVHEF) provides scholarships to students pursuing healthcare careers who are committed to serving Northern California communities. Our focus is on strengthening the regional healthcare workforce by supporting students in medical, nursing, and allied health programs.
Each year, NVHEF awards $20,000–$30,000 in healthcare scholarships to students enrolled in accredited programs who demonstrate academic commitment, community connection, and a passion for healthcare service.
Enloe Employee Advancement Scholarship
This application is for current Enloe Health employees seeking scholarship support for education or training that advances their role in healthcare.
Arizona Community Foundation
For more than four decades, the Arizona Community Foundation has worked in tandem with generous individuals, families, and organizations to address some of the biggest challenges facing our state.
Scholarships
In partnership with our generous donors, we award millions of dollars annually to help students achieve their educational goals. Through our online system, students complete one application and are matched with available scholarships, based on their eligibility requirements.
Ewing Employee Assistance Foundation Scholarship
The Ewing Employee Assistance Foundation Scholarship Program established this scholarship to provide post-secondary educational funding for the dependents of Ewing Irrigation employees. Scholarship awards are for one year of undergraduate college, university or vocational school education.
What We Do
At the North Carolina Community Foundation, we bring together generous people and connect them to causes and organizations they care about.
Our mission is to inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.
Our Philanthropic Network
We believe in the power of permanent philanthropy to strengthen our communities and people. By stewarding and growing donors’ gifts, our philanthropic network makes a powerful impact through robust grants and scholarships programs.
William Pretty Jr. Scholarship Endowment
About Dr. William “Bill” Pretty Jr.
The family of Dr. William “Bill” Pretty Jr. established the William Pretty Jr. Scholarship Endowment in memory of their beloved husband and father after he passed away on September 28, 2003, at the age of 59. Through this fund, his family wants to continue Pretty’s commitment to assist and inspire youth.
Dr. Pretty believed that with determination, perseverance, and a strong belief in God, anything was possible. He graduated from Shaw University and began his career in the federal government helping disadvantaged youth. After ten years, and with knowledge gained from helping in his father’s restaurant, Pretty became the first African American McDonald’s operator in North Carolina. Along with his wife Mildred, he operated three McDonald’s locations for 27 years in Sanford, NC.
Pretty had a special rapport with young people and always went out of his way to nurture them. His motto was, “the work experience, no matter how short, is very valuable.” To support his motto, even when overstaffed, he always hired young people at his McDonald’s.
With Mildred, Bill served his community in multiple ways. He was a trustee of Shaw University and First Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford and served on many other boards and committees. Mildred was a board member of the Ronald McDonald House in Durham.
His family created the William Pretty Jr. Scholarship Endowment at NCCF after the Black McDonald’s Operators Association approached them about the idea.
Dr. Pretty was a true humanitarian. His love for people and his outreaching personality created valuable and long-lasting relationships. The Pretty family is proud to support students like him.
Alabama State Council on the Arts: Folk Arts Apprenticeships
Folk Arts Apprenticeships preserve and pass on Alabama’s living cultural heritage by funding teachers and students as traditional artistic skills and techniques are taught to new practitioners.
Examples of art forms that have been taught in this program include Sacred Harp singing, fiddling, pottery, oak basketry, and artistic traditions of more recent additions to the culture of Alabama, including Vietnamese Lion dance, piñata crafting, and Yoruba drumming.
Samples of work of both the master artist and apprentices are critical to the evaluation of applications. Only one individual, either the master artist or an apprentice, may submit the application and receive grant funds.
The range of the request amount for Folk Art Apprenticeship requests has been increased to $2,000-$4,000.
EMC Health Foundation Grant
The grants shall be used to fund direct healthcare services, wellness programs, health research, health education, and public/private partnerships formed to improve the health of the residents in the EMCHF community.
EMC Health Foundation will provide funding and technical support for nonprofit programs to create healthcare solutions within Stanislaus and Merced counties.
Cherokee Nation Foundation
The Cherokee Nation Foundation is a nonprofit organization serving the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe of more than 470,000 citizens. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities to Cherokee students so they can reach their full potential. The Cherokee Nation Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Scholarships
Cherokee Nation Foundation offers a diverse range of scholarships to help reverse the trend of rising student debt. Students may receive up to two CNF scholarships per academic year. All opportunities are reserved for Cherokee Nation citizens, unless otherwise noted in the description.
Audie Baker Memorial Scholarship
Applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student majoring in education with an emphasis on special education at Northeastern State University with a minimum 3.0 GPA. This is a one-year scholarship awarded in the fall semester, reserved for Cherokee Nation citizens.
The Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) is a voter approved, State lottery funded grant program administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Typically, the program awards over $15 million annually to qualified projects, and has awarded over $100 million in grant funding since the program began in 1999. Large, Small and Planning Grants:
Annual grant funds are available upon Legislative approval of OPRD’s budget. Project funding depends on the amount of money available and the project's standing on the small or large project priority list.
Stanislaus Community Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students in order to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We believe that by investing in our students, we are investing in a brighter future for Stanislaus.
Jane Wynne Woolley Scholarship
Open to English Language Learners demonstrating financial need.
Award Amount:
Armstrong County Community Foundation
The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,
James K. Greenbaum Scholarship
In gratitude for the many years of service that Dr. Greenbaum has given to our community, a scholarship has been established in his name to benefit a graduating student from the area who will be furthering his or her education.
The goal of the scholarship is to honor Dr. Greenbaum’s lifetime contribution to the children of our area and to continue his legacy.
Scholarship Details
All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.
Armstrong County Community Foundation
The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,
Gerstbrein/McCanna Scholarship for the Arts
After a long and rewarding career in Landscape Design and Art Education, Lisa Gerstbrein/McCanna wanted to promote the Arts and Industrial Arts in the community where she made her home and her livelihood. Her career brought her tremendous joy in pursuits that she loved as well as the satisfying reward of helping students find inspiration in the worlds of Art and Industrial Art. She is a true believer in the concept of STEAM based education. Accordingly, she established a fund to provide scholarships for the advanced education of advancing Senior High School Students in these areas who are residents of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and are pursuing higher education in an approved program within 300 miles of their respective school - Armstrong High School, West Shamokin High School or Lenape Technical School.
Scholarship Details
All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.
Armstrong County Community Foundation
The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,
Geophysical Society of Pittsburgh Scholarship
The Geophysical Society of Pittsburgh Scholarship Fund was established in 2013 by the Geophysical Society of Pittsburgh.
Scholarship Details
All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.
About Us
Established in 1918, The Youngstown Foundation is a place of connection, where generosity and community action meet to create powerful improvements on the quality of life. We connect inspired people to causes they care about most, make grants to strengthen effective nonprofits, and provide leadership on key community issues to make the city of Youngstown and its surrounding areas better places.
Our resources comprise endowment and donor advised funds contributed by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and a deep commitment to the Mahoning Valley. The Youngstown Foundation currently manages more than 80 individual funds and has assets of $130 million.
Grant Opportunities
What We Fund
The Youngstown Foundation’s grants reflect our desire to be innovative, inclusive and responsive to the needs of our local community. The foundation's Distribution Committee approves all grant awards.
The Emergency Grant Program provides a resource for The Youngstown Foundation to respond quickly to emergency funding needs of qualified 501(c)(3) agencies in Youngstown and vicinity to ensure continuity of essential, direct services to clients.
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.