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Get operating grants for nonprofits covering essential expenses, staffing, program delivery, and organizational sustainability.
32,000+
Available grants
$8.25B
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$6K
Median grant
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The Community Foundation of NCW is a tax-exempt philanthropic organization that helps individuals, families, businesses, and agencies support charitable causes throughout Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
Fern Cousineau Duncan Art Scholarship
Mrs. Duncan was an art teacher at Wenatchee High School from 1929 to 1959. She also taught at Wenatchee Valley College until she retired. This scholarship, established by Ms. Duncan’s will, supports graduating seniors from North Central Washington, with special emphasis on students who are pursuing a career in the field of art. As part of the application process, students must submit a portfolio of their work, which is reviewed by a panel of local artists.
The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County
At The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County, we make it easy to give back to the community we all love through comprehensive and trusted charitable giving. We partner with donors, professional advisors and nonprofits to fund local needs through community endowments and support to charities. By expertly managing these funds in-house or with local financial advisors, we’re able to power the arts, faith-based initiatives, environmental grants, human services, domestic and wildlife animal organizations and educational initiatives that help to strengthen our community and make it a vibrant place to live and work.
W.P. & T.M. Phillips Memorial Scholarship
The W.P. and T.M. Phillips Memorial Scholarship was established by Mrs. Thelma M. Phillips in memory of her late husband, William “Bill” Phillips, to honor his love of farming. Thelma and Bill spent a lifetime together enjoying farm life and working in agribusiness.
The purpose of this scholarship is to support students who are pursuing a college degree in the field of agriculture. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to students who graduate from any public high school in Rockingham County, Shenandoah County, or Harrisonburg City.
Consideration will be given to the student’s academic record, chosen college major, leadership qualities, and involvement in activities related to agriculture.
This scholarship is renewable.
About the Emporia Community Foundation
Our Mission
To connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.
Tucker Lee Everyone Plays Fund
Tucker Lee was a 2015 graduate of Emporia High School and continued his education at Emporia State University where he was a member of the Sig Tau Gamma fraternity. He majored in Accounting and Health Promotions. He was employed at Wright CPA until his death, June 9, 2021 from NUT Carcinoma, a rare, fast-growing cancer. Growing up Tucker played on many REC and traveling teams. In high school, he played football and wrestled all 4 years. He enjoyed playing and building lifelong friendships.
In memory of Tucker’s caring nature and wanting everyone to be able to participate in athletics, The Tucker Lee Everyone Plays Fund was created in his honor with the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF). This fund is intended to help alleviate some of the financial burden on Lyon County area families, by offering financial aid to help with the cost of equipment, fees, and gear. Students in the following school districts are able to apply: USD 243 Lebo-Waverly, USD 251 North Lyon County, USD 252 Southern Lyon County, USD 253 Emporia, and USD 284 Chase County.
Scholarships will be available as long as funds are available.
Community Foundation of Louisville
Founded in 1984, the Community Foundation of Louisville mobilizes people, networks, and capital to spark meaningful change in and beyond Louisville. Just as our name signifies, here, community comes first. With over $874 million in assets, over 2,200 charitable funds, and collaborations with hundreds of local partners, we connect real investments with relevant causes. The Foundation has addressed and continues to address a wide range of community needs. The key priorities of the Foundation’s mission are to remove barriers to accessing capital and resources and to open opportunities for all. Working with neighbors, changemakers, and community investors, we’re inspiring greater generosity to move us all forward.
Scholarships
Since 1984, the Community Foundation of Louisville has provided tens of millions of dollars in scholarships to support students with their educational goals. We assist donors in establishing scholarship funds so that a quality education can be available for everyone.
Joshua A. Sterling Scholarship
The Joshua A. Sterling Scholarship was designed to provide scholarship assistance in the form of grants to help defray expenses of any two-year or four-year college or university located in Kentucky, or any trade or vocational school located in Kentucky, of graduating seniors from Nelson County, Kentucky.
Scholarship awards are not automatically renewable. Students must reapply each year to be considered for renewal, although preference will be given to students who have received a grant in previous years. Students applying for renewal must show proof of part time work, including work study or unpaid internships, to qualify for renewal of a scholarship award.
Lynne and Bob Wells Fund for Performing Artists '26-27
The Lynne & Bob Wells Fund for Performing Artists has been established to provide encouragement and support to adult actors, singers, dancers, comedians and other performing artists in Humboldt County.
This grant round is for individuals seeking support in developing artistic work in the performing arts.
The selection committee is looking for the following qualities: originality, honesty, talent, passion and inspiration.
Grants up to $1,000 available.
Grant Criteria:
About Us
As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we partner with people who want to improve their communities and make the world better. We work together to identify and respond to our region’s greatest opportunities, help those in need, and leave a lasting impact.
Scholarship
Each year, Innovia awards over $500,000 in scholarships to deserving students like you who are college-bound or pursuing vocational or technical training. Single scholarship awards range between $500 and $10,000.
Swinton Scholars Fund
This scholarship is open to applicants who are 1st or 2nd generation immigrants to the United States and are graduating seniors from John R. Rogers High School or Ferris High School in Spokane, WA. Applicants must be accepted or enrolled at a public 2- or 4-year college or vocational school, or a private 4-year college in Washington State. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
About Us
As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we partner with people who want to improve their communities and make the world better. We work together to identify and respond to our region’s greatest opportunities, help those in need, and leave a lasting impact.
Scholarship
Each year, Innovia awards over $500,000 in scholarships to deserving students like you who are college-bound or pursuing vocational or technical training. Single scholarship awards range between $500 and $10,000.
Stoll Scholarship
This scholarship is open to all graduating seniors and graduates in Innovia’s 20-county service region who demonstrate financial need and academic achievement. Applicants must be accepted or enrolled at a public 2-year or 4-year college or university, or any vocational or technical school.
Preference will be given to students who plan to attend community college prior to transferring to a public four-year college/university, as well as students who intend to re-apply for additional aid throughout college. Involvement in extracurricular activities, community service, and work experience are also considered. Previous recipients are eligible to re-apply.
Our Mission
The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.
Scholarships
We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.
Helen Anita and William E. Evans, Jr., M.D. Scholarship Fundicate
Dr. Bill, as he was affectionately known, practiced family medicine in the Greater Kansas City area all of his working life. He was ably assisted by his devoted wife (Helen) Anita for most of that time. Since Dr. Bill was a disabled veteran, he had occasion to frequent the VA hospital and held a special place in his heart for numerous employees of the hospital. His burning desire was to reward those special people who had administered to him by setting up this program to offer monetary assistance to their children. The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide scholarships to the children of employees at the Kansas City VA Medical Center who plan to attend summer camp.
Consideration will be given to an applicant’s financial need, extracurricular involvement and past academic performance. Scholarship assistance shall be awarded primarily to applicants who wish to use the assistance to attend a summer camp in the Greater Kansas City area, although camps outside the Kansas City area may also be considered.
Scholarship recipients are required to submit a written reflection following the completion of the camp, which describes his/her experiences and specifically details what the recipient learned from this opportunity.
The scholarship is non-renewable. Previous applicants and past recipients of the scholarship may reapply each year.
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 $3.43B 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 $34,887.
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 29.8% 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 $34,887, while the average grant awarded is $655,609. 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.