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Get operating grants for nonprofits covering essential expenses, staffing, program delivery, and organizational sustainability.
32,000+
Available grants
$8.25B
Total funding
$6K
Median grant
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Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge is a charitable organization that has served the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, and the counties of Augusta, Highland and Nelson since 1992.
Martin Lightsey Scholarship for Technical Education
The Martin Lightsey Scholarship for Technical Education was established to honor Martin Lightsey and all he achieved in the creation and subsequent success of Specialty Blades, Inc. (Cadence, Inc.), upon his stepping down as CEO of the company in 2002.
Description
The Martin Lightsey Scholarship for Technical Education was established in 2002 to provide funds for college scholarships to seniors residing in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County, who intend to pursue or are currently pursuing technical education at a two-year or four-year college. Examples of technical education include but are not limited to degrees in engineering, math, chemistry, physics, computer sciences, statistics, and architecture and associate studies in areas such as quality control, process technology, manufacturing technology, machining, electrical and mechanical operations, and information technology.
Cadence, Inc. and the honoree of this scholarship, Martin Lightsey, value the many possible choices in the pursuit of technical education and careers. Many professional roles in the manufacturing sector require highly-specialized training, much of which can be obtained through community colleges. As such, Cadence Inc. and Mr. Lightsey welcome scholarship applications from students pursuing specific industry credentials, associate degrees, and bachelor degrees.
Selection Criteria Used by the Selection Committee
Berks County Community Foundation
Berks County Community Foundation was founded in 1994 to help individuals, families, organizations and businesses achieve their charitable objectives. Since that time, the foundation has grown to manage hundreds of charitable funds. Each year, the funds distribute millions of dollars in scholarships and grants to support local students and nonprofit organizations and causes.
Public Education Foundation Fund for Instructional Innovation
Grants support innovative teaching programs in Berks County public schools.
Berks County Community Foundation
Berks County Community Foundation was founded in 1994 to help individuals, families, organizations and businesses achieve their charitable objectives. Since that time, the foundation has grown to manage hundreds of charitable funds. Each year, the funds distribute millions of dollars in scholarships and grants to support local students and nonprofit organizations and causes.
Diversity Alliance Endowment Fund
Grants support and strengthen projects or programs that address issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Berks County.
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.
Astronomical Society of Kansas City Astronomy Scholarship Fund
This fund was established by the Astronomical Society of Kansas City to provide academic scholarships to students who have expressed an interest in studying Astronomy, or a related field, and have been accepted into the Department of Physics at University of Missouri-Kansas City. Scholarship support must be used for tuition and/or class-related materials (i.e. textbooks, lab fees, equipment).
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.
Carol T. Berner Women in STEM Scholarship Fund
The purpose of this fund is to encourage women in Missouri to be active and succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Carol T. Berner M.D. was a believer in music, art, and equality. Since very young, she was consistently being dissuaded from her goals. By the time she was accepted to Medical school at Saint Louis University, she was one of the only females in her class. She was unceasing in her care for her patient’s, family, and friends. Her belief in equality extended to them all.
Students are able to reapply each year.
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.
Foley Equipment Scholarship Fund
This scholarship is established to support mechanically-inclined high school students seeking a technical college or post-secondary degree focused on a career in heavy equipment, diesel, and/or electric power generation.
Preference will be given to women and minorities. This scholarship is renewable for up to 2 years as long as the student remains eligible.
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.
Henry, Trina, Laurianna Wash Family Scholarship Fund
The purpose of this scholarship fund is to allow African American young men who have graduated from the High Asperations program to get scholarships for 2 or 4 year colleges and/or vocational/trade schools.
This scholarship is named after the foundation family of High Aspirations. The scholarship is named after them for their tireless work they have done in the Kansas City community through High Aspirations, Inc. since 2003.
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.
Hillcrest Transitional Housing Youth Scholarship Fund
The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide scholarships to current residents or graduates of Hillcrest’s Youth Program who demonstrate a desire and an aptitude to pursue higher education.
In evaluating applicants, the student’s response to an essay question in the scholarship application inviting them to express personally why they are pursuing their education will be a determining factor.
Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis and disbursed in equal payments to the educational institution in August and January.
Applications are accepted year round however formal announcements will be made in April and November of each year.
Students may reapply annually up to four years as long as the student is making progress towards earning a degree. Progress towards earning a degree includes: a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester or its equivalent, passing classes, being in good standing with the educational institution, not dropping out, and other criteria as determined by the Youth Scholarship Committee.
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.
Kansas Association of Independent Crop Consultants Scholarship Fund
The Kansas Association of Independent Crop Consultants created this scholarship fund to award to a qualified individual majoring in an agricultural field.
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.
Modern Enigma Society Memorial Scholarship Fund
The purpose of the Modern Enigma Society Scholarship is to provide scholarships to members of the Modern Enigma Society who intend to further their education at a post-secondary institution or trade/vocational school.
Past receipts may reapply for up to three (3) additional years.
Consideration will be given to the applicant’s academic and civic performance, community service record and essay quality. Scholarship recipients are also expected to give back to the community by completing at least eight (8) hours of community service per quarter for one-year after they receive the scholarship. Scholarship recipients are expected to report back to the Advisory Committee of the Fund at least annually about their community service.
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.
Morning Grange #227 Scholarship Fund
The Morning Grange #227 Scholarship Fund will benefit students who are planning to attend a college or vocational school who have attended high school in the Olathe, Gardner, and Spring Hill areas.
Morning Grange #227 members will be exempt from residency requirements. A Grange member is defined as a member of good standing or related to a member in good standing by no more than two generations – grandparent, parent or grandchild.
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.
Ruth Marie Park Scholarship Fund for Advancement in Healthcare
The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide scholarships to non-traditional students who are currently professionals in the healthcare field and pursing advancement or, a non-traditional student who are aspiring to attain credentials for entry into the professional healthcare field. For purposes of the scholarship, a non-traditional student is defined as a person who has been out of high school for at least two years prior to applying for the scholarship.
Scholarship Opportunities
The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation manages one of the state's largest scholarship programs, awarding more than $500,000 in scholarships to local students each year. If you’re interested in pursuing higher education, it's likely we have a scholarship that can help you achieve your dream.
Trent Area Scholarship
Organizers have defined the Trent community as the area bounded on the south by the Moody County line, on the north by SD Highway 34, on the east by the South Dakota state line, and on the west by the Colman Road, also known as 470th Avenue.
* Multiple scholarships are awarded
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.
St. Peter’s Troop 118 Scouting BSA Scholarship Fund
The St. Peter’s Troop 118 Scouting BSA Scholarship Fund provides an annual scholarship to Boy Scouts who are active in Troop 118 and plan to further their education at a local tuition-based high school in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
This is a one-time scholarship with no option for renewal.
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.
Susan Pepperdine Memorial Scholarship Fund
The purpose of this scholarship is to support students pursuing any type of agriculture degree in a qualifying 4 year institution.
Daviess County Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is a charitable resource devoted to our local community. We help people make meaningful gifts that improve life in Daviess County, Indiana today and for generations to come.
The Community Foundation can help you...
German American Bancorp Scholarship
Annual scholarship created by Peoples Bank, now German American Bancorp, to help Daviess County students pursue advanced education.
Award Amount
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.