Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits

The Excelsior Foundation Grant, offered by the Robison Excelsior Foundation, supports organizations focused on assisting at-risk youth in the Big Country area of Texas. This private foundation aims to provide hope and resources to those in need, ensuring that eligible 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for funding. Key requirements include a current IRS Form W9 and a commitment to working directly with at-risk youth to foster positive outcomes.

The Synod of the Mid-Atlantic's Visionary Fund supports innovative and inclusive programs addressing education, evangelism, and social justice. These grants, funded by generous donations from Presbyterians, aim to foster community growth and development. Contributions are vital for continuing this mission, with options available for individual, group, or congregational donations, as well as estate bequests and gifts of securities or real estate. Together, we can make a meaningful impact.

Upward Mobility Mass Action Mini-Grant Program

Upward Mobility is the opportunity to stabilize, thrive and build a better future over time. It means that hard work leads to real opportunity, and people have the freedom to make choices about their lives without constantly falling behind. Today, too many Kansans are working hard but are still unable to get ahead. While Kansas ranks 11th nationally on income inequality according to America’s Health Rankings – a strength for our state – persistent gaps in opportunity remain for many Kansans. These Kansans – often referred to as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) struggle to afford basic living expenses.

In Kansas:

• Nearly 40% of households fall below the ALICE Survival Budget threshold
• In 84 of 105 counties, the average job pays less than $0.60 for every $1 needed to meet basic costs of living
• 1 in 5 Kansans has debt in collections
• 1 in 5 Black Kansans live in poverty – nearly twice the rate of White Kansans

These are not isolated challenges. They reflect a systemic mismatch between wages, costs, and access to opportunity. Working families are not failing – the math simply does not work. Kansas has the ideas, people and commitment to move this work forward, and Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) is investing in solutions that accelerate progress on Upward Mobility across Kansas.

KHF will award grants of up to $10,000 each (including cost of travel expenses) to eligible Kansas nonprofit organizations for community-driven solutions that help Kansans facing financial hardship get ahead.

This opportunity is designed to put the Blueprint for Upward Mobility into action. The Blueprint was shaped by ideas, experiences and feedback from approximately 1,000 Kansans and identifies 11 strategies for addressing significant barriers preventing Kansans from achieving greater economic stability. Funded projects must advance at least one of the 11 strategies identified in the Blueprint for Upward Mobility.

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries offers financial support to underfunded schools to enhance their library collections, promoting literacy and a passion for reading. Eligible applicants include Title 1 public schools and private institutions with at least 50% of students qualifying for financial aid. The grant funds can be utilized exclusively for books, periodicals, and subscriptions, ensuring that all students have access to diverse reading materials. Applications require a designated librarian and completion of necessary documentation.

About Us

The Washington Military Department’s mission is to provide trained professionals and operational forces who are ready to defend our state and nation, respond to emergencies and disasters and enhance resiliency in communities through structured alternative education opportunities for at-risk youth.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program 

NSGP provides funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.

Congress created the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in 1974 to benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevent and eliminate conditions of slum or blight, and address other urgent community development needs. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has administered the State CDBG program since 1983, when Housing and Urban Development (HUD) moved the administration of the funds to the states. In Arkansas, the CDBG program is also known as the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program (ACEDP).

Each year, the AEDC holds public meetings and hearings across the state to obtain citizen input on community needs. Based on that input, the agency prepares a plan to prioritize and distribute the grant funds that are part of its federal CDBG allocation. A draft of the plan is published and made available for public comment.

The Artist Fellowship Grant offers $3,000 to Connecticut artists across all disciplines to support new work and enhance their careers. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old, full-time residents of Connecticut, and able to provide a Social Security Number. Recent recipients must wait five years before reapplying. This program aims to recognize and nurture artistic talent, ensuring that funds are directed towards artists with a professional body of work.

The Dover Foundation, established in 1944 by Jack and Charles Dover, focuses on enhancing community lives through support for faith-based, educational, and human service organizations. This private family foundation prioritizes grants to nonprofits in Cleveland County, having awarded millions to local causes since its inception. With values centered on education, community service, and integrity, the foundation is committed to making a meaningful impact and fostering collaboration among residents.

The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Grant focuses on funding innovative projects that enhance the quality of life, primarily in Arizona. With an emphasis on health, education, and welfare, the foundation aims to support not-for-profit organizations that address critical community needs. Grants are awarded to initiatives that demonstrate potential for lasting impact and community benefit, encouraging sustainable support beyond the foundation's involvement.

About Us

We come to work every day because we believe in the power of possibility.

We believe the Sioux Falls area is a great place to live, work, and play. We also believe we have a responsibility to help preserve and sustain what’s good here, and to champion ideas and movements that have the potential to make our community even better.

We believe that meaningful and important social impact comes from thinking outside the box and having the courage to dream big dreams.

We believe strongly in the power and purpose of philanthropy. To us, philanthropy is more than just gifts and grants — philanthropy is thinking about how we can leverage financial, intellectual and human capital to help create a stronger, more vibrant community.

Finally, we believe philanthropy challenges us all to consider two important questions about our future – questions that drive and inspire our work every day: If we don't join together to build a better tomorrow, who will? And if not now, when?

Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation

Founded in 1997, the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation was created to improve the quality of life right here in our community. Gifts to the Foundation grow over time thanks to the benefit of a pooled investment that generates long-term asset growth.

Through the power of endowment, more than $100,000 has been granted to nonprofits and causes throughout the Canton area since our founding, touching the lives of people right here at home.

Pennsylvania Environmental Council's Mini Grant Programs: Capacity Building for Trail Organizations

PEC was awarded funding from DCNR to administer the Capacity Building for Trail Organizations Mini Grant Program. 

This grant program is designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of local partners. Through this program, organizations will have access to resources that help build organizational capacity, improve trail management practices, enhance user experiences, and foster greater community engagement. 

Applicants can request $2,000 to $10,000. Projects require a 20% match of the total project cost, up to the maximum grant award of $10,000. Total project cost cannot exceed $50,000. 

About DCA 

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is a State agency created to provide administrative guidance, financial support and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey.

DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including local government management and finance, affordable housing production, fire safety, building safety, community planning and development, historic preservation, disaster recovery and mitigation, and information privacy.

Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Planning Program

Purpose of Grant: to assist qualified non-profit organizations to prepare a neighborhood plan that meets the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program requirements.

Population to be Targeted: Residents of an identified neighborhood within a Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit eligible municipality.

The Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program, administered by the USDA's NIFA, aims to enhance the capabilities of eligible institutions in agriculture and related fields. By providing financial support, the program encourages institutions to compete for federal funding, disseminate vital information, and foster community engagement in educational and research initiatives. This initiative is crucial for developing infrastructure, promoting faculty development, and establishing graduate assistantships to address national and regional agricultural priorities.

History

When Benjamin Franklin left 1,000 pounds in his will to the city of Boston for the “encouragement of worthy apprentice boys,” he did not know that as the needs and interests of our nation continued to change, the intent of his gift would no longer be applicable. It took more than 200 years for the courts to intervene and change his will so that his gift could again be relevant to our society (in fact, the Lancaster County Community Foundation is proud to manage a portion of this original trust).

In 1914, a new “community foundation” movement emerged that would change the way donor interests are met while adapting to changing circumstances. The Cleveland Foundation, a pioneer community trust, worked to ensure that charitable bequests live on in perpetuity, especially when original charitable purposes are no longer applicable. This innovative concept has now spread throughout the country in over 700 Community Foundations.

Lancaster County Weaver Awards

It might feel like everything is coming apart at the seams. That we’re disconnected from each other and can’t make a difference. That tuning out is the only way to get through the day.

But look around, and you’ll find there are more people weaving the social fabric of our community together than people trying to unravel it. In fact, you won’t have to look far to spot weavers. 

Instead of tuning out, weavers turn up. 

What’s a Weaver Award?

The Weaver Awards celebrate and support the people doing good in our community. 

20 local individuals or small organizations throughout Lancaster County will be chosen to receive awards of $2,500 to grow their local impact and spark new connections. 

The UACF Project Grants, previously known as Mini-Grants, offer competitive funding for arts, culture, science, and history projects in Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. These grants aim to enhance community access and participation, foster positive change, and amplify diverse voices through various public events, performances, and educational programs. Professional artists are required to be involved, ensuring high-quality execution and community impact.

The Nike Community Impact Fund focuses on enhancing active, inclusive communities in the Mid-South, specifically in Shelby County (TN) and DeSoto and Marshall Counties (MS). By awarding $100,000 in grants annually, the fund supports local nonprofits and schools that create opportunities for children to engage in play, sport, and physical activity. This community-driven approach ensures that the voices of local Nike employees are integrated into the decision-making process, driving lasting change.

This funding opportunity from the NIH encourages groundbreaking research to enhance, develop, and preserve animal models and related biological materials for studies impacting human health. The program seeks innovative methodologies that can improve the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting animal use in biomedical research. Projects must demonstrate relevance across multiple NIH Institutes to align with broader research goals, emphasizing diverse body systems and disease categories.

About Us

The Wenner-Gren Foundation is a private operating foundation dedicated to providing leadership in support of anthropology and anthropologists worldwide.

Our Mission

The Wenner-Gren Foundation is committed to playing a leadership role in anthropology. We help anthropologists advance anthropological knowledge, build sustainable careers, and amplify the impact of anthropology within the wider world. We dedicate ourselves to broadening the conversation in anthropology to reflect the full diversity of the field.

Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing

General

Anthropologists have important stories to tell about human lives, histories, societies, and futures. Yet many scholars lack the time and resources needed to translate their research into books that reach readers beyond the academy. The Hunt Fellowship in Public Writing supports anthropologists who are writing serious nonfiction books for general audiences.

This program is designed to encourage public writing that brings anthropological knowledge into wider conversations. The Foundation welcomes book projects that are intellectually ambitious, grounded in substantial research, and written in ways that invite nonacademic readers to explore anthropological questions, evidence, and insight. We are interested in projects that demonstrate how anthropological writing can shape public understanding, contribute to urgent debates, and expand the audiences for anthropological work.

The fellowship supports scholars pursuing a book-length project for broad audiences. Through this award, the Foundation seeks to raise the status of public writing within anthropology, especially for earlier career scholars, and promote its recognition in hiring, tenure, promotion, and other forms of professional evaluation.

There is no preference for any methodology, research location, or subfield.

The Nike Community Impact Fund in Belgium supports local sports clubs and associations that work with vulnerable youth in Antwerp, Limburg, and Flemish Brabant. This employee-led initiative encourages community engagement and aims to foster inclusive, active environments for children. By providing financial assistance, it empowers organizations to drive positive change and make sports accessible to all, enhancing the social fabric of local neighborhoods.

The Matthew Isakowitz Commercial Space Scholarship, presented by the Commercial Space Federation and the Matthew Isakowitz Foundation Programs, is an annual scholarship aimed at college students passionate about the commercial space industry. Recipients are awarded $1,000 and gain internship consideration and networking opportunities with industry leaders. The program emphasizes the importance of space policy knowledge, encouraging students to follow Matthew Isakowitz's legacy of kindness and generosity while pursuing careers in this evolving field.

The Nike Community Impact Fund in the Netherlands aims to empower local organizations in Amsterdam, Amersfoort, Hilversum, and Utrecht by providing grants to initiatives that promote physical activity among underserved communities. The fund focuses on enhancing social inclusion and health benefits through sports, particularly for marginalized groups, including girls and children with disabilities. By fostering active and inclusive environments, Nike seeks to create lasting change and improve opportunities for play and sport for all kids.

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.

Frederic S. Lee Heterodox Economics Scholarship Fund

The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide scholarships for tuition and fees, up to three classes per semester, for doctoral heterodox economics students.

The fund will not provide scholarship aid for dissertation credit hours or for credit hours that are not directly relevant for the completion of the doctoral program’s course work.

Scholarships will be awarded prior to the fall and spring semesters on an annual basis.

Scholarships are not automatically renewed; however, previous recipients may reapply.

ArtLife Foundation Fund

The Art Life Foundation Fund supports programs and initiatives that advance artistic excellence and nurture creativity within Ventura County.

Through this competitive grant opportunity, the fund will support arts organizations and educational institutions whose work:

• Advances artistic excellence
• Supports arts educators or programs that foster the “Creative Mind”
• Promotes the scholarly study of Joe Cardella’s life, artwork, creative philosophy, or Art Life Limited Editions

This grant round focuses on organizational programs, projects, and initiatives. Student scholarship awards supported through the fund are administered separately and are not part of this application.

Funding Overview

For this funding cycle, approximately $55,000 in total grant funding will be awarded.

Organizations may request funding in an amount that reflects the needs of their proposed project or program. To assist the review process, applicants are asked to indicate:

• The minimum amount needed to successfully implement the project
• The preferred funding amount

Organizations may request up to the full $55,000 available. Final award sizes may vary and may range from smaller grants to larger awards depending on the strength, scope, and impact of the proposals received.

The Huston Foundation Grants support both Protestant Evangelical Christian and secular needs, emphasizing humanitarian efforts since 1957. Applicants must demonstrate evangelism and provide a doctrinal statement of faith for Christian grants, while secular projects must show unique community needs and measurable goals. All applicants must also possess 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. This dual-focus ensures diverse community support, fostering personal development and innovative solutions to pressing issues.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, aims to enhance urban outdoor recreation in communities with populations over 30,000. By providing grants for projects like park renovations and new recreational facilities, it addresses the need for accessible green spaces in disadvantaged areas. Priority is given to projects in economically challenged regions, ensuring sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities for all residents.

The Friends of Loutit Library Fund Scholarship, established by the Friends of Loutit Library in 2005, aims to assist students pursuing an advanced degree in Library Science. This scholarship is open to individuals who either reside or have resided in the Tri-Cities area of Northern Ottawa County. Financial need is not a consideration, ensuring that all eligible students can apply for this essential educational support from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.