Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Oregon

The Fiscal Year 2027 Regional Nutrition Hubs initiative by the US HHS aims to enhance nutrition services across regional health centers. By providing targeted technical assistance, the program seeks to improve health outcomes through effective nutritional interventions. This initiative supports HRSA's mission to expand access to high-quality healthcare services, ultimately benefiting communities by addressing dietary needs and managing health conditions. With a focus on collaboration, the program is set to strengthen the health infrastructure at the local level.

About Us

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

USS Indianapolis/Gwinn "Angel" Scholarship

Available to descendants of family members who are directly linked to USS Indianapolis, such as a final crew member (Survivor or Lost at Sea), rescue crew, or honorary survivor. Other unique affiliations with the ship's legacy will be considered by the board of review.  

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we support the people and places of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians.

Together with our partners, we spark positive change for a variety of local causes, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services, across our region.

Community Partner Scholarships

In addition to Community Foundation scholarships, college-going and college-bound students may be eligible for scholarship opportunities available across the region from our community partners.

Kurt Gamelin STEM Scholarship

Community Partner: Cone Drive, Traverse City, Michigan

The Kurt Gamelin STEM Scholarship celebrates the vision and dedication of our recently retired President, Kurt Gamelin. Throughout his career, Kurt championed STEM education and believed strongly in investing in the next generation of problem solvers and innovators. At Cone Drive, STEM is at the core of what we do every day, driving the engineering, innovation, and precision manufacturing that have defined our company for over 100 years.

Each year, one student will receive a $5,000 scholarship to pursue a college degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, continuing Kurt’s commitment to opportunity, growth, and excellence.

The National Glaucoma Research Program, funded by BrightFocus Foundation, aims to support groundbreaking research in glaucoma. Established in 1978, the program has awarded over $35 million to 32 projects focusing on understanding and treating this disease. The Standard Awards provide $150,000 over two years for researchers with preliminary data to further their work. Eligible institutions must be non-profit and demonstrate their tax-exempt status to receive funding, fostering innovative solutions for glaucoma treatment.

The Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Grants program aims to improve the health of underserved communities by supporting initiatives focused on education, screening, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The Foundation seeks to enhance care access for patients, promote awareness of heart health, and foster community engagement through volunteer opportunities. By 2025, the goal is to positively impact the lives of 2.5 million patients affected by structural heart issues. The program emphasizes collaboration and innovation in healthcare.

The Alexandra Armstrong Innovation Grant, offered by the Foundation for Financial Planning, recognizes nonprofits that demonstrate exceptional creativity and impact in pro bono financial planning services. Established in honor of Alexandra Armstrong, a dedicated advocate for community service and financial planning, this grant aims to expand access to vital financial advice for underserved populations. Eligible organizations can apply annually to receive funding that supports innovative programs designed to enhance financial well-being.

The Lithia 4Kids Program, initiated by Lithia Motors, aims to enhance youth development through strategic partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Since 1946, Lithia has prioritized community enrichment, focusing on supporting 501(c)3 certified nonprofits dedicated to improving the lives of children and families. With over 200 locations nationwide, Lithia empowers its employees to engage meaningfully in local initiatives, fostering confident youth ready to face future challenges. Volunteering is a core value, creating a collaborative environment for positive impact.

The Scheidel Foundation offers Integrative Cancer Care Grants aimed at enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with cancer. This initiative supports organizations that promote awareness and adoption of integrative practices, targeting both the medical community and patients. The Foundation seeks proposals that foster long-term solutions and innovative programs, focusing on evidence-based information and practices. Grants are available through a selective process, emphasizing transformative impacts in the field.

The WASPC Traffic Safety Grants provide funding for law enforcement agencies to enhance traffic safety initiatives. Agencies can apply for specific traffic safety supplies, including lidar and radars, with maximum award amounts clearly outlined. Eligible applicants must demonstrate participation in statewide traffic initiatives, while ineligible requests include those for replacing existing equipment. This funding aims to prioritize traffic safety enforcement and improve community safety through targeted efforts.

Brown County Community Foundation

BCCF operates as a 501 (c)(3) corporation. It professionally manages and distributes income from charitable bequests consistent with the donor’s wishes and interests. In other words, BCCF manages charitable funds, making grants to local, nonprofit organizations based on advice from donors. Donors can specify a specific organization or a general area of concern within the community to which their gift be directed.

Scholarships

The Foundation manages several academic scholarship funds, many established expressly for Brown County High School graduates. 

Additionally, through the Foundation’s affiliation with The Lilly Endowment Inc., over forty Brown County residents have received four-year full-tuition scholarships through the Endowment’s Community Scholars Program.

BCCF Scholarships are available to current high school graduates, students currently enrolled in college, past graduates planning to enroll, as well as G.E.D. graduates.

Lions Club of Brown County Scholarship

Purpose: To provide one-year tuition assistance to five Brown County residents pursuing either a four-year college academic degree or a multi-year vocational degree at a trade school or community college.

Scholarship winners are chosen by the Brown County Lions Club using the application form. The selection committee considers service to the community/school, academic or vocational achievement, character, personal circumstances and financial need. Applicants may state their personal circumstances and financial needs in the section titled Statement of Special Circumstances.

Brown County Community Foundation

BCCF operates as a 501 (c)(3) corporation. It professionally manages and distributes income from charitable bequests consistent with the donor’s wishes and interests. In other words, BCCF manages charitable funds, making grants to local, nonprofit organizations based on advice from donors. Donors can specify a specific organization or a general area of concern within the community to which their gift be directed.

Scholarships

The Foundation manages several academic scholarship funds, many established expressly for Brown County High School graduates. 

Additionally, through the Foundation’s affiliation with The Lilly Endowment Inc., over forty Brown County residents have received four-year full-tuition scholarships through the Endowment’s Community Scholars Program.

BCCF Scholarships are available to current high school graduates, students currently enrolled in college, past graduates planning to enroll, as well as G.E.D. graduates.

Norman Family Scholarship

Purpose

To provide support for educational scholarships for students who are accepted into and attend accredited two- or four-year public or private institutions of higher learning, including vocational training programs which prepare students for gainful employment.

Brown County Community Foundation

BCCF operates as a 501 (c)(3) corporation. It professionally manages and distributes income from charitable bequests consistent with the donor’s wishes and interests. In other words, BCCF manages charitable funds, making grants to local, nonprofit organizations based on advice from donors. Donors can specify a specific organization or a general area of concern within the community to which their gift be directed.

Scholarships

The Foundation manages several academic scholarship funds, many established expressly for Brown County High School graduates. 

Additionally, through the Foundation’s affiliation with The Lilly Endowment Inc., over forty Brown County residents have received four-year full-tuition scholarships through the Endowment’s Community Scholars Program.

BCCF Scholarships are available to current high school graduates, students currently enrolled in college, past graduates planning to enroll, as well as G.E.D. graduates.

Psi Iota Xi Award

Purpose

To provide education awards to graduating seniors of public or private schools in Brown County pursuing either a four year college degree or a multi-year vocational degree at a trade school or community college.

Awards winners are chosen by Psi Iota Xi using the application process.

About Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County.

Individuals, families, businesses and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help our community meet its needs and challenges. The Foundation invests and administers these funds.

Altrusa Club of Marion Scholarship II

Altrusa Club of Marion Scholarship Fund II was created in memory of Ferol Mae Burley. It supports female students from Marion County pursuing a degree in business management.

About Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County.

Individuals, families, businesses and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help our community meet its needs and challenges. The Foundation invests and administers these funds.

American Legion Post 162 Scholarship

Created in 2022 by the membership of Marion’s American Legion Post 162, this fund will support college scholarships for Marion County students who have been local residents for at least two years. Recipients of Post 162’s scholarships will be persons on active duty with any service of the U.S. military, honorably discharged veterans of any U.S. military branch, current or honorably discharged members of the Reserve or National Guard, or relatives (spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, first cousin, niece, or nephew) of a person who meets one of these criteria.

About Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County.

Individuals, families, businesses and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help our community meet its needs and challenges. The Foundation invests and administers these funds.

Marion Academy of Medicine Scholarship

The Marion Academy of Medicine Scholarship was created by physicians of the local medical community in 2008. While the Academy dissolved in 2014, it had existed for decades as an educational organization comprised of physicians in Marion County. Through this fund, its support of future medical students will continue in perpetuity.

Assets from this former organization were donated to create this scholarship at Marion Community Foundation and support the education of local students pursuing degrees and careers in osteopathic medicine. Recipients will be graduates of any high school in Marion County and maintain a college GPA of 3.0 or greater.

Kids’ Chance of Nevada

Kids’ Chance of Nevada, in collaboration with Kids’ Chance of America, was established for the purpose of creating, assisting, and supporting programs that provide educational opportunities and scholarships for the children of injured workers in Nevada who have been seriously injured or who have suffered from a fatality as a result of an on-the-job incident.

Kids' Chance of Nevada Scholarship

Kids’ Chance of Nevada scholarships are for children of workers who have been killed, seriously injured, or experienced a debilitating illness in a work-related incident. Scholarships are awarded once a year and students may apply every year for which they are eligible. Current annual scholarships are determined based on the student’s financial need.

Students between the ages of 16-25 whose parent’s on-the-job death or injury resulted in a substantial decline in family income are eligible to apply. The applicant must meet adequate academic standards set by the selection committee. Scholarships may be used to pay for technical school or undergraduate college tuition, books, housing, meals or transportation.

The CDC's grant aims to enhance global public health emergency responses by engaging partners to improve rapid detection and intervention strategies. It seeks to build sustainable programs that strengthen resilience in communities affected by humanitarian crises. With periodic openings for applications, this initiative ensures a diverse roster of partners ready to tackle emerging public health threats effectively. The program underscores the importance of federal support in managing complex health emergencies worldwide.

Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network

The RDCRN was established by Congress under the Rare Diseases Act in 2002. The network is an initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through is Division of Rare Diseases Research Innovation (formerly the Office of Rare Diseases Research). It is funded by collaborating NIH institutes, centers, and offices.

Now in its fifth funding cycle, RDCRN supports 20 rare disease research groups (consortia) that partner with 127 affiliated patient advocacy groups. In total, 180 diseases are currently being studied at 273 active clinical sites, both in the United States and internationally.

Pilot Grant in Pediatric Fungal Disease

Goal

Invites applications for one-year pilot projects that establish feasibility, refine the analytic design, or generate preliminary data to support future studies addressing critical knowledge gaps or improving patient-centered outcomes for pediatric invasive fungal diseases.

Objectives

• Establish feasibility of proposed pediatric IFD studies
• Refine study design or analytic approaches
• Generate preliminary data to strengthen future large-scale research
• Expand and support a diverse investigator community in pediatric IFD research
• Encourage multi-site collaboration and incorporation of patient/caregiver perspectives

Award Description

Awards will provide up to $30,000 (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) for a one-year period. Applicants are encouraged to pursue co-sponsorship with institutional partners, research networks, industry collaborators, or other stakeholders to expand available resources. To receive the award, investigators must submit their full study protocol for approval by the RDCRN. Award recipients will be offered a project management team that meets quarterly to help ensure that progress is consistent with timelines and benchmarks. Funded investigators will also be required to submit quarterly progress reports and an end-of-project report to be reviewed by the Pilot Project Committee.

The Florence Emma Eichler Scholarship, offered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports students pursuing any field of study in the USA. Applicants must be full-time students maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA, having graduated from high schools in Bexar or Llano County. This renewable scholarship provides funding for tuition, room and board, and transportation fees, aiding in the educational journey of deserving students for up to three years.

The Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation Grant supports educational, artistic, and outreach initiatives. Applications are accepted year-round, with a focus on projects that yield specific outcomes rather than general operating expenses. While historically centered in Indiana and Florida, the foundation welcomes proposals from across the country. Eligible organizations must hold a 501(c)(3) designation. This grant is an excellent opportunity for nonprofits aiming to make a tangible impact in their communities.

The Francisca H. Eschauzier Scholarship, offered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports current high school seniors from Bexar County pursuing higher education. This scholarship covers tuition, fees, and books for students enrolled in associate or bachelor's degree programs. It aims to assist those who lack financial resources to attend college, ensuring that deserving students can further their education and enhance their future opportunities.

The Franque and Phillip Curtis Scholarship, provided by the San Antonio Area Foundation, offers financial assistance to graduating high school seniors from Bexar or Kendall County who demonstrate a need for aid to pursue higher education. This renewable scholarship supports full-time students in various fields of study at accredited institutions within the USA. Established to enhance community impact, it has been empowering students since 1964, ensuring they can achieve their educational goals and improve their quality of life.

The Youth Leadership Fund, established by Sally and Rick Botzler, aims to foster youth leadership skills in underserved communities by supporting K-12 initiatives focused on environment, sustainability, and community responsibility. Grants of up to $1,500 are available for organizations that demonstrate measurable outcomes impacting youth and the local environment. The fund prioritizes projects reflective of diverse community needs and encourages collaboration with other partners.

The Friends of Carver Scholarship - Barrett Scholarship, provided by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports current high school seniors from IDEA San Antonio schools or Carver Academy with a minimum 2.5 GPA. This scholarship is renewable for up to three years for students pursuing full-time education in any accredited U.S. institution. Preference is given to Black/African American young women, promoting educational equity and community development in San Antonio.

About Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County.

Individuals, families, businesses and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help our community meet its needs and challenges. The Foundation invests and administers these funds.

John & Jackie Watkins Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes the long history of Marion County as an agricultural area and the importance of farming in our community. John and Jackie Watkins both grew up in Delaware County and attended Radnor schools. They knew the value of education and its lifelong benefits.

Following Jackie’s passing in 1998, the family established the John & Jackie Watkins Scholarship Fund in her memory to assist the youth of Marion County to attend college—specifically to study agriculture. The Watkins Fund makes awards to graduating seniors from any high school in Marion County who are pursuing an education in agriculture, with special consideration given to those who have participated in FFA.

The Award for Graduate Study in American History, offered by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois (NSCDA-IL), provides $3,000 annually to a graduate student. This award supports research that enhances understanding of America's development from colonial times to the present, with a preference for those intending to teach. NSCDA-IL fosters appreciation for our national heritage through educational initiatives and historic preservation.

About Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County.

Individuals, families, businesses and organizations create permanent charitable funds that help our community meet its needs and challenges. The Foundation invests and administers these funds.

Whirlpool Corporation One Power STEM Scholarship

Whirlpool Corporation, in conjunction with One Energy LLC, created a scholarship fund at Marion Community Foundation in 2017 to support education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). For each wind turbine installed as part of a Wind for Industry® project, Whirlpool/One Energy scholarship partners are giving back to the community with scholarships. These scholarships will impact Marion County high school seniors and graduates pursuing studies in STEM fields.

Annually, this scholarship fund awards one $5,000 scholarship to a student attending any eligible educational institution. An additional $10,000 in scholarships is available to students attending The Ohio State University at Marion, Marion Technical College, or other eligible educational institutions.