Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Oregon

The Silver Family Foundation Grant supports transformative youth development programs aimed at underserved youth aged 5-18 in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Organizations eligible to apply must be 501(c)(3) non-profits and focus on long-term investments rather than one-time events. The foundation prioritizes mentoring, academic support, and programs that address both educational and emotional needs of youth, aiming to inspire them for future success in college and careers.

Alaska Airlines Corporate Giving supports 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations through in-kind donations and sponsorships. Focused on youth success, career readiness, care and belonging, environmental sustainability, and community resiliency, the program aims to strengthen communities served by Alaska Airlines. Organizations are encouraged to submit requests at least six weeks prior to events. However, support is generally granted on a one-time basis, and certain groups, such as those that discriminate or engage in capital projects, are ineligible.

The Big Bets Fellowship: Economic Opportunity in the United States is a transformative 4-month program designed to empower emerging leaders to tackle economic challenges head-on. With a focus on innovative solutions for job creation, affordable housing, and equitable access to resources, the fellowship equips participants with essential skills and a supportive network. The initiative aims to drive systemic change and promote sustainable economic prosperity, addressing inequalities while fostering resilient communities across the nation.

About

Being deeply connected to the community means more than providing access to excellent healthcare. It means understanding, and investing in, the health needs of our community.

Through our Community Investment Fund (CIF), Endeavor Health has awarded more than $38.5 million to 59 local partnerships dedicated to enhancing community health and wellbeing, advancing health equity and supporting local economic growth. Together, we’re committed to helping everyone in our communities be their best.

Award categories

Through the CIF, we will make meaningful and intentional investments through impact awards and capacity builder awards. These awards are intended to meaningfully advance the health of our community over time towards three bold aspirations through investments in five areas of focus.

We aspire to a future where:

• A person’s zip code does not determine how long they will live
• Hunger and homelessness in our communities are history
• The healthcare workforce is thriving and representative of the communities we serve

To help advance these aspirations, the CIF will invest in the following areas:

• Access to healthcare
• Behavioral health
• Food insecurity
• Housing insecurity
• Workforce development for careers in healthcare

Impact awards

• Designed for 5-year initiatives where organizations come together to drive measurable impact and longer-term change in the communities we serve by improving existing systems and innovation
• Emphasize strategic cross-sector and/or intra-sector partnerships between community-based organizations
• Uplift community members of greatest need
• Directly align with CIF areas of focus and meaningfully contribute to CIF goals
• Award amount: $1 million per year, up to 5 years

The CIF Capacity Builder Awards by Endeavor Health focus on enhancing community health through strategic investments. With over $38.5 million allocated to local partnerships, these awards aim to address critical areas like healthcare access, food insecurity, and workforce development. Designed for nonprofit organizations, the awards range from $100,000 to $500,000 annually for 1-2 years, fostering long-term community impact and advancing health equity in the service areas.

The Pinetop Assistance League (PAL) Grant provides crucial financial support to elderly blues musicians, ensuring their well-being during emergencies. This grant, part of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation's mission, offers assistance for medical expenses, home care, and essential living costs. Eligible applicants must be professional artists aged 50 or older with a household income below $35,000. By addressing these needs, PAL plays a vital role in preserving the legacy and care of blues musicians.

The C. Giles Hunt Charitable Trust Grant supports charities serving Douglas County, Oregon. Its mission is to honor Mr. Hunt's wish to assist local organizations, focusing on areas such as arts, education, health, and human services. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and primarily benefit Douglas County residents. Preference is given to those operating in the county or directly benefiting its residents, ensuring community-focused charitable efforts.

The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) empowers tribal communities across the U.S. by promoting renewable energy projects and workforce development. Launched by GRID Alternatives, TSAF provides critical funding for solar initiatives, enhancing energy sovereignty and resilience. Since its inception, TSAF has integrated community participation into its projects, ensuring that tribes can access sustainable energy solutions. By prioritizing education and equity, TSAF supports a transition to a clean energy economy, aiming for a sustainable future for generations to come.

The 2026 Carceral Systems Organizing Grant seeks to support organizations working to eradicate carceral systems, create alternative justice solutions, or pursue system reform by addressing systemic criminalization that disproportionately targets Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income/poor communities across our five-state region.

We define carceral systems organizing broadly to include all systems that criminalize people’s lives based on race, poverty, gender, immigration status and/or disability. Examples include but are not limited to: 

• Abolition, transformative justice, and alternatives to incarceration
• Ending racial profiling and police brutality
• 'Addressing racial inequities in drug laws
• Child welfare, foster care, child protective services
• Youth incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline
• Detention and deportation of immigrant communities
• Homeless encampment sweeps and criminalization of survival needs
• Re-entry organizing by and for folks who were recently incarcerated

The James M. Cox Foundation Grant offers support to nonprofit organizations focused on conservation, early childhood education, family empowerment, and health. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and located in areas where Cox Enterprises operates. Grant applications are accepted year-round, with deadlines before Trustee meetings. Preference is given to organizations with a history of local engagement. This foundation embodies the philanthropic spirit of its founder, James M. Cox, by giving back to the community.

Materials Management

DEQ is committed to advancing environmental protection and justice for all communities and ecosystems in Oregon, now and for future generations.

Reuse, Reduce, Reimagine, Materials Management Grants Program

Following a successful relaunch in 2024, Oregon DEQ's Materials Management program is now accepting applications for the 2026 Reduce, Reuse, Reimage Grant Program cycle. Up to $2 million are available for eligible applicants. The first step of the solicitation period is a simple pre-application. Following an eligibility screen, the most competitive projects will be invited to submit a main application. We are seeking applicants from all across Oregon state and strongly encourage projects that address inequities in BIPOC, rural, and underrepresented communities to apply.

To align with DEQ's 2050 Vision and Framework for Action, the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grant Program previously adopted a dedicated funding priority for each grant cycle. The 2026 grant cycle will have up to $2 million available to disburse across eligible projects.

The 2026 annual funding area is: Built for Well-Being: Reducing Exposure to Toxic Substances in Building Materials    

Many building materials — such as carpet, paint, furniture, insulation, and contract textiles —contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to people and to the environment. The 2026 grant cycle will fund projects that help reduce exposure to these toxic chemicals. A helpful framework for identifying chemicals of concern is the Six Classes approach (more info below). Projects can focus on other chemicals and methods of reducing exposure to toxics in building materials with compelling rationale.

The Conservation Connect Fellowship Program, offered by the National Forest Foundation, invites graduate students to engage in hands-on conservation projects. This fellowship provides practical experience, mentorship from conservation professionals, and training in collaborative leadership. Fellows will gain a deep understanding of forest management and expand their professional networks. With a focus on developing future conservation leaders, the program seeks students passionate about public lands and community engagement.

The AmeriCorps Oregon Planning Grants offer funding to assist organizations in developing new AmeriCorps programs that tackle community challenges. These cost-reimbursement grants provide essential resources for planning and capacity building. Successful applicants receive training and technical assistance from OregonServes, enhancing their ability to implement compliant programs. By completing the planning grant, organizations will be better positioned to apply for fully-funded AmeriCorps grants in the future. Applications are accepted year-round with a final deadline of December 29.

SC Johnson Grants aim to enhance community welfare through charitable contributions, focusing on health, sustainability, and opportunity. Since 1937, the company has committed five percent of its pretax profits to support registered charities and nonprofit organizations, especially in areas where it operates. The grant program prioritizes initiatives addressing healthcare access, environmental conservation, and educational equity, ensuring that efforts align with the values of community service and corporate responsibility.

The WE Communications Scholarship, established by Waggener Edstrom Worldwide in partnership with UNCF, aims to support female undergraduate students in STEM fields at UNCF Member Institutions. With a focus on academic excellence, applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and demonstrate financial need. This initiative reflects UNCF's commitment to fostering minority education and empowering future leaders, contributing to the overall rise in graduation rates among African American students.

The Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund, managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), aims to enhance big game habitats and migration routes on federal, private, and Tribal lands. With an anticipated funding of $3 million, projects will focus on improving habitats for species like elk and mule deer, fostering biodiversity and climate resilience. This initiative supports sustainable wildlife populations and prioritizes collaborations with key partners such as the U.S. Department of Interior.

The Formula Grants for Rural Areas program, managed by the Oregon Department of Transportation, enhances public transportation in rural communities with populations under 50,000. It funds operations, capital projects, and planning efforts, distributing funds every two years based on a formula that considers base amount, passenger trips, and service miles. Eligible recipients include local governments and non-profits dedicated to improving mobility management and transit services in these underserved areas.

The NHLBI Career Transition Award (K22) supports postdoctoral fellows and research trainees in the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research, facilitating their transition to independent research roles at extramural institutions. Key deadlines for applications include October 12, 2024, and February 12, 2025, among others, providing ample opportunity for qualified investigators to advance their careers.

The NAACP X Society Awards Scholarship

The NAACP x Society Awards Scholarship is one of many funding opportunities available to students through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Through the generosity of our donors, we advance efforts to ensure equity in educational opportunity that prepares students for success in school, work, and life.

Scholarship amount: $1,000 to $5,000

This is a non-renewable scholarship opportunity.

The Spark Award for Oregon Artists, launched by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, is a three-year pilot program offering direct support to 60 midcareer artists across various disciplines each year. This initiative invests in the creative development of artists, acknowledging their essential role in enriching Oregon's cultural landscape. The program particularly focuses on individual artists creating original work in media and literary arts, fostering growth during a pivotal phase in their careers.

The Anna May Family Foundation, established in 1999, aims to support organizations in southern Oregon that assist economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly focusing on children, women, elders, and minorities. The foundation prioritizes grants addressing urgent needs, such as abuse victims, at-risk children, and those requiring emergency services. However, it does not fund individuals, completed projects, or operational costs, ensuring that its contributions are directed towards impactful initiatives in the community.

The Outdoor School Grant provides immersive outdoor education experiences for Oregon’s 5th and 6th graders, promoting learning in the state's natural landscapes. It aims to empower youth through community-building and high-quality resources, ensuring equitable and culturally responsive programs. With a focus on fostering personal and environmental awareness, the grant supports programs that are a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 6 days, encouraging schools to maximize outdoor learning time.

The OR Restoration and Enhancement Grants, funded by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, allocate $2-3 million annually for fishery restoration projects. Established in 1989, the program has contributed over $50 million to improve Oregon's fisheries. Funding enhances recreational fishing, restores state-owned hatcheries, increases natural fish production, expands hatchery output, and improves public access to fishing waters, ensuring sustainable fishing opportunities for the community.

The Oregon Access & Habitat (A&H) Program, established in 1993, aims to enhance wildlife habitat and improve public access to private lands for hunting. Managed by a board comprising hunters, landowners, and public representatives, the program reviews project proposals and makes recommendations for funding. In 2009, it was reauthorized for an additional ten years, reflecting strong community support and an ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation and responsible hunting practices.

The US Department of Health & Human Services announces a competitive funding opportunity for the Head Start/Early Head Start programs across various states. This initiative aims to enhance services for low-income families and children, promoting their social and economic well-being. With approximately $818.3 million available, the program seeks to expand access to quality early childhood education, thereby strengthening community stability and prosperity. Interested applicants can seek further information through the OHS Operations Center.

The Scott Education Grants, established by the Klamath Basin Audubon Society, support environmental and wildlife education for K-6 students in Klamath, Lake, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties. Since 2004, these grants have helped educators implement projects focused on conservation, recycling, and hands-on science activities. The initiative encourages class-wide participation and aims to enhance awareness of natural resource issues while fostering a love for the environment among young learners.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers Family Literacy Grants to nonprofit organizations that support family literacy initiatives. Eligible applicants must provide services such as adult education, children's education, and parent-child engagement activities. Organizations must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store and have a valid IRS tax ID. This funding aims to enhance literacy skills for families, empowering individuals to achieve their educational goals.