Best Osceola County Grants for Nonprofits in Iowa

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Inc.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center litigates, educates, advocates, and provides grants to nonprofits to eradicate social injustices. 

We pursue litigation through our own efforts as well as funding others in the following fifteen issue areas: Access to Benefits, Children’s Rights, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Due Process, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Native American Rights, Prisoners’ Rights, Refugee and Immigration Rights, Voting Rights, and Veterans’ Rights.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Grant

We make grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across fifteen issue areas. The Center funds litigation matters that are consistent with our namesake Barbara McDowell’s past legal efforts and her beliefs regarding social justice.

Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded. 

Disabled Veterans National Foundation

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) was established in 2007 to support veterans facing challenges that traditional systems could not fully address. From its earliest days, DVNF has been focused on closing critical gaps in care and providing resources that help veterans rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.

Guided by this commitment, DVNF developed its Health & Comfort programs, offering emergency financial assistance, housing transition support, food assistance, comfort kits, and wellness initiatives. These programs are designed to meet veterans where they are and to provide practical solutions that restore hope and stability. Today, DVNF continues to grow as a trusted national nonprofit. Every day, our team works with a clear purpose: to change lives for the men and women who have served our country.

Homeless To Housing Program - Household Comfort Support

DVNF is dedicated to assisting disabled and at-risk veterans in their transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Recognizing that securing a home is a significant milestone, DVNF understands that true stability is achieved when a house becomes a home, furnished with essential items that provide comfort and functionality. We help cover essential costs related to securing and creating comfortable housing for at-risk veterans.

The H2H Program offers comprehensive support to veterans by providing: Household Comfort Support of up to $2,000 worth of essential household items to ensure veterans have a stable, safe, and comfortable living environment.

For Financial Assistance: Payments are processed through two payment cycles each month, around the 15th and 30th. For Furniture Assistance: Once the List of Items form is completed, DVNF staff will purchase the requested items, which should arrive within 7-10 business days.

MIND (Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery) Prize

The Pershing Square Foundation’s (PSF) brain initiative funds cutting-edge research that revolutionizes our ability to predict, prevent, and treat neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Advancing our fundamental understanding of the brain and cognition to ultimately combat neurodegeneration and related diseases is a goal of increasing urgency. Breakthroughs in basic scientific and translational research will yield critical tools for and knowledge of NDDs, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, which affect millions of people worldwide.

The MIND (Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery) Prize supports and empowers early-to-mid-career investigators to rethink conventional paradigms around NDDs. Modeled after the Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research, the MIND Prize catalyzes interdisciplinary approaches and facilitate collaborations across academic departments and institutions. It fuels the groundbreaking research that will accelerate our understanding of NDDs at every level.

Projects may range from the invention of novel tools, techniques, and technologies for mapping and analyzing the brain to bold approaches that demonstrate extraordinary therapeutic potential. Research domains may include—but are not limited to—neurobiology, brain imaging and mapping, machine learning, drug delivery, and synthetic biology. Applicants are encouraged to propose bold, hypothesis-driven, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential for transformative impact. Tool and technology development are permitted when they support the testing of a clearly defined biological hypothesis. Screening may be part of the proposed work, but should not be the sole focus. Clinical components are permitted, but proposals should not center on clinical trials or medical device testing in humans.

MIND Prize winners each receive $250,000/year for three years, and they become part of a unique network of researchers associated with PSF. Generally, at least six prizes will be awarded annually. Benefits include:

• Facilitated partnerships with like-minded researchers within and across institutions
• Networking programs such as collaborations and discussions with industry mentors, introductions to philanthropic and for-profit investors in the business community, special industry networking and entrepreneurship events, and more
• An annual retreat
• Opportunities to present at conferences and events (hosted by PSF and other organizations)

Pershing Square Lotus Award for Ovarian Cancer Research

The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) has worked across sectors to catalyze innovative approaches to the most difficult problems. Talented individuals have always been at the center of our approach. We aim to support leaders who transform systems, embrace new paradigms, and have an innate drive to make an impact.

PSF has funded pioneering cancer researchers through the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance for over a decade and supported women’s health initiatives in New York City. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), PSF aims to combine these two priority areas of women’s health and cancer to shine a light on one of the most understudied and underfunded cancers—ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, with 80% of women diagnosed at an advanced stage. Only 27% of women diagnosed during an advanced stage survive for five years. Ovarian cancer remains a disease with a poor prognosis due to limited early detection and treatment options.

PSF supports research efforts by 

• deploying capital quickly, 
• funding high-risk, high-reward ideas, 
• bringing new perspectives into a field, 
• encouraging collaboration, and 
• leveraging our vast network. We challenge our scientific partners to think creatively and across silos, to spur innovation to fight ovarian cancer.

Through the Pershing Square Lotus Award for Ovarian Cancer Research, PSF is looking for investigators who are either already working on a promising project in ovarian cancer or in another type of cancer that could have an impact on ovarian cancer. Grantees each receive $250,000 a year for three years, totaling $750,000.

Researchers who are not studying ovarian cancer are encouraged to apply and required to find a collaborator with experience in ovarian cancer research.

This award aims to 

• inspire investigators with unique expertise to apply their knowledge to ovarian cancer and 
• empower ovarian cancer researchers to pursue their boldest, most innovative ideas. Facing a disease where too few have survived to-date, PSF ultimately aims to create a culture around ovarian cancer that offers women hope, akin to the breast cancer community. PSF is passionate about changing outcomes for tens of thousands of women a year and is hopeful that future scientific discoveries will allow for more survivors who can share their stories for years to come.

Disabled Veterans National Foundation

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) was established in 2007 to support veterans facing challenges that traditional systems could not fully address. From its earliest days, DVNF has been focused on closing critical gaps in care and providing resources that help veterans rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.

Guided by this commitment, DVNF developed its Health & Comfort programs, offering emergency financial assistance, housing transition support, food assistance, comfort kits, and wellness initiatives. These programs are designed to meet veterans where they are and to provide practical solutions that restore hope and stability. Today, DVNF continues to grow as a trusted national nonprofit. Every day, our team works with a clear purpose: to change lives for the men and women who have served our country.

Veterans Food Assistance Program

It is our goal to ensure that no veteran goes hungry by providing essential food assistance and household support, fostering stability and well-being in the lives of our veterans and their families.

The Veterans Food Assistance Program (VFAP) is designed to provide a one-time grant of essential food and household support to veterans and their families, ensuring no veteran goes hungry. With the rising cost of living, especially food prices due to inflation, this program offers a much-needed lifeline to those who have served our country. Once approved, the DVNF program team will handle the shopping for you.

The Veterans Food Assistance Program provides a one-time grant per household to support different family sizes, given the rising cost of food:

• Married Veterans Grant Allowance
  • Married - No Children up to $250
  • Married - 1 Child up to $300
  • Married - 2 Children up to $450
  • Married - 3+ Children up to $500
• Single Veterans Grant Allowance
  • Single - No Children up to $200
  • Single - 1 Child up to $300
  • Single - 2 Children up to $350
  • Single - 3+ Children up to $450

About Boeing

A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

One of the largest employee-managed funds of its kind in the world, the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company has empowered employees to make a greater impact by pooling their tax-deductible donations for more than 60 years. Employee-led grantmaking committees at 20 Boeing sites provide combined employee donations to nonprofits in their communities through ECF grants.

Charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company.

Puget Sound Chapter

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Puget Sound is a pooled fund consisting of recurring payroll contributions from generous Boeing employees. It funds local nonprofits that help thousands of families and individuals in the Puget Sound region where Boeing employees live and work.

ECF focus areas

ECF makes grants to 501(c)(3) Health & Human Service nonprofits such as food banks, job-training programs, shelters, transitional housing, mental health services, and low-income medical clinics. ECF seeks the direct client benefit of each grant to ensure that our employees’ contributions directly help those in need.

ECF funding criteria

ECF has two distinct grant categories – Supporting Grants and Capital Campaign Grants.

ECF of Boeing Company: Puget Sound Chapter Supporting Grants

Consideration is given to nonprofits/agencies that are performing well and are seeking to upgrade, replace or modify elements of their infrastructure.

• Supporting grants cannot exceed $50,000. The requested amount cannot be more than 10% of an agency’s gross annual revenue.
• Supporting grants will be considered only for agencies benefiting residents in the Puget Sound Region.
• Supporting grants help agencies continue to effectively provide services through enhanced direct client benefit by aiding them in procuring and/or paying for items such as:
  • Equipment (ex. office, kitchen, industrial, furniture, etc.)
  • Vehicles used to support clients and/or transport food and/or goods (cost of vehicle and accommodations, tax, and licensing only; operating expenses, such as insurance, fuel, etc. is not allowed)
  • Phone systems
  • Cell phones for direct client use
  • Remodels and/or renovations (must hold at least a 10-year lease or own the building)
  • Purchase or construction of new buildings
  • Computers or tablets for direct client benefit and/or use
  • Software for direct client benefit and/or use (ex. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device)
  • Information Technology expenses, without which procured tools would not work
  • External improvements for client safety (i.e. security system, exterior lighting, improved ADA accessibility, new or refinished pavement or concrete)
• Supporting grants which are accepted must be spent as approved within nine (9) months.

Presser Foundation

Passionate about music, Theodore Presser wanted to give back to it. When he died in 1925, he had been widowed twice without any children. The bulk of his fortune was left to The Presser Foundation, which was formally established 14 years after his death. From 1995 to June 2021, The Presser Foundation gave more than $80 million to music organizations, undergraduate and graduate music students, and retired music teachers.

Originally, the Foundation sought to promote the causes of musical education and musical philanthropy by providing scholarships for promising students, supporting the construction of buildings for music organizations, and directing aid to retired music teachers. Over time, the Foundation has evolved to support a broad array of music genres, expand its grantmaking areas, convene its nonprofit partners at special events, and collaborate with fellow funders, while continuing to follow the original intent and wishes of Theodore Presser.

Assistance to Music Teachers

Theodore Presser, mindful of his own early struggles in the profession, was committed to the support of music teachers. He also felt a sense of gratitude for the thousands of teachers who were the primary customers of his music publication business. In 1906, he established the Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers in Philadelphia. When it was no longer practical to maintain an independent facility, the Foundation created the Assistance to Music Teachers Committee to carry on its basic mission of financial support for retired teachers with financial need.

Typically, the Foundation provides modest financial assistance and/or help with the cost of medical insurance. Awards are made to individuals living in the United States whose primary occupation was as a teacher of music. To be considered for Assistance, applicants must be nominated by a music institution for consideration. 

The Kelley Foundation

The Kelley Foundation was established by Robert and Judy Kelley and their daughter Marla. The Kelleys are native Oklahomans and longtime residents of Southern Oklahoma.

The foundation is primarily focused on humanitarian projects in Oklahoma, with an emphasis on Southern Oklahoma. Our mission is to develop and strengthen our community, state, and nation by providing essential resources to those in need.

The Kelley Foundation Grant

The Kelley Foundation is a private, charitable foundation, incorporated under the laws of the State of Oklahoma and operated exclusively for providing support through its gifts and grants to religious, charitable, scientific, and educational institutions which are qualified under section 501(c)(3) and which are not private foundations within the meaning of section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

About RWJF

At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we take bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We take our responsibilities seriously, and pledge to work in ways that reflect our values.

Connecting Champions for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Health Professions

RWJF seeks to fund one lead organization or consortium to serve as a national network-weaver for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the health professions. The selected grantee will connect and support leaders, organizations, and institutions across the ecosystem, strengthening relationships, aligning strategy and communications, and facilitating shared learning and collective action. By building the connections and infrastructure needed for collaboration, the grantee will help advance belonging, accountability, and systems change across health professions education and healthcare institutions.

Achieving a healthcare system grounded in equity requires both a diverse health professions workforce and institutions committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). While diverse teams improve quality of care and health outcomes, RWJF has learned that increasing representation alone is insufficient without addressing structural and institutional barriers that shape belonging, leadership, advancement, and accountability. Structural racism and other forms of systemic inequity continue to limit opportunity across the health professions education and healthcare institutions.

Lasting change requires not only supporting diverse leaders, but also strengthening connections among educational institutions, healthcare organizations, professional associations, accrediting and credentialing bodies, students, advocates, community actors, and others within the health professions ecosystem, whose relationships, actions, practices, and mindsets shape health outcomes for the communities they serve. These relationships create the support, trust, shared learning, and coordinated action necessary to advance DEIB and build a more equitable healthcare system. 

In collaboration with Cummins Inc., the American Library Association (ALA) invites applications from U.S. public libraries to participate in A Year of STEM, 12 months of curated STEM programming to foster curiosity and STEM-mindedness in early childhood learners across the country. 

Twenty-five libraries will be chosen to participate in A Year of STEM, receiving professional development to prepare them for the project, copies of a newly created A Year of STEM programming guide developed by librarian advisors, a $5,000 programming stipend, four STEM kits (to be delivered quarterly), and support from ALA’s Public Programs Office staff throughout the project implementation period.

LRPenn.com is home to the novels, plays, and screenplays of LR Penn. His books specializes in Thrillers, Dramatic Comedies, and Film Noir. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, grants may be available to nonprofit theater companies in the United States with 501(c)(3) status that are staging productions of plays written by LR Penn.  

The Preparedness, Innovation and Energy Education (PIEE) program is federally funded and designed to implement innovative strategies to advance energy security, strengthen energy education and reduce energy use.

The PIEE program supports innovative projects that:

• Increase energy resiliency during natural disaster response or recovery efforts through a combination of skill-building and supplies
• Advance economic development by improving energy efficiency in commercial and industrial buildings
• Develop Iowa’s clean energy workforce through energy education

The Iowa Water Trails Mini Grant provides money to water trail developers (county conservation boards, cities, non-profits) to support projects to establish water trails. Water trails enhance recreational experiences for all water recreation enthusiasts. Efforts often involve canoeists and kayakers.The Iowa Legislature appropriated funds for fiscal year 2026 for the development of dam mitigation and water trail projects. A portion of the funds are available competitively for water trail enhancement cost-share grants. Local divisions of Iowa government are encouraged to apply for cost-share assistance for infrastructure or infrastructure improvements along state designated water trails or water trails on track for state designation.

Cost share requirement for this cycle is 20%.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks.

Just as importantly, the DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. The DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education. Our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Water Recreation Access Cost Share Program

The Water Recreation Access Cost-Share Program (WRAC) is available for constructing or improving boat access facilities to Iowa's lakes and streams. Projects can include:

• Boat ramps
• Loading/off-loading docks
• Other structures to enhance use by the public

The project must have a cost share eligible estimate of $1,000. The application must be submitted and approved prior to expenditure of funds by the local sponsor or it is ineligible.

Funding Possibilities

Approved projects are funded on a 75% state to 25% local cost share. If a political subdivision is managing DNR property under a long term agreement, the funding can be 100% state. 

Sponsors wishing to furnish their own equipment and labor can receive 100% of the cost of materials for the project. 

If federal match dollars are available, the awardee will be notified as construction or design work funded through the grant cannot start until after the beginning of the federal fiscal year which starts annually on October 1. Design, permitting, and bid letting can be completed prior to October 1 if no funding is requested for those actions.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks.

Just as importantly, the DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. The DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education. Our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Special Derelict Building Funding Round

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has launched a special $1 million funding round through the Derelict Building Grant Program to help small Iowa communities eliminate asbestos hazards in vacant structures.

This special round of funding is open to Iowa municipalities with populations under 5,000. Eligible properties must be locally owned, commercial or public buildings unoccupied for 6+ months that meet local derelict building criteria. Note: Historically listed properties are excluded.

The Iowa DNR is offering financial assistance, including covering 100% of Certified Asbestos Inspection costs and 100% of abatement costs up to $10,000 (a 50% cost-share applies to abatement amounts over $10,000). Funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis upon project completion.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks.

Just as importantly, the DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. The DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education. Our mission is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

Derelict Building Program

The Derelict Building Program is available for Iowa towns of 5,000 or fewer residents to address neglected commercial or public structures that have sat vacant for at least 6 months. 

The Program’s main focus is landfill diversion through the recycling and reuse of building materials and the elimination of hazards both inside and out posed by these empty structures.  

For applicants who are seeking funding assistance with: 

• conducting asbestos inspections
• asbestos abatement
• structural engineering analysis
• phase I and phase II site assessments
• building deconstruction
• building renovation expenses

Iowa Department of Education

The Department provides oversight to the state education system that includes PK-12 public elementary and secondary schools, nonpublic schools that receive state accreditation, area education agencies, community colleges, and teacher preparation programs. The Department works to remove barriers for pursuing education beyond high school. The Department also establishes and enforces rigorous standards and licensing for Iowa educational practitioners to effectively address the needs of students.  

Teachers Accelerating Learning Grant

The Teachers Accelerating Learning grant opportunity was created for districts to develop measures of teacher effectiveness and recognize teachers who significantly accelerate student learning beyond one year’s growth with supplementary pay. This grant opportunity is open to public school districts.

Participating districts commit to:

• Develop systems to identify and recognize teachers who accelerate student learning beyond one year’s growth based on transparent and objective qualitative and quantitative metrics.
• Develop a methodology for recognizing highly effective teachers, which must include the EVAAS growth measure for grades 4-8: Review, update and validate classroom EVAAS rosters for ISASP-tested grades and subjects; Participate in training on the EVAAS system, reports, and classroom rostering.
• Offer supplementary teacher pay for up to 25% of teachers who significantly accelerate student learning beyond one year’s growth.

Funding & Use

Awards support supplementary teacher pay for two years who demonstrably accelerate student learning beyond one year’s growth.

• Administrative costs may not exceed 5% of the total award. 95% of the total award must support supplementary teacher pay.
• Max per teacher amount: $15,000 total: Teacher is defined as instructional staff, including teachers, instructional coaches, and interventionists.

Iowa Department of Education

The Department provides oversight to the state education system that includes PK-12 public elementary and secondary schools, nonpublic schools that receive state accreditation, area education agencies, community colleges, and teacher preparation programs. The Department works to remove barriers for pursuing education beyond high school. The Department also establishes and enforces rigorous standards and licensing for Iowa educational practitioners to effectively address the needs of students.  

Credentials to Child Care Careers (C4) Grant

Grant supports districts and accredited, nonpublic schools, in providing students with a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) through local Family and Consumer Science (FCS) programming, while building the child care workforce through community partnerships with licensed child care centers.

Introduction

The Iowa Department of Education is seeking applications from Iowa school districts interested in providing a Family and Consumer Science (FCS) course series while partnering with a licensed child care center to provide service/practice hours to participating Career and Technical Education (CTE) students. Interested districts will receive a Department-approved early childhood curriculum aligned to the Child Development Associate (CDATM) Credential. The CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone to career advancement in the early education system. Grant awardees will use the approved curriculum paired with hands-on service hours to support students in completing the requirements for a CDA Credential. 

Application fund requests should be based on program size and the proposed implementation plan to be used across the school years.