Best Private Grants for Nonprofits in Pennsylvania

The Dr. Esther Wilkins Scholarship, offered by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), supports students pursuing advanced degrees in dental hygiene education. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited program and have completed at least one year of study. The scholarship awards $2,000 annually and emphasizes the importance of professional membership in ADHA. This initiative fosters career development and enhances educational opportunities for future dental hygiene educators.

The ASCAP Foundation's Jay Gorney Award honors songwriters who create original music with socially conscious themes. Established in 2009, this award commemorates composer Jay Gorney's legacy, particularly his iconic song 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?' Entrants are judged on their ability to convey powerful messages through artistry and lyrical excellence. The award includes a $1,000 monetary prize, fostering creativity and social awareness in the music community.

The Sammy Cahn Award, presented by The ASCAP Foundation, honors exceptional lyric-writing talent among songwriters of original songs. Established in 1995 to commemorate Sammy Cahn's legacy, the award offers a $5,000 prize to recipients. Eligible entrants include ASCAP writer members in good standing or independent songwriters. Submissions are judged anonymously based on lyric quality and overall craft, ensuring the recognition of artistic excellence within the songwriting community.

The Leiber & Stoller Music Scholarship, funded by The ASCAP Foundation, offers $2,500 annually for four years to high school seniors pursuing a music major. Aspiring songwriters, musicians, and vocalists are encouraged to apply. The selection process evaluates music and lyric writing, overall craftsmanship, and artistry. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens or residents and meet specific criteria. The scholarship is aimed at nurturing the next generation of music creators, ensuring their educational journey is supported.

The Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards, established in 1967 by the ASCAP Foundation, honor exceptional books, articles, and liner notes about music. With total prizes of $4000, awards are given to top submissions in Pop and Concert Music genres. Eligible works must be published in the previous year and meet specific criteria. The foundation aims to celebrate the legacy of Deems Taylor and Virgil Thomson, prominent figures in American music history.

The Michael Masser Scholarship, established by the late composer Michael Masser, supports talented students in music. It offers $3,000 to recipients for educational advancement, with nominations made by ASCAP representatives. Eligible nominees must demonstrate exceptional talent in music composition or performance and be entering a collegiate music program. This scholarship aims to foster the next generation of music creators and enrich the arts community through financial assistance.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

The AAO-HNS is the world’s largest organization representing otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons – physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck.

About the CORE Grants Program

Since 1985, CORE has awarded more than 800 grants and more than $14 million for research projects, research training, and career development to further the specialty of otolaryngology. These grants, ranging in award size from $5,000 to $150,000, have been essential for increasing the research base for otolaryngology.

The CORE program brings greater scale and less fragmentation and overlap to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery research opportunities, reduces the aggregate costs of the individual grant programs, and enables a comprehensive overview of the spectrum of promising otolaryngology and head and neck surgery research/researchers to promote to NIH and other agencies.

CORE Grants Program: AHNS/AAO-HNSF Translational Innovator Award

The purpose of this award is to support contemporary basic or clinical research focused on neoplastic disease by full time academic head and neck surgeons; to promote novel translational research preferably with biomarker ideas. 

Research supported by this award should be specifically directed toward the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of head and neck neoplastic disease, and may be either basic or clinical/translational in approach. 

The Edward J. Ferri Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by The Pittsburgh Foundation, provides financial support to students in Westmoreland County, including employees and their children from Ferri Enterprises. This fund aims to assist graduating seniors from local high schools and has expanded eligibility to include all graduates from Allegheny, Somerset, or Westmoreland County. With a focus on students pursuing vocational, technical or college education, this scholarship emphasizes financial need and community involvement.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Dr. Roy D. Hoffman Scholarship Fund

The Dr. Roy D. Hoffman Scholarship Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation was created to assist students in Bedford and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania in acquiring post-secondary education.

Award Type: Single Year. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Dorothy & Richard Barr Westmoreland County High School Scholarship Fund

The Dorothy and Richard Barr Scholarship Fund was created at The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to provide scholarship support to Westmoreland County High School students who have demonstrated community leadership and strong academic performance. The applicant must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above. The applicant must also show community leadership in the form of volunteer activities inside and outside of school.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Comptaro, Elden, Lewis Combined Scholarship Funds

The William C. Comptaro Educational Fund, the Laura E. Elden Educational Trust and the Frances L. Lewis Memorial Scholarship Fund were created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are residents of Allegheny County, PA planning on pursuing post-secondary education.

Award Type: Single Year Award

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Coach Dave Gray Scholarship Fund

The Coach Dave Gray Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for students who plan on pursing post-secondary education. This scholarship fund was established by John and Shana Mackie in 2017 with funds raised through their 2017 “Party for a Purpose”, an annual party for their friends and family with the goal of raising awareness for a different worthy local ministry or cause each year. John and Shana named the fund in honor of Coach Dave Gray who has dedicated his career to working with youth in Western Pennsylvania. Through his classes, camps, training and other activities, Coach Dave impacts the lives of thousands of kids in a positive way. Dave’s programs instill confidence, self-esteem, promote a healthy, active lifestyle and are fun for kids. This scholarship fund will honor Coach Dave’s commitment to the community and help benefit students from Western Pennsylvania for years to come.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

Enhancing the Flavor of Plant-based & Fermentation-derived Proteins

As global demand for protein continues to rise, this funding opportunity can help diversify protein sources, strengthen the sustainability of food and agriculture supply chains and contribute to a safer, more resilient global food system. Improving the functionality and flavor of plant-based and fermentation-derived proteins can increase consumer acceptance, open new markets for crops, create value-added opportunities for farmers and processors, enhance farmland health and support economic growth.

To drive such innovation the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Good Food Institute (GFI) have joined forces to support plant-based and fermentation-enabled protein ingredient optimization.

The long-term success of plant-based and fermentation-enabled protein foods depends not only on sustainability and cost but also on their ability to deliver a compelling eating experience. By advancing research in ingredient design, enrichment methods and formulation strategies, we can accelerate progress toward high-protein foods that meet or exceed consumer sensory expectations.

Flavor, inclusive of both taste and aroma, remains a critical barrier to consumer acceptance. While early innovation has made progress, many products on the market still face challenges with off-flavors or insufficient desirable flavors. Improving flavor emerged as a key recommendation from the joint FFAR-GFI global call for ideas and workshop, summarized in The Priorities for Plant-based and Fermentation-enabled Protein Ingredient Optimization Convening report.

WindSwell Foundation: Scholarship- Additional Licensing

Managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, this scholarship opportunity is for up to $2,500 per year for any Special Educator seeking additional licensing.

The Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation offers grants and fellowships aimed at enhancing the quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries and diseases. With a history of funding over $54 million since 1976, the foundation supports innovative research across categories like Basic Science, Clinical Applications, Design & Development, and Fellowships. Grants can reach up to $200,000, fostering advancements in medical technologies and training for future experts in spinal cord research.

Alger Regional Community FoundationThe Alger Regional Community Foundation (ARCF) is a locally based 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Alger County through grants and scholarships.ARCF is a unique institution. It is a permanent, yet flexible, collection of endowment funds contributed by people from all walks of life who want to make a difference in our community.Clarence A. Thunander Endowment Scholarship FundGiven to an Alger County graduate who is continuing his/her education at an institution of higher learning in the medical-related field. The student receiving this award will be required to have completed 50 hours of satisfactory college credit with 10 hours in a medical-related field and provide college transcripts. They must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale. They must be attending an accredited college and pursuing a minimum of a 4-year degree in a medical-related field.

The Crest Oral-B Laboratories Dental Hygiene Scholarships, sponsored by Procter & Gamble, support students enrolled in accredited dental hygiene programs in the U.S. These scholarships aim to promote professional excellence and quality research in dental hygiene. Applicants should have completed at least one year of their curriculum and be a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Award amounts are typically $1,000, with the number of awards varying annually.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Eugenio R. Ricci and Rose DeNapoli Scholarship Fund

The Eugenio R. Ricci and Rose DeNapoli Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for individuals seeking to complete their education or begin their educational journey with extended study. This scholarship is established in loving memory of Eugenio and Rose, both of whom valued training and education and saw education as a necessity, not an expense.

Award Type: Single Year. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply in consecutive years.

The NIH Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) is designed to support the career development of individuals with clinical doctoral degrees committed to patient-oriented research. Key deadlines for standard applications include June 12, October 12, and February 12 from 2024 to 2027. Renewal and AIDS-related grant applications also have specific deadlines. This initiative aims to enhance research focused on improving patient care.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

GFT Infrastructure, Inc. Scholarship Fund

The GFT Infrastructure, Inc. Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships to the children and grandchildren of GFT Infrastructure, Inc. employees who show exceptional leadership and character.

Award Type: Single-Year Award. Previous recipients of this scholarship may not re-apply.

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.

Todd Epsten Memorial Scholarship

This opportunity was established in 2014 in honor of Major Brands’ third-generation leader, Todd H. Epsten, who lost his brave battle with brain cancer in 2012. The scholarship provides aid to several students each year, whose academic efforts and community involvement reflect Todd’s commitment to “building our business by building the communities we serve.” Students must be a current full-time employee or spouse/domestic partner, child or grandchild of a current full-time employee of Clever Little Girl, LLC; Clever Little Girl Foundation; or Eagle Brands Sales who will be or are attending a community college, professional program, undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate program at an accredited college.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

American Legion Ohio Warriors Scholarship Fund

This scholarship will provide financial assistance to dependents of Ohio service members Killed In Action.

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.

The NIDCR Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award aims to enhance the diversity of the dental, oral, and craniofacial research workforce. This program supports exceptional graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds as they transition from PhD or dual degree programs (F99) to mentored postdoctoral positions (K00). Key deadlines for applications span from August 2024 to April 2027, ensuring ample opportunities for eligible candidates to apply.

The Judith Graham Pool (JGP) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, established by the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) in 1972, supports groundbreaking research in bleeding disorders. It offers up to $52,000 annually for two years to candidates engaged in pre-clinical or basic science studies related to hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. The fellowship aims to advance understanding and treatment options, including gene therapy, while fostering new scientific talent in the field.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Davey Tree Family Scholarship

The Davey Tree Family Scholarship assists students pursuing post-high school education with a focus on Urban Forestry, Arboriculture or Science and Landscape Technology.

The Pittsburgh Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four–year universities, graduate schools, and career/technical schools.

Kennametal Scholarship Fund

The Kennametal Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to support students in Southwestern Pennsylvania with financial need pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related degrees. The purpose of the scholarship is to broaden the awareness of opportunities in STEM by supporting students who have been disproportionately affected by systemic barriers to educational achievement.

• Average Award: Varies
• Award Type: Multi-Year (up to 4 years).