Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Pennsylvania

The Outstanding Earth Science Teacher (OEST) Award recognizes exceptional K-12 educators for their contributions to Earth Science education. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the award aims to stimulate interest in Earth Sciences among students. Eight national finalists are chosen annually, ensuring broad recognition and encouraging teaching excellence. Nominees can apply themselves or be nominated by colleagues, allowing for two awards in an educator's career to honor both early and late career achievements.

The All of Us Research Program seeks to advance its mission by enabling access to biospecimens stored in the All of Us supported Biobank for researchers to conduct assays to evaluate associations between biomarkers and chronic diseases and add data to the All of Us resource for broad use by researchers. Biomarker analysis includes, but is not limited to, biomarker discovery; biomarker validation; novel disease stratification; and multiomics integration for disease risk, diagnosis, and prognosis, in support of advancing precision medicine. The All of Us Research Program is a historic effort to enroll 1 million participants who share data to accelerate research and medical breakthroughs, and enable individualized prevention, treatment, and care. Researchers use data from the program to learn more about how individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and genetics can influence health and disease.Grant authorities that allow the All of Us Research Program to forecast this opportunity are as follows: 42 USC 241 and 284.

The Creation & Development Fund, administered by the National Performance Network, supports the creation and mobility of artistic works that promote racial and cultural justice. It fosters collaboration between artists and communities through financial support, enabling artists to develop meaningful relationships and present their work. The fund emphasizes equity, access, and the importance of public engagement, ensuring that diverse voices are represented while addressing systemic injustices in the arts.

The Philadelphia Cultural Fund (PCF) continues to support the city's arts and culture sector through its FY25 grants, focusing on returning organizations with budgets of $1.5M or less. In this streamlined process, new applicants are not accepted, emphasizing the importance of established organizations in enhancing Philadelphia's cultural vitality. PCF aims to advocate for the arts as drivers of community growth and to promote participation across diverse constituencies, recognizing both emerging and established contributors in the field.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is calling for transformative research proposals through the Advancing Technologies for Spatiotemporal Omics in Live Tissue program. This initiative seeks to combine innovative engineering with biological research to explore the complex molecular dynamics of health and disease. By fostering collaboration among scientists and AI experts, this funding aims to unlock new high-precision interventions, significantly advancing our understanding and management of health issues.

The AWG Mid-Career Excellence Award honors outstanding mid-career women scientists contributing significantly to geosciences. It recognizes achievements across academia, industry, and government, with nominees evaluated on their scientific impact and community service. This prestigious award encourages nominations from the AWG membership and the broader geoscience community, fostering recognition of women's vital contributions in the field. With a commitment to diversity, the award aims to inspire future generations of women in geoscience careers.

The Orphan Kitten Club’s Mightycat Grant Program offers financial assistance to individuals and organizations dedicated to saving neonatal kittens. Funding supports essential needs such as medical care, supplies, and innovative programs aimed at improving survival rates. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and independent rescuers with a proven track record in kitten care. The program's mission is to enhance rescue efforts and provide vulnerable kittens the opportunity to thrive and find loving homes.

The Kazanjian Economics Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing economic literacy across various educational settings. With a history of over 70 years, the foundation supports projects that deliver economic education to youth, particularly in non-school environments. It emphasizes teacher training and initiatives for underserved communities, while also promoting behavioral economics and entrepreneurship. The foundation welcomes letters of interest year-round, with recommended deadlines of March 10th and September 10th for grant cycles.

The Robanna Fund, established in 1992 by Robert and Deanna Levy, supports students pursuing careers in healthcare. Administered by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, the fund awards scholarships averaging $6,000, depending on various factors such as the number of qualified applicants and donor preferences. Eligible applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, reside in Hawai‘i, intend to major in a health-related field, and demonstrate financial need. This initiative aims to cultivate future healthcare professionals in the community.

American Physical Society

The American Physical Society is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance physics by fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and global community dedicated to science and society. APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and around the world.

APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.

Joseph A. Burton Forum Award

The Joseph A. Burton Forum Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the public understanding or resolution of issues involving the interface of physics and society. The award consists of $5,000, a certificate citing the contributions of the recipient, and an allowance for travel to the meeting of the Society at which the award is presented. It will be awarded annually.

Nominations will be considered for three review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.

The NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) program aims to support early-career scientists transitioning to industry through the Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award. This initiative fosters entrepreneurial skills while enabling small business concerns to hire postdoctoral fellows and early-stage researchers, enhancing their research capabilities. Focused on mentoring and training, the program is designed to ensure that participants develop essential skills for successful careers in entrepreneurship and scientific development.

The MPS Physics Research Programs, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), support transformative research in various fields of physics. This includes experimental and theoretical work in atomic and molecular physics, particle physics, gravitational physics, and more. The NSF aims to promote ambitious projects without the need for immediate commercialization, focusing instead on foundational advancements that push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.

The Garden Club of Houston, established in 1924, promotes gardening and environmental conservation through various community initiatives. Their funding supports nonprofit organizations and government entities, focusing on projects that enhance public landscapes, educational resources, and community gardens. Grants are not awarded for operating funds or endowments, with preference given to projects within the greater Houston area. This commitment to civic improvement underscores their mission to foster a love of gardening and environmental stewardship.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is continuing support for the Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials (NeuroNEXT), which focuses on clinical trials and biomarker validation studies for neurological disorders. This initiative aims to foster innovation in neurotherapeutics by providing essential infrastructure and expertise. The program encourages the establishment of Clinical Coordinating Centers (CCC) and Data Coordinating Centers (DCC) to enhance collaborative efforts. Note that applications are not currently being solicited.

The BRAIN Initiative aims to advance innovative neurotechnologies by funding early-stage clinical studies for devices that record or stimulate the human central nervous system. This initiative encourages collaborations between clinical researchers and device manufacturers to facilitate groundbreaking studies. By addressing the challenges of obtaining safety and utility data, this program supports both non-invasive and significant risk devices, providing essential insights into their functionality and design. Applications are currently not being solicited, allowing time for meaningful project development.

The Congressional Science Fellowship Program offers a unique opportunity for Ph.D. holders to work at the intersection of science and government in Washington D.C. This prestigious fellowship, sponsored by ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, allows participants to apply their expertise as special assistants to Congress members. The fellowship begins in September 2025 and concludes in August 2026, providing an annual stipend and relocation expenses. Ideal for early to mid-career scientists, it encourages the use of scientific knowledge in public policy.

Better World Scholarship Fund

The scholarship encourages women to acquire a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field. The donor’s bachelor’s degree is in mathematics, followed 15 years later with a master’s degree in business administration. Her degree in mathematics provided opportunities for jobs in software development and application, medical research, technical documentation, organizational education and training, scientific research, and business. Her career was challenging, dynamic, encouraged creativity, never boring, offered schedule flexibility that allowed her to parent her four children, provided career choice independence, and was lucrative. Go STEM Girls!

Award Amount:

• Minimum $1,000

The NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) fosters innovative educational initiatives aimed at pre-college students, promoting their interest in STEM fields, especially in biomedical and behavioral sciences. This program supports both classroom projects and informal science education activities, such as after-school programs and library events. Emphasizing the development of quantitative and computational skills, SEPA seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers through engaging educational experiences.

The I9 Sports Association provides scholarship grants to support youth sports participation for children under 18 in the U.S. Grants of up to $150 help offset registration fees for various recreational activities. With a focus on inclusivity and access, the association aims to foster athletic development and participation among young athletes. Applications are accepted year-round, with grants awarded in February, May, August, and November, ensuring ongoing support for youth sports engagement.

The Darrell and Gloria Rank K9 Corps Fund, managed by the Berks County Community Foundation, is dedicated to enhancing public safety in Berks County by providing grants to governmental entities. These grants support the acquisition, training, and maintenance of K9 units, ensuring that law enforcement can effectively utilize trained dogs for various tasks. This initiative reflects a commitment to community welfare and the importance of K9 assistance in policing.

The HFM Foodservice Scholarship Fund supports students in Hawaii pursuing education in Culinary Arts or Agriculture. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7, and attend an accredited institution in the U.S. Preference is given to prior recipients in good academic standing. This scholarship aims to empower future leaders in the foodservice industry by providing financial assistance to deserving candidates.

The Arnold Ventures RFP invites proposals for causal research on community safety and the criminal justice system. This initiative aims to generate evidence that informs effective policies to enhance safety and fairness in justice. Applicants should propose robust research designs capable of isolating treatment effects, focusing on real-world outcomes in the U.S. Preference is given to interventions with potential for policy adoption and led by early-career researchers or those without previous funding from Arnold Ventures.

The John K. Fairbank Prize in East Asian History, awarded by the American Historical Association, recognizes exceptional scholarly work in the history of East Asia, particularly focusing on books published after 1800. Eligible works must demonstrate high literary merit and can be nominated by authors or publishers. The prize aims to highlight significant contributions to the historical disciplines, with recipients announced in October 2025 and honored at the January 2026 AHA annual meeting in Chicago.

The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People Grant supports partnerships with economically disadvantaged groups in the U.S. It aims to empower these communities to take control of their lives and address systemic issues of poverty and oppression. This initiative encourages sustainable change through community-led programs that advocate for justice, human dignity, and economic equity, fostering a transformative impact on their local environments.

The Eleanor Campbell Charitable Fund offers competitive scholarships to high school seniors and current college students from the Deering, Hillsborough, and Weare areas. With a history of over $900,000 awarded, the fund emphasizes academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement. Scholarships are available for full-time post-secondary education, with the potential for renewal based on continued eligibility. Announcements of winners occur during high school graduation ceremonies, ensuring recognition of their hard work and dedication.

The Olney Medal, established in 1944 by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), honors exceptional achievements in textile chemistry and related fields. It recognizes significant contributions to the development of chemical processes and agents in textile manufacturing. Open to all AATCC members for nominations, the award emphasizes the importance of innovation and public recognition in advancing textile sciences, a legacy of its founder, Dr. Louis Atwell Olney.