Best Placer County Grants for Nonprofits in California

The NIH's TALK initiative aims to enhance clinical practices for late talking children by funding research to identify early signs of language delays. This NOFO focuses on developing evidence-based strategies for screening and supporting children and their families. It targets children over 18 months who are not meeting language milestones, particularly those at higher risk due to various factors. Collaborative research efforts are encouraged to ensure effective identification and intervention.

The National Biomedical Research Centers (NBRCs) aim to enhance biomedical research by providing advanced equipment, scientific expertise, and innovative human-based models. Supported by NIH and other federal agencies, this initiative focuses on reducing reliance on live animal models through the development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). The program invites applications that propose actionable plans to refine and replace animal use, promoting innovative research at centers with existing nonhuman primate colonies.

About UNCF

Who We Are

For more than eight decades, this principle has remained at the heart of UNCF, enabling us to raise more than $6 billion and help more than 550,000 students and counting not just attend college, but thrive, graduate and become leaders.

We do this in three ways: By awarding more than 11,000 students scholarships, worth more than $62 million, each year. By providing financial support to 37 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). And by serving as the nation’s leading advocate for the importance of minority education and community engagement.

This three-pronged approach is powerful: Since our founding in 1944, we’ve helped to more than double the number of minorities attending college. The six-year graduation rate for UNCF African American scholarship recipients is 70%. This is 11% higher than the national average and 31% higher than the national average for all African Americans.

2026-2027 Associates Scholars Empowerment Program

Daughters of Charity Inc., in partnership with UNCF, created the Associates Scholars Empowerment Program to assist students receiving certificates and two-year degrees.

The Associates Scholars Empowerment Program is a renewable need-based scholarship open to students receiving certificates and two-year degrees.

Students who do not meet the renewal criteria will be placed on probation and given a one semester grace period, while funded, to come into compliance.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is inviting eligible organizations to submit unsolicited research proposals targeting key areas like housing affordability and homelessness. This initiative aims to foster high-quality research that informs housing policies and programs. Projects must secure matching funds of at least 50% of the total cost and align with HUD's research priorities to qualify for cooperative agreements, ensuring ongoing collaboration throughout the research process.

The Don Forsyth 'Circle K' Scholarship, offered by The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, recognizes outstanding members of Circle K clubs in New York State. This scholarship aims to support students committed to serving individuals with Down Syndrome through careers in special education, speech, physical, or occupational therapy. Established in 1968, the foundation empowers local communities and provides meaningful financial assistance to students demonstrating exceptional community service.

Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico

Mission: The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico serves as a community resource, connects donors to needs, and supports charitable organizations in their work.

Scholarships

CFSNM offers scholarships that support students from all walks and stages of life in pursuing various avenues of their educational and professional journeys.

Applicants must be pursuing any avenue of higher education and/or professional certifications. This includes undergraduate, post-grad, vocational and more! Applicants must be actively enrolled as a student. Applicants in high school must be a graduating senior.

Carol Troeller Second Chance Scholarship Fund

To support students with emergency financial needs with a preference for a female student in business fields of study

Urban Greening 2026

Urban Greening Grant Program funds projects that use nature-based solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts in urban areas.

The 2026 Urban Greening Grant Program will solicit Step 1 Concept Proposals (between May 4-June 4) and extend invitations to submit Step 2 Full Proposals in July 2026.

Successful projects will green and cool communities and offer multiple benefits including sequestering carbon, limiting stormwater runoff, providing habitat and preserving biodiversity, protecting public health during extreme heat, increasing equity, and expanding economic and workforce opportunities. Funded projects are expected to advance the goals of the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan and Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets.

Urban Greening projects must comply with all the following:

• Be located in an urban area;
• Provide public benefit; and
• Provide public access

The FY26 Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) Idea Development Award promotes innovative, high-risk research aimed at significant advancements for pancreatic cancer outcomes. This award supports projects with preliminary data, focusing on impactful discoveries. It features a Partnering Principal Investigator option, enhancing funding for collaborations between experienced mentors and early-career researchers. All applications must align with the FY26 PCARP Focus Areas, ensuring relevance and potential for transformative results in pancreatic cancer research.

The FY26 Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) Translational Research Partnership Award encourages collaboration among clinicians and scientists to expedite the clinical application of innovative pancreatic cancer research. A minimum of two Principal Investigators is required, with one designated as the Initiating PI. This award supports preliminary data collection and various research methodologies, excluding large-scale clinical trials, to enhance pancreatic cancer understanding and treatment.

The FY26 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program (ALSRP) Therapeutic Development Award supports innovative research aimed at advancing therapies for ALS. It focuses on projects that have demonstrated proof-of-concept efficacy and require lead compounds. The award emphasizes the development of mechanism-specific biomarkers to enhance trial design and patient selection, ensuring that therapeutic approaches are effective and efficient. Collaboration with experienced ALS researchers is encouraged for those with limited experience.

The FY26 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program Therapeutic Idea Award supports innovative ideas for ALS drug discovery. This award encourages high-risk, high-gain research that is hypothesis-driven and aims to generate preliminary data for future therapeutic investigations. Applications should highlight potential impact and innovation, with the possibility of achieving results without prior data. The focus is on a strong approach rather than preliminary findings.

The FY26 DoW Pancreatic Cancer Research Program Focused Pilot Award aims to drive innovative and impactful research in pancreatic cancer, enhancing patient quality of life. This award encourages the development of preliminary data to support future clinical or real-world applications. While allowing for clinical research studies, it does not permit clinical trials or preclinical animal studies, ensuring a strong patient-centered approach in its research focus.

The FY26 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program's Pilot Clinical Trial Award aims to accelerate clinical trials that can significantly impact ALS treatment and management. Focus areas include biomarker-driven interventions and improvements in clinical care. Trials must begin within 12 months of the award and incorporate community collaboration and a detailed regulatory strategy. This award emphasizes the importance of therapeutic interventions and a transition plan for advancing study outcomes beyond the funded work.

The FY26 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program (ALSRP) Clinical Outcomes and Biomarkers Award (COBA) aims to enhance clinical trials for ALS by developing and validating clinical outcomes and biomarkers. This funding opportunity encourages innovative projects that may focus on specific therapies, ALS subtypes, or digital health measures. Collaboration with the ALS community is essential to ensure that research is relevant and informed by lived experiences.

The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award Level 4 supports innovative research with the potential for significant breakthroughs in breast cancer. Applications must address key BCRP challenges or justify exceptions, focusing on impactful solutions. This program mandates clinical trials and requires participation from breast cancer consumer advocates. The funding supports single or partnered Principal Investigators, ensuring comprehensive submission processes to avoid administrative withdrawal.

The DoW Ovarian Cancer Academy Early-Career Investigator Award supports junior faculty in conducting innovative ovarian cancer research. Established in FY09, this unique virtual academy fosters mentorship, collaboration, and networking among Early-Career Investigators (ECIs) and their mentors. Participants engage in monthly webinars and annual workshops, enhancing their research skills while contributing to impactful studies in ovarian cancer. The program aims to cultivate a new generation of highly productive researchers in this critical field.

The Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Academy (OCCTA) supports Early-Career Investigators (ECIs) in clinical trial research aimed at effective ovarian cancer treatments. It provides essential mentoring, networking, and skill development needed for executing clinical trials. The FY26 funding will specifically support translational research and early-phase trials, requiring preliminary data and a commitment of at least 25% effort from the ECI. Mentorship is vital, with a focus on experienced clinical trialists guiding ECIs.

The DoW Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Award, funded by the U.S. Army Medical Command, aims to accelerate the implementation of clinical trials that significantly impact ovarian cancer treatment. This award supports diverse trial designs, from early proof-of-concept studies to large-scale efficacy trials, evaluating innovative drugs, biologics, and technologies. By fostering research in this critical area, the program seeks to enhance patient outcomes and advance the understanding of ovarian cancer management.

The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award Level 3 supports transformative research aimed at significant advancements in breast cancer treatment. Applicants must address key challenges outlined by the program, ensuring their proposals demonstrate potential for impactful breakthroughs. This funding mechanism, which permits small-scale clinical trials, emphasizes collaboration by requiring research teams to include two breast cancer consumer advocates and allows for a single Principal Investigator or two partnering PIs.

The Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award aims to support impactful research addressing critical needs in ovarian cancer and patient care. It requires a robust research plan with preliminary data and allows for studies across all research phases, excluding clinical trials. A unique Partnering Principal Investigator option encourages collaboration between two PIs to enhance research outcomes beyond individual efforts, promoting innovation in the field of ovarian cancer.

The DoW Ovarian Cancer Pilot Award fosters innovative research that challenges existing paradigms in ovarian cancer. It aims to propel groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in the field. Notably, the award prioritizes originality over scientific merit alone, ensuring that innovative ideas are at the forefront. The application process includes a blinded pre-application screening to maintain confidentiality and integrity, encouraging fresh perspectives in ovarian cancer research.

The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program's Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award fosters significant collaborations that aim to revolutionize care for individuals affected by breast cancer. This award supports a multidisciplinary consortium of leading scientists, clinicians, and advocates to tackle major challenges in breast cancer research. Proposals must address at least one of the program's overarching challenges and demonstrate a transformative impact that cannot be achieved by individual investigators alone.

Geological Society of America 

The Geological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1888, is a global scientific society with members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of geoscientists at all career levels, encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. GSA is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Jack Kleinman Memorial Award for Volcano Research

The Jack Kleinman Memorial Award for Volcano Research represents a partnership between GSA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to recognize early-career scientists conducting high-impact research in volcanology. The award was created in memory of Jack Kleinman—a USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory scientist known for his commitment to collecting high-quality field data and who relished a challenge, inspired enthusiasm in others, and delighted in the natural world. The award honors students who demonstrate these same qualities in their scientific explorations.

Up to US$5,000 may be awarded to undergraduate, graduate, and aspiring graduate students, regardless of current enrollment status. Successful proposals typically focus on geologic, geochemical, geophysical, or hazards investigations with an emphasis on fieldwork. Cooperation with a staff member from the USGS Volcano Science Center is encouraged and given considerable weight in the selection process.

Funding is intended to defray the costs of field-focused studies, such as travel to field sites, living expenses during fieldwork, field supplies, and analytical costs. Awardees are invited to present their results in the USGS Kleinman Seminar Series and attend the Awards Ceremony at the GSA annual meeting.

Investing in research and healthcare to prevent, treat, and heal firearm-related harms

Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education

Kaiser Permanente established this Center in 2022 to scale its longstanding commitment to help communities prevent, treat, and heal from firearm-related injuries or death. The Center’s focus on violence prevention is rooted in healthcare, care delivery, and clinical interventions.

The Center is coordinated in collaboration with the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI).

Research to support more effective health interventions

The Center funds research to test and expand health interventions that treat and prevent firearm injuries and deaths. This approach uses the same rigor and expertise that has helped treat and prevent other leading health concerns and causes of death, such as stroke, cancer, and heart disease. Funding supports projects to:

• Identify and evaluate health system strategies to address firearm injury and death, especially in communities that are most impacted.
• Test clinical interventions to prevent, treat, and heal trauma caused by firearm injuries and death.
• Assess pathways to implement and scale clinical interventions for firearm injury prevention in various healthcare settings.
• Improve healthcare identification and engagement of individuals at high risk of firearm injury or death.

Since its inception, the Center has awarded more than $8.5 million through 49 grants across 25 states and Washington, D.C., to advance research, capacity building, narrative change, and education.

Funding Opportunity

The call is open to applicants at varying stages of the research continuum. It is expected that central to all proposed initiatives are efforts to meaningfully engage communities that have been the most impacted by firearm violence.

What Work Will Be Considered for Funding?

Funding is currently available in two categories: Category 1 - Research Capacity Building; Category 2 - Pilot or Formative Healthcare Research

Category 1: Research Capacity Building

Up to two (2) projects will be selected, each receiving up to $100,000 over two (2) years.

Build capacity within the organization, institution, and/or clinical care setting to conduct research on healthcare approaches to addressing firearm violence or firearm suicide.

Beatrice T. And Virgil D. Gutierrez Legacy Scholarship

The Beatrice T. Gutierrez and Virgil D. Gutierrez Legacy Scholarship was established in 2018 by the children of Beatrice and Virgil Gutierrez. Mr. and Mrs. Gutierrez devoted their lives to teaching in Taos Public Schools.

The scholarship will be available to seniors graduating from High Schools in Taos County, with a preference to those students who intend to pursue studies in mathematics, education or science (including but not limited to social, biological and environmental sciences) by attending a 4 year college or university with an overall goal of providing service to their family and/or community upon graduation. The 4 year institution award is up to $14,000, paid out across 4 years if a 3.0 GPA is maintained.

The scholarship will also be available to seniors graduating from High Schools in Taos County, with a preference to those students who intend to pursue a 2-year vocational program with an overall goal of providing service to their family and/or community upon graduation. The 2 year institution award is up to $4,000, paid out across 2 years.

About NCCF

For more than 50 years, NCCF has been taking on tough problems to improve the quality-of-life in Northwest CT by supporting nonprofits that speak to the charitable passions of our generous donors.

NCCF is a Community Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity that enables donors to establish funds that support the work of local nonprofits through grants and provide scholarships to local students.

NCCF's Board and Staff champion the causes you care about with smart grant-making designed specifically to adapt over time and provide highly attentive, knowledgeable, and compassionate service that brings donors and organizations together to address community issues.

Scholarship Opportunities and Applications

Through the generosity of fundholders and donors, NCCF has awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships to assist students in Northwest Connecticut with the cost of higher education.

Michele Farley Pittler Scholarship

• Academic Focus: Unspecified
• Award Average: $1,000