Best Private Grants for Nonprofits

The Charlotte Mangum Student Support Program provides financial assistance for housing or registration at annual meetings for graduate and undergraduate SICB student members. Recipients must contribute time as assistants during sessions and can receive support for up to three years, given they are the presenting author on their abstract. This initiative honors SICB President Charlotte Preston Mangum and encourages student participation in scientific discourse.

The Samull Classroom Herb Garden Grant, established through a generous donation from Donald Samull, supports elementary classrooms (grades K-6) with at least ten students to create herb gardens. Grants of $500 are awarded annually to enhance curricula with hands-on learning experiences about herbs. Eligible classrooms may use funds for plants and necessary supplies like soil and tools. Applications are reviewed by a committee, ensuring equitable access to these educational resources.

The Emerging Justice Fund Grant, offered by Social Justice Fund Northwest, aims to support grassroots organizing in communities affected by systemic injustices. With a funding cycle starting in February, the grant prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Eligible groups can apply for a one-year grant of $10,000, with a final deadline of September 12th. This initiative emphasizes unrestricted funding to empower marginalized communities and foster long-term social justice solutions.

The Minnesota Department of Education offers the Public Library Association Conference 2026 Travel Grant to support library staff in attending the conference from April 1-3, 2026, in Minneapolis. This initiative aims to enhance professional development, networking, and the sharing of best practices. Priority is given to first-time attendees and libraries serving populations under 50,000. Only one staff member from each regional library system may attend in person, with additional virtual participation available.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission has been serving the people of Texas for more than a century. Since 1909, when the state founded the agency, we have been supporting the reading, learning, and historical preservation needs of Texas and its people. 

Going back to the days of the Republic, there has always been an official library and archives of Texas. While fulfilling our unique and longstanding place serving Texas government, the State Library and Archives Commission mission is also to ensure that citizens have information they need to lead informed, productive, and fulfilled lives.

Family Place Libraries™ Grant 

The Family Place Libraries Training Institute (Family Place) provides theoretical grounding and practical training for library staff in family-centered library services. By expanding the traditional role of children's services, Family Place participants build on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parent or guardian involvement, and supportive communities play a critical role in young children's growth and development.

Family Place participants will be able to create the network that families need to nurture their children's development during the critical first years of life. Family Place provides training and resources to help participants redesign their library environment to:

• Create a welcoming and developmentally appropriate environment for children beginning at birth.
• Connect parents with the resources, programs, and services offered at the library and other family service agencies.
• Connect with non-traditional library users.
• Ensure children have access to resources that will allow them to enter school ready and able to learn.

The Family Place Libraries model was developed by the Middle Country Public Library in Centereach, New York. Currently, there are 126 Family Place library locations in Texas. 

Applicants may submit an application to become a new Family Place Library or expand their current program to an additional location. 

The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Grant aims to enhance healthcare in Miami-Dade County through funding local community projects and medical scholarships. Established in 1992, the foundation has awarded over 597 grants, emphasizing direct medical care and health education for children and the economically disadvantaged. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations with a focus on improving community health. The foundation's commitment to sustainable transformation inspires future generations to contribute positively to their communities.

The Abilene Regional Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, established by the Community Foundation of Abilene, aims to support healthcare professionals in enhancing their skills and obtaining relevant degrees. This initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to addressing educational needs within the community. Preference is given to Abilene Regional Employees who possess a certification in the healthcare field. The fund exemplifies a collaborative effort to foster a well-trained healthcare workforce in Abilene.

The Book Hook Fund, established by a supporter of Alaskan Brewing Co, aims to enhance library resources in small rural communities across Alaska. With its inaugural grants, including $1000 to Tri Valley Library in Healy, the fund has significantly contributed to expanding children's literature collections. This initiative fosters literacy and learning in communities with populations of 5,000 or less, ensuring that access to quality reading materials is available to all.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission has been serving the people of Texas for more than a century. Since 1909, when the state founded the agency, we have been supporting the reading, learning, and historical preservation needs of Texas and its people. 

Going back to the days of the Republic, there has always been an official library and archives of Texas. While fulfilling our unique and longstanding place serving Texas government, the State Library and Archives Commission mission is also to ensure that citizens have information they need to lead informed, productive, and fulfilled lives.

TexTreasures Grant

TexTreasures Grants are designed to help libraries make their special collections more accessible for the people of Texas and beyond. Activities considered for possible funding include: 

• digitization
• microfilming
• cataloging

There are two options for funding under the TexTreasures program:

• TexTreasures Basic which will award grants of up to $10,000 to small libraries (serving a population of up to 25,000) with little or no experience with digitization. Funding will support vendor contract services to increase access to collections with local or regional significance. 
• TexTreasures Original which will continue to support libraries seeking to provide access to special or unique collections of statewide interest and greater complexity. The maximum award is $40,000 for applications from single institutions and $50,000 for collaborative grant projects.

St. David's Foundation offers sponsorships to support community-driven events and projects that address health equity in Central Texas. Non-profit organizations in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties are encouraged to apply for funding that aligns with the Foundation's vision and mission. The Foundation prioritizes initiatives that engage the community, raise awareness of pressing health issues, and demonstrate trust within the communities they serve.

South Dakota Arts Council 

Established in 1966 and funded by the State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, the South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC) is a state agency serving South Dakotans and their communities through the arts. Recognizing the importance of creativity in the lives of all South Dakotans, the Council makes quality arts accessible throughout the state by providing grants, services and information to artists, arts organizations, schools and the public. The Council is the advisory board to the SDAC staff within the Department of Tourism. Council members are appointed by the Governor.

Interim Grants

Funding for special arts projects or unexpected opportunities. Activities must take place before June 30, 2027. Regular season programming is not funded.

The Interim Grants fund 1) Organizations and 2) Educators.

Organizations 

Funding

• Up to 50% of project costs (max $1,000)
• Dollar-for-dollar match required

Examples of Use

• Special arts activities
• Transportation for K–12 students or individuals with disabilities
• Expert help with programs, administration, or technology
• Professional development for staff or board members
• Other special opportunities may also be considered

The Budding Botanist Grant, offered by the Klorane Botanical Foundation, aims to educate students about environmental sustainability and biodiversity through school garden programs. In 2023, grants of $1000 will be awarded to twenty schools across the U.S., prioritizing those with a significant percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. This initiative encourages young learners to explore and care for their local ecosystems.

The PLTW Computer Science grant aims to enhance educational opportunities in Louisiana by expanding existing Project Lead The Way programs. Funded by Chevron, this initiative supports the addition of new courses, training of teachers, and overall program development. Since 2009, Chevron has invested over $17 million nationally, benefiting thousands of students and educators. This grant effort underscores a commitment to improving STEM education and fostering a skilled workforce in the Gulf region.

The PLTW Computer Science grant, funded by Chevron Louisiana, aims to enhance educational opportunities in the region by supporting schools in implementing Project Lead The Way programs. With a commitment of $15,000, the grant encourages public and charter schools to offer multiple PLTW Computer Science courses over two years. This initiative is part of Chevron's broader investment in education, having contributed over $17 million to PLTW programs nationwide since 2009, impacting countless students and teachers.

Preserving Traditional Arts

Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic share a commitment to advancing conservation, research, education, and exploration, and inspiring people to learn about, care for, and protect our world. In support of this commitment, the mission of the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund is to support projects to understand and protect our world’s oceans, restore critical marine and coastal habitats, and foster environmental stewardship in the regions visited by the fleet, and beyond. The Fund supports inspirational, passionate project leaders who are committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world. National Geographic Society and Lindblad Expeditions are in search of projects that support the work of traditional artists, knowledge holders, and heritage practitioners to preserve cultural heritage for communities around the world.

Opportunity Overview

The preservation of traditional arts such as crafts, music and folklore is crucial for the vibrancy and survival of cultural knowledge and practices worldwide. Cultural heritage, the diverse legacies of past and present societies in their many unique forms, shapes the way we identify and interact with the world. This RFP will fund projects conducting holistic conservation work that centers the role and agency of local and descendant communities. 

This RFP seeks to support projects in Baja California, Egypt, Europe and the Mediterranean, Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, and the South Pacific. For more detailed information on targeted areas within these regions, please refer to the targeted areas document. Potential projects should be led by artisans or practitioners with deep experience in the relevant local culture(s). If you are not such an artisan or practitioner but have an idea for a project that could be a good fit for the RFP, at least one artisan or practitioner should be included on your project team. Projects may include documentation and inventorying of artisan practices, methodologies, or designs; capacity development through structured apprenticeships, workshops, or trainings focused on local or regional stakeholders (including in the use of sustainable or repurposed materials in traditional arts); or knowledge sharing through community exhibits, practitioner-archival collaborations, or other approaches focused on safeguarding local artisan traditions and practices. Projects should include efforts to support sustainable transmission of traditions across generations and describe proposed activities and impacts in detail. Relevant artistic practices and living traditions for this RFP may include but are not limited to craft, music, adornment, dance, and spoken arts. Proposals will be evaluated for feasibility, applicant experience, strength of community engagement, capacity building, and novel contributions. Projects addressing an urgent need pertaining to the sustainable preservation or transmission of a particular art or practice may be prioritized.

Benefits

• Up to $20,000 in funding for Level I grants, up to $40,000 for Level II grants.
• Grant recipients become members of the National Geographic Explorer Community and eligible for a variety of future funding, learning and networking opportunities.
• Potential to be featured on LEX social media channels, and/or in the annual LEX-NG Fund Traveler Impact Report (the latest version of the Impact Report can be found here).
• Potential guest speaking opportunities aboard NG-LEX vessels.
• Opportunities to connect and collaborate with other LEX-NG Fund grantees.

The Pfizer Emergent Leader Award recognizes up to eight individuals in the second year of their graduate studies or post-doctoral research in fields such as organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology. This award supports female-identified individuals and provides a $1,500 stipend for travel expenses to present research at the ACS Spring Meeting. Awardees will be honored at the WCC Luncheon and the ‘Just Cocktails’ reception, promoting inclusivity in science.

The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists honor exceptional faculty-rank scientists and engineers in the U.S. Recognizing achievements in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences, each Laureate receives $250,000 in unrestricted funds. Nominations come from a select group of institutions and previous Laureates, emphasizing innovation and impact. The awards celebrate the future potential of young researchers, fostering diversity in STEM fields. The ceremony takes place annually in New York City.

The Minde Browning Professional Development Fund Grant, established by The Indianapolis Foundation, supports professional development activities for library staff in Marion County. Grants of up to $1,500 are available for attending conferences, workshops, and courses that enhance skills and benefit library patrons. Applicants must demonstrate how their development will positively impact their community. Applications are accepted year-round, with a 60-day advance notice required.

The Henry and Louise Timken Foundation Grant provides essential funding to support charitable initiatives that benefit the Stark County community. Established as a supporting foundation of the Stark Community Foundation, it focuses on programs in medical vision services, aviation, and the arts. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations and government entities with a minimum of three years of operation. The Foundation prioritizes local projects that enhance community well-being and development.

The City Gardens Club of New York City Grant Program offers annual grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 for impactful projects that enhance the connection between people and nature across all five boroughs. The program supports educational initiatives to cultivate gardening skills, foster environmental appreciation, and improve community gardens and public spaces. Nonprofit groups are invited to apply, ensuring that funds are used effectively to promote sustainable practices and environmental stewardship in urban settings.

The Bowman-Shannon Cultural Arts Fund, managed by the Shenandoah Community Foundation, aims to promote cultural arts in Shenandoah County, Virginia. This fund supports various artistic expressions, including visual arts, music, dance, and writing, encouraging participation from all nonprofit organizations, not just those focused on arts. It empowers individuals and groups to explore their creativity through diverse mediums, enriching the community's cultural landscape.

The MPS Materials Research Programs, funded by the National Science Foundation, aim to enhance the understanding of materials and their diverse applications. These programs cover areas such as biomaterials, ceramics, condensed matter physics, and electronic materials. With an emphasis on transformative research, NSF MPS encourages proposals that are innovative and foundational, without the necessity for immediate commercial outcomes, fostering long-term advancements in materials science.

The Arts dollars Grant Program is dedicated to enhancing K-12 arts education by funding projects that provide opportunities for students in the Quad Cities. Grants of up to $2,500 for individual artists and $5,000 for nonprofits and schools are available. Since 1979, Quad City Arts Inc. has empowered local artists and organizations, fostering community engagement and showcasing the transformative power of the arts in education.

The Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant, offered by the Region 2 Arts Council, supports artists who are enrolled tribal members and descendants residing in specific Minnesota counties. This grant funds exhibition, performance, and production costs, as well as materials and educational opportunities in the arts. It aims to enhance the careers of artists across all disciplines, thereby strengthening the cultural fabric of North Central Minnesota since 1980.

The Mission Main Street Grant Program, established by the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, aims to revitalize Erie County's main streets by supporting small businesses and enhancing community development. With funding opportunities for planning and implementation, the program encourages local governments and nonprofits to improve streetscapes, promote tourism, and foster economic growth. Grants of up to $200,000 are available, emphasizing community engagement and adherence to historic preservation principles.

The ArtsKC Mission Support Grant is designed to support non-profit organizations whose primary focus is the arts in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Grants of $5,000 are available, with funding aimed at promoting artistic excellence, community impact, and inclusivity. The program supports various art forms and encourages diverse-led organizations to apply, fostering a thriving arts community. Last year, 18 grants were awarded, totaling $98,500, with a multi-year funding commitment for continued support.