Best Private Grants for Nonprofits

The Keepers Preservation Education Award Scholarship, offered by the Maine Community Foundation, supports aspiring and established preservation professionals in the U.S. This program provides financial assistance for tuition, travel, and resources related to historic preservation studies. Eligible candidates include students and professionals in fields like architecture, history, and law. Note that applications will not be accepted in 2025, but interested individuals should check back in 2026 for updates.

The WI Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) supports sustainable agricultural practices by protecting eligible lands from nonagricultural use. It focuses on preserving grazing lands and restoring wetlands, ensuring agricultural viability and conserving natural resources. ACEP features two main components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE), which aid landowners in safeguarding productive lands and enhancing wildlife habitats. This program encourages year-round applications, fostering long-term environmental stewardship.

The WV Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) focuses on conserving agricultural viability through Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) and Agricultural Land Easements (ALE). By limiting non-agricultural uses, the program enhances wetlands and grazing lands, providing vital habitat restoration. NRCS supports landowners with technical and financial assistance to restore and protect wetlands. Applications are accepted year-round, ensuring ongoing opportunities for eligible participants to engage in conservation efforts and preserve ecological integrity in West Virginia.

The WY Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) aims to safeguard agricultural viability and conservation values by restricting nonagricultural land use. It offers two main components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) to protect croplands and grasslands, and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) to restore and enhance degraded wetlands. Additionally, the program includes the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to collaborate with partners for high-priority wetland protection and wildlife habitat improvement.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) supports the conservation of agricultural land and wetlands by protecting them from nonagricultural uses. It offers Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) to assist landowners in preserving valuable resources. Eligible entities can receive financial assistance to maintain agricultural viability and restore habitats, promoting sustainability and conservation in agriculture while providing funding for critical projects.

The McKesson Foundation Grant provides funding above $25,000 to support health equity initiatives across North America. Founded in 1943, its mission focuses on removing barriers to quality healthcare for vulnerable communities. The foundation prioritizes projects that align with strategic pillars: reducing cancer burdens, preparing the healthcare workforce, and enhancing crisis response. Eligible organizations include national and local nonprofits. Funding is limited to specific regions and assessed based on demonstrated need and expected impact.

The Pratt Family Foundation Grant, established in 1999, supports initiatives in education, healthcare, and community welfare. It prioritizes organizations that aid housing assistance, support for women in crisis, and disadvantaged youth programs, particularly in North Carolina. The Foundation favors established religious and charitable organizations that are tax-exempt and have a local presence. Preference is given to areas connected to the Pratt family, such as Texas and Florida, ensuring impactful contributions to community development.

Wyoming Division of Victim Services

Speaking as one voice for victims of crime. The mission of the Wyoming Division of Victim Services (DVS) is to cultivate social change and access to victim services through the provision of resources, education, and program support and development.

Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) Funds

The purpose of VOCA is to provide direct services to victims of crime. "Services to victims of crime" are those activities directly benefiting individual crime victims and ensuring the availability of comprehensive services to all victims of crime in Wyoming. Each year a portion of VOCA funding is set-aside for special projects. Services under this program are used to:

respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims;

assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after victimization;

assist victims in understanding and participating in the criminal justice system; and

provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security.

VOCA funds are awarded on a competitive, non-formula basis, to eligible victim service programs. VOCA funds are used to support the provision of services to all victims of crime.

The Duke Energy Foundation's Nonprofit Capacity Building program aims to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of North Carolina nonprofit organizations. With annual grants exceeding $30 million, the foundation supports agencies addressing essential services like housing stability and food security. Grants, ranging from $10,000 to under $25,000, target organizations that foster community resilience and opportunity. Eligible applicants must have 501(c)(3) status and demonstrate measurable community impact.

Technical Assistance for Federal Cost-Sharing Program

The Technical Assistance for Federal Cost-Sharing Program (TAFC) helps Colorado water users secure and use federal money for water projects. The TAFC Program's main purpose is to provide technical and administrative support to organizations applying for federal funding. This program is especially helpful for water users who struggle to access federal funds due to limited staff or technical resources.

The TAFC Program offers grants directly to water users. These grants can be used to hire consultants or get other necessary resources to create strong applications for federal funding. All projects funded by TAFC must align with the Colorado Water Plan and can include projects involving aging infrastructure. TAFC grants cannot be used for treated water projects or wastewater projects.

The CWCB has $500,000 available for projects across Colorado. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Grant funding can be used for tasks such as:

• Preliminary project planning, design, and engineering
• Preliminary permitting
• Developing estimated project costs
• Understanding available federal funding opportunities
• Grant writing
• Submitting federal grant applications

Project development: This includes site assessments, data collection for project design, working with other interested parties, permitting, design help, cost estimates, securing matching funds, and other technical work needed for a federal funding application.

Grant writing: This covers researching federal grant opportunities, contacting funding programs before applying, reviewing federal rules and application requirements, and creating the application and required documents like support letters.

The Oklahoma 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program aims to enhance educational opportunities for students in low-performing schools. By providing academic enrichment, after-school activities, and family engagement, this program supports students in meeting Oklahoma's academic standards. Eligible applicants include local educational agencies, non-profits, and community organizations, ensuring diverse participation. The initiative focuses on a collaborative approach to improve educational outcomes and foster community involvement in children's education.

The Community Partnership Grants by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation support music and arts education in Louisiana's K-12 schools. Grants of up to $7,500 are available for instruments, supplies, and instruction. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and local nonprofits. The program aims to enhance cultural traditions and foster artistic expression, continuing a legacy of over $13.5 million in funding for community projects since 1979.

The Community Benefit Initiative Reinvestment (CBIR) Grant supports innovative projects aimed at improving healthcare access for EOCCO members. Grants of up to $50,000 fund one-year initiatives that foster collaborations, enhance telehealth, and address health disparities. Eligible organizations include healthcare providers and community groups in Eastern Oregon. Successful projects may inspire replication in other regions, ultimately benefiting underserved populations and improving health outcomes across the service area.

The Women’s Fund Grant, initiated by the Austin Community Foundation in 2004, has become a significant driver of change for women and children in Central Texas. With over $4 million granted to more than 100 nonprofits, it aims to address critical issues such as housing, child care, education, unintended pregnancy prevention, and women's health. In 2024, the Fund will celebrate its 20th anniversary and continue its mission of empowering communities through strategic funding and collaboration.

Mission

The Foundation was established in December 2013 by Kathryn B. McQuade, after retiring from 33 years of working in the business community. I was blessed to have been born into a loving middle class family. My father worked very hard to insure that all of his children were given an opportunity for a good education and my mother, “a stay at home Mom’ was always there for us. My world was safe and comfortable. My life is in stark contrast to how much of the rest of the world lives. I continue to read of the terrible injustices waged against women and children globally and hope that this foundation can provide them the opportunity and resources to succeed. We will support organizations that help us achieve our goal of Striving to make sustainable improvements in women and children’s rights education and welfare.

Kathryn McQuade Foundation Grant

The Foundation will make timely decisions on your grant request and provide clear communications on our expectations of reporting progress.

Women

The Foundation’s goal is to provide women assistance and provide them an opportunity to succeed. Assistance can take many forms, however our goal is to help them become self sufficient and enable them to lift themselves out of poverty and provide for their children. Access to education, job training and professional skills, even access to capital in order to build a business are possible ways we will consider helping women to succeed. Grant requests should focus on enabling the women to sustain financial independence.

We look forward to hearing of the many creative ways organizations are working on helping women succeed through out the world. To help women is to help their children and the communities they live in.

Children

Too many children in the US and across the world live in poverty and lack the access to education. Education and/or appropriate skills training are necessary to break the cycle of poverty and crime. While the assistance to women may take many forms, the foundation’s focus for children will target education and/ or skills training. The Foundation is open to many ideas on how to accomplish this goal and look forward to receiving proposals to help all children achieve their potential.

The FL Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) focuses on protecting agricultural viability and conservation values by limiting nonagricultural uses of eligible lands. It includes Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) to safeguard working farms and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) for restoring degraded wetlands. Additionally, ACEP collaborates with partners through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to enhance wetland conservation and wildlife habitats, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices across Florida.

The Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, established in 2011, offers multi-year fellowships for postdoctoral scholars to conduct independent research at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Open to international applicants, it aims to enhance the scientific community by training future scientists and promoting innovative ideas. The fellowship includes a stipend of $62,000 annually, along with allowances for research, health insurance, and relocation. Applicants must have a recent PhD and be fluent in English.

IDNR Mission Statement

To manage, conserve and protect Illinois' natural, recreational and cultural resources, further the public's understanding and appreciation of those resources, and promote the education, science and public safety of Illinois' natural resources for present and future generations.

Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program 23-DG-11094200-327

Description 

To plan for, establish, manage and protect trees, forests, green spaces and related natural resources in and adjacent to cities and towns. The urban and community forestry program provides ecosystem services, social and economic benefits. It links these benefits to governmental, private and grassroots organizations and resources to improve the quality of life in these cities and towns.

Matching Requirement: Yes

The KY Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) aims to safeguard agricultural viability and conservation values by limiting non-agricultural uses of eligible lands. It consists of Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) that protect croplands and grasslands, and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) that restore degraded wetlands. USDA's Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) enhances these efforts by collaborating with eligible partners to prioritize wetland protection and improve wildlife habitats. Applications are accepted year-round.

Pincus Family Foundation

PFF is driven by the values that our founders David and Gerry Pincus lived by: “to get involved, not just think about your own life, you are supposed to do things for other people.” Today, the second and third generation of Pincus Family members have added their ethos, while keeping the founders’ legacy alive.

Pincus Family Foundation Grant

Mission Alignment: We support our non-profit partners to develop and enhance programs that improve the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

PFF Funds Projects, Programs, & General Operating Support in Four Priority Areas

Creative & Performing Arts

The Pincus Family Foundation’s Creative and Performing Arts portfolio supports programs where young people use art as a tool to address the structural inequities they face. Five strategic priorities:

• Arts for Social Change Focus – Integrating artistic practice with community organizing, policy advocacy, and/or systemic change efforts
• Hyperlocal Community Integration – Deep community embedment with extensive local partnerships
• Teaching Artist Investment – Commitment to the professional development and well-being of teaching artists
• Cultural Responsiveness – Programming that incorporates community cultural wealth with community input
• Environmental Justice Integration – Authentic integration of environmental themes from community-identified priorities

Target Constituency: Organizations serving preK-12 youth from marginalized communities with arts for social change programming that connects them to the power of art to question and transform systems.

Education

High school readiness for many low-income students, largely is a result of poor preparation in middle school. PFF is funding programs/projects that support middle school engagement and focus on achievement filling a funding gap. 

Target Constituency: We support non-profit organizations serving middle school students who face gaps in comprehensive high school readiness. These organizations implement innovative programming that creates challenging yet nurturing environments—preparing students for achievement while inspiring them to become engaged, confident citizens ready to contribute to their communities.

Health & Wellness

Goal: Advance children’s health and well-being by supporting nonprofits that strengthen social conditions, empower youth, and build healthier environments in marginalized communities.

Target Constituency: Nonprofits whose work strengthens social determinants of health for children in marginalized communities.

Play & Recreation

Goal: Advance children’s social-emotional development and physical well-being by supporting nonprofits that create inclusive play-based programming, competitive sports opportunities, and outdoor recreational experiences in under-resourced communities.

Target Constituency: Non-profits whose work promotes access to quality recreational programming for children ages 6-18 in under-resourced communities.

For all grants, the organization’s mission and scope must align with the Foundation’s mission. For the latter, these grants can be either unrestricted or restricted to a particular program or project. The type of grant and what it is used for will dictate the goals and objectives to be met.

The RBHA Regions Rural Behavioral Health Access program aims to enhance mental health services in Stark and Marshall counties. It focuses on crisis intervention, case management, and community outreach, employing two full-time mental health professionals. The program also provides training for educators and first responders to better identify mental health needs, while promoting awareness through community events. This initiative addresses systemic inequities, fostering inclusivity and diversity in service provision.

The ME Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) supports the preservation of agricultural land by limiting nonagricultural uses and enhancing conservation values. It offers two components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). ALE helps protect croplands and grasslands on working farms, while WRE focuses on restoring degraded wetlands. Additionally, the program includes the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to improve wildlife habitat through collaborative efforts.

The NE Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) aims to protect agricultural viability by limiting nonagricultural land uses and enhancing conservation values. It includes Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) to safeguard croplands and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) for wetland restoration. Through partnerships, USDA's ACEP facilitates high-priority wetland protection and wildlife habitat improvement. Applications are accepted year-round, with automatic consideration for future funding cycles after ranking dates.

The NV Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) aims to enhance agricultural viability and conservation values by limiting non-agricultural uses of eligible land. It includes Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) to protect croplands and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) to restore wetlands. This program supports landowners in preserving their land's agricultural integrity while promoting wildlife habitat through partnerships. Applications are accepted year-round, with future funding cycles available for late applicants.

The SC Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) supports landowners in protecting agricultural viability and conservation values by limiting non-agricultural land uses. It features two main components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) that safeguard croplands and grasslands, and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) for restoring degraded wetlands. Additionally, the program includes the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to enhance wetland protection efforts, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices and improved wildlife habitats.

The SD Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) aims to protect agricultural viability and conservation values by restricting non-agricultural land uses. It includes Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) that assist landowners in preserving croplands and grasslands, and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) which focus on restoring degraded wetlands. The program also offers the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to enhance wetland protection efforts in collaboration with eligible partners.

The Texas Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) aims to protect agricultural viability by limiting non-agricultural land uses. It offers two components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) to conserve working farms and ranches, and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) to restore degraded wetlands. Additionally, the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) supports collaborative efforts for wetland protection and enhancement, ensuring sustainable agriculture and conservation of natural resources.