Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

The Yukon Community Renewable Energy Projects aim to enhance renewable energy supply and lower diesel usage within the Yukon. Funded by the Government of Yukon, the initiative supports community-driven projects with up to 75% funding for eligible costs, capped at $500,000. Eligible applicants include municipal and First Nation governments, development corporations, community societies, and Yukon-based businesses. Projects must generate energy using proven renewable technologies.

The William H. Hannon Foundation provides grants primarily to non-profit organizations that enhance education and health care within the greater Los Angeles area. Grant requests must be submitted in letter format, adhering to specific guidelines outlined on their website. The Foundation focuses on advancing the welfare of disadvantaged groups and supports endeavors that align with Mr. Hannon's philanthropic values. Notably, individual requests and certain funding types are excluded from consideration.

The Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Grant Program aims to enhance transportation in small Iowa communities by fostering strategic planning and community engagement. Participants develop conceptual plans to address local transportation needs, focusing on pedestrian and bicycle facilities, safety education, and beautification efforts. With a commitment of $2,000, eligible communities under 10,000 residents can seek funding sources and technical assistance for project implementation, ensuring that their transportation vision aligns with federal guidelines.

The Mapp Family Foundation Grant aims to support 501(c)3 organizations in Central & South Mississippi and Coastal Alabama. With a focus on aiding vulnerable people and animals, the foundation encourages applications for grants up to $5,000. The foundation prioritizes compassionate care, striving to enhance the quality of life for those in need. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt entities or governmental agencies, while individuals are ineligible for funding.

The Costco Wholesale Charitable Contributions program prioritizes support for children, education, and health services within local communities. Nonprofit organizations seeking assistance must be 501(c)(3) certified and focus on monetary requests. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, factoring in community needs and collaboration. However, Costco limits grants to 10% of the program budget and typically restricts organizations to one request per fiscal year. They do not fund individuals or direct aid for various specific purposes.

The Kyndryl Foundation Grant aims to empower communities through investments in education, technology, and workforce development. With a focus on cybersecurity and AI skills for underrepresented learners, the foundation fosters balanced partnerships and innovation. It prioritizes transparency and integrity, ensuring grants support long-term impact. This initiative aligns with Kyndryl's mission to create a sustainable future by enhancing access to opportunities and resources for all, thereby promoting diversity and inclusivity in economic growth.

The Need to Know Grant by the Albuquerque Community Foundation offers nonprofits the chance to submit rolling grant requests throughout the year. This initiative allows organizations to keep the Foundation informed about their programs and ongoing funding needs. With suggestions to apply for amounts between $5,000 and $10,000, the grant aims to support projects that enhance community well-being in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia counties.

The Journey For Good Grant aims to combat poverty by supporting charitable organizations in North America focused on food security, housing, education, and workforce development. The grant prioritizes initiatives that provide nutritional wellness, combat homelessness, and support veterans and their families. By fostering partnerships among nonprofits, government, and business, the foundation addresses the interconnected challenges faced by economically vulnerable individuals, creating sustainable solutions for community empowerment.

The Peacock Foundation Inc. grants support the health and well-being of South Florida's children and families through contributions to eligible 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation prioritizes proposals that address human services, education, health, youth, elderly care, disabilities, arts for educational purposes, and environmental education. All applicants must submit a letter of inquiry detailing their mission, project description, community served, and funding request. The foundation does not fund capital campaigns, individuals, or lobbying efforts.

The Samerian Foundation Grant aims to enhance the quality of life through financial support for education, economic development, health, youth sports, and humanitarian projects. It primarily focuses on disadvantaged youth and community development in Central Indiana, welcoming applications from 501(c)(3) organizations. The Foundation does not fund general operating expenses or for-profit ventures, ensuring that assistance is directed towards impactful initiatives that align with their mission.

TREC Community Investors

TREC Community Investors is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

We Are an innovative organization dedicated to equitable development and neighborhood revitalization in Dallas and Collin counties. We are a unique resource that empowers communities through an unrivaled combination of assets: financial capital, world-class expertise, targeted education, and a passion for making a difference in our city. We are a trusted partner with the experience to help rejuvenate local economies, increase essential services, create jobs, expand affordable housing, and transform underserved areas into vibrant, thriving communities.

We’ve partnered with more than 750 nonprofit and community organizations that are also dedicated to transforming Dallas.

TREC Community Investors Grant

Applications are only being accepted for projects that invest in the Dallas Catalyst Project: Mill City neighborhood.

Projects will address public safety, outdating infrastructure, affordable housing, and a lack of safe public gathering spaces and youth mentoring opportunities.

Preferred Criteria

• Real estate based and comprised of modest scope building renovation
• Leverages funds by utilizing the professional & hands-on volunteer skills of TREC members
• Project must be designed, planned and executed during the year they are accepted
• Impacts under-served neighborhoods, demonstrating feasibility and measurable long-term viability
• Involves people expected to benefit from the project in the development and implementation

The Callaway Foundation, established in 1943, focuses on charitable, educational, and religious support primarily in LaGrange and Troup County, Georgia. With a history of significant contributions exceeding $440 million, the Foundation aids various projects, including churches, schools, and community initiatives. Grants typically cover one-time capital projects, emphasizing community development and revitalization. Eligibility is limited to established Troup County churches, ensuring grants support lasting impacts rather than operational costs.

Flexible Funding provides unrestricted financial support to organizations, allowing them to focus on their mission. The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts prioritizes smaller, community-rooted organizations, especially in Springfield and Franklin County. Grants up to $30,000 are available, with a total of $3.4 million planned for distribution. Eligible organizations must have IRS 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship and an operating budget under $10 million, ensuring support for those who truly benefit the local community.

The RWN Foundation: Oregon Arts & Culture Grant supports innovative arts and cultural organizations that enhance community well-being. Focused on historically marginalized groups, it promotes access to arts education and cultural programming. The foundation seeks to fund initiatives that celebrate diverse traditions and foster social equity, particularly in Oregon. Grants are typically smaller, averaging $10,000, and are unrestricted, allowing organizations to allocate funds as needed to maximize impact.

Otsego Community Foundation

The Otsego Community Foundation (OCF) is a nonprofit organization created by and for the people of our community. We help meet critical local needs by collaborating with donors and nonprofits serving Otsego county, managing permanent funds, and awarding purposeful grants. We magnify your generosity and impact and ensure that charitable funds are directed where they matter most. Our services cover the entire county and all fields of interest including Arts and Culture, Conservation, Community and Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Education and Youth Initiatives.

Ultimately, our efforts help fill forests with trees, minds with knowledge, youth with dreams, workforce with skills, society with art & culture, pantries with food, communities with connections, and hearts with that joyful feeling of making a difference.

Adapt Grants

Adapt Grants are designed to fund projects that are small in scale, meet an unanticipated need, explore new opportunities, sponsor an event, and grow capacity. These grants are meant to be flexible and support you in adapting to changing needs, so whether you’re dreaming up a new project that could use seed or matching support, or are tackling a challenge that popped up suddenly, we want to support you in executing your day-to-day mission. Compared to the Community Grant Program “big rocks”, we consider these to be “pebble” projects. Both are important for advancing one’s mission. You can apply for both an Adapt Grant and the Community Grant Program in the same year.  

For 2025-2027 the OCF has identified three high impact partners areas to proactively support the community:

• OCAN-Advanced training
• Housing Task Force-Attainable housing
• START-Coordinated human service

Proposals that align with these areas will be strongly considered. 

The CTE Grant for Non-Traditional Grants supports Perkins V Programs of Study, focusing on fields where individuals from one gender make up less than 25% of the workforce, such as technology and computer science. Eligible applicants include education cooperatives and single local education agencies (LEAs) qualified for Perkins funding. For detailed career pathways in Arkansas for 2024-2025, refer to the provided link. This initiative aims to promote gender diversity in high-skill occupations.

About Us

Who We Are

The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940 and currently headquartered in Baltimore, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in all fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

What We Do

Through our network of blind members, we coordinate many programs, services, and resources to defend the rights of blind Americans, provide information and support to blind children and adults, and build a community that creates a future full of opportunities.

What We Believe

We are the only organization that believes in the full capacity of blind people and has the power to transform our dreams into reality. We believe in blind people because we are blind people—from our democratically elected leaders to our diverse nationwide membership.

Scholarship Program

Thanks to our generous partners, there are thirty $10,000 merit-based scholarships currently available. All scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, community service, and leadership. The finalists are announced every spring. They then attend our national convention in July when the winners of each individual scholarship are selected. 

Howard Brown Rickard Scholarship

The Howard Brown Rickard Scholarship, first granted in 1965, is awarded to post-secondary full time students studying law, medicine, engineering, architecture, or the natural sciences.

The Nonprofit Leadership Grant Program by the Black United Fund of Oregon aims to empower BIPOC-led grassroots organizations through a $10,000 grant and a year-long leadership curriculum. This program focuses on developing essential skills in fund development, operations, and marketing. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and serve BIPOC communities in Oregon and SW Washington, with a net income below $600,000, ensuring support for those most in need.

UPS Louisville Community Care Fund

The UPS Louisville Community Care Fund supports nonprofit organizations working to meet critical needs and strengthen communities across Louisville. The Fund is managed in partnership with the Community Foundation of Louisville and builds on The UPS Foundation’s commitment to helping safe, healthy, and resilient communities thrive. Eligible applicants may request up to $150,000 for a new or existing project or program.

What Does the UPS Louisville Community Care Fund Support?

The UPS Louisville Community Care Fund will support nonprofit organizations focused on disaster relief, education, environmental resilience, first responder support, and mental wellness.

The Del Mar Foundation Grant supports community projects that enhance civic pride, preserve open space, and promote cultural activities in Del Mar. Nonprofit organizations can apply for funding to support initiatives like beach improvements and community events. The Foundation encourages applications year-round, with no minimum grant amount, though individual grants cannot exceed 25% of the annual budget. Preference is given to projects directly benefiting the Del Mar community, ensuring a focus on local engagement and sustainability.

*Round 2 of the NYS Grown & Certified Infrastructure and Technology Grant Program is anticipated to launch in summer of 2026

About the Institute

The New York Farm Viability Institute is a nonprofit grantmaking organization. We run a competitive grant program seeking to fund agricultural research and education projects that will create and share knowledge to improve the economic viability of New York’s farmers.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help New York farmers become more profitable and improve the long-term economic viability and sustainability of our state’s farms, the food system, and the communities which they serve.

We strive to achieve our mission through a farmer-driven grant making process connecting farmer-identified needs to practical research and education solutions.

We amplify our efforts and the efforts of others through leadership and collaboration. This creation and sharing of knowledge results in positive farm-level impact.

NYFVI administers both research and education as well as direct grants for farms and food businesses.

NYS Grown & Certified Infrastructure and Technology Grant

This program will provide $8.5million to support New York food and beverage producers, processors, distributors, and other eligible entities in bringing NYS Grown & Certified food and beverage products to market through investments in innovative infrastructure and technology. 

Grant sizes range from $20,000 – $250,000 with a required 10% match

Priority areas include:

• Production automation and labor efficiency
• Distribution capacity enhancement
• Processing and packaging
• Food safety
• Environmental sustainability
• New product development

All funded projects must implement new and innovative practices or approaches that address industry needs and consumer demand, provide direct and timely benefit to the NY agricultural industry, and demonstrate regional significance. Additionally, applicants must be current NYS Grown & Certified participants or actively working to become certified.

Who we are

For more than a century, Philadelphia Foundation has increased philanthropic investment in the community, fostering the economic, civic and social vitality of Greater Philadelphia.

We take charitable dollars further through our deep relationships in the community, close connections with local nonprofits and 100-year history of building positive outcomes in the Philadelphia region.

Born of a desire for more powerful, permanent funding to address community needs, we collaborate with thousands of individuals, families and businesses to advance this goal, always with an eye on the future. As we enter our second century of service, our vision remains grounded in the needs of today and tomorrow and is shaped by the values we hold close, including excellence, diversity, equity and results.

From Ben Franklin’s civic gift of 1,000 pounds sterling to Gerry Lenfest’s endowment for independent journalism, Philadelphia Foundation stewards legacies that strengthen the place we call home, improving lives today and for future generations.

Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Forfeiture Fund – Summer Camps, Cycling, Swimming & Athletic Programs 

Description

Forfeiture Fund

Pursuant to its obligations under the Pennsylvania Controlled Substances Forfeiture Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5802, and the final order entered on February 17, 2021(Sourovelis v. City of Philadelphia, Civ. Action No. 2:14-cv-04687-ER), the Office of the District Attorney of Philadelphia must utilize funds forfeited to it to support community-based anti-crime and anti-narcotics organizations.

Organizations may request support for:

• Summer Camps
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Athletic Programs 

Organizations may use funds to support anti-crime, anti-drug, anti-violence initiatives consistent with guidance from the Office of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and the United States Department of Justice. A non-exhaustive list of permissible uses based on these sources will be provided to grantee organizations. The Fund will prioritize requests from grassroots community groups with smaller budgets, defined as $950,000 or less. Grants are limited to organizations working with people in the city and county of Philadelphia.

Funding priorities

The Forfeiture Fund will accept applications from community-based organizations offering programs that align with the guidelines and a single focus area of this grant cycle. Applications which attempt to address all focus areas in a single application are likely to be declined.

Priority will be given to:

• Organizations with annual operating budgets at or below $950,000 
• Organizations that can demonstrate a track record of running a summer camp, cycling, swimming and/or athletic programs 

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) offers grants to support initiatives that foster peace, equality, and human rights in Northern Ireland. Their funding priorities include strengthening human rights and equality, reimagining society, and cultivating peace. They focus on projects that promote inclusive public discourse, encourage non-violent strategies, and address the root causes of violence. Applications are welcomed from local and all-island initiatives that align with these goals, particularly those demonstrating potential for broader impact.

The Professional Development Award aims to enhance the capabilities of individuals affiliated with Region 3 Network Member institutions. This funding supports attendance at seminars and workshops focused on data science and health information access, promoting improved health literacy and equity. The NNLM encourages projects that empower underrepresented communities and healthcare professionals. Applications are open until funds are exhausted or April 1, 2024, with a singular award per annual performance cycle.

The Virtual Professional Development Award aims to enhance professional knowledge and experience for individuals in Region 3 Network Member institutions. By funding attendance at seminars and conferences related to data science and health information access, this award supports the goals of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM). It seeks to improve health information access for healthcare providers and consumers, particularly among underrepresented populations, fostering health equity and literacy.

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program, initiated by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997, aims to bolster community coalitions dedicated to preventing youth substance use. Funded by the US HHS's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this program focuses on collaboration among various stakeholders, including government and non-profit entities, to effectively reduce substance abuse among youth and promote protective factors within communities.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations.

P-TECH Continued Support Grant

Program Description

This grant will implement innovative strategies for providing a robust model of support to P-TECH campuses in the CCRSM network:

• Developing strategy and resources for successfully scaling CCRSM programs with fidelity to increase the number of CCRSM teachers and CCRSM students
• CCRSM leaders from campuses, districts, institutes of higher education, and business and industry to support and sustain a mature CCRSM model.