Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

The Mildred B. Price Nursing Scholarship, established by William B. Price in honor of his mother, supports aspiring nursing students in Indiana. This scholarship aims to empower residents of Grant, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Pulaski, Starke, or White Counties. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher while pursuing a nursing degree at any Indiana college or university. This initiative fosters equitable opportunities in the nursing profession.

The Employer Training Grant for Early Childhood Education, offered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, supports Hoosier employers in training and retaining staff in high-demand sectors. With reimbursements up to $50,000, the grant focuses on job skills training that aligns with eligible occupations and requires at least 40 hours of training. Employers must ensure new hires earn a minimum wage of $19 per hour and existing employees receive a 5% wage increase post-training.

The Margaret Martin Roth Endowed Scholarship, established by the Hamilton County Community Foundation, offers financial support to Indiana residents enrolled in nursing programs. This scholarship aims to empower students who are sophomores or above in their pursuit of post-baccalaureate degrees. Preference is given to those with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and demonstrated financial need, ensuring that dedicated individuals have the opportunity to succeed in their educational endeavors.

The Rally Family Emergency Fund, initiated by the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, offers financial assistance to families with children diagnosed with cancer. This support is crucial in alleviating the financial burden from treatment costs, travel expenses, and other related bills. The goal is to help families focus on their child's well-being during challenging times. By addressing immediate financial needs, the fund empowers families to navigate their journey with less stress and more support.

The Ruth Goldstein Memorial Music Scholarship supports graduating seniors from Capital Region high schools who plan to pursue music education or performance. Offered by The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, this scholarship prioritizes students specializing in woodwind instruments, piano accompaniment, or those demonstrating financial need. Since 1968, the foundation has empowered the community through generous giving opportunities, enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

The Joette P. Delia Curiano Scholarship is designed for graduating high school seniors from specific schools in the Greater Capital Region who plan to pursue a degree in health care or nursing. Applicants must demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need. This scholarship is part of a universal application process, allowing students to apply for multiple scholarships with one form, thereby increasing accessibility to educational funding.

The Women and Minorities in Construction Trades Program Grant aims to support women and minority veterans in overcoming economic barriers to access training in construction trades. This initiative offers funding for eligible organizations to provide comprehensive training, placement services, and support to prepare these veterans for successful careers in the construction industry. With a funding amount of $1,500,000, the program is focused on enhancing workforce diversity and inclusion within the sector.

The AmeriCorps State Formula Fund Grant in North Dakota supports programs that recruit, train, and supervise AmeriCorps members to address vital community issues. These grants focus on areas such as education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity, as well as serving veterans and military families. Through this funding, communities can enhance their capacity to meet pressing needs and improve overall well-being.

The Wallace F. Pate Scholarship, established by the Hampton Wildlife Fund in 2004, awards $2,500 annually to a South Carolina resident pursuing higher education in natural resource disciplines. This scholarship honors Wallace F. Pate, a pioneer in offshore big game fishing. Eligible applicants must be seniors in South Carolina high schools, planning to major in fields such as wildlife biology or environmental science. The scholarship aims to support future conservation leaders and promote educational growth in South Carolina.

The PLAN of CT Charitable Trust Grants provide essential, one-time assistance for Connecticut residents with disabilities. Established in 1990, this initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals facing various challenges due to their disabilities. Grants can fund services and resources such as home retrofitting, music therapy, and educational support. Priority is given to applicants with limited income, ensuring that those in greater need receive support to improve their independence and wellbeing.

The Margaret and Peter Chang Foundation Grant supports 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children in the Scotch Plains, NJ area. Applications are reviewed quarterly on a rolling basis, providing flexibility for applicants. This foundation aims to make a positive impact on local communities by funding initiatives that enhance children's lives, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most.

The Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation (GEEDC), founded in 1974, promotes diversity in workforce development through its grant program. By supporting nonprofit organizations and businesses, GEEDC helps address community needs and offers opportunities for marginalized individuals. Past recipients include Zenedge Energy Drinks and East Side Renaissance. GEEDC grants are available annually, aiming to enhance local economic growth and workforce diversity, making a significant impact on the Erie community.

Transportation Research and Policy

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through evidence-based solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice.

The Infrastructure team has been investing in efforts to build better, faster, and lower-cost infrastructure with a focus on housing, energy, and transportation. For transportation, we are investing in policymaking and research that tackles the inefficiencies that make U.S. transportation infrastructure so difficult and expensive to build. 

Purpose

Transportation policy represents an avenue for improving the systems moving people, goods, and services. The Infrastructure team is seeking proposals evaluating the effectiveness and/or benefits of existing transportation or transportation-adjacent policies on outcomes for communities in the United States.

Eligible Projects and Topic Areas of Interest

This Request for Proposals (RFP) aims to bolster the knowledge base of potentially effective policies, programs, and interventions by funding efforts that align with key AV Infrastructure policy areas.

AV is primarily focused on traditional surface transportation — road and public transit — but is open to proposals in aviation, maritime, passenger and freight rail, trucking, and more.

We seek proposals for: 1) research, expanded data sets, or analysis; 2) administrative or legislative policy reforms at the federal, state, or local level; or 3) models of effective implementation including proposals for implementing agencies to partner with researchers or program evaluators to conduct baseline and post-intervention research on implementation effectiveness that will advance the knowledge base and provide illustrative examples within, but not limited to, the following topic areas:

• Transportation Capital Investment Reform. Evaluating how capital funding is prioritized and selected at the federal, state, or regional level, including discretionary grant programs and formula-based funding. What reforms could ensure projects deliver higher public returns?

• Cost Estimation, Oversight, and Accountability. Why do major transportation projects frequently exceed budgets and timelines, and how can we identify strategies to improve transparency, cost realism, and performance oversight?

• Access in Mobility Outcomes. Measuring how current transportation investments affect access to jobs, services, and economic opportunities for workers and families, and what policy changes could improve access.

• Performance-Based Project Selection. How can public agencies shift from current, politically driven allocations to datadriven, performance-based decision-making on capital project selections?

• Institutional Barriers to Reform. What organizational, legal, or procedural hurdles prevent DOTs and MPOs from adopting better practices (e.g., outcome-based planning, integrated land use/transportation policy)?

• Permitting and Permit Reform. How do current local, state, and federal permitting practices affect project cost, quality, timeline, and other concerns?

• Intergovernmental Dynamics. How do federal, state, and local funding structures and requirements enable or constrain effective transportation investment? What governance structures would improve outcomes when it comes to transportation planning and project delivery?

• Data Sets and Root Causes of High Delivery Costs. Expanded data sets on unit costs and/or research illuminating the root causes of why transportation and transit projects cost so much and take so long to deliver. What policy and practice changes could manage project delivery risks and improve the likelihood that projects will be delivered on s chedule and on budget?

• Domestic Content. How do Buy America and domestic content requirements affect the cost, speed, innovation, and effectiveness of transportation infrastructure projects?

• Procurement Process. How do current procurement practices affect project cost, quality, innovation, and accountability — and what policy and regulatory reforms could improve outcomes?

• Other. AV also welcomes innovative proposals on other transportation issues that align with our mission.

These research, policy development, and implementation proposals can be relevant to federal surface transportation reauthorization legislation or federal administrative changes; state reforms to Departments of Transportation; and/or local-level reforms relevant either to regional transportation agencies, transit agencies, or municipal governments.

The Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Aftercare program aims to combat substance abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native populations. It focuses on enhancing care coordination, expanding culturally competent behavioral health services, and implementing early intervention strategies for at-risk youth. By supporting Tribal and community-led initiatives, the program fosters collaboration among families, youth, and community partners to create effective prevention, treatment, and recovery solutions.

The Behavioral Health Integration Initiative aims to enhance the health of American Indian and Alaska Native individuals by expanding access to integrated behavioral health care. It supports Tribal and Urban Indian Organization health systems in providing culturally responsive and trauma-informed services. The initiative focuses on improving care coordination, promoting early identification of mental health issues, and integrating various health services to improve overall health outcomes and quality of life for AI/AN communities.

The KYUMC Good Samaritan Ministries Grant aims to empower charitable and educational initiatives that address spiritual and physical needs in Kentucky. With grant awards up to $50,000, it supports organizations offering primary health care to low-income and uninsured individuals. Eligible applicants include ministries connected to the Kentucky Annual Conference, provided they align with its mission. This grant fosters sustainable ministries while prioritizing non-discrimination and equal opportunity.

The George E. Curtis Charitable Fund Grants support low-income elders and disabled individuals in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Established in 1931, the fund primarily aids Visiting Nurses Associations and similar organizations providing essential home care. Additionally, it offers assistance for emergency fuel, visual impairment support, and palliative care. The fund prioritizes organizations that deliver direct services, ensuring these individuals can maintain their independence and quality of life despite economic and physical challenges.

The Edward P. Suchecki Family Scholarship, established by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, supports local high school senior athletes pursuing a business career. Named after Ed Suchecki, a dedicated coach and businessman who valued education, this scholarship prioritizes financial need and favors football and golf players. Applicants must submit their transcripts and other required documents. This initiative aims to empower young athletes to achieve their educational goals.

The Isabelle Rowe Nursing Scholarship supports non-traditional students aged 21 and older from the Fox Valley and Waupaca areas pursuing nursing degrees. Established in 2007 by Julian Rowe in honor of his wife, Isabelle, this fund provides non-renewable scholarships of $2,000 for 4-year colleges and $1,000 for 2-year institutions. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, have work experience in healthcare, and demonstrate financial need, with opportunities to reapply annually.

The Idaho Workforce Development Council offers an Employer Grant to support local businesses in expanding their workforce or retraining existing employees for economic growth. Grants can provide up to $500,000 per project, aimed at enhancing skills for better job opportunities. The program emphasizes innovation, best practices in talent development, and improving economic mobility. Eligible employers must meet wage standards and provide health benefits, while temporary positions are not eligible for funding.

The Idaho Workforce Development Council's Innovation Grant supports projects that enhance the workforce pipeline in Idaho. By utilizing diverse funding sources, the grant aims to improve economic mobility through targeted training initiatives. Eligible applicants must be community-based teams in Idaho, focused on addressing local skill gaps and fostering job creation. This strategic investment promotes innovation and best practices in talent development, ultimately contributing to the state's economic growth and workforce retention.

The Herbek Humanitarian Award honors a CAP member pathologist for significant contributions to the See, Test & Treat® program, which offers free cancer screenings to underserved women. Established in 2011, it commemorates Gene N. Herbek, MD, FCAP, who pioneered this initiative for Native Americans. Nominees must have led or significantly contributed to the program, with submissions due by May 3, 2024. Self-nominations or incomplete entries will not be accepted, ensuring high standards in recognition.

Napa Valley Community Foundation

There are more than 800 Community Foundations in the US, each devoted to a specific region. We operate independently, with a common goal in mind: to be a platform for local people who want to pay it forward. To deliver resources to effective charitable programs. And to make our communities stronger and more successful by doing these two things.

Among our peers, Napa Valley Community Foundation ranks first on several key measures of donor satisfaction and impact, according to a recent donor survey conducted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy. Our donors say that we deeply understand their interests, and deeply understand the needs of Napa Valley. That, in a nutshell, is our job.

Ted Kohler Music Scholarship

The Ted Kohler Music Scholarship benefits Calistoga students who are committed to music and wish to advance their musical development. The scholarship can be used to pay for activities such as music lessons or summer camp, or for college tuition (where the student demonstrates their desire to continue their musical education). The Ted Kohler Scholarship was established in 1997 to promote musical participation and aspirations in honor of Ted, who upon retirement from San Francisco State University, became a full-time musician and leader of the Napa Valley Jazz Band. He encouraged people of all ages to express themselves musically.

The Mineral County Community Foundation (MCCF) Scholarship aims to support the educational aspirations of students in Mineral County, Montana. Offering three $1,000 scholarships for high school seniors, as well as additional $500 awards for juniors and past graduates, the program emphasizes community service and excellence. A special $1,500 scholarship will also be awarded to a candidate demonstrating a strong commitment to community engagement. This initiative reflects MCCF's dedication to fostering local talent and promoting educational opportunities.

The New Jersey State and Community Highway Safety Grant Project aims to enhance traffic safety by addressing issues such as impaired driving, seat belt usage, and the proper use of child passenger restraints. With approximately $15 million in funding for the upcoming federal fiscal year, this initiative will support various programs by state agencies and nonprofits to improve enforcement and safety measures for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.

Napa Valley Community Foundation

There are more than 800 Community Foundations in the US, each devoted to a specific region. We operate independently, with a common goal in mind: to be a platform for local people who want to pay it forward. To deliver resources to effective charitable programs. And to make our communities stronger and more successful by doing these two things.

Among our peers, Napa Valley Community Foundation ranks first on several key measures of donor satisfaction and impact, according to a recent donor survey conducted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy. Our donors say that we deeply understand their interests, and deeply understand the needs of Napa Valley. That, in a nutshell, is our job.

El Futuro Educational Scholarship

El Futuro Educational Scholarship is made possible in partnership with the Moulds Family and the Farmworker Foundation and benefits Napa County residents studying for an associate degree in viticulture and/or enology at Napa Valley College or Santa Rosa Junior College. This scholarship is geared towards students that demonstrate a drive and ambition to succeed in their community, school, or work-related functions. Recipients of the scholarship will receive funding for up to three years while working to complete their associate degree.

The Heiser Program for Research in Leprosy, established by Dr. Victor G. Heiser, focuses on innovative biomedical research to combat leprosy. Since 1975, it has funded over 200 grants totaling more than $20 million, supporting early-career researchers and significant projects. The program aims to enhance diagnostic tools, improve treatments, and implement effective surveillance strategies. With a dedicated Scientific Advisory Committee, it ensures rigorous proposal reviews and fosters collaboration among grantees, ultimately advancing leprosy elimination efforts.