Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

The Cameron Charitable Trust Grant, established by Edward Alexander Cameron, aims to support underprivileged individuals and those in poor health. The trust primarily funds organizations in North Carolina's triangle region that qualify as 501(c)(3) charities. Grants focus on health and human services, prioritizing those that demonstrate efficient use of funds and have a significant impact on their communities. The trust has no strict geographic limitations, but it favors local charities.

The Main Street Matters program, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, aims to revitalize downtowns and neighborhoods. It offers grants for planning, business support, and aesthetic enhancements, fostering vibrant communities. Eligible applicants can pursue designation as a Main Street or Elm Street, focusing on targeted investments and strategies for local development. This flexible funding supports various initiatives, including façade improvements and accessible housing projects, contributing to overall community well-being.

The Arts Council for Long Beach offers Project Microgrants to support publicly accessible arts and cultural projects that benefit the Long Beach community. These grants are available year-round and encourage diverse representation while enhancing underserved neighborhoods. Eligible projects include arts events, educational programs, and public art initiatives. The program aims to foster community engagement through the arts, enriching the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

The Community Trust Foundation Inc.

The inception of a Western Maryland community foundation for building economic prosperity and for enhancing the quality of life for its people came from caring community leaders of The Greater Cumberland Committee. The primary question was whether the dream for this foundation could be realized. Together, they worked with Casper R. Taylor Jr., Maryland Speaker of the House, 1994-2003 and promoted the benefits of a community foundation for “ leaving behind a legacy to solve local problems by people who know and care about local problems” to the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce & Rotary of Cumberland, MD.

CTF was fortunate to operate with dedicated board members and a small part-time staff in a rent-free office space. Working tirelessly, the board worked to grow funds, secured operating capital, and submitted a 500-page policy and procedure manual to earn accreditation from the Council of Foundations. They also established advisory councils for each county (Allegany, Garrett, and Mineral), sponsored an annual Humanitarian Award Banquet for community outreach, and gained respect from community members and organizations seeking their leadership.

The Community Trust Foundation Grant

CTF serves as a community leader in philanthropy by raising, managing and distributing funds to address identified needs in Allegany and Garrett Counties, Maryland and in Mineral County, West Virginia. We partner with area non-profits and donors to make effective grants and enable local citizens to generate local solutions in their communities. We make grants to non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations dedicated to building better, stronger, more vital communities in the region.

Since our inception in 2006, CTF has awarded over $7 million in grants, building stronger more vibrant communities. CTF grants support; the arts, education, historical preservation, health and wellness and building a thriving environment. We are committed to identifying high-priority needs and opportunities to make a significant positive impact on the community. CTF grants are typically used to provide start-up or short-term funding to innovative projects designed to meet emerging needs or with creative solutions to longer-term issues.

The Pacific Life Foundation Grants aim to positively impact communities through strategic funding in areas such as arts, education, and health. Nonprofits with tax-exempt status can apply for grants up to $15,000 for program support or $25,000 to $100,000 for capital projects. This initiative emphasizes collaboration and innovative solutions to meet community needs while honoring the legacy of Pacific Life and its employees.

The Park Foundation Grants for the Environment focus on ensuring clean and accessible drinking water while opposing shale gas extraction and infrastructure expansion. They fund diverse initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices and policies, particularly within New York State. The Foundation supports advocacy, organizing, and corporate responsibility efforts that align with their mission to foster a just and sustainable environment, empowering communities to protect their natural resources.

The Thomas C. McGowan Fund for Animals, established by the Cape Cod Foundation, aims to support animal welfare initiatives on Cape Cod and the Islands. This fund honors the legacy of Thomas McGowan, focusing on medical treatment, no-kill shelters, spaying/neutering, cruelty prevention, and public education regarding animal issues. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) charities and organizations with fiscal sponsors, ensuring a broad spectrum of support for animal protection efforts.

The 2026 Carceral Systems Organizing Grant seeks to support organizations working to eradicate carceral systems, create alternative justice solutions, or pursue system reform by addressing systemic criminalization that disproportionately targets Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income/poor communities across our five-state region.

We define carceral systems organizing broadly to include all systems that criminalize people’s lives based on race, poverty, gender, immigration status and/or disability. Examples include but are not limited to: 

• Abolition, transformative justice, and alternatives to incarceration
• Ending racial profiling and police brutality
• 'Addressing racial inequities in drug laws
• Child welfare, foster care, child protective services
• Youth incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline
• Detention and deportation of immigrant communities
• Homeless encampment sweeps and criminalization of survival needs
• Re-entry organizing by and for folks who were recently incarcerated

The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) offers cost-share funds to agricultural producers in Tennessee for making long-term investments in their farms and communities. Established in 2005, TAEP aids producers in maximizing profits, enhancing operational efficiency, and adapting to market changes. Eligible participants must be U.S. citizens or residents, at least 18 years old, and operate a farm in Tennessee. The program aims to ensure the sustainability and growth of agricultural practices within the state.

Background & Purpose

The California Arts Council (CAC) is a statewide agency committed to serving California artists, arts organizations, and communities of all sizes and needs. Guided by racial equity principles, the CAC continuously evaluates its grantmaking practices to ensure fair and inclusive funding opportunities that sustain a vibrant, safe, and resilient creative ecosystem across the state.

Through regionally based Administering Organizations (AOs), the Individual Artists Fellowship (IAF) program uplifts and celebrates California artists across all disciplines and traditions, highlights their excellence and acknowledges their leadership in shaping traditional and contemporary cultures. The program includes three fellowship tiers with a different award amount:

CAC Emerging Artist Fellows – $5,000

Emerging artists are those in the beginning stages of making their work public and engaging the larger community in their practice.

CAC Established Artist Fellows – $10,000

Artists in the Established tier regularly make their work public and engage the larger community in their practice.

CAC Legacy Artist Fellows – $50,000

Artists in the Legacy tier can point to a significant body of work, produced over a substantial period of time, that has engaged their communities and that has made significant social impact.

The CAC approved eight regional AOs for the fellowship in September 2025. Each of the AOs has information and  details regarding their Individual Artists Fellowship programs, including application deadlines. If you are an individual artist, apply to the statewide fellowship program through the Regional AO listed below that serves your county. Please note: Individual artists must live in the region they are applying to and may submit an application to only one region.

• Bay Area (Kala Art Institute) - Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma

• Central Valley & Sierra (Kern Dance Alliance) - Counties: Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne

• Inland Empire & South Coast (ArtsOC) - Counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange

• Far South (Commission for Arts and Culture / Cultural Affairs) - Counties: Imperial, San Diego

• Central Coast (Arts Council Santa Cruz County) - Counties: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Ventura

• Capital (Teatro Nagual) - Counties: Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, El Dorado, Alpine

• Upstate (Nevada County Arts Council (NCArts)) - Counties: Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc, Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, Mendocino, Tehama, Butte, Plumas, Lake, Glenn, Sierra, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Placer

• South (Los Angeles Performance Practice) - County: Los Angeles

Region 1: Upstate Administered by the Nevada County Arts Council (NCArts)

In partnership with California Arts Council, Nevada County Arts & Culture is honored to serve as the Administering Organization for the Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship. The California Arts Council (CAC) has selected Nevada County Arts & Culture to design and implement a fellowship program that supports individual artists and culture bearers across all disciplines. The Upstate Individual Artists Fellowship will provide unrestricted funding in support of the fellows’ artistic practice. 

The DCNR Community Recreation and Conservation Planning Grants support planning projects aimed at enhancing parks and recreational facilities. Eligible applicants, including municipalities and qualified organizations, can develop comprehensive plans for land conservation, indoor facility feasibility, and site development. The program emphasizes community involvement and requires a 50% match for funding. It fosters sustainable management of natural resources, ensuring a balanced approach to conservation and recreation.

The Charles A. and Leona K. Gruber Foundation, established in 1969, supports educational, charitable, religious, scientific, and literary causes primarily in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $5,000, with a focus on organizations that qualify as 501(c)(3). Applications are accepted year-round, with a preference for submissions by September 15 for consideration at the annual meeting in October.

The TCFNF Program Support Grants aim to enhance the quality of life in Putnam County by funding nonprofits focused on education, safety nets, and general welfare. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000, prioritizing projects that serve local residents. With a history of distributing $600 million since 1964, the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is dedicated to strengthening community organizations and fostering impactful initiatives for those in need.

The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII): EPSCoR Research Fellows program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to enhance research capacity and workforce development in STEM. This initiative fosters collaborations between underrepresented researchers and leading institutions, providing essential resources and support. With two tracks available—one focusing on NSF and the other on NASA—this program uniquely positions Fellows to leverage transformative research experiences and contribute to sustainable advancements in their respective fields.

The Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program aims to enhance public safety by reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and improving habitat connectivity for various species. With approximately $80 million available through cost reimbursable grants, this initiative supports eligible projects that address these critical environmental and safety concerns. The program may also distribute leftover funds from previous years, contingent on availability, fostering innovative solutions in wildlife management and transportation safety.

The Jolley Foundation Grant offers up to $100,000 to charitable organizations that are 501(c)(3) exempt and based in South Carolina. This grant aims to address poverty and discrimination through systemic solutions, capacity-building for nonprofits, and collaborative efforts. Priority is given to projects in arts, education, health, and human services, particularly those benefiting residents of Greenville County. Applicants must demonstrate financial sustainability for their programs.

The Frank S. Flowers Charitable Trust, established in 1979, aims to enhance the quality of life in Gloucester County, New Jersey. It provides grants to educational, health-related, youth, and religious organizations that meet specific criteria. With an average grant size of $10,000 and around 20 grants awarded each year, the Trust prioritizes support for local public high schools, non-profit hospitals, and organizations focused on the welfare of mentally disabled children.

The FY 2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) aims to enhance the physical and cybersecurity of nonprofit organizations at risk of extremist attacks. This initiative focuses on improving security postures, addressing capability gaps, and fostering collaboration among organizations and local agencies. By providing essential funding for planning, equipment, and training, the NSGP seeks to protect vulnerable facilities and ensure a coordinated community response to security challenges.

The Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Mini-Grant supports events that honor civil rights activist Ruby Bridges by encouraging students to walk to school and engage in discussions about activism, anti-racism, and anti-bullying. Grants of $500 or $1000 are available based on the number of students reached. This initiative aims to inspire positive changes within communities and promote meaningful dialogue among young people about social justice issues.

T32 Postdoctoral Training Awards in Translational Research

The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) T32 Postdoctoral Training Awards, funded in part by NCATS, are designed to provide promising postdoctoral fellows with the opportunity to be mentored in research-intensive multi-disciplinary settings toward the goal of developing careers across the spectrum of translational research.

The emphasis of the Indiana CTSI postdoctoral training awards in translational research is to move findings from basic laboratory and pre-clinical research (referred to as T1 research) toward the development of new treatment options or interventions or clinical trials (referred to as T2 research) to eventual dissemination or clinical implementation (referred to as T3 research) to studying population health outcomes and health metrics (referred to as T4 research). The phases of translational research may not necessarily be linear and can jump steps depending on the research project and the starting point. The goal of the Indiana CTSI is to make awards at all of these stages.

Funding for all postdoctoral training awards is for up to two years (with the 2nd year of funding contingent upon review and demonstration of satisfactory progress). Benefits include salary support as well as health insurance and research training related expenses.

The Madison County Community Foundation offers Emergency Grants to support nonprofits facing unexpected expenses that hinder their missions. These grants are available year-round, with applications submitted via email. Organizations can receive one emergency grant annually, and decisions are made within 14 days. The Foundation aims to enhance the quality of life in Madison County by providing financial stewardship and community leadership, focusing on various sectors including arts, education, and health.

About Us

Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc. is a public, 501-C-3 charity. There are 30 community foundations in Wisconsin and more than 750 in the nation. The purpose of all community foundations is to accumulate charitable dollars that impact a specific geographic region in areas such as education, the arts, economic development, recreation, environmental protection, health care, and social services. They may be relatively small, as we are (assets of $14 million), or very large, as is the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (assets over $400 million).

Most people are familiar with private foundations, established by individuals, families, or corporations. Typically, in order to establish a private foundation, one has to have considerable wealth. You could say Community Foundations are much more democratic. We are, in a sense, an umbrella foundation containing many small foundations. We call those small foundations “funds.”

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Terry & Allean Frankland Scholarship (2025)

The Rum River Community Foundation Grant, a philanthropic initiative by the Initiative Foundation, aims to enhance community livability through funding for parks, recreation, and youth engagement in the cities of Bock, Foreston, Milaca, and Pease. Grants are awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations, school districts, and local governments, focusing on proposals that foster community involvement and pride. The maximum grant size is $1,000, not exceeding 50% of total project costs.

Honda’s Community Event Sponsorship aims to support local, regional, and national events that enhance community engagement and celebrate diverse cultures. Organizations must be U.S.-based and tax-exempt, focusing on projects that serve communities where Honda associates are active. Eligible events include parades, festivals, and educational initiatives. Honda evaluates requests based on community needs and available funding, reinforcing its commitment to social responsibility and community enhancement.

The Jesse N. Bosang Trust Grant, established in 1951, supports charitable organizations in Pulaski County, Virginia. Grants ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 are awarded annually to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. The Trust focuses on charitable purposes that are religious, educational, or public in nature, emphasizing relief efforts for the poor and suffering. Administered by Wells Fargo Bank, the Trust aims to benefit the local community through dedicated support.

Women’s Found­­ation for the State of Arizona

The Women’s Found­­ation for the State of Arizona (WFSA) innovates to create social, political, and economic change that achieves equity for women and girls of all identities through our integrated framework of research, advocacy, grantmaking, and innovative programmatic solutions.

We fund organizations providing direct support to women and girls and we go beyond the check. Grantees receive flexible funding, technical assistance, and opportunities to grow their impact without compromising their missions.

Fund for Racial and Gender Equity Grant (FORGE Grant)

Substantial, Unrestricted Funding for Transformative Change 

FORGE is a groundbreaking, community-designed initiative investing in organizations led by and serving BIWOC and gender-expansive communities. 

FORGE challenges traditional philanthropy by centering accessibility, transparency, and shared decision-making. Community leaders design and select grantees, ensuring funding reaches those driving meaningful systems change. 

FORGE Includes: 

• Unrestricted, flexible funding 
• Community-led selection process 
• Capacity-building and technical assistance 
• Peer learning and cohort connection 

FORGE invests not just in programs but in power, sustainability, and long-term impact. 

Unrestricted funding allows organizations to use grant dollars where they are most needed, including operations, staffing, programs, or infrastructure, without rigid spending categories. 

The Madison Community Foundation's Community Impact Grants aim to enhance the quality of life for residents in greater Madison. They support innovative nonprofits and initiatives across five key areas: Arts & Culture, Community Development, Environment, Learning, and Organizational Capacity Building. Grants are available for program development, capital projects, and endowment challenges, fostering a vibrant, equitable community. Organizations must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being located within Dane County and operating without discrimination.