Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

The Selley Foundation Grant, managed by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, focuses on enhancing the lives of individuals in the Greater New Orleans area. With an emphasis on capital needs, it supports nonprofits in arts & culture, education, and environmental initiatives. The foundation occasionally considers programmatic requests, aiming to foster a vibrant community that celebrates the unique character of the region while ensuring sustainable growth and support for local organizations.

Our mission is to enhance quality of life, today and in the future, by:

• Enabling donors to fulfill their charitable desires
• Building a permanent endowment
• Facilitating prudent management and care of funds
• Meeting needs through grants, awards, and scholarships

CF Sunshine Scholarship

Amount

Varies

Geographic focus

Students qualifying to graduate or are a graduate from a Cloud County or Washington County, Kansas, high school.

Renewals

Scholarship recipients are eligible to apply for renewal by meeting the criteria.

Detroit Lake Foundation

Established in 2015, the mission of the Detroit Lake Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for residents and establish a sustainable economic recovery to ensure that the city thrives for current and future generations.

All projects managed by Detroit Lake Foundation are projects that will improve the community infrastructure and benefit the entire community. Detroit Lake Foundation is a 501C3 organization.

Policy and Procedure for DLF Grant Request

The DLF raises funds through events that benefit the local Detroit-Idanha economy and through generous donations from individuals and businesses who want to join together to sustain the strength and future of the Detroit Lake region.

The DLF may, at its discretion, post information about the completed grant projects and programs, including grant funding amounts, on the website and in social media.

This policy and procedure as adopted by the DLF Board provides the structure for granting funding to projects and programs consistent with the mission of the DLF. This policy is reviewed annually by the DLF Board.

DLF Grant

How Grant Funds are Paid

• Unless otherwise specified and approved by the DLF Board, grants shall be on a reimbursement basis and payable upon receipt of expense documents related to the grant activity.

• Grants that provide advance funding will be based on the proposed budget, are subject to Board approval and are required to submit financial documentation upon completion.

The McMillen Artist Community Reverse Scholarship Program supports visual artists in Washington State by offering competitive grants aimed at fostering artistic excellence and community engagement. This program encourages artists to share their involvement in community initiatives, thereby enhancing cultural understanding and addressing social justice issues. With a focus on debt relief, the program helps artists achieve their creative career goals while building a vibrant artistic community.

The Gheens Foundation Grant aims to enhance the quality of life for residents in metropolitan Louisville and Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes, Louisiana. With a commitment to grant-making, the foundation prioritizes education and social services. It allocates approximately 5% of its assets annually to support eligible organizations. Applicants should have a verified IRS status and meet revenue criteria. Notably, the foundation excludes certain entities, including endowments and private schools, from funding.

The Action Grant, offered by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, fosters collaboration with communities to promote conservation initiatives. This grant supports projects aimed at changing behaviors and practices to enhance fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Eligible projects include habitat restoration, wetland protection, and agricultural practices benefiting local ecosystems. With a focus on measurable outcomes within a two-year term, the Action Grant encourages innovative solutions to mitigate human impacts on biodiversity.

The Perry's Foundation Grant, launched in 2017, aims to enhance community strength by supporting nonprofit organizations and religious groups focused on philanthropy and promoting equity in Olney, TX, and its surrounding areas. Eligible applicants include diverse groups across all ages and ethnicities, with interests in community, education, and healthcare. The foundation provides various support types, including program development and matching funds, to foster impactful initiatives and leadership growth.

The Harry S. and Isabel C. Cameron Foundation, established in 1966, aims to provide charitable support to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, focusing on the Catholic community's needs. The Foundation prioritizes educational, scientific, and artistic initiatives, ensuring compassionate giving to enhance community well-being within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Grant requests from political organizations, individuals, and specific programs, such as those involving abortions, are not accepted, maintaining a clear mission of charitable focus.

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County offers Community Grants aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana. This program supports initiatives in arts, culture, education, and community betterment, encouraging nonprofits to provide compelling cases for funding. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis to 501(c)(3) organizations and other public charities, focusing on projects that yield substantial benefits and foster long-term change for the community.

The BCBS Oklahoma - Blue Impact Grants support community-focused initiatives aimed at improving health and wellness in Oklahoma. These grants prioritize programs that enhance economic opportunity, nutrition, and overall health outcomes. Eligible organizations include community, civic, or charitable entities that benefit Oklahoma residents. The initiative emphasizes funding for health, wellness, and human services, while excluding requests related to discrimination, tuition, or political activities. This program fosters community growth through targeted financial support.

The Advisor Recommendation (Donor Advised) Grants by the Ripley County Community Foundation support nonprofits in Ripley County. Advisors must submit a recommendation form for funding distributions to qualified organizations. Grants focus on community needs, seed funding for projects, and emphasize strong organizational support. Eligible organizations must comply with fiscal responsibility and reporting requirements. Grants will not cover individual expenses or completed projects prior to decision dates. This initiative aims to foster local development and sustainability.

The Green Fertilizer Program Grant in Minnesota offers approximately $3.8 million to agricultural and rural electric cooperatives for investments in green fertilizer production facilities. Eligible projects must utilize renewable energy and green hydrogen, with a minimum grant award of $250,000. The program emphasizes strong business readiness and requires matching funds from cooperatives. Successful applicants must be licensed, in good standing, and committed to sustainable practices for fertilizer production, ensuring environmental responsibility in the agricultural sector.

The Ripley County Community Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations serving Ripley County. The program aims to be responsive to community needs, focusing on seed money and pilot projects, while encouraging collaborative contributions. Applicants must demonstrate fiscal responsibility and meet eligibility criteria, including being an exempt organization. Certain restrictions apply, such as no grants to individuals or for endowment purposes. The foundation seeks to enhance community services in areas like arts, business, education, and the environment.

The Tarter / Herman-Crum Grants, offered by the Ripley County Community Foundation, are designed to enhance the quality of life for residents in Osgood and its surrounding areas. Nonprofit organizations can apply for up to $2,500 annually to support innovative community projects. The grants prioritize flexibility and collaboration, focusing on initiatives that align with the Foundation's service areas, including arts, business development, education, and environmental stewardship.

Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources - Wisconsin Department of Administration

At the Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR), we offer programs that help people with energy costs, housing needs, and community support.

What are CDBG funds?

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds promote affordable housing, suitable living conditions, and economic opportunity primarily to benefit individuals with low to moderate income (LMI).

CDBG - Public Facilities Economic Development Program (PFED)

CDBG-PFED grant funds are awarded to local governments for public infrastructure projects that support business expansion or retention for low- and moderate-income individuals.

Examples of eligible projects include:

• new or improved water systems to support the construction of a new business
• new or improved sewer service to support the expansion of a business' production facility
• street improvements to support a business' new delivery and distribution center

The Walls & Turner Charitable Fund provides small grants to support educational programs fulfilling the wishes of terminally ill children, alongside initiatives aimed at animal welfare. Eligible agencies must operate in Delaware without discrimination. However, individuals and non-501(c)3 organizations are ineligible, as are requests for office equipment and funding for public educational institutions. This initiative is committed to improving the lives of children and animals in the community.

The Cyrus M. Quigley Foundation Grant supports tax-exempt organizations that empower young people through initiatives focusing on courage, self-reliance, and service. Since its inception in 1993, the foundation has awarded over $300,000 in grants, with amounts ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. The foundation emphasizes physical challenges and community service to help develop essential life skills. Grant proposals are accepted annually until the third Friday in April, with decisions communicated by May 31.

Mid-America Arts Alliance

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) believes art can be a catalyst for expression, connection, collaboration, and community. This philosophy is reflected in our mission and values.

M-AAA is a nonprofit, regional arts organization representing Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. We focus on strengthening communities and improving lives by supporting artists, elevating arts organizations, and connecting people to extraordinary cultural experiences.

Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists

Program Objectives

The Artistic Innovations program supports the development of new or original works of art across all disciplines, created exclusively by in-region individual artists and art-based organizations in M-AAA’s six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography). Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the region.

Individual Artist Grant Considerations

The Artistic Innovations grant program supports direct project expenses incurred in the art-making process and production of public-facing engagements to individuals through private funds. These grants are funded through private support and, unlike Artistic Innovations grants to organizations, are not supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Louisiana’s great outdoors and state parks are a great way for visitors to see the Sportsman’s Paradise while visiting our recreational and historic sites. The Louisiana Office of Tourism's vision is to market and promote the brand of Feed Your Soul showcasing Louisiana as a travel destination, increasing revenue generated by the tourism industry and contributing to the economic impact of tourism in all 64 parishes. The Office of Tourism partners with tourism professionals and industry stakeholders in private and public sectors to extend and enhance their efforts to reach domestic and international consumers and travel trade.

Cooperative Marketing Program Grant

Through the Cooperative Marketing Program (CMP) the Louisiana Office of Tourism promotes tourism in Louisiana by providing grants to eligible entities for the placement of eligible media. An eligible Applicant is any one of the following: 1) a Louisiana tourist commission (as defined in La. R.S. 33:4574, La. R.S. 33:4574:9, La. R.S. 33:4574.12, La. R.S. 33:4574.13); 2) a parish tourism commission or office of tourism; or 3) a convention and visitors bureau (CVB) or destination marketing organization (DMO) that is created and/or authorized to promote tourism parish-wide and actually does promote tourism parish-wide.

Applicants that meet eligibility criteria can apply for a maximum award of $10,000.00. The CMP provides a 50 percent match for the placement of eligible media. Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.

The Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship, established by SHAPE America, honors outstanding graduate students in health and physical education. Awarded annually since 1995, it recognizes two graduate recipients based on academic excellence and leadership. Along with financial support, winners receive a three-year SHAPE America membership, enhancing their professional network. This scholarship underscores the organization's commitment to advancing health education and supporting future leaders in the field.

The SECU Foundation Grant, offered by the State Employees Credit Union Foundation, focuses on supporting non-profits and governmental organizations that embody the philosophy of people helping people. The grant aims to promote community development through high-impact projects in housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Eligible projects should be tangible, have a statewide or major regional impact, and enhance the conditions for public employees in North Carolina. This initiative fosters collaboration and addresses critical community issues.

The Herman J. and Helen D. Wyngarden Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, supports students from Northern Ottawa County or local high schools. Established in memory of dedicated educators, this scholarship encourages academic advancement beyond high school. Eligible applicants should provide transcripts and relevant documents, with preference given to those pursuing economics or medicine. This competitive scholarship aims to honor the legacy of the Wyngardens while empowering future leaders.

The Fund for Columbia County: School-to-Work Grants, established by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, aims to enhance educational opportunities for youth facing challenges in Columbia County. Since 1998, the fund has supported innovative projects that facilitate transitions from school to work, including internships and skill-building programs. Grants range from $5,000 to $15,000, with a focus on collaboration among nonprofits and educational organizations to create lasting community impact.

Affordable Materials Grants

Purpose

Affordable Learning Georgia is a GALILEO initiative to reduce the cost of course materials for students. Since 2014, the initiative has addressed affordability goals in the University System of Georgia with regards to the cost of educational resources. For more about Affordable Learning Georgia, see our Mission and Values page. For data and more information about how these programs have affected USG students, visit the Our Impact page.

The implementation of no-cost and low-cost materials in place of a commercial textbook has been found to be an effective practice, either raising student performance or keeping it the same while reducing the cost of course materials to students. To this end, Affordable Learning Georgia (ALG)’s Affordable Materials Grants are intended to:

• Explore and expand course materials transformation to include the adoption, adaptation, and creation of OER; the adoption of materials available through GALILEO and University System of Georgia (USG) libraries; and the use of other no-cost and low-cost materials.
• Provide support and time to faculty instructors, librarians, instructional designers, and other professional staff to meet, plan, review, and implement these approaches.
• Work toward access for all, lowering materials costs for students and contributing to their retention, progression, and graduation.

Examples of qualifying Affordable Materials Grants projects include:

• Adopting an open textbook and creating new ancillary materials to support the adoption.
• Adapting and revising existing OER and then adopting these new materials in place of commercial materials.
• Authoring a new open textbook to adopt in place of a commercial textbook when there are no OER to cover the subject.
• Adopting library materials in place of expensive materials when there are no OER to cover the subject.
• Adopting low-cost software and/or textbooks to ensure total required resource costs for students are under $40.00.
• Affordable Learning Georgia has also added a category of Research Grants to explore research questions related to teaching and learning with affordable and open learning materials.

Affordable Learning Georgia has also added a category of Research Grants to explore research questions related to teaching and learning with affordable and open learning materials.

Overview of Grant Categories

Transformation Grants

Transformation Grants support individual instructors, teams of instructors, and entire departments, along with supporting professional staff, in replacing their existing commercial textbooks and materials in a specific course with no- or low-cost-to-students learning materials. These materials can include the following:

• Adoption, adaptation, and/or creation of Open Educational Resources (OER), such as open textbooks and ancillary materials.
• Adoption of library materials available in GALILEO and University System of Georgia (USG) libraries at no additional cost to students.
• Adoption of no-cost materials outside of OER, such as freely available websites and multimedia.
• Adoption of low-cost materials, not exceeding $40.00 total per student.

The NYSAR Community Reuse Grant supports community-based groups, municipalities, businesses, and non-profits in New York State to implement reuse initiatives. This year, $15,000 is available, with each awardee receiving up to $5,000. Notably, projects focusing on recycling or organics will not be considered. Applicants must submit a budget and answer all questions for consideration. Grant winners will be contacted in mid-October and are encouraged to attend the NYSAR3 Annual Conference to receive their awards.

The Thomas P. and Sondra D. Sheehan Charitable Foundation provides essential medical assistance to financially challenged families, focusing on children in need. The foundation prioritizes Hamilton County residents and offers support for durable medical equipment, therapy services, and short-term treatments. Applications for funding must meet specific medical guidelines and are reviewed annually. Families connected to nonprofit organizations or medical facilities have a better chance of receiving assistance, ensuring children can access necessary healthcare and improve their quality of life.

Sexual Abuse Services Program (SASP)

Funds are awarded by the US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Congress appropriates the funds annually. Funds are awarded to support the establishment, maintenance and expansion of sexual assault services including providing intervention, advocacy, accompaniment (e.g., accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, police departments, etc.), support services and related assistance for adult, youth and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault.