Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

Eugene Frank Sommerlatte Endowment Fund

Majoring in Transportation Technology and enrolling in following semester.

Awards

• (1) $3,000.00

The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21) provides support for emerging researchers focused on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. This award is designed to help scientists establish their independent research careers and is not intended for thesis or dissertation work. The funding can be utilized for various projects, including secondary data analysis and the development of new research methodologies, facilitating the transition to larger R01 applications.

The Woman's National Farm and Garden Association (WNF&GA) Scholarship supports graduate students pursuing careers in conservation and natural resource management. This annual scholarship aims to continue the legacy of conservationists dedicated to protecting our planet's resources. Eligible candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental stewardship through their academic and community involvement. However, WNF&GA members and their immediate families are excluded from eligibility. The scholarship is a vital resource for future leaders in conservation.

The Broadcasters Foundation of America Emergency Grant provides vital financial assistance to broadcasters facing acute financial hardship due to natural disasters or emergencies. These one-time grants support those who have dedicated years to the broadcasting profession and are in need of help to recover. Applications can be submitted by individual broadcasters or their employers within 30 days of the event, ensuring timely support for those affected.

The Omaha Venture Group (OVG) Grant supports innovative nonprofits in the Omaha metro area with funding up to $8,000 aimed at fostering growth and community engagement. With over $700,000 awarded since 2002, OVG focuses on arts, health, safety, and education initiatives. Nonprofits must be 501(c)(3) organizations with a budget of $500,000 or less to qualify. This grant cycle emphasizes impactful projects that can make a difference in local communities.

Montana Department of Commerce

Every day, staff at Commerce work alongside private industry and local organizations to create jobs, grow businesses, provide affordable housing and improve community infrastructure.

The economy of the Treasure State continues to grow and diversify. Studies rank Montana as the number one place in the country to start a business. Plus, our workforce has earned some of the highest rankings in both trade and technical skills by having one of the highest STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concentrations in the country. Simply put, Commerce is here to find and remove barriers to your success. Together, we will continue to invest in Montana’s future by growing sustainable economies and vibrant communities.

Tribal Tourism Small Business Grant

The purpose of the program is to provide funding to startup or existing Native American businesses that promote or facilitate tribal tourism in Montana. Program funds can be used for a variety of activities as described below. Commerce anticipates awarding up to $240,000 in program funding on an annual basis to eligible applicants. Grantees will receive program funds on a reimbursement basis after incurring eligible costs.

Tribal tourism: The unique experience of traveling away from home for visitation to tribal communities with the motivation to engage with the tribal citizens, support their businesses and local economy and witness their cultural practices, traditions, celebrations, knowledge, history and lands. Enrolled members of Montana’s federally recognized tribes residing in Montana, aged 18 years or older, may apply for program funds on behalf of their for-profit businesses. 

The Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) provides essential grants to Massachusetts employers, focusing on small to medium-sized businesses. The program aims to enhance productivity and competitiveness by funding training for current and newly hired employees. Priorities include job retention, growth, and increased wages. Eligible employers must contribute to the Workforce Training Fund, ensuring that training aligns with state business needs. The program encourages applications emphasizing adult education, diversity, and climate resilience.

The Southeast Aquatics Grant, offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), aims to enhance aquatic habitats in the southeastern U.S. This funding opportunity supports projects focused on improving water quality, instream and riparian conditions, and, in select areas, aquatic connectivity and species recovery. Grant amounts range from $150,000 to $500,000, depending on project scale and duration. Interested applicants should consult with program staff for projects outside this funding range.

The Speckhard-Knight Charitable Foundation Grant aims to support nonprofit organizations in Jackson and Washtenaw Counties, providing essential resources for individuals to live inspired and independent lives. The foundation prioritizes existing programs but is open to considering start-ups. While funding is available, ongoing support is not guaranteed, and the initial grant must meet specific parameters. Geographic preferences include areas familiar to the Board, particularly in Michigan.

The Foster Grandparent Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Aging, empowers seniors aged 55 and older to tutor and mentor children with special needs in various educational settings. By providing a small stipend and training, the program encourages volunteerism, enhancing the lives of both seniors and youth. In 2024, 417 volunteers dedicated over 423,000 hours to support 3,670 children, showcasing the program's impact on community engagement and intergenerational relationships.

The Kuni Foundation's Imagination Planning Grant focuses on addressing the urgent need for quality, affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Oregon and Washington. With funding ranging from $15,000 to $75,000, the grant supports organizations dedicated to developing inclusive housing solutions. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) non-profits committed to serving the IDD community, ensuring that innovative and sustainable housing options are explored and implemented.

The Mercyhealth Ethnic Minority Nursing Scholarship offers three $2,000 scholarships to ethnic minority individuals pursuing a nursing degree in northern Illinois. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Selection is based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and financial need. This initiative, funded by the Mercyhealth Volunteer Association, aims to support diversity in nursing and improve healthcare access within the community.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) will announce funding for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) studies focusing on rare diseases. This initiative encourages collaboration and aims to fill critical research gaps affecting approximately 30 million Americans with rare diseases. Applications can request up to $12 million over five years, including coverage for patient care costs. This funding opportunity is set to open on August 12, 2025, with a focus on addressing pressing patient-centered CER questions.

The Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grant, offered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, aims to celebrate and preserve Colorado's cultural heritage through folk and traditional arts. This grant fosters community well-being, cultural identity, and economic vitality. It provides funding for creating, presenting, or documenting folk arts, with a maximum amount of $3,000 available for projects that enhance community engagement and creativity, with a completion deadline of June 30, 2026.

The Arcora Foundation offers sponsorships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to support Washington state organizations focused on reducing barriers to oral health care. Their mission emphasizes equity, aiming to uplift community-led initiatives that promote health and prevent disease. Applications should be submitted at least 8 weeks before the event, as sponsorship requests are considered monthly. This funding is not available for individual dental care.

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

Established by law in 1978, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) serves as the justice planning and policymaking agency for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. By bringing together a wide range of experts in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice, victim services, and related professions, PCCD coordinates the collective examination of problems, proposes solutions, and evaluates the impact of those solutions.

Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction (SAEDR) Grants

These funds exist to support projects designed to educate the public about the dangers of substance abuse and/or reduce demand for these substances.

Category Two 

The goal of SAEDR Category 2 funding is to educate youth, caregivers of youth, and employers about the dangers of substance use; and increase the awareness of the benefits of a drug-free Pennsylvania through media-related efforts that may include public service announcements, public awareness campaigns, and media literacy. Special consideration will be given to projects that focus on the use of opiates within the Commonwealth.

The objectives and anticipated impacts:

• Increase awareness among youth and employers related to the dangers of substance use; and
• Decrease substance use problems. 

Statewide nonprofit organizations may partner with governmental entities, including school entities, provided the statewide nonprofit organization is the applicant agency.

The State of Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division is seeking partners to provide essential support services for older adults and caregivers. This initiative aims to help these populations maintain independence and engage actively in their communities. Special consideration will be given to low-income individuals and those facing unique challenges, including minority groups and those at risk for institutionalization. The funding opportunity underscores a commitment to dignified and meaningful living for all participants.

Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC) Grants aim to enhance community well-being by investing in nonprofit organizations that focus on community sustainability, inclusive mobility, and workforce readiness. This corporate initiative seeks partnerships with qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, and municipal organizations in the Randolph and Guilford counties. By supporting programs with a long-term impact, Toyota fosters a culture of inclusion and aims to address pressing societal challenges.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL) Grants aim to enhance community well-being by supporting nonprofit organizations focused on STEM education and workforce readiness. With a commitment to inclusion, Toyota collaborates with local entities to address pressing societal challenges. The program invites qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and public schools in Alabama, particularly Madison County, to apply, emphasizing sustainable impact and volunteer engagement to enrich lives and strengthen communities.

AMS Organology Study Group Travel Grants

The AMS Organology Study Group Travel Grants program provides travel grants to support AMS Annual Meeting attendance for students and recent graduates with research interests in organology and/or other intersections of music and material culture studies. In addition to supporting attendance at the annual meeting, this program also introduces recipients to a network of scholars working in the field of organology. In 2026, selected recipients will not receive travel grants because the 2026 AMS Annual Meeting is being held online, but will instead receive complimentary registration for the conference. The 2026 AMS Annual Meeting will be held 14–15 November and 19–20 November 2026.

The purpose of the program is to defray costs associated with attending the AMS Annual Meeting and participating in Organology Study Group (OSG) activities. Recipients will be required to attend the Organology Study Group's paper session at the 2026 AMS Annual Meeting.

The Organology Study Group Travel Grants program was established in 2024 with the generous support of the American Musical Instrument Society (AMIS). In addition to complimentary registration for the 2026 AMS Annual Meeting, recipients will receive one year of complimentary membership in the AMIS.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources launched its Prescribed Fire Program in the fall of 2021 with the goal of reintroducing a cost-effective tool with a high rate of success for forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction in the dry forests of central and eastern Washington. Prescribed fire is a critical tool for completing objectives with the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan: Eastern Washington.

Prescribed fire is a tool long used on dry-forest ecosystems in central and eastern Washington by Tribes, land management agencies and conservation groups. These types of forests, with their ponderosa pines and other fire-adapted plants, historically had low-intensity fires burn through their understories on a regular basis. These low-severity fires reduced the amount of ladder fuels capable of taking fires up into tree canopies, where they spread much more rapidly than at ground level.

A prescribed fire applies low-severity fire to the forest floor in order to reduce built-up vegetation while helping mature trees stay healthy and resilient. Trained fire professionals follow burn plans guided by state and federal regulations to reduce wildfire fuels on the ground, reintroduce vital nutrients into the soil, and restore natural, fire-adapted habitats for wildlife.

Safety is the number one priority of DNR's official prescribed fire policy - scheduled burns do not take place as planned if conditions do not meet strict and uncompromising standards. Skilled professionals within the agency conduct prescribed fire operations on DNR-managed lands, assist partner agencies with prescribed burning on land they manage, and oversee a certification program for people who want to lead or participate in prescribed burns.

Program Purpose

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Created in 1995, OVW implements the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation. The Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecution (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (VAWA) is designed to promote a coordinated, multidisciplinary community response to combating violence against women and to encourage collaborative efforts between members of law enforcement, prosecution, nonprofit victim service providers and the courts to address the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault in a manner that promotes victim safety and offender accountability.

The Jack McDaniel Memorial Fellowship honors a dedicated North American orthopedic resident interested in trauma surgery. This prestigious award offers a unique opportunity for short-term training at a European AO trauma center, promoting excellence in clinical practice and teaching. It includes funding for airfare and a stipend for accommodations and meals. At the fellowship's conclusion, participants must submit a report detailing their experiences, contributing to the AO Trauma North America newsletter and sharing insights at the annual OTA meeting.

The Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. Grants aim to enhance community welfare by partnering with nonprofit organizations. Focused on STEM education and workforce readiness, these grants support qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits, state or municipal organizations, and public schools in Indiana. Toyota's holistic approach includes volunteer engagement and knowledge sharing to ensure sustainable impact, while avoiding funding for organizations that do not align with their values or operate outside the U.S.

Mildred's Dream Foundation Grant provides vital support to community-based non-profit organizations focused on Education, Domestic Violence, and Physical or Mental Health Challenges. With grants up to $25,000, the foundation aims to honor Mildred's commitment to improving lives and creating a better world. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) non-profits providing direct services in these areas. Notably, the foundation excludes funding for certain institutions, ensuring resources are directed to those genuinely in need.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) Grants focus on enhancing community opportunities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. By investing in STEM education and workforce readiness, Toyota aims to create a culture of inclusion and improve the quality of life in the communities where it operates. The program emphasizes sustainable impact through volunteer engagement and strategic funding, supporting local needs while adhering to a holistic approach.

The Hearst Foundation: Education Grant aims to support outstanding nonprofits that promote education across various levels, focusing primarily on higher education. With a minimum grant size of $100,000, the foundation prioritizes organizations demonstrating significant impact and sustainability. They support innovative educational models, professional development, and scholarships, specifically targeting underserved populations. Since the 1940s, the foundation has evolved while maintaining its commitment to fostering healthy and productive lives for all individuals in the United States.