Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

The Elmer Alberston Scholarship Fund, established by the Elmer Albertson Trust, aims to support the future workforce of Mendocino County. This fund provides scholarships for students attending community colleges outside of Mendocino County or vocational programs. Eligible candidates must demonstrate community commitment and maintain a GPA. The Community Foundation of Mendocino County administers this fund, ensuring local students can achieve their educational aspirations and contribute to their communities.

The Edward and Hannah Wingaris Scholarship, administered by the Center for Scholarship Administration, supports students who have resided in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, for at least one year. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, and plan to attend an accredited institution full-time. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years, allowing recipients to continue their educational journey with financial assistance.

The Fenton Gregory Williams Scholarship, administered by the Center for Scholarship Administration, supports deserving students from Mecklenburg and Lunenburg Counties, Virginia. Eligible candidates must be enrolled full-time in an accredited U.S. college or university and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. This scholarship can cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies. It is renewable for up to four years, provided recipients remain in good standing and continue to demonstrate financial need.

The Cardiac Arrest Research Team (CART) Network RFP invites U.S.-based researchers to apply for funding from the American Heart Association. With a commitment of $3.4 million USD, the initiative aims to establish a cross-border research network to address critical gaps in cardiac arrest research. Teams will focus on improving detection, survival rates, and health outcomes through collaboration. This funding opportunity emphasizes team-based approaches in three priority research areas, with awards up to $1.7 million USD for competitive projects.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court Historical Society Fund Grant supports nonprofit organizations aiming to preserve the history and artifacts of the Rhode Island judicial system. Established in 1998, this fund encourages projects that promote public understanding of Rhode Island's legal history through programs and publications. Organizations are required to provide matching resources, and grants cannot be used for equipment purchases. Applicants are also urged to explore the Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund for similar opportunities.

The Harry and Kathern Lovejoy Scholarship, managed by the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, supports WSU students in agriculture-related studies who demonstrate financial need and academic commitment. Ideal candidates are third-year or graduate students from Central Washington, particularly those from Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, and Grant counties. This scholarship honors Jane Lovejoy's dedication to education and her father's legacy, aiming to empower students striving for agricultural advancements.

The Human, Civil Rights and Social Justice Grant, offered by the Maine Education Association, provides up to $1,000 to support local associations in fostering leadership in human, civil rights, and social justice. This initiative aims to empower educators and students, ensuring equity and enhancing educational opportunities. Eligible activities include funding for speakers, materials, and equipment, all aligned with MEA's goals to improve public education in Maine.

The Edith Bishel Fund for the Blind and Visually Impaired, managed by the Three Rivers Community Foundation, aims to enhance the lives of individuals with visual impairments in Southeastern Washington. Established in 1994, this fund provides essential resources and support through an application process. Applicants must have their visual impairment verified by a physician and demonstrate financial need. This initiative ensures continued access to critical services for the visually impaired community.

The Greater Rochester Health Foundation's Community Event Fund supports health equity initiatives in a nine-county region. Events eligible for funding include health fairs, athletic fundraisers, and educational community gatherings. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status can apply for grants up to $5,000. Applications are reviewed quarterly, and funding is limited for events occurring in Q3. Early applications are encouraged to enhance chances of receiving support.

New England Foundation For The Arts

Our work at NEFA is simple: to cultivate and promote the arts in New England and beyond. Our programs support artists across many forms of expression and many geographies, connecting them with collaborators and communities, fueling creative exchange and public discourse, and strengthening the arts and culture ecosystem.

Each program and project brought to life at NEFA builds a stronger and more dynamic infrastructure for the arts. Through grants, convenings, and online tools, NEFA continues an almost 50 year history of pioneering partnerships and programs supporting the arts.

Public Art Learning Fund

The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the field of public art in New England by providing professional development support directly to artists.

The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants to support professional development opportunities for New England artists to strengthen their public art practices. Through the Public Art Learning Fund, NEFA intends to foster the continued development of more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England.

Artists may utilize the Public Art Learning Fund to: pursue a specific professional development opportunity to strengthen their own public art practice in New England and beyond. Examples may include but are not limited to attending a conference, workshop, training, or discussion related to building creative or administrative skills related to their public art practice. 

Program Values & Goals

NEFA’s Public Art programs acknowledge the necessity of addressing the intersectionality of spatial justice and racial justice in cultivating a more vibrant and equitable public art ecosystem.  

The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the public art field in the region by supporting artists in further developing the skills, resources, and connections they need to build a more vibrant and equitable community of practice in the region. Learning in partnership with grantees, NEFA strives to learn how we may be able to better support a more equitable and sustainable public art ecosystem throughout the region. 

Funding Priorities

Public Art Learning Fund equips artists with skills, resources, and connections to strengthen public art practices that contribute to more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England. 

The Public Art Learning Fund gives priority to timely opportunities that are: 

• Specifically expanding an artist’s public art practice. NEFA will look for clarity on desired learnings and application to artist’s public art practice.
• Equitably contributing to more just and inclusive public artmaking in the region. Artists at various stages in their public artmaking practice from urban, suburban, and rural communities across all six states in New England are welcome to apply.

NEFA values diverse cultural and artistic expressions as essential to more equitable and vibrant public spaces and recognizes that some artists may experience barriers to accessing professional development opportunities due to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography. The Public Art Learning Fund intends to prioritize equity in funding opportunities.

Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network

The RDCRN was established by Congress under the Rare Diseases Act in 2002. The network is an initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through is Division of Rare Diseases Research Innovation (formerly the Office of Rare Diseases Research). It is funded by collaborating NIH institutes, centers, and offices.

Now in its fifth funding cycle, RDCRN supports 20 rare disease research groups (consortia) that partner with 127 affiliated patient advocacy groups. In total, 180 diseases are currently being studied at 273 active clinical sites, both in the United States and internationally.

Developmental Synaptopathies Consortium - Request For Pilot Project Applications

The pilot feasibility core of the Developmental Synaptopathies Consortium (DSC) is pleased to announce that it will fund an estimated $100,000 total costs for a pilot project to stimulate additional research through the DSC NIH grant for one/all of the following disorders: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), PTEN Hamartoma Syndrome (PHTS), Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS) and SYNGAP 1-related disorders. The funding will be coordinated, dispersed and evaluated for progress through the DSC infrastructure. This project will be a two-year project with half of the funds ($50,000) allocated in each year, starting in October 2026. 

The Honda USA Foundation's Mobility Pillar Award aims to empower individuals with disabilities by funding programs that enhance access and mobility. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations and schools that provide therapeutic, adaptive, and comprehensive care programs, as well as mobility modifications and assistive technology. Applications are accepted from U.S.-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsors, ensuring that the joy of mobility is accessible to all.

The William K. Gottschalk Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, supports second-year or higher students at UWSP at Wausau or Northcentral Technical College pursuing degrees in accounting or engineering. Over 200 scholarships are awarded annually, totaling more than $300,000. Applicants must be Wisconsin residents with a strong commitment to their chosen field and plan to attend NTC or UWSP for at least two years.

The RIF: Joseph O'Neill Ott Fund Grants support the preservation of historical documents in Rhode Island, with grants ranging from $250 to $750. Established through a bequest in 1994, this fund focuses on conserving manuscripts and records created before 1900. Eligible applicants include historical societies from smaller cities and towns in Rhode Island. Proposals that address long-term storage and preservation efforts are particularly favored, ensuring that vital historical evidence is maintained for future generations.

The Bliss, Gross, Horowitz Fund Grants support Jewish community charitable organizations in the greater Providence area. The fund seeks proposals for projects that enhance connections within the Jewish community, deepen cultural understanding, provide essential human needs, or support organizational development. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $10,000, fostering engagement and capacity-building initiatives that align with the fund's mission.

The Marilla W. and Harold A. Lund Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation in 1983, offers renewable financial support to graduating seniors from Washington County high schools. This scholarship aims to assist students in pursuing post-secondary education at four-year colleges or universities. Priority is given to first-generation college students, ensuring accessibility and encouragement for those demonstrating academic achievement and financial need.

The Dr. Charles and Phyllis Seward Scholarship, offered by the Amarillo Area Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors from the Texas Panhandle. This scholarship prioritizes Native American applicants and is available to those who will attend Amarillo College or West Texas A&M University, allowing them to major in any field of study. By addressing educational needs, this scholarship aims to empower local youth and foster community development.

The Strater Downeast Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Washington County and Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan. This fund aids students pursuing post-secondary education at select colleges, including the University of Maine and Maine Maritime Academy. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and can apply for renewal upon completing a two-year degree at Washington County Community College. The Maine Community Foundation has been enhancing education access since 1984.

The Bob and Lanna Hatton Scholarship, offered by the Amarillo Area Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors from the top 26 counties in the Texas Panhandle who plan to pursue a degree in Education. Recipients can attend any college or university of their choice, provided they maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher while in college. This scholarship aims to foster educational growth and community development in the region.

The Erin Elizabeth Sperrey Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, honors a promising young woman who tragically lost her life. This scholarship supports graduating seniors from Aroostook County high schools pursuing degrees in early childhood education or liberal arts. The Maine Community Foundation, founded in 1983, awards over $3 million annually through nearly 700 scholarship funds, aiding Maine residents in their educational pursuits.

The Benjamin Gimp Raffkind Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Amarillo Area Foundation, provides financial support for graduating high school seniors in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Eligible students must have a GPA of 80 or better and plan to attend Amarillo College or West Texas A&M University. This scholarship aims to empower local youth by facilitating their pursuit of higher education and addressing the educational needs of the community.

The Amarillo Handgunners Association offers the Bill Goodson Memorial Scholarship for graduating high school seniors in the northern Texas Panhandle. This scholarship encourages students involved in shooting sports to pursue higher education at any accredited institution in their chosen field of study. Recipients must maintain good standing while attending college, making this a valuable opportunity for aspiring scholars in the community.

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation offers the Mental Health Awareness, Education and Outreach Mini-Grants Program to enhance mental health services in Michigan. This initiative focuses on improving treatment programs, promoting early intervention, and reducing stigma associated with mental health. By collaborating across sectors and prioritizing underserved populations, the foundation aims to increase access to quality mental health care and evaluate the impact of its efforts, ultimately fostering a healthier community.

The Burke/Tharp Legacy Scholarship, managed by the Brown County Community Foundation, provides crucial tuition assistance to students accepted at Purdue, Ball State, or Michigan University. Since its inception, the foundation has focused on educational support, offering scholarships primarily to Brown County High School graduates. The scholarship aims to empower female students, minorities, and those facing financial hardships, ensuring they have access to higher education opportunities and can fulfill their academic ambitions.

The Riding for Focus Grants program supports public middle schools serving low-income students, providing them with bicycles, helmets, and educational resources to promote cycling. Through this program, schools can enhance their students' cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional well-being. The curriculum consists of 14 lessons focused on rider safety and skills, designed to be delivered over 6-8 weeks. Eligible schools can apply for grants or purchase the program to access these invaluable resources.

The Catalyzing Impact Grant Program by ArtsWave aims to enhance community connections and economic vitality in Greater Cincinnati through arts and cultural heritage projects. This program encourages diverse programming aligned with the goals outlined in the Blueprint for Collective Action. Eligible projects can be new or existing, focusing on expanding impact by reaching new audiences or deepening existing initiatives, ultimately fostering a more vibrant arts landscape in the region.

The Annette M. Brown Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, offers financial support to Androscoggin County residents pursuing post-secondary education. Founded in 1983, it honors Annette M. Brown, a teacher who bequeathed $16,000 for needy students in her will. Preference is given to first-generation college applicants and those attending accredited colleges in Androscoggin County. Each year, the fund helps numerous students achieve their educational goals.