Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

The Stein-Arnold Exploration Fund Grant supports advanced research in the antiquities, historical geography, or early history of ancient civilizations in Asia, particularly India, China, and Iran. Established in memory of Sir Aurel Stein, grants typically do not exceed £3,500, with exceptional cases reaching £5,000. Eligible applicants must be British or Hungarian postdoctoral researchers, and the funding does not apply to postgraduate students. Research should commence only after the award announcement.

The Middletown Community Foundation offers grants aimed at education and economic development. Established in 1976, it has grown to manage over $41 million in assets. Eligible applicants include IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in specific Ohio townships. The foundation encourages collaborative projects that meet community needs, fostering safe environments and responsible youth development. Notably, it does not fund individuals or for-profit entities. Applications are due by June 1st, focusing on impactful community projects.

The Ai2 Young Investigators Program offers postdoctoral researchers the chance to engage in impactful AI research while balancing collaborative projects at Ai2. Founded by Paul Allen, Ai2 is a Seattle-based non-profit committed to advancing AI for real-world applications. With flexible start dates, dedicated mentorship, and access to extensive resources, this program is designed for candidates nearing completion of their PhD or who already possess one, welcoming international applicants and providing support with visas.

The Artist Fellowship Grant offers $3,000 to Connecticut artists across all disciplines to support new work and enhance their careers. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old, full-time residents of Connecticut, and able to provide a Social Security Number. Recent recipients must wait five years before reapplying. This program aims to recognize and nurture artistic talent, ensuring that funds are directed towards artists with a professional body of work.

The Garrison Family Foundation, established in 2006 by Shirley and Mildred Garrison, is dedicated to philanthropy in the Texas panhandle and South Plains. The Foundation supports 501(c)(3) charities in education, religion, and health, emphasizing the importance of giving and community. The Garrison's legacy promotes a culture of generosity, allowing future generations to learn the value of philanthropy while making a positive impact in their communities.

ArtLife Foundation Fund

The Art Life Foundation Fund supports programs and initiatives that advance artistic excellence and nurture creativity within Ventura County.

Through this competitive grant opportunity, the fund will support arts organizations and educational institutions whose work:

• Advances artistic excellence
• Supports arts educators or programs that foster the “Creative Mind”
• Promotes the scholarly study of Joe Cardella’s life, artwork, creative philosophy, or Art Life Limited Editions

This grant round focuses on organizational programs, projects, and initiatives. Student scholarship awards supported through the fund are administered separately and are not part of this application.

Funding Overview

For this funding cycle, approximately $55,000 in total grant funding will be awarded.

Organizations may request funding in an amount that reflects the needs of their proposed project or program. To assist the review process, applicants are asked to indicate:

• The minimum amount needed to successfully implement the project
• The preferred funding amount

Organizations may request up to the full $55,000 available. Final award sizes may vary and may range from smaller grants to larger awards depending on the strength, scope, and impact of the proposals received.

The Community Foundation of Washington County serves as vehicle for philanthropy and a powerful force in improving the quality of life in Washington County. We partner with individuals, families and businesses to create or donate to funds that meet their charitable goals and provide for the causes they care about the most. 

Wyatt Haggerty Memorial Scholarship Fund

Established in memory of Wyatt Haggerty, this scholarship will be awarded to an Engineering student at Frostburg State University that is enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering Collaborative Program.

The Pi Chubb Field Trip New Jersey Funds offer grants to support educational trips for underserved students, connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences. Funding up to $700 per trip is available, prioritizing excursions outside district boundaries. Eligible applicants include public and charter schools, as well as non-profit organizations in Newark, who can apply for multiple trips within a school year. This initiative aims to enrich students' educational journeys by facilitating access to cultural and educational sites.

The Traveler's Grant, offered by the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, supports individuals attending conferences on California native plant topics. With awards up to $500, this grant helps cover travel, registration, and related costs. Eligible applicants must submit proof of event registration and a summary of their experience for the OCCNPS eNewsletter. This initiative promotes awareness and appreciation of California's native flora through education and engagement.

The JOIN! Grant, part of OceanFirst Foundation's initiative, aims to enhance civic engagement and community connections. This grant supports nonprofits that align with the foundation's funding priorities and demonstrate significant local impact in New Jersey's counties. Eligible organizations can apply for funding to further their work in building social capital, following the inspiration from the documentary "Join or Die" and the book "The Upswing". Contact the foundation for detailed guidelines.

Ann E. Myers Scholarship

Ann E. Myers was born in Tiffin, Ohio in 1951. She held a Bachelor’s Degree from The Ohio State University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Ashland University, and was a National Board Certified Teacher. Teaching elementary school was Ann’s true calling and joy. She began her teaching career in Lancaster, Ohio in 1973. She taught in Lancaster until 1984, at which time she began teaching in the Dublin, Ohio school system. From 1984 until her retirement in 2012, Ann taught at various elementary grade levels at Olde Sawmill, Wyandot, Scottish Corners, and Indian Run. During her teaching career, Ann gave freely of her time to mentor younger teachers. Above all, she loved her students and would do anything for them. After retirement, Ann volunteered her time at Habitat for Humanity, Franklin County Food Bank, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Upper Arlington Library. Ann battled cancer for many years until her death in 2018. Courage and optimism were her best traits. Ann’s husband established the scholarship to ensure that her legacy of teaching young students the wonders of learning would live on. The scholarship establishes that goal by encouraging Dublin High School students to pursue a career in education.

Award Amount:

• $10,000 payable over four years at $2,500 per academic year.

The Pat Santucci Education Fund, managed by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, supports initiatives that enhance public education and assist educators, especially for the physically and mentally challenged, within six counties in South Mississippi. Non-profit organizations that improve the quality of life for local citizens are encouraged to apply. However, funding is not available for capital projects, operating endowments, political activities, individuals, or religious activities.

The Arts Mean Business Grants, offered by the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, aim to stimulate economic growth in the Peoria region through arts tourism, fostering successful arts businesses, and increasing community engagement in the arts. These grants support projects that align with established community needs and priorities, ensuring collaboration and measurable outcomes. Eligible organizations include tax-exempt entities, local governments, and those operating under fiscal agents, emphasizing inclusivity and compliance with anti-discrimination laws.

Angelina O. and Henry L. Parsons Scholarship

Award

• Varies

Scopes

• Education

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Division of Governance Interventions supports TEA’s mission and vision by providing exceptional leadership, guidance, and support to school system leadership teams and governing boards. The division collaborates with external field support agents appointed by the TEA Commissioner of Education to build sustainable systems aligned to core TEA initiatives, so that the school system thrives after the release of agency intervention. 

Center for Strategic Compensation

Program Description

The 2026-2028 Center for Strategic Compensation (CSC) Grant will support School Systems in developing and implementing strategic compensation systems, talent systems support, and other related strategic planning while utilizing funds obtained through participation in the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) as well as local district dollars. The Center for Strategic Compensation aims to support School Systems in obtaining an Enhanced TIA district designation and provide support to Education Service Centers (ESCs) to develop capacity in supporting School Systems to develop and implement strategic compensation systems.

Joan R. Bowman Memorial Scholarship

Award

• Varies

Scopes

• Education

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program for FY25 aims to enhance road safety through competitive funding for planning and demonstration initiatives. This includes the creation and improvement of safety action plans to prevent fatalities and serious injuries across all roadway users. Eligible applicants must have or be developing an SS4A-funded action plan. The program supports comprehensive strategies that address various roadway safety challenges.

The Collaborative Research Program (CRP) - Faculty, managed by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, offers seed funding for aerospace-related research. This initiative encourages faculty from underrepresented groups and aims to diversify Arkansas’s aerospace industry. It promotes collaboration among at least two affiliate campuses, supports workforce development, and seeks projects that can attract larger funding and enhance technological competitiveness in various academic disciplines, including engineering and sciences.

About Us

We come to work every day because we believe in the power of possibility.

We believe the Sioux Falls area is a great place to live, work, and play. We also believe we have a responsibility to help preserve and sustain what’s good here, and to champion ideas and movements that have the potential to make our community even better.

We believe that meaningful and important social impact comes from thinking outside the box and having the courage to dream big dreams.

We believe strongly in the power and purpose of philanthropy. To us, philanthropy is more than just gifts and grants — philanthropy is thinking about how we can leverage financial, intellectual and human capital to help create a stronger, more vibrant community.

Finally, we believe philanthropy challenges us all to consider two important questions about our future – questions that drive and inspire our work every day: If we don't join together to build a better tomorrow, who will? And if not now, when?

Jim & Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation

Founded in 1997, the Jim and Caroline Deinema Canton Community Foundation was created to improve the quality of life right here in our community. Gifts to the Foundation grow over time thanks to the benefit of a pooled investment that generates long-term asset growth.

Through the power of endowment, more than $100,000 has been granted to nonprofits and causes throughout the Canton area since our founding, touching the lives of people right here at home.

The GMF: Mequon/Hiram Schmitt Fund Grant, established by the city of Mequon in 1984, supports educational and human service programs benefiting Mequon residents. Grants focus on sustaining ongoing activities or funding specific projects. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating in the Mequon/Thiensville area. An advisory board reviews proposals, while the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Board provides final approval. This grant aims to enhance community services and improve the quality of life for local residents.

The Bigglesworth Family Foundation's Access Grants aim to strengthen nonprofit organizations in delivering essential legal services to underserved communities. Ranging from $1,000 to $3,500, these grants provide access to critical tools and resources. The application process is streamlined, ensuring a review within 30 days, with a limit of two applications per organization annually. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on legal services, as applications outside this area will not be considered.

Montana Rural Education Association Scholarship

Award

• Varies

Scopes

• Education

History

When Benjamin Franklin left 1,000 pounds in his will to the city of Boston for the “encouragement of worthy apprentice boys,” he did not know that as the needs and interests of our nation continued to change, the intent of his gift would no longer be applicable. It took more than 200 years for the courts to intervene and change his will so that his gift could again be relevant to our society (in fact, the Lancaster County Community Foundation is proud to manage a portion of this original trust).

In 1914, a new “community foundation” movement emerged that would change the way donor interests are met while adapting to changing circumstances. The Cleveland Foundation, a pioneer community trust, worked to ensure that charitable bequests live on in perpetuity, especially when original charitable purposes are no longer applicable. This innovative concept has now spread throughout the country in over 700 Community Foundations.

Lancaster County Weaver Awards

It might feel like everything is coming apart at the seams. That we’re disconnected from each other and can’t make a difference. That tuning out is the only way to get through the day.

But look around, and you’ll find there are more people weaving the social fabric of our community together than people trying to unravel it. In fact, you won’t have to look far to spot weavers. 

Instead of tuning out, weavers turn up. 

What’s a Weaver Award?

The Weaver Awards celebrate and support the people doing good in our community. 

20 local individuals or small organizations throughout Lancaster County will be chosen to receive awards of $2,500 to grow their local impact and spark new connections. 

Congress created the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in 1974 to benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevent and eliminate conditions of slum or blight, and address other urgent community development needs. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has administered the State CDBG program since 1983, when Housing and Urban Development (HUD) moved the administration of the funds to the states. In Arkansas, the CDBG program is also known as the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program (ACEDP).

Each year, the AEDC holds public meetings and hearings across the state to obtain citizen input on community needs. Based on that input, the agency prepares a plan to prioritize and distribute the grant funds that are part of its federal CDBG allocation. A draft of the plan is published and made available for public comment.

The Arts Build Community: Incubation Grants by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation aim to foster community engagement through innovative arts projects. Targeted towards nonprofit arts organizations in Berkshire County, the grants provide up to $7,500 to initiatives that address barriers to participation, such as cost and accessibility. The program encourages collaboration and inclusivity, specifically focusing on communities of color, youth, and immigrants, ensuring a diverse and vibrant arts culture in the region.

The Louis K. Snipes Foundation for Animal Care Grant supports organizations in Tarrant County, TX, that focus on preventing cruelty to animals through various care services. With an average grant size of $38,000, the foundation prioritizes requests for capital improvements, equipment purchases, and program support. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and located in Tarrant County, ensuring their efforts benefit local animals in need.

The Christine Brice Stevenson Community Charitable Trust Grant supports medical, educational, and religious organizations in South Carolina, especially in Abbeville County, Anderson County, and Due West. Grants, averaging $1,000, aim to enrich the lives of local residents. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) organizations, excluding Erskine College and Erskine Seminary. The trust prioritizes initiatives that align with its mission, providing approximately four grants annually with a total giving of around $5,000.