Best Grants for Autism Programs in Utah

Dick & Judy Hoyt Inclusion Grant

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism is excited to collaborate with the Hoyt Foundation for the Dick and Judy Hoyt Grant for Inclusion. Our joint effort is driven by a shared vision of fostering a society where individuals with autism and other disabilities are embraced and valued within their communities. In tribute to the pioneering spirit of Dick and Judy Hoyt, we will be distributing $50,000 through this community grant to support people with autism and other disabilities. Successful ways grant funds can be used: 

• Side-by-side participation with non-disabled peers in a swim program, the grant provides a private lifeguard to allow individualized support to ensure an inclusive experience.
• Grant provides the purchase of a racing chair to allow an individual with a disability to run in races with non-disabled peers.
• Competitive horseback riding supported by the grant to purchase specialized equipment to allow a rider to compete against non-disabled peers.
• Grant provides the purchase of an adaptive ski prosthetic to allow an individual to participate side by side with non-disabled peers on their high school ski teams.
• Participation in dance training and competitions to allow a student with a disability to compete in a dance competition with non-disabled peers, grant lessons, and staff to assist in dance training.
• Grant provides a mobile stand to allow a student with a disability to participate side by side with non-disabled peers in the college marching band. 

The Vineyard Family Foundation

The Vineyard Family Foundation is the product of decades of work across three generations and five states. Having enjoyed the benefits of our hard work and community patronage, the Vineyard family has chosen to provide to others what so many have graciously provided to us. 

What Sets Us Apart

The Vineyard family has always been committed to its communities. Whether supporting Boys & Girls Clubs, pediatric hospitals, the Ronald McDonald House, arts organizations, or youth recreation leagues, the family has taken a great interest in the care, health, and education of children and the families that nurture them. We take great pride in personally administering our Foundation’s charitable giving, resulting in fewer expenses and more funding for those organizations aligned with the Foundation’s purpose.

Grants

• Supporting Our Communities and Their Families
• Working Towards the Health, Education, and Overall Well-Being of Parents and Their Children

You are steps away from creating an opportunity to receive full or partial funding of your charitable organization. So that you use your time wisely, we offer the following advice for your efforts:

• As a family foundation, we are prohibited from funding individuals or any entity that is not an IRS-recognized Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity or a Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3) support organization. Thus, while we cannot award a scholarship to an individual, we can fund a 501(c)(3) charity that provides such scholarships.

• If you qualify as a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or a support organization pursuant to Section 509(a)(1-3), we will need the IRS Determination Letter confirming as much, as well as a statement signed by your organization’s President or Chief Executive Officer verifying that your organization’s purposes, structure, and operations have not changed substantially since the date of the IRS’s Determination Letter.

• If you are a “supporting organization” under IRS Code section 509(a)(1-3), please provide a list of the public charities that you support. Please also advise whether you are a Type I, Type II, or Type III supporting organization. If you are a Type III supporting organization, please advise whether you are “functionally integrated” with your supported public charity and provide an explanation of that relationship.

Supported Charities

The Vineyard family has historically provided funding for family-related charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, pediatric hospitals, autism-related organizations, and youth recreational leagues. The Foundation looks forward to continuing this support and extending itself to educational, research, and cultural experiences that focus on the needs of children and their parents.

Utah organizations conducting autism clinical trials can access funding through the US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command to test treatments or management approaches for autism spectrum disorder. This award supports proof-of-concept through large-scale trials, offers up to US $1,500,000, encourages early-career investigator partnerships, and requires meaningful collaboration with autistic individuals, caregivers, or community organizations.

Autism researchers and research institutions in Utah and other eligible U.S. jurisdictions can seek funding to pursue innovative, high-risk/high-reward autism studies. Grants from US DOD U.S. Army Medical Command support Idea Development projects that generate impactful data, explore new avenues of investigation, and may include a partnering principal investigator option. Awards up to US $750,000.

Early-career autism researchers conducting innovative studies or early-phase clinical trials in the U.S. and territories can apply for the Autism Research Program Career Development Award, offering up to US $750,000. US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command supports high-impact autism research; Utah-based investigators and partners may benefit if their projects meet program priorities.

Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and an IEP or 504 seeking higher education or job training in Utah may be eligible for this scholarship supporting autism-related academic advancement. Grants from Erie Community Foundation assist qualified candidates nationwide, with preference for applicants who are current Autism Society Northwestern Pennsylvania members.

Research institutions and investigators conducting autism-focused studies, including those that may involve Utah sites, can access funding through the National Institutes of Health for multi-site Autism Centers of Excellence R01 network projects. Grants up to US $10,000,000 support collaborative, cutting-edge autism research using advanced technologies and methods across eligible U.S. locations and territories.

Research institutions and investigators conducting autism-related studies in Utah and other U.S. jurisdictions can apply for the National Institutes of Health Autism Centers of Excellence P50 program, with awards up to US $10,000,000 for multi-project research centers. This opportunity supports cutting-edge autism research that may complement or inform local autism programs and services.

Principal investigators conducting autism research that prioritizes undersampled groups in the U.S., including Utah, can apply for Simons Foundation’s SPARK Research Match Expansion, with awards up to US $10,000 for participant incentives. Funding provides e-gift cards for participants recruited through SPARK Research Match into online or remote autism studies of clear importance to these communities.

K-12 public schools, districts, libraries, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits can receive US $500 - US $10,000 to run autism peer education and awareness initiatives, including Kit for Kids activities. With a mission to advance autism understanding, Organization For Autism Research provides funding for U.S. projects, which may benefit Utah programs, especially in low-income communities.

Community organizations and autism stakeholders creating practical, non-commercial tools to improve autistic individuals’ health and quality of life in the U.S., including Utah, can apply for the Organization for Autism Research Community Grant, awarding US $1,000 - US $15,000. Grants support guides, curricula, toolkits, and multimedia resources on autism-related physical health and adult services.

U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations running programs that improve quality of life for people with autism, including those serving Utah, can request up to US $50,000 for autism-related services or supports. Focused on autism, Anderson Foundation for Autism invites nonprofits to apply for project or program funding that advances outcomes for individuals with autism.

Individuals and families needing urgent autism treatment in Utah can seek immediate support for effective therapies and services that address autism spectrum disorders. Grants from Autism Care Today help cover critical, safety-related treatment costs for low-income households nationwide, including Utah, when delays in care could place an individual’s physical safety in jeopardy.

Utah nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects serving autistic adults with programs in work, home, social engagement, or health can apply for grants up to US $25,000 from Next for Autism. U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations with evidence-based, high-impact services, especially those reaching low-income, underserved, or rural communities, may be competitive.

Utah autism researchers in predoctoral training can access funding through Autism Speaks and the American Heart Association to study autism, cardiovascular health, and brain health. Awards of US $80,000 support projects that address knowledge gaps, advance health equity, and use implementation science to improve real-world outcomes for autistic people in clinical and community settings.

Utah families of children and young adults with autism or other developmental disabilities can access funding through Music Movement for local or online music therapy sessions. This U.S.-wide program awards US $1,500 - US $2,500 per child to help cover therapy costs with qualified therapists or programs accepting new clients.

Parents or legal guardians of children and young adults with autism or other learning differences in the U.S., including Utah, can apply for Music Movement’s Instrument Donations Program to obtain musical instruments. With a mission to foster self-expression and growth, Music Movement provides in-kind awards of US $500 - US $1,500 for requested instruments and accessories.

Focused on independent living and personal growth, Music Movement invites U.S. young adults and adults (18+) with autism or other developmental differences to seek support for housing programs, camps, retreats, and continued education or therapy. Legal guardians or parents must apply, and awards typically range from US $1,500 - US $5,000.

Families of individuals with autism needing help paying for treatments, nutrition, personal needs, or enrichment activities can apply for MyGOAL’s need-based grants, including those in Utah. This U.S.-wide program supports non-reimbursable medical, nutritional, educational, and socialization expenses that are not covered by insurance, schools, or other funding sources.

Students in Utah and across the U.S. diagnosed with autism who need help paying for educational or recreational opportunities may be eligible for this scholarship, which awards US $500. The Varghese Summersett Autism Scholarship can support camps, tutoring, schooling, or other tools that help autistic children progress and thrive.

Families of children with autism in Utah seeking help paying for treatment products and services may be eligible for national funding that supports safety equipment, assistive technologies, ABA therapy, social skills programs, summer school, and medical tests. Grants from Autism Care Today help U.S. families access approved providers and vendors for autism-related care and supports.

Utah autism and disability-focused nonprofits can access funding through the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s Community Fund for programs that help people in need. Support may be available for health and wellness, education, and related services, so organizations serving autistic individuals within these priorities may be competitive applicants.

The Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology, offered by the Simons Foundation, aim to support early-career researchers pursuing fundamental studies in plant biology. Candidates with diverse backgrounds, including engineering and computational modeling, are encouraged to apply. This flexible program enables collaborations between disciplines, fostering innovative approaches to plant science. Eligible applicants should have obtained their Ph.D. within the last three years and may include both U.S. citizens and foreign researchers. Awards will be granted to nonprofit research institutions.

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award honors exemplary nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that foster collaborative partnerships across sectors. Annually, a national competition showcases numerous organizations demonstrating impactful community partnerships. Six organizations receive recognition, including the Thomas J. Moran Award, which offers $100,000, and the Frances R. Hesselbein Award, granting $75,000. Since 1996, the award has acknowledged 262 partnerships, emphasizing Mutual of America's commitment to societal improvement through collaboration.

The True Inspiration Awards, established by Chick-fil-A in 2015, recognizes nonprofit organizations that significantly impact their communities. In 2025, the program will distribute $6 million in grants, ranging from $30,000 to $350,000, to sixteen selected organizations. Categories include Caring for People, Caring through Food, Community, and Caring for our Planet, with a focus on educational initiatives, food security, housing services, and environmental stewardship, honoring the legacy of founder S. Truett Cathy.

State Farm's Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants aim to enhance community safety, development, and education. Focused on long-term impact, they support initiatives in auto and home safety, disaster preparedness, affordable housing, and educational programs. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. However, funding is not available for individuals, religious programs, or organizations outside the U.S. By addressing critical community needs, these grants foster safer and more resilient neighborhoods.

The Saw Island Foundation offers grants focusing on education, science, and health, primarily targeting nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their education grants support scholarships and program partnerships, while science and health grants aim to enhance life experiences through improved health outcomes. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, and the foundation emphasizes innovative collaborations that demonstrate measurable impact in their communities.