Search Through Quality of Life Grants in New Hampshire in the U.S.

Who We Are

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

What We Fund

/ What We Fund

The Creag Foundation is focused on innovation in the industry. We will consider proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are finding new ways to address societal issues facing the nonprofit community. Applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for one year before submitting. If your organization has held 501(c)(3) status for over a year, and your believe that your organization has a new approach to an existing social problem or is addressing a previously unaddressed social issue, you are welcome to contact us and request that we consider your organization for a funding opportunity.

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

Hannaford Charitable Foundation

We have a long history of supporting our communities through volunteerism, donations and community leadership. The Hannaford Charitable Foundation is one of many ways we support our communities.

The Foundation's mission is to invest in creating and sustaining healthy communities in our five-state region by providing financial support to nonprofit organizations and programs that focus on improvement of the root causes impacting the quality of life for our customers, associates and neighbors. Our areas of focus for financial support are food, education and health.

Focus Areas for support:

The Foundation supports organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont that focus on one of the following core components of healthy communities:

• Food – We support programs with long-term solutions that will ensure safe, stable access to healthy food primarily through regional food banks in the markets we serve.
• Education – We help to deliver strong programs that prepare people through all stages of life for success in education and readiness to enter the workforce.
• Health – We support organizations that provide quality programs focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles and improved care.

In determining which organizations and programs to support, the Foundation considers

• the impact and outcomes to the community
• prior support from Hannaford Charitable Foundation
• relative uniqueness of the program versus others in the community.

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Culture Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation only accepts unsolicited proposals for specific areas within the education, family economic stability and childhood health sectors in select countries where we work, namely the United States, India and South Africa.

As a guideline, the foundation does not fund more than 25% of a project’s budget or more than 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has always recognized the power of providing grants to partner organizations that we knew were already working hard to improve the lives of urban children living in poverty. By aligning with organizations that are already making a difference, we continue to make an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Foundation priorities:

We fund social enterprises that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, health, and family economic stability (including livelihoods and financial inclusion). These social enterprises may be structured as for-profit or nonprofit entities.

Partnerships

We collaborate with a range of organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact. Our funding advances projects already making an impact in education, health, and family economic stability. Through these enduring and long-standing partnerships, we create lasting change together.

New Hampshire accepts applications for Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) fund grants. CMP requests shall be submitted to the State Agency Director (SAD), or their designee.

About CMP Funds

Civil money penalties (CMPs) are fines imposed on nursing facilities that do not meet federal health and safety standards. The State of Alaska receives a portion of the funds collected to be reinvested in support of projects that improve the overall quality of life and/or care of nursing facility residents.

Nursing facility providers, stakeholders and other organizations are encouraged to submit CMP fund grant applications for the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives that directly or indirectly benefit nursing facility residents. 

Project proposals should demonstrate current and sound evidence-based practices that promote quality of care and quality of life for nursing facility residents. CMP fund grants are only available for quality improvement initiatives that are outside the scope of normal facility operations. 

Funding Uses

The following examples of allowable uses of CMP funds are not all-inclusive. Please see the Allowable and Non-Allowable Uses of CMP Funds download for more information. CMP funds may be used for:

• Assistance to support and protect residents of a facility that closes or is decertified
• Time-limited expenses incurred in the process of relocating residents to home and community-based settings or another facility when a facility is closed or downsized pursuant to an agreement with the state Medicaid agency
• Projects that support resident and family councils and other consumer involvement in assuring quality care in facilities
• Facility improvement initiatives, such as joint training of facility staff and surveyors, or technical assistance for facilities implementing quality assurance and performance improvement programs

About NHDES

Helping to sustain a high quality of life for all citizens by protecting and restoring the environment and public health in New Hampshire.

The mission of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is to help sustain a high quality of life for all citizens by protecting and restoring the environment and public health in New Hampshire. The protection and wise management of the state’s environment are the main goals of the agency.

Formed in January 1987 by state statute RSA 21-O, NHDES was legislatively created through the consolidation and reorganization of four previously separate agencies: the Air Resources Agency, the Office of Waste Management, the Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission, and the Water Resources Board. Each of these groups is now represented within the department’s three divisions: Air Resources, Waste Management and Water. NHDES leadership is composed of the agency commissioner, assistant commissioner, chief financial officer and directors of the three divisions.

The Air Resources Division is responsible for achieving and maintaining air quality in New Hampshire that is protective of public health and our natural environment. The division is committed to promoting cost-effective, sensible strategies and control measures to address the many complex and inter-related air quality issues facing the state, such as ground-level ozone, small particle pollution, regional haze (visibility), mercury contamination, climate change, acid deposition and air toxics.

The Waste Management Division promotes responsible waste management and ensures solid wastes and regulated hazardous materials are properly handled and disposed. The division's remediation programs conduct prompt clean-up of hazardous spills and work to restore contaminated sites to productive use while protecting the environment and public health.

The Water Division is tasked with protecting the numerous lakes, ponds and rivers in the state, as well as valuable groundwater. Under guidance from the New Hampshire Water Council and the New Hampshire Wetlands Council, the division conducts a variety of programs designed to ensure the protection of these waters in a variety of areas, such as public water systems, private water wells, source water protection, wetlands, wastewater engineering, septic systems, river and lake monitoring and healthy swimming.

In addition, NHDES is home to the New Hampshire Geological Survey and the NH Pollution Prevention (P2) Program, focuses on Strategic Planning and Quality Assurance from the Commissioner's Office on down, and provides services such as the Small Business Ombudsmen and Pre-Application Meetings.

NH Boat Pumpout Grants

The Clean Vessel Act supports the installation, operation, and maintenance of boat pumpout facilities.

Grants are for future projects only and cannot be applied retroactively, so organizations must wait until the grant is officially approved (by the NHDES commissioner or Governor and Executive Council) before any work begins. Generally, this takes 1-3 months if NHDES has the funding available. It may take a year or more if NHDES does not have funding currently available.

Mission

The Nordson Corporation Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in our communities by supporting educational programs and initiatives that enable individuals to become self-sufficient, thriving, active participants in the community.

Nordson Foundation Values

In the spirit of our corporate founders, the Nordson Corporation Foundation continues to operate on the belief that business, as a corporate citizen, has a social responsibility to share its success with the communities where it operates, and employees live. 

We pursue results-oriented opportunities that prepare individuals to thrive in strong, vibrant communities. While Nordson funds a variety of nonprofit program areas, our primary focus is education and offers support to non-profit organizations that cultivate educational curriculum and experiences that foster job readiness and paths to aspire to higher education. 

Nordson Foundation Goals

The goals of the Nordson Corporation Foundation are to insure that:

All children have access to and receive quality educational experiences from early childhood  

• All individuals have the opportunity to be self-sufficient members of society 
• There is a continuum of quality educational opportunities 
• Our communities are strengthened by the organizations we fund whether their focus is education, human welfare, civic or arts and culture

Funding Allocation

The Foundation board of directors determines how funds are allocated based on online grant applications submitted by the applicants. Note that currently funding applications are accepted by invitation only, supporting Nordson’s goal of building strong relationships, supporting employee engagement, and maximizing impact with existing community partners.

Mission Statement

Town Fair Tire Foundation, Inc. (“TFTF”) is a private, not-for-profit philanthropic organization established by Neil Mellen in 2000. The mission of TFTF is to financially support entities and institutions that help people in need of social, health, welfare, educational and other human services throughout New England - Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island – and beyond.

The Town Fair Tire Foundation is dedicated to helping create and sustain vibrant and healthy communities, families and individuals. To accomplish this purpose, TFTF invests in community-based organizations that promote self-reliance, economic and social advancement, and improved quality of life. The Town Fair Tire Foundation is especially committed to helping individuals and families who struggle daily with the effects of poverty.

An essential theme underlying the Town Fair Tire Foundation’s approach to giving is to “pay-it-forward” -- respectfully asking those who benefit from grants to pay the kindness forward to others in need. TFTF’s ultimate objective and mission is to promote positive change in the lives of those less fortunate to an exponential degree.

The Town Fair Tire Foundation performs its mission by funding proven or unique approaches from not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organizations.

What We Do

Town Fair Tire Foundation, Inc. (TFTF) is dedicated to helping create and sustain vibrant and healthy communities, families and individuals. To accomplish this purpose, TFTF invests in local community-based organizations that promote self-reliance, economic and social advancement and improved quality of life. 

TFTF is committed to helping individuals and families who struggle daily with the effects of poverty. Our initiatives are highly grassroots in nature, with the goal of giving back to the local and community levels.

TFTF’s ultimate objective is to promote positive change in the lives of those less fortunate and create greater societal good through the thousands of organizations we support across the region.

An essential theme underlying Town Fair Tire Foundation’s approach to giving is to pay it forward - respectfully asking those who benefit from grants to pay the kindness forward to others in need when they are able.

About NHDES

Helping to sustain a high quality of life for all citizens by protecting and restoring the environment and public health in New Hampshire.

The mission of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is to help sustain a high quality of life for all citizens by protecting and restoring the environment and public health in New Hampshire. The protection and wise management of the state’s environment are the main goals of the agency.

Formed in January 1987 by state statute RSA 21-O, NHDES was legislatively created through the consolidation and reorganization of four previously separate agencies: the Air Resources Agency, the Office of Waste Management, the Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission, and the Water Resources Board. Each of these groups is now represented within the department’s three divisions: Air Resources, Waste Management and Water. NHDES leadership is composed of the agency commissioner, assistant commissioner, chief financial officer and directors of the three divisions.

The Air Resources Division is responsible for achieving and maintaining air quality in New Hampshire that is protective of public health and our natural environment. The division is committed to promoting cost-effective, sensible strategies and control measures to address the many complex and inter-related air quality issues facing the state, such as ground-level ozone, small particle pollution, regional haze (visibility), mercury contamination, climate change, acid deposition and air toxics.

The Waste Management Division promotes responsible waste management and ensures solid wastes and regulated hazardous materials are properly handled and disposed. The division's remediation programs conduct prompt clean-up of hazardous spills and work to restore contaminated sites to productive use while protecting the environment and public health.

The Water Division is tasked with protecting the numerous lakes, ponds and rivers in the state, as well as valuable groundwater. Under guidance from the New Hampshire Water Council and the New Hampshire Wetlands Council, the division conducts a variety of programs designed to ensure the protection of these waters in a variety of areas, such as public water systems, private water wells, source water protection, wetlands, wastewater engineering, septic systems, river and lake monitoring and healthy swimming.

In addition, NHDES is home to the New Hampshire Geological Survey and the NH Pollution Prevention (P2) Program, focuses on Strategic Planning and Quality Assurance from the Commissioner's Office on down, and provides services such as the Small Business Ombudsmen and Pre-Application Meetings.

Used Oil Collection Gift Grant Program

Gift grants offered to municipalities to help with their used oil collection centers.

NHDES issues gift grants (meaning they are not matching grants) for the purpose of encouraging the establishment, improvement and operation of used oil collection centers that serve residents who change their own oil (Do-It-Yourselfers). The used oil that is collected at these centers is then properly recycled at licensed used oil recycling facilities.

Towns, cities, counties, solid waste districts, other government entities and nonprofit organizations that focus on waste management and recycling issues are eligible to receive used oil collection gift grant funds. The grant funds are also available to private businesses that are registered motor vehicle inspection stations. Most grants are for a specified amount, up to $2,500. A center that serves two or more towns may qualify for up to $5,000.

Grant funds may be used to establish, improve or operate a used oil collection center, as well as to transport used oil off-site to a licensed used oil recycler.

Our Mission

The mission of the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund is to enhance the quality of life in communities where the Group conducts business, by providing financial support to worthy community organizations.

Where We Give

The Charitable Giving Fund is designed to benefit organizations within the marketing territories of Vermont Mutual Insurance Group that aim to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Giving Focus

The Fund provides financial support to organizations that help to build, maintain and enrich healthy lives and strong, vibrant communities. The Fund's primary focus is to contribute to non-profit organizations that serve communities through any of the following four initiatives:

• Promote Education: Examples may include traditional and non-traditional opportunities focused on inspiring academic excellence, leadership and community service
• Foster Youth: Examples may include teaching and modeling positive life skills
• Community-based: Programs that build better communities in which to live and work
• Satisfy Basic Needs: Examples may include affordable housing, homelessness and hunger

DAIRY FOOD SAFETY & CERTIFICATION GRANT

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant program, which will provide grants for dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products. Projects funded through this program will support increased production safety standards with the goal of accessing new markets. Projects that increase marketability of dairy products will be prioritized. Activities covered by this grant include accessing technical assistance, audits, food safety plan development, training, testing fees, and certain infrastructure upgrades. 

Projects funded by this grant will allow dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products and improve marketability. Technical assistance providers or supply chain partners including distributors, co-packers and cross-dockers that would also benefit from grant activities should be listed as partners. Projects that demonstrate that grant activities will increase or expand access to market channels will be prioritized. Food safety activities under this grant should build upon baseline state and federal compliance requirements to further improve product consistency, safety, and quality of dairy products.

Grants are available to applicants in all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Funding

Grants will range from $10,000 - $40,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required. Total funds available: $250,000. 

Required Project Criteria

The following criteria must be addressed:

• Must build upon dairy business’ existing baseline compliance with food safety requirements.
• Project increases the safety of dairy products produced in the Northeast.
• Business/organization can sustain the changes/improvements past the grant period.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) is a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Our enabling legislation charges us to ensure that the arts play a significant role in the welfare of people in the Granite State. Our mission is to promote the arts to protect and enrich New Hampshire’s unique quality of life.

The State Arts Council provides a wide variety of services, competitive grants, and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, schools, health care facilities and to individual artists, helping to ensure that the arts thrive in New Hampshire and are accessible to all. Funding for our grants and services is provided by the New Hampshire Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Youth Arts Project Grants

Youth Arts Project Grants fund high-quality arts and cultural programs that encourage creativity, develop new arts skills and foster success for young people. Recognizing that opportunities to experience and engage in the arts, such as music, dance, theater, visual arts, crafts, photography and creative writing, may be limited in classrooms, this grant provides funding for artists to work directly with young people. The overall goal of this grant category is to afford all young people opportunities to engage in the arts so that they can develop creative problem solving skills, positive forms of personal expression, and become more engaged in their communities through the art.

Projects in this category are required to:

• Clearly articulate your plan for making the program accessible for youth of all abilities and underserved populations.
• Identify core participants, consult with special education professionals if applicable, and develop accommodations as needed.
• Compensate artists at a professional level.
• Describe how the program is responsive to the academic and cultural needs of the youth being served. For example, the program may:
  • Provide experiences in diverse artistic disciplines
  • Reflect the racial, cultural, and aesthetic background of the youth population
  • Broaden access to artistic disciplines from diverse cultural traditions
  • Be designed with input from the youth being served.

Sample Projects:

• Female identifying teens meet weekly for an afterschool creative writing club led by a local poet who encourages self-expression, tackling difficult issues, public speaking, and community engagement. The nonprofit that offers the writing club works with the school district to make the opportunity available to the students for academic credit as an Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO).
• A nonprofit string ensemble offers individual and group lessons in string instruments to an entire school district during the school day and afterschool.
• A Creative Youth Development organization works with guidance counselors to identify at risk teens to participate in an afterschool program led by professional artists in dance, theatre, and design. Participants devise their own unique and innovative theatre and dance productions while engaging in group mentoring and leadership development.
• A weekly afterschool African dance program allows new American and refugee students the opportunity to learn and perform dances which reflect their aesthetic cultural traditions.
• A teen center partners with city leadership to design and create a mural based on the cultural diversity of the community.
• A summer camp for youth in a rural community invites musicians and theatre professionals from across the state to work with campers for in-depth learning. 

Our Foundation

Since 2003, our annual Claremont Savings Bank Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $2,700,000 to local non-profit organizations for a wide range of charitable initiatives. These grants, which typically range from $500 to $5,000 each, help to ensure the success of local programs and projects that benefit all of us as members of the community.

Each year we award grants to help ensure the success of charitable programs and projects dedicated to the betterment of the communities we serve.

Claremont Savings Bank Foundation Grant

Claremont Savings Bank Foundation makes grants one time each year to local non-profits that significantly enhance the quality of life and economic vitality in the communities that we serve. These grants are in addition to the bank’s regular contributions and the extraordinary volunteer efforts by our employees.

The sizes of our grants generally range from $500 to $5,000. Applicants may apply for amounts outside of these guidelines if documentation supports the nature of the request.

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) is a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Our enabling legislation charges us to ensure that the arts play a significant role in the welfare of people in the Granite State. Our mission is to promote the arts to protect and enrich New Hampshire’s unique quality of life.

The State Arts Council provides a wide variety of services, competitive grants, and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, schools, health care facilities and to individual artists, helping to ensure that the arts thrive in New Hampshire and are accessible to all. Funding for our grants and services is provided by the New Hampshire Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Public Value Partnerships

Public Value Partnerships provides grants for general operating support of nonprofit cultural organizations and are an investment in the cultural infrastructure and creative economy of New Hampshire.

The creative economy is made up of artists, not-for-profit organizations and creative businesses that positively impact quality of life in communities, generate jobs and produce revenue for municipalities, cities and the state. Public Value Partnerships also ensure that the arts are available and accessible to all New Hampshire citizens.

A limited number of competitive and matching grants will be awarded to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that demonstrate excellence in planning, administration and programming. Grantees are expected to provide high quality and broadly accessible arts experiences, activities and services for New Hampshire citizens. They are also expected to promote the arts as integral to the local economy by developing and maintaining close relationships with other community-based organizations and businesses and policy makers.

Requests are for unrestricted operational funds and may be made for a two-year period.

Background

The New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) is an independent state authority charged by statute (RSA 227-M) with conserving and preserving New Hampshire's most important natural, cultural and historic resources, and with ensuring the perpetual contribution of these resources to the economy, environment and quality of life in New Hampshire.

LCHIP accomplishes its mission by awarding matching grants to NH communities and non-profits. Working in partnership with Recipients to support their acquisition of land or historic resources, or interests therein, and to rehabilitate historic buildings and structures, LCHIP helps to secure NH's greatest business advantage: The quality of life and traditional values of our state.

Since 2001, LCHIP has proudly worked with community groups across New Hampshire to conserve and preserve New Hampshire's most important natural, cultural and historic resources.

Natural Resource Acquisition Grants

Natural Resource Acquisition Grants support the permanent protection of ecologically significant lands through acquisition of property or easement interests.

Land conservation endeavors to protect ecologically significant land for a variety of purposes, including water quality protection, wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, preservation of scenic views, and conservation of important forest and agricultural lands.

Land conservation helps to maintain New Hampshire’s economic base by ensuring an adequate long-term supply of forest products, and local food remains available, as well as enhancing the tourism industry. Land conservation not only protects the irreplaceable physical resources of our natural environment, but also protects the vitality, quality of life, and sense of place that are so important in our communities and in our state.

All resources conserved with LCHIP funds are required to be protected with a conservation easement or deed restrictions, or in some cases a grant agreement.

Funding

Grant amounts are at least $10,000, but no more than $500,000, and no more than 50% of the total project cost.

The Arts in Health project grant category responds to the Arts Council’s recognition that arts and culture facilitate the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional aspects of individual healing, and that when applied to public health, promote healthy environments and policies in communities by fostering empathy, awareness, and social cohesion through shared narrative and aesthetic experiences.

This category is designed in response to the Arts Council’s commitment to meet the needs of underserved populations, which can include the elderly, people with disabilities, people in recovery, incarcerated individuals, and people with mental health or other

acute or chronic health diagnoses. The Arts in Health project grant offers two tracks as described below. The Health & Healing Track supports non-clinical arts engagement that promotes and facilitates individual health and healing through participatory arts programs or artist residencies as a primary focus of the project. Arts activities may occur in health-based or community spaces and may incorporate professional development components for health care staff. The goal of the Health & Healing Track is to utilize the arts to enhance quality of life and promote environments conducive to healing for patients, facility residents/clients, caregivers, and health care staff. The Public Health Track supports arts activities that provide a public health benefit in New Hampshire communities as a primary focus of the project. Applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with public health agencies and/or health or social service organizations, and/or to embed experts in related health fields into their projects. Arts activities may occur in health-based or community spaces and may also directly or indirectly engage people who are affected by the identified public health priority. The goals of the Public Health Track are to utilize the arts to generate awareness of social and structural determinants of health; encourage and promote health as a topic of public discourse; promote the arts and artists as partners in health-related strategies; and to build healthy communities for all New Hampshire citizens. 

Since 2001, LCHIP has proudly awarded $54 million dollars to 364 organizations in 195 communities across New Hampshire to conserve and preserve New Hampshire's most important natural, cultural and historic resources.

Historic Rehabilitation Grant

Historic preservation endeavors to protect and preserve buildings, structures, districts and sites, which reflect elements of local, state or national history. Historic preservation not only protects the irreplaceable physical resources in the built environment, but also protects the vitality, quality of life, and sense of place in our communities.

Funding

Grant amounts are at least $10,000 but not more than $500,000, and no more than 50% of the total project cost.

Since 2001, LCHIP has proudly awarded $54 million dollars to 364 organizations in 195 communities across New Hampshire to conserve and preserve New Hampshire's most important natural, cultural and historic resources. 

Preservation Planning Grant

Historic preservation endeavors to protect and preserve buildings, structures, districts and sites which reflect elements of local, state or national history. Historic preservation not only protects the irreplaceable physical resources in the built environment, but also protects the vitality, quality of life, and sense of place in our communities.

Preservation Planning grants support the development of preservation plans such as Historic Structure Reports or Historic Building Assessments. These reports serve as road maps for the reuse of historic resources. They are prepared by historic preservation professionals and are often multi-disciplinary because they address the history and function of the resource over time as well as identifying and assessing the resource’s preservation needs and priorities. The end result is a report that provides prioritized recommendations, following the appropriate Secretary of the Interior’s Standard for the Treatment of Historic Properties, for the next steps in a resource’s restoration or rehabilitation.

Funding

Grant amounts are at least $5,000, but not more than $25,000, and no more than 50% of the total project cost.

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) is a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Our enabling legislation charges us to ensure that the arts play a significant role in the welfare of people in the Granite State. Our mission is to promote the arts to protect and enrich New Hampshire’s unique quality of life.

The State Arts Council provides a wide variety of services, competitive grants, and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, schools, health care facilities and to individual artists, helping to ensure that the arts thrive in New Hampshire and are accessible to all. Funding for our grants and services is provided by the New Hampshire Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Arts for Community Engagement Project Grants

Arts for Community Engagement (ACE) project grants support community enrichment and public benefit by providing access to high quality arts events and activities presented by community-based organizations, Main Street programs, and municipalities. The ACE grant supports a wide range of activities across a range of disciplines and includes performances, exhibits, workshops, community arts programming, and collaborative public art projects. The goals of this funding category are to engage and benefit New Hampshire residents and communities through the arts, especially people who are underserved or under-represented; encourage collaborative and cross-sector community partnerships; stimulate local economies through cultural tourism and the arts; and enhance the vibrancy of New Hampshire communities and quality of life for New Hampshire citizens. 

New Hampshire State Council on the Arts

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) is a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Our enabling legislation charges us to ensure that the arts play a significant role in the welfare of people in the Granite State. Our mission is to promote the arts to protect and enrich New Hampshire’s unique quality of life.

The State Arts Council provides a wide variety of services, competitive grants, and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, schools, health care facilities and to individual artists, helping to ensure that the arts thrive in New Hampshire and are accessible to all. Funding for our grants and services is provided by the New Hampshire Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Folklife and Traditional Arts Project Grants

Folklife and Traditional Arts Project Grants support projects that focus on presenting and preserving folklife and traditional arts in New Hampshire. The goals of this funding category are to deepen the appreciation for and understanding of folklife and traditional arts so that they continue to be a meaningful and visible part of our community life and to support traditional artists and cultural communities so that they can continue to preserve these living traditions for future generations to benefit from.

Projects funded under this category can include festivals, workshops, conferences, lecture/performance series, media programming, and exhibits. All projects are required to:

• Be open to the public
• Include direct participation of traditional artists and appropriately compensate them at a professional level for performing, demonstrating, and/or teaching

The State Council on the Arts recognizes that traditional art forms are often preserved regionally. Therefore, half (50%) of the traditional artists, cultural specialists, community scholars, and/or folklorists for the project need to be residing in New Hampshire (and/or on the NH Traditional Arts & Folklife Listing) and the remaining half (50%) can be from our border states: Vermont, Maine, or Massachusetts. This requirement ensures the program directly benefits individuals and communities within the state and allows for a wide range of individuals to participate.

Amount

Requests may be made for $1,000 - $8,000. Matching funds will be waived for Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) however, we encourage applicants to include in-kind and/or cash match as part of their budget to increase the strength of their application, collaboration with partners, and enhance the funding of their project. All grant categories and amounts are subject to change, depending upon availability of state and federal funds in any fiscal year. 

The Richard E. & Nancy P. Marriott Foundation

Mission

We are dedicated to uplifting communities in Washington, D.C. through strong, innovative partnerships.

Our Approach

We are dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations primarily located in Washington, D.C. This includes a focus on helping youth secure a promising future, especially through early childhood education, mentoring and youth leadership programs. Equally important are organizations that help offer relief from hunger and homelessness; provide prospects for people to lead healthy lives; and create gainful employment opportunities for vulnerable youth and adults.

Program Areas

Each year the Foundation awards approximately 150 grants totaling $1.8 million across two program areas:

Education

The Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation believes that every child deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education regardless of background. Our strategy strives to uplift the children of Washington, D.C. by investing in partners that support and develop the birth to five continuum.

The ages from birth to five play a crucial role in a child’s life, especially those children from homes of underserved areas. Studies show that a child’s brain development from birth to three years old is the foundation for all future learning. We look for partnerships that provide children from birth to three the emotional, behavioral, and educational support they need to be ready for Pre-K and beyond. In addition the quality of education children receive as three and four year olds plays a significant role in their later academic success. By supporting high quality Pre-K programs, we believe the achievement gap between low income children and more affluent children can be closed.

Human Services

The Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation believes that the fulfillment of basic individual needs is an essential part of achieving a strong and sustainable community. To lead a healthy and productive life, individuals need continual access to adequate food, a safe and secure home, and the dignity of productive employment. We focus on partnerships that uplift communities and strengthen the individual members by ensuring food security for vulnerable populations and developing a workforce that can support the community.

We believe that employment provides more than just financial benefits; it connects the individual to the community and builds self-esteem. While most everyone wants a job, it can be hard for those with limited or out-dated skills and those reintegrating to the community to find a stable job. Our partners provide the job training and employment counseling that help individuals prepare for the job market and find opportunities at livable wages. With the Marriott family’s long history in the hospitality industry, we have a special focus on programs with the hospitality and technology industries where diverse people can succeed along many paths.

Funding Request Range

Grants from the Foundation typically support general operations. First-time requests are advised to be in the $5,000-$10,000 range.

Volunteer NH

Who We Are

Volunteer NH envisions our state as a place where people volunteer together to build strong and connected communities. We bring our vision to life by engaging those communities to solve local challenges through volunteerism.

NH Volunteer Engagement Program

Volunteer NH, thought the assistance of American Rescue Plan funds provided through the State of New Hampshire, are able to offer grants to eligible organizations looking to increase their capacity to recruit, utilize, manage, and retain volunteers.

Purpose: Volunteer NH invites eligible organizations to apply for a NH Volunteer Engagement Mini-Grant for a specific, one-time need. These subgrants are meant to increase the capacity of organizations serving NH to recruit, utilize, manage, train, and retain volunteers.

Project Grants

The purpose of the NH Volunteer Engagement Project (VEP) grants is to develop the capacity for community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers through a specific and goal-oriented project.

VNH seeks to fund effective projects that:

• Strengthen the capacity of volunteer programs to recruit and retain volunteers.
• Develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve problems.
• Expand volunteering.
• Can be developed, executed, and demonstrate progress towards identified goals within two years.

These grants are intended to fund a project that will develop, improve, or expand the organization's capacity to utilize volunteers. They cannot solely supplement current staffing. The application narrative must demonstrate how the proposed project will increase capacity and be sustainable beyond the funding period.

Examples of Eligible Projects and Activities

Some examples could include, but aren’t limited to:

• Developing and implementing a pilot volunteer program.
• Developing and implementing a series of online volunteer trainings.
• Conducting a detailed program evaluation and then implementing changes based on the results.
• Creating and implementing a comprehensive recruitment and onboarding plan, including outreach materials, orientation, and training plans.
• Developing and/or delivering a volunteer training curriculum. 
• Developing or redesigning websites and social media strategies focused on volunteer recruitment.
• Performing a needs assessment and/or piloting new strategies for utilizing volunteerism to address community needs.
• Creating and implementing a statewide or community-based disaster volunteer plan (including outreach, trainings, etc.) such as a volunteer preparedness initiative, disaster volunteer training, preparations to serve as a disaster volunteer reception center, etc. 
• Developing and executing projects on National Days of Service such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and/or September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. 

Criteria

Funding decisions are made at the discretion of Volunteer NH and are based on the following criteria:

• Availability of funds
• Eligibility of applicant organization
• Alignment to outlined Volunteer NH priority areas.
• Completeness of application
• Allowability of costs requested (based on guidance in this Notice and applicable regulations)
• Quality of the proposed project and its alignment to purpose of the NH Volunteer Engagement Project grants.
• The organization’s program and financial capacity to steward a federal grant.

Funding

The typical grant will run from October – September.

Award Range: $15,000 – $25,000

Background

In May of 1997, Merrimack County Savings Bank established the Foundation with an initial investment of $1,000,000. Five Trustees, selected from among the Bank’s Corporators and Board of Trustees, were chosen to administer the Foundation and its activities. The Trustees anticipate distributing 5% of the Foundation’s endowment, each year, in the form of grants to not-for-profit organizations.

Mission

The mission of the Merrimack County Savings Bank Foundation is to provide financial support to not-for-profit organizations that enrich and improve the quality of life of the residents living in the bank’s service areas. It was the donor bank’s intent to see that regardless of economic ups and downs, funding to these organizations be made available. While the bank’s service area at inception was Merrimack County, as the bank grows it will serve more communities, and, therefore, the Foundation’s geographic reach may continue to expand as the bank enters new markets.

Autism Community Impact Grant

The Flutie Foundation recognizes not-for-profit organizations who share our mission to help individuals and families with autism live life to the fullest. For our 2023 Autism Community Impact Grant, we will continue granting these organizations with a particular emphasis on supporting traditionally under-served, under-funded, culturally diverse communities.

Our Autism Community Impact Grant cycle will consider requests that will help fund programs and projects showing potential to make an IMMEDIATE impact in the community and align with the Flutie Foundation priorities as stated in our Seven Key Dimensions described below. We especially encourage organizations with programs serving those most profoundly affected by autism to apply and share their stories.

Grant Funding Priorities

Work/School

Providing a path for educational opportunities, vocational skills programs, employment, housing, transportation and healthcare delivery for individuals on the autism spectrum.   

Active/Social

Support for recreational and sports programs, aquatic programs, social skills training, family events and summer camps for all individuals on the autism spectrum.

Safe/Supported/Informed

Funding for community organizations and schools who are providing vital resources and actively assisting individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families through advocacy programs, diagnostic and clinical services, direct family support, safety equipment, emergency care, respite services and other opportunities that will enhance the quality of life for those affected.