Best Seed Grants for Nonprofits

The Autodesk Foundation offers Catalytic Funding for Design and Engineering Solutions, providing nonprofits and startups with essential capital to develop innovative, sustainable solutions across key areas including Energy, Health, and Work. By leveraging Autodesk's unique expertise, the funding aims to support initiatives that reduce emissions, enhance community resilience, and prepare workers for a changing job market. Grant sizes range from $100,000 to $1,000,000, focusing on impactful, scalable projects.

The Charter Fund: Scale Funding supports nonprofit organizations that operate high-performing public charter schools. It seeks leaders dedicated to expanding their impact, aiming to serve an additional 1,000+ students over the next 3-5 years. The fund offers grants and low-interest loans starting from $750,000, alongside strategic partnerships and community-building initiatives to help schools navigate growth challenges, enhance educational quality, and foster collaboration among charter leaders.

The Community Seed Donations program by Seed Savers Exchange provides seeds to schools, community gardens, and nonprofits, ensuring that these resources are freely available to those in need. In addition, they offer disaster relief seed donations for organizations affected by recent natural disasters. To qualify, applicants must be nonprofits with U.S. shipping addresses. This initiative not only supports community growth but also promotes sustainability and resilience in the face of challenges.

The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation provides grants to early-stage social entrepreneurs working on scalable solutions to pressing social and environmental issues. By supporting organizations with innovative approaches and proven impact, they aim to uplift underserved communities globally. The foundation offers operational support, funding of up to $300,000 over three years, and fosters a collaborative community among its portfolio organizations. They focus on candidates demonstrating measurable impact and sustainable growth potential.

Mission

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, international, nonprofit organization founded in 1923. The Council fosters innovative research, nurtures new generations of social scientists, deepens how inquiry is practiced within and across disciplines, and mobilizes necessary knowledge on important public issues.

Driving University Impact: Expanding the Public Exchange Network

With generous support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Social Science Research Council is pleased to invite U.S. R1 research universities in SSRC’s College and University Fund for the Social Sciences to apply for funding to join the Public Exchange Network. Public Exchange is a new network that turns university research expertise into real-world action and impact. Foundedat the University of Southern California in 2020 and expanded to Washington University in St. Louis in 2025, Public Exchange connects researchers with government, nonprofit, and industry partners to tackle pressing challenges—from disaster recovery and climate solutions to food insecurity and homelessness prevention. Since its founding, Public Exchange has developed high-impact collaborations between 48 partners and 142 researchers including:

• CLEAN LA and CLEAN STL: One of the largest free soil testing programs for lead in Los Angeles County following the January 2025 wildfires, and a related program in St. Louis to test soil and air for contaminants following the May 2025 EF-3 tornado;
• The California Solar Canal Initiative: An ambitious public-private research collaboration to advance solar panel infrastructure along California’s 4,000 miles of open aqueduct, conserving water and generating renewable energy;
• Food Base LA: LA County’s first food systems data dashboard, helping LA County and non-profit partners target distribution of millions of pounds of food and related resources to families experiencing food insecurity;
• ShadeLA: A people-powered campaign to cool Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics by advancing natural and built shade cover in the region.

Partners have included the City and County of Los Angeles, the State of California, the City of St. Louis, Yelp, Solar AquaGrid, the United Nations Foundation, Keck Medicine of USC, the Southern California Association of Governments, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Department of Angels and many more. In addition to real-world impact positively affecting millions of lives, Public Exchange collaborations have resulted in over $18m in research funding, some helping to incubate new centers or areas of research, more than 40 academic journal publications, hundreds of media hits, and dozens of student career opportunities. 

The Public Exchange Model

Public Exchange is a partner-driven program, working collaboratively with external partners to: (1) define a research scope, timeline, and deliverables; (2) identify the right team of multidisciplinary academic experts to analyze the problem; (3) provide project management from concept and strategy development to project outputs and tools delivery; and (4) manage the public and stakeholder engagement related to the project, as well as communications and design needs. Public Exchange staff are not researchers, but come from government, industry, and non-profit backgrounds, uniquely equipping project teams to understand partners’ needs and lead projects to action. Staff oversee activities including partnership and proposal development, funder cultivation, research translation, dissemination, and communications, impact and scaling strategy, administrative support, cross-sector convening, and more, to maximize the real-world impact of university expertise. Public Exchange builds results-driven teams that deliver measurable impact and lasting solutions for partners.

How the Public Exchange Network Works

No single university – even a large R1 – has enough faculty expertise available to meet the needs of every partner. The Public Exchange Network was designed to help universities work together seamlessly to build robust partnerships and generate more collective impact. Universities joining the network are independent but affiliated members, with full control over their own program and project portfolios. As a national network with local, on-the-ground capacity, Public Exchange Network members can also share approaches that work, scale solutions to common problems, and build cross-regional partnerships together. 

As an institutional partner in the Public Exchange Network, universities will build capacity to develop, test and implement solutions to the most urgent problems in their regions and beyond. Universities joining the Public Exchange Network get:

• The tools, templates and training they need to start right away;
• A shared brand they can plug into on day one;
• A network of faculty, past and potential partners and philanthropic relationships, benefitting everyone in the network. 

SSRC Public Exchange Network Expansion Grants

Public Exchange Network Expansion grants will cover 75-80% of the minimum estimated annual costs for two years to launch a new Public Exchange. To launch a Public Exchange, universities must have the following in place: (1) a staff executive director with experience launching and leading social impact partnerships, (2) a project seed fund, and (3) a modest operations budget. We also recommend some in-kind project management support from an existing university staff member. The grant includes a two-year Public Exchange Executive Director (ED) compensation subsidy of $300,000 to launch the Public Exchange on campus, and a 2-year license to use the Public Exchange brand. New Public Exchange Network members will also receive ongoing support and guidance from current Public Exchange leadership and staff at USC and WashU, including recruitment support and intensive training for hiring and onboarding an executive director, a sub-site on the Public Exchange website, incubation and project management support from current Public Exchange staff, and a suite of tools for developing and implementing Public Exchange projects.

In addition, every university in the Public Exchange Network benefits from central communications support (currently housed at USC), and access to a collaborative network of project partners, researchers, and funder relationships. Separately, SSRC will select a local research fellow to study and document how the Public Exchange model develops within and between host institutions during the grant term, and how the Public Exchange Network universities work together to effect larger-scale change. 

Expectations

Institutions selected to join the Public Exchange Network are expected to:

• Hire an Executive Director who can launch and lead efforts to incubate social impact projects with public and private sector partners;
• Have in place before public launch: (1) an executive director, (2) a seed fund, (3) a modest operations budget, and (4 – recommended) some in-kind project management support. 
• Develop and sustain at least three high-impact research partnerships during the two-year grant tenure;
• Invest modest resources during the grant term that demonstrate commitment to continuing the Public Exchange model after the end of philanthropic support. This is estimated at approximately $85-$90k annually (with some variation considering local labor markets) to support an operations and project seed fund and any additional capital needed for the Executive Director hire beyond the subsidy. 
• Coordinate with the SSRC research fellow who will examine the impact of Public Exchange at their university and across the network. 
• Work with faculty across their university. Public Exchange can live anywhere within a university at the school or central level. The majority of Public Exchange projects to date at USC and WashU have included researchers from two or more schools, and grantees must be able to work with faculty university-wide. 

The Pratt Family Foundation Grant, established in 1999, supports initiatives in education, healthcare, and community welfare. It prioritizes organizations that aid housing assistance, support for women in crisis, and disadvantaged youth programs, particularly in North Carolina. The Foundation favors established religious and charitable organizations that are tax-exempt and have a local presence. Preference is given to areas connected to the Pratt family, such as Texas and Florida, ensuring impactful contributions to community development.

Roche Corporate Donations and Philanthropy (CDP) focuses on impactful projects that foster sustainable development, engage employees, and leverage Roche's expertise. Their philanthropic efforts prioritize humanitarian, educational, environmental, and cultural initiatives, aiming to build stronger communities and support innovative projects. Eligibility is limited to local organizations, while ineligible projects include those with political or religious ties. The foundation strives to create a positive societal impact through collaboration and strategic partnerships.

The Skees Family Foundation offers mission-aligned Seed Grants to nonprofits focused on job creation and readiness, primarily outside the U.S. These grants, beginning at $2,500 and increasing over three years, aim to support organizations with annual budgets of $250,000 or less. By prioritizing international efforts, the foundation seeks to maximize the impact of its limited resources, fostering growth in community-based organizations dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting economic development globally.

Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards aim to fund innovative mental healthcare solutions for children in the U.S. This initiative invites U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charities with revenues under $5 million to submit projects. With up to $550,000 in grants, the program focuses on addressing critical mental health issues among youth, fostering equity in access to care, and supporting nonprofits led by young leaders. Awards include up to $100,000 for general and $50,000 for Next Gen projects.

CFCC: Gelvin-Ingersoll Medical Education Fund

Support medical education activities and/or scholarships to students studying in a medical related field that are charitable, educational, or scientific in nature.

What type of support is funded?

• Projects or programs that serve the community and/or advance the mission of the organization
• Seed money to establish or initiate a new project, program, or organization, including operating expenses
• Capacity building or activities that strengthen an organization to increase its ability to fulfill its mission, including technology & equipment, professional development & training, additional staff to implement a new program, etc.
• Capital improvements including new construction or renovation of a facility
• Endowment funds to provide permanent and long-term support for an organization or program

The Mockingbird Nonprofit Incubator Grant Program supports emerging nonprofit founders in creating sustainable growth and impact. The program includes eight live workshops on nonprofit management, fundraising, and access to resources from Givebutter. Selected organizations receive scholarships and the chance to apply for $4,000 in grant funds. Eligibility is limited to 501c3 nonprofits or those under fiscal sponsorship with budgets under $500,000, fostering a community of committed leaders ready to make a difference.

The Lisle Global Seed Grant supports innovative projects that foster intercultural understanding and bridge community divides. Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 are awarded to organizations that promote collaboration among diverse groups. Since 2004, Lisle International has provided seed funding to initiatives worldwide, emphasizing new projects rather than established ones. The organization seeks to significantly contribute to well-defined, impactful projects that enhance social equity through shared learning experiences.

The Francis R. Dewing Foundation Grant provides seed money to support innovative projects in early childhood education, benefiting children up to sixth grade. Founded by Frances R. Dewing in 1963, the foundation aims to stimulate intellectual growth in young children through unique educational methods. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $25,000, with a focus on projects that demonstrate a broad impact on the educational community. Applications are accepted from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities across the United States.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's initiative, "Creating Equitable Pathways to STEM Graduate Education: Seed," aims to enhance graduate education access for students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The program provides grants of up to $500,000 to foster partnerships between MSIs and various higher education institutions. Projects should focus on overcoming barriers to success in graduate studies, including recruitment and admission processes, thereby promoting equitable learning environments in STEM fields.

The Curtiss T. Brennan & Mary G. Brennan Foundation Grant supports archaeological field research, focusing on regions where early civilizations emerged. Established in 1988, the foundation offers funding as seed money to initiate significant projects, enhancing understanding of early cultural complexity. Key considerations for funding include the project's significance, potential for further support, and the professional qualifications of those involved. Grants are available only to nonprofit organizations, excluding individuals and political entities.

The Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners Grant Program, administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, offers grants of up to $10,000 to dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network. This program focuses on strengthening preservation organizations and addressing key issues, including advocacy, capacity building, and climate change initiatives. Eligible projects should demonstrate innovation, potential impact, and a clear budget, while adhering to preservation standards and timelines.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Creating Equitable Pathways to STEM Graduate Education initiative aims to foster partnerships between Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and graduate programs to enhance equitable learning environments. Grants of up to $500,000 will support projects addressing systemic barriers, promoting effective practices, and ensuring seamless transitions from MSIs to advanced degrees in various STEM fields. The initiative seeks to create lasting impacts on student access and success in graduate education.

Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation

Empowerment through Food Awareness, Access, and Education

We are a private, family-directed, not-for-profit philanthropic organization, established through the estate of Ann B. Zekauskas. We are dedicated to educating students, families, and communities, especially the underserved, on producing, preparing, and eating healthy foods, and to supporting organizations focused on hunger relief and careers in the culinary arts.

We perform our mission through collaborations with and support of approved non-profit organizations within these key areas of giving: nutrition education, food access, and culinary arts training.

Nutrition Education

Ann B. Zekauskas believed that individuals of all ages — especially school-aged children and their families — should be provided with an education to understand how food makes its way from seed to plate —from planting and growing, to harvesting and sourcing, to cooking and serving.

Nutrition education empowers people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to make healthy food choices, promoting overall mental well-being and physical wellness.

In carrying out Ann’s legacy, we work with schools, community groups, and other like-minded organizations across the country, supporting their programs that encourage a lifelong practice of healthy eating.

Request a Grant

The Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation is committed to supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations that align with our mission and values. We welcome grant requests from nonprofit organizations seeking to make a meaningful impact in their communities in the areas of nutritional education, food access, or the advancement of cuilnary arts careers.

The Charter Fund: Seed Funding program supports nonprofit organizations operating high-performing public charter schools that aim to expand their reach by serving 250 to 1,000 additional students within two years. Eligible applicants must demonstrate proven leadership, strong academic performance, and a commitment to underserved communities. The fund offers general operating grants ranging from $250,000 to $600,000 to assist leaders in opening new schools, providing vital resources and cohort-based learning opportunities to foster growth and innovation.

The ASA Carla B. Howery Teaching Enhancement Fund Grants support projects that enhance the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in sociology. The grants, up to $2,500, are intended for innovative proposals that improve teaching and learning, ensuring lasting systemic impact. While ASA membership is not required for application, grant recipients must be members before final awards. This initiative by the American Sociological Association reflects a commitment to advancing sociology as a discipline.

The ASTRO-AAPM Physics Resident/Post-Doctoral Fellow Seed Grant supports early-career scientists in radiation oncology physics research. Jointly funded by AAPM and ASTRO, this grant aims to foster innovation in the field, with up to two awards of $50,000 each available. Eligible applicants include medical physics residents and post-doctoral fellows who are active members of ASTRO and AAPM. This initiative strives to enhance the next generation of researchers, ensuring a commitment to advancing radiation oncology.

The APF Visionary Grant supports innovative research and intervention projects aimed at addressing social issues through psychology. Funded by the American Psychological Foundation, this initiative prioritizes projects that assist vulnerable populations and promote racial equity. Eligible applicants include graduate students and early career researchers affiliated with educational institutions or non-profits. The grant encourages diverse applicants and seeks projects that can attract further funding and demonstrate broader applicability in various settings.

American Chemical Society

ACS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering scientific research excellence, education, and collaboration. Our initiatives seek to empower people to make a positive impact on society and ignite a passion for discovery and innovation in the sciences.

ACS GCI Natural Polymers Consortium Research Grant

Purpose

To address key chemistry and engineering research challenges in accelerating the development of more sustainable functional materials using natural polymers through green chemistry and/or green engineering.

Description

The American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute Natural Polymers Consortium (ACS GCI NPC) is a group committed to exploring the utilization of natural polymers to accelerate the development of more sustainable functional materials. Launched in 2024 as a partnership between the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® and industry leaders, the Consortium envisions a future where natural polymers innovations can sustainably meet modern human needs.

An open call for proposals for one (1) research grant is being made. This grant provides $80,000 for a 12-month research commitment. Proposals can be on any green chemistry and/or engineering research direction related to the following topic areas for natural polymers:

• Sourcing: Methods to improve the isolation of natural polymers from biomass sources. This would include methods to identify, detect, and remove trace contaminants, characterize the composition of the isolated polymer, and understand the impact of polymer characteristics and trace contaminants on downstream processing and use. This RFP also includes identification of feedstocks suitable for the sustainable sourcing of natural polymers. Consider methods to improve traceability and document life cycle aspects.

• Processing: Methods to process natural polymers, including green chemistry processes, selection of plasticizers/crosslinkers/additives, and identifying/designing in properties that improve the processing of natural polymers (e.g., thermoplastic).

• Performance: Methods to improve the functionality of natural polymers, e.g., barrier coatings in paper packaging, derivatization/modification, blending with other materials (e.g., other polymers, particles, small molecules, etc.). What alternative applications do natural polymers enable (that incumbent plastics or synthetic polymers do not)?

Interested Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to provide a written proposal describing the investigator’s capability to carry out the ACS GCI NPC proposed research.

This grant is seen as a seed grant, and principal investigators (PIs) are encouraged to apply for additional money from local/regional/national funders.

The Hart Family Fund for Small Towns offers grants between $2,500 and $15,000 to support preservation projects in towns with populations of 10,000 or less. These funds aim to encourage local preservation efforts, enhance public discussion, and build technical expertise among community groups. The application process is competitive, with a review period of approximately three months. Eligible applicants include public agencies and nonprofits, with a cash match required. Projects must start within six months of receiving funding.

The Ledyard Rotary Foundation Grant supports community-enhancing projects primarily in Ledyard and Gales Ferry, Connecticut, focusing on education, healthcare, and social issues. As a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, it welcomes grant applications from eligible organizations that can demonstrate a significant impact. While prioritizing new initiatives, the foundation also encourages proposals that seek matching funds. Grants are not available for political or religious purposes, and distributions are limited to nonprofit entities or municipalities.

10th Anniversary Global Challenge

Ten years ago, we launched Solve on a simple bet: the best solutions to global challenges are out there —and it’s our job to find them, fund them, and help them scale.

Since then, the world has been reshaped. A pandemic exposed brittle systems, climate impacts are a daily reality, trust has eroded, and AI has both expanded what’s possible and raised questions about gaps in equity, power, access, and opportunity. In this new era, it is all the more urgent to close those gaps through innovation that scales, with broad adoption, wide distribution, and durability.

Over the past decade, Solve has become a global engine for that kind of innovation. We have launched over 100 challenges for which selected innovators, Solvers, have gone on to reach over 370 million lives and raise $1.1 billion to scale their impact. Solvers are our best bet in making a better future for all, and this year we’re doubling down on our support.

For our 10th Anniversary Global Challenge, we’re seeking 10 exceptional solutions built for the next decade: solving urgent problems and proving credible pathways to scale, whether through markets, policy, procurement, or platforms. We’re interested in innovations that put people first, and pair technological ingenuity with trust and durable economics.

Across health, climate, learning, and economic prosperity, solutions must respond to rapidly changing realities and operate at the speed of need. We are particularly seeking innovations that advance:

• A zero-carbon, equitable world and practical adaptation for communities already living with climate impacts
• Economic opportunity, security and mobility through jobs and livelihoods, financial inclusion, and small business growth
• Better health outcomes and stronger systems-care delivery, workforce, supply chains, prevention, and resilience
• Learning for all—delivering measurable learning gains in a modern world, particularly for those with different learning needs
• Indigenous communities in strengthening sovereignty and meeting their social, environmental, and economic goals

Solve’s 10th Anniversary Global Challenge is designed to surface the innovations that can define the next decade. Together with our network of partners, resources, and connections, we’re betting big on the solutions that will solve complex global challenges and fix broken systems in order to reach millions more.

Solve's Indigenous Communities Fellowship only covers the US and Canada, but this 10th anniversary challenge is open to solutions working with Indigenous communities anywhere in the world, as long as they meet the other eligibility requirements.

What will winners receive?

The ten winners get a big stage and serious support. They'll be featured at the Solve Challenge Finals in New York City during UN General Assembly and NY Climate Week in September 2026, with travel costs covered. There, they'll pitch their work directly to a room of Solve’s global community, including investors and funders — and each winner will receive at least $100,000 in unrestricted prize funding, meaning they can use it however they need.

But the funding is just the start. Winners will gain access to MIT's innovation ecosystem, including specialized mentorship, pro-bono legal support, discounted access to technology, and connections to the network of past Solver teams. Solve supports our portfolio for the long-term, with more funding opportunities, skills training, media exposure, and speaking engagements on an ongoing basis.