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About Us
advancing the science of water ®
Who We Are
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public.
5427 - Advancing Actionable Climate Resilience Metrics for Water Supply Planning
Grant Information
About
What We Do
The Achieve Foundation promotes high-quality education that prepares South Orange-Maplewood School District students for the future.
We support our students, families and educators by addressing inequities, inspiring innovation and fostering community.
Riecke Professional Development Fellowship
About the Program
Achieve’s Michelle T. Riecke Fellowship funds summer professional development opportunities for faculty.
Fellowships are awarded to individuals (up to $3,000) and/or teaching teams (up to $5,000).
This year, Achieve awarded $9,111 to support four professional development programs for six teachers.
The Michelle T. Riecke Teaching Fellowship was established with the Achieve Foundation in 2004 in memory of former Board of Ed president Shelley Riecke, who passed away at age 39.
The Fellowship fosters outstanding teaching by enabling educators to undertake continuing education in their fields in the summer, and inspiring them to share the new knowledge they acquire with their District colleagues upon their return to school.
While fellowships are awarded for both subject-specific and broader educational interests, faculty are encouraged to look for programs that nurture their professional passion.
About the Russell Sage Foundation
One of the oldest American foundations, the Russell Sage Foundation, was established by Mrs. Margaret Olivia Sage in 1907 for “the improvement of social and living conditions in the United States.” In its early years, the foundation undertook major projects in low-income housing, urban planning, social work, and labor reform. The foundation now dedicates itself to strengthening the methods, data, and theories of the social sciences to diagnose social problems and improve social policies. It also funds researchers at other institutions and supports programs intended to develop new generations of social scientists.
Margaret Olivia Sage (MOS) Grants
The Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) is launching a new competition, the Margaret Olivia Sage (MOS) Grants, to support research by multi- or inter-disciplinary teams on social, economic, and political challenges with generational consequences for social and living conditions in the United States. Such challenges are typically national in scope, involve both systemic and individual factors, and the questions they raise are as urgent for policymakers and communities as they are for researchers.
About
Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.
Awards
Excellence in Research
The Mensa Foundation’s Awards for Excellence in Research recognize researchers who are building new knowledge in intelligence.
Presented annually, these awards honor exceptional work published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at professional conferences.
Details
A prestigious recognition in the field, the Awards for Excellence in Research celebrate innovative contributions that redefine how intelligence, giftedness, and related fields are studied and applied.
Award Components
Criteria for Entry
Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
The Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation goes beyond food aid to create lasting change. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships and volunteer action, Stop Hunger tackles the root causes of food insecurity.
In 2025, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and the Hunger Center awarded grants to 131 programs representing 118 communities in 37 states plus the District of Columbia. Collectively, these programs provided an estimated 22,000 backpacks full of shelf-stable food items for students to take home for the weekend or holidays when school meals are not served.
Since 2006, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has been a driving force behind weekend and holiday hunger relief for students across the U.S. Through support of food backpack programs, the Foundation partners with local food banks and schools to discreetly provide K-12 students with backpacks filled with nutritious, shelf-stable meals. These backpacks are distributed in safe, familiar settings – typically on the last school day before a weekend or school break – ensuring that all children who rely on free or reduced-price school meals don’t go hungry when school is out.
K-12 Backpack Grant
The K-12 Backpack Grant is an initiative launched by the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and administered in partnership with the Congressional Hunger Center to support community backpack programs. Grants of $1,000 will be issued to community organizations with established backpack feeding programs that provide students with shelf-stable, nutritious meals when school is out of session.
Across the United States, small and micro businesses (SMBs) play a critical role in driving economic opportunity, job creation, and community prosperity. Yet many entrepreneurs continue to face challenges accessing the training, resources, and support needed to grow and remain competitive in an evolving economy. To help address these needs, Visa Foundation is committing $2M to launch an open-call grant program that will support nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) that provide direct services to SMBs. Through this program, Visa Foundation aims to strengthen the capacity of high-impact organizations that help small businesses build greater resilience, expand economic opportunity, and contribute to thriving local economies.
About
Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.
Awards
Mensa Foundation Prize
The Mensa Foundation Prize celebrates exceptional achievements that redefine our understanding of intelligence and creativity.
Awarded biennially, this distinguished honor highlights transformative scientific discoveries that elevate the understanding of intelligence.
Details
One of the most prestigious honors in the field, the Mensa Foundation Prize highlights exceptional contributions that elevate the understanding of intelligence.
Award Components
Criteria for Entry
About
Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.
Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose lifelong contributions have profoundly advanced the understanding, support, and application of intelligence.
Details
This prestigious honor highlights transformative contributions that have reshaped how intelligence is studied, taught, and applied in real-world settings.
Award Components
Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award receive:
About
Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.
Grants & Fellowships
Fellowships
The Mensa Foundation Fellowship program empowers exceptional individuals committed to advancing the application of intelligence in their respective fields.
Details
Our current fellowship, the Gifted Education Fellowship, is designed to empower educators pursuing graduate studies in gifted education or closely related fields, enabling them to make a transformative impact in their classrooms and communities. The fellowship supports both doctoral and non-doctoral students, with awards and renewal terms tailored to each track.
About
Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.
Grants & Fellowships
Dissertation Mini-Grant
The Mensa Foundation empowers the next generation of researchers through its Dissertation Mini-Grant program.
Designed to support advanced doctoral students, this grant funds innovative studies that broaden our understanding of intelligence, creativity, gifted education, and related fields.
Details
The Mensa Foundation Dissertation Mini-Grant provides $2,500 to advanced doctoral students conducting research on intelligence and gifted education. By funding innovative studies, the grant promotes research that addresses the complexities of intelligence, creativity, and related fields.
Grant Components
About
Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.
Grants & Fellowships
Early Career Mini-Grant
The Mensa Foundation empowers emerging researchers through its Early Career Mini-Grant program.
Designed to support post-doctoral researchers and early career faculty, this grant funds innovative studies that advance our understanding of intelligence, creativity, gifted education, and related fields.
Details
The Early Career Mini-Grant provides $2,500 to support post-doctoral researchers and faculty within five years of completing their doctoral degree. This grant is intended to promote groundbreaking studies that advance our understanding of intelligence and its applications in education and beyond.
Grant Components
About
Founded in 1971, the Mensa Foundation was established by members of American Mensa to extend the organization’s impact. While connected by a shared purpose, the Foundation operates independently, guided by its own Board of Trustees, strategic plan, and initiatives.
Awards
Cooper Black Award for Creativity
The Copper Black Award for Creative Achievement honors Mensa members whose innovative solutions and practical creativity have brought meaningful benefits to the world.
Details
The Copper Black Award annually recognizes Mensa International members who have demonstrated a specific creative achievement with practical value. This award honors innovations that have been implemented, at least in part, to benefit others.
Award Components
About AOTF
Established in 1965, AOTF is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. We serve as the premier resource for occupational therapy research and scholarship, working alongside researchers, educators, practitioners, community partners, and students to build evidence-based practice that improves lives.
As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to advancing occupational therapy science, we bridge the critical gap between innovative research and real-world practice. Our work ensures that occupational therapy interventions are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence, ultimately improving outcomes for millions of people worldwide.
Community Engaged Research Grant (NBCOT®)
Background
It is imperative that occupational therapy research is grounded in the priorities and lived experiences of the individuals it aims to serve, particularly for historically marginalized or underrepresented communities.
Community-engaged research is a collaborative approach that establishes equitable and meaningful partnerships between researchers, community members, service providers, and other stakeholders throughout all phases of the research process. It centers on addressing community-identified priorities and co-creation of research that produces mutually beneficial outcomes.
By ensuring that research is culturally relevant, contextually appropriate, and responsive to community priorities, this approach enhances its impact while improving health, participation, and quality of life.
Program Mission
The Community Engaged Research Grant program supports studies that apply rigorous qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies to address research priorities and service or knowledge gaps identified in partnership with communities.
AOTF emphasizes the importance of equitable partnerships in which power, decision-making, and responsibility are shared between researchers, practitioners, community-based organizations, people with lived experience, and other relevant partners.
By fostering these inclusive practices, AOTF aims to ensure that occupational therapy scholarship remains scientifically rigorous, equitable, and responsive to the real-world needs of diverse communities.
Funding Priorities
All proposed projects must:
About AOTF
Established in 1965, AOTF is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. We serve as the premier resource for occupational therapy research and scholarship, working alongside researchers, educators, practitioners, community partners, and students to build evidence-based practice that improves lives.
As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to advancing occupational therapy science, we bridge the critical gap between innovative research and real-world practice. Our work ensures that occupational therapy interventions are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence, ultimately improving outcomes for millions of people worldwide.
AOTF President’s Award
The President’s Award honors and recognizes Pi Theta Epsilon chapters that organize and implement outstanding scholarly activities. This award celebrates chapters whose events increase knowledge, develop professional skills, and help advance the occupational therapy profession.
Review Process: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with an annual review beginning January 31. The national PTE Executive Board evaluates all submissions.
Multiple Awards: When appropriate, a second award may be considered to distinguish outstanding individual and interchapter accomplishments.
Looking for Shelby County grants for nonprofits?
Read more about each grant below or start your 14-day free trial to see all Shelby County grants recommended for your specific programs in Illinois.
What's the typical amount funded for Illinois?
Grants are most commonly $104,222.
What's the total number of grants in Shelby County Grants for Nonprofits year over year?
In 2024, funders in Illinois awarded a total of 104,158 grants.
Among all the Shelby County Grants for Nonprofits given out in Illinois, the most popular focus areas that receive funding are Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations, and Human Services.
1. Education
2. Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations
3. Human Services
How is funding for Shelby County Grants for Nonprofits changing over time?
Funding has increased by 16.08%.
How does grant funding vary by county?
Cook County, Lake County, and Macon County receive the most funding.
| County | Total Grant Funding in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Cook County | $6,893,460,213 |
| Lake County | $720,580,526 |
| Macon County | $544,478,272 |
| Champaign County | $541,704,331 |
| Dupage County | $496,099,366 |