Search Through Small Grants for Nonprofits

Small grants are ideal for small and mid-sized nonprofits, community groups, and local initiatives. These grants usually support short-term projects, specific programs, or capacity-building efforts. Since smaller grants are more accessible than large-scale funding, they can be great for organizations that may not have extensive grant-writing experience or a long funding history.

Small grants typically have the highest concentration of deadlines in Q1, with 26.7% of grant deadlines falling in this period. If you're planning to apply, consider prioritizing your applications around this time to maximize opportunities. Conversely, the least active period for grants in this category is Q4.

The purpose of small grants is to provide support to nonprofits for specific projects. By helping smaller organizations grow their impact, small grants are seen as a stepping stone by funders, setting the stage for groups to secure larger funding in the future.

On average, small grants provide funding between $0 and $188,250,000, with typical awards falling around $32,500 (median) and $691,429 (average). These insights can help nonprofits align their funding requests with what grantmakers typically offer in this space.

Small grants typically come from local community foundations, corporate giving programs, and government agencies that offer microgrants for specific initiatives. Community foundations often support projects that address local needs, while corporate programs may fund social impact efforts aligned with their brand. Government agencies also provide small-scale funding, especially for projects related to public health, education, and community development.

To improve the chances of getting small grants, applicants should:

• Clearly define the problem and expected impact – Funders want to see exactly what challenge you’re tackling and how a short-term project can lead to immediate results.
• Set realistic goals – Be reasonable about what you cane expect to achieve with your limited funding and align with the specific grant amount.
• Build solid funder relationships – Connect with funders before and after applying to increase your application’s chances of success and open doors for future funding.
• Apply for multiple small grants – Combining several small grants can create a funding stream that will allow for a larger overall impact.

Need help writing a strong funding request? Follow our step-by-step guide to crafting compelling grant proposals.