Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits in South Carolina

The Stickley Scholarship Fund, established by L. & J. G. Stickley, Inc., offers four annual scholarships for graduating high school students who are children of full-time employees with over two years of service. This initiative promotes educational equity by making higher education more accessible, emphasizing the importance of financial need, community service, and academic achievement. Awarded in honor of Edward J. Audi, this scholarship aims to empower students to pursue their academic goals.

The Soros Justice Fellowships support innovative individuals dedicated to reforming the U.S. criminal justice system. These fellowships, available in two tracks, offer funding for 12 or 18 months to projects that inspire dialogue, influence policy, and drive change. Track I is aimed at emerging leaders, while Track II is for seasoned professionals. With grants of $100,000 and $140,000 respectively, the program emphasizes collaboration and aims to foster a network of leaders committed to addressing injustice and inequality.

The Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program aims to expedite the integration of scientific discoveries into effective health interventions. By providing essential infrastructure and support to academic medical centers, the program fosters innovative research approaches that enhance translational science. The Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award under this initiative seeks to promote partnerships that accelerate the development of new treatments, ultimately improving health outcomes for diverse populations.

The Tom Woodward Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship

The Tom Woodward Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship benefits students pursuing postgraduate studies at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or trade school. Art is not a required major for eligible applicants. This scholarship is renewable.

Application Requirements:

• High School Transcript, Essay, 3 Pieces of Artwork and References.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund's Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program aims to enhance recreational opportunities in underserved communities through significant funding. Offering matching grants up to 50%, with awards ranging from $300,000 to $15,000,000, this program encourages applicants to connect with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection early in the application process for guidance. This initiative supports large-scale projects that improve access to recreational facilities.

The Washington Red Raspberry Commission offers research grants to support the advancement of red raspberry cultivation. These grants focus on innovative farming practices, pest management, and cultivar development, aimed at enhancing grower productivity and sustainability. Proposals are evaluated based on their potential impact on the industry, with an emphasis on practical applications. The commission invites researchers from various backgrounds to contribute, ensuring a diverse range of solutions for the challenges faced by raspberry growers.

The APAF: Jeanne Spurlock, M.D. Minority Fellowship Achievement Award, established in 1999, acknowledges the significant contributions of former fellows of the Minority Fellowships to the psychiatry profession and the minority community. This award promotes continued engagement in the fellowship program while honoring Dr. Jeanne Spurlock, the program's founder. It aims to enhance psychiatric education, improve access to quality care, and support the professional needs of its members, fostering collaboration in mental health fields.

The Medical Student Travel Award aims to support medical students interested in pathology by providing up to $1,200 for travel expenses to the CAP Annual Meeting in Las Vegas (October 3-6, 2026). This award facilitates valuable learning experiences through networking opportunities and insights into the pathology field, enhancing the awardees' understanding of residency training and the role of pathologists in healthcare.

The Disaster Resilience Program Fellowship supports low-income communities affected by disasters by mobilizing lawyers and law students to provide free civil legal aid. This initiative ensures access to essential legal services, helping families navigate recovery barriers. Attorney Fellows receive a salary while Student Fellows earn a stipend for their service. Participants engage in outreach, build community relationships, and receive comprehensive training to enhance their legal skills, contributing to the resilience of affected communities.

The Oldham Little Church Foundation Grant, established in 1949, has awarded over $53.56 million in facility completion grants to small evangelical Protestant churches across the U.S. The foundation aims to support church renovations and new construction projects, enhancing their ability to serve their communities. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $15,000 and are considered quarterly. Eligible churches must meet specific criteria, including membership size and financial stewardship, to qualify for funding.

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Grandview Heights Marble Cliff Arts Council (GHMCAC) Nancy E. Kukla Fund

The Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Arts Council (GHMCAC) established this scholarship as a way to assist graduating high school seniors, who are residents of Grandview Heights or Marble Cliff, pursue post-secondary education. The award is given in honor of Nancy E. Kukla.

Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County. We use distributions from the more than 500 charitable funds — created by generous, local donors — to award more than $2.5 million in grants and scholarships each year to many of the humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in this remarkable community we call home.

Marion Community Foundation is the area’s leading philanthropic organization, providing charitable donors the opportunity to easily create endowment funds to benefit and support our community through grants and scholarships. We serve communities throughout Marion County through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement.

Aris Kasotis Memorial Scholarship

Aris Kasotis was a young man who liked to see people included. “He made friends easily,” said his mother, Joan Kasotis, Marion County Auditor, “and he liked to make sure that no one was overlooked.”

Aris’ enjoyment of life and his desire to share with others prompted his parents, Joan and long-time local restaurateur and caterer, George Kasotis, to establish a memorial scholarship in Aris’ name following his untimely death in an automobile accident. More than 100 memorial contributions from friends and family helped to establish this scholarship fund in 2007.

The Kasotis Fund provides an annual scholarship for a senior from Marion Harding High School who ranks in the upper 50 percent of his or her senior class, but not the top 10 percent. Special consideration is given to applicants who have participated in Harding Singers, interscholastic wrestling, and/or interscholastic football—school activities that Aris enjoyed.

The Delano & Aldrich/Emerson Fellowship, established by the Architects Foundation, provides a unique opportunity for a young French architect to travel and study in the U.S. for three months. With a budget of $20,000, the fellowship emphasizes contemporary issues in architecture, including sustainability and inclusive design. Candidates aged 23 to 35, holding a degree in architecture, are eligible. This program aims to foster cross-cultural understanding and inspire future architects through immersive experiences.

The Venturous Capital Grants aim to empower small and medium-sized not-for-profit theaters to produce bold and experimental new plays. Grants range from $5,000 to $35,000, covering extraordinary costs that enable productions to thrive. The program supports text-based, author-driven works that are ambitious, challenging, and innovative, while emphasizing the importance of playwright compensation and adhering to AEA standards. This initiative fosters creativity and helps overcome financial barriers in theater production.

The PIDS Foundation's Apprenticeship Program fosters early-career pediatric infectious diseases physicians, enhancing their skills in academic publishing. Named in honor of Ralph D. Feigin, the program offers junior faculty members the opportunity to engage with the editorial process of the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Recipients will contribute to manuscript discussions and special projects, committing approximately four hours weekly. The award will be presented during the PIDS Annual Membership Meeting at IDWeek 2025, with the term spanning October 2025 to October 2026.

The Wisconsin Women’s Alliance Foundation Scholarship offers three non-renewable awards of $2,000 each for students attending an accredited 2- or 4-year institution. These awards are intended to assist with the first semester's cost of attendance. Students must maintain part-time or full-time enrollment to retain eligibility. This scholarship seeks to empower women in the community through education and support.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Grants support the preservation of historic sites that reflect African American cultural heritage. Grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 assist projects in areas like Capital Projects, Organizational Capacity Building, Project Planning, and Programming. Eligible applicants include public agencies, accredited colleges, and nonprofits. The program emphasizes themes such as activism, innovation, and historically significant sites, aiming to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of African American history.

The Women's Fund Scholarship Award, established in 2014 by the Ashland County Community Foundation, provides financial assistance to female residents of Ashland County. It aims to empower women by supporting their education and job training goals, thereby improving their lives and their families' futures. This scholarship is available to high school seniors, college students, and non-traditional students, offering crucial resources for career advancement.

The CPIC Scholars Program, part of the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN), offers education and career development opportunities for early-stage faculty and fellows. This initiative aims to foster the research careers of the next generation, focusing on congenital cytomegalovirus, neonatal herpes simplex virus, and enterovirus sepsis. Scholars engage in research projects and participate in CPIC Scholar Circles, enhancing their professional skills and knowledge in rare disease research.

Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation Scholarships

The Foundation Scholarships are merit-based and awarded to qualified students with a consideration of financial need. All recipients shall be in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and as described by the respective scholarship criteria. Most scholarships are for one year, non-renewable unless otherwise indicated in the award description. 

The Learning Tree Scholarship, established by The Learning Tree, Inc. through the Central Alabama Community Foundation, supports graduating high school seniors from select counties with a minimum ACT score of 20. This renewable scholarship offers up to $2,000 annually for students pursuing degrees in education, healthcare, and related fields. The foundation, active since 1987, aims to enhance local nonprofit initiatives and educational opportunities in the River Region, serving counties including Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery.

Central Alabama Community Foundation

Established in 1987 by community leaders, the Central Alabama Community Foundation serves the River Region counties of Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery. CACF was created to provide a permanent charitable resource dedicated to strengthening nonprofits and meeting local needs in the Montgomery area.

Through a variety of funds, CACF supports projects and programs in education, health, human services, cultural arts, recreation, historic preservation, and other civic concerns.

Every year, CACF awards grants to nonprofit projects and programs providing services in Lee, Macon, and Montgomery counties.

The Hawkins Educational Foundation Scholarship

The Hawkins Educational Foundation Scholarship assists students who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs. Applicants must be a high school senior residing in Baldwin County for at least one (1) year prior to the application deadline date. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and plan to enroll in full-time study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year. Awards are renewable up to three years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, and are based on satisfactory academic performance and fulltime enrollment. Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County. We use distributions from the more than 500 charitable funds — created by generous, local donors — to award more than $2.5 million in grants and scholarships each year to many of the humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in this remarkable community we call home.

Marion Community Foundation is the area’s leading philanthropic organization, providing charitable donors the opportunity to easily create endowment funds to benefit and support our community through grants and scholarships. We serve communities throughout Marion County through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement.

Andrew Wigton Memorial Scholarship

Andrew Wigton lost his young life in an automobile accident during his senior year at Pleasant High School. His parents and family created this scholarship in 2006 to honor his memory. Special consideration is given to applicants who have been members of the varsity basketball or varsity soccer team, two sports that Andrew loved.

In addition to memorial contributions, this fund is supported by the proceeds of the Dre 5K Run and a golf outing and by Andrew’s parents, friends, and family members.

Seniors of Pleasant High School in the upper 25th percentile of the graduating class are the focus of the Andrew Wigton Memorial Scholarship.

The Dean and Janice Butts Scholarship aims to support students pursuing post-secondary education, vocational training, or college, with a preference for students of color. This initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. to address various community needs, including education and wellness, while fostering awareness and creative solutions to future challenges.

The Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grants empower young changemakers aged 5 to 25 to create impactful projects addressing childhood hunger. Grants of $500 are available to projects engaging at least 50 youth volunteers. Activities must occur during the Sodexo Servathon (April 1 – May 31, 2025) and should focus on sustainable solutions to combat hunger in local communities, encouraging participation from underserved youth.

The Forensic Pathology Advanced Training Grant, supported by the College of American Pathologists Foundation, aims to address the physician shortage in pathology by providing CAP Junior Members with a four-week rotation at an ACGME Accredited Forensic Fellowship Training Program. This initiative offers hands-on experience, mentorship, and training in forensic pathology, while funding up to $5,000 for eligible expenses. The program is open to all CAP Junior Members in accredited US residency programs who have completed their first year.

Central Alabama Community Foundation

Established in 1987 by community leaders, the Central Alabama Community Foundation serves the River Region counties of Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery. CACF was created to provide a permanent charitable resource dedicated to strengthening nonprofits and meeting local needs in the Montgomery area.

Through a variety of funds, CACF supports projects and programs in education, health, human services, cultural arts, recreation, historic preservation, and other civic concerns.

Every year, CACF awards grants to nonprofit projects and programs providing services in Lee, Macon, and Montgomery counties.

National Village Ladies Club Scholarship

The National Village Ladies Club Scholarship benefits female graduating high school seniors of Opelika high schools who have demonstrated leadership and community service. Eligible applicants must have a minimum 3.2 GPA and plan to attend two-year or four-year college, university, or trade school.