Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits in South Carolina

The Clarence W. Winter Charitable Trust, established from Mr. Winter's Will, provides annual grants of $3,000 to $5,000 to support tax-exempt organizations focused on charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. While there are no geographic restrictions, the Trust prioritizes organizations in Bucks County, PA. With a commitment to community betterment, Mr. Winter's legacy continues to support impactful initiatives for years to come.

The NINDS Renewal Awards of SBIR Phase II Grants (Phase IIB) aim to bridge the funding gap between SBIR/STTR Phase II awards and commercialization stages for medical biotechnology products. This initiative encourages partnerships between NINDS SBIR/STTR awardees and third-party investors, facilitating the advancement of complex research tools and products that require Federal regulatory approval. Applicants are urged to secure independent funding during the Phase IIB project period to achieve necessary milestones.

The Tribal Institutional Review Board Establishment and Enhancement (TIRBEE) award aims to assist federally recognized AI/AN Tribes, Tribal colleges and universities, and Tribal health organizations in creating or enhancing Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). This initiative is crucial for ensuring ethical research practices within Tribal communities, fostering cultural sensitivity in research, and protecting the rights of AI/AN participants. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.

Driving University Impact: Expanding the Public Exchange Network Grant

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. 

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.

The Armando "Frank" Quaglia Veteran's Scholarship, offered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, supports full-time graduate or upper-level undergraduate students from Kent or Ionia County pursuing healthcare or engineering degrees. With a minimum 3.0 GPA, preference is given to veterans and their families. This scholarship aims to eliminate barriers to education, fostering academic success and connecting students to opportunities in West Michigan's inclusive community.

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is a sovereign nation and has three main branches of government – Judicial, Executive, and Legislative. One of our most important resources is our people.

Education

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz seeks to provide opportunities for Tribal members to reach potential, establish independence and improve quality of life through lifelong learning and education.

Cathern Tufts Memorial Scholarship

Cathern Tufts, affectionately known as “Cat” in the offices of the CTSI administrative offices and Tribal elder woodcuts, was the Tribal Attorney for fourteen and a half years until she passed in 2018 following a short illness. She was a Siletz Tribal member who graduated from Arizona State University School of Law. She served an internship in Washington D.C. prior to going to work as an attorney. Her parents and friends wished to honor her life and achievements through this memorial scholarship. This scholarship is for students in pre-law, law, or in a natural resource field.

The Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot aims to empower American scientists and engineers in the super intelligence (SI) revolution by inviting applications from U.S. higher education institutions. This initiative focuses on developing innovative doctoral training programs integrating SI with other scientific disciplines. Participants will gain valuable research experience through collaborations with DOE National Laboratories and industry, preparing them as the next generation of skilled Ph.D. scientists and engineers to tackle pressing national science and technology challenges.

The AAAE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarship, provided by the AAAE Foundation, supports ethnic diversity students pursuing aviation studies in the U.S. or Canada. With two awards of $5,000 each, recipients are chosen based on their academic achievements, financial need, and community involvement. Eligible applicants include college juniors, seniors, or graduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This scholarship aims to foster future leaders in the aviation industry, enhancing diversity and inclusion.

About Us

Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc. is a public, 501-C-3 charity. There are 30 community foundations in Wisconsin and more than 750 in the nation. The purpose of all community foundations is to accumulate charitable dollars that impact a specific geographic region in areas such as education, the arts, economic development, recreation, environmental protection, health care, and social services. They may be relatively small, as we are (assets of $14 million), or very large, as is the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (assets over $400 million).

Most people are familiar with private foundations, established by individuals, families, or corporations. Typically, in order to establish a private foundation, one has to have considerable wealth. You could say Community Foundations are much more democratic. We are, in a sense, an umbrella foundation containing many small foundations. We call those small foundations “funds.”

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Sophia Smrz Memorial Scholarship (2025)

Don and Bern Holcomb Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was created in memory of Don and Bern Holcomb and is for high school students from any school in Cattaraugus or Allegany county who plans to attend an accredited post-secondary institution, with a preference for a student majoring in an agricultural or conservation-related field or a female pursuing an engineering degree.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship supports innovative and fundamental research by early-career scientists across various fields. This prestigious two-year fellowship offers $75,000 in a lump sum, allowing recipients to allocate funds towards research-related expenses. Eligible candidates must hold a Ph.D. and be tenure-track faculty at U.S. or Canadian institutions. The fellowship aims to nurture the next generation of leaders in research and academia.

The Stranahan Foundation’s Early Childhood Education grant program aims to enhance access to high-quality early education for low-income children. Funding up to $1.5 million is available for innovative proposals that improve professional development for early educators. Key priorities include scalable coaching models, leadership development for under-resourced communities, and community-wide substitute teacher pools. This initiative is designed to tackle significant gaps identified in early childhood education and support effective learning environments.

The Ashland County Farm Bureau Scholarship supports high school seniors and college students from Ashland County pursuing degrees in agriculture. Established in partnership with the Ashland County Community Foundation, the scholarship emphasizes academic excellence, requiring a minimum GPA of 2.5. This initiative reflects the Farm Bureau's long-standing commitment to empowering youth interested in agriculture, ensuring they have the financial resources to further their education and contribute to the agricultural community.

The Heiser Program for Research in Leprosy, established by Dr. Victor G. Heiser, focuses on innovative biomedical research to combat leprosy. Since 1975, it has funded over 200 grants totaling more than $20 million, supporting early-career researchers and significant projects. The program aims to enhance diagnostic tools, improve treatments, and implement effective surveillance strategies. With a dedicated Scientific Advisory Committee, it ensures rigorous proposal reviews and fosters collaboration among grantees, ultimately advancing leprosy elimination efforts.

The Child Neurology Foundation offers a Summer Scholarship for first, second, or third-year medical students interested in neurodevelopmental disabilities or child neurology. This scholarship provides $3,500 for clinical research focused on neurodevelopmental disabilities in children or young adults, conducted under the supervision of a qualified subspecialist. Applications are evaluated based on their importance, originality, and contribution to the medical student's development.

The PERF: CNS Bridge Grant Program aims to support emerging child neurology researchers by providing essential bridge funding while they seek independent research grants from NIH or CIHR. Established by the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation in collaboration with the Child Neurology Society, this initiative seeks to retain talented investigators in the field of pediatric neurology. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $18 million to advance pediatric epilepsy research and related conditions.

Mission

To empower worthy nonprofits by providing critically needed, unrestricted funding that helps them fulfill their missions with confidence and sustainability.

How We Serve Nonprofits

AmFund partners with nearly 800 organizations annually—supporting causes related to health, education, the arts, human services, animal welfare, and more. We’re known for our:

• Signature silent and live auctions featuring once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences.
• National reach with personalized service at events in all 50 states.
• Comprehensive marketing toolkits, onsite staff support, and beautifully displayed materials
• No-cost platform development for virtual and hybrid fundraising
• In-house travel specialists who provide custom planning, extensions, insurance, and 24/7 emergency support.
• Ongoing educational resources, grants, and consulting support for nonprofit development.

Request Support

Our model is built on relationship, trust, and results. Every trip sold, every service provided, and every donor interaction is designed to maximize your fundraising impact—without adding burden to your team.

The Sundance Collab's Cultural Impact Residency, honoring Michael Latt, is a six-month online program supporting early-career, underrepresented storytellers focused on social impact. Running from March to August 2026, it offers mentorship, feedback sessions, and resources to eight selected fellows in screenwriting, directing, and documentary filmmaking. This opportunity is designed for works-in-progress, fostering a supportive creative community to inspire and develop impactful narratives.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

NAFC Patient Care Fund

The NAFC Patient Care Fund supports direct patient services that expand immediate access to care. This funding is designed to help NAFC members meet urgent patient needs by supporting clinical supplies, expanded services, contracted providers, transportation assistance, medication access, and other direct care resources.

The NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award for Established Investigators (K18) supports seasoned researchers in enhancing or redirecting their research through new skills acquisition. This funding opportunity addresses critical questions in hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language sciences. Key deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to February 2027, ensuring ample opportunity for researchers to apply and contribute to these vital fields.

Disabled Veterans National Foundation

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) was established in 2007 to support veterans facing challenges that traditional systems could not fully address. From its earliest days, DVNF has been focused on closing critical gaps in care and providing resources that help veterans rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.

Guided by this commitment, DVNF developed its Health & Comfort programs, offering emergency financial assistance, housing transition support, food assistance, comfort kits, and wellness initiatives. These programs are designed to meet veterans where they are and to provide practical solutions that restore hope and stability. Today, DVNF continues to grow as a trusted national nonprofit. Every day, our team works with a clear purpose: to change lives for the men and women who have served our country.

Veterans Food Assistance Program

It is our goal to ensure that no veteran goes hungry by providing essential food assistance and household support, fostering stability and well-being in the lives of our veterans and their families.

The Veterans Food Assistance Program (VFAP) is designed to provide a one-time grant of essential food and household support to veterans and their families, ensuring no veteran goes hungry. With the rising cost of living, especially food prices due to inflation, this program offers a much-needed lifeline to those who have served our country. Once approved, the DVNF program team will handle the shopping for you.

The Veterans Food Assistance Program provides a one-time grant per household to support different family sizes, given the rising cost of food:

• Married Veterans Grant Allowance
  • Married - No Children up to $250
  • Married - 1 Child up to $300
  • Married - 2 Children up to $450
  • Married - 3+ Children up to $500
• Single Veterans Grant Allowance
  • Single - No Children up to $200
  • Single - 1 Child up to $300
  • Single - 2 Children up to $350
  • Single - 3+ Children up to $450

The C.V. Glassco Memorial Scholarship Fund honors Mr. Clarence Verbal Glassco, a dedicated community volunteer and veteran. This scholarship supports full-time students pursuing higher education or approved workforce training in Alabama. Funded by the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, it covers tuition, housing, and books based on available assets. Applicants are encouraged to seek additional financial resources. This initiative preserves Mr. Glassco's legacy of service and commitment to education.

The ECMC Foundation focuses on eliminating equity gaps in postsecondary education by 2040 through strategic grantmaking and investments. They support organizations aiming to remove barriers to completion, build institutional capacity, and transform the postsecondary ecosystem. Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations, government entities, and postsecondary institutions. However, funding is not available for personal scholarships, political activities, or projects outside the U.S. that do not align with the Foundation's mission of diversity and inclusion.

The Jonathan Sherman Spradling Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2023, honors the legacy of Jonathan Sherman Spradling, a dedicated New Mexico resident committed to education and community service. This scholarship provides financial assistance to high school seniors who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism. With a focus on applicants from Valencia County, NM, the fund aims to support students pursuing higher education at accredited institutions while encouraging continued involvement in community service.

The NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award for Established Investigators (K18) supports seasoned researchers in enhancing their skills to advance their studies related to hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language sciences. The program encourages the acquisition of new methodologies and approaches to answer critical questions in these fields. Key deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to February 2027, providing ample opportunity for interested investigators.

St. Ignace Area Community Foundation: CTE Technical Scholarship

The St. Ignace Community Fund annually awards scholarships assisting students with higher education, technical training, vocational training or retraining based largely on acknowledgement of student responsibility, community service, and civic involvement. These Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of donors to the various accounts within the St. Ignace Area Community Fund. Some accounts specifically are awarded to recognize higher education in the areas of special education, vocational/technical careers, teaching, law enforcement, and health care.

The James Ledwith Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2011 by the Albuquerque Community Foundation, supports high school graduates from the Albuquerque Metro Area who have faced extraordinary challenges. This scholarship awards up to $2,000 to those pursuing post-secondary education while demonstrating hope, faith, and courage. Applicants must submit letters of reference and a personal essay outlining their life dreams and challenges. One to two scholarships are awarded annually, promoting resilience and personal growth in the face of adversity.