Best Grants for Small Nonprofits in South Dakota

The Adapted PE/Activity Program of the Year Award recognizes outstanding community-based initiatives aimed at enhancing the physical capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Organized by SHAPE America, this award highlights programs that provide inclusive physical education and recreational opportunities, ensuring that all participants can engage in healthy, active lifestyles. By showcasing best practices, the award promotes innovation and advocacy for individuals with disabilities, fostering an environment of inclusion and support in physical activity.

The DoW Bone Marrow Failure Idea Development Award supports innovative, high-impact research aimed at understanding and curing bone marrow failure diseases. This grant is available to both Established Investigators and Early-Career Investigators, with no preliminary data required for applications. Reviewers assess proposals based on specific criteria tailored to the investigator's career stage. The focus is on achieving interpretable results that contribute significantly to the field.

The Athene Charitable Foundation focuses on corporate social responsibility through community involvement, aiming to create positive social impacts in education, health, human services, and the environment. Their initiatives include partnerships, employee volunteering, and donations aligned with their mission. They prioritize organizations that support diversity and inclusion while ensuring compliance with their non-discrimination policies. Eligible entities must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations or equivalent, enhancing community welfare where Athene employees live and work.

The CART Fund Grant supports innovative Alzheimer’s Disease research projects in the U.S. with funding up to $500,000 for a two-year period. It invites full-time faculty from public and private institutions to submit Letters of Intent, emphasizing novel concepts that advance biomedical knowledge. Selected finalists will be invited to apply for standard grants. The initiative aims to foster groundbreaking research initiatives lacking extensive preliminary data, ensuring a focus on projects with transformative potential.

Kickstart Your Project with a Mini-Grant

At H2O for Life, we never want finances to be a barrier to participating in a service project. The H2O for Life Mini-Grants are meant to be a supportive resource for teachers and students who want to kick-start their projects with us. Mini-grants of up to $500 will be awarded to support teachers and students with the necessary funds for their service-learning programs.

Our Mission

H2O for Life offers a service-learning opportunity designed to engage, educate and inspire youth to take action to solve the global water crisis by raising awareness and funds to support implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene education projects for global partner schools.

Since 2007, nearly 1 million students from H2O for Life schools have supported water, sanitation, and hygiene education projects for partner schools in the developing world.

What is H2O for Life doing to address the global water crisis?

H2O for Life’s service-learning opportunities are designed to engage, educate, and inspire youth to become global citizens. Our innovative school-to-school approach helps young people develop a concern for others by taking a major global crisis and scaling it down to a manageable size — one water project in the developing world.

Through the service-learning opportunity we provide, students learn that they can make a tangible difference for the students in their partner school.

The Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship Program, funded by the Lupus Foundation of America, aims to engage students in lupus research across various disciplines. Six awards of $4,000 each will be granted for projects spanning 10 weeks between May and September 2026. Eligible applicants include undergraduate and graduate/medical students, with specific allocation preferences. This initiative promotes valuable research experiences under the guidance of established faculty at accredited institutions.

The Beacon Scholarship for Rural America, sponsored by Carrot-Top Industries, Inc., offers $1,000 scholarships to support low-income students from rural areas pursuing higher education. Eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors, current college students, or adult learners with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and reside in a rural area. The scholarship aims to empower students by alleviating financial burdens as they enroll in accredited college programs.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation's Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants support early career researchers dedicated to lymphoma research. Awarding a total of $195,000 over three years, the grant focuses on hypothesis-driven studies relevant to Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Eligible projects include laboratory and clinical research, with a strong emphasis on significant contributions to understanding lymphoma's etiology, immunology, and treatment. Grantees are expected to dedicate 80% of their time to research, ensuring impactful advancements in the field.

The RFA: Biology to Prevention Award (CRUK) aims to foster innovative translational research that enhances understanding of cancer biology, ultimately leading to effective prevention strategies. Joint applications from UK and US research teams are encouraged, with a focus on equal partnerships and complementary expertise. The funding provides up to £600,000 for UK costs and up to $946,000 for US costs, supporting projects of 1 to 5 years duration that address critical research questions in cancer prevention.

The Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship was established in 2010, in memory of Freeland resident and business owner Bernie Smillie. Bernie passed away in 2000, due to complications from a lung transplant he had received in 1994. In 2005, family and friends of Bernie established the Bernie Smillie Memorial Golf Outing. Proceeds of this outing has helped to promote organ donor support and awareness and establish this scholarship fund.

Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Michigan Resident

Evaluation Criteria

• Financial need (20)
• Work experience (20)
• Overall involvement at work, school and community activities (20)
• Career goals as demonstrated in essay (20)
• Letters of recommendation

LSC’s Basic Field Grants aim to enhance access to civil legal services for low-income individuals across the U.S. and territories. These grants support eligible organizations for up to three years through a competitive application process. The funding is allocated to specific service areas, which change annually, and focuses on providing comprehensive legal assistance. The program includes three types of service areas, ensuring diverse populations, including agricultural and Native American communities, receive necessary legal support.

The FY26 Parkinson’s Research Program (PRP) Early Investigator Research Award supports early-career researchers in Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. It offers two funding levels: Level 1 for fellows requiring a Mentor and Level 2 for independent investigators. The PI must show potential in PD research, with Level 1 emphasizing mentorship and Level 2 needing preliminary data. Research must align with one of the four FY26 PRP Focus Areas, excluding clinical trials.

NEXT for AUTISM's grants program empowers autistic adults by funding innovative initiatives across work, home, social engagement, and health & well-being. With over 380 funded projects nationwide, the program supports 501(c)(3) organizations in the U.S. First-time grantees can apply for up to $10,000, while returning grantees may request up to $25,000. The program emphasizes community-based solutions and aims to enhance the quality of life for autistic individuals.

The Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Research Grant, funded by the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, aims to support innovative research that optimizes movement and enhances societal health. With a commitment to addressing health disparities, the foundation will award $40,000 for one or two years to promising researchers. This initiative not only strengthens the physical therapy profession but also contributes to the growing evidence base that underscores the value of physical therapy in various healthcare settings.

The Fiscal Year 2026 Flood Mitigation Assistance program aims to enhance flood mitigation funding delivery, focusing on the needs of disaster survivors. This federal initiative, managed by FEMA, provides essential funds to states, territories, and local governments to mitigate flood risks and reduce repetitive damage to properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program. The program supports various activities designed to lower the financial exposure of the NFIP while promoting community resilience against flooding.

Face the Future Scholarship

At Bubble, we believe the next generation of builders, creators, and changemakers deserves support.

The Face the Future Scholarship provides financial awards to students who embody our core values of authenticity, creativity, innovation, and community impact as they pursue their academic goals.

In 2026, we're awarding 20 scholarships totaling $55,000 to students across the U.S., UK, and Canada.

One recipient will also earn a Spring 2027 internship at Bubble's New York City headquarters.

The Path to a Cure — Collaborative Research Grant, offered by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, aims to support research in developing new therapies for cystic fibrosis, particularly focusing on CFTR gene repair and replacement strategies. This program prioritizes collaborations that integrate new investigators and innovative technologies into CF research. Applicants can request up to $1,000,000 annually for three years, with proposals requiring preliminary data to demonstrate feasibility and potential impact.

The David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism recognizes outstanding work in science news reporting. Established in 2000, this annual award honors journalists who make Earth and space science accessible to the public. Recipients receive a $5,000 prize, an engraved award, and recognition at AGU's annual meeting. Eligible nominees include journalists from any medium, excluding books, who have not won the award in the past two years. The award encourages diverse representation in science journalism.

The James S.T. Yao Resident Research Award encourages early-career physicians in the U.S. and Canada to engage in groundbreaking research on vascular diseases and therapies. Awarded by the SVS Basic and Translational Research Committee, it includes a $5,000 prize, a presentation opportunity at the Vascular Annual Meeting, and a subscription to the Journal of Vascular Surgery. This award honors the legacy of Dr. James S.T. Yao, a prominent figure in vascular research.

The Trans Justice Funding Project (TJFP) provides grants to grassroots trans-led organizations in the U.S. and territories, focusing on those with budgets under $250,000. TJFP supports initiatives that address varying needs within trans communities, including health, legal aid, and mutual aid projects. The organization prioritizes groups led by trans people of color and emphasizes the importance of centering marginalized voices in the fight for trans justice.

The Headache Medicine Fellowship aims to enhance training in headache medicine by supporting programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Targeting regions with workforce challenges, the fellowship encourages clinical practice, research, and education to address healthcare disparities. Preference is given to institutions that serve underserved populations and demonstrate a commitment to mentorship and expert guidance for fellows. This initiative seeks to improve understanding and treatment of headache conditions.

Dr. Jeffrey Hanson Memorial Scholarship

To support those pursuing careers in medicine, particularly primary care. 

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $2,750; paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.  

Allowed Use of Award

Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

The Shubert Foundation provides unrestricted grants to not-for-profit professional theatre and dance companies in the U.S. Its focus is on organizations with a proven track record in artistic and administrative excellence. Eligible applicants must have a minimum annual budget of $150,000 and demonstrate financial stability, strong community engagement, and the ability to generate income. The foundation does not fund individuals, project-specific requests, or organizations without 501(c)(3) status.

The ISTAART Grant Program for Conferences and Convenings (IGPCC) Grant, funded by the Alzheimer's Association, aims to support innovative initiatives that enhance research discussions among Professional Interest Areas (PIAs). This funding mechanism encourages collaboration and networking opportunities for ISTAART members, allowing for the organization of educational workshops and conferences. Grants of up to $20,000 are available, with a focus on new projects that haven't received funding in the last 24 months. Applications are reviewed year-round.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative offers Classroom Resources Grants aimed at enhancing theatre education in under-resourced public schools. Funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the initiative provides essential resources, scholarships, and grants to foster artistic growth. By supporting diverse students and schools, this program opens pathways to careers in theatre, ensuring all young people have access to quality arts education, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of America.

The APRA AMCOS Global Professional Development Award, offered by the American Australian Association, provides US$10,000 to an emerging or mid-career Australian artist for career development in the United States. This includes opportunities for recording, collaboration, and travel. Applicants must be APRA AMCOS members and demonstrate how their project enhances cross-cultural exchange. The scholarship supports artistic growth in various fields, fostering connections between Australia and the USA.

Patrick Caroselli Scholarship

To provide financial assistance for college to high school seniors in Monroe County whose parents immigrated to the United States and attained citizenship.

Number and Size of Awards

Number of recipients and award amounts vary; award amount may be split between two or more recipients. Award paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters. Average award $5,000; not to exceed the cost of tuition.

Allowed Use of Award

Awards must be used for costs related to enrollment in a higher education program, prioritizing tuition fees.