Best Physics Grants in Missouri

Focused on Lutheran higher education and related ministries, 501(c)(3) organizations in Missouri and other contiguous states can seek funding for education, health and human care, and faith-strengthening programs. Rupert Dunklau Foundation prioritizes Lutheran institutions and ministries, including Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, for projects serving communities and advancing Christian mission.

With a mission to strengthen local communities, Missouri Department of Economic Development provides Missouri nonprofits and qualifying business organizations with state tax credits to support community service, education, crime prevention, job training, and neighborhood revitalization projects. Approved Neighborhood Assistance Program projects can offer donors up to US $500,000 in in-kind support through 50% or 70% Missouri income tax credits.

Small, independently owned brick-and-mortar businesses in Missouri communities along the Route 66 corridor can apply for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Fund, with awards of US $5,000 - US $10,000 for preservation, planning, or marketing projects. Eligible projects may include painting, murals, building rehabilitation, or storytelling initiatives highlighting underrepresented Route 66 communities.

Colleges and universities in Missouri working on campus greening and tree care can apply for National Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus Higher Education recognition; awards support structured campus tree programs. Eligible institutions must maintain a tree advisory committee, care plan, annual tree expenditures, Arbor Day observance, and a student service-learning project.

Missouri 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on community development, education, health, human services, cultural programs, or veteran and military support can apply for Penn National Gaming Foundation grants. Organizations located in Camden, Platte, or St. Louis counties may be eligible to support local residents and strengthen community infrastructure and services.

Veterinary researchers studying feline health can receive up to US $50,000 for 1- to 2-year projects through Miller Trust Grants, including investigators based in Missouri at the University of Missouri. EveryCat Health Foundation supports work on feline disease origins, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, with proposals limited to principal investigators at designated U.S. universities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations addressing mental health or substance use disorders can apply for Elevance Health Foundation’s behavioral health funding, including programs in Missouri. Grants support treatment access, prevention and early intervention, and reducing loneliness for people with MH and/or SUD. National and local initiatives with measurable, scalable outcomes may be eligible.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Missouri’s air, land and water resources play an important role in our health and are essential to the environmental and economic vitality of our state. The department aspires to help Missouri citizens thrive by advancing environmental and economic sustainability. The department provides a range of services to help Missouri citizens, communities and businesses in these efforts. The department also provides opportunities to learn more about Missouri’s natural and cultural history at our state parks and historic sites.

Our Mission: We serve as stewards of our natural resources to benefit Missourians.

Water Safety and Security Act Project Grant

The Missouri Water Safety and Security Act, found in Missouri Revised Statutes section 640.144, RSMo, requires certain community public water systems to develop valve and fire hydrant inspection programs. The Act also requires systems to develop an accurate map identifying shut-off valve and hydrant locations using a geographic information system (GIS) or an alternative physical mapping system and create a hydrant inspection program.

Section 1452(g) and (k) of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to distribute part of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to public water systems to improve system capacity, promote asset management and maintain compliance with federal and state drinking water laws. Through this grant program, the department provides financial assistance to eligible community public water systems to develop accurate maps that satisfy the requirements of the Missouri Water Safety and Security Act.

Eligible Projects and Costs

Eligible projects are limited to contractual agreements to develop valve and hydrant inspection programs and accurate valve and hydrant maps that include all shut-off valve and hydrant locations throughout the applying water system’s distribution system and to satisfy the requirements of Section 640.144, RSMo.

A finalized valve and hydrant inspection program plan and/ or a map accurately depicting the locations of all system shut-off valves and hydrants must be provided to the department for a project to be considered complete. Reimbursement for pre-approved project-related costs is only issued following completion of awarded projects and submission of a finalized map to the department.

Award Amounts and Match

Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis after the priority application period. Matching funds are not required, but may contribute to project selection and ranking according to the priority point criteria described in section 4 of the grant application form.

Affordable housing providers in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota can apply for Enterprise Community Partners’ Midwest Asset Management University Cohort, a five‑month capacity-building program. Selected organizations receive CHAM online training, peer learning, and post-training technical assistance to strengthen asset and property management and support long-term housing stability.

Missouri high school seniors pursuing STEM or business majors and planning energy-related careers can access scholarship funding to attend accredited colleges, universities, or technical/trade schools. Eligible residents in designated Missouri regions may receive US $3,000 - US $5,000 awards through the American Association of Blacks in Energy’s national and regional scholarship program supporting future energy professionals.

Missouri graduate students of Polish descent pursuing full-time master’s or Ph.D. studies in any field can access funding through the Kosciuszko Foundation, with awards ranging from US $1,000 - US $12,000 for tuition. U.S. citizens and permanent residents in physics or other disciplines may be eligible for these scholarships at U.S. institutions or English medical schools in Poland.

Missouri 501(c)(3) organizations serving the Jewish community with health, social services, or community programs in the greater Kansas City metro can apply for Menorah Heritage Foundation’s Jewish Community Grant Cycle. Funding supports health-focused initiatives, Jewish education and engagement, services for older adults, and limited core operating support for eligible Jewish community organizations.

The UNICO Foundation offers the Louise Torraco Memorial Scholarship for Science, providing two scholarships worth $2,500 each to U.S. citizens pursuing degrees in physical or life sciences. Eligible candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be enrolled full-time in accredited programs. This initiative reflects UNICO's commitment to supporting educational pursuits in scientific fields while fostering Italian American heritage and community service.

The Ralph J. Torraco Scholarship for Special Education, offered by the UNICO Foundation, provides two scholarships of $2,500 each for U.S. students pursuing degrees in Special Education. Eligible candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and plan to continue their studies into the 2026-2027 academic year. This scholarship supports students with various disabilities, ensuring that education is accessible and equitable for all.

Students pursuing degrees in therapy sciences such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, or speech-language pathology who reside in Missouri may be eligible for this scholarship. UNICO Foundation supports higher education in therapy sciences nationwide by awarding US $2,500 scholarships to full-time U.S. college students meeting GPA and residency requirements.

Missouri students pursuing law enforcement academy training can receive scholarship support for higher education through this program, with awards of US $1,000. Community Foundation of the Ozarks provides one scholarship for graduates of Missouri high schools who have an acceptance letter from a law enforcement academy and submit the required essay and transcript.

Missouri school districts and community partners running comprehensive after-school and summer learning programs can apply for Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants, awarding US $50,000 - US $400,000. Funding supports academic enrichment, youth development activities, and family engagement that complement regular school-day instruction, which may include STEM and physics-related programming.

Missouri 501(c)(3) public charities addressing children’s physical, mental, or dental health can access funding through Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation to support critical healthcare services. Eligible organizations must operate in designated southwest Missouri counties and follow a two-cycle concept letter schedule for summer (July awards) and winter (February awards) grant rounds.

Nonprofit organizations providing education, health, human services, arts, or community betterment programs in Missouri counties served by the Community Foundation may be eligible for these competitive community grants. Focused on regional quality of life, the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area offers US $1,000 - US $7,500 for program, project, or general operating support, which may benefit physics-related initiatives.

Early-career assistant professors running independent biomedical research labs at nominated U.S. institutions can apply for Pew Charitable Trusts’ Pew Biomedical Scholars awards, offering US $75,000 - US $300,000 for high-impact human health research. Missouri universities on the participating institution list may nominate one candidate through an internal limited submission process.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits running Food as Medicine programs that improve diet-related clinical outcomes or expand access to nutritious food can apply for Elevance Health Foundation support. National initiatives and local programs in Missouri and other priority states may be eligible, especially those offering scalable, culturally relevant interventions with measurable, long-term health impacts.

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation provides Missouri higher-education physics and astronomy students with $1,000 scholarships for tuition and class-related materials. Eligible students must be accepted into the Department of Physics at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, hold at least a 3.0 GPA, and be engaged in extensive study or research in astronomy, astrophysics, or related fields.

Nonprofit organizations improving maternal and infant health outcomes can access funding that targets disparities and removes barriers to care in Missouri and nationwide. Grants from Elevance Health Foundation help programs focused on maternal and perinatal health and social determinants of health demonstrate measurable improvements from pre-conception through postnatal care, which may benefit Missouri-based initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Kansas City, Missouri residents can seek funding for community services, including seniors, children’s welfare, health, education, and Christian programs. Focused on charitable support, Ina Calkins Board invites Missouri organizations to propose projects that aid older adults, vulnerable children, scholarships, and YMCA/YWCA-related initiatives within Kansas City, Missouri.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting Missouri senior citizens through housing-related services or food assistance may be eligible for Charless Foundation grants, awarding US $10,000 - US $50,000. Focused on housing stability and wellness for older adults in South St. Louis City, this St Louis Community Foundation fund can complement Missouri-based programs, including those run by institutions with physics-related initiatives serving seniors.

Focused on afterschool and summer learning, this grant invites Missouri local education agencies to fund school-based programs for children ages 5–12, with some older court-supervised youth. Awards of US $80,000 - US $100,000 from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education support academic enrichment, STEM, youth development, and related activities that may benefit physics-focused programs.

About Us

Our History

Since its founding, The H & R Block Foundation has been committed to assisting underserved individuals and improving the quality of all aspects of life. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that increase access to the arts, build stable neighborhoods, offer diverse learning opportunities, and expand access to services that respond to all individuals’ physical and emotional needs. The Foundation continues to support the H&R Block culture by aligning resources and leadership to create positive social change.

Grants

Community Impact

The H & R Block Foundation awards grants that help nonprofits improve or strengthen services, enhance operations, and achieve greater results. The Foundation’s grant strategy focuses on the following:

• Helping underserved individuals pursue and attain post-secondary education
• Improving the quality of life throughout neighborhoods in greater Kansas City
• Enhancing nonprofits’ operational efficiency and service delivery and strengthening major community assets and institutions

Since its inception, The H & R Block Foundation has invested over $84 million in various charitable organizations.

Grants FAQ

The Foundation’s areas of focus are:

• Arts & Culture
• Education
• Health & Human Service
• Neighborhood Revitalization

There are no fixed minimum or maximum amounts, though most grants do not exceed $150,000.  

The Foundation’s sister organization, the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation makes single-year and multiyear grants that typically fall in the range of $150,000 to $500,000. Grants may be funded by either Foundation, as determined by Foundation staff.