Best Surprise Grants for Nonprofits in Arizona

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), aims to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of community football fields. With grants up to $250,000, this initiative addresses the critical lack of safe recreation spaces in low-income neighborhoods, ensuring children and adults have access to well-maintained facilities for gathering and exercise, ultimately fostering community health and well-being.

The Heather Began Memorial Education Fund, established by Robert and Julie Began in memory of their daughter Heather, supports K-5 educators in Altamont, Illinois, and Tempe, Arizona. This fund aims to enhance classroom experiences through grants of $500. Heather's legacy as a dedicated teacher inspires the initiative, which seeks to empower educators to foster creativity and learning in their classrooms.

The William E. Gribbon Memorial Award for Student Travel, established by the American Musical Instrument Society, aims to support college and university students attending the Society's annual meetings. Eligible applicants include current students or recent graduates with degrees completed within six months of the conference. The award offers a one-year student membership and financial assistance for travel and lodging expenses, as determined by the Gribbon Committee based on submitted estimates.

The Bayer Fund: Food & Nutrition Grant supports high-quality programs that combat malnutrition and improve access to nutritious foods, particularly for underserved communities and families with young children. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government units. The fund prioritizes long-term behavioral change towards healthy eating and nutrition, with grants typically not exceeding 25% of an organization's operating budget. International requests start at $25,000, fostering sustainable food security and education initiatives.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

PLTW Computer Science - New Program In Partnership With Lam Research

The Lam Foundation supports schools implementing or expanding a PLTW program in or near several of their U.S. communities. Schools seeking support for PLTW Gateway or PLTW Engineering will receive priority. The Lam Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Lam Research, a leading provider of equipment and services to the semiconductor industry.

Program Requirements

The purpose of this grant is to assist the grantee's implementation of the PLTW Computer Science program. Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Computer Science course in the 2027-2028 academic year and must offer one additional course in the 2028-2029 academic year (two different courses in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Computer Science courses of their choosing. Grantee must complete two years of grant reporting.

The APS Community Impact Grants aim to address diverse community needs across Arizona through support for education, small business, arts, human services, environment, and community development. By focusing on under-resourced populations, these grants foster inclusivity and resilience. Nonprofits can apply annually for funding, with additional consideration for projects that enhance community engagement and quality of life. This initiative highlights APS's commitment to empowering local organizations to create a positive impact in their communities.

The Wellik Foundation Grant, established in 1998, aims to enhance the quality of life in Wickenburg by supporting various charitable initiatives. With over $13 million granted, the foundation encourages proposals that leverage matching funds, foster strategic partnerships, and build organizational capacity. Focus areas include promoting the western lifestyle, education, social services, healthcare, economic development, and the arts, ensuring a vibrant community for current and future generations.

Viasat Corporate Giving focuses on enhancing community strength through various initiatives. Their commitment includes support for military and veteran outreach, skills-based volunteering, and promoting STEAM education, particularly for underserved communities. By engaging employees in these programs, Viasat aims to create meaningful connections and empower individuals, ensuring that families and service members thrive. This holistic approach not only fosters community growth but also inspires the next generation of STEM leaders.

The Next Wave Grant, offered by the City of Tempe, supports innovative arts projects with funding up to $2,500 for newer nonprofits and small creative businesses. This initiative aims to foster growth in the local arts community by empowering first-time applicants to explore fresh ideas and approaches. By prioritizing grassroots efforts, it enhances cultural vibrancy and accessibility in Tempe, ensuring a dynamic artistic future that resonates with the community.

The State Street Foundation Grant supports nonprofits and NGOs that promote economic opportunity and reduce equity gaps in education and employability. Organizations seeking funding must operate in areas where State Street has a business presence and demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The foundation prioritizes measurable outcomes and focuses on racial equity and social justice, ensuring that grants support initiatives that foster community engagement and sustainable impact.

The David J. Morafka Memorial Research Award, established by the Desert Tortoise Council, offers $2,500 to support research on gopher tortoise species in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. This award honors Dr. David J. Morafka's contributions to herpetology. Applicants must be affiliated with recognized institutions and present their findings at a Desert Tortoise Council symposium. Evaluation criteria include research significance, originality, and feasibility, ensuring impactful conservation efforts.

Social Venture Partners Arizona (SVP) Investee Grant

Our full-time Investees are nonprofits in our focus areas selected by our committee to receive a multiyear investment, capacity building tools, and Partnership expertise for 3-5 years to increase their organizational capacity and amplify their impact.

The Majestic Realty Foundation, established in 2002, champions active philanthropy by addressing critical community needs across eight regions in the U.S. Focused on youth, education, health, family support, and violence prevention, the Foundation fosters sustainable community development. Through initiatives like the Los Angeles Youth Leadership Council, it empowers young leaders while encouraging employee volunteerism. By partnering with local nonprofits, the Foundation strengthens community ties, ensuring lasting impact against challenges such as homelessness and youth violence.

Medtronic is a global leader in medical technology, dedicated to enhancing healthcare access and supporting the communities it serves. Through its Grants and Donations program, Medtronic provides financial assistance for medical education, independent conferences, and charitable events, emphasizing collaboration with healthcare stakeholders. The program aims to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life, positively impacting millions of patients worldwide. For more information, visit Medtronic's FAQs on grants and donations.

Mobile Beacon's Connect for Success program addresses the digital divide by providing schools with essential technology resources. This initiative offers up to 25 laptops and 4G devices with 12 months of complimentary high-speed internet service. By targeting students and communities facing digital inequities, the program ensures that all students can complete homework and access educational content from home. With ongoing support options available post-grant, Mobile Beacon is committed to fostering equitable learning environments and empowering educators to enhance digital inclusion.

The Biennial Grants (AZ) program, managed by the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority, has supported youth and amateur sports in Maricopa County since 2000, distributing around $32 million across approximately 600 grants. Designed to enhance community engagement through sporting projects, the program prioritizes first-time applicants and initiatives that benefit local schools and demonstrate financial need. Grants can cover costs up to $250,000 for eligible projects, including facility construction and equipment.

The Catholic Community Foundation's Giving Circle Grant Program empowers local nonprofits by allowing them to present funding needs directly to donor members. Grants are awarded in three key areas: Community Forever Fund for capital improvements, Life Forever Fund for human life protection, and Care Forever Fund for addressing poverty. Priority is given to well-planned projects with sustainable outcomes that align with the Church's mission, promoting both innovation and efficiency in funding usage.

The Summer Youth Program Fund Grant aims to enhance summer programming for Maricopa County youth, providing essential financial support to organizations serving economically disadvantaged youth. Funded by local collaborators, this initiative focuses on promoting personal development and healthy lifestyle activities, while simplifying the grant application process for nonprofits. Organizations can request funding ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, with a total of approximately $615,000 available for distribution. This grant encourages creative programming that addresses childhood obesity and fosters community engagement.

The Quick Grants program in Arizona provides funding up to $5,000 for projects that promote youth and amateur sports in Maricopa County. Managed by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, these grants support local agencies and non-profits, focusing on equipment needs. Eligibility includes being a recognized public entity or a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating for at least one year in the area. Applications will reopen on July 1, 2026, as funds for FY2026 are fully allocated.

The Elliott Family Foundation, established in 2003, aims to enhance human quality of life by supporting community health projects, scholarships, and housing initiatives. They favor grant requests from organizations that are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and actively work in Sacramento, Phoenix, and Yuma. The Foundation's mission includes aiding patients, women and children in need, and disadvantaged seniors, while ensuring equality and non-discrimination in its funding practices.

The Ruby A. Trivette Ruritan Scholarship, administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation, supports graduating seniors from Ashe and Watauga counties in North Carolina. Eligible applicants must reside in Todd or be active members or children of active members of the Todd Ruritan Club. This scholarship opens for applications on December 16, 2025, and closes on March 3, 2026, providing crucial financial assistance for students pursuing higher education.

The BRAIN Initiative's BBQS Program aims to revolutionize the study of brain function by facilitating high-resolution tracking of complex behaviors alongside neural activity. This transformative research opportunity seeks to develop innovative tools for minimally intrusive measurements of various biobehavioral functions while accounting for environmental variables. Emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration, it focuses on creating new analytical frameworks that model neurobehavioral function as dynamic systems influenced by an organism's surroundings, thereby advancing our understanding of behavior at the organismal level.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is funding pilot and feasibility studies aimed at preparing for substance use and HIV prevention research trials. The program encourages innovative interventions for substance use disorders and HIV eradication, focusing on stakeholder collaboration and practical application. Projects may include assessment of service models, intervention development, and community engagement. This initiative is designed to fill critical research gaps and enhance partnerships, although applications are not currently being accepted.

The National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) aims to support a collaborative network, the NIDCD National Human Ear Resource Network. This initiative provides essential resources for researchers focusing on auditory and vestibular disorders through the procurement and preparation of human ear tissues. The network enhances biomedical research by improving tissue preservation techniques, sharing digitized images, and offering specialized training for handling post-mortem human temporal bones.

The Robert E. Barnhill, Sr. Scholarship Fund provides financial support for North Carolina high school seniors who plan to attend a four-year college or university as full-time students. Eligible applicants are evaluated on leadership potential, community involvement, academic achievement, and financial need. The scholarship may be renewed for up to three additional years, contingent upon maintaining a 2.0 GPA and continuous enrollment. Applications open on December 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026.

The RAK Education Foundation Scholarship provides financial assistance to residents of Camden, Chowan, Gates, Pasquotank, or Perquimans Counties who have earned a high school diploma or GED. This scholarship supports students pursuing degrees or certificates in Career and Technical Education fields such as trade education, computer science, business, health science, and more. Applications open on December 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026, encouraging eligible students to apply.

The Innovation Grants to Nurture Initial Translational Efforts (IGNITE) program, supported by the National Institutes of Health, aims to fund pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies. These studies will assess the biological activity of therapeutic agents, including small molecules and biologics, for diseases prioritized by participating institutes. The initiative emphasizes the development of non-opioid analgesics with minimal addiction risks. Although applications are not currently solicited, this notice encourages potential applicants to prepare collaborative projects.