Best Capacity Building Grants for Nonprofits in Texas

The OST CARES program, funded by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance mental health support in out-of-school time (OST) settings across Texas. This initiative will implement vital mental health programs through the Texas Partnership for Out of School Time (TXPOST) while also establishing a robust statewide infrastructure to support OST programs and professionals. The focus is on improving educational outcomes and ensuring the well-being of students in community settings.

AgPro Grant Program

Grow your operation. Expand your potential.

Grant funding to help Texas producers improve, upgrade, and scale their agricultural operations.

Program Overview

The Agriculture Production Resource Opportunity (AgPro) Grant Program, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), under the direction of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA), provides funding to help Texas producers improve, expand, and strengthen their agricultural operations through strategic investments in equipment, infrastructure, and efficiency.

The Agriculture Grant Program (AGP) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2025 for the purpose of maintaining agricultural businesses, maintaining agricultural uses of land, or fostering supply chain resiliency or the creation and expansion of agricultural businesses by people in this state. The AgPro Grant Program was created as one of the subprograms under the AGP

The Marilyn Potts Memorial Fund, established by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports Communications majors or related fields at South Texas universities. Open to current high school seniors and college students, applicants must demonstrate financial need and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. This fund aims to empower students by providing essential financial support for educational expenses, contributing to their academic and professional growth in the communications field.

The 2025-2026 ESC Statewide Services for Students with Visual Impairments (SSVI) program, overseen by the Texas Education Agency, aims to provide essential services and support to school systems for students with visual impairments. This initiative focuses on enhancing the skills of teachers of visually impaired students, ensuring better educational outcomes. With a total funding of $5,539,891, the program is crucial for retaining qualified teachers in the field and improving the educational experiences of affected students.

The Oliver Foundation

The Oliver Foundation was founded by Mrs. William B. Oliver (Cluthe) in 1995 and official programs for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity began in 2004. The foundation is dedicated to the prevention of childhood obesity.

The Oliver Foundation is a Houston-based 501(c) (3) non-profit operating foundation dedicated to the prevention of childhood obesity. We provide funding of various levels and time frames to qualified grant recipients. The grants, by application, are based on the Oliver Foundation’s Seven Healthy Messages to promote a healthy lifestyle to kids and teens, referred to as “The Seven Healthy Choices!”

• Choose 5-A-Day servings of fruits and vegetables.
• Have more water and less sugary beverages.
• Opt for healthy snacks.
• Increase active play and decrease screen time.
• Choose 3-A-Day servings of low-fat dairy products.
• Enjoy a healthy breakfast.
• Serve a smart portion size.

Teen Advisory Board Grant

The goal of the Oliver Foundation is to encourage children, families and communities in Texas to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of Pre-school, Elementary, Middle School and High School students.

Teen Advisory Board Grants (TB) are available to middle and high school campuses that are interested in implementing a TB at their school. A Teen Advisory Board is a group of diverse students that have a passion for creating a sustainable healthy campus environment, be involved in community service events, and can mentor younger students.

Oliver Foundation Staff and TB will provide training and assist in the implementation of this grant. A school sponsor is required for this group and will complete the grant application.

The Cigna Group Foundation is launching the Improving Youth Mental Health Grant, committing $9 million over three years to enhance mental health support for youth aged five to 18. This initiative targets post-pandemic challenges, offering resources to parents, caregivers, and youth service professionals. Nonprofits are encouraged to apply for funding between $100,000 and $150,000 to develop programs that promote social-emotional skills, enhance caregiver support, and improve access to mental health interventions in underserved communities.

The W. L. and Louise E. Seymour Foundation Grant provides financial support for initiatives benefiting handicapped and homeless children, as well as charitable organizations for the elderly in Texas. This grant aims to enhance the quality of life for vulnerable populations by funding essential services and resources. Organizations interested in applying should ensure their missions align with the foundation's focus areas to maximize their chances of receiving funding.

The Express Health Information Outreach Awards aim to enhance public health by increasing access to biomedical information for U.S. health professionals and the general public. These awards support projects that improve health information literacy among consumers and caregivers, ensuring they can effectively find and utilize health information. Focused on partnerships and outreach to underrepresented communities, the initiative seeks to promote healthy behaviors, prevent illness, and improve health outcomes through informed decision-making.

The Dick Laursen Memorial Scholarship, honoring a dedicated irrigation specialist, supports students pursuing agriculture degrees at Texas universities. Open to undergraduates and graduate students, it requires full-time enrollment and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Each recipient can receive up to $500 per semester, totaling a maximum of $4000 over four years. This scholarship aims to foster the next generation of agricultural professionals, reflecting Laursen's legacy in the irrigation industry.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers federal and state grant awards to its subgrantees to carry out a program. Such entities include primarily school systems (referred to as local educational agencies [LEAs] in statutes), including independent school districts and charter schools; education service centers (ESCs); and, to a lesser degree, institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and other statutorily allowable organizations. 

Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Cycle 12, Year 4

The purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to assist students in meeting state and local academic achievement standards in core subjects, such as reading and mathematics, by providing the students with opportunities for academic enrichment activities and appropriate supplemental activities during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session.

The Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant supports entry-level athletics administrative positions for one academic year, promoting diversity in NCAA Division II. It provides $30,000 for intern salaries and $3,000 for professional development, benefiting six schools annually from a total budget of $180,000. Eligible applicants must be active NCAA members, with a focus on enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration. This initiative encourages professional growth and compliance in diverse environments.

The M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation Grant aims to support individuals and families in building meaningful lives, focusing on education, social services, and community welfare. The foundation prioritizes innovative programs that promote self-sufficiency and measurable impacts within communities, particularly in Dallas, Palm Beach, and New York. It emphasizes collaboration and seeks proposals for specific projects rather than ongoing operational support, ensuring a focus on transformative initiatives.

The Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Resource Grant, administered by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance educational outcomes for homeless students in Texas. This grant supports innovative practices that identify, enroll, and assist these students, ensuring they access essential services. By fostering regional collaboration and implementing best practices, the TEHCY program strengthens support systems for education service centers and school districts, ultimately striving for improved academic success for all affected students.

The Special Populations Diagnostic - Content Support Grant, funded by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance diagnostic tools for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to evaluate and improve their special education systems. By developing resources like rubrics and interview templates, the project seeks to empower LEA leaders to identify areas needing support, ultimately leading to better outcomes for students with disabilities.

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Texas Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA) Program

TxDOT administers TA funds for locally sponsored bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects in communities across the state. In large urbanized areas with populations over 200,000, TA funds are also distributed directly to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to administer according to their needs. MPOs and TxDOT are responsible for selecting projects independently of one another.

Program Description

The purpose of this grant program is to provide targeted capacity support to increase the number of School Psychologists across the state of Texas. By investing in the academic infrastructure of School Psychologist programs, this initiative aims to expand program capacity, maintain instructional quality, and accelerate the pipeline of qualified School Psychologists entering the workforce in Texas. This effort directly addresses the statewide shortage of licensed School Psychologists and supports the long-term goal of improving access to essential evaluations and services for students with disabilities.

Family Support Services (TX)

The purpose of the CYD program is to assist communities in alleviating conditions in the family and community that lead to juvenile crime. The CYD program is a community based program that provides services to youth and their families by promoting positive experiences, relationships, and environments. Through the promotion and implementation of PYD, youth are engaged in productive and constructive environments that address youth development, build positive and healthy relationships with peers and adults, and provide opportunities for engagement in school and community. The CYD program aims to improve the development and well-being of youth, promote healthy and safe families and communities, increase protective factors for youth, reduce involvement with the criminal justice system, reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect, and promote workforce readiness.

The CYD program is entirely voluntary and free-of-charge to enrolled Participants. 

HHSC estimates the total amount of funding for the CYD grant program is $9,957,043.00 per State fiscal year. Annual awards per individual Grant Agreement typically range between $400,000.00 and $1,000,000.00. HHSC estimates the value of the RFA based on the stated annual amount multiplied by five (5) years, plus an additional 25% to allow for increases in funding during the Project Period.

Applicants are strongly cautioned to only apply for the amount of grant funding they can responsibly expend during the Project Period to avoid lapsed funding at the end of the Grant Term. Successful Applications may not be funded to the full extent of Applicants’ Requested Budgets in order to ensure grant funds are available for the broadest possible array of communities and programs.

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

The Asia-Pacific region, home to over half the world's population, faces challenges due to its development goals, which strain natural resources, communities, and cultural heritage. These issues are exacerbated by adverse environmental changes. While research has shed light on these problems, it's clear that more challenges lie ahead. The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) is well-positioned to generate new knowledge and solutions for these evolving global change and sustainability issues by supporting collaborative research and scientific capacity development activities, particularly those aimed at training the next generation of early career professionals.

APN 2025 Call for Proposals: CAPaBLE Programmes

CAPaBLE, our scientific capacity development programme, aims to enhance the capacity of scientists, policymakers and practitioners to assess global change issues, and explore options to resolve issues towards achieving sustainability. Through CAPaBLE, we support activities that enhance capacity at individual, organizational and systemic levels.

Activities of interest under the CAPaBLE Programme

APN supports CAPaBLE activities that enhance existing capacities of developing countries at three levels of individual-based capacity development; group, organisation, network-based capacity development; and societies, governance, and system level capacity development. APN accepts CAPaBLE proposals that engage 1 or more member/approved countries. Proposals must address one or more of the following activities:

SCIENTIFIC CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES that promote the following approaches related to one or more of the six thematic areas of APN:

• Utilising and strengthening existing capacity, 
• Creating opportunities to use/instil capacity, 
• Developing new capacity through innovative approaches.

AWARENESS-RAISING AND DISSEMINATION activities through policy- and decision-making communities, civil society, and/or the general public.

SCIENCE-POLICY interfacing in the context of the priority topics.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES that contribute to the capacity development components of the evolving global change arena, including the UNFCCC Paris Agreement, IPCC, IPBES, post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and ongoing and new global change and sustainability research programmes.

Activities geared towards using SCIENCE COMMUNICATION to disseminate knowledge generated from projects, particularly to non-science audiences.

The East Texas Geological Society Scholarship, administered by the East Texas Communities Foundation, supports students pursuing degrees in Geology or Geosciences at any Texas college. Applicants must be college sophomores or higher and do not need to demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is renewable, reflecting a commitment to education and fostering the next generation of geoscientists in Texas.

The Wellness Across the Lifespan Grant supports the health of communities by providing access to nutritious food and essential nutrition education. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 are awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofits in areas where Sprouts Farmers Market operates. This funding emphasizes health and nutrition education, as well as programs that promote healthy lifestyles and nutrition security, ultimately benefiting adults and vulnerable populations.

The Great American Cleanup Grants, offered by Keep America Beautiful, aim to enhance community beautification and environmental efforts across the U.S. This initiative encourages KAB affiliates to remove litter, plant greenery, and restore public spaces, contributing to the larger goal of cleaning up 25 billion pieces of litter by 2026. With cash grants available, this program fosters collaboration among communities, promoting sustainable practices and a cleaner, greener future for all.

The US Department of Health & Human Services, through the NIH, invites applications for innovative approaches to implement SBIRT/P for addressing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use in adults facing health disparities. This funding opportunity encourages research that tests screening, brief interventions, and referrals for treatment or prevention services. Applications are due on specified deadlines from February 2024 through March 2027, fostering collaboration with healthcare and community partners to enhance public health outcomes.

The Moor Foundation Grant supports organizations that promote public welfare in Texas, emphasizing aid for vulnerable individuals in the El Paso area. This grant focuses on providing resources for food, shelter, and social services, ensuring that those in need receive the necessary support. Applicants are encouraged to align their initiatives with the foundation's mission of enhancing community welfare through religious, charitable, and educational programs.

Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. TWC strengthens the Texas economy by providing the workforce development component of the Governor's economic development strategy. Texas boasts an incredibly skilled workforce ready to attract enterprise to the Lone Star State. By focusing on the needs of employers, TWC gives Texas the competitive edge necessary to draw business here.

Self Sufficiency Fund Program

The Self Sufficiency Fund is a training grant to help individuals obtain industry recognized credentials and be placed in an occupation that provides a path toward Self Sufficiency. The program focuses on training for the following groups:

• Adult receiving government assistance such as Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
• Individuals at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance.
• Individuals earning less than $37,000 annually with a dependent child, custodial or non-custodial.
• Youth between the ages of 18-24 that are a part of a low-income household.

The Self Sufficiency program is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission, in partnership with public community and technical colleges, a higher education extension service, and community-based organizations, and is governed by the following rules and regulations:

• Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Part 20, Chapter 835
• Texas Labor Code, Chapter 309

Program Requirements:

• Grantees must provide training that leads to an industry-recognized certificate or credential.
• Training can be for any target occupation or an occupation that is subject to approval by the local Workforce Development Board.
• Training must focus on core or support occupations that provide a path toward higher-level occupations.
• Various training methods are accepted, including classroom, simulations, and online instruction.
• Applicants may receive up to $500,000 for projects.
• Target cost is $2500 per trainee.
• Funding may include tuition, training materials, books and supplies.
• Job placement for participants is required and may be with any employer.

The Roger and Barbara Powell Scholarship for Engineering supports rural Texas residents pursuing degrees in engineering or computer science. Administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, this renewable scholarship offers up to $16,000 over four years, contingent upon meeting GPA and enrollment requirements. Eligible applicants must be high school seniors or current college students from Texas counties with populations under 60,000 and must attend a public institution in Texas to qualify for funding.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. It is headed by the commissioner of education. The Texas Education Agency improves outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

The Division of Governance Interventions supports TEA’s mission and vision by providing exceptional leadership, guidance, and support to school system leadership teams and governing boards. The division collaborates with external field support agents appointed by the TEA Commissioner of Education to build sustainable systems aligned to core TEA initiatives, so that the school system thrives after the release of agency intervention. 

Legal Framework

Program Description

The purpose of the 2026–2027 Legal Framework grant is to support statewide access to high quality technical assistance and training related to the legal framework of special education through the provision and maintenance of an updated, web based platform. The platform is designed to assist stakeholders—including school systems, advocates, and parents—in understanding and applying state and federal special education laws and regulations.

The program promotes consistent interpretation and implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related state requirements by providing comprehensive, accessible resources that explain the rights of students with disabilities and the obligations of school systems to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). 

Program goals include increasing educator and administrator knowledge of applicable legal requirements, strengthening local implementation practices, and providing timely, accurate, and reliable guidance to support effective special education decision making statewide.

The 2025-2026 Texas Strategic Compensation for Districts Grant, awarded by the Texas Education Agency, aims to assist school districts in moving towards a compensation model that rewards educators based on effectiveness rather than tenure. This initiative supports local educational agencies, charter schools, and nonprofit organizations in fostering a more effective educational environment, ultimately enhancing the quality of teaching and administration across Texas.