Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Texas

Hungry for Music

The Hungry for Music story began in 1992, when Founder and Director Jeff Campbell (in photo) organized a street musician concert to benefit the homeless. Within three years, he formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to expanding opportunities in music for children.

Since then, Hungry for Music has placed more than 27,000 instruments into the hands of aspiring musicians. Children whose trajectory has been altered by the uplifting and life-changing gift of music.

We've delivered everything from guitars and trombones to violins and xylophones to kids in 50 states and 35 countries.

We collect and redistribute more than 2,000 instruments annually and, in our 31-year journey, we've become a full-time force for good in the musical community.

Request an Instrument

Hungry for Music collects and distributes instruments including brass, woodwinds, strings, electric keyboards, drums and other percussion, as well as amps and accessories.

Who Hungry for Music Helps

• Music teachers at Title One schools who identify children who cannot participate because of lack of funding.
• Music directors at innovative after-school music programs.
• Social workers who have young clients who would benefit from music therapy.

We only accept requests from public school music teachers, administrators, after-school/summer music program directors, and social workers. 

In our history, we have supported music programs in 40 different countries through stateside sponsors (i.e. business, school, church). We do not accept requests directly from international programs.

Social Workers & School Counselors

Social workers and school counselors can submit a request application for a student if they have access to instruction through a music program. 

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation

Who knew that a movie made 30 years ago would become the catalyst for the creation of a namesake non-profit, changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids by giving them access to learn and play music in school – keeping music education alive and strong across the country?

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation was inspired by the acclaimed motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus, the story of the profound effect a dedicated music teacher had on generations of students. Michael Kamen, who wrote the score for the film, started the foundation in 1996 as his commitment to the future of music education.

The Foundation donates high-quality musical instruments to deserving, under-funded music programs, and provides an array of support services to school districts. By increasing the school’s inventory of quality, playable instruments, music teachers are given the tools they need to deliver a quality music education to students who want to learn. In collaboration with committed school districts, the Foundation’s investments are strategically placed as part of a K–12 district-wide plan to achieve positive and lasting results. Generations of students will benefit.

Instrument Grants

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation donates musical instruments to schools nationwide with a focus on increasing student access to music education programs in low-income communities.

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation grants consist of musical instruments and equipment only; no cash grants are provided. Our team handles sourcing, ordering, and delivering the instruments. As part of the application process, we work with the teacher to assess the program’s needs to determine the appropriate instruments and equipment. Note that only student model instruments are provided, and the brand is at the Foundation’s discretion.

Farmer First Regenerative Pilot Program

Regenerative Agriculture is a conservation management approach that emphasizes natural resources through improved soil health, water management, and natural vitality for the productivity and prosperity of American agriculture and communities.

In December 2025, NRCS launched the NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program, a farmer first, outcomes-based approach to conservation designed to return the agency to its core mission – helping people help the land. NRCS is investing $700 million to specifically support regenerative agriculture, including:

• $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); and
• $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

This pilot program addresses whole-farm resource concerns through support for voluntary regenerative agriculture conservation plans. It also puts American farmers first as a part of the solution to Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) by supporting access to American-grown whole foods, critical to addressing the chronic disease crisis nationwide.

For too long, divided and highly specific funding pools have unintentionally encouraged isolated, practice-by-practice conservation, rather than holistic management. By integrating bundled regenerative practices into single applications, closing program loopholes, and recognizing outcomes, NRCS will deliver lasting benefits for farmers, natural resources, and the American consumer.

Emphasizing regenerative agriculture builds upon NRCS’s 90 years of existing conservation work by restoring land health, improving long-term productivity, and ensuring American grown production for the future. 

The contract length will be a minimum of 5 years.

The J.N. and Macie Edens Foundation Grant supports organizations in Navarro County, Texas, focusing on community improvement, education, and human services. Established by Joseph and Lilac Edens, the foundation aims to alleviate human suffering, promote scientific endeavors, and enhance public welfare. Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) charities that contribute to the betterment of mankind and support religious and educational initiatives, reflecting the Edens' commitment to community service.

Michael Dean Guilliams Memorial Scholarship Fund

Fund provides scholarship assistance to deserving students who are pursuing further educational studies in a career and technical field.

Amount

$1,500+

The NCMA Education and Research Foundation Grant aims to support the concrete masonry and hardscape industry through research and educational initiatives. With over $2 million invested, the Foundation invites proposals from qualified professionals, emphasizing national and regional benefits. Eligible projects should focus on workforce development, educational opportunities for students, and collaborative efforts with other organizations. Notably, certain entities, such as those involved in political campaigns or proprietary projects, are ineligible for funding.

The Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25) aims to attract researchers in quantitative science and engineering to focus on NIH-relevant health research. This award provides protected time for supervised study and research, allowing professionals from fields like mathematics, statistics, and engineering to integrate their expertise into health-related studies. The K25 is specifically for lead investigators of independent clinical trials or related studies, fostering innovation in clinical research and career development.

The Montgomery County Community Foundation offers various grants aimed at enhancing the well-being of local communities. With a focus on nonprofits in Montgomery County, Texas, the foundation supports initiatives in arts, education, health, and social services. It encourages collaborative projects that address significant community needs while maintaining a commitment to inclusivity and sustainability. Grants are available for organizations that are tax-exempt and provide substantial services to the area, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most.

The Koerner Family Foundation Scholarship, offered by the Four County Community Foundation, supports high school seniors and recent graduates from Almont, Dryden, and Romeo High Schools. Eligible students must plan to major in business, engineering, IT, medical health fields, natural sciences, or vocational training, with a minimum GPA of 2.50. Award recipients will be honored at a Scholarship Celebration in May and at their respective high school awards events.

The Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards support nonprofits by providing them with essential software, grants, and pro bono assistance to enhance their impact on vulnerable populations. The program aims to foster community connections, promote resilience during crises, and create career pathways in technology. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to utilizing technology in their services, enhancing their ability to support beneficiaries effectively. This initiative empowers nonprofits to leverage technology for greater social good.

The Pegasus Prize, a $50,000 grant from the Dallas Foundation, recognizes innovative nonprofit organizations in Dallas County that utilize data-driven solutions to tackle community challenges. This award amplifies recipients' impacts, enhances their visibility, and encourages further investment in transformative ideas. Projects should focus on education, economic stability, or mental health, and be designed to support the community while fostering growth and effectiveness. The prize aims to accelerate progress in addressing pressing local issues.

The Cooper Foundation Grant Program aims to enhance the quality of life in Waco, Texas, by providing funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a Grant Inquiry and consult with Foundation staff to ensure their proposals align with funding priorities. The Foundation supports projects in education, health, arts, culture, and social services, emphasizing community impact and collaboration.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) by the U.S. Department of Energy provides essential services to improve energy efficiency in homes, particularly for low-income households. Eligible participants include those below 200% of the poverty level, renters, and homeowners. The application process involves determining eligibility, identifying local providers, and submitting necessary documentation. By helping families save on energy costs and enhancing comfort, WAP plays a crucial role in supporting vulnerable communities.

Our Mission

UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to our nation.

UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college.

UNCF’s North Star is to increase the total annual number of African American college graduates by focusing on activities that ensure more students are college-ready, enroll in college and persist to graduation. This is done through a three-pillar strategy. Positioning member institutions as a viable college option for students and investing in institutional capacity to improve student outcomes; creating transformational support programs to ensure students are enrolling and persisting through college completion; building awareness of educational attainment and cultivating college-going behaviors within the African American community.

About the UNCF Lighted Pathways Program

Increasing the number of Black investment management professionals one opportunity at a time

According to The American College and the CFP Board, African Americans only make up 5% of financial advisors and 2% of certified financial planners (CFP), even though African Americans represent 13.4% of the U.S. population.

The UNCF Lighted Pathways programs meets the disparity and lack of Black talent in asset management through the UNCF Lighted Pathways initiative which provides scholarships and internships to African American undergraduate students interested in the investment management industry. Through this initiative, UNCF Lighted Pathways aims to create a career pathway to attract, develop, and retain Black talent for the asset management industry.

The UNCF Lighted Pathways Program excites, educates, and empowers young people by supporting personal and professional development, driving company performance, and providing the asset management industry the talent they need to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. This program offers students a glimpse inside the dynamic, global asset management industries and the career opportunities, potential and rewards within them.

Students are afforded the opportunity to receive $5,000 in scholarships and/or participate in internships in the financial industry provided by the program’s partners.

About Us

Making a Difference, Together

The Community Foundation of Monroe County (CFMC) builds a thriving, inclusive community through the power of philanthropy. By connecting generous donors with local causes, we help ensure Monroe County remains a place where everyone can thrive. Since our founding, we’ve been a trusted steward of community resources, fostering impactful collaborations and sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, poverty, and community development.

Life Needs Support

Life Needs Support provides need-based financial assistance to students and young adults from the Greater Milan area who face barriers that may prevent them from completing a degree or skilled trades training program. 

Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. We recognize that unexpected hardships can disrupt educational progress, including expenses related to books and supplies, medical care, transportation, childcare, trade tools.

Applications are evaluated two times each year for awarding in the six months after application and selection.

The AISES ARDC Scholarship provides $5,000 annually to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or related fields. Funded by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), this scholarship aims to support Indigenous students who are current AISES members and enrolled full-time. Eligible applicants must also be citizens or descendants of recognized Indigenous tribes, ensuring a commitment to enhancing representation in STEM education and careers.

About All Points North Foundation

All Points North Foundation is dedicated to navigating communities upward.

All Points North Foundation was founded in 2011 by a family who believes passionately that everyone has a “true North” – a place of achievement – and that everyone should have equal opportunity and access to realize their goals.

Our Vision

We envision a nation where the middle school years are seen as an important, vital time in the lives of youth, and where the public middle school education experience in underserved communities measurably improves

We also envision a nation where the integration of solar benefits families, local economies and the environment.

Our Priorities

All Points North Foundation funds grantees in two areas – public middle school education (grades 6-8) and solar – that have the power to help communities nationwide navigate upward.

Grant Making

All Points North Foundation seeks collaborative partnerships with grantees in our two priority areas.

Solar Energy

All Points North Foundation is focused on finding ways to significantly advance the penetration of solar through education, job training and use of solar electric technologies in the United States.

All Points North Foundation has three priority areas:

Providing solar and workforce development training for Tribal communities to expand and diversify the solar job pipeline.

Working with small- to medium-sized science centers to engage students, families and local communities on the benefits and science behind solar.

Providing solar installations to nonprofit organizations that build high-quality, safe and affordable residential housing, offsetting energy costs and enabling cost savings for households.

The cost of solar has dropped dramatically over the last decade, however the upfront cost of going solar remains a hurdle for most families, communities and nonprofits.

All Points North Foundation does consider funding solar projects outside of these focal areas, but the programs must demonstrate how solar will have a broader impact on local communities (e.g., economic, social or environmental), as well as showcase the potential for replication across the nation.

The Community Foundation of Shelby County

Our Mission

To inspire donor generosity and transform it into meaningful, lasting impact through charitable gifts.

Our Vision

To be the primary partner for donors who want to advance the community’s quality of life and capacity for excellence.

Harry Emley and Mary Joslin Bennett Scholarship

Selection based upon:

• Academic achievement, financial need, community and school service, and recommendations.

Awards

• One $500 scholarship

The West Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association Scholarship, established in 2001, supports students from Ottawa, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, or Allegan County pursuing careers in horticulture or the green industry. Administered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, awards consider financial need and academic achievement. Applicants, including high school seniors and college students, must submit transcripts and additional required documents. This scholarship aims to foster education and partnerships within West Michigan's green industry.

The Yéigo Action Grant, provided by the First Peoples Fund, offers financial support ranging from $100 to $2,500 for Native artists and culture bearers facing hardships that affect their creative practices. This grant aims to assist artists with specific professional opportunities, such as workshops or emergencies. By honoring the spirit of encouragement embodied in the Diné word 'yéigo', the grant helps ensure that artists can continue their vital work within their communities.

The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation offers Reintegration Grants aimed at supporting individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. By focusing on abilities rather than symptoms, the foundation promotes recovery through various programs. Their funding helps organizations that maintain a commitment to mental health, ensuring that recipients receive necessary support, such as scholarships and facility management, to enhance their quality of life. The foundation believes in empowering individuals to actively participate in their recovery journey.

Grant Guidelines

To advance its mission to build a responsible and equitable technology ecosystem, the Kapor Foundation makes strategic grants across three focus areas: (1) Computing Education, (2) Innovation, and (3) Governance.

Within each focus area, we fund research on critical topics at the intersection of racial equity and tech, capacity-building that strengthens coalitions and movement-building infrastructure, and policy advocacy that drives systemic change.

Funding Priorities

We fund organizations and initiatives aligned with our core focus areas:

Given advances in Al, a new vision of education is urgently needed — one that ensures students are equipped with the technical skills to build emerging technologies and the critical skills to navigate their socio-technical implications. We fund computing education initiatives across K-12, postsecondary, and alternative pathways that expand computing participation at scale, shift policy to ensure equitable access, and expand the pipeline of educators prepared to teach computing.

2. 

Al is being designed, developed, and deployed rapidly, yet the communities most affected by its impacts are largely excluded from its creation and subsequent economic benefits. We support organizations and individuals that build responsible Al technologies, leverage technology to close gaps in access and opportunity, and invest in initiatives and coalitions that advance responsible Al in the entrepreneurship and venture capital ecosystems.

3.

As Al adoption accelerates, bolder approaches to regulation are necessary to protect marginalized communities from technological harm, expand economic opportunity, and ensure the benefits of technology reach everyone. We support efforts that build awareness of key policy issues, develop policy agendas, and mobilize coalitions.

For 2026, our priority advocacy areas are: 1) computing education, 2) algorithmic bias, 3) Al safeguards for children, 4) data center development, and 5) surveillance and civil rights.

The Safe Arborist Techniques Fund Grant Program, established by the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund and the International Society of Arboriculture, aims to enhance worker safety in arboriculture through research and development. Grants focus on biomechanics and tree failure mechanisms, supporting innovative practices that protect both workers and the community. Proposals are evaluated on their potential impact, scientific rigor, and the experience of the investigative team, ensuring they align with the mission of the TREE Fund.

The Skoll Awards for Social Innovation, presented by the Skoll Foundation, recognize social innovators addressing root societal problems. Each awardee receives $2 million in unrestricted funding and joins a global community of leaders dedicated to significant social change. The foundation focuses on key areas such as health systems, effective governance, inclusive economies, racial justice, and climate action. Nominations are made through a multi-year sourcing process, ensuring that candidates align closely with the foundation's mission.

The River Oaks Garden Club, founded in 1927, is dedicated to enhancing the Houston community through conservation, horticulture, and civic beautification. The ROGC Civic Contribution Grant supports local projects, including the maintenance of public gardens and the establishment of the Bayou Bend Gardens Endowment. Educational initiatives like the annual environmental seminar and the publication of gardening resources further its mission. Priority is given to eligible requests from the Houston area, emphasizing a commitment to community engagement.

T7 Social Impact GrantsThe T.D. Jakes Foundation (TDJF), in partnership with Wells Fargo, is proud to launch the Social Impact Grant Challenge, a transformative funding opportunity designed to identify, support, and amplify nonprofit organizations creating meaningful change in communities across the United States.

Designed around the T.D. Jakes Foundation's pillars of service (Educational Access & Workforce Readiness, financial inclusion, and community transformation and well-being), the Challenge seeks innovative nonprofit organizations that are addressing critical social issues through impactful, scalable, and sustainable solutions.

Finalists selected through this process will have the opportunity to showcase their organization through a live presentation at the inaugural Thriving Seven (T7) Summit, taking place November 12 –14 in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to competing for grant funding, finalists will gain national visibility for their work and connect with nonprofit leaders, funders, and changemakers from across the country.Grant Funding: A total of $1,500,000 in grant funding is anticipated to be awarded: 

• One (1) - $500,000 grant
• One (1) - $250,000 grant
• Two (2) - $100,000 grant
• Eleven (11) - $50,000 grant

The ROSES 2025: A.16 Cryosphere program by NASA focuses on the vital role of Earth's ice within the global climate system. It aims to enhance understanding of cryospheric processes through satellite and airborne observations, addressing the challenges posed by the remoteness of icy regions. The program supports research on Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, glaciers, and Arctic sea ice to monitor changes and their impacts on sea level rise, ocean biology, and climate feedback mechanisms.