Best Private Grants for Nonprofits in Texas

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.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a federal K–12 education law. ESSA was signed into law in 2015, replacing No Child Left Behind, and reauthorizing the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

ESSA requires every state to measure performance in reading, math, and science. Every school must inform parents about their standards and their results. 

ESSA requires every state to provide parents important information on test performance in reading, math, and science. The report cards must also provide data on graduation rates, suspensions, absenteeism, teacher qualifications, and many other areas. Texas provides maximum transparency for parents and publicly shares performance information on TXschools.gov and in data reports on the Performance Reporting pages.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant includes: 1) Title I, Part A Grants; 2) Title I, Part C Grants; 3) Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 Grants; 4) Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 Grants; 5) Title II, Part A Grants; 6) Title III, Part A ELA Grants; 7) Title III, Part A Immigrant Grants; and 8) Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 Grants.

Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 

Program Purpose, Goals, and Objectives

[ESSA, Section 1401(a)]

The purpose of Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 is to do the following:

• Improve educational services for children and youth in local and state institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth so that such children and youth have the opportunity to meet the same challenging state academic content standards and student academic achievement standards that all children are expected to meet;
• Provide such children and youth with the services needed to make a successful transition from institutionalization to further schooling or employment; and
• Prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school and provide dropouts and children and youth returning from jails or institutions for neglected or delinquent children and youth with a support system to ensure their continued education and the involvement of their families and communities.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and the Windham School District are the eligible state agencies in Texas.

The Semnani Family Foundation, established in 1993, is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities worldwide through health, education, and disaster relief initiatives. Founded by Khosrow and Ghazaleh Semnani, it began by funding an orphanage in Romania. The foundation also operates locally, providing free healthcare through the Maliheh Free Clinic in Utah. Its commitment to human welfare drives impactful partnerships in countries such as Afghanistan, India, and South Africa, focusing on the most vulnerable populations.

The Karen Colina Wilson Foundation Grant supports programs for children, youth, and women, enhancing their health and well-being through education, art, literature, and music. Established in 2006, the foundation aims to make a positive difference in their lives, particularly in Southern and Western Wayne County, Michigan. Grants typically range from $500 to $10,000, often as matching funds, fostering broader fundraising efforts by local nonprofit organizations.

Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program - Texas

Purpose:

The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for projects that promote a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to improve the justice system’s response to violent crimes against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

Available Funding:

Federal funding is authorized for these projects under the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 Pub. L. No. 113-4 (VAWA 2013). VAWA funds are made available through a Congressional appropriation to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated federal funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Project Period:

Projects may not exceed 12 months and must start on 9/01/2026 and end on 08/31/2027.

Funding Levels

• Minimum: $5,000
• Maximum: No Maximum
• Match Requirement: 30% of the total project (Note: Victim service providers and Native American tribes are exempt from the match requirement.)

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. 

Unified Champion Schools Grant

Program Description

The Unified Champion Schools grant provides funding to support statewide Unified Sports, comprehensive early child development to adult transition programs with data-based health, social, leadership, transition, and athletic programs for students with intellectual disabilities.

The intent of the grant program is to expand the reach of the Special Olympics Unified Champions project. This project uses sports as a catalyst for social inclusion that extends beyond the playing field and into classrooms and communities to promote long-term success of students with intellectual disabilities.

The Texas Unified Champion Schools (UCS) program emphasizes three core components: Inclusive Youth Leadership, Unified Sports & Activities, and Whole School Engagement. Authentic social inclusion is the overall project goal. With awarded funds, the grantee will expand the number of campuses that are able to participate in the program.

The Beasley Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations in Dallas that focus on critical areas such as education, healthcare, substance abuse prevention, and mental health. To apply, organizations must have 501c3 status and align with the foundation's mission. The application process includes creating a login, submitting a Letter of Inquiry, and, if accepted, completing a full proposal. The foundation reviews applications quarterly, ensuring support for initiatives that make a positive impact in the community.

The Hearst Foundation's Social Service Grant focuses on tackling chronic poverty by funding direct-service organizations that implement effective solutions for economic independence and family strengthening. With a mission to support diverse nonprofits in the U.S., the Foundation allocates approximately 15% of its total funding to social services, prioritizing scalable programs that serve significant populations. The minimum grant size is $100,000, and special consideration is given to organizations addressing affordable housing, domestic violence, and youth development.

The NHLBI Career Transition Award (K22) program supports postdoctoral fellows in transitioning their research to extramural institutions. The program includes a mentored intramural phase (up to two years) followed by an extramural phase (three years), totaling five years of support. Applications have multiple deadlines, including October 12, 2024, and February 12, 2025, among others. Successful transition depends on the awardee's progress during the mentored phase, evaluated by NHLBI.

The 2026-2027 SSI Community Partnerships C4 Continuation Grant, administered by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance educational outcomes for students in struggling neighborhoods. This initiative focuses on schools with low performance on state assessments, providing comprehensive support to help students achieve grade-level proficiency. By fostering partnerships among academic, community, and governmental entities, the grant seeks to ensure that children and youth from distressed backgrounds gain access to quality education and support systems essential for their success.

The Therapeutic Giving program by Johnson & Johnson focuses on funding initiatives that enhance patient access to treatment and advance health equity, particularly in immunology. Eligible nonprofit organizations can apply for support aimed at improving health outcomes through innovative programs. The initiative prioritizes measurable impacts over fundraising activities, emphasizing the importance of addressing healthcare disparities and promoting disease awareness efforts for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

The Health Equity Innovation Fund, managed by the Humana Foundation, provides seed funding to organizations aimed at reducing health disparities. By focusing on innovative solutions, the Fund supports interventions that improve emotional health and nutrition for underserved populations. Launched in October 2022, it prioritizes high-risk, high-reward projects that can lead to sustainable improvements in health equity across diverse communities.

Texas Department of Agriculture

The Texas Legislature established the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in 1907. The agency's key objectives are to promote production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development and healthy living. The agriculture commissioner oversees the agency and is elected every four years. The current commissioner, Sid Miller, was first elected in 2014 and began his third term serving Texas agriculture in January 2023.

TDA is a diversified state agency that provides value-added services through our regulatory and marketing and initiatives.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for Rural Texas

The primary objective of the Community Development Block Grant program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments, and to expand economic opportunities principally for persons of low- to moderate-income.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for Rural Texas includes: Community Development Fund; Downtown Revitalization Program; Colonia Fund - Construction; Colonia Economically Distressed Areas Program; State Urgent Need (SUN) Fund.

State Urgent Need (SUN) Fund

The SUN program provides financial assistance to address disaster-related damage to public infrastructure and utilities, including repair, replacement, and mitigation measures. The State Urgent Need (SUN) Fund is available following natural disasters and events that are not eligible for federal disaster assistance. 

SUN funding is available to repair, replace, rehabilitate, or improve public infrastructure impacted by a natural disaster, including mitigation measures appropriate to the project.

TDA will prioritize applications for safe drinking water, (first), and debris removal, (second). TDA may opt to accept applications for other eligible activities for certain disaster events.

The Connected Healthy Lives Grant, provided by the Humana Foundation, aims to enhance health equity by removing social barriers to health. It supports community organizations in delivering essential services such as suicide prevention and nutritional literacy. The grant focuses on fostering emotional connections and lifelong wellness through collaboration across various states, ensuring that all individuals have access to healthy choices that can improve their quality of life.

The Vulcan Materials Company Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community quality of life through education, environmental stewardship, and employee involvement. Established in 1988, the Foundation supports public charities and government units, prioritizing proposals that improve public education and promote sustainable practices. Special consideration is given to initiatives that engage Vulcan employees and integrate multiple focus areas, ensuring a positive impact in the local communities where Vulcan operates.

The J.W. Couch Foundation Grant focuses on supporting Wildlife Conservation nonprofit organizations that align with their mission of community betterment and environmental protection. The foundation seeks partnerships with organizations that promote animal wellbeing, early childhood education, teacher support, and outdoor activities. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)3 nonprofits or for-profit entities aligned with their charitable programs. This grant emphasizes collaboration and community engagement to create lasting impacts.

The SB IEP Training/Coaching Support Grant, overseen by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance special education through targeted professional development and technical assistance. This initiative is designed to build capacity within education service centers and school systems, ensuring compliance with IEP development and fostering improved student outcomes. By empowering SB IEP leaders, the program seeks to implement best practices and effective training strategies, ultimately benefiting over 5 million students across Texas.

The George Foundation Scholarship provides over $1.5 million annually to over 150 local students pursuing higher education in Texas. This scholarship targets high-performing student leaders with financial needs and automatically renews for up to four years. Applicants must be residents of Fort Bend County and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. The program supports both graduating seniors and non-traditional students, emphasizing inclusivity for unique educational journeys.

Whiteis Fine Arts and Agriculture Scholarship Fund

Ms. Bonnie Whiteis opened the Whiteis Fine Arts and Agriculture Scholarship Fund in 2008 to benefit graduating seniors from Archer or Wichita County high schools. The Whiteis Scholarship can be used at any college or university in Texas in pursuit of an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts or Agriculture. Students must have a 2.5 GPA, financial need, and will be evaluated on participation in high school and community activities. This is a $5,000 per year scholarship, renewable for up to 4 years based on academic performance.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is inviting applications for the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment or Prevention (SBIRT/P) program. This funding opportunity aims to explore innovative methods for addressing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among adults facing health disparities. The initiative seeks research proposals that will implement and evaluate SBIRT/P strategies in collaboration with healthcare and community partners. This approach is crucial for enhancing public health and ensuring effective interventions.

The Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) program, offered by the US Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service, provides vital technical and financial assistance to federally recognized Tribes. This funding supports various conservation activities, including habitat protection, species monitoring, and wildlife management, helping to preserve both culturally significant species and ecosystems. TWG grants empower Tribes to implement their conservation priorities effectively and sustainably.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) 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. TEA helps deliver education to more than 5 million students under the leadership of the commissioner of education. The TEA operational costs are supported by both state and federal funds. The Texas Education Agency 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.

ESC Behavior Position Pilot

This program is being created to provide technical assistance to school systems, campuses, and teachers that have special education students experiencing behavioral difficulties that result in dangerous or unsafe learning environments for that student or others. The goal of this program is to ensure that infrastructure is in place to support the students before, during, and after they experience behavioral difficulties as well as provide support for the school system, teachers, and students who may be impacted by the behavior. The program is being established in response to TEC §29.010 (a-1) that states “…the agency may require a school district to obtain specialized technical assistance for a documented noncompliance issue or if data indicates that technical assistance is needed, such as an incident involving injury to staff or students by a student receiving special education services or data indicating an excessive number of restraints are used on students receiving special education services.”

The Pinetop Assistance League (PAL) Grant provides crucial financial support to elderly blues musicians, ensuring their well-being during emergencies. This grant, part of the Pinetop Perkins Foundation's mission, offers assistance for medical expenses, home care, and essential living costs. Eligible applicants must be professional artists aged 50 or older with a household income below $35,000. By addressing these needs, PAL plays a vital role in preserving the legacy and care of blues musicians.

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: CRRP 

Through the competitive Collaborative Regional Research Programme (CRRP), we promote regional research that has potential to improve our understanding of global change and its implications while contributing to a sound scientific basis for policymaking in areas affected by global change. Under this pillar, APN supports collaborative research that contributes to the evolving science-policy 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 as well as ongoing and new global change and sustainability research programmes.

Activities of interest under the CRRP Programme

APN promotes regional collaborative research that improves understanding of the physical, biological and human dimensions of change in the Earth system and advances actionable science that informs decision-making. APN accepts proposals that engage at least 3 member/approved countries in the region, and prioritise collaboratively designed, actionable research with non-academic stakeholders. Proposals must address one or more of the following activities:

• Collaborative research on global change and sustainability that particularly addresses GAPS, ANALYSIS, SYNTHESIS and ASSESSMENT work.
• Collaborative research that develops PATHWAYS and MECHANISMS to achieve sustainable development, and develop adaptation strategies.
• Collaborative PLACE-BASED INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH, particularly from developing countries.
• Collaborative research that is CO-DESIGNED to contribute to the Paris Agreeemnt, Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030), and the accumulation of scientific knowledge at IPCC, IPBES, etc.

The Texas Talent Connection Grant Program, led by Governor Abbott, aims to foster innovation in workforce development. This initiative supports exemplary training projects that enhance job placement, wage increases, and job retention. Eligible partnerships include local workforce boards and educational institutions, which can apply for funding up to $350,000 annually for projects addressing workforce populations with special needs. Applicants must reapply yearly, with no guarantee of continued funding.

The Davison Bruce Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the mind, body, and spirit of humankind by investing in health, education, economic assistance, and Christian outreach. Their grantmaking program focuses on supporting vulnerable populations through wellness services, life skills training, and sustainable rehabilitation. By prioritizing community needs, the foundation aims to facilitate systemic change and empower individuals to regain their independence, thereby enabling them to bless the world.

The Corporate Giving Program by the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations within specific states. They prioritize initiatives that enhance community welfare, especially in agriculture, education, health, and environmental sustainability. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status to apply, and preference is given to those involving Perdue associates. Ineligible requests include those from religious, political, or individual-focused groups. This program emphasizes broad community benefits over organizational affiliations.

The Summer Career and Technical Education Grant, overseen by the Texas Education Agency, aims to enhance Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities for students. This funding supports districts in offering greater access to approved CTE courses and summer work experiences, addressing barriers such as transportation and scheduling. The initiative aligns with TEA's strategic plan to prepare students for success in college, careers, and military service.