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Search Through Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits
Get unrestricted grants for nonprofits providing flexible funding to meet pressing organizational or program needs
7,000+
Available grants
$3292.6M
Total funding amount
$30K
Median grant amount
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American Fundraising Foundation Inc Request Support
American Fundraising Foundation Inc
Mission
To empower worthy nonprofits by providing critically needed, unrestricted funding that helps them fulfill their missions with confidence and sustainability.
How We Serve Nonprofits
AmFund partners with nearly 800 organizations annually—supporting causes related to health, education, the arts, human services, animal welfare, and more. We’re known for our:
- Signature silent and live auctions featuring once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences.
- National reach with personalized service at events in all 50 states.
- Comprehensive marketing toolkits, onsite staff support, and beautifully displayed materials
- No-cost platform development for virtual and hybrid fundraising
- In-house travel specialists who provide custom planning, extensions, insurance, and 24/7 emergency support.
- Ongoing educational resources, grants, and consulting support for nonprofit development.
Request Support
Our model is built on relationship, trust, and results. Every trip sold, every service provided, and every donor interaction is designed to maximize your fundraising impact—without adding burden to your team.
Build Investments
New Profit Inc
Catalytic Funding for Design and Engineering Solutions
Autodesk Foundation
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Get matched with grants that actually fit.
Smart recommendations based on your profile — in minutes.
Costco Wholesale Charitable Contributions
Costco Foundation
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Grants
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Golden Pear Grant Program
American Fundraising Foundation Inc
Mission
To empower worthy nonprofits by providing critically needed, unrestricted funding that helps them fulfill their missions with confidence and sustainability.
Vision
A world where no worthy nonprofit ever has to restrict its impact due to a shortage of funds
Our Core Values – The Golden Rules
Integrity. Stewardship. Excellence. Honesty. Service. Innovation. Accountability. Passion.
Flexible Funding to Help Nonprofits Thrive
At the American Fundraising Foundation (AmFund), we believe in meeting nonprofits where they are — especially when others may overlook their needs. In response to the heightened challenges faced by organizations during the 2020 pandemic, AmFund launched the Golden Pear Grant Program to provide timely, unrestricted financial support to nonprofits across the United States.
This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to serving nonprofits beyond our core fundraising programs — offering direct funding with purpose and compassion.
The Golden Pear Grant Program features:
This grant program is made available periodically, as funding permits, and is designed to reach nonprofits whose missions are impactful — even if sometimes considered “non-essential” by traditional standards.
The Golden Pear Grant Program is another example of how AmFund not only raises funds but invests directly in the missions of nonprofits doing important work in communities across the country.
*No limitations on how awarded funds are used so organizations can focus on what matters most
GRCF: Fund for Community Good
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Hearst Foundation: Culture Grant
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Progressive Multiplier Grants
Progressive Multiplier Fund
Stray Dog Institute Grants
Stray Dog Institute
Wells Fargo Community Giving
Wells Fargo Foundation
10th Anniversary Global Challenge
MIT Solve
10th Anniversary Global Challenge
Ten years ago, we launched Solve on a simple bet: the best solutions to global challenges are out there —and it’s our job to find them, fund them, and help them scale.
Since then, the world has been reshaped. A pandemic exposed brittle systems, climate impacts are a daily reality, trust has eroded, and AI has both expanded what’s possible and raised questions about gaps in equity, power, access, and opportunity. In this new era, it is all the more urgent to close those gaps through innovation that scales, with broad adoption, wide distribution, and durability.
Over the past decade, Solve has become a global engine for that kind of innovation. We have launched over 100 challenges for which selected innovators, Solvers, have gone on to reach over 370 million lives and raise $1.1 billion to scale their impact. Solvers are our best bet in making a better future for all, and this year we’re doubling down on our support.
For our 10th Anniversary Global Challenge, we’re seeking 10 exceptional solutions built for the next decade: solving urgent problems and proving credible pathways to scale, whether through markets, policy, procurement, or platforms. We’re interested in innovations that put people first, and pair technological ingenuity with trust and durable economics.
Across health, climate, learning, and economic prosperity, solutions must respond to rapidly changing realities and operate at the speed of need. We are particularly seeking innovations that advance:
- A zero-carbon, equitable world and practical adaptation for communities already living with climate impacts
- Economic opportunity, security and mobility through jobs and livelihoods, financial inclusion, and small business growth
- Better health outcomes and stronger systems-care delivery, workforce, supply chains, prevention, and resilience
- Learning for all—delivering measurable learning gains in a modern world, particularly for those with different learning needs
- Indigenous communities in strengthening sovereignty and meeting their social, environmental, and economic goals
Solve’s 10th Anniversary Global Challenge is designed to surface the innovations that can define the next decade. Together with our network of partners, resources, and connections, we’re betting big on the solutions that will solve complex global challenges and fix broken systems in order to reach millions more.
Solve's Indigenous Communities Fellowship only covers the US and Canada, but this 10th anniversary challenge is open to solutions working with Indigenous communities anywhere in the world, as long as they meet the other eligibility requirements.
What will winners receive?
The ten winners get a big stage and serious support. They'll be featured at the Solve Challenge Finals in New York City during UN General Assembly and NY Climate Week in September 2026, with travel costs covered. There, they'll pitch their work directly to a room of Solve’s global community, including investors and funders — and each winner will receive at least $100,000 in unrestricted prize funding, meaning they can use it however they need.
But the funding is just the start. Winners will gain access to MIT's innovation ecosystem, including specialized mentorship, pro-bono legal support, discounted access to technology, and connections to the network of past Solver teams. Solve supports our portfolio for the long-term, with more funding opportunities, skills training, media exposure, and speaking engagements on an ongoing basis.
Rooted Pathways Program
First Peoples Fund
Meinders Retail Florist Education Grant Fund
American Floral Endowment (AFE)
AWS Imagine Grant Program
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
The Rising Fund: Responsible AI Funding Cycle
New Rising Ventures
NMV's Continuous Investment Cycle
New Media Ventures
RWN Foundation: Sustainable Communities Grants
Ronald W Naito Md Foundation
F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact
Duke University
Dr. Scholl Foundation Grants
Dr Scholl Foundation
AbbVie Foundation Health Equity Accelerator
Abbvie Foundation
Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits
Cause Strategy Partners
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Sign up to see the full listUnrestricted Grants for Nonprofits Highlights
Unrestricted grants for nonprofits provide flexible funding to support operating expenses, program development, and general organizational needs. The following grants empower organizations to allocate resources where they are needed most to achieve long-term impact and sustainability.
Search Instrumentl's Unrestricted Grants Database
Discover 7,000+ funding opportunities for unrestricted grants, with $3292.6M available. Instrumentl connects nonprofits to tailored funding options, offering tools for tracking deadlines, customized searches, and insights to support organizational flexibility and growth.
Top Searched Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits
Grant Insights : Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits
Grant Availability
How common are grants in this category?
Quite common — grants in this category are more prevalent than in others.
7,000+ Unrestricted grants for nonprofits grants for nonprofits in the United States, from private foundations to corporations seeking to fund grants for nonprofits.
3,000+ Unrestricted grants for nonprofits over $25K in average grant size
2,000+ Unrestricted grants for nonprofits over $50K in average grant size
1,000+ Unrestricted grants for nonprofits supporting general operating expenses
Grant Deadline Distribution
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for Unrestricted grants for Nonprofits?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
Typical Funding Amounts
What's the typical grant amount funded for Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits?
Grants are most commonly $30,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of nonprofits can qualify for Unrestricted for Nonprofits grants?
Unrestricted grants are open to nonprofits across various sectors, including education, healthcare, social services, and the arts. Unlike project-specific grants, these funds aren’t tied to a particular initiative, making them great for organizations that need flexibility to strengthen their operations, build capacity, and expand their reach.
Based on Instrumentl’s live grant database for unrestricted grants, grant deadlines are most common in Q1, accounting for 27.2% of all submission dates. The slowest period for new grant opportunities in this category falls in Q4, making it a less competitive time for preparation and strategic planning.
Why are Unrestricted for Nonprofits grants offered, and what do they aim to achieve?
Unrestricted grants aim to give nonprofits the freedom to focus funding where it’s needed most. Whether it’s covering administrative costs, hiring staff, investing in technology, or expanding prgrams, these grants help nonprofits strengthen their organization. Funders see unrestricted grants as a way to help nonprofits remain adaptable as new challenges come up while building long-term sustainability.
Funding for unrestricted grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $188,250,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $30,000, while the average grant awarded is $704,600. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
Who typically funds Unrestricted for Nonprofits grants?
Unrestricted grants are typically funded by private or community foundations, corporate giving programs, and individual donors. Well-known funders like the MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation offer unrestricted grants to nonprofits that align with their mission. Community foundations and corporate programs (Target Foundation, Toyota) also fund these types of grants for organizations.
What strategies can nonprofits use to improve their success rate for Unrestricted for Nonprofits grants?
To improve the chances of receiving unrestricted grants, applicants should:
- Show financial responsibility – Funders want to know their money will be managed effectively, so provide financial reports and budgeting strategies.
- Highlight past successes – Use data, stories, and testimonials to show how your organization has already made an impact.
- Explain how the funds will support your mission – Make it clear how unrestricted funding will help your organization grow, expand reach, and have a greater impact.
- Build strong relationships with funders – Unrestricted grants often come from funders who already trust an organization, so networking and maintaining strong connections can increase your opportunities.
For more information on unrestricted grants, dig into our guide on the differerences between restricted and unrestricted funding.
How can Instrumentl simplify the grant application process for Unrestricted for Nonprofits grants?
Instrumentl simplifies the process of applying for unrestricted grants by offering an intuitive platform that helps nonprofits discover relevant funding opportunities, track deadlines, and analyze funder-giving patterns. The platform's automated alerts ensure users never miss a deadline, while detailed funder insights help organizations tailor their applications to align with grantor priorities.
Learn more about Instrumentl’s and how you can scale your grant funding.