Best Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits

The purpose of the Education Service Centers (ESC) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Basic Services Initiative is primarily to provide support for and to work cooperatively with Title I, Part A campuses in implementing Title I, Part A formula grant, and secondarily to provide technical assistance to other ESSA programs included in any subsequent addendum, that increase opportunities for all students enrolled in schools served by Title I, Part A to meet challenging State academic assessment standards.

Texas Education Agency's (TEA) strategic vision for ESSA formula grants is to improve student achievement, to ensure school systems have sufficient guidance and technical assistance to meet ESSA federal compliance requirements, to strengthen the quality of local ESSA programs, and to promote coordinated use of funds for best practices aligned to TEA Strategic Priorities in the ESSA Consolidated State Plan.  

The Meyer Foundation's Restoration Fund aims to empower historically under-resourced communities in the Greater Washington, D.C. area by addressing systemic racial and economic inequities. The Sabbatical Grant Program offers four to eight weeks of restorative leave for eligible staff, ensuring they can continue their vital work in social justice. This initiative supports grassroots organizations, promotes well-being, and strengthens community leadership, with funding available for sabbatical activities and interim staffing needs.

The Wildlife Preservation Fund for Rehabilitation Facilities in Illinois supports the maintenance of facilities that care for threatened or endangered species. Eligible applicants include individuals, government organizations, and nonprofits with a wildlife rehabilitation license. Grant funds, ranging from $4,000 to $25,000, can be used for structural repairs and maintenance of existing rehabilitation facilities. This funding aims to ensure the well-being of vulnerable wildlife through improved care and resources.

The McKnight National Residency and Commission Grant supports a distinguished playwright from outside Minnesota to create a new play. The selected recipient will collaborate with the Playwrights' Center through workshops and will present a public reading of the play. This initiative aims to foster dialogue between local and external artists. Benefits include a $15,000 commission and workshop funding up to $12,250. The residency runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

The Core Writer Grant Program is a prestigious initiative by the Playwrights' Center that supports a diverse group of professional playwrights over a three-year term. Selected writers engage in workshops to develop new works while receiving guidance from industry experts. With 25-35 playwrights involved annually, the program fosters artistic growth and provides opportunities for public readings and networking, enhancing the careers of emerging talents in the theater community.

Office of the Illinois Attorney General

The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer and is responsible for protecting the public interest of the state and its people.

The job of the Attorney General is to:

• Advocate on behalf of all of the people of Illinois;
• Legislate with members of the General Assembly for new laws; and
• Litigate to ensure state laws are followed and respected.
• The Attorney General provides services that cover a broad range of issues, reaching every corner of Illinois.

Crime Victims Compensation Program

A violent crime can have a lasting impact and can bring changes that one might not expect. The Office of the Attorney General led the way for legislation that created the Crime Victims Compensation Act. This law reserved resources to help those who lives were interrupted by a violent crime. This financial assistance could include offsetting costs related to:

• Accessibility and Usability of Property
• Crime-Scene Clean Up
• Funeral/Burial Expenses
• Loss of Earnings
• Medical, Hospital and Dental Expenses
• Mental Health Counseling Expenses
• Relocation Costs
• Replacement Costs
• Tuition Expenses

The John M. Ross Foundation offers program grants aimed at supporting 501(c)(3) charitable organizations on the Big Island of Hawaii, specifically targeting teens aged 11-18. Priority is given to initiatives that cater to those with higher needs and limited access to resources. Key areas of interest include arts, education, health, and community services. Eligible programs must benefit local teens and can accept fiscal sponsorships, ensuring impactful outreach to those in need.

The Seeds For Stewardship Grant by the CHS Foundation aims to enhance agricultural leadership and improve rural community safety. This initiative supports member cooperatives and local organizations with matching grants, fostering innovative projects that benefit rural America. Eligible applicants can receive up to $10,000 annually, promoting priority areas such as agricultural education and farmer well-being. The program has positively impacted over 200 communities, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and community investment in rural development.

Individual Artist Fellowship

The Fellowship Program honors Oregon's professional artists and their achievements while supporting efforts to advance their careers.

The next deadline for the Fellowship program is for Performing Arts. This for the grant period from January 1, 2027 -- December 31, 2027.

The Arts Commission offers Fellowships in multiple artistic disciplines in alternating years:

• Performing Arts (choreography, dance, music composition, music performance, theater, performance art, storytelling and puppetry).
• Visual Arts (crafts, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, new media, fashion, graphic design and industrial design).

Program Purpose

The purpose of Locally Appropriated Funds is to meet the needs of crime victims, to engage the community regarding the social problems related to crime, and to prevent crime. These services support victims through their recovery process, as well as assist them with all stages of the criminal justice process. Victim assistance includes services such as, but not limited to, crisis intervention, case management, counseling, emergency and transitional housing, criminal justice support, and advocacy. Prevention and outreach activities may include such programs as community engagement activities, media campaigns, use of technology, focus groups, or culturally and linguistically appropriate training and engagement.

Charity League of MHC Scholarship

This Scholarship has an outside committee and is not affiliated with the Community Foundation.

• Must submit a recommendation form filled out by his/her guidance counselor.
• $1,000

Virginia Department of Historic Resources

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in Virginia. As the SHPO, DHR administers a number of federal programs. DHR is also a state agency in the Natural and Historic Resources Secretariat. DHR fosters, encourages, and supports the stewardship and use of Virginia’s significant architectural, archaeological, and historic resources as valuable assets for the economic, educational, social, and cultural benefit of citizens and communities. Our programs include both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places, Survey, Grants, Archaeology, Cemetery Preservation, African American and Tribal Outreach, the Historical Highway Marker program, 106 Review and Compliance, Conservation, Collections, Easements, and the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program.

Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program- Appalachian Southwest Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia has been awarded an additional $750,000 for another round of funding through the National Park Service (NPS)-funded Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program (PBHRGP) to support the rehabilitation of historic buildings and sites in the state’s southwestern region. In alignment with its overarching mission to ensure that Virginia’s historic places are valued and used as assets for education, tourism, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality, DHR will administer the award by establishing a subgrant program to fund approximately three preservation projects in Appalachian Virginia. Public entities and nonprofit organizations based in Southwest Virginia that steward historic places in this 25-county region for the public good will be eligible to apply for funds from the subgrant program.

The PBHRGP is funded though the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). all programs funded though the HPF must adhere to the HPF Grants Manual. All grant-funded projects must enter into a preservation agreement (short-term covenant that places restrictions on the property and runs with property deed) based on terms defined by the NPS. Please review the information linked here outlining preservation agreements before submitting an application.

The Akron Community Foundation's Community Fund Grants for Civic Affairs support nonprofits in Summit County to enhance community well-being through citizen engagement and quality-of-life programs. Grants promote organizational strength, systemic impact, accountability, and inclusiveness, ensuring that funded initiatives address immediate needs while fostering long-term improvements. Eligible applicants must be approved 501(c)(3) organizations serving the region, while ineligible requests include endowments, scholarships, and direct financial support to individuals.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has provided funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems owned or operated by state, local and territorial governments. EMD and WaTech leaders, in coordination with a planning committee that has broad-based membership, drafted a statewide strategic cybersecurity plan, which was approved by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in July 2023.The goal of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) is to help states, local governments, rural areas, and territories address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems. The program enables DHS to make targeted cybersecurity investments in state, local and territorial government agencies, thus improving the security of critical infrastructure and resilience of the services that state, local, and territorial governments provide to their communities.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Barry and Elaine Nocks Scholarship

Barry and Elaine Nocks established this scholarship fund to provide educational scholarships to first generation college students who reside in Greenville County, SC.

Amount

• Award amount and number of awards are determined annually based on the Community Foundation of Greenville’s Spending Policy for Endowment Funds.
• Scholarship funds are paid to an approved educational institution in the name of the student.
• Scholarship funds are awarded for one academic year and are not subject to automatic renewal.
• Prior recipients may apply for subsequent awards not to exceed four academic years.

The First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF) supports Indigenous communities in British Columbia to engage in clean energy projects within their traditional territories. It offers Capacity and Equity funding, with a maximum of $50,000 for Capacity funding and $500,000 for Equity funding per applicant. The fund aims to enhance community participation in the clean energy sector and promotes sustainable development through financial assistance for project feasibility and planning.

About the Community Foundation

Our mission:

To inspire people and communities to build and distribute charitable funds for good, for Adams County, for ever.

Our vision:

To be a leading resource in promoting philanthropy among people of all means who wish to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to Adams County, and creating opportunities to develop and strengthen our communities.

Dr. Charles H. Glatfelter Scholarship Application

For any descendant of Casper Glattfelder who was the first of his family to arrive in the United States in 1743. Students are not required to be residents of Adams County, Pennsylvania. This award is open to all descendants nation wide.

About the Foundation

The Community Foundation of Washington County serves as vehicle for philanthropy and a powerful force in improving the quality of life in Washington County. We partner with individuals, families and businesses to create or donate to funds that meet their charitable goals and provide for the causes they care about the most. The Community Foundation of Washington County, MD offers more than 100 scholarships for graduating high school students and non-traditional students in continuing education. 

The ScholarshipThis scholarship is provided by the Washington County Maryland School Nutrition Association and is open to graduating high school seniors in Washington County, MD. Applicants must be planning to pursue a degree or certification in Culinary Arts, Nutrition, Dietetics, Hospitality Management, or a related field. 

About the Community Foundation of Washington County

The Community Foundation of Washington County serves as vehicle for philanthropy and a powerful force in improving the quality of life in Washington County. We partner with individuals, families and businesses to create or donate to funds that meet their charitable goals and provide for the causes they care about the most. 

The Community Foundation of Washington County, MD offers more than 100 scholarships for graduating high school students and non-traditional students in continuing education. AAUW Hagerstown Scholarship

The AAUW (American Association of University Women) Hagerstown (MD) Branch created this scholarship to financially assist deserving female students living in Washington County, MD. Preference will be given to non-traditional/post-secondary students.

About the Community Foundation of Washington County

The Community Foundation of Washington County serves as vehicle for philanthropy and a powerful force in improving the quality of life in Washington County. We partner with individuals, families and businesses to create or donate to funds that meet their charitable goals and provide for the causes they care about the most. 

The Community Foundation of Washington County, MD offers more than 100 scholarships for graduating high school students and non-traditional students in continuing education. Adna B. Fulton Family Scholarship Fund

Established by Mr. Fulton to provide scholarships to Washington County students pursuing a post-secondary education, with preference given to employees of AC&T and their children/grandchildren.

The RIF: Miss Swinburne Fund Grant, established by Miss Elizabeth Swinburne, supports nonprofit organizations that promote the self-sufficiency of girls and women in Newport County, Rhode Island. Created to honor Miss Swinburne's legacy, the fund offers annual awards for programs providing educational opportunities, such as certificates and degrees. Organizations can apply without restrictions from other funds, ensuring a broad support network for women's empowerment in the community.

The DAAD German Studies Research Grant is designed for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing German Studies, offering support for short-term research in Germany. Eligible candidates include undergraduates, Master's students, and PhD candidates nominated by their professors. The grant aims to facilitate research into various aspects of modern German affairs while ensuring applicants have a solid background in German language and culture. Funding assists with living and travel costs during the research period.

The Community Foundation offers two competitive grant opportunities for Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) that are available year-round. The TCAPS Academic Excellence Endowment supports K-12 programs that foster innovative, student-focused educational initiatives. The Titan Excellence Fund Endowment benefits students of Traverse City West Senior High, emphasizing student life and academics, with consideration for music and athletics. Applications are reviewed annually in November with awards presented in December.

The Traverse City Track Club Endowment Grants support initiatives that promote health, fitness, and community engagement through running and walking. Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits, educational institutions, and governmental entities in the Grand Traverse area, these grants aim to foster fellowship and enhance recreational opportunities for all ages. However, individuals and event sponsorships are ineligible for funding. Projects must align with the mission of encouraging active lifestyles and community service.

San Mateo County Libraries

San Mateo County Libraries have been an integral part of its diverse community for over a century. Originally established by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 1912 as a County Free Public Library, the San Mateo County Library Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was established in 1999. The Library JPA is comprised of the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, North Fair Oaks, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Carlos, Woodside, and the unincorporated areas of the county. The Library JPA is a separate, independent entity with its own Governing Board, consisting of elected officials from each member entity. An Operations Committee composed of City and County representatives from each member entity also provides guidance.

San Mateo County Libraries provide unmatched service to our community members, and we are consistently ranked as one of the best libraries in the nation. Developed through recent strategic planning work, our vision is to ignite growth through transformative experiences, and it is our mission to strengthen our communities by creating an inclusive sense of place and an environment of learning.

RFP for Library Needs Assessment and Facility Planning Services

San Mateo County Libraries (“Library”) seeks proposals from qualified firms or consultants in response to this Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide planning and assessment services for one or more of the following projects:

• Woodside Library Needs Assessment
• North Fair Oaks Library Needs Assessment
• Administration Building Facility Needs Assessment

Through these projects, the Library seeks to evaluate current conditions, identify current and future service and facility needs, and develop recommendations to inform future planning, capital investment, and operational decision-making.

The Austin City Limits Music Festival Park Grants Program offers Neighborhood Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 for community-led park improvement projects. These grants support Adopt-A-Park groups, stewards, and community gardens in enhancing public parks throughout the year. Projects must be on city-managed parkland and can be initiated by groups actively involved in park stewardship. This initiative aims to foster community engagement and improve local green spaces.

The Undergraduate and Graduate Student Training Fellowship, offered by the Torrey Botanical Society, provides $1,000 annually to support students in plant science. This award is intended for society members to help cover course costs at biological field stations. Founded in the 1860s, the society promotes interest in plant life among botanists and nature enthusiasts alike, making it one of the oldest botanical societies in America.