Best Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits

The California Forests and Watersheds - Wildfires Restoration Grant Program, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, aims to restore lands and watersheds in the Angeles National Forest affected by the Copper (2002) and Sayre (2008) wildfires. This competitive grant focuses on increasing restoration efforts, enhancing ecological benefits, and promoting innovative solutions for forest health. The program encourages partnerships and stewardship in managing U.S. Forest Service lands, ensuring sustainable recovery and resilience for future generations.

The Nonpoint Source Management Grants (Section 319) support watershed-based projects aimed at restoring or protecting water quality. Funded by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, these grants provide financial assistance for implementing the Nonpoint Source Management Plan. Eligible entities include government units, educational institutions, and non-profits. Key details include a grant limit of $300,000, a 40% non-federal match requirement, and a project duration of up to 3 years.

The Best and Brightest Rural Healthcare Workforce Recruitment Grant aims to enhance healthcare access in rural Iowa by recruiting qualified healthcare providers. This initiative, aligned with Iowa's Healthy Hometowns program, seeks to address workforce shortages and improve health outcomes through competitive incentives for providers. By fostering partnerships and investing in technology, the program focuses on creating sustainable care models that ensure quality healthcare delivery in underserved communities, ultimately aiming to elevate the standard of care in rural areas.

The Marcia and Otto Koehler Foundation Grant supports 501(c)(3) public charities focused on medical research, arts promotion, and youth development in San Antonio. Eligible organizations must skip one grant cycle before reapplying. The foundation prioritizes projects that enhance the physical, mental, and moral well-being of local youth. Notably, it does not fund individuals or organizations involved in political lobbying. This grant offers a vital opportunity for community support in various essential sectors.

The CDBG Construction Grants - Stormwater Improvements Program supports rural communities in Indiana by providing funding for stormwater management improvements. This program aims to mitigate flooding and enhance community resilience through necessary infrastructure upgrades. With a focus on sustainable practices, the grants encourage the use of green infrastructure to protect waterways. A 10% match of total project costs is required. Two application cycles are held annually, streamlining access to essential resources for community development.

The LA Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is designed to enhance land management practices for agricultural producers in Louisiana. By offering tailored conservation plans, CSP aims to improve productivity and protect natural resources. With a focus on sustainable practices, participants can increase crop yields, enhance wildlife habitats, and adopt innovative conservation activities. This program is a crucial part of the USDA's efforts to support working lands and promote environmental stewardship across 70 million acres nationwide.

The Nonpoint Source Management Grants (Section 319) provide vital funding for small projects aimed at combating runoff pollution, a significant contributor to water quality degradation. Administered by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, these grants offer up to $15,000, with a 40% non-federal match required. Eligible applicants include government units, educational institutions, and non-profits, making it an essential opportunity for organizations seeking to improve water quality through innovative local projects.

The Voelcker Fund Young Investigator Award supports promising young researchers in cancer, arthritis, heart disease, muscular dystrophy, and retinal diseases. With a funding capacity of up to $450,000 over three years, this award encourages innovation and aims to foster a pipeline of talented biomedical scientists from San Antonio institutions. Eligible candidates must hold a tenure-track position and demonstrate a commitment to research, enhancing the potential for further funding opportunities.

The Public Health Laboratory Fellowship Program, supported by the Association of Public Health Laboratories, develops future public health scientists through experiential learning in laboratory science. Participants receive training aligned with core competencies and work on impactful projects in various focus areas such as bioinformatics, food safety, and infectious disease. With flexible terms and potential for extension, this fellowship ensures a robust foundation for a career in public health laboratory science.

The Russell Sage Foundation's Core Research Grants support innovative research in Behavioral Science and Decision Making. This program emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, inviting insights from economics, psychology, sociology, and law to enhance our understanding of decision-making processes across various societal contexts. Applications are open to scholars with a doctorate, focusing on critical issues such as policing, housing, and immigration, while encouraging a blend of theoretical and empirical research to inform public policy.

The FISA Foundation Grant supports initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of people with disabilities, particularly women and girls. Priorities include enhancing access to healthcare, addressing biases in the system, and preventing violence against vulnerable populations. The foundation emphasizes projects with clear outcomes and realistic evaluation plans, focusing on marginalized groups, especially those facing systemic barriers. Eligible organizations must operate within southwestern Pennsylvania and benefit women, girls, or people with disabilities.

The 0-5 Maternal Behavioral Health Grant, funded by the California Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, aims to enhance behavioral health services for children aged 0-5 and birthing individuals. With a budget of $1,601,000 over three years, the initiative focuses on providing technical assistance to six grantees, promoting integrated care systems, and ensuring access to essential resources. This collaborative approach seeks to improve outcomes, reduce school failures, and support families in navigating developmental and behavioral health challenges.

The Sauer Family Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing the lives of at-risk children in Minnesota, particularly in the seven-county metro area. The foundation prioritizes funding for initiatives that promote family stability, emotional safety in schools, and educational success for children facing learning disabilities. With a commitment to community-based support, the foundation also emphasizes the importance of diverse workforce pathways, ensuring that programs are inclusive and equitable. Applications for new funding opportunities will be limited as the foundation approaches its planned sunset in 2027.

The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Grant Program supports local initiatives aimed at conserving and restoring Pennsylvania's vital water resources. Since 1995, the foundation has provided matching grants to nonprofit organizations, enhancing the health of local streams and ensuring clean water for future generations. Eligible applicants must be IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofits, focusing on areas from the Ohio border to the Susquehanna River, while individuals and government agencies are ineligible for funding.

The GACF Strategic Grant aims to enhance the Greenville community by supporting nonprofit organizations, schools, and government units that address critical needs in arts and culture, children and families, and community development. With over $40 million in endowed assets, the Greenville Area Community Foundation prioritizes innovative projects that foster collaboration and self-sustainability. Eligible applicants must focus on improving quality of life and access to opportunities for underserved populations in Montcalm County.

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County offers multiple grants aimed at improving community needs in Pulaski County, Indiana. These grants support charitable programs and projects, funded by both unrestricted and specific interest funds. Applicants are encouraged to review the 2025 Grant Guidelines to ensure eligibility, and to contact the foundation for guidance. The evaluation process considers project quality, community impact, and management capabilities, prioritizing initiatives that benefit a significant number of residents.

The Babson Foundation's Competitive Grants Program supports entrepreneurship, youth development, and urban environmental improvements in Greater Boston. Focusing on three key areas—entrepreneurship education, community building through urban gardens, and violence reduction—this initiative aims to enhance the quality of life in the region. Eligible organizations must be located within Greater Boston, while specific individuals and certain types of requests, such as summer camps and scholarships, are not funded.

Blue Diamond Growers

In 1910, 230 California almond growers formed a cooperative with the following core values:

• To build strong relationships among growers and with their customers;
• To communicate directly and honestly; and
• To work as a team to realize the best return on their investment.

More than a century later, Blue Diamond Growers still adheres to these values at every level of our operation. 

Community Giving Program

Our Commitment

Blue Diamond’s Community Giving Program reflects our five core values: Act with Integrity, Work as Partners, Deliver Quality Every Day, Innovate, and Play to Win.

It is our policy to build meaningful relationships with organizations that serve the communities in which we produce our products – namely, Sacramento, Salida, and Turlock. Generally, this will be defined as organizations working in the geographic area within 25 miles of our facility in a particular community.

Grant Request

Blue Diamond Growers provides funding for grant requests, typically between $500 – $15,000, for nonprofit organizations in the communities in which we have manufacturing facilities – Sacramento, Salida and Turlock – that meet one of the three pillars of our Community Giving Program:

• STEM education with special focus in agriculture education and nutrition for underserved children K – 12.
• Nutrition and food assistance organizations or programs for those experiencing food insecurity.

United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG)

United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG) is committed to fighting for the education, financial stability, and basic needs of everyone in Central Kentucky. Through the work of UWBG programs, grant-funded programming, and our nonprofit partners, we’re making great strides toward creating a thriving community where everyone can prosper.

Safety Net Grants

The safety net grant funding threshold will be $20,000 and will continue to provide essential support to individuals and families facing an immediate crisis. (The single county basic needs grant threshold was $10,000 previously.) The focus on safety net services is a more refined approach from the wide lens of basic needs. By eliminating regional basic need grants, funding becomes more targeted, ensuring equitable grant distribution across counties. (Six-month Single County Safety Net grant application available now)

2026 Safety Net Grants – Investment Focus

Food Access & Nutrition Support:

• Food Pantry - Provides groceries for home preparation, typically including canned goods, grains, and other basic staples, to address short-term food insecurity.
• Weekend/Backpack Programs for Youth - Distributes easy-to-prepare food to children who lack reliable meals outside school days.
• Senior Nutrition Programs - Home-delivered or congregate meals targeted to older adults to prevent hunger and isolation.
• Infant & Toddler Nutrition Support - Provides formula, baby food, and nutrition supplies for households with young children.
• Community Kitchens / Congregate Meals - On-site meals are served at faith-based or nonprofit facilities for individuals experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty.

 Housing Stabilization & Eviction Prevention

• Provides short-term financial assistance and limited supportive services to clients to prevent eviction or quickly stabilize households at risk of homelessness (including domestic violence housing stabilization). Primary focus is rent payment assistance, with flexibility for related costs (utilities, deposits, arrears, application fees) when directly tied to maintaining or securing housing.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Sea Grant is inviting proposals for innovative two-year research projects aimed at addressing coastal issues in Massachusetts. With a focus on healthy ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, and environmental literacy, the program seeks to enhance the conservation and practical use of marine resources. Approximately $1 million is available for funding, requiring a match of non-federal funds. This initiative emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the application of research results beyond academia.

The Youth Initiative Grant, provided by the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation, aims to support innovative programs that enhance resilience and psycho-social health for youth aged 14-21 affected by trauma from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Grants are available for new programs or therapeutic components within their first year. The foundation prioritizes organizations that actively engage with beneficiaries and implement holistic approaches to service delivery, ensuring long-term sustainability and effective evaluation of program impacts.

The Jesse Parker Williams Foundation Grant aims to foster a healthy metro-Atlanta region by supporting organizations that provide comprehensive health services for women and children in Clayton, Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties. The foundation focuses on improving access to quality healthcare, promoting healthy behaviors, and enhancing organizational capacity. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with a strong commitment to addressing social determinants of health, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes and community collaboration.

Infrastructure Planning and Development Division

The Infrastructure Planning and Development Division (IPDD) collaborates with state agencies, the legislative and judicial branches, local public bodies, and Tribes to provide comprehensive planning and funding assistance for capital projects listed in the Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan (ICIP).

Our mission is to expertly manage the planning and funding process for all capital outlay projects, ensuring that they are fully funded through various appropriations and financing mechanisms, including the Capital Appropriation Bill, the Reauthorization Bill, the GOB Bill, the HB2 Specials, federal grant and loan programs, state grant and loan programs, and any Junior Bill.

Community Development Block Grant

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually on a formula basis. The New Mexico State CDBG program provides funding for infrastructure projects to small cities and non-entitlement communities in New Mexico. The Community Development Council (CDC) selects grantees for funding in annual allocation meetings.

The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson (HFW) offers responsive grants aimed at improving health and wellness in the Wilson, NC community. Established in 2014, HFW prioritizes tax-exempt organizations that address healthcare access, active living, and mental health. Funding is directed towards innovative programs, especially those targeting youth, while ensuring eligibility criteria, including three years of operational history, are met. This initiative reflects HFW's commitment to reinvesting resources back into the community.

The Jenkins Foundation Grant aims to enhance the well-being of Richmond residents by addressing health disparities through strategic philanthropy. Established in 1995, it focuses on three key areas: Access to Primary Care, Access to Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder Treatment. The foundation supports operational and programmatic initiatives for charitable organizations serving specific communities, emphasizing diversity and inclusion in their endeavors.

The South Carolina Biennial Sea Grant Program, managed by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, aims to enhance coastal conservation and sustainable development through research. With approximately $500,000 available annually for one- to two-year projects, grants typically range from $30,000 to $80,000. The program encourages collaboration among faculty from member institutions and supports initiatives that improve the social and economic well-being of coastal residents while conserving marine resources.

The Utah Division of Water Quality offers funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program, providing approximately $9 million annually from state and federal sources. This initiative supports critical water quality and wastewater infrastructure projects aimed at protecting human health, improving environmental conditions, and promoting educational activities. Eligible applicants include individuals, businesses, and governmental agencies, focusing on projects that address sewage discharges, reduce runoff, and enhance groundwater quality.