Best Child Welfare Grants in Utah

Utah 501(c)(3) organizations supporting children, families, and community well-being can apply for the Fenton Family Foundation’s broad charitable grants. Funding may support child abuse and neglect prevention, services for abused spouses and children, youth alternatives to crime, affordable housing, education, arts, health, environmental conservation, and related community development initiatives.

Herbert I. & Elsa B. Michael Foundation

Mission Statement

The Trust Agreement establishing the Foundation provides that funds of the Foundation be used for “the promotion of education, the advancement of health and scientific achievements, and the prevention of cruelty to children.” The Trustors expressed the desire that the funds be used for such purposes “to benefit residents and persons living in the State of Utah.”

Grants

Criteria in Awarding Grants

In evaluating the applications the Foundation will consider the following criteria:

• Whether the organization has a history of, or as a new organization, a reasonable expectation of, achievement, effectiveness and good management.
• Whether the program, if successful, has a high likelihood of being replicated by other organizations, including government.
• Whether the grant’s effectiveness will be increased by matching contributions from other sources.
• Whether the organization is supported by United Way, ZAP or other foundations.
• Whether the organization makes effective use of volunteers.
• Whether the organization devotes a reasonable amount of resources to fundraising.
• Whether the program has a reasonable expectation of establishing on-going financial support from other sources in the future.
• Whether the program has established indicia to measure its effectiveness.
• Whether the grant money is to be used for program as opposed to capital expenditures or overhead.
• The economic, social and educational status of the beneficiaries of the program.

Utah child welfare nonprofits serving children and youth impacted by abuse, neglect, foster care, adoption, homelessness, or domestic violence can access funding through the In-N-Out Burgers Foundation. Eligible 501(c)(3)s in Utah counties where In-N-Out operates may receive US $10,000 - US $50,000 for mission-aligned programs or general operating support benefiting these children.

Greenawalt Foundation

Our Mission

The Greenawalt Foundation advances opportunities in the skilled trades through funding for accredited pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, workforce training initiatives, and youth career exploration experiences. These programs promote technical readiness and connect STEM education to modern trades careers, building a stronger, more sustainable workforce. Foundation support focuses on expanding access and creating equitable pathways to prosperity for individuals pursuing skilled trades careers. Through these efforts, the Foundation helps develop the next generation of skilled professionals who will shape the future of our communities.

Community Grant

The Greenawalt Foundation extends its commitment to opportunity and well-being through community grants that support nonprofit organizations serving women, children, and vulnerable populations. These grants focus on programs that promote safety, stability, and self-sufficiency, including initiatives supporting domestic violence recovery, foster care, the working poor, and animal welfare. Foundation support strengthens the social fabric of communities and expands access to essential resources for those in need. Through these efforts, the Foundation helps build stronger, more compassionate communities where individuals and families can thrive.

Areas of Support

We focus our community grants on initiatives that align with our mission of compassion, opportunity, and empowerment. Areas of support may include:

• Domestic violence prevention and survivor support
• Programs for women and children
• Family assistance and poverty relief initiatives
• Foster care, youth development, and educational support
• Animal welfare and community-based rescue programs

Child- and family-serving 501(c)(3) organizations working on child welfare, foster care, adoption, crisis intervention, or related services, including those in Utah, can apply for McGraw Foundation’s grants, typically ranging from US $2,000 - US $10,000. Funding may support general operations, specific programs, or occasionally capital needs within its broader human services focus.

Utah child welfare and family-support nonprofits can access funding through Doris Duke Foundation’s Child Well-Being National Program to advance prevention-focused child welfare and child abuse and neglect initiatives. Organizations proposing bold, community-led approaches that help children grow up in safe, healthy, and secure families may be considered through competitive processes or unsolicited letters of inquiry.

Nonprofit and public agencies providing child welfare and immigration support services in the U.S., including Utah, can seek US $1,000,000 - US $50,000,000 to deliver home studies and post-release services for unaccompanied children. The US Dept. of Health & Human Services: Administration for Children & Families funds safe placements, family support, and community connections for these minors.

The EMF Family Building Grants, offered by the Expect Miracles Foundation, support young adult cancer survivors in their fertility treatment and family-building efforts. These grants are designed for applicants with a clear family-building plan and financial strategy, helping bridge the gap in costs associated with fertility preservation, assisted reproductive technologies, and related services. By prioritizing those actively engaged in their journey, the foundation aims to empower survivors to pursue their dreams of family.

Utah 501(c)(3) organizations supporting child welfare, foster care, domestic violence, or sexual assault survivors can access funding through When Georgia Smiled for shelter, counseling, education, and related services. Eligible U.S.-based programs must be open to all, demonstrate financial stability, and maintain written policies to keep women and children safe from abuse.

Young people exiting foster care or living in poverty in North Carolina who wish to attend accredited colleges or career schools can apply for the Joyce Price Johnson’s Samaritan Fund, administered by North Carolina Community Foundation. Primary consideration goes to applicants from Wayne County and neighboring counties, which may benefit Utah child welfare organizations’ clients with NC ties.

Utah child welfare and foster care organizations supporting Nevada foster youth education may be eligible for scholarships ranging from $1,000 - $5,000 for a single year. The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada’s Foster Children Education Scholarship assists youth who were in Nevada foster care and are pursuing accredited college, trade, or vocational programs, with potential for renewal.

Nonprofit organizations working on youth homelessness, child welfare involvement, or related systems-change efforts in King County, WA can apply for Laird Norton Family Foundation’s Human Services grants to support direct services and prevention programming. Utah child welfare organizations may be interested in this opportunity if their work or partnerships extend to King County–based initiatives.

Joyful Heart Foundation

Since 2004, Joyful Heart has been a leading national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse by building a world that prioritizes survivors’ healing.

Our Areas of Focus

We continue to carry out our mission through programming centered on survivors’ needs. We strive to fill gaps where those needs aren’t being met, without duplicating existing programs. In order to build a more compassionate, more informed culture rooted in the possibility and promise of healing, we focus on three key areas: Awareness and Community Building, Policy and Advocacy and Healing Programs.

• Healing Programs and Resources: Creating and fostering a culture of healing and nurturing for survivors and the professionals who support them.
• Policy and Advocacy: Advocating for policies and practices that forge a path to safety, justice and hope for survivors.

• Awareness and Community Building: Creating spaces and conversations that channel a drive for change into action and transformation.

Heal the Healers Grant 

Helping alleviate the effects of secondary trauma for the long-term wellbeing of professionals who support survivors

Building for a System of Care and Compassion

Heal the Healers Grantmaking Program provides critical support for professionals who help survivors heal and seek justice. People working on the frontlines of survivor-centered services are subject to the often overlooked effects of secondary trauma that can emerge as a result of continuous exposure to people who have recently experienced abuse and violence.

The Heal the Healers Grant Fund and Grantee Learning Cohorts provide resources to mitigate the effects of secondary trauma among the practitioners responsible for the earliest stages of survivors’ paths to justice and healing. Creating a safer, more compassionate world for the people who do this work helps lay a foundation for lasting change and a world where every survivor’s healing is prioritized.

The Heal the Healers Fund provides micro-grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit, Tribal, or governmental organizations supporting survivors for training, small capital projects, or organizational activities.

Areas of Support

The Joyful Heart Foundation has established the following guidelines for its Heal the Healers Fund grants to support those working directly with survivors in the following areas.

• Training and/or program development on self-care practices such as training in trauma-informed yoga, breathwork, somatic therapy, etc.
• Small capital items and equipment that specifically allow staff and volunteers to address their self care needs such as daylight lamps for staff or new furniture for a break room.
• Staff activities to build and support connections between colleagues such as, trust building experiences, monthly pizza nights, or bagel Fridays.
• Or any combination of the above. 

In addition to the financial support, grantees will also be invited to join a peer learning community cohort that includes:

• Opportunities to amplify their fellowship/cohort experiences to inspire others in the field
• Virtual peer-to-peer networking opportunities
• Virtual training/presentations by leading healers, therapists and other professionals with expertise in cutting edge vicarious trauma, empowerment, leadership and therapeutic modalities

Federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and eligible tribal consortia in Utah can apply for the Administration for Children and Families’ demonstration grants, awarding US $225,000 to coordinate Tribal TANF and child welfare services. Funding supports improved case management, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and services for tribal children in out-of-home placements.

Utah child welfare and foster care students pursuing higher education can access funding through Central Kentucky Community Foundation’s Dr. Gary King Sharp Memorial Scholarship. Applicants need at least a 2.5 GPA, with priority for those connected to hospice or the foster care system and first-generation college students.

The Stout Foundation Grant supports organizations aligned with the values of its founder, Mr. Stout. Grants are awarded exclusively to entities with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and focus on charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Preference is given to organizations with low overhead costs and those located in areas frequented by Foundation members. The Foundation aims to promote effective use of funds while remaining flexible in its grant-making approach.

Students with financial need pursuing higher education, especially those with foster care experience, can seek scholarship support that may benefit Utah child welfare populations. Focused on educational access and equity, Marshfield Area Community Foundation invites applicants connected to child foster care and adoption services who need help covering postsecondary education costs.

Orphaned or former foster youth planning full-time undergraduate study, including those in Utah, can apply for college scholarships that also provide mentoring and leadership development support. Focused on higher education and foster care, Investing in the Success of Foster Youth invites eligible students to seek assistance for tuition and personal growth opportunities.

Utah youth with experience in the Colorado foster care system who are pursuing post-secondary education can receive scholarship support for tuition and related costs. The Denver Foundation provides U.S. foster care and emancipated youth with awards of US $1,000 - US $10,000, based on academic performance, potential, and financial need.

Nonprofit organizations supporting children’s welfare, education, health, and basic needs in Utah can apply for funding that advances confidence, learning, and opportunity for underprivileged youth. Dale Jr Foundation supports programs across the U.S., so Utah child welfare, abuse prevention, literacy, and youth development organizations may be eligible if their work fits the foundation’s mission.

About

Macchia Family Foundation

Aims to assist those who cannot assist them selves, or who have attempted to better their own lives and/or the lives of their families but have come up just a little short.

• Assisting children and people in need
• Supporting social, educational and philanthropic programs that better peoples lives
• Providing a helping hand to those who need it

The Indigo Oak Fund, a Colorado-based private foundation, focuses on empowering women and children through various initiatives. By funding organizations that address issues such as domestic abuse, food insecurity, and gender equity, the Fund aims to improve lives and foster lifelong learning. Their mission emphasizes recognizing individual potential and ensuring equal opportunity for all, making a significant impact in communities across Colorado and the Bay Area.

The David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on sight preservation, children's services, and environmental conservation, primarily in Utah. Established in memory of David Kelby Johnson, who tragically lost his life at a young age, the foundation aims to honor his legacy by supporting impactful charitable initiatives. Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000, with a commitment to improving communities both locally and globally.

The Comis Foundation Grant aims to provide equitable opportunities for children to thrive through education and community engagement. It supports innovative programs that enhance educational outcomes, focusing on areas such as capacity building and pilot projects. With funding ranging from $5,000 to $75,000, the foundation prioritizes nonprofit organizations that foster inclusive environments. By emphasizing trust and collaboration, Comis Foundation strives to create lasting impacts in the communities it serves.

The 15 and the Mahomies Foundation Grants aim to enhance the lives of children by supporting health, wellness, and community initiatives. This private foundation seeks to fund 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, focusing on charitable causes. Grant requests are reviewed quarterly, and applicants must meet eligibility criteria. However, the foundation does not accept applications from individuals or for non-charitable items such as autographs or game tickets.

Steve's Foundation Grant is a small private funding opportunity providing grants between $500 and $5,000, averaging $2,600. It supports organizations that empower disadvantaged individuals, focusing on cost-effective programs that yield significant impacts. The foundation prioritizes proposals from non-profits that directly assist those in need, especially children and marginalized communities. Applications are evaluated annually in May or June, but due to high demand, the foundation cannot respond to every inquiry.

The Crawford Taylor Foundation focuses on enhancing programs that create lasting legacies in St. Louis. With priorities in community development, women's health, animal welfare, and environmental preservation, the foundation seeks to support 501(c)(3) organizations that meet specific eligibility criteria. They avoid funding multi-year grants or for-profit initiatives, emphasizing support for local causes and relief efforts deemed important by the Taylor family.