Best Utah Grants for Nonprofits

Catholic Extension's Enhancing Pastoral and Social Ministry Grants aim to empower the church to broaden its outreach and foster societal transformation through targeted pastoral and social initiatives. This program supports specific elements of the church's ministerial efforts, including funding for catechetical resources, marriage and family ministries, and social outreach for vulnerable populations. By investing in these areas, Catholic Extension seeks to enhance the church's role in communities, especially following disasters.

The Western SARE Farmer/Rancher Grants support agricultural producers in developing innovative, sustainable practices through research and outreach. Eligible applicants include farmers or ranchers who collaborate with technical advisors to implement projects focused on addressing specific agricultural needs. Grants can provide funding up to $25,000 for 1-2 producers and up to $29,900 for larger collaborations. The program aims to enhance profitability, environmental quality, and community well-being while sharing knowledge among producers.

The Western SARE Professional + Producer Grant Program fosters collaboration between Agricultural Technical Advisors and Producers to promote sustainable agriculture through research and outreach. This initiative aims to improve environmental quality, enhance profitability for farmers, and ensure community well-being. By supporting demonstrations, educational activities, and practical applications, the program seeks to communicate effective sustainable practices to agricultural professionals, ultimately benefiting rural economies and ecosystems.

The Western SARE Graduate Student Research and Education Grant Program supports innovative research and educational outreach in sustainable agriculture. Funded by the USDA, it aims to enhance environmental quality, improve profitability for producers, and uplift rural communities. Projects must involve both research and education components, with proposals authored by graduate students collaborating with their advisors. This initiative fosters communication of results to agricultural professionals, ensuring practical applications for sustainable practices in the Western U.S.

The Western Division Scholarship Program offers up to $5,000 annually to support masters or doctoral students in fisheries science. Awards are based on academic excellence, potential contributions to the fisheries profession, and progress toward a graduate degree. Eligible applicants must be members of the American Fisheries Society and have completed at least one semester in a relevant graduate program within the Western Division's geographic boundaries.

Utah State Board of Education

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is a constitutionally established, elected, partisan body that exercises general control and supervision over the public education system in Utah, including establishing the state educational core standards, state educator licensing policies, and state high school graduation requirements.

APEX Grant Program

The APEX Grant Program, created by Utah's H.B. 447, establishes a grant program to help local education agencies (LEAs) create or expand catalyst centers. The purpose of the program is to support LEAs in creating and expanding these centers to align with labor market needs and state career and technical education goals and drive student engagement.

What is an APEX Center?

An APEX Center is a profession-based learning hub that bridges classroom education with real-world experience. These centers give students the opportunity to explore careers, gain hands-on skills, and work on projects shaped by industry partners. By blending academics with practical learning, APEX Centers spark curiosity, ignite opportunities, and prepare students for success in college, career, and life.

The APEX Grant Program includes: APEX Center Planning Grant and APEX Center Implementation Grant

APEX Center Planning Grant

Purpose of the Funding

The Applied Professional Education Experience (APEX) Center Grant Program provides funding to local education agencies (LEAs) to create new or expand existing APEX Centers to provide profession-based learning experiences through partnerships with local industry, businesses, and community organizations. Allowable planning activities include:

• Feasibility studies
• Stakeholder engagement
• Labor market analysis
• Creating the initial program design and rollout
• Teacher and staff training specific to the delivery of profession-based learning

The California Botanical Society Paul Silva Student Research Grant supports undergraduate and graduate student members conducting botanical research in western North America. Grants of up to $600 are available for projects aimed at advancing Western American botany. The funding can cover research travel, supplies, and minor equipment, with the goal of producing a professional publication. Collaborative applications are encouraged, and there are no restrictions based on citizenship.

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Grant Program provides funds to Utah schools for technology-powered learning, guided by Utah Code 53F-2-510 and USBE Board Rule R277-922. The Utah Education and Telehealth Network conducts an inventory of the state public education system's current technology resources and other items as determined by UETN, including software. It performs an engineering study to determine the technology infrastructure needs of the public education system to implement a digital teaching and learning program, including the infrastructure needed for the state board, UETN, and LEAs; and as funding allows, UETN provides infrastructure and technology support for school districts and charter schools.

The Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program was created to improve educational outcomes in public schools by effectively incorporating comprehensive digital teaching and learning technology. There is no federal funding, federal requirement, federal education agreement, or national program included or related to this state adopted program.

Folk Art Apprenticeship Grant

Folk Arts Apprenticeships enable qualified individuals to study with traditional mentors of Utah’s ethnic, Native, rural, and occupational communities who demonstrate a commitment to passing on cultural knowledge.

Funding assists accomplished mentors in sharing their skills with one or two apprentices of the same cultural community. Apprentice(s) and Mentor should complete their application together. There may be extenuating circumstances where three or more apprentices could be part of the same program.

The Connecting Joy Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to enhance the hospital experience for children battling illness through engaging gaming programs. This initiative supports children's hospitals and nonprofits by funding equipment, staffing, and connectivity, ensuring children can enjoy gaming at their bedside. With grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, the program focuses on offering joy and distraction, helping young patients cope with their hospital stays while facilitating connections with peers.

The U.S. Geological Survey's Powell Center invites research proposals for a project that aims to develop a spatially explicit framework assessing the risk of aquatic contaminants to insectivorous birds. This initiative will identify areas of heightened risk across the U.S. and Europe, mapping the impact of aquatic insect prey loss and contaminant exposure. Results will inform habitat management and help decision-makers understand the environmental health risks posed by aquatic-borne contaminants.

The Small Museum Project Grants aim to support small museums in Utah by promoting best practices in collection management, exhibition development, and public access. Grants of up to $2,500 are available for projects like collections care, educational outreach, and facility improvements. This competitive grant process includes a prereview for feedback. Applicants must be certified Utah museums that have been operational for at least one year and have a matching funds requirement.

The Western Society of Malacologists offers Student Research Grants in Malacology to support research in the study of mollusks. Grants of up to $1000 are available for full-time students engaged in relevant projects. Applicants from all countries are welcome, with no citizenship restrictions. This initiative encourages students to present their findings at WSM meetings, promoting academic growth and collaboration within the malacological community.

Utah State Board of Education

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is a constitutionally established, elected, partisan body that exercises general control and supervision over the public education system in Utah, including establishing the state educational core standards, state educator licensing policies, and state high school graduation requirements.

APEX Grant Program

The APEX Grant Program, created by Utah's H.B. 447, establishes a grant program to help local education agencies (LEAs) create or expand catalyst centers. The purpose of the program is to support LEAs in creating and expanding these centers to align with labor market needs and state career and technical education goals and drive student engagement.

What is an APEX Center?

An APEX Center is a profession-based learning hub that bridges classroom education with real-world experience. These centers give students the opportunity to explore careers, gain hands-on skills, and work on projects shaped by industry partners. By blending academics with practical learning, APEX Centers spark curiosity, ignite opportunities, and prepare students for success in college, career, and life.

The APEX Grant Program includes: APEX Center Planning Grant and APEX Center Implementation Grant

APEX Center Implementation Grant

Purpose of the Funding

The Applied Professional Education Experience (APEX) Center Grant Program provides funding to local education agencies (LEAs) to create new or expand existing APEX Centers to provide profession-based learning experiences through partnerships with local industry, businesses, and community organizations. Funding may support planning activities, capital expenditures, and program implementation (see Utah Code Annotated § 53F-5-224).

The Dogs for Joy Grant, funded by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, supports the integration of trained facility dogs in pediatric hospitals. These dogs provide emotional support, help children cope with medical procedures, and enhance overall well-being. The program aims to increase the presence of in-residence dogs, as research highlights their positive impact on reducing anxiety and improving patient outcomes. Grants typically cover multi-year funding, promoting innovative animal-assisted therapy approaches in healthcare settings.

Utah Division of Arts & Museums

As the first and oldest state arts agency in the nation, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M) celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2025.

UA&M Mission: Our agency enhances Utah’s quality of life. We champion opportunities to experience culture by investing in arts and museums, offering professional development, facilitating connections, and providing direct services.

Creative West - TourWest Grant

Creative West’s TourWest grant program, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, provides funding to presenters and presenting organizations to bring touring performers and literary artists to communities throughout the Western region.

Regional touring is defined as:

• Programming that brings out-of-state touring artists to your venue, or
• In-state artists traveling at least 50 miles from their home base

TourWest focuses on expanding access to the performing arts, especially in underserved communities. To support this goal:

• Creative West encourages working closely with local individuals and groups to understand and meet community needs.
• Applicants are urged to include community engagement or educational outreach activities in their projects.
• Collaboration with artists, agents, and community partners is highly encouraged, along with strategies like block booking and using presenter networks to reduce costs and maximize impact.

A 1:1 cash match using non-federal funds is required. This match requirement is waived for organizations based in the Pacific Jurisdictions, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

The Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant supports entry-level athletics administrative positions for one academic year, promoting diversity in NCAA Division II. It provides $30,000 for intern salaries and $3,000 for professional development, benefiting six schools annually from a total budget of $180,000. Eligible applicants must be active NCAA members, with a focus on enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration. This initiative encourages professional growth and compliance in diverse environments.

Investing in Our Communities

Regions Bank and Regions Foundation are committed to helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve financial success.

We work alongside nonprofit organizations, local businesses, government and service agencies to address social and economic issues, assist in building inclusive economic prosperity and help more members of our communities benefit from the rewards of a growing economy.

We make strategic and disciplined community investments in programs that seek to achieve three target outcomes:

Economic and Community Development

• Affordable housing
• Job creation
• Small business development
• Homebuyer education and retention
• Neighborhood revitalization and stabilization

Education and Workforce Readiness

• Student competency and skill building
• College and career readiness
• Educational access and success
• Credential building and employment
• Educator training and resources

Financial Wellness

• Financial education to youth, adults, and vulnerable populations
• Financial planning tools and resources, including Regions Next Step®
• Integrated asset-building

The WNAN Natural History Research Grant supports research in biological natural history within western North America. Grants of up to $2,500 are available for five authors to assist with travel, supplies, and other research-related expenses. This initiative particularly encourages applicants from institutions where research is not the primary focus, aiming to foster diverse contributions to natural history.

The Dunkin' Joyful Spaces Grant supports children's hospitals and community health centers in creating joyful environments for pediatric patients. Launched in 2022, this initiative helps fund play areas, healing gardens, and other kid-friendly spaces, enhancing the hospital experience. Grants typically range from $25,000 to $65,000 annually, with a maximum of $150,000 over three years. This opportunity encourages creativity in designing spaces that provide comfort and joy to children and their families during hospital stays.

Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation

Recognizing the growing importance of outdoor recreation to Utah’s economy and quality of life, the Utah State Legislature established the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation in 2022. As part of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the division unites the nation’s first Office of Outdoor Recreation with key state programs, including Utah’s Boating Program, Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program, and outdoor recreation grants and planning. We also work collaboratively with DNR's Division of Law Enforcement Rangers.

Dedicated to fostering a healthy and active lifestyle for all Utahns, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation focuses on four key areas: expanding recreational access, promoting safety and education, ensuring responsible stewardship and sustainable visitation, and driving economic growth through outdoor recreation.

Youth Engagement Grants

The Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE), UCORE Educator, and Nature-Based Learning Infrastructure Grants provide outdoor recreation and learning experiences to youth in Utah. This funding aims to teach youth the physical skills that can make outdoor recreation part of a healthy and active lifestyle. 

UCORE Educator 

Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education Grant – For Educators

The UCORE Educator Grant was created to provide a more equitable opportunity for educators to apply. With teachers up against time restraints, funding shortages and limited resources, the UCORE Educator Grant is a streamlined application. The application, although streamlined, does provide educators plenty of opportunity to share the details of their programming, how they plan to work with school administrators, track student participation and progress, while demonstrating competency in program development.  

Applicants must hold a current educator license or certification.

Age Range of Youth Served: 6-18 yo

The Dunkin’ Prom Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to bring joy to teenage patients unable to attend their own prom due to illness. By funding hospitals to host prom-like events, the program ensures these patients experience this significant milestone. Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, supporting the creation of memorable events with themes, food, entertainment, and formal wear for the teens, making a positive impact in their lives.

The School-based Mental Health Qualifying Grant Program (SBMHQGP) aims to enhance mental health support in Utah schools by providing funding for clinical services and trauma-informed care. Established under House Bill 373, it targets Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to employ qualified personnel for early intervention in students' academic and mental health needs. The initiative seeks to remove barriers to learning and foster essential skills for academic achievement, ensuring comprehensive support for students.

Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant

The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) is for new outdoor recreation infrastructure projects and helps communities build recreation amenities that support local economic development, tourism, and quality of life improvements for Utah’s residents.

Introduction

The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) is committed to ensuring every Utahn can live a healthy and active lifestyle through outdoor recreation and access to natural space. The DOR focuses on four key areas: expanding recreational access, promoting safety and education, ensuring responsible stewardship and sustainable visitation, and driving economic growth through outdoor recreation.

With our grant programs, we support local communities in achieving these goals and are thrilled to offer five grants under the Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) Program in 2026.

Recreation Restoration Infrastructure (RRI) Grant

Restore high-use and high-priority trials or repair and replace developed recreation infrastructure on public lands

For restoration of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure.

Utah State Library

The Utah State Library (USL), created in 1957, provides funding, training, professional expertise, and technical advice to library directors, library staff, and trustees across Utah. Through the Program for the Blind and Disabled, Utah Bookmobiles, Interlibrary Loan program, Book Buzz for Book Groups, and Utah's Online Public Library, USL ensures access to library materials and state publications for all Utahns.

LSTA Competitive Grant

Purpose

The Utah State Library via the Library Development Program supports Utah's libraries and librarians and promotes the improvement of library service through training, grant funding, consulting, youth services, outreach, and more. The Institute of Museum and Library Services priorities for LSTA funding can be found here. Together, these institutions provide this funding in support of the goals, and an application should primarily support one of these focal areas:

• Institutional capacity: Improve the library workforce; Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure; Improve library operations.
• Information access: Improve users' ability to discover information resources; Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
• Lifelong learning: Improve users' formal education; Improve users’ general knowledge and skills.
• Human services: Improve users’ ability to apply information that furthers their personal, family or household finances; Improve users’ ability to apply information that furthers their personal or family health & wellness; Improve users’ ability to apply information that furthers their parenting and family skills.
• Employment & economic development: Improve users’ ability to use resources and apply information for employment support; Improve users' ability to use and apply business resources.
• Civic engagement: Improve users’ ability to participate in their community; Improve users’ ability to participate in community conversations around topics of concern.

To determine eligibility, applicants are encouraged to review the most recent Applicant Library Eligibility Criteria prior to applying.

Grant projects must fit into at least one of the Goals stated in USL’s LSTA Five Year Plan 2023-2027.

The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, awarded by Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, supports first and second-year medical students conducting research over 2 to 12 months. With a total funding of $7,000, students can receive reimbursement for travel expenses up to $1,000 for presenting their findings at national conferences. Eligibility requires enrollment in schools with active AΩA chapters, while those taking a year off for research or holding a PhD are ineligible.

The California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant aims to support public middle and high school sports programs facing funding challenges due to budget cuts. Established by California Casualty, this grant provides financial assistance for purchasing equipment and covering travel costs for competitions. Eligible applicants must be active employees of public schools and members of affiliated education associations. Awards cannot be used for individual student recognition or fundraising projects.