Best Grants for Preschools in Vermont

The Autism Community Impact Grant by the Flutie Foundation supports not-for-profit organizations that enhance the lives of individuals and families affected by autism. In 2023, the grant focuses on underserved and culturally diverse communities, funding programs that make an immediate impact. Eligible projects include educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities, as well as support services. The Foundation encourages applications that serve those profoundly affected by autism, aiming to improve their quality of life.

The Allison Keller Education Technology Grant Program, established by the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, aims to bridge the technological gap for schools and organizations supporting individuals with autism. Since 2012, over $820,000 has been awarded to enhance learning through technology, including iPads and apps. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and public schools in Massachusetts and surrounding New England states, with one program per district receiving funding annually.

The George W. Mergens Foundation Grant supports educational and experiential opportunities for youth, continuing a legacy of over $12 million in funding. Established in 1994 to honor George Mergens, the foundation focuses on enriching the lives of children and adolescents through health, education, and leadership programs. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits based in Vermont, primarily serving youth. The foundation aims to partner with groups addressing significant community needs.

The Encova Foundation of West Virginia is dedicated to improving communities by supporting local causes that align with the values of its associates and policyholders. They focus on health, education, and wellness, emphasizing the importance of children's success. Organizations applying for grants must be U.S.-based and verified as charitable. Preference is given to initiatives impacting health and education, especially those involving Encova associates as active participants.

The NESOT Student Travel Award for SOT Annual Meeting supports graduate and undergraduate students who are members of the NESOT Regional Chapter. Eligible students must apply with a membership application, abstract, and a letter of support from their Major Advisor. The award offers significant prizes for the top five applicants, ranging from $500 to $1,000, promoting student engagement and research in toxicology within the NESOT region.

The NESOT Paper of the Year Award, presented by the Northeast Society of Toxicology, recognizes outstanding publications in toxicology by graduate students or postdoctoral fellows. Eligible applicants must be NESOT members affiliated with institutions in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, or Vermont. Papers must be published or in press in peer-reviewed journals between December 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025. The award includes a certificate and a $1,000 honorarium.

The Dealer.com Community Partnership Grant supports initiatives that create meaningful community impact, aligned with Cox's values. Focus areas include STEAM education, youth development, local sustainability, food security, and health and wellness. Grants are available for capital campaigns and special projects, with a priority on organizations with budgets under $3 million located in Vermont. Applications for 2026 sponsorships are now open, promoting a commitment to building stronger communities.

The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation is offering the S. Whitney Landon Award to support organizations and individuals serving children aged birth to five and their families. With a total of $30,000 available, grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to programs demonstrating innovative practices in early childhood care. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and home-based childcare programs, especially those collaborating with community partners to enhance their impact.

The Enhancement Design and Implementation Block Grant, administered by Watersheds United Vermont (WUV), supports critical water quality enhancement projects. Proposals for preliminary and final designs, as well as implementation, are welcome. This initiative is funded by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Clean Water Initiative Program. No match is required, although voluntary leverage is appreciated for larger projects, allowing the funding to be utilized as match for other sources.

The Vermont Arts Council offers Creative Aging Grants to support non-profits in providing skill-based arts instruction for older adults aged 60 and above. Grants of up to $6,000 can be used for projects that foster social engagement and community building through the arts. Priority is given to projects led by Vermont artists that align with the Council's creative aging approach. This initiative aims to enhance emotional well-being and strengthen social bonds among older adults.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is granting funding to enhance wildlife disease diagnostics at the National Wildlife Health Center. This initiative aims to strengthen parasitology services, which are crucial for monitoring and managing wildlife health. By improving early detection and surveillance of parasitic diseases, the project supports wildlife conservation, public safety, and ecological balance. This aligns with federal efforts to enhance resource stewardship and reduce regulatory burdens related to endangered species protections.

The RALI Grant, offered by the Vermont Community Foundation, is an invitation-only program aimed at fostering regional and local impact through community-driven projects. Grants typically range from $15,000 to $25,000 annually, supporting initiatives that address economic equity, education, climate, health, and community leadership. Successful proposals will demonstrate collaboration, readiness, and measurable impact, ensuring they effectively tackle barriers to opportunity for Vermonters. Interested organizations must complete the Nonprofit Connection Form to be considered.

The Paul Post Fund for Libraries, managed by the Vermont Community Foundation, aims to enhance literacy among young adults through grants ranging from $250 to $1,000. Although the fund is currently closed for applications in 2025, it traditionally supports projects such as acquiring books and hosting reading enrichment programs. Eligible applicants include public libraries and nonprofit organizations serving Vermont, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility in all funded initiatives.

The Exhibitions Abroad Support Grant Program, initiated by the Japan Foundation in New York, offers financial aid to U.S. museums and art institutions organizing exhibitions that showcase Japanese art and culture internationally. This program supports a range of events, including biennials and triennials featuring Japanese artists. Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations from designated states, with a focus on promoting cultural exchange and understanding through art.

The Norwich Lions Club Community Grants Program aims to enhance community welfare by providing financial support ranging from $250 to $1,000 for projects that address local humanitarian needs. This initiative encourages proposals that engage volunteers and involve additional funding sources, particularly those aimed at assisting children, the sick, or the disabled. The program reflects the club's mission to foster peace and understanding through impactful community service.

About City Market, Onion River Co-op

City Market, Onion River Co-op, is a community-owned food cooperative with two locations in beautiful Burlington, Vermont. We offer a large selection of local, organic, and conventional foods, and thousands of Vermont-made products.

The Co-op is dedicated to supporting the local economy and strengthening the local food system. We work with over 400 independent Vermont farmers, producers, and Vermont-owned businesses to feature the widest selection of local products we can. We regularly stock over 3,000 Local or Made in Vermont products, and Local and Made in Vermont products account for 40% of our sales. As a Member-owned cooperative, we are accountable to our Members.

Seedling Grants

What Are Seedling Grants?

Through our Co-op Seedling Grant program, City Market grants funding to projects from Vermont non-profit organizations whose work strengthens our local food system. This program is currently funded through our Rally for Change program.

Seedling Grant History

During profitable years, City Market Members receive patronage checks based on their spending as a form of profit-sharing. According to City Market’s By-Laws, any Patronage Refunds that are not cashed within 90 days are donated to organizations supporting our local food system, as directed by our Board. In 2014, City Market created a new program to offer grants through our uncashed Patronage Refund checks – our Seedling Grant Program! Since 2018, this program has been funded through Rally for Change as the Co-op works toward a return to profitability after our South End expansion.

The Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Research Projects, funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program, aim to enhance water quality and ecological health in the Lake Champlain Basin. These grants support research initiatives aligned with the Opportunities for Action management plan, facilitating community-driven stewardship. Projects may include implementation studies or pilot programs to assess the efficacy of conservation efforts. The program emphasizes collaboration among diverse stakeholders to ensure sustainable management of the basin's natural resources.

The Municipal Planning Grant (MPG) program in Vermont supports local municipalities in their planning and revitalization efforts. Administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, it offers funding between $2,500 and $45,000, depending on the applicant type. Since its inception in 1998, the MPG has allocated over $15 million to enhance community growth and development, thereby improving the quality of life across the state.

The Aimlee Laderman Student Grant, offered by the Society for Ecological Restoration, supports emerging professionals in ecological restoration research. Established in 2005, this biennial grant is dedicated to Aimlee Laderman, a founding member of SER-NE. Applicants must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a relevant program, and their work must be completed by August 30, 2024. The next application cycle is anticipated in early 2025.

The L.B. Research and Education Foundation Grant Program supports U.S.-based nonprofits focusing on innovative education and health solutions for underserved populations. Eligible organizations can apply by submitting a 400-word concept paper, and selected applicants may receive funding ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. The Foundation prioritizes projects that foster critical thinking and creativity, address health disparities, and encourage collaboration. There are no application deadlines, promoting year-round engagement.

The Rural Industry Development Program (RIDP) facilitates business growth in Vermont by providing grant funding for the purchase, demolition, and renovation of industrial properties. This initiative aims to alleviate the scarcity of available industrial space and reduce permitting delays, enhancing the state's competitive edge. With a cost-sharing model, the program ensures that applicants secure additional funding while promoting local development and expansion efforts.

The Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant in Vermont aims to enhance farm to school initiatives by supporting early childhood providers and schools. This grant promotes integrated programs that benefit classroom learning, cafeteria nutrition, and community involvement, thereby fostering a holistic approach to education. Funded by the Rozo McLaughlin Farm to School Act of 2006, this initiative encourages local agriculture and healthy eating among young learners.

The Vermont Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program offers vital support to agricultural producers, helping them manage financial risks through various practices such as diversification and resource conservation. Administered by NRCS, AMA provides up to 75% cost assistance for conservation practices, with total payments capped at $50,000 per participant annually. Eligibility requires producers to be involved in agricultural production and comply with specific land requirements, ensuring sustainable farming practices across Vermont.

The Lake Champlain Basin Program invites proposals for land acquisition or conservation easements in the U.S. portion of the Lake Champlain Basin. The initiative aims to enhance water quality and ecosystems while prioritizing projects that protect native habitats and provide flood resiliency. Funding ranges from $100,000 to $4 million per project, supporting efforts that align with LCBP’s goals, including increasing public access to recreational areas as a secondary benefit.

SerVermont VISTA Program RPF

This cohort will begin service on August 10, 2026.

AmeriCorps VISTA members are made available through SerVermont through a VISTA Supervision Grant from AmeriCorps, the federal agency that oversees National Service. SerVermont has administered the VISTA Umbrella Project on behalf of AmeriCorps since 2011 (now in its 15th year) and is currently the only VISTA project in Vermont. The statewide SerVermont VISTA project seeks to end poverty in Vermont by building capacity in organizations that address homelessness, provide job training, invest in food security, provide nutrition education, and promote disaster resiliency. In the 2026-2027 Program Year, SerVermont is anticipating the availability of up to 21 VISTA member positions.

SerVermont is especially interested in partnering with organizations with a focus on disaster mitigation, recovery and resilience, in addition to organizations that address housing security and support workforce development initiatives.

Every VISTA Project Host Site must fall within the VISTA Programming Framework:

Anti-Poverty Focus - The purpose of VISTA is to support efforts to eliminate poverty. The goal of every project must be to help individuals and communities move out of poverty, not simply make poverty more tolerable. The project should focus on long-term solutions rather than short-term services.

Community Empowerment - VISTA Project Sponsors and Host Sites must ensure that their project engages residents of the low-income community in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the project. The project must be responsive and relevant to the lives of residents in the community, and should tap into inherent community assets, strengths, and resources.

Sustainable Solutions - As originally designated in the Domestic Volunteer Service Act and reinforced in the Serve America Act, VISTA members are a short-term (one-year) resource who serve to build the long-term sustainability of anti-poverty programs. All VISTA projects should be developed with a goal to phase out the need for VISTA members and strengthen the ability of the project to continue without them. VISTA projects typically last three years, occasionally longer. From the beginning of the project planning process, the sponsor and community must think about how to use the VISTA project to phase in other resources and systems to replace the VISTA resource.

Capacity Building - Through activities such as fundraising, establishment of volunteer recruitment and management systems, community outreach, and partnership development, VISTAs help sponsors achieve lasting solutions to poverty. In order to build capacity, VISTAs do not perform direct service. Direct service is defined as activities that immediately address individual clients’ needs, and these activities are usually focused on short term goals. Ideally, VISTAs work their position out of existence and create systems that remain long after their service ends. 

About Northeast SARE

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program offers grants and education to farmers, educators, service providers, researchers and others to address key issues affecting the sustainability of agriculture throughout our region.

The program serves Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The program is administered by Northeast SARE's host institution, the University of Vermont.

Farming Community Grant Program

The Northeast SARE Farming Community Grant applies social science research and education projects that strengthen farming and food systems at the community level.

These projects explore innovative approaches to improving the health and sustainability of agricultural communities in the Northeast. This program supports projects that are grounded in community partnerships and informed by the lived experiences of farmers. It encourages collaboration among farmers, service providers, researchers, and nonprofit organizations to co-create solutions that are responsive to local needs and scalable across the region.

This program encourages innovative solutions to challenges in farming and food systems in the Northeast USA, including but not limited to the areas of: Marketing and business; Crop production; Raising livestock; Aquaculture; Economic and social sustainability; Ecological knowledge; Projects related to climate and/or bioenergy work that provide direct or indirect benefits to farmers,ranchers, and private foresters; and more.

Technical Assistance Program

Applicants and grantees of the Farming Community Grant Program are eligible for Technical Assistance (TA) provided by Northeast SARE’s Technical Assistance Providers.

Funding: This grant is reimbursement based; you must spend money to receive the grant funds.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets offers Trade Show Assistance Grants to support local agricultural and forestry businesses. These grants provide funding to exhibit at trade shows targeting out-of-state buyers, helping to cover expenses between $2,000 and $7,500 for shows from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Eligible businesses must be registered, have three or more wholesale accounts, and meet specific criteria to qualify for this valuable opportunity.