Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Vermont

Information for Russell Sage Foundation Grant Seekers

RSF makes external grants for social science research projects that address questions of interest under its research priorities. 

Research Priorities

RSF supports high-quality innovative research under four core research priorities:

• Behavioral Science and Decision Making in Context
• Future of Work
• Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
• Social, Political, and Economic Inequality

In addition, it supports research under the following time-limited co-funded research priorities:

• Immigration and Immigrant Integration
• Implications of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision to Ban Race-Conscious Admissions at Colleges and Universities for Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility
• Causal Research on the Criminal Justice System

Overview of Core Research Grants

All research grant applications must be preceded by a letter of inquiry (LOI). RSF has 3 funding cycles per year and only considers proposals that are invited following review of an initial letter of inquiry. After peer review, about 15% of those who submit an LOI will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal. RSF rarely considers projects for which the investigators have not already fully-developed the research design, the sample framework, access to data, etc. Investigators are encouraged to submit an LOI after they have developed and pre-tested survey instruments, completed preliminary data analyses if the data are publically-available or conducted some preliminary interviews for qualitative studies.

Funding

There are two levels of funding for core grants, Trustee-approved grants and Presidential-Authority grants. The maximum grant amount for a Trustee grant is $200,000, including 15% indirect costs. Grants up to $75,000 are considered Presidential-Authority grants. RSF has 3 funding cycles per year and only considers proposals that are invited following review of an initial letter of inquiry. After peer review, about 15% of those who submit an LOI will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal. The final funding rate for core research grants is approximately 6-10% of submitted LOIs.

Implications of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision to Ban Race-Conscious Admissions at Colleges and Universities for Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility - Request for Proposals

The Russell Sage Foundation, in collaboration with the Hewlett, Spencer, and William T. Grant foundations, seeks to support innovative research on the effects of the Supreme Court decision on a diversity of outcomes—from who attends college and where and the extent to which alternatives to race-conscious policies contribute to educational attainment and economic mobility among different groups in the population. Our interests extend beyond the effects on applications, admissions, enrollment, and degree completion and include the downstream effects, including whether and how the decision alters the college-to-career pipeline that many employers rely on to diversify their workforce, and the factors associated with public opposition to and support for race-conscious policies. We are particularly interested in analyses that make use of newly available data or demonstrate novel uses of existing data. We also support original data collection and encourage methodological variety and inter-disciplinary collaboration. 

Read the full RFP for this time-limited co-funded research priority here.

The Dave Caldwell Scholarship, sponsored by the American Water Works Association, offers a $5,000 award to exceptional undergraduate or graduate students pursuing engineering degrees in the drinking water field. This competitive scholarship honors Dave Caldwell, co-founder of Brown & Caldwell, emphasizing the importance of fostering future talent in water infrastructure and habitat restoration. Eligible candidates include female and minority students committed to improving water systems and ensuring sustainable practices.

Scholarship funds are established by local individuals, families, businesses and organizations. They provide tuition assistance and financial support to new and continuing college students, and many offer renewable awards.

Jessica Lynn Herman Memorial Scholarship

Graduating high school senior from the Huntington Beach High School District with a passion for both the sciences and humanities and demonstrated commitment to mentoring or tutoring. 

P.U.L.S.E. of Noble County – Senior Scholarship Fund

P.U.L.S.E. of Noble County is a group of service-minded youth who meet monthly to organize community projects that benefit Noble County and grant philanthropic dollars to other organizations making an impact. This scholarship is for Noble County high school seniors who are P.U.L.S.E. members and are pursuing a post high school education.

Awards Per Year:

• 4 scholarships

Applicant High School:

• Any high school in the area

Colleges:

• Any accredited college or university

Areas of Study:

• Any

The Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program aims to enhance diversity in the research workforce by supporting early career investigators from underrepresented backgrounds. This initiative includes a K99/R00 career transition award for postdoctoral scholars and a UE5 cooperative agreement to foster mentoring, networking, and professional development. With multiple application deadlines from 2024 to 2027, MOSAIC is dedicated to facilitating successful transitions into tenure-track or equivalent research-intensive faculty roles.

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation 

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is a nationally respected leader in charitable giving, dedicated to improving quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing philanthropy, educating and connecting donors to community needs, and leading on critical local issues. Founded in 1978 with a simple belief that charitable giving should be accessible to all, the Foundation has grown into one of the largest and most innovative public charities in the country, offering donor advised funds and other giving vehicles that make philanthropy convenient, efficient, and impactful. Today, it manages more than $7 billion in assets, administers over 7,000 charitable funds, and has distributed more than $8 billion in grants, consistently ranking among the top community foundations nationwide.

Kelly Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund

Kelly Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarship support to children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren of current Altec Industries employees who are pursuing an engineering degree at an accredited two year or four year college or university. Eligible applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll as full time students in an engineering program and meet academic requirements, including a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and qualifying ACT or SAT scores for U.S. students, or an 80 percent honours average for Canadian students. The scholarship supports both U.S. and Canadian applicants who meet eligibility criteria and are preparing for careers in engineering.

The Limited Competition Small Grant Program under the NCATS CTSA aims to enhance the research capabilities of scholars transitioning to independent academic translational scientists. This program supports diverse clinical and translational science projects, including pilot studies and methodology development. The R03 grants are designed for short-term projects with limited resources that generate preliminary data for future R01 applications, thereby fostering innovation and advancing health research.

The Chick-fil-A Community Scholars program awards up to thirteen $25,000 scholarships annually to students demonstrating academic excellence, community service, and financial need. In addition to financial support, recipients participate in a year-long mentoring and leadership development program. This initiative aims to cultivate future leaders who are committed to serving their communities, while also alleviating educational costs associated with attending accredited colleges or vocational schools.

The Limited Competition Small Grant Program for the NCATS CTSA Program aims to empower KL2 scholars by funding diverse clinical and translational research projects. These grants support short-term studies, methodology development, and preliminary data collection, facilitating the transition to independent research careers. Applications will undergo NIH peer review, ensuring only high-quality proposals receive funding. This initiative fosters innovation in research methodologies and technology, ultimately enhancing the capabilities of emerging translational scientists.

The Curtis Rex Carter Applied Science Scholarship provides a $2,500 award to graduating high school seniors from select schools who are majoring in Electrical, Chemical, Computer Engineering, Chemistry, or Applied Micro-biology. This renewable scholarship supports students maintaining a 2.8 GPA and enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. Applicants must demonstrate financial need by submitting FAFSA-SAI and an essay. The scholarship aims to foster academic excellence and support students in pursuing their educational goals.

The AFRL Directed Energy Directorate invites applications for unclassified research projects related to directed energy technologies. This initiative seeks partnerships with U.S. colleges and universities to advance fundamental research in areas such as Laser Systems, High Power Electromagnetics, and Weapons Modeling. The goal is to support the Department of Defense's mission by fostering innovative research that aligns with national security interests. Proposals are accepted until July 18, 2029.

The MOSAIC Organizational Research Education Award aims to enhance diversity in biomedical research by supporting educational initiatives for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. This NIH program focuses on developing skills through creative courses and mentoring activities designed for the next generation of researchers. Organizations with a proven track record in professional development and networking are encouraged to apply, helping to prepare K99/R00 grantees for successful faculty careers in research-intensive institutions.

The NLM Institutional Grants aim to enhance training in biomedical informatics, data science, and AI for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers. By fostering innovative programs, NLM addresses the urgent need for experts in these fields to tackle complex health challenges. These grants support both new and renewed training initiatives, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches that combine diverse methods to advance biomedical science and improve health outcomes through advanced computational strategies.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

David R. Miller and Sara G. Miller Scholarship Fund

The David R. Miller and Sara G. Miller Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for first year college students from Western Pennsylvania pursuing courses of study in engineering or manufacturing, or related trades.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The STEM Action Grants, offered by the Society for Science, support innovative nonprofit organizations with grants up to $5,000. Launched in 2016, this program has awarded $1.15 million to enhance public understanding of science and increase participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Eligible organizations must be U.S.-based nonprofits focused on STEM education and outreach. Renewals for funding are allowed for up to three years, with additional capacity-building grants available to long-term recipients.

Armstrong County Community Foundation (The Community Foundation Serving the Heart of Western Pennsylvania)

In 1997 Merchants National Bank, an Armstrong County community bank, marked its 100th anniversary. The centennial celebration included a unique expression of gratitude to the community in the form of $100,000 to be used as a seed fund to initiate a community foundation for Armstrong County. The bank challenged the community to keep the principal balance of the endowed funds intact and spend only a portion of the interest earnings to ensure a lasting legacy.

The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,

• Gives grants, scholarships, and organizational support to address the needs of our community.
• Builds a permanent endowment to help our donors create a legacy through this endowment.
• Promotes informed philanthropy to increase and sustain charitable resources for the region.
• Provides leadership and builds partnerships to identify and solve community issues.

Armstrong County Bar Association Scholarship

In accordance with the mission of the Foundation, the purpose of the Fund is to provide a scholarship to an individual who was a resident of Armstrong County at the time of graduation from high school or who was a graduate of a school district with an attendance area including Armstrong County. The recipient must be enrolled to attend, or already attending an accredited law school in the United States as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The Mark B. Holzman Scholarship, offered by the Delaware Community Foundation, provides a one-time award of $2,500 to eligible Delaware residents. Applicants must have graduated from an accredited undergraduate institution and been accepted into an accredited graduate program in fields such as medicine, law, or ministry. This scholarship aims to support students pursuing advanced degrees while maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. For more details, visit delcf.org/scholarships.

The Canfor Good Things Come From Trees Foundation is dedicated to fostering equitable and sustainable community initiatives across Canada and the US. By providing scholarships for students pursuing careers in forestry and sustainability, funding health and well-being projects, and investing in environmental protection, the foundation aims to create lasting impacts. Their commitment ensures future generations are empowered while promoting cultural awareness and resilience through community-driven projects.

The Tech Journalism Fund, established by Omidyar Network, aims to support U.S.-based journalists with project funding ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. It prioritizes reporting that explores the intersection of technology and society, particularly in areas like AI regulation, investigative journalism in tech, and the impact of AI on families. This initiative seeks to empower journalists tackling critical issues in today's digital landscape.

The Mary Lea Simpson Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Audio Engineering Society Educational Foundation, provides tuition remission for the final year of undergraduate studies in Audio Engineering or Recording Arts at a North American institution. Eligible applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher, demonstrate proficiency in recording or mixing, and be members in good standing of the Audio Engineering Society. This scholarship aims to support talented individuals pursuing a career in audio engineering.

About Legacy Foundation

Legacy Foundation is the community foundation for Lake County, Indiana. We connect people, knowledge, and funding to build an equitable, accessible, and inclusive Lake County, now and for generations to come.

Legacy Foundation is supported by a broad base of individuals, families, and businesses connected by the desire to improve Lake County, Indiana. With a growing portfolio of over 400 funds and approximately $124 million in assets, Legacy Foundation is a trusted source for philanthropic giving in the region.

For over 30 years, Legacy Foundation has been empowering people, providing strategic leadership, and impactful philanthropic support to create an equitable Lake County where all people thrive.

Mission Statement

Transforming Lake County by providing strategic leadership and impactful philanthropic support to ensure equitable opportunity for all communities that we serve.

Vision Statement

Create an equitable Lake County where all people thrive.

Glenn D. Peters Law School Scholarship

Award 

The Glenn D. Peters Law School Scholarship is awarded to students who will be enrolled in law school for the upcoming Fall semester.

Scholarships are available for tuition costs at an accredited law school located anywhere in the United States of America. While financial need can be a factor, greater weight is assigned to academic achievement and involvement in quality extracurricular activities.

The Lynn G. Bellenger Engineering Technology Scholarship honors ASHRAE's first woman president and supports qualified female undergraduate engineering technology students. Offered to those with a minimum GPA of 3.0, this one-year scholarship encourages studies in fields related to HVAC&R. The scholarship aligns with ASHRAE's mission to advance sustainable technology and create a healthier built environment. Eligible students must be enrolled in programs with ASHRAE student branches or accredited by recognized boards.

The Gordon V. R. Holness Engineering Technology Scholarship aims to support full-time undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Engineering Technology related to HVAC&R. Established by Gordon Holness, this scholarship highlights the importance of education in sustainable technology. Eligible candidates must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 and meet specific institutional criteria, promoting excellence in the HVAC&R profession and fostering a sustainable built environment for future generations.

The Engineering Technology Scholarships, offered by ASHRAE, provide one-year financial support to full-time undergraduate students pursuing degrees in HVAC&R-related fields. To qualify, applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or rank in the top 30% of their class, and they must meet specific criteria related to ASHRAE student branches or program accreditation. This initiative aims to cultivate future professionals in sustainable building technologies, aligning with ASHRAE's mission to advance human well-being.

The Russell Sage Foundation's Core Research Grants program focuses on Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration, aiming to foster interdisciplinary research on the changing demographics of the U.S. population. This initiative encourages innovative collaboration among social scientists to enhance research quality and support the ideals of a pluralistic society. By building on insights from previous programs, it seeks to address critical questions concerning race and ethnicity within the context of immigration.

The ASHRAE Presidents Scholarship supports full-time students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in engineering, focusing on HVAC and refrigeration. To qualify, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and complete at least 45 credit hours with two years remaining before graduation. Scholarships are awarded for the upcoming academic year, beginning in the fall semester, and re-applications are welcomed from previous applicants who meet current criteria.

The AccessLex Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program aims to support initiatives that facilitate the entry of college students from historically underrepresented groups into law school. By providing funding of $200,000 to $300,000 over 12 to 24 months, the program seeks to improve enrollment and success rates for these students. AccessLex Institute emphasizes research-backed strategies and collaborative programs to enhance educational outcomes in legal education.