Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Vermont

The Barrows Family Scholarship Fund, established in 2014 by the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, honors the memories of Frank L. Barrows and his son, Frank II. This scholarship supports graduates of Rock Ridge High School, ensuring they have the opportunity to pursue higher education. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and plan to attend a college or technical school immediately after graduation, fostering dreams and community development.

The Bobo Kochevar Scholarship Fund, under the Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to support Rockridge High School graduates pursuing post-secondary education. This fund empowers students to achieve their academic goals in vocational, technical, or four-year college programs, fostering community development across northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. By investing in the education of local youth, the scholarship contributes to vibrant, sustainable communities and supports initiatives that enhance educational opportunities and cultural preservation.

The American Academy of Optometry Foundation is inviting applications for the 2025-26 Allison Summers Pediatric Pilot Grant. This $10,000 grant aims to support mid-career optometrists in conducting pilot research that fosters new collaborations and innovative projects in pediatric optometry. Eligible candidates must be Fellows of the Academy and demonstrate a commitment to advancing pediatric research. The deadline for submitting the Letter of Intent is August 4, 2025.

The Herman and LaVerne Griller Scholarship, managed by the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, offers scholarships to students in the Sioux Falls area. Eligible applicants must plan to attend an accredited four-year institution, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and demonstrate financial need. This scholarship is part of a larger program providing over $500,000 annually to local students pursuing higher education. It aims to support students in achieving their academic dreams.

The Thomases Family Endowment, established by Irwin Thomases, aims to uphold his philanthropic values by supporting organizations serving the Jewish and secular communities. Eligible applicants must focus on the Akko & Matte Asher regions or the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys. They can apply for multi-year grants of up to $50,000 annually, but those receiving direct allocations from the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation are ineligible. This endowment continues to promote a spirit of tzedakah.

Washington County Community Foundation

The Washington County Community Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in Washington County by promoting and facilitating philanthropy. We accomplish this by assuming four philanthropic roles of Grantmaker, Donor Service Organization, Fundraiser, and Community Leader. Fostering philanthropy by offering charitable gifting opportunities to donors on an individualized basis and at reasonable fees, we make charitable giving easier, more satisfying, and more effective. 

The Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania, which is registered with the Pennsylvania Charities Bureau and annually files the Federal Form 990.

Scholarships for Post-Secondary (Undergraduate) School

The Foundation provides both need-based and merit-based scholarships to students in Washington County, with a few scholarships also available to students in Greene County. All scholarships are made payable to the educational institution the student is attending. 

Three Oaks Scholarship Fund

For current year graduating seniors or non-traditional students who reside within the boundaries of the Burgettstown School District, Fort Cherry School District, or Avella Area School District and who are pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited trade or technical school. 

The Claremont Savings Bank Foundation Grant supports local non-profits enhancing community quality of life and economic vitality. Since 2003, it has awarded over $2.7 million in grants ranging from $500 to $5,000. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) approved and serve the Bank's CRA area, with a focus on civic, arts, social services, health, and affordable housing. The Foundation prioritizes community-impact projects, while excluding individuals, political, or religious organizations.

The Bonham, Vivian M. Scholarship, offered by the Beatrice Educational Foundation, provides a $2,500 scholarship to a graduating senior girl from Beatrice High School pursuing a business career. Established to support students in need, the scholarship is awarded based on interest in business, financial need, and a minimum GPA of 2.5. Recipients must submit a faculty recommendation from a business teacher and a Student Aid Report from FAFSA. This scholarship aims to empower future female leaders in business.

The Camacho-Cook Scholarship, established by the Beatrice Educational Foundation, provides a $1000 award for Beatrice High School students pursuing a mechanical engineering degree at a four-year institution. This foundation, created in 1987, aims to support educational opportunities for students in the Beatrice School District. Eligible applicants must maintain a 3.500 GPA and demonstrate strong character and leadership skills. The scholarship is part of a broader commitment to assist deserving students in their pursuit of higher education.

The BHS Writing Achievement: Mark Metcalf Award, sponsored by the Beatrice Educational Foundation, offers a $500 scholarship to Beatrice High School graduating seniors who demonstrate a strong commitment to writing. Established in 1987, the Foundation supports educational opportunities through an Endowment Fund and awards over $55,000 annually in scholarships. This award is designed for students who excel in writing and need financial assistance for higher education.

The BHS Class of 1961 Scholarship, managed by the Beatrice Educational Foundation, offers a $700 award to a graduating senior from Beatrice High School. This scholarship prioritizes students in the top 40% of their class, demonstrating financial need and exemplary personal ethics. Recipients must provide a Student Aid Report from FAFSA, ensuring assistance for tuition and related expenses. The Foundation, established in 1987, aims to enhance educational opportunities within the Beatrice School District.

The TidePointe Community Educational Scholarship, established by the residents of TidePointe, supports employees and their dependents pursuing secondary or post-secondary education. This initiative reflects the community's generosity and commitment to academic achievement. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents, work at least 12 hours a week at TidePointe, and have maintained good employment records. This scholarship empowers individuals to achieve their educational ambitions, fostering growth and opportunity within the Lowcountry community.

The SOT Science Policy Leadership Award honors elected officials who advocate for scientific research that protects health and the environment. By recognizing individuals who support public policy that advances safety for people and animals, this award promotes the importance of science in decision-making processes. The Society of Toxicology aims to highlight the contributions of leaders in science policy, encouraging further advancements in health and safety research while fostering a collaborative relationship between science and government.

The Julian U. Stein Lifetime Achievement Award honors a SHAPE America professional who epitomizes Dr. Stein's exemplary leadership in education, mentorship, and advocacy for individuals with disabilities. With over 45 years of dedication to the field, Julian Stein has made significant contributions through writing, public speaking, and community service. This award recognizes those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving lives through physical activity and educational programming for individuals with disabilities.

About the Community Foundation

Our mission:

To inspire people and communities to build and distribute charitable funds for good, for Adams County, for ever.

Our vision:

To be a leading resource in promoting philanthropy among people of all means who wish to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to Adams County, and creating opportunities to develop and strengthen our communities.

Barbara B. Ernico Fund for Leadership Development

Barbara B. Ernico, the Community Foundation’s founding Executive Director, created the Fund for Leadership Development to help strengthen Adams County’s nonprofits.

Objective

Enable Adams County nonprofit executive directors and boards of directors to participate in training opportunities that increase their knowledge and effectiveness. Consideration may be given to training for strategic planning, reorganization, leadership development of staff and/or board members, and any other activities that will strengthen the nonprofit’s ability to carry out their mission.

About Us

Overview

The Alaska Community Foundation connects people who care to the causes that make a difference and matter most to them. We encourage and nurture philanthropy through building and managing permanent endowments, convening stakeholders, working with partners to strengthen Alaskan communities, and providing donors with flexible giving options that are strategic to their philanthropic objectives. ACF also manages the Pick.Click.Give. program.

Mission

Inspiring the spirit of giving and connecting people, organizations, and causes to strengthen Alaska’s communities now and forever.

Vision

ACF envisions an Alaska where communities come together and have resources to thrive.

Dorothy and Dona Lee Croft Scholarship Fund for Young Musicians

The Dorothy and Dona Lee String Music Scholarship is for students who display talent, dedication to string instruments and a serious commitment to advance in music education through a non-profit music camp.

Dorothy Croft (1910-2009) helped found the Odessa Symphony, serving as the first concertmaster. The Odessa Symphony evolved into the present Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale. In 1949, she became a charter member of the Odessa Music Teachers Association, serving as its first president. She was a founding member of the Odessa Civic Concert Association, serving intermittently as its president. She was an early supporter of the Permian Playhouse of Odessa and later of the Globe of the Great Southwest. Dorothy Croft believed that money shouldn’t stop people from chasing their dreams and taught her students multiple lessons beyond just violin.

Dona Lee Croft was an international performer from the age of fourteen, giving concerts throughout Europe, Mexico, and the USA, the last concert performed in Carnegie Hall. A student of such eminent violinists as Nathan Milstein, Bela Katona and Ivan Galamian, she was a Professor of Violin at the Royal College of Music for 20 years where her lessons were filmed by the Albeniz Foundation of Spain, then shown throughout Europe. She has recorded two CDs, the first featuring violin music of Schumann, Kreisler, Brahms, Debussy, and Vieuxtemps and the second 'Violin Music of the 20th Century’.

Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area

Our Mission

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area seeks to ensure that our community thrives today, tomorrow, and forever by building our Community’s Endowment to support high impact charitable projects, helping donors achieve their charitable goals, and leading and partnering in community-level initiatives.

Scholarships

CFHZ awards over $1 million in scholarships each year for students to attend schools of higher education throughout the nation. Our scholarships are possible thanks to the generosity of donors who invest in our community’s future by furthering the education of others.

All Holland/Zeeland area individuals interested in post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for CFHZ scholarships.

The Foundation proudly administers over 100 scholarships, each with unique eligibility criteria that must be met before a candidate can be considered.

Angie Van Hoven Nursing Scholarship

• Graduating Zeeland East High School or Zeeland West High School senior, regardless of the school district in which the student resides, or a graduating senior who resides in the Zeeland Public School District and attends Holland Christian High School
• Enrolling at an accredited post-secondary school within the United States
• Planning to pursue a post-secondary degree in nursing
• Potentially renewable for three additional years

Hero Fund America Fund Seeks Applications for its First Responders Grant Round

Hero Fund America (HFA) Fund, a field-of-interest fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, is seeking applications for its First Responders Grant Round for programs, projects, and other needs that will support education, training, lifesaving equipment, and mental health of fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement agencies.

Hero Fund America Fund was founded in partnership with Hero Fund America by Garth Roberts of Sharon Springs, NY. Inspired by the selfless and heroic efforts of first responders during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Roberts initiated the Provincetown First Responders Appreciation Month, honoring 45 Boston EMS paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers, and their families. The success of that project inspired the 2016 creation of Hero Fund America.

Since 2016, the fund has awarded more than 100 grants totaling over $123,000 to meet the needs of first responders across the nation.

“Grants awarded through the Hero Fund America Fund have helped departments improve their abilities to better serve and protect the civilian population,” said Roberts. “Hero Fund America remains firmly committed to raising both funding and awareness in support of the First Responder community.”

Dominique's Musician Corner Scholarship, established in 2016 in memory of Dominique Williams, supports students from Beaufort or Jasper Counties in South Carolina and Chatham County in Georgia pursuing post-secondary education in performing arts. This merit-based scholarship does not require financial information and focuses on specific eligibility criteria to ensure the most deserving candidates receive assistance in their artistic endeavors.

The AGD Foundation Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada that provide free oral cancer screenings and education, particularly for underserved communities. Established in 1972, the AGD Foundation aims to enhance public oral health and raise awareness about oral/oropharyngeal cancer. By promoting early detection and education, the foundation seeks to improve survival rates and empower communities. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations demonstrating a commitment to community health.

The WGPF: National Register Signage Grant Program, administered by the William G Pomeroy Foundation, aims to support public properties and historic districts in the U.S. that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By providing grants for signage, the program helps these sites commemorate their historic significance and share their achievements with the community, fostering awareness and appreciation for the nation's heritage.

The Allen C. & Leurene F. Hodgkins Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, offers renewable scholarships for high school seniors or recent graduates from Lamoine, Maine. This fund supports those pursuing post-secondary education, prioritizing academic achievement and financial need. Founded in 1983, the Maine Community Foundation connects resources to enhance community well-being, ensuring that students from Lamoine can access the education they need to succeed.

The Cad and Dorothy Kelley Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation in 1983, supports two graduating seniors residing in Lubec to pursue post-secondary education. This initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to strategic giving and community leadership, offering personalized service and deep local expertise. By facilitating educational opportunities, the fund aims to empower young individuals and contribute to the development of their community in Maine.

The Carolyn Lewis Scholarship Fund, established by Barrett Lewis's estate, supports residents of Lubec in pursuing post-secondary education. Managed by the Maine Community Foundation, which has been serving Maine since 1983, this fund aims to empower local students through financial assistance for college or community college. With a focus on strategic giving and community leadership, the foundation ensures that resources are effectively utilized to foster educational opportunities in the region.

The Denmark Lions Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, offers financial assistance to deserving high school graduates from Denmark. This initiative supports local students pursuing post-secondary education and those with a history of community service. Since its inception 30 years ago, the fund has aimed to empower individuals and strengthen the community through education, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder academic aspirations.

The Diane Ober and Kevin Hubbard Memorial Blue Sky Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, supports residents of Islesboro and graduates of Islesboro Central School who are 23 or older. It encourages projects and studies that nurture individual passions, honoring the adventurous spirits of Diane Ober and Kevin Hubbard. Preference is given to applicants who have shown resilience, kindness, and a desire to learn. This fund aims to foster personal growth and community development.

The Elvira A. Davis Scholarship Fund, established by the Maine Community Foundation, offers renewable financial support to residents of Denmark, Maine, who are pursuing a college or university education or equivalent post-secondary studies. Founded in 1983, the Maine Community Foundation focuses on strategic giving and community leadership, aiming to strengthen local initiatives and empower individuals through education. This scholarship helps ensure that residents can achieve their academic goals and contribute positively to their community.