Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Virginia

What We Do

At the North Carolina Community Foundation, we bring together generous people and connect them to causes and organizations they care about.

Our mission is to inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.

Our Philanthropic Network

We believe in the power of permanent philanthropy to strengthen our communities and people. By stewarding and growing donors’ gifts, our philanthropic network makes a powerful impact through robust grants and scholarships programs.

Hobbs Family Scholarship Endowment

Criteria

High school graduates from Columbus and Brunswick counties who wish to attend an institution of higher learning, with initial preference given to students from Columbus County. Priority will be given to students demonstrating financial need. Students must also demonstrate sound academic performance and a record of service to the community.

The Carteret County Association of Home Builders Murdoch Scholarship offers financial assistance to graduating seniors and graduates from Carteret County high schools. Eligible students must be enrolled full-time in accredited technical schools or universities pursuing degrees in construction-related fields. Priority is given to those with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and demonstrated financial need. Applications open on December 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026, making it essential for interested candidates to prepare their submissions accordingly.

The Carteret County Retired School Personnel Scholarship Endowment offers scholarships to graduating seniors from Carteret County public high schools with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Eligible students must apply for admission to an accredited college or university and plan to pursue a degree in education, demonstrating their commitment to serving as positive role models. Applications open on Dec. 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026.

The ROSS Rapid Response Program (RRP) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides expedited funding to assist communities in addressing urgent social needs. This program offers one-time cost-reimbursable grants for service coordination and direct services, especially in response to emergencies like natural disasters or public health crises. By streamlining the application process, the RRP empowers local leaders to efficiently support residents in HUD-assisted housing, promoting self-sufficiency and resilience.

The Peter S. Slomianyj Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance to Subway employees and their children who meet specific eligibility criteria, including a minimum of 500 work hours over the past year and a GPA of 2.0 in high school or 2.5 in college. Applications for this scholarship will be open from December 16, 2025, to March 3, 2026. It is part of a broader initiative by the North Carolina Community Foundation to support students pursuing education at various institutions.

FY25 Veterans Treatment Court Program

Executive Summary

This NOFO will support the implementation and enhancement of veterans treatment court (VTC) operations. VTCs connect veterans who come in contact with the justice system to treatment for substance use disorders (SUD), mental health disorders (MHD), co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Funding supports service coordination, and recovery support services. VTCs integrate mandatory drug testing, incentives and sanctions, and transitional services in judicially supervised criminal court settings that have jurisdiction over veterans with behavioral health treatment needs. These courts aim to reduce recidivism and overdose fatalities, while increasing access to treatment and recovery support that leads to long-term recovery.

Category 3 supports state applicants to improve, enhance, or expand VTC services statewide. Activities include expanding treatment and services; audits of program policies and procedures; and data collection and analysis to assess program practices and track recidivism. These are intended to be one-time projects to enhance capacity that can be sustained.

Program Description

Statewide grants are available to state applicants to improve, enhance, or expand veterans treatment court services statewide. Activities include expanding treatment and services; reviewing programs’ policies and procedures; and data collection and analysis to assess program practices and track recidivism. This could include training to address staff turnover and offer operational skills updates and to expand treatment resources in locations with critical substance use needs. These are intended to be one-time projects to enhance capacity that can be sustained

The Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Fund provides crucial financial assistance to underinsured patients suffering from this rare blood cancer. Through the HealthWell Foundation, the fund helps cover prescription copays, insurance premiums, and treatment-related costs, ensuring access to necessary medical care. With over $1.2 billion in grants awarded, the program has supported more than 1.1 million patients since its inception in 2004. Its mission is to alleviate financial barriers to essential healthcare, allowing patients to focus on their treatment and recovery.

The Porphyrias Fund, managed by the HealthWell Foundation, aims to alleviate financial burdens for underinsured patients suffering from porphyrias, a group of eight disorders characterized by the accumulation of porphyrins in the body. The fund assists with prescription drug copays and insurance premiums, offering up to $4,000 in financial aid. Established to ensure no patient lacks necessary treatment due to costs, the foundation has awarded over $1.2 billion since 2004, supporting more than 1.1 million patients.

The NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Network aims to enhance foundational research on human consciousness, addressing critical biomedical issues such as coma and dementia. By fostering a collaborative framework among 14 NIH institutes, the initiative seeks to improve diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders through interdisciplinary approaches. Key objectives include detecting consciousness in minimally responsive patients, enhancing understanding of sleep disorders, and exploring new methodologies. This effort will ultimately strengthen U.S. leadership in neuroscience and improve patient outcomes.

The Pediatric Lupus Research Grant aims to provide pilot funding for innovative research initiatives focusing on pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It supports various projects, including feasibility studies and the development of new methodologies or technologies. With a total funding of up to $90,000 for two projects over one year, this grant encourages collaborations and aims to significantly improve the lives of children affected by lupus in the U.S. and Canada.

Charlottesville Area Community Foundation

We are committed to centering the experiences of those who are most impacted by the issues our region faces, and to widening access to our resources (both monetary and non-monetary) to ensure they are distributed equitably.

Our Mission

As a community-centered, equity forward institution, our mission is to improve the quality of life for those negatively impacted by inequitable systems across our region, so that we can be a region in which everyone can belong, participate, contribute, and thrive.

Enrichment Alliance of Virginia – Positive Behavioral Support

The Enrichment Alliance of Virginia, a committee-advised fund, is accepting proposals for funding up to $2,500 for trainings and other services to strengthen out-of-school time programs’ abilities to support positive behavior and safely de-escalate disruptive behaviors.

The purpose of this grant is to improve the programs’ capacity to include children with behavioral challenges while making sure that ALL children have positive camp or after-school experiences.

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.

Eugene "Babe" Fabrizi Fund to Educate Music Students

The Eugene “Babe” Fabrizi Fund to Educate Music Students of The Pittsburgh Foundation was created to support young or adult musicians.

Award Type: Single Year. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply in consecutive years.

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is one of the most well-respected, knowledgeable leaders on charitable giving in the nation. We make giving convenient and efficient for donors through donor-advised funds and other types of charitable giving accounts that maximize and organize giving.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Kansas City Pride Community Alliance Scholarship Fund

The KCPCA Scholarship provides needed financial assistance to support LGBTQ+ students who are resident of Jackson, Clay, Platte or Buchannan counties in Missouri and Johnson, Wyandotte or Douglas counties in Kansas of all background and educational interests. We prioritize LGBTA+ students who need it most and who have some or all of the following experiences:

• People of color, Black, Indigenous
• Trans, Non-binary, Gender Expansive, Two spirit people
• People with disabilities – including people living with chronic illnesses, HIV, neurodivergence, mental health challenges
• People who have or are experiencing housing instability
• People living in rural areas
• People who have financial need without access to financial support
• People who have experienced family rejection.

Award

• $1,000

The Pittsburgh Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for 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, graduate schools, and career/technical schools.

Kenneth P. Rutter (Rotary) Scholarship Fund

The Kenneth P. Rutter Scholarship Fund was established at The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to award a scholarship to a traditional or non-traditional applicant residing in Westmoreland County, who has achieved a high school diploma or equivalent including a GED or Home School certificate. Preference will be given to students who seek to enter the Christian Ministry, and/or who have exhibited a strong interest in Community Service and Humanitarian Service.

• Average Award: $2,500
• Award Type: Single Year. Previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply in consecutive years.

The HealthWell Foundation's Inborn Metabolic or Genetic Bile Acid Deficiency Vitamins and Supplements Fund provides essential financial assistance for individuals facing significant health challenges. By covering copays, deductibles, and related expenses, the fund aims to alleviate the financial burden on underinsured patients. With a commitment to enhancing healthcare access, the Foundation has awarded over $1.2 billion since its inception, ensuring that vital treatments remain accessible to those in need.

The Lillian Gorell Scholarship Fund, established by the Pittsburgh Foundation, offers financial support to deserving students, particularly benefiting blind students and those pursuing studies in the arts. Founded in 1945, the Pittsburgh Foundation emphasizes community stewardship and long-term impact through its philanthropic efforts. This scholarship aims to empower students to achieve their educational goals while enhancing the quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania.

About Us

We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

Mission & Values

Our vision is for just, equitable and resilient communities.

Our mission is to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

We value all people, all partners and our region.

Common Scholarship Application

Achieve your Higher Education Dreams

In just one application, our Common Scholarship Application provides students access to more than 150 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000.

In 2025, San Diego Foundation awarded a record-breaking $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,400 students.

About Us

We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

Mission & Values

Our vision is for just, equitable and resilient communities.

Our mission is to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

We value all people, all partners and our region.

Common Scholarship Application

Achieve your Higher Education Dreams

In just one application, our Common Scholarship Application provides students access to more than 150 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000.

In 2025, San Diego Foundation awarded a record-breaking $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,400 students.

The Amyloidosis Fund, managed by the HealthWell Foundation, provides essential financial assistance to underinsured patients facing treatment costs for Amyloidosis. The program covers prescription copays, insurance premiums, and related expenses, ensuring that patients can access necessary medications without financial strain. With a maximum award of $8,000, the fund aims to alleviate the burden of healthcare costs for those diagnosed with this complex disease, promoting better health outcomes and quality of life for patients across the United States.

The SDIAS Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship, offered by The San Diego Foundation, is designed for high-achieving seniors in San Diego County. It supports students enrolling full-time in accredited four-year universities across the U.S. with a minimum GPA of 3.5. This scholarship aims to empower future leaders and enhance educational opportunities, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to community development and equitable access to higher education.

PFund Foundation

PFund Foundation builds equity with LGBTQ+ communities across the Upper Midwest by providing grants and scholarships, developing leaders, and inspiring giving.

PFund Foundation Scholarship

Our scholarship program awards LGBTQIA individuals for their commitment and leadership within LGBTQ+ communities. Scholarships support post-secondary academic programs as well as non-scholastic leadership development opportunities. The scholarship must be used within a year unless it is a multiyear scholarship.

Non-scholastic leadership opportunities include leadership development, community activism or organizing, or to attending conferences and workshops that enhance leadership skills. Examples include, but are not limited to: Wellstone Action, Creating Change, or the Rockwood Leadership Institute. Leadership development opportunities can be located anywhere, but the applicants' work in LGBTQ+ communities must be based in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin and/or the Native Nations that share the same geography.  

The National MS Society's Institutional Clinician Training Award supports the training of neurologists and physiatrists in comprehensive MS care. This program enhances the skills of postdoctoral fellows through mentorship and specialized training, ensuring they are equipped to provide personalized, high-quality care. The Society aims to foster a community of leaders in MS clinical practice, encouraging active participation in research and volunteer opportunities to improve outcomes for individuals with MS.

The Dean B. Albritton Memorial Scholarship, established by the Central Alabama Community Foundation, honors the legacy of Dean B. Albritton, emphasizing education as a path to empowerment. This scholarship supports graduating seniors from Autauga, Elmore, or Montgomery County, with a focus on minority students associated with New Walk of Life Church in Montgomery. Since its inception in 1987, the scholarship aims to uplift individuals and foster community development through educational opportunities.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Julie Herrick Easterly Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the family and friends of Julie Herrick-Easterly, who established the Julie HerrickEasterly Memorial Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Julie Herrick-Easterly, an only child and part of an established family tradition of journalism, worked as a copy editor for various newspapers across the country. Her father, Robert Herrick, was editor of the Muskegon Chronicle for 17 years. At age 34, Julie died from a terminal illness. Following Julie's death, her parents established this scholarship in her memory. Awards from the scholarship are given to a Muskegon area graduating senior who plans to pursue a career in journalism. The award represents an acknowledgment of the student's past achievements in this area of study. To the credit of the Herricks, Julie's love for journalism will always be remembered, and the family tradition will be perpetuated through the lasting gift of education.

Who We Are

The GHACF is a team of dedicated individuals passionate about improving the lives of everyone in our community – connecting people, resources and solutions that create a lasting impact.

The GHACF is your partner. We can’t succeed alone – our work is possible only through the combined efforts of our nonprofit partners, community members, and passionate individuals. We are a bridge to help you make things happen and impact our community, together. We will walk alongside you to support and assist you in your philanthropic goals, now and forever.

Floto-Peel Family Fund

Medicine.

Checks are made payable to and mailed directly to the college after you have returned the required scholarship acceptance paperwork, thank you note, and photo. This is usually by early August.

Rainin Visionary Scientist Award 

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation believes that early support for innovative ideas can lead to improvements in preventing, predicting, diagnosing and treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Our Health grantmaking enables researchers worldwide to test ideas, gather and share data, and collaborate to advance the understanding of IBD.

The Rainin Visionary Scientist Award will provide grants of $300,000 each over two years to support three outstanding postdoctoral investigators whose work has the potential to advance the understanding of IBD and related biological systems. This award is designed to help postdocs based in the US who are actively preparing to transition to an independent faculty position develop innovative research programs and strengthen their trajectory toward independent scientific careers. By supporting promising scientists early in their careers, the Foundation seeks to accelerate discoveries that may ultimately improve the lives of people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Competitive proposals will demonstrate:

• A novel or creative scientific approach
• Strong potential to advance understanding of IBD biology or treatment
• Clear intellectual leadership from the applicant
• Feasible research aims that can be accomplished within two years
• A strong mentorship environment that supports career development

The Foundation particularly values projects that introduce new ideas, technologies or conceptual approaches to the study of IBD and relevant scientific disciplines.

Funds may be used for postdoctoral salary support, supplies, other direct research expenses necessary to complete the proposed work and travel to relevant scientific meetings. Awardees are expected to attend the Rainin Foundation Innovations Symposium during the award period. Economy/coach air travel costs for this meeting in San Francisco should be included in the budget.

The award provides $300,000 over two years. The grant period is October 1, 2026-September 30, 2028.

The Butler County Scholarship, established by the Central Alabama Community Foundation, aims to support graduating African American seniors from Georgiana School, Greenville High School, and McKenzie School. Annually, one scholarship is awarded, with the amount determined each year. Recipients may renew the scholarship for up to three additional years, provided they submit a high school transcript and references during the application process. This initiative underscores a commitment to educational advancement in the community.