Best Public Policy Grants in Washington

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, or fiscally sponsored projects, building progressive political power in Washington can apply for Washington Progress Fund’s core grants, offering US $25,000 - US $100,000 for long-term organizing infrastructure. Funding supports leadership development, public policy, communications, movement capacity, and organizing and elections, with a focus on BIPOC-led, anti-racist, statewide power-building.

Washington organizations and coalitions leading community-driven public policy and racial justice campaigns can access funding through Inatai Foundation’s CLIP Fund. Support may cover ballot measures, litigation, legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and polling for campaigns within the state, with emphasis on power-building in communities of color and areas often overlooked by funders.

Washington-based nonprofit organizations and Sovereign Nations running community-led policy or political campaigns in Washington can apply for Inatai Foundation’s Campaigns, Litigation, Issues & Policy Fund. Funding supports ballot measures, litigation, legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and polling that build community power and advance racial justice and equity, with priority for rural, disability-, youth-, and immigrant- and queer-led efforts.

Nonprofit organizations in Washington working in public policy, education, youth development, community building, arts, culture, museums, or immediate needs can apply for grants from the Robert D and Marcia H Randall Charitable Trust. Funding supports programs that improve and enrich lives in the Pacific Northwest, particularly for underprivileged communities and values-based initiatives.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities serving adults with workforce or small business programs, including those in Washington, can apply for Truist Foundation grants of more than US $15,000. With a mission to advance economic mobility, Truist Foundation provides nonprofits with support for career pathways, job readiness, and strengthening diverse and women-owned small businesses.

The Robert C. Seamans, Jr. Fellowship in Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School supports students excelling in research and management at the intersection of technology and public policy. This fellowship fosters future leadership in these critical areas, ensuring a commitment to addressing pressing public challenges. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged, as the program is designed to promote inclusivity and recognizes the importance of varied perspectives in policy-making.

The Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Scholarship at Harvard Kennedy School is designed for alumni of the PPIA Junior Summer Institute. This scholarship aims to support both U.S. and international students by considering merit and financial need. Harvard Kennedy School is committed to fostering leadership and public policy expertise, making a significant impact on global societal issues. Recipients must have participated in the PPIA program to be eligible for this limited funding.

The Margaret Traub and Phyllis Dicker LGBT+ Graduate Fellowship, offered by the Harvard Kennedy School, supports students committed to issues affecting the LGBT+ community. This fellowship emphasizes the importance of diverse representation in public policy and leadership, aligning with Harvard's mission to foster a just and prosperous society. It is accessible to both U.S. and international students, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and merit-based funding.

The Kennedy Fellowships and Presidential Scholarships at Harvard Kennedy School provide opportunities for both U.S. and international students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and professional distinction. These scholarships are awarded based on merit and financial need, ensuring support for diverse applicants. The school is committed to improving public policy and leadership, making a significant impact on societal challenges. Apply for these prestigious awards after completing your admission application.

The John Berger Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School supports MPP students who are graduates of Harvard College, aiming to work in U.S. or international institutions focused on international affairs. This fellowship is part of HKS's commitment to improving public policy and leadership, offering scholarships and fellowships based on merit and financial need, without discrimination against applicants based on citizenship, race, or other protected classifications.

Washington students pursuing graduate-level public policy, science, and technology studies can access funding through Harvard Kennedy School’s Charles Edison Fund Fellowship. This fellowship supports those seeking to expand the impact of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, and may benefit individuals focused on public policy work connected to science and international affairs.

Grants from Stray Dog Institute help Washington nonprofits and NGOs working on food system public policy, farmed animal protection, and sustainable agriculture with US $2,500 - US $10,000 for operating or project support. 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored groups advancing systems-focused, justice-oriented change in areas like environmental policy, labor, and food justice may be eligible.

Muslim undergraduate and graduate students in film, television, acting, or theater who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients can receive US $3,000 - US $5,000 to advance their studies and careers. Focused on media and public policy impact, Islamic Scholarship Fund supports those enrolled at accredited U.S. universities, including students from Washington.

Washington law students in public policy–related judicial internships can access funding through the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s ISF Judicial Internship Scholarship. Eligible applicants are first- or second-year American Muslim law students in accredited U.S. schools with an 8-week offer from a state or federal judge; awards provide a US $3,000 stipend.

Law and public policy students in Washington can access funding through the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s ISF Law Scholarship Program, which offers US $5,000 - US $10,000 for studies in the U.S. Eligible applicants are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients committed to improving access to justice for Muslims in America.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities and research institutions working on pollinator health, sustainable agriculture, and related public policy in Washington can apply for funding from One Hive Foundation, with awards up to US $75,000. Eligible projects include scientific research, advocacy, public education, policy translation, and capacity-building for organizations focused on pollinator conservation and ecologically responsible agriculture.

Nonprofit and academic institutions in Washington working on public policy and broader U.S.-Japan relations can seek funding for arts and culture, education and public affairs, exchanges and scholarship, or global challenges projects. The Japan-United States Friendship Commission supports institutional training, research, and exchange programs that deepen people-to-people understanding between Japan and the U.S.

Nonprofits and advocacy organizations improving early childhood development and education policy can apply for grants up to US $20,000 from the Ohio Children’s Foundation. Grants from Ohio Children’s Foundation help Washington public policy groups and early learning programs support at-risk children ages 0–5, strengthen school readiness, and advance high-quality early childhood education through services and policy advocacy.

Agronomy, crop, and soil science PhD holders interested in public policy can gain a yearlong Congressional fellowship in Washington through the Crop Science Society of America. This U.S.-based program places fellows in Congressional offices or committees, offering a stipend, relocation support, and intensive orientations on legislative, agriculture, and environmental issues.

With a mission to improve lives through evidence-based policy, Arnold Ventures provides Washington public policy and social program researchers with support to conduct rigorous quasi-experimental evaluations. Eligible projects study causal impacts of policies or interventions in areas like higher education, workforce training, infrastructure, contraceptive access, or public finance across the U.S.

Undergraduate students in the U.S. focused on environmental conservation, tribal public policy, or Native American and Alaska Native health care can receive Udall Undergraduate Scholarship support, including students in Washington. With a mission to develop future leaders, the Udall Foundation provides funding and leadership development for eligible sophomores and juniors at accredited institutions.

The FY2027 Grants to Highest State Courts aim to enhance guardianship systems by evaluating and improving the fairness and effectiveness of adult guardianship proceedings. This initiative, funded by the US HHS Administration for Community Living, seeks to implement necessary changes based on assessments, streamline filing processes, and better detect fraud, ultimately ensuring the safety and integrity of protected individuals.

The Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers grant aims to support state-level projects that align with the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Grantees will form cross-agency partnerships to implement the Strategy's recommendations, focusing on sustainability through planning phases. The initiative encourages innovative solutions to enhance caregiver support while ensuring that project outcomes are maintained beyond federal funding.

The OJP FY 2026 Integrity in American Elections Grant Program aims to enhance election integrity across the United States. This initiative, supported by the US Department of Justice, focuses on empowering state and local prosecutors to effectively prevent and prosecute voter fraud and maintain the integrity of voter rolls. By safeguarding elections against illegal voting and registration practices, this program is vital for upholding public confidence in democratic processes and ensuring that every American's vote counts.

The NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Human Trafficking funding opportunity aims to support comprehensive research and evaluation projects. It focuses on preventing human trafficking, assessing the impact of federal policies, and enhancing services for victims. This initiative, led by the National Institute of Justice in partnership with the Office for Victims of Crime, seeks to generate insights that can inform better responses to human trafficking in the U.S.

The SMART FY26 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program aims to enhance sex offender registration and notification practices across jurisdictions in the U.S. By supporting the implementation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), this grant facilitates the establishment of comprehensive sex offender registries, ensuring that states, territories, and federally recognized tribes comply with federal standards. This initiative also promotes interjurisdictional information exchange and helps maintain public safety.

The NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Justice System Responses to Illegal Immigration invites proposals for impactful research on the adult criminal justice system's response to illegal immigration. This initiative aims to explore innovative solutions and evaluate their effectiveness across various jurisdictions, focusing on challenges like location, apprehension, and crime prevention. By fostering collaboration among federal, state, local, and tribal entities, the program seeks to enhance strategies that address illegal immigration effectively.