Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Washington

The SAA Shakespeare Publics Award, presented by the Shakespeare Association of America, celebrates innovative efforts that engage diverse publics with Shakespeare's works. Open to SAA members, the award recognizes projects that promote teaching, scholarship, performance, and activism. Since its inception in 1972, the SAA has fostered dialogue and collaboration among scholars, enhancing the appreciation of Shakespeare's impact on culture. This award highlights the importance of broadening access to Shakespeare's legacy in today's society.

The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) offers Donor Designated Grant Programs aimed at funding innovative projects addressing childhood cancer. These grants support researchers dedicated to finding cures, enhancing treatment, and improving care. With an annual commitment to extraordinary researchers, PCRF ensures funds are directed towards promising advances in prevention and treatment. Since 1982, PCRF has raised over $51 million, significantly impacting survival rates and striving to eliminate childhood cancer through collaborative efforts and cutting-edge research.

The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) offers the Emerging Investigator Fellowship Grant to support post-doctoral fellowships and clinical investigator training for promising pediatric cancer researchers. This grant aims to accelerate advancements in childhood cancer treatment by funding innovative research ideas. Applicants must have completed a minimum of two years in their fellowship or be within two years of their junior faculty role. This initiative fosters the next generation of researchers dedicated to combating childhood cancer.

The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) is dedicated to funding innovative research aimed at curing childhood cancer. With a focus on collaborative efforts, PCRF has contributed over $51 million since 1982, significantly improving survival rates for childhood cancers. The Translational Research Grant supports cutting-edge clinical trials and therapeutic approaches, enhancing the journey from laboratory discoveries to patient care. This initiative underscores the urgent need for effective treatments, offering hope for children diagnosed with cancer and their families.

The ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program aims to transform academic discoveries into effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. With funding of up to $600,000 annually, this program prioritizes innovative drug targets and supports research from hit-to-lead optimization to IND-enabling studies. Eligible applicants include academic investigators with a strong potential to advance meaningful therapeutics. The program emphasizes collaboration with industry experts, making it a significant opportunity for advancing dementia research.

The PATH Scholarship, established by the Ellucian Foundation in 2020, aims to support higher education institutions in assisting students facing financial hardships. With over $2.9 million awarded, it has benefited more than 3,100 students. Eligible institutions can receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, with individual awards up to $1,500. This initiative encourages public two-year colleges, particularly Minority Serving Institutions, to apply and adapt award criteria to meet the needs of their students.

The Gender Justice Organizing Fund Grant supports initiatives led by women, girls, trans, gender nonconforming, and LGBTQI+ individuals to achieve gender justice. Organizations must prioritize community organizing and demonstrate an understanding of systemic oppression. Grants from the Bread & Roses Community Fund are crucial for groups that lack traditional funding due to their commitment to amplifying marginalized voices. The fund emphasizes long-term strategies that foster sustainable social change in the Philadelphia area.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Lionel and Muzzie Wood Family Scholarship Fund

The Muzzie Wood Scholarship was established in loving memory of Muzzie by her family after she passed away on March 16, 2001. In 2010, the name of the fund changed to the Lionel and Muzzie Wood Family Scholarship Fund and its support of Battle Creek area students expanded. Muzzie enjoyed spending time with her husband, Woody, their three daughters, stepson, and eight grandchildren. She loved the outdoors, flower and vegetable gardening, sewing, remodeling, fishing, and turkey and duck hunting. Her husband laughingly recalls a time she wore her sneakers in the river, knee-deep, and caught a salmon bare handed! Muzzie always had a smile on her face and gave more than she received. Woody, enjoys an active and blessed life rarely missing an opportunity for fun and fellowship at the Y Center of Battle Creek and spending time with family and friends, This scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors within Calhoun County who are members of a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. If there are no eligible members, members of a Christian-based church may also be considered.

Karma for Cara Microgrants empowers students aged 18 and under to bring their service project ideas to life with funding up to $1,000. Founded in honor of Cara Becker, who inspired community service during her own health journey, the program supports a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving local communities across the U.S. Students are encouraged to demonstrate creativity and community involvement, with grants awarded quarterly to fuel their impactful projects.

The Alcon Foundation focuses on enhancing global eye health through charitable monetary donations to 501(c)(3) organizations. Grants aim to support programs that improve access to quality eye care and education, fostering community development. Eligible applicants must demonstrate high-quality services, well-defined goals, and the ability to report outcomes. The foundation does not fund organizations that discriminate or are not 501(c)(3) compliant, ensuring that resources are directed towards impactful initiatives.

The ABC Law Centers: Disability Advocacy Scholarship, offered by ABC Law Centers, provides a $1,000 scholarship annually to students pursuing law or public policy careers focused on disability advocacy. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a U.S. higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This initiative aligns with the firm's mission to support families affected by birth injuries, ensuring that future advocates are equipped to address the legal needs of individuals with disabilities.

The Arnold Shultz Fund, established by the IBMA Foundation, aims to enhance diversity in bluegrass music by providing $30,000 annually in grants. This initiative supports individuals, schools, and organizations dedicated to inclusivity, particularly among underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The fund honors Arnold Shultz, a pivotal African American musician who mentored Bill Monroe, and continues his legacy by funding educational opportunities for young musicians and promoting bluegrass music in diverse communities.

Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change. To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to strengthen the evidence base on what works to improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities, and to inform policy and practice at scale.

AV’s Higher Education team seeks to fund rigorous, causal research on programs, policies, and practices that improve student outcomes and deliver stronger returns on investment for students and taxpayers. Our work focuses on strengthening the evidence base on effective student success models and aligning policy and funding incentives to support their adoption and scale.

Causal Research to Improve Outcomes for Part-Time Students

Purpose of the RFP

This RFP seeks to fund rigorous causal research that builds the evidence base on effective programs and policies for part-time students and identifies scalable, cost-effective approaches to improve completion and labor market outcomes. Findings should generate actionable insights to inform institutional practice, system-level decision making, and state policy, with the goal of improving outcomes and maximizing return on investment for students and taxpayers.

Population of Interest

Because enrollment intensity is fluid, proposals do not need to limit eligibility to students who are enrolled part-time at baseline. Instead, studies should focus on interventions that primarily serve or are expected to meaningfully impact students who are more likely to enroll part-time, including:

• Adult learners (age 25+)
• Student parents and caregivers
• Working adults

Interventions may serve mixed-enrollment populations, so long as the proposed study is clearly designed to improve outcomes for these populations.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

George Byelich Student Athletic Scholarship Fund

Participation in and enjoyment of sports and athletics were a big part of George's life. Growing up in Lansing, Michigan as the fifth child in a family of eight of immigrant parents, George somehow managed to learn how to play golf at an early age. Golf and the friendships he made in the sport were a very important and enjoyable part of his life. George also ran on the Track and Cross country teams at Lansing Eastern High School and ran Cross Country at Michigan State University. The Lakeview School District, its students and staff were also a very important part of George's life. By living across the street from Lakeview High School, having two sons graduate from there and by participating in many school-related activities over the course of thirty years, George made many cherished friends and acquaintances with the students, staff and coaches. Through his efforts over twenty years as a volunteer timer and referee for LHS, Kellogg Community College and Battle Creek Swim Club swim meets, George got to know several generations of swimmers and their families. George also volunteered as a timer for Cross Country meets, and for a number of years was a volunteer assistant tot he Boys' and Girls' Golf Teams. In these and other sports, George especially enjoyed seeing the development and progression of the athletes, both in sports and as individuals. As sports and athletics were so important to his development and enjoyment, George was always glad to see a child's interest in any type of sport of physical activity and did his best to encourage it. Accordingly, his family is very appreciative and proud that this Fund has been established in recognition of George, and may in some way assist in the growth and development of students through their participation in sports or athletics. 

Our Story

The IBMA Foundation was created by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2007 with a bequest from the Richard Barnhart estate. Mr. Barnhart was a musician from northern Virginia who loved bluegrass and wanted to support educational programs for children. Since the beginning, our goal has been to support bluegrass-music-related educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities.

In our early years we produced Discover Bluegrass, an educational video that has been used in thousands of classrooms and libraries around the world. We have hosted dozens of teacher workshops and artist trainings. We created a bluegrass lesson plan competition and provided a network for leaders of after-school bluegrass programs.

Our project grants, which now total $25,000 a year, support bluegrass-related initiatives throughout the world. We also fund Bluegrass in the Schools Mini-grants ($7,000/year) which help schools to hire bluegrass bands for school programs. The Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award recognizes excellence in academic research. Six college scholarships are granted for students working in various areas of the bluegrass music industry. The Arnold Shultz Fund supports increased participation of people of color in bluegrass music with grants that total $30,000/ year. Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants for Young Musicians (age 18 and younger) help young people go to bluegrass music camps and workshops, take lessons, and purchase educational materials.

Fletcher Bright Memorial Grant for Young Musicians

The IBMA Foundation is proud to host the Fletcher Bright Memorial Grant for Young Musicians. The Bright family of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Thomas J. Brown of Dalton, Georgia; and Barbara Martin Stephens of Madison, Tennessee made combined gifts of $29,000 in 2020 to create the fund that will benefit young people interested in learning to play bluegrass music and endow it for decades to come.

The Bright family is committed to supporting the endowment, and they welcome donations from others interested in helping young musicians achieve their bluegass education goals.

Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants up to $500 per applicant are awarded to help cover expenses of lessons, educational materials, instrument rental or purchase, workshops, and camps. Young bluegrass musicians at all levels may apply for assistance. Financial need will be considered, but is not required to receive a Bright grant. Applications for Bright grants may be made throughout the year.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Kellogg Company-Tony McGee Scholarship Fund

The Kellogg Company - Tony McGee Scholarship was specifically established for the purpose of providing scholarships to minority graduates/graduating seniors from the greater Battle Creek area seeking educational opportunities beyond high school. Scholarship awards will support associate and bachelor’s degree programs, as well as certificate and apprenticeship programs.

The Terry Baucom Bluegrass Education Grant, established by the IBMA Foundation, honors the legacy of renowned bluegrass musician Terry Baucom. This grant supports musicians of all ages by providing funds for lessons, educational materials, and workshops. With awards beginning in January 2025, each grant can reach up to $500. Financial need is considered but not mandatory. This initiative aims to foster talent and ensure accessibility to bluegrass music education for a diverse range of applicants.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Suicide Prevention and Awareness of Calhoun County Scholarship Fund

The Suicide Prevention and Awareness of Calhoun County Scholarship was established for the purpose of providing scholarships to adult graduates of high schools located within the Calhoun Intermediate School District, pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities leading to careers that support mental health.

This grant aims to enhance cooperation and regulatory standards among animal food safety programs by funding national feed associations. It promotes inter-agency collaboration, strengthens state regulatory frameworks, and supports the Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS). By leveraging resources and aligning with federal and state initiatives, the program seeks to improve animal food safety and ensure comprehensive surveillance and protection.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Satish Koneru Scholarship Fund

Dr. Prasadarao and Lakshmi Koneru established this scholarship to honor their son, Satish Koneru, who died in 1985 at age 23. Satish was a graduate of Kimball High School in Royal Oak, Michigan. He attended Oakland University and was a student at Kellogg Community College. Satish is remembered as a considerate and compassionate young man who understood so much about his own life. He faced each day with courage and accomplished many of his personal goals. Even during the most difficult moments of his illness, he was able to unselfishly reflect on the love of his family, expressing his thoughts to a friend who would pass them along after his death. Recipients of this scholarship are graduating seniors with a physical limitation or disability from a greater Battle Creek area public school who is pursuing educational opportunities at a 2 or 4 year college, or a trade school, anywhere in the United States. The student must show academic performance and strong motivation for achieving personal goals.

United Institute for Theatre Technology

The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) connects performing arts design and technology communities to ensure a vibrant dialog among practitioners, educators, and students.

Driven by our core values of inclusion, excellence, and responsibility, we provide mentorship programs, exhibit opportunities, grant funding, awards, and other opportunities for our members and for the entertainment industry. 

Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarships

Founded in 2019, and funded by LDI and Live Design, the goal of the Diversity In Design scholarships is to support underrepresented and unique voices in the field of entertainment design. The scholarships are named for Pat MacKay, former publisher of Theatre Crafts and Lighting Dimensions magazines and founder of the LDI Trade Show and Conference. MacKay is a USITT Fellow and has served as a mentor for multiple generations of industry professionals.

The Pat MacKay Diversity in Design scholarships are awarded to students currently enrolled in lighting, video/digital media, and sound design programs on an undergraduate level, as well as high school seniors who have been accepted to an undergraduate college, university, or community college design program.

Each student selected for one of the Pat MacKay Scholarships will receive up to $5,000, spread out over a maximum of eight semesters, or $1,250 per year, paid by semester directly to the school. In order for the students to get the next year’s payment, they must show progress toward their degree, show at least a 2.5 GPA, and provide a letter of support from their mentor with an update on how they are progressing as designers.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Ruble Family Scholarship Fund

The Ruble Family Scholarship was established in 2010 in honor of Cindy Ruble's many years of service and her retirement as Superintendent of Lakeview School District. The purpose of the scholarship is to reduce barriers for at risk Battle Creek area graduating seniors and adults seeking educational opportunities beyond high school. The fund honors Cindy's dream that every graduate has the skills needed and resources available to continue their post-secondary education. "Every child has a dream for what they can be and for what they can contribute to society and that dream can and will become a reality!"

The Women's Initiative for Screening and Health (WISH) aims to enhance women's health by improving access to preventive services. It focuses on updating HRSA-supported guidelines, increasing awareness of these guidelines, and promoting their adoption in clinical practice. By collaborating with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and patient organizations, WISH strives to implement a comprehensive strategy that benefits women's health across their lifespan.

CAAM Fellowship

Maker and project development opportunity with a focus on nurturing mentor-fellow relationships within the Asian American documentary community.

The CAAM Fellowship Program aims to support documentary filmmakers developing Asian American stories by pairing selected Fellows with accomplished professionals as Mentors for six months to nurture both a project and the Fellow’s career in documentary filmmaking. 

These Mentors will be working one on one with their Fellows on their documentary projects and engage in virtual and in-person opportunities to nurture the full cohort. 

This year’s CAAM Fellowship is an opportunity to support filmmakers in the Midwest, a region that has been home to Asian Americans since before the U.S. was founded, especially for key sub-communities, such as the Hmong American community in Minneapolis, Michigan’s Muslim American communities, along with many others. This Fellowship continues CAAM’s commitment to uplifting nuanced, community-centered storytelling across the country.

The Fellowship includes one-on-one mentor meetings, monthly cohort gatherings, and participation in programs like the CAAMFest Filmmaker Summit and Ready, Set, Pitch! — building a lasting community of documentary makers.

UNCF Health Careers Scholarship

The UNCF Health Careers Scholarship Program is designed to assist in the development of a more diverse workforce in health professions in Greater Cleveland. University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic and Kaiser Foundation are partnering with UNCF to develop an endowed scholarship for students of CSSM (Cleveland School of Science and Medicine) at John Hay High School who plan to enter the health professions.

Eligible students will receive a $5,000 merit-based scholarship in the Academic Year 2026-2027. Award recipients may be eligible for renewals for the subsequent years provided they continue to meet the criteria.

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type.

Christopher H Knorr Memorial Scholarship

In July of 2022, Chris Knorr unexpectedly passed away. Chris Knorr was a loving father, baseball/softball/basketball coach in the area, an active member of his church, and a friendly face to all in the community. Chris always believed everyone should follow their heart and make an impact in any way possible. Our goal is to raise money for scholarships for South Carroll, Century and Liberty High School that goes to 1 or 2 seniors at each school who is involved in the community and made an impact, and to continue on his legacy.

• Scholarships are one time only.
• The amount of the award will vary based upon the earnings of the fund, minimum $500 per scholarship.
• The money shall be transmitted by the Foundation directly to the desired college or university and applied directly to the student's tuition and books. The monies shall not be remitted to the scholarship winner.

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type.

Eugene Curfman Foundation Scholarship

The purpose of the Eugene Curfman Foundation Scholarship is to give scholarships to two graduating seniors from either Francis Scott Key High School or a home school program in the Taneytown, Union Bridge, New Windsor areas for college and/or trade school assistance in concentration fields of Accounting; Emergency Service; Cyber Security, and Trades (ie. electrical; plumbing; masonry; HVAC; vehicle mechanics; and building construction). The scholarship will be offered to recipients for additional years based on meeting specified criteria. The scholarship has been established as his way of paying forward his success that was enabled by having received scholarships to attend college.

The money shall be transmitted by the Community Foundation of Carroll County directly to the desired college or university and applied directly to the student's tuition and books. The monies shall not be remitted to the FUND winner.

This scholarship will be offered to recipients on a continuing basis for up to three additional consecutive years (or the completion of the student’s training program, whichever is less) based on maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 and providing an official transcript to the selection committee.