Best Washington Grants for Nonprofits

The FY25 Vitality Fund, initiated by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, aims to encourage business relocation and expansion in Washington, DC, particularly in the central business district. The program offers grants to businesses that commit to significant capital improvements and job creation. Preference is given to companies occupying at least 15,000 square feet and creating new jobs. The fund supports economic growth and aims to have a positive impact on the local community.

The Shigeo and Winifred Ito Scholarship Fund, established by a former recipient of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, aims to support students from Hawaii pursuing higher education on the U.S. mainland. With awards averaging around $6,000, the fund prioritizes residents demonstrating financial need and maintaining good academic standing. The scholarship reflects a commitment to fostering educational opportunities and giving back to the community, ensuring that deserving students can achieve their academic goals.

Washington Women's Foundation

Our Mission: Our mission is to provide long-term, unrestricted capital, organizational support, and networking to social change efforts benefiting women and girls in Washington State.

Advocacy Grant

We have learned through several years of experimentation with advocacy grantmaking that true structural change takes time and sustained investment. That is why we have structured this grant program as a multi-year grant, with a commitment of $50,000/year for three years. One new advocacy grantee will be selected each year by a committee made up of WaWF members. 

Our Focus

Improving the lives of women & girls most impacted by inequity in Washington. 

Our grants focus on women/girls most impacted by inequity. As a learning organization, this means we will continue to build on our understanding of race even as we apply a more targeted gender lens to our grantmaking. Targeted Universalism shapes our understanding of how to address the intersectional nature of inequities in our state. In simple terms, Targeted Universalism means setting universal goals that can be achieved through targeted approaches. Our universal goal is equity for all in Washington State, and we believe that goal is best achieved by supporting the women and girls most impacted by inequity.

We are most interested in understanding how organizations and social change efforts address disparities through targeted strategies that include 1) the delivery of services to those directly impacted by inequity or 2) through advocacy efforts focused on changing the systems that have created or exacerbated inequities. 

WaWF has a broad and evolving understanding of gender. With our grants we support women, girls, and gender expansive people, including cis, trans and non-binary individuals and communities.  

We seek to support and collectively invest in organizations and social change efforts that are intentional in their work to improve the lives of women/girls most impacted by inequities, accountable to the communities they serve, and demonstrate their ability to achieve long-term goals of increasing equity and reducing disparities.

The Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect Initiative, overseen by the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy in Washington State, supports organizations providing essential services to children affected by abuse and neglect. Grants of up to $100,000 per year for two years target gaps in services, emphasizing direct support for victims. Eligible applicants must demonstrate experience in victim services and a commitment to addressing the needs of affected children, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Department of Children, Youth, and Families

DCYF is a cabinet-level agency that works to support children, youth, and families. It oversees the state’s child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and early care and education programs. Our work is focused on prevention and better outcomes for children, youth, and families. 

Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Capacity Building Funding Opportunity

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) requests applications from Washington State organizations to provide new, innovative, or expanded primary or secondary Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention programs while enhancing their program evaluation capacity. Organizations aiming to bolster their knowledge, understanding, and application of program evaluation are encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI).

Priority will be given to organizations who can demonstrate that the activities proposed in their application are needed in their community and will be impactful on the focus population. This may include organizations who are able to address documented needs in a community that has a lack of services for their focus population.

Washington State Arts Commission

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. We are a state agency, formed by the Washington State Legislature in 1961. Our mission is to nurture and support the role of the arts in the lives of all Washingtonians.

Tribal Cultural Grant

This non-competitive grant offers funding for Washington State Federally recognized Tribes to support Tribal communities as they expand, enhance, or create space for art and culture that is respectful and responsive to each community’s needs. As long as the proposed project is eligible, your Tribe will automatically receive funding. 

Funding: The application includes space for each Tribe to identify an additional funding request that will be considered if additional funding becomes available, or if all Tribes do not apply. Funding not requested by the closing date will be reallocated as additional funding to those that applied. 

Examples of What We Can Fund

• Artist, teaching artist, and contractor fees
• Tribal museum support including, exhibitions, collections, enhancements, planning and consultations
• Rent (equipment or space)
• Travel expenses for in-state artists or consultants
• Materials, supplies, software, and technology
• Administrative expenses, including printing costs, postage, and other administrative fees
• Fees for increasing access to programming such as closed captioning, translation services, interpreters, or consultant support on these efforts
• Support of Native/Indigenous artists for start-up funds (business license, website development, technology)
• Expenses for Tribal cultural classes 

The Corrine and Henry Bower Memorial Foundation Grant offers approximately $35,000 annually to support wellness, education, and visual arts programs in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The foundation prioritizes year-round programming, measurable outcomes, and collaboration with other organizations. However, it does not fund general operating costs, new programs, or for-profit entities. Eligible applicants must have a proven track record of service and demonstrate financial accountability.

The CRSI Foundation offers an Undergraduate Scholarship Program designed for senior-level students majoring in Civil or Architectural Engineering. This program includes five regional scholarships and six named scholarships, awarded through the CRSI network. Eligible candidates must be pursuing their Bachelor’s Degrees and demonstrate a commitment to the steel reinforced concrete industry. The scholarships aim to support students who are focused on careers in structural engineering.

Arbor Rising Grant, established in 2010, is a NYC-based nonprofit providing unrestricted multi-year funding and capacity-building support to nonprofits focused on alleviating poverty. The grant process occurs every three years, with the next round in 2025 being invitation-only. Eligible organizations must demonstrate high potential and effective leadership, typically operating on a modest budget. Arbor Rising prioritizes applicants from the NYC metro area while expanding to cover the lower 48 US states.

About Us

DCYF is a cabinet-level agency that works to support children, youth, and families. It oversees the state’s child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and early care and education programs.

What We Do

Our work is focused on prevention and better outcomes for children, youth, and families.

DCYF manages state-funded programs that focus on early learning, prevention, and early intervention. Our goal is to support the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children and youth. We also work with state and local partners, Tribes, and community groups across Washington state. Together, we focus on child safety, supporting families during difficult times, and helping them build skills to succeed.

DCYF oversees the state’s juvenile rehabilitation facilities and delivers treatment, provides resources, and develops skills through juvenile rehabilitation so young people can plan for their future and reenter their communities.

The agency provides oversight for licensed child care providers, group care, and licensed caregivers. 

Perinatal Mental Health Programs

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support communities interested in collaborative efforts meant to increase community-wide awareness and develop resources to support the mental health of families in the perinatal period, which may include the period immediately prior to pregnancy through 1-2 years postpartum.

Funding Focus

We invite proposals from organizations interested in increasing community awareness of perinatal mental health and creating resources for parents within their community. Community may be defined by the applicant. It can be based on a geographic area (e.g., city or county) or a shared experience relevant to perinatal mental health (e.g., families transitioning out of NICU).

The ultimate goals of this work are to reduce or eliminate negative impacts of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs); support all caregivers, families, and children in their optimal development; prevent child abuse and neglect; and promote healthy family development.

The Perinatal Mental Health work is a unique program that aims to influence change on a community level as well as provide support directly to parents experiencing perinatal mental health complications.

Successful applicants will demonstrate their ability to bring together a group of diverse stakeholders to form a local Perinatal Mental Health Task Force to address perinatal mental health in their community. Stakeholders invited to join the Task Force must include representatives from outside the funded organization and may include, but are not limited to: public health providers, medical providers, mental health providers, childcare providers, community health organizations, parent educators, home visitors, early learning organizations, other social services providers, or parents. The Task Forces that communities convene should not have a clinical focus; rather, they should be aimed at community representatives and parents. Task Force members are expected to support community organizations.

Every Kindness is a Gift

Dollar Tree Gift Card Program 2026

Every Kindness is a Gift is a gift card grant program made possible through the generosity of Dollar Tree and managed by the team here at Gift Card Bank. We are a nonprofit organization that specializes in the distribution of gift cards and our mission is to improve well-being and build financial stability by supporting people through their time of need.

Through Every Kindness is a Gift, nonprofit organizations and Title I schools located in the 48 contiguous states may apply to receive a grant of Dollar Tree gift cards.

Gift cards received through these grants are meant to be distributed directly to individuals and families in need. A primary goal of the program is to give gift card recipients the dignity of choice by empowering them to shop for what they need themselves. By putting gift cards directly in the hands of our neighbors in need, we are able to increase access to essentials like food, school supplies, paper products, cleaning products, and hygiene items.

In 2026, there will be two rounds of grant distributions. In each round, we will award a number of grants between $2,500 and $10,000.

Round One is a summer distribution. Gift cards awarded in Round One will arrive in late June, while kids are on break and back-to-school is around the corner. Round Two is a holiday distribution. Gift cards awarded in Round Two will arrive in early November, as the end-of-year holidays approach.

We know that these are times of year when budgets are tight. Through these gift card grants, we hope to connect individuals and families directly to the essential resources they need during difficult months.

The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, awarded by Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, supports first and second-year medical students conducting research over 2 to 12 months. With a total funding of $7,000, students can receive reimbursement for travel expenses up to $1,000 for presenting their findings at national conferences. Eligibility requires enrollment in schools with active AΩA chapters, while those taking a year off for research or holding a PhD are ineligible.

The AGC Education Foundation Scholarship supports full-time students pursuing construction-related degrees at accredited Washington State institutions. Established in 1980, this initiative aims to enhance the construction workforce through educational grants, scholarships, and workforce development programs, benefitting students at community colleges and universities. Eligibility includes a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a commitment to a construction career. Scholarships cover tuition and fees, excluding housing, with various awards available annually.

The Pacific Branch John Henry Comstock Award honors an exemplary graduate student in entomology within the Pacific Branch. This award aims to foster enthusiasm for entomology at the graduate level and encourage participation in the Pacific Branch and ESA Annual Meetings. The winner will present at the Pacific Branch Meeting and receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the ESA Annual Meeting, a $100 cash prize, and a certificate, covering airfare, hotel, registration, and per diem.

About Us

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is Proud to Serve All People in the Great State of Washington. The Evergreen State was named the “Best State” by U.S. News to measure how states are performing on behalf of their residents. The state of Washington boasts unparalleled natural beauty, from volcanoes and rain forests to wineries and beaches. Washington State is divided in to 39 counties that reflect the wide cross section of life in America -urban, suburban, and rural. Washington is home to 29 federally recognized tribes, independent nations within our great state, with the 8th largest Native American population in the U.S. People we serve. Over the past decade Washington’s population grew by nearly one million people to 7.75 million. We also grew more diverse with U.S. Census reporting Washington becoming 10 percent more diverse during this decade. DOH works continuously to reduce health disparities among vulnerable and underserved communities to achieve health equity throughout Washington.

Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Community Capacity Grant

The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act was passed in 2021. The HEAL Act helps to reduce environmental and health disparities and improve the health of all people in Washington state.

This grant program focuses on building climate resilience and enhancing community-led decision-making to advance environmental justice (EJ). This funding provides communities most impacted by environmental hazards with the resources needed to collaborate with state agencies on environmental health decisions. Those communities include (but are not limited to):

• Native Nations
• Urban natives
• Black and BIPOC communities
• Rural communities
• Youth
• Low- income
• Unhoused
• Disabled
• LGBTQ+
• Other communities most vulnerable to climate impacts

The legislature required the Department of Health (DOH) to base the grant program on the Environmental Justice Council (EJC) Climate Commitment Act’s (CCA) funding recommendations and budget priorities. This grant program is funded by the CCA, which creates a cap-and-invest program to limit carbon emissions.

Grantees received 2 funding opportunities to build capacity for engaging in HEAL activities:

• Project funding: DOH awarded $100,000 grants to 4 projects. An organization may have applied on its own or in partnership with other organization(s) for funds. These funds can help organizations and community provide input on:
• The Environmental Justice Council implementation of the HEAL Act.
• DOH updates to the Environmental Health Disparities Map.
• State agencies’ implementation of the HEAL Act. This includes environmental justice assessments, budgeting and funding, community, and Tribal engagement.
• Passthrough funding: DOH awarded $500,000 grants to 2 passthrough applicants. We invited community-based organizations to sub-grant or award funds to other community-based organizations working with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations across Washington state.  

The Wellness Across the Lifespan Grant supports the health of communities by providing access to nutritious food and essential nutrition education. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 are awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofits in areas where Sprouts Farmers Market operates. This funding emphasizes health and nutrition education, as well as programs that promote healthy lifestyles and nutrition security, ultimately benefiting adults and vulnerable populations.

The Growing Healthy Kids Grant, funded by The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, aims to support community-based programs that enhance children's nutrition access and health education. With grant amounts ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, this initiative focuses on hands-on programs that promote healthy habits among children and their families. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in areas where Sprouts Farmers Market operates, helping to ensure that the funds directly benefit local communities.

The Sprouting School Gardens Grant, provided by the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, supports school-based gardening and cooking programs to foster healthy eating habits in children. Grants between $5,000 and $10,000 help cover program operations, supplies, and educator stipends. Eligible applicants include schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in areas served by Sprouts Farmers Market, promoting meaningful connections between local teams and school gardening initiatives.

The WaterSMART: Desalination Construction Projects initiative by the Bureau of Reclamation aims to enhance water supply reliability through cooperative funding and support for desalination facilities. This program aligns with federal priorities to improve energy and resource management, encouraging proposals that diversify local water sources. By focusing on innovative solutions to water scarcity, the initiative promotes sustainable water management practices, especially for growing communities facing water shortages.

The WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects program invites eligible entities to secure funding for initiatives that enhance water resource management across various sectors, including conservation, infrastructure improvement, and watershed restoration. Priority is given to projects that collaboratively address community needs and yield significant environmental benefits. This funding opportunity aligns with federal priorities aimed at optimizing resource use and improving grant oversight, as outlined in recent executive orders.

The Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects, funded by the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, invites proposals for innovative water reuse solutions. This program enhances water supply reliability and supports sustainable practices for urban and agricultural communities. By leveraging Federal and non-Federal resources, the initiative aims to address water scarcity and improve hydropower reliability, aligning with national priorities for energy and resource management.

The Historic Cemetery Preservation Capital Grant Program, initiated by the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Washington State, aims to protect and maintain historic cemeteries. This program, established in 2016, provides funding for projects that enhance the preservation of these cultural resources, ensuring they continue to serve their communities and honor the veterans interred within. Collaborating with various partners, the program promotes the significance of historical heritage in the state.

Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is Washington State's primary agency with knowledge and expertise in historic preservation. We advocate for the preservation of Washington's irreplaceable historic and cultural resources - significant buildings, structures, sites, objects and districts - as assets for the future. 

Courthouse Preservation Grant Program

In spring of 2005, the Washington State Legislature established the Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant program. Based on findings from a statewide survey undertaken in 2003, 33 of the state’s 39 counties were found to possess courthouses of historic and architectural merit. (With the passage of time, additional courthouses have become historic, increasing the total number of eligible courthouses to 35) Additionally, the study estimated over $90 million in needed capital improvements to these structures. To address this need, the Washington State Legislature has allocated nearly $31.4 million from the state capital budget since the 2005-07 biennium. Through thirteen funding rounds since the program’s establishment, eighty-eight (88) grants have been awarded to twenty-nine counties statewide. Grant funds have worked to leverage local funding resulting in nearly $75 million in total rehabilitation work to selected courthouses.

Grant funding assists county governments in rehabilitating their historic county courthouses. Together with matching funds raised locally, this money will foster economic development in numerous communities while working to preserve public buildings vital to the architectural and cultural heritage of Washington.

To receive funding, all rehabilitation work must meet historic preservation standards known as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. For more information about these preservation standards, visit the following website.

The James M. Cox Foundation Grant offers support to nonprofit organizations focused on conservation, early childhood education, family empowerment, and health. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and located in areas where Cox Enterprises operates. Grant applications are accepted year-round, with deadlines before Trustee meetings. Preference is given to organizations with a history of local engagement. This foundation embodies the philanthropic spirit of its founder, James M. Cox, by giving back to the community.

Washington Women’s Foundation - Grassroots

Our focus:

Improving the lives of women & girls most impacted by inequity in Washington 

We know that all women/girls are impacted by sexism. From WaWF’s race and gender equity focused learning of the past several years we also know that inequity is not experienced by all women in the same way. We know women of color experience the intersectional nature of race and gender in compounding ways. We know that trans women experience discrimination and harassment based on their gender identity in addition to any other identities they may hold.  

Our grants focus on women/girls most impacted by inequity. As a learning organization, this means we will continue to build on our understanding of race even as we apply a more targeted gender lens to our grantmaking. Targeted Universalism shapes our understanding of how to address the intersectional nature of inequities in our state. In simple terms, Targeted Universalism means setting universal goals that can be achieved through targeted approaches. Our universal goal is equity for all in Washington State, and we believe that goal is best achieved by supporting the women and girls most impacted by inequity

Grant Award:

• $20,000 full award, distributed at $10,000 for 2 years 

Number of Grants:

• Up to three grants given per year, with merit awards also available 

The Charis Fund Grant supports non-profit organizations in California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada, focusing on social welfare, health, and education. Grants range from $2,500 to $7,500, aimed at addressing issues such as housing, food insecurity, and support for at-risk youth. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) certified and can apply every three years, with specific restrictions on funding for arts and political activities.

The Franz Bakery Foundation Grant supports local charitable organizations focused on family support, youth development, and hunger reduction in areas served by Franz Bakery. With an average grant amount of $3,000, the Foundation aims to foster respect, equity, and inclusion within communities. Eligible applicants must be 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofits located in specific states and align with the Foundation's mission. Organizations can reapply annually, although applications do not roll over to the next year.