Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in West Virginia

Innovia Foundation

Each year, Innovia awards over $500,000 in scholarships to deserving students like you who are college-bound or pursuing vocational or technical training. Single scholarship awards range between $500 and $10,000.

Rika Ream Environmental Scholarship

Applicants must be residents of Spokane County who are accepted or enrolled as a full-time college student to pursue a degree in environmental sciences, environmental studies, ecology, recreational management, or land management. Previous recipients are eligible to re-apply. 

Wilburn Clary Medal

The Clary Medal, made possible through the generosity of the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation, recognizes outstanding high school student-athletes annually in memory of Wilburn C. Clary.

Consideration given to the following criteria:

• Applicant must demonstrate excellence in athletic participation through awards, honors, and special recognitions.
• Applicant must demonstrate success in other, non-sport, extra-curricular activities.
• Applicant must demonstrate active involvement within their community through volunteer service programs, scouts, or other similar activities.
• Applicant must demonstrate a desire to excel in all areas of life - athletics, education, sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, honesty and integrity.

Awards

• 2, $3000

The American Association of University Women Scholarship supports women who are resuming their education after interruptions, specifically targeting adult students aiming to complete a 4-year degree. Applications open on November 1 and close on February 1. This scholarship encourages women, particularly sophomores at Corning Community College planning to transfer to a 4-year institution, to pursue their academic goals without financial barriers, thereby enhancing educational opportunities in the community.

The LaRue Ottaway Scholarship, offered by the Union City Community Foundation, provides financial support to 15-20 graduating seniors each year pursuing degrees in the medical field. With an average funding of $20,000 annually, this scholarship emphasizes academic excellence, requiring a minimum GPA of 3.0. Recipients are chosen based on criteria set by the donor, ensuring a fair selection process that highlights deserving candidates from the Union City Area.

For 30 years, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has served as a partner in philanthropy to credit unions, with a mission to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. A great example of this collaborative philanthropy is our scholarship program. 

More than 20 credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina have active managed funds at the Foundation. The generosity of these credit unions helps hundreds of high school seniors as well as undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarship funds each year.

As a member of any of the following credit unions, you may apply for a scholarship. 

Sharonview CARES Paul Paliyenko Scholarship Fund

We're proud to support the academic goals of our young members and family members of our Sharonview team. Each year, we partner with the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation to honor deserving students with scholarship money to help with the costs of their higher education needs.

Any applicant that does not receive a scholarship award from Sharonview is automatically entered in the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation's scholarship pool.

Paul Paliyenko, who served on Sharonview’s Board of Directors for more than 25 years, felt it was the Credit Union’s first duty to serve its members. He insisted that it was the responsibility of the Credit Union to create not only the best returns for its members, but to establish a trusting relationship with them. Paliyenko’s drive to care for the member is why we honor his memory with the Sharonview Cares Scholarship.

For 30 years, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has served as a partner in philanthropy to credit unions, with a mission to empower and inspire credit unions in the Carolinas through collaborative opportunities to enrich our communities. A great example of this collaborative philanthropy is our scholarship program. 

More than 20 credit unions in North Carolina and South Carolina have active managed funds at the Foundation. The generosity of these credit unions helps hundreds of high school seniors as well as undergraduate and graduate students receive scholarship funds each year.

As a member of any of the following credit unions, you may apply for a scholarship.

SAFE FCU Scholarship Fund

Your journey to success starts here.

SAFE is proud to offer eleven deserving high school seniors a $2,500 college scholarship to start their journey to higher education. 

The ONR FY27 Young Investigator Program invites cutting-edge research proposals in priority areas that align with the interests of ONR Program Officers. This federal funding opportunity aims to support innovative projects led by early-career researchers, fostering advancements in science and technology relevant to the Navy. Interested applicants can find detailed eligibility criteria and contact information on the ONR website, encouraging collaboration and engagement in impactful research.

The Erin Wilson McMahon Memorial Scholarship, offered by the San Antonio Area Foundation, supports students from Bexar County pursuing higher education outside Texas. Eligible applicants include high school seniors and current college students seeking a Bachelor's or technical degree. The scholarship aims to foster educational growth and community development. With awards limited to one student, recipients can utilize funds for tuition, fees, and other educational expenses, promoting academic achievement and leadership.

About Panorama GlobalPanorama Global is a social impact nonprofit that empowers changemakers through radical collaboration. We help our partners navigate the winding path from vision to impact. 

What We Do

• Collaboratives - Hosting and supporting collaborative efforts to achieve common goals.
• Fiscal Sponsorship - Financial and administrative support providing lean operating models to jumpstart projects.
• Funds - Philanthropic vehicles to manage and distribute funds that fuel global initiatives.

About  Innovative Postsecondary Models Fund

The Innovative Postsecondary Models (IPM) Fund supports innovative postsecondary education models that are rethinking how education is designed, delivered, financed, and assessed for learners in the United States.

The Fund is interested in innovations that benefit all learners, but especially learners whom the data show encounter the greatest obstacles to opportunity. The goal of this Fund is not only to provide funding to innovative models, but also to learn from selected grantees on how to reduce barriers to postsecondary access and increase student success outcomes to help inform the role philanthropy can play in supporting higher education innovation.

What We're Funding

We are seeking innovative postsecondary education models that demonstrate, or have the potential to demonstrate, meaningful improvements in how learners access, experience, and benefit from postsecondary education. We seek approaches with the potential to scale, influence the field, and inform how postsecondary education evolves nationally.

To help illustrate the types of innovations we hope to support, we have organized this opportunity around four broad themes. These themes reflect key dimensions of postsecondary innovation that have the potential to improve learner outcomes and inform broader systems change.

All four themes are grounded in a shared principle: student-centeredness. Truly innovative postsecondary models must be designed around learner needs, especially the needs of learners whom the data show face the greatest barriers to access and success in traditional postsecondary education.

Applicants are not expected to address all four themes, but should demonstrate strong alignment with at least one of the following:

Reimagining Instructional Design, Delivery, Assessment, and Student Support

• What success might look like:
  • Innovative instructional models improve student persistence, completion, and post-completion success, particularly for historically underserved learners, while maintaining or reducing costs.
  • Learners benefit from personalized, adaptive instruction and competency-based assessments that enable them to demonstrate and document skills in ways that are recognized by employers and other educational institutions.

Advancing Affordability and Financial Sustainability

• What success might look like:
  • Learners spend less overall, face reduced financial risk, and access high-quality education pathways that lead to credentials supporting economic mobility.
  • Successful models demonstrate affordability not only through reducing costs for learners, but also by maintaining or reducing the cost of delivering high-quality education through sustainable, efficient approaches.

Career and Workforce Alignment

• What success might look like:
  • Work and learning are more demonstrably connected and flexible, with evidence that skills are more directly tied to credentials and real career opportunities.

Removing Barriers for Underserved Learners

• What success might look like:
  • More learners from backgrounds and communities who the data show have faced the greatest barriers to accessing postsecondary education are able to access, complete, and benefit from high-quality credentials.

The Genesis Mission by the DOE aims to transform science and energy through AI by inviting interdisciplinary teams to tackle significant challenges in energy, environment, and nuclear sectors. With multiple deadlines for FY26 Phase I and II applications, the initiative encourages leveraging diverse scientific resources to enhance R&D workflows. Successful proposals could integrate AI advancements into the American Science Cloud, fostering innovation in critical areas like advanced manufacturing and quantum information science.

The Oliver E. Sweikar Scholarship offers up to $20,000 for students pursuing degrees in electronics or electrical engineering at 4-year colleges, and up to $6,000 for those at 2-year technical colleges. Eligibility requires maintaining student status and good academic standing. Awards are renewable annually, with specific conditions for continued eligibility. Students changing majors should consult the Community Foundation to ensure they remain eligible for funding.

The Procter & Gamble U.S. Large Site Community Grant supports initiatives that enhance the lives of individuals within 50 miles of P&G facilities. Focused on areas like infant development and hygiene, this competitive grant seeks to partner with organizations aligned with its mission. Interested groups should verify eligibility through the P&G grant portal. While many applications are received, only a select few will be funded due to high demand.

The Boone County Community Foundation offers the BCC Fdn. Competitive Grant to enhance community development by promoting economic growth and reducing poverty in Boone County. Eligible organizations can apply for support, but only one request per cycle is accepted. Grants do not fund general operating budgets or statewide proposals unrelated to Boone County. Preference is given to projects that foster collaboration, community bonding, and innovative solutions to local challenges.

The NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) supports mid-career health-professional doctorates by providing protected time for patient-oriented research (POR). This grant also enables recipients to serve as research mentors for clinical residents, fellows, and junior faculty. Key deadlines for applications span from June 2024 to February 2027, ensuring ample opportunities for interested applicants to engage in impactful research and mentoring.

The Research Opportunities for New and At-Risk Investigators (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) program invites applications that promote workforce diversity in health-related sciences. This initiative encourages researchers from underrepresented backgrounds to propose independent research projects in alignment with NIH's mission. Important deadlines for standard and renewal applications range from February 2025 to November 2027. This effort aims to enhance diversity and inclusion within the scientific community.

The NIH Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) aims to support early-career researchers in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences. This program provides three to five years of protected time for intensive career development, paving the way to research independence. Various NIH Institutes leverage this award to assist individuals transitioning into new fields or re-engaging with research after personal challenges. The K01 is a vital resource for cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders.

The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) aims to enhance the career development of promising postdoctoral researchers by transitioning them into independent faculty positions. This program supports innovative research during the critical transition phase, enabling awardees to establish successful, independent research careers. Key application deadlines span from June 2024 to February 2027, with specific dates for standard, renewal, and AIDS-related applications. This initiative is vital for fostering a new generation of NIH-supported investigators.

Marion Community Foundation

Since 1998, area residents have been turning to Marion Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. We are a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern … improving the quality of life in Marion County. We use distributions from the more than 500 charitable funds — created by generous, local donors — to award more than $2.5 million in grants and scholarships each year to many of the humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in this remarkable community we call home.

Marion Community Foundation is the area’s leading philanthropic organization, providing charitable donors the opportunity to easily create endowment funds to benefit and support our community through grants and scholarships. We serve communities throughout Marion County through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement.

Art & Anne Huggler Memorial Scholarship

The Art & Anne Huggler Memorial Scholarship Fund supports local students pursuing a degree in education or engineering.

Art hailed from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering from Penn State. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and worked for GTE for 35 years. He enjoyed travel and golf and was a licensed pilot. Anne was a teacher and homemaker. They are the parents of two, grandparents of five and great-grandparents of nine. The couple was active with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where Art directed Art Market Marion.

The Huggler Scholarship seeks especially to assist Marion area students with substantial financial need. It was established in 2015 by their daughter, Linda Halt.

The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) supports the transition of postdoctoral researchers to independent faculty positions. It aims to enhance the number of talented NIH-supported investigators by providing funding during their transition to independent research careers. Key deadlines for applications are set for various dates through 2027. This program is crucial for developing a strong cohort of new independent researchers, fostering innovation in health-related fields.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers funding opportunities through the Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) and Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) programs. These initiatives support faculty research at predominantly undergraduate institutions, fostering professional engagement and educational integration. Eligible institutions include accredited colleges and universities that award degrees in NSF-supported fields but have limited Ph.D. production. Proposals are evaluated by NSF programs based on disciplinary relevance and funding is allocated within existing research and education programs.

The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is designed to support promising postdoctoral researchers in transitioning to independent faculty positions. This initiative aims to maintain a strong cohort of talented investigators by providing independent NIH research funding during this critical phase. Key application deadlines span from June 2024 to February 2027, encouraging applications from diverse fields, including AIDS-related research.

The William E. Dean III Charitable Foundation, established in 2009, supports 501(c)(3) organizations in the U.S. and D.C. with a focus on animal welfare, education, human services, and religious initiatives. Grants are specifically aimed at programs aiding canines and veterans transitioning to civilian life, as well as preventing animal cruelty. Organizations must wait one grant cycle before reapplying, ensuring a fair distribution of funds to various causes.

The NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) aims to support mid-career health professionals in conducting patient-oriented research while mentoring clinical residents and junior faculty. This grant offers protected time for research, ensuring participants can focus on impactful studies and foster the next generation of clinical researchers. Key deadlines for applications range from June 2024 to February 2027, with specific dates for standard, renewal, and AIDS-related submissions.

The Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program aims to enhance diversity in research by supporting early career investigators from underrepresented backgrounds. This initiative offers a K99/R00 career transition award for postdoctoral scholars and a UE5 cooperative agreement that provides mentorship and professional development. The program's goal is to ensure successful transitions into independent, tenure-track faculty roles in NIH mission areas, ultimately fostering a more inclusive scientific community.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is seeking applications for research coordination and data support under the Health and Extreme Weather initiative. This funding opportunity aims to engage NIH grantees and the broader community by sharing best practices, developing training resources, and facilitating access to health and environmental data. The initiative will enhance collaboration, reduce duplication, and promote data standards to support impactful research and infrastructure activities.

The Enhancing Student Mathematics Learning through the Use of Tools and Technology Grants, provided by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, aim to promote innovative technology use in teaching mathematics to Pre-K-12 students. These grants encourage proposals that focus on enhancing students' understanding of math concepts through various tools, including professional development for educators. Eligible applicants include current math teachers and full-time coaches, with a focus on impactful evaluation plans.

The Russell W. Ligon Memorial Engineering Scholarship, offered by the Four County Community Foundation, supports high school seniors and recent graduates from seven school districts pursuing degrees in engineering or computer science. Eligible students can receive up to four awards of $1000 each, contingent upon a GPA of 3.00 or higher, a letter of recommendation, and an essay response. Awardees will be recognized at the Foundation Scholarship Celebration and local high school awards events.