Best Worcester Grants for Nonprofits in Massachusetts

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.

Richard R. Montgomery Scholarship Fund

The Richard R. Montgomery Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by his family and friends to honor him after he passed away on June 22, 2004. Dick came to Battle Creek to work at the Enquirer and News after graduating in Journalism from Michigan State University. He later worked at Clark Equipment as the national sales promotion manager. Dick was a talented, enthusiastic person whose positive attitude enriched all who had the good fortune of knowing him. He worked to enhance the quality of life in the Battle Creek community through his many years of community involvement. He focused on problems that required action. He applied his positive spirit and his eloquent voice to many issues. Dick felt that he could make a difference in the lives of young people by his personal involvement on the General Scholarship Committee of the Battle Creek Community Foundation Scholarship Program. This scholarship has been established to help individuals who are starting out on their educational journey following high school graduation. It is our hope that recipients of this scholarship will display the same character and compassion to better their community as Dick Montgomery did.

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

Nicholas & Rose Offenbacher Scholarship Fund

Rose (Van Ness) Offenbacher graduated from Athens High School in 1939. She attended the Nichol's Hospital Nursing program and became a licensed practical nurse. She later graduated from KCC and became a registered nurse. During this time, she worked in several doctors? offices in Battle Creek and then for Leila Hospital, where she became charge nurse of the ICU/CCU and PCU. Rose married Nicholas Offenbacher in 1940. Nick graduated from Union City High School, and worked at Oliver Corporation and then Clark Equipment Company. Rose made provisions in her Trust Documents to establish a Scholarship Fund to benefit graduating seniors of the Athens Area Schools.

Building Bridges Documentary Fund

The Building Bridges Documentary Fund provides funding for independent documentary projects about the Muslim experience in the United States. The Fund’s goal is to support filmmakers and works that contribute to a fuller spectrum of narratives on the U.S. Muslim experience.

We fund the following project phases with the stated range of possible funding: 

• Research & Development ($10K to $25K)
• Production ($50K to $100K)
• Post-production ($50K to $100K)

Consider the diversity of the U.S Muslim population. According to the Pew Research Center in 2023-2024 Muslims in the United States identified as:

• 30% White and/or Asian
• 20% Black
• 11% Hispanic
• 8% Other or Multiracial
• 21% of Muslims are born in the U.S. or have at least one parent born in the U.S.
• 33% of U.S. Muslims live in the South, followed by Northeast (29%), Midwest (20%), West (18%).

The Building Bridges Documentary Fund is supported by the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation. CAAM is honored to be a part of this multi-year journey with our colleagues in the Program: the Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau, and the Sundance Institute. 

CAAM is also collaborating with the independent filmmaking community to provide support for workshops on various aspects of sustainable filmmaking practices. 

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.

Self-Defense Grants for MMIR Day

Facilitators, educators, organizers — May 5th is the Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Relatives. In honor of that day, we are offering mini grants to host a self-defense workshop for Indigenous girls and gender-expansive youth.

Why self-defense?

• Native women are murdered at 10x the national rate
• 84% experience violence in their lifetime
• Over 5,700 Native girls go missing each year

We also name the invisible crisis:

• Indigenous people from Mexico & Central America (Maya, Nahua, Zapotec, Mixtec, Lenca, and others) living in the U.S. face detention, deportation, and disappearances that are rarely counted in MMIR data.
• When a Tzotzil 18 year old like Royer Perez Jimenez dies in ICE custody, the silence is deafening.

Self-defense must include all Indigenous relatives.

XCNC has:

• $500 mini grants for stipends, space, supplies, and translation.

What we ask:

• Plan a workshop between May 5–31, 2026, rooted in community care.

Rooted + Relational Community Micro-Grant Program

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) at Hunter College has announced that it is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Rooted + Relational Community Micro-Grant program. CENTRO will award up to 12 grants, each up to $5,000, to non-institutionally affiliated and non-academic community organizations, individuals, or projects for community-based programs. 

The 2026-2027 the Rooted + Relational theme is Black Cuerpas: Race, Body Politics & Culture. CENTRO seeks to fund projects that examine

• How do race, gender, sexuality, and body politics shape the everyday lives and histories of Boricuas across the archipelago and diaspora? 
• What happens when we center race and Blackness in a field of study that has too often championed color-blindness and the myth of racial democracy to avoid the hard questions about racism, anti-Blackness, complicity, and erasure?

During the 2026-2027 academic year, grantees will implement their funded projects within their chosen communities. They will also present their work at a CENTRO event, attend three virtual meetings, and have their work highlighted through CENTRO’s communications and media channels. We invite community organizers, artists, creatives, writers, agricultural workers, activists, and cultural workers who reside in Puerto Rico and/or the United States and its territories to apply. 

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.

CSA Creative Work Honor

The CSA Creative Work Honor recognizes excellence in dress in its many forms, with emphasis on creative works and the making of dress objects. It pays attention to originality of concept, strength of research and concept development, inspiration and purpose, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, as well as communication about craftsmanship and the process of making. The honor is given every year to (1) one entry accepted and shown at the annual Symposium’s Exhibition of Creative Work. This entry may be the result of individual work or a collaborative endeavor. It is open to all CSA members, including career professionals, seasoned members, and young and emerging scholars who produce creative works related to dress and fashion.

All types of creative work submissions may be considered including (but not limited to): theatrical costume design, reenactment garb, reproduction, cosplay, and dress and/or conceptual design, etc. The submitters of creative works abstracts that score in the top (5) five will be eligible for this honor. The honoree will be announced at the symposium after the committee has reviewed the abstract and the creative work presented at the symposium. The recipient will receive a certificate and be recognized at the symposium. 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites U.S. researchers to apply for Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs) in Arctic Sciences. This initiative aims to support innovative research that enhances understanding of the Arctic's changing environment and cultural systems. The program seeks to foster early career scientists and strengthen STEM workforce development, while also promoting collaboration across federal and international partners to advance Arctic research and logistical capabilities.

Community Foundation of Carroll County

The Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc. was established in 1994 to ensure financial support for Carroll County not-for-profit organizations. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is a 501c(3) public charity. The Community Foundation of Carroll County is trusted partner for donors and nonprofits. We provide one central place where anyone can create a charitable fund, support what matters most, and leave a legacy of lasting impact.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports more than 75 scholarships. These scholarships vary in the amounts they award and cover a wide variety of student interests. Qualifiers range from academic achievements, sports played, and community service performed, to 4-H and FFA involvement. While the majority are for graduating Carroll County high school seniors, there are several for students in college or technical school, and even opportunities for students attending private primary school. 

4-H Brenda Barber 4-H Family Memorial Scholarship

The purpose of The Brenda Barber Family Memorial Scholarship is to honor the life and family of Brenda Barber by providing scholarship(s) for graduating high school seniors and continuing students who are members of Carroll County 4-H Clubs. 

Applicants must be starting college in the fall OR current college student at any community college, trade school or four-year institution. The scholarship check will be written out and mailed directly to said college or trade school. 

Community Foundation of Carroll County

The Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc. was established in 1994 to ensure financial support for Carroll County not-for-profit organizations. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is a 501c(3) public charity. The Community Foundation of Carroll County is trusted partner for donors and nonprofits. We provide one central place where anyone can create a charitable fund, support what matters most, and leave a legacy of lasting impact.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports more than 75 scholarships. These scholarships vary in the amounts they award and cover a wide variety of student interests. Qualifiers range from academic achievements, sports played, and community service performed, to 4-H and FFA involvement. While the majority are for graduating Carroll County high school seniors, there are several for students in college or technical school, and even opportunities for students attending private primary school. 

4-H Danielle Knell Memorial 4-H Scholarship

The purpose of this scholarship is to honor the life of DANIELLE K. KNELL by providing scholarship(s) for college bound students in Carroll County, Maryland who have shown academic achievement and participated in the Carroll County 4-H Horsemanship Programs and who have been accepted at an accredited College, University or Technical School. Applications will also be accepted from continuing students i.e. those already in college from the Carroll County 4-H Horsemanship Programs who meet the criteria established for this scholarship.

Community Foundation of Carroll County

The Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc. was established in 1994 to ensure financial support for Carroll County not-for-profit organizations. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is a 501c(3) public charity. The Community Foundation of Carroll County is trusted partner for donors and nonprofits. We provide one central place where anyone can create a charitable fund, support what matters most, and leave a legacy of lasting impact.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports more than 75 scholarships. These scholarships vary in the amounts they award and cover a wide variety of student interests. Qualifiers range from academic achievements, sports played, and community service performed, to 4-H and FFA involvement. While the majority are for graduating Carroll County high school seniors, there are several for students in college or technical school, and even opportunities for students attending private primary school. 

4-H Frank Feeser Memorial Carroll County 4-H/FFA Awardp

The purpose ofthe 4-H Frank Feeser Memorial Carroll County 4-H/FFA Award is to honor the life of FRANKLIN ELLSWORTH FEESER by providing an award to youth who has participated in the Carroll County 4-H or FFA programs specializing and showing excellence in swine knowledge and skills and who meets the criteria established for this award.

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.

Legacy Septic and Excavation Scholarships

The purpose of the Legacy Septic and Excavation Scholarships is to provide scholarships for current students of Winter’s Mill High School, Manchester Valley High School, Westminster High School and Carroll County Career and Technology Center who have an interest in the environment and who meet the eligibility requirements set up for this scholarship.

Community Foundation of Carroll County

The Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc. was established in 1994 to ensure financial support for Carroll County not-for-profit organizations. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is a 501c(3) public charity. The Community Foundation of Carroll County is trusted partner for donors and nonprofits. We provide one central place where anyone can create a charitable fund, support what matters most, and leave a legacy of lasting impact.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports more than 75 scholarships. These scholarships vary in the amounts they award and cover a wide variety of student interests. Qualifiers range from academic achievements, sports played, and community service performed, to 4-H and FFA involvement. While the majority are for graduating Carroll County high school seniors, there are several for students in college or technical school, and even opportunities for students attending private primary school. 

Bee a Rae of Sunshine Foundation – MaKenzi Rae Cash Memorial Nursing Scholarship

To support future nurses who exemplify kindness, compassion, and a commitment to caring for others, honoring MaKenzi Rae Cash’s legacy of empathy and her dedication to standing up against bullying in our community.

Community Foundation of Carroll County

The Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc. was established in 1994 to ensure financial support for Carroll County not-for-profit organizations. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is a 501c(3) public charity. The Community Foundation of Carroll County is trusted partner for donors and nonprofits. We provide one central place where anyone can create a charitable fund, support what matters most, and leave a legacy of lasting impact.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports more than 75 scholarships. These scholarships vary in the amounts they award and cover a wide variety of student interests. Qualifiers range from academic achievements, sports played, and community service performed, to 4-H and FFA involvement. While the majority are for graduating Carroll County high school seniors, there are several for students in college or technical school, and even opportunities for students attending private primary school. 

Bee a Rae of Sunshine Foundation – MaKenzi Rae Cash Memorial Military Service & Leadership Scholarship

To honor and support future military leaders who embody courage, respect, and kindness, carrying forward MaKenzi Rae Cash’s legacy of standing up for others, promoting a culture of kindness, and taking action against bullying in every community.

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.

Lee H Madairy Scholarship

The purpose of the Lee H Madairy Scholarship is to honor the life of Lee H. Madairy by providing scholarship(s) for a new or returning college or vocational program student who has shown academic achievement, excellent moral character and is pursuing a career in a STEM field. The successful candidate will have been accepted at an accredited College, University, or vocational program. The amount of money available each year for the scholarship(s) will be determined by the income generated by the fund. In addition, if income in any given year is sufficient, grants for other charitable purposes may be made in Mr. Madairy’s memory.

The Bee a Rae of Sunshine Foundation – MaKenzi Rae Cash Memorial Animal Compassion Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Carroll County, aims to support students dedicated to animal welfare. Eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors from Carroll County, Maryland, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least 125 service hours. This scholarship reflects MaKenzi Rae Cash's love for animals and her commitment to kindness and anti-bullying advocacy.

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.

Kaitlyn Taylor McDaniel Memorial Foundation Scholarship

The purpose of this Fund is to honor the life of Kaitlyn Taylor McDaniel by providing scholarship(s) who wish to pursue a career in nursing or nursing students already enrolled in a program. The Fund will also make grants from time to time to charities or for projects that would have been important to Kaitlyn.

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.

Jay A. Graybeal Scholarship

The purpose of the Jay A. Graybeal Scholarship is to provide scholarships to college bound high school students, or students currently enrolled in undergraduate studies or pursuing post-graduate studies in general history or a specialty area of studies in history to include but not limited to; museum studies, archival management, library science, historic preservation, material culture, American Studies, archaeology, anthropology, art or architectural history or preservation technology; or to students pursuing a recognized certification or apprentice program dedicated to traditional arts, industries, trades or crafts.

The Scholarship amount is $1,000.

FY27 Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program: Targeted Implementation Grant

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is offering a targeted grant to continue implementation support for a cohort of districts in Year 2 of Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program implementation. Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAPs) in Massachusetts are innovative pathways into teaching designed to build a diverse and effective teaching workforce that reflects the rich cultural backgrounds of our students. At the heart of RTAP is a commitment to providing equitable opportunities for aspiring educators, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to enter the teaching profession for little to no cost.

RTAP offers a new pathway to earning an Initial license in Massachusetts. RTAP integrates on-the-job training with academic coursework, allowing participants to earn while they learn. This hands-on approach ensures that apprentices gain practical classroom experience under the supervision of experienced educators while simultaneously completing the requirements for Initial licensure.

Funding:

Approximately $1,750,000 is available for this grant.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

FY2027: MassLINKS — Adult Education Virtual School

The purpose of this continuation grant is to support a statewide Adult Education Virtual School (AEVS) system branded as MassLINKS. All ABE and ESOL services must be delivered virtually.

The MassLINKS provider will recruit, intake, orient, enroll, instruct, assess, advise, and offer supportive services/post exit follow up to adult learners who are not served by programs currently funded by ACLS and/or whose need for services are not met by programs currently funded by ACLS.

Priorities:

The MassLINKS provider will:

• deliver a program design which includes synchronous and asynchronous instruction
• serve the targeted enrollment of 780 learners (330 — ABE, 450 — ESOL) on a monthly basis encompassing the 16 local workforce development areas
• assist eligible individuals in attaining a secondary school credential and transition to postsecondary education and training through career pathways
• assist eligible individuals to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency
• assist individuals who are English language learners— improving their reading, writing, speaking, and comprehensive skills in English including mathematical skills
• assist eligible individuals who are parents or family members to a) obtain the education and skills that are necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children and b) result in sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family
• reduce disparity in education by providing, in collaboration with WIOA partners and others, high-quality adult education programming that provides an inclusive and welcoming environment, rigorous curriculum and instruction, and related learner support services

Funding:

Approximately $3,000,000 available.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document

Who We Are

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois will make a sustainable philanthropic impact in our community through visible leadership in connecting people who care with causes that matter.

Women in Leadership of Central Illinois Scholarship Fund

The Women in Leadership of Central Illinois Scholarship Fund was established by the Women in Leadership of Central Illinois to provide scholarship support for women in the Tri-County (Peoria) area, who are pursuing secondary or post-graduate education or certification at an accredited college or university.

Women in Leadership Mission

To promote leadership among women by providing mentoring, networking, and educational opportunities.

FY2027: MassSTEP ABE and MassSTEP ESOL

MassSTEP models offer adults the opportunity to acquire adult education (AE), workforce training (occupational skills training1), and workplace preparation activities simultaneously.

MassSTEP ABE2 models provide AE concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities and workforce training to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of a high school credential, one or more relevant industry-recognized credentials (IRCs), and living wage employment in high-demand occupations.

MassSTEP ESOL3 models provide ESOL instruction concurrently and contextually with civics education, workforce preparation activities, and workforce training to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of one or more relevant IRCs and living-wage employment in high demand occupations.

These grants are designed for partnerships among education providers, approved workforce training providers, employers, and workforce partners to implement a MassSTEP model. Grants must be developed consistent with Public Law 113-128, Sections 201 through 243 .

Priorities are to support applicants that demonstrate:

• A MassSTEP model that is desirable, feasible, and sustainable.
• Career pathway development in priority occupations as shown in the WIOA local plan .
• A model that includes concurrent and contextualized adult education instruction, workforce preparation activities, civics education (MassSTEP ESOL), and workforce training (requirement).
• A program design of about 16 weeks or less in length (requirement).
• Partnership with one or more local area employers in the occupation that includes, but is not limited to, assistance with job placement (requirement).
• Student attainment of one or more IRCs (requirement) and a high school credential (MassSTEP ABE requirement).
• Collaborations with local MassHire Workforce Boards, MassHire Career Centers, and/or State-approved Career Technical Education Chapter 74 (CTE) Programs.
• Commitment to delivering a program that adheres to the FY24-FY28 Policies for Effective MassSTEP Programs in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions and MassSTEP Brand Standards and Implementation Guide.

Funding:

Funding is subject to state and federal appropriation. Up to $3,061,413 is available for this grant funded program.

Ben & Rose Schwabenbauer Educational Scholarship

Established by Ben and Rose Schwabenbauer, former long-time teachers in the Olean City School District, this fund awards scholarships for graduating seniors from Olean High School, Otto-Eldred High School, Portville Central School or Bradford Area High School who will be attending a 4-year college with a preference for students majoring in education, particularly elementary education; criminal justice or a law enforcement-related field; or healthcare-related fields of study. 

William D. and Catherine Griffin Fraser Scholarship

In memory of William D. Fraser and Catherine Griffin Fraser. Preference for a graduating senior from Olean High School or Cuba-Rushford Central School, but other graduates from other high schools in Cattaraugus or Allegany counties will be considered; preference for a four-year college, but two-year is eligible; student must be in good academic standing; financial need will be considered; preference for a student interested in a career in the medical field or education, but other majors will be considered. 

Two Joes Scholarship

This fund, named for two local community-minded businessmen, Joe DeRose and Joe Sgro, will support a scholarship for students in Cattaraugus County interested in pursuing technology-, marketing and communications- or business-related degrees.

Southern Tier Military Support Group Scholarship

This scholarship fund will honor the work of the Southern Tier Military Support Group. The annual distribution will be available for a scholarship award for nontraditional students who are veterans, or for graduating high school seniors who are the children or dependents of a veteran or who are planning to enroll in an ROTC program during their college education.