Ploughshares Grant Program

Ploughshares supports organizations and individuals working to reduce nuclear threats. Prospective applicants are directed to review the organization's Funding Priorities before applying to determine whether a proposed project fits its areas of interest. Ploughshares describes its grantmaking as having relatively few restrictions and specifically states that it can fund international organizations, direct and grassroots lobbying, and individuals. It also encourages women and people from diverse communities to apply. The current application opportunity described by the source is the Fall 2026 funding cycle. Ploughshares places several specific restrictions on the use of its grant funding. It does not fund scholarships or the research and writing of dissertations or books. It also does not cover overhead costs at academic institutions. Proposals involving the production of films, videos, and art projects are not categorically excluded, but funding for these activities is considered on a case-by-case basis. No required matching contribution or cost share is identified in the supplied information. The source does not state a standard minimum or maximum award amount, total funding available for the Fall 2026 cycle, number of awards expected, or a standard period of performance. Ploughshares states that it is committed to ensuring its grantmaking contributes to a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible nuclear field. Applications therefore include optional questions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Information supplied in response to those questions is kept strictly confidential, and applicants are explicitly told that omitting responses will not affect the outcome of an application. Ploughshares collects this information to better understand the projects it funds. All funding proposals must be submitted online. For the Fall 2026 cycle, the application portal is open from July 27, 2026 through September 1, 2026. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the Ploughshares Funding Priorities before submitting a proposal to make sure their project falls within the organization's areas of interest. Applicants may use the Ploughshares grantee portal at any time to check the status of a submitted proposal or a current grant. The supplied material does not identify a separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other mandatory pre-application gating deadline for the regular Fall 2026 funding cycle. Between board meetings, Ploughshares staff may also make discretionary grants of up to $50,000. These grants typically support urgent projects related to the organization's highest priority funding areas and are presented separately from the regular Fall 2026 application cycle. A party that believes its urgent project qualifies should submit an inquiry to the program team containing a brief project description and a topline budget figure. Ploughshares will then advise whether submission of a full proposal is appropriate. The $50,000 discretionary-grant limit is therefore not treated as the award ceiling for the regular Fall 2026 grant cycle. The supplied source does not state formal evaluation criteria, an award notification date, a performance period, or a recurring annual schedule for the regular grant cycle. It identifies September 1, 2026 as the closing date for the Fall 2026 application window, which began July 27, 2026. Because the source does not explicitly state that this opportunity recurs annually or at another regular interval, no future cycle is inferred. Questions may be directed to Kaite Lower at klower@ploughshares.org. Applicants are also directed to the application FAQ for additional information.

Review the Funding Priorities before submitting to ensure the project meets Ploughshares' areas of interest. For discretionary funding, urgent projects should relate to the highest priority funding areas and the initial inquiry should include a brief description and topline budget figure.