Grants for Nonprofits - Business and Commerce

This competition provides funding and support for teams developing innovative high-temperature seismic sensors to improve geothermal energy monitoring and enhance the understanding of subsurface conditions.

The County of Maui's Green Grants program offers approximately $1.7 million in funding to support projects promoting sustainability. Managed by the Department of Environmental Management’s Environmental Protection & Sustainability Division (EP&S), the program aims to advance critical initiatives in environmental protection, restoration, and sustainable development across Maui County. This aligns with the broader mission of fostering a more resilient and environmentally conscious community. The grants target a wide range of beneficiaries, including individuals, non-profit organizations, and for-profit businesses. The program particularly encourages projects led by, or with a focus on, women, youth, and traditional native Hawaiian practices and approaches. The overall impact goal is to enhance environmental protection, restore wetlands, promote renewable energy, encourage green building, and facilitate the acquisition of essential equipment for sustainability initiatives, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable Maui County. The Green Grants program prioritizes several key areas through its distinct funding streams. These include the Environmental Protection Grant, which supports invasive species management, environmental restoration, conservation, and sustainability (with a specific allocation for Waikapū community beautification). The Wetlands Restoration Grant focuses on organizations dedicated to wetland restoration. The Renewable Energy Grant supports initiatives promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Green Building and Resilient Housing Grant encourages sustainable building practices, with a portion designated for Living Building Challenge participants. Finally, the Equipment Purchase Grant assists in acquiring necessary equipment for all sustainability and environmental initiatives. Expected outcomes include tangible improvements in environmental health, increased adoption of renewable energy, more sustainable building practices, and enhanced capacity for environmental initiatives through equipment acquisition. For instance, the Wetlands Restoration Grant aims to advance critical restoration efforts, while the Renewable Energy Grant seeks to enhance energy efficiency. The Green Building and Resilient Housing Grant promotes sustainable design and construction. Measurable results would include the number of restored wetlands, reduction in invasive species, new renewable energy installations, and the implementation of green building projects. The project period for grants is a full year, with options to align with either the Fiscal Year (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025) or Calendar Year (January 1, 2025–December 31, 2025) in 2025.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations to establish centers that support the development and growth of cooperatives in rural areas, enhancing economic conditions and job creation.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Portland that have suffered from break-ins or vandalism, helping them cover repair costs and improve security measures.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to bioscience start-ups, early-stage businesses, and academic institutions in Connecticut to help accelerate the commercialization of innovative bioscience breakthroughs.

The Outdoor Equity Fund is currently open for the 2023 grant cycle, with a total of $1.7 million awarded to 54 programs in 16 counties. This funding will provide outdoor experiences for approximately 20,000 kids. The grant cycle is open on a rolling basis until funds are expended, and additional funding is available for this cycle. The fund aims to support transformative outdoor experiences that foster stewardship and respect for lands, waters, and cultural heritage. Potential applicants are encouraged to complete their applications early as multiple rounds of reviews are anticipated. In previous years, the Outdoor Equity Fund has awarded over $800,000 to 48 organizations in order to get 12,391 kids outside through 2023. In 2021, the fund supported 57 recipients who will collectively engage more than 22,000 young New Mexicans in outdoor activities through 2022. In its inaugural year in 2020, the fund awarded over $270,000 to 25 applicants across the state. The Outdoor Equity Fund seeks to address the disparity in access to outdoor experiences for underrepresented youth and aims to provide opportunities for these individuals to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of New Mexico.

The Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program offers progressive courses with one-on-one coaching to help clean energy contractors to develop a business plan. It provides operational support grants, tailored business coaching, mentorship, access to Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program services, assistance with certifications and vendor status, support in preparing bids, networking opportunities, and access to financial development assistance programs, including zero-interest and low-interest loans.

The Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) is currently accepting applications for its fall grant cycle, inviting projects that aim to make a positive impact on Huron County, Michigan. As a nonprofit community corporation, HCCF's mission is deeply rooted in supporting the people of Huron County by fostering prosperity. This is achieved through a focus on Community & Economic Growth, aligning the grant program directly with the foundation's core purpose of enhancing the well-being and development of the region. HCCF's strategic priorities are designed to cultivate a thriving environment within Huron County. These include retaining and attracting a talented, trained workforce, creating vibrant and dynamic communities, and cultivating an environment conducive to business development. Projects addressing these areas are given preference for unrestricted grantmaking dollars. This focus reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by investing in these key areas, they can catalyze broader community and economic growth, leading to a more prosperous future for all residents. Beyond the strategic priorities, the HCCF also encourages applications for projects that address numerous other interest areas, indicating a broad scope for potential beneficiaries. These areas include Arts and Culture, Education, Health & Medicine, Basic Needs Services, Beautification of Huron County, Natural Areas Preservation, Disadvantaged Youth, Recreation, and Women in STEM. This diverse range of focus areas ensures that a wide array of community needs and interests can be supported, reflecting a comprehensive approach to community development and impact. Applicants are required to submit a detailed project narrative, outlining the project's description and purpose, including its location and the number of people it will serve. This narrative should also address the project's long-term impact and measurable results, demonstrating how the grant from HCCF would be recognized. Furthermore, applicants must describe their evaluation methods to determine if their purpose was accomplished, and provide a budget with estimated income and expenses. These guidelines are designed to ensure accountability and to help the HCCF assess the potential effectiveness and sustainability of each proposed project, ultimately aiming for impactful and measurable outcomes that align with the foundation's mission.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that support underrepresented populations in the commercial real estate sector through employment training, entrepreneurship resources, and investment education.

This program provides $5,000 grants to small businesses and non-profits in Oyster Bay with up to 50 employees and annual revenues between $35,000 and $5 million to help them recover from pandemic-related losses.

This funding opportunity supports youth-led conferences and workshops across the Pacific region, aimed at empowering emerging leaders aged 25 to 40 to collaboratively tackle critical regional challenges in areas such as security, food supply, digital media, and public health.

The City of Shreveport, through its Department of Community Development, has announced a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Affordable Rental Housing Proposals. This initiative is primarily funded by the HOME Investment Partnerships Program American Rescue Plan (HOME ARP). The core mission of this grant program is to address the critical need for affordable housing within the community by soliciting proposals from experienced agencies dedicated to developing and managing such properties. This aligns with a broader strategic priority to enhance housing stability and accessibility for vulnerable populations. The primary beneficiaries of this program are individuals and families from specific qualifying populations. These include people experiencing homelessness, those at risk of homelessness, individuals fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, and other populations where supportive services would prevent homelessness or serve those with the greatest risk of housing instability. The impact goal is to provide safe, stable, and affordable rental housing, thereby reducing homelessness and housing insecurity for these vulnerable groups. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around the production or preservation of affordable housing through new construction, rehabilitation, and property acquisition, including vacant land, specifically for HOME-ARP rental housing projects. These projects must commit to providing affordable rental housing for a minimum of 15 years. The City of Shreveport aims to fund up to three qualified entities that demonstrate extensive experience in affordable housing development, non-congregate or transitional housing operations, supportive service programs, and federal policy compliance. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of available affordable rental housing units in Shreveport, directly benefiting the identified qualifying populations. Measurable results will likely include the number of new units constructed or rehabilitated, the number of individuals and families housed, and the duration of their housing stability. The City's strategic priority is to leverage federal funding to create a sustainable impact on housing affordability, with a theory of change that posits that by investing in experienced developers to create and preserve affordable housing, they can directly mitigate the effects of housing instability and homelessness in the community.

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) is offering a grant program to support the development and public presentation of visual art exhibitions. This initiative aligns with CAH's mission to foster artistic and cultural development within the District of Columbia by providing opportunities for local artists and curators. The grant aims to enhance the cultural landscape of D.C. through innovative and educational art exhibitions, utilizing CAH's exhibition space and virtual platforms. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are District resident curators and nonprofit organizations with curatorial capacity. The program seeks to empower these individuals and groups to develop and present compelling visual art exhibitions. The impact goals include providing opportunities for D.C. resident curators to showcase new works or bring existing exhibitions from other cities to the District, thereby enriching the cultural experiences available to local residents. The program prioritizes fostering innovative and educational art exhibitions. Key focus areas include supporting the presentation of visual art in a government facility and offering unique exhibitions and related programs for District residents. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number and diversity of art exhibitions available in D.C., greater visibility for local curators and artists, and enhanced engagement of District residents with the arts. Funding for individuals and new nonprofit organizations in FY25 can be up to $30,000, or $35,000 if working with a co-curator or curatorial mentee, with a grant period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Eligibility criteria for individuals include being an artist, curator, or arts-related professional over 18 with prior curatorial experience, maintaining D.C. residency, and being in good standing with CAH. Nonprofit organizations must be 501(c)(3) certified, have a principal business office in D.C., be registered to do business in the District, ensure at least 51% of activities occur in D.C., and obtain Citywide Clean Hands certification. Colleges, universities, service organizations, foreign governments, and other DC/Federal Government agencies are ineligible.

The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity offering $100,000 to $500,000 for up to 3 years to researchers, educators, and organizations exploring sustainable agriculture, with the aim of improving economic viability, environmental quality, and quality of life in the North Central Region's agricultural sector.

This program provides coaching and community support for fundraisers of color at small nonprofits in Sacramento and Yolo counties, focusing on those addressing health and racial disparities.

The Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD), with support from the City of Opelousas and Opelousas Main Street (OMS), is launching the fifth round of funding for its Building Improvement Grant (BIG) program. This program is a grant/reimbursement initiative designed to empower property and business owners in rehabilitating commercial buildings. The overarching mission alignment for this program is to create a positive visual impact within the city, stimulate private investment, and diligently preserve Opelousas' historic identity and cultural assets. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are property and business owners within the Opelousas Downtown Development District who own commercial buildings. The core impact goals are to foster economic development through private investment, enhance the aesthetic appeal of the downtown area, and ensure the safeguarding of the city's rich historical and cultural heritage. The program directly supports the revitalization of commercial spaces, which, in turn, contributes to a more vibrant and economically robust downtown. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly on tangible and permanent building improvements. Eligible uses of funds are comprehensive, including restoration and renovation of buildings, installation of awnings (without signage), brick cleaning or re-pointing, accent lighting, removal of deteriorating or inappropriate materials visible from the street, and restoration of windows, doors, and original exterior/interior architectural features. Additionally, interior work related to ceiling repair, electrical, and plumbing is covered, as well as work on roofs, cornices, gutters, downspouts, and the cleaning, preparation, and painting of walls and trim. These priorities are aimed at holistic improvement of commercial properties. The expected outcomes include a noticeable improvement in the visual appeal of downtown Opelousas, an increase in private investment in commercial properties, and the successful preservation of historic buildings. While not explicitly stated as "measurable results" in the traditional sense, the program's structure and goals imply that the number of rehabilitated buildings, the amount of private investment stimulated, and the visible improvements in the downtown area would serve as key indicators of success. The program offers a total of $200,000 in grant funds, with a maximum application amount of $10,000 per project, providing a clear framework for financial allocation and impact tracking.

This grant provides funding for community organizations and local governments to engage in environmental outreach, education, and restoration projects aimed at improving water quality and ecological health in the Jones Falls watershed of Maryland.

This track of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program provides approximately $1 million for grants aimed at purchasing equipment necessary for the middle of the food supply chain activities in Vermont. The grants range from $30,000 to $100,000 with no match requirement. Applications for this track are set to open in late August 2024 and close in early October 2024, with grant activities beginning in early 2025.

Grantees will be required to accomplish the following within the Grant Activity Period: Convene a standing committee of community members and stakeholders tosupport development of new SLP structure and strategic framework. Model equity practices and principles in the development of new SLP mission,vision, programming, and services. Identify and retain a dedicated staff member to lead new SLP and provide mentorship to that individual. Identify and maintain an accessible public office space for the new SLP. Create and implement a realistic operating budget for new SLP, with appropriate portion of grant funds going directly to support new SLP. Supply anticipated outcomes for a one-year grant and outline any next steps anticipated to occur beyond the grant activity period to fulfill the goals of the grant program.