Grants for Nonprofits - Community Development

The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) Grant, facilitated by the Rural Maryland Council, is accepting applications for its 2025 Regional Planning and Development Councils initiative. The overarching mission of RMPIF is to elevate the standard of living in rural Maryland to meet or exceed statewide benchmarks by 2030, while simultaneously preserving the unique cultural heritage and rural lifestyle. This grant program is a strategic investment designed to bolster economic and community development, foster regional and intergovernmental cooperation, and enable local and nonprofit organizations to attract additional non-state resources for sustainable rural development. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are the five established regional planning and development councils: the Tri-County Council of Western Maryland, Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland, Upper Shore Regional Council, Mid-Shore Regional Council, and Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Additionally, multi-county efforts serving rural communities not covered by these councils are also eligible. The impact goals are broad, aiming to increase entrepreneurial activity, reduce unemployment and underemployment, retain valuable farm and forest land, and generally enhance the health, happiness, safety, employment opportunities, and general welfare of rural residents. The program prioritizes several key areas: encouraging a balanced economy, promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public/private partnerships, enhancing infrastructure for housing, transportation, water, wastewater, and broadband communications, and supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and community revitalization efforts. The grant specifically provides funding for projects and activities undertaken by the regional councils and other multi-county initiatives, with approved grant agreements reflecting strategic needs identified within the rural communities. Expected outcomes include stronger and more effective rural regions, the creation of economic development strategies, preservation and assistance for agricultural and resource-based industries, successful acquisition of federal funding for infrastructure, coordinated regional transportation projects (including public transit), and the development of support for diverse public policy initiatives. Each regional council is eligible to receive $600,000 in FY2025 for rural regional planning and development assistance, providing measurable financial support to achieve these objectives. The Rural Maryland Council's strategic priority is rooted in a theory of change that by investing in regional cooperation and targeted development, rural areas can achieve sustainable growth and a higher quality of life, ultimately benefiting the entire state.

This program provides funding to organizations worldwide for innovative projects that use an open-source AI model to address social challenges in areas like economic development and public services.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to public and nonprofit organizations in Glendale for projects that improve community facilities serving low- and moderate-income individuals, special needs populations, and seniors.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Indiana-based organizations and agencies working to improve services and responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, particularly for underserved communities.

The Charleston County Community Development Program has announced the opening of the application period for the 2025-2026 Urban Entitlement Funding Request for Applications (RFA). This program supports projects that align with the goals of the county's Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2021–2025. Applicants must clearly identify which goal their project addresses and include measurable outputs. Additionally, applications should specify whether the funding request is for Charleston County, the City of North Charleston, or both jurisdictions. The application window runs from November 25, 2024, at 4:00 PM EST to January 6, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST. Funding is available through several programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), and Emergency Solutions Grant (HESG). Each program has specific requirements, and applicants must submit all documents electronically via the Urban Entitlement Application in Neighborly. Signed forms must include an authorized representative’s signature. HESG applicants must also obtain an endorsement letter from the Lowcountry Continuum of Care, with requests due by December 13, 2024, at 12:00 PM EST. The required documents vary by program and include forms such as the Application Certification, Financial Statement Form, and budget templates specific to each grant type. Additional details can be found in Section 5 of the RFA Instructions. Workshops will be held to assist applicants on December 3, 2024, at City Hall in North Charleston and December 5, 2024, at the Charleston County Council Chambers. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn more about the application process and ask questions. Applicants may also submit written questions about the RFA process to Community Development staff by December 13, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST. Answers will be posted in an addendum on December 20, 2024. Town hall meetings will be hosted in participating jurisdictions to discuss program funding and gather community input, with meetings scheduled throughout November and December 2024. Projects must align with the Consolidated Plan's goals and provide measurable results. All applications and supporting materials must be submitted by the January 6, 2025, deadline through the designated portal. Late submissions will not be accepted. For additional information or support, applicants can email CommunityDev@CharlestonCounty.org or call (843) 202-6960.

The Infrastructure Grants, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, aim to enhance the middle of the food supply chain through improved aggregation points, food processing infrastructure, and storage facilities. This grant supports projects that upgrade equipment, facilitate transition to licensed spaces, and expand storage capacities to boost local food production. Priority is given to projects that benefit underserved and veteran farmers, and socially disadvantaged individuals. Funding is prioritized for needs such as food hubs, cooperative developments, and increased cold storage, especially in urban areas.

The United States Department of States Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to address systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes that challenge gender equity and equality in the Caribbean economy, to build the economic resilience and skills capacity of women and adolescent girls aged 16 and older to enable them to enter the labor force and obtain economic security. The project should start in October 2024, exact start dates to be determined. It is anticipated that the award will be executed through a cooperative agreement. This project will be administered by WHAs Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (PPC). Subject to availability of funds, WHA intends to issue one award to not exceed $1,973,359 in FY 2023 Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Economic Support Funds (ESF) for a project period up to three (3) years. WHAs Caribbean United for Womens Economic Empowerment (CUWEE) project seeks proposals that demonstrate how the potential grantee will strengthen local civil society support actors engaged in advancing womens economic security in the region to help provide economic gender equity and equality in the Caribbean region. The project should include plans to first identify problematic country-specific and/or regional systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes, and then work with local civil society organizations (CSO)s to address those barriers. The CUWEE project intends to support a competition that will promote local CSOs to develop and implement pioneering solutions to overcome the local systemic barriers to economic security for women in their country/region. Additionally, the project should provide a training curriculum that builds the capacity of and strengthens the regional Caribbean network of local CSOs engaged in womens economic security.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community groups and organizations in Ellensburg for improving parks, trails, and recreational facilities to enhance public enjoyment and participation.

This new multi-year grant program intends to create local community connections to California’s rich and diverse cultural history and natural areas outside of California’s state park boundaries. Eligible projects will enhance connections to local cultural history, local parks, open space or natural areas through community events, programming or installations that help to build sustainable community connections, health and well-being. The Local Parks Grants Program will be managed and administered by Parks California. This program supports the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative led by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, along with the Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative, and California State Parks’ Reexamining Our Past Initiative.

The Rocky Brands Community Improvement Fund is seeking applications from 501c3 organizations and government agencies in specific Ohio counties for projects that align with their mission and values, address current or emerging needs, encourage cooperation, and can leverage additional funds, with a focus on areas such as children's welfare, hunger, education, senior citizens, health wellness, community development, and more.

The Public Art for Neighborhoods program, administered by the Indy Arts Council, offers grants ranging from $1000 to $10,000 for individual artists or neighborhood-based organizations in Indianapolis to fund arts and cultural activities, public art projects, or arts collaborations with community initiatives, with the aim of enhancing local neighborhoods.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Utah to improve broadband access and infrastructure, ensuring more residents can connect to high-speed internet.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, government entities, and educational institutions in Charlevoix County to implement projects focused on environmental education, protection, restoration, and sustainability.

The FY24 CPD Accreditation: Supporting Law Enforcement Agencies in Seeking Accreditation program is administered by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is fundamentally aligned with the COPS Office's mission to advance the practice of community policing across the nation's state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies. This specific funding mechanism uses Community Policing Development (CPD) funds to support agencies actively seeking law enforcement accreditation from an existing entity. The grant resources directly aid in the pursuit of formalized standards and best practices, thereby supporting the broader organizational goal of institutionalizing effective community policing strategies and creating safer, more trusting public interactions. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies across the United States. The funding is designed to be granted directly to these entities to offset the necessary costs associated with the accreditation process. The clear focus and priority of the grant is to increase the number of accredited law enforcement agencies. This process is inherently linked to the broader goals of CPD funding, which focuses on developing capacity, providing guidance on promising practices, and supporting the development and testing of innovative strategies within the field of law enforcement. By prioritizing accreditation, the program emphasizes a commitment to formalized standards and operational excellence as a mechanism for advancing community policing. The overarching impact goal of this initiative is to enhance law enforcement's capacity to effectively implement community policing strategies. The expected outcomes are measurable and rooted in the achievement of accreditation. By successfully obtaining accreditation, participating agencies are expected to demonstrate compliance with a set of rigorous, nationally recognized standards, which are known to improve operational efficiency, accountability, and community trust. Measurable results include the number of agencies that apply for and successfully achieve accreditation using the grant funds, signaling an increase in agencies that have adopted vetted, effective practices for preventing crime and promoting safe communities. This systematic improvement helps solidify knowledge about effective practices and fosters creative, sustainable approaches to public safety. The COPS Office's strategic priority, as reflected by this program, is the institutionalization of community policing principles through formal, verifiable mechanisms. The theory of change is that by supporting law enforcement agencies financially in their pursuit of accreditation—a benchmark of professionalism and adherence to best practices—the agencies will inherently improve their operations, increase transparency, and build stronger community relationships. This, in turn, directly supports the Department of Justice's mandate to foster safe communities and ensure effective, equitable law enforcement across all jurisdictions. The investment in accreditation is viewed as a force multiplier, ensuring that CPD's core mission of developing capacity and guiding promising practices is codified into the daily operations and long-term structure of the supported agencies.

Program: CFMC Small Opportunity Grants Program Funder: Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) Award Details: Grants typically range between $1,000 and $5,000, with larger grants up to $10,000 considered as exceptions. The grant amount can be used to support emerging organizations and ventures, urgent needs, and time-sensitive efforts where a small amount of money will make a difference. The grants are one-time and not ongoing program support. Eligibility: Eligible organizations include 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, fiscally-sponsored organizations, and occasionally other unincorporated public benefit organizations serving Monterey County residents. Fiscal sponsors may submit applications for multiple sponsored groups. Individual organizations within a collaborative applying for a grant may also apply for their own Opportunity Grant as long as it is not for the same project as that of the collaborative. Businesses and individuals are generally not eligible, except for social enterprises associated with a local nonprofit. Application Process: Before submitting an application, it is recommended to review the Opportunity Grant Guidelines and application. A conversation with the program officer prior to submission is highly encouraged. The application process is fairly simple and online. Applications are accepted year-round, and decisions are usually made within two months of submission. Evaluation: A final report is required within one year of receiving the grant. The report should include a narrative evaluation that details how the grant was used, its impact on the organization or community, lessons learned, and next steps. To apply for CFMC Small Opportunity Grants Program or access additional information about eligibility criteria and guidelines, visit their Online Grants Manager at [https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfmco](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfmco). For any questions or further assistance regarding eligibility or applying with a fiscal sponsor, contact the staff person for the specific grant opportunity or the Grantmaking Coordinator.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations in Brevard County that implement innovative programs addressing health disparities, food insecurity, and homelessness, with a focus on nutrition, physical activity, and access to healthcare services.

The Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) aims to elevate the standard of living in rural Maryland to or beyond statewide averages by 2030, while simultaneously preserving the unique cultural heritage and rural way of life. The fund, overseen by the Rural Maryland Council, provides targeted investments in economic and community development programs. This aligns with a broader mission to encourage entrepreneurial activity, foster a balanced economy, and relieve unemployment and underemployment in rural areas, ultimately promoting the overall health and welfare of rural residents across the State. RMPIF targets all rural counties in Maryland, benefiting local governments, higher education institutions, regional councils, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving rural constituencies. The core impact goal is to facilitate sustainable rural development by enabling these organizations to leverage additional non-state resources. Key priorities include the retention of valuable farm and forest land, promotion of intergovernmental and public-private partnerships, enhancement of essential infrastructure (housing, transportation, water, wastewater, broadband), and support for rural commercial center redevelopment and community revitalization efforts. The program's expected outcomes include increased entrepreneurial activity and commerce, a reduction in unemployment and underemployment, the productive use of farm and forest land, and improved infrastructure and services in rural areas. Measurable results for Fiscal Year 2025 include a State budget of $1,500,000 in General Funds specifically allocated for the entrepreneurship portion of the RMPIF program. The fund's theory of change posits that strategic investments and collaborative efforts will lead to a more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable future for rural Maryland, directly contributing to the well-being and economic stability of its residents. Eligible expenditures for RMPIF include salaries and wages, administrative costs (construction, leasing, renovation of buildings, purchase/rental of vehicles, equipment), and reasonable meal costs with justification. Administrative expenses, however, are capped at 25% of the grant request, and indirect administrative costs at 10%. Acquisition of land is not an eligible expense. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include a statement on sustainability for future years, ensuring the long-term impact and viability of the funded initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofits in six Connecticut communities to enhance programs that directly benefit their residents.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations in the Homer area for innovative projects that enhance education, recreation, environmental initiatives, and cultural development.