Grants for Nonprofits - Education

The Impact KC Grant Program, administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, is designed to make a substantive impact on the well-being of the Kansas City metropolitan area. This program aligns with the foundation's mission by fostering volunteerism, fundraising, and education to address community needs. Impact KC is funded through general membership and aims to award one-time grants annually to one to four eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, with grant sizes ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The program targets a wide range of beneficiaries across various areas of interest, including Aging, Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education/Youth services, Health and Life Sciences, and Social services/Families. The core impact goal is to provide funds that will have a substantive impact on a tangible project or defined purpose within these areas. This focus ensures that the grants contribute to concrete and measurable improvements in the well-being of the Kansas City community. Impact KC's priorities are broadly defined by the areas of interest, with an emphasis on projects that demonstrate a clear potential for significant positive change. While specific strategic priorities and a formal theory of change are not explicitly detailed, the program's structure implies a commitment to supporting local nonprofits that can effectively implement projects addressing critical community needs. The selection of organizations that can articulate a specific purpose for the funds reflects a results-oriented approach. Expected outcomes include the successful completion of tangible projects and the achievement of defined purposes within the grant recipient organizations. Although specific measurable results are not outlined in the provided text, the requirement for funds to be used for "specific purpose(s) as outlined in the original grant proposal" suggests an expectation of accountability and a focus on achieving the proposed objectives. The grant size, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, indicates support for projects with a defined scope, enabling recipients to address specific challenges effectively.

This grant provides funding to state and local governments, non-profits, educational institutions, and local courts in Maryland to improve safety, permanency, and well-being for children in the foster care system.

The United States Agency for International Development in Vietnam (USAID/Vietnam) is seeking applications from qualified entities to implement the "USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform" activity. The activity aims to modernize the selected universities to support their desire to become world-class institutions. Vietnamese universities historically graduate students steeped in theory, but needing more real-world skills. To drive Vietnam’s continued economic growth, university graduates need to be fully prepared for today’s competitive global economy. In recognition of this, the Government of Vietnam enacted a law in 2018 calling for reforms to higher education. Through the Partnership for Higher Education Reform with Vietnam’s three largest universities and U.S. higher education institutions, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) advances reforms to improve the quality and market-relevance of higher education to drive lasting growth. STRENGTHEN UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE The partnership establishes robust internal quality assurance systems and modernizes management information systems to improve university governance and operations. IMPROVE ACADEMIC QUALITY The partnership provides faculty training in state-of-the-art course design and digitizing curriculum to increase access to high-quality resources. The partnership also fosters faculty networks across universities to encourage cross-learning and cooperation. STRENGTHEN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION The partnership strengthens research and innovation through faculty exchanges and training, private sector collaboration, visiting scholar programs, conferences and workshops, and aligning research activities to the social and economic needs of the country. IMPACT It is expected that by the end of the project, the three partner universities will become models of modern higher education, equipping more than 200,000 students to thrive in an increasingly competitive global market and drive Vietnam’s socio-economic development. TARGETED LOCALITIES The project partners with Vietnam National University-Hanoi, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, and the University of Danang.

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville's Compass Society Grant program is designed to fund collaborative, visionary projects that create significant and sustainable impacts across various aspects of the community's quality of life. This program aligns with the Foundation's mission to drive future-focused opportunities, aiming to build a better community for future generations. It emphasizes collective action, requiring organizations to work together to achieve outcomes greater than any single entity could accomplish alone. The grant targets a broad range of beneficiaries across Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan counties in the Greater Huntsville area. Projects are expected to address multiple focus areas within the Foundation's Quality of Life Framework, which includes Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environment, Health & Wellness, Neighborhoods & Communities, and Recreation. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen the community by investing in programs that provide essential services, foster growth, and enrich lives holistically. Priority for funding is given to projects that demonstrate visionary, collaborative, and high-impact characteristics. "Visionary" projects create innovative, future-focused programs, while "collaborative" projects involve three or more partners, not necessarily all nonprofits. Projects must also span at least three of the Foundation's Quality of Life focus areas. "High-impact" initiatives are those that can affect a large number of people through scalable, ripple-effect transformations, indicating a strategic focus on widespread and lasting change. The expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around these priority areas. Projects are anticipated to produce innovative solutions, foster strong community partnerships, and demonstrate a broad reach across multiple quality-of-life indicators. The Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are rooted in the belief that collaborative, innovative, and impactful initiatives, guided by a future-focused vision, are essential for sustainable community development. By funding projects that meet these criteria, the Community Foundation aims to empower organizations to drive meaningful transformation and enhance the overall well-being of the Greater Huntsville area.

The Scanlan Foundation offers grants to Catholic religious, charitable, and educational institutions exclusively within Texas. Its core mission is to foster a culture of vocations, guiding all strategic decisions, giving, and relationship-building efforts. This foundational commitment is supported by five key pillars of funding, each designed to align with and further the foundation's overarching spiritual and community-focused objectives. The foundation's theory of change is rooted in strengthening the Catholic faith and its institutions at various levels, from individual formation to community-wide impact. One of the primary pillars is "Vocations To The Priesthood And Religious Life," with the explicit goal of increasing the number of men and women answering their call to join the priesthood and religious life. This initiative targets individuals discerning a religious vocation, aiming to support their journey and bolster the future leadership of the Catholic Church. Another crucial area is "Marriage & Holy Families," which seeks to encourage sacramental marriage preparedness for engaged couples and strengthen existing marriages, recognizing their vital role as the "Domestic Church." The foundation expects these efforts to result in more robust faith-filled families and a stronger social fabric within the Catholic community. "Catholic Education" is another significant focus, with goals to enhance access for families who value faith-based education but face financial barriers, improve teacher faith-formation, and develop strong campus ministries. The target beneficiaries are students, teachers, and campus communities within Catholic educational institutions across Texas. The expected outcomes include a more accessible and spiritually enriching educational environment, better-prepared educators, and vibrant campus ministries that foster faith development among young people. This pillar reflects the foundation's strategic priority of investing in the future of the Church through education. The "Evangelization & Discipleship" pillar aims to form missionary disciples, particularly on college campuses in Texas, and to foster personal holiness and promote individual faith formation. This involves engaging young adults in their faith journey and equipping them to share the Gospel. Furthermore, the "Life & Human Dignity" pillar is dedicated to assisting the poor, sick, and vulnerable, promoting faith-based therapy, and strengthening the culture of life. These efforts collectively target those in need and seek to uphold the inherent dignity of every human person, reflecting a comprehensive approach to charitable giving and social impact. Across all its funding pillars, the Scanlan Foundation prioritizes expressly Catholic 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Texas that align with its mission. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly articulated through the specific goals of each pillar, emphasizing measurable results such as increased vocations, strengthened marriages, enhanced educational access, and improved support for vulnerable populations. The ultimate expected outcomes are a more vibrant, resilient, and faithful Catholic community in Texas, nurtured through targeted support and strategic partnerships.

This grant provides funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and local government entities in Akron, Iowa, to support projects that enhance community quality of life in areas such as arts, education, health, and the environment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Native American communities to develop sustainable economic projects, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance local infrastructure and social systems.

The Statewide Creative Catalyst Grants are designed to support new initiatives that enhance the cultural, educational, or economic vitality of Pennsylvania's communities through the arts. Eligible projects should align with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts' goals of strengthening communities through the arts, connecting Pennsylvanians to lifelong learning through the arts, and promoting public awareness and appreciation of the arts. Applications will be assessed based on their statewide impact, benefit to Pennsylvania's creative sector, and incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to develop and implement strategies that improve health equity and reduce health disparities among underserved women and girls, particularly those from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds.

The Indiana Department of Health’s (IDOH) Maternal and Child Health Division aims to fund community-based organizations, local health departments, hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations in Indiana. The primary goal is to implement evidence-based or promising practice programs focused on teen pregnancy prevention and positive youth development. This initiative aligns with the IDOH's mission to improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state by empowering youth to make healthy decisions and avoid risky behaviors. The funding is provided by the Family and Youth Services Bureau and the IDOH, Maternal and Child Health Division (MCH). The program's target beneficiaries are youth within Indiana, with an intentional focus on high-risk groups. These include youth in or aging out of foster care, those in the child welfare system, idle youth (not working or in school), school dropouts, youth living in poverty, youth in juvenile centers, traditionally underserved racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQIA+ youth, and runaway or homeless youth. The impact goals are to reduce teen pregnancy rates, promote self-regulation, encourage healthy relationships, and foster goal setting through a positive youth development framework. The priorities and focuses of this grant include providing evidence-based sexual risk avoidance education curricula that normalize voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity. Programs should also emphasize the benefits of self-regulation, success sequencing, healthy relationships, and goal setting. Applicants may also implement the Teen Café Model alongside an evidence-based curriculum. Additionally, the program prioritizes teaching youth skills to avoid risky behaviors, explaining how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability, defining "consent" and "active consent," and teaching the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity. Where appropriate, mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision should be provided to support these objectives. Expected outcomes include a decrease in teen pregnancy rates among participating youth, an increase in youth demonstrating self-regulation and goal-setting behaviors, and improved decision-making regarding sexual activity. Measurable results will likely be tracked through participant engagement, knowledge acquisition on consent and risk avoidance, and, ultimately, a reduction in pregnancy rates within the target populations. The strategic priority is to equip Indiana's youth with the knowledge and skills necessary for positive development and to avoid the risks associated with early sexual activity, thereby improving long-term health and well-being outcomes. The theory of change posits that by providing comprehensive, evidence-based education and support, at-risk youth will be empowered to make informed choices that lead to healthier lives and a reduced incidence of teen pregnancy. Projects are scheduled to start October 1, 2024, and conclude September 30, 2026, contingent on federal funding availability.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is offering the Solid Waste Recycling Enhancement Act (REA) Higher Education Research Grant Program. This grant program is designed to fund projects that align with and support the objectives of the Recycling Enhancement Act. The core mission is to enhance existing resources, tools, or methodologies, or to create new ones, all in furtherance of the REA's goals. This initiative demonstrates a strategic priority to foster innovation and practical advancements in recycling within New Jersey, reflecting a theory of change that posits that targeted research and development will lead to improved recycling practices and outcomes for the state. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are New Jersey institutions of higher education. These institutions may implement projects in conjunction with, or by subcontracting or partnering with, other entities as permitted by law. The primary impact goal is to support the objectives of the REA through various projects. This includes enhancing the capabilities of the higher education sector to contribute to environmental sustainability, specifically in waste management and recycling. The program aims to leverage academic expertise to generate solutions that have tangible benefits for the state's recycling infrastructure and policies. The grant prioritizes projects in several key areas: recycling demonstration, research, or education, including professional training. This focus allows for a broad range of initiatives, from practical applications and pilot programs to in-depth academic studies and workforce development. The expected outcomes include the development of new or improved resources, tools, and methodologies that directly contribute to the objectives of the Recycling Enhancement Act. Measurable results could include, but are not limited to, new recycling technologies implemented, increased public or professional understanding of recycling best practices, and data-driven insights that inform future policy decisions. Approximately $1 million in grant funding has been allocated for this opportunity, with individual grant amounts ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. Awardees and grant amounts will be determined based on the strength of the proposal, adherence to selection criteria, and the availability of funds. The grant is designed to cover personnel costs (salaries/fringe benefits), other direct costs such as supplies, printing, mailings, mileage, and contractual services, as well as indirect costs. Indirect, fringe benefits, or administrative costs should be estimated using an approved negotiated cost agreement, or a rate of 10% of modified total direct costs if such an agreement is not available. This structure ensures that funded projects are adequately resourced to achieve their stated objectives and contribute effectively to the REA.

The Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE) is accepting applications for the Digital Equity Fund (DEF), a grant program designed to foster community-led digital equity outreach, digital inclusion planning, and implementation within Baltimore City. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to bridge the significant digital divide experienced by many Baltimore residents, where over 25% lack a digital device and more than 40% lack internet access. The program's strategic priority is to address these gaps through targeted interventions, aiming for a theory of change that by investing in digital education, inclusion programming, and IT skills, vulnerable populations will gain the essential tools to fully participate in the modern digital world. The DEF focuses on providing digital education training, digital inclusion programming, and initiatives specifically in low digital inclusion communities throughout Baltimore. The target beneficiaries include a wide range of vulnerable residents: those in low digital equity communities, people with disabilities, older adults, immigrants and non-English speakers, racial or ethnic minority groups, returning citizens, LGBTQIA+ youth, people experiencing homelessness, and families with children under five. The impact goal is to empower these communities by enhancing digital literacy and skills, thereby reducing the disparities caused by decades of disinvestment and the digital divide. The program is structured around three distinct grant categories, each with a maximum award of $200,000, and a grant period from September 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026. Tier 1, "Digital Literacy Education Training," supports initiatives for older adults and the wider community through tech hubs at recreation centers, focusing on basic computer skills, internet usage, and digital skills for job seekers. Tier 2, "Advanced Digital Education and IT Fundamentals Programming," aims to provide IT fundamental skills training and certification, such as Cisco IT Essentials or CompTIA certifications, to residents aspiring to IT careers. Tier 3, "Digital Creatives and Virtual Makerspaces Programming," encourages education in coding, digital media creation, robotics, video editing, and 3D printing at local recreation centers. Expected outcomes for the DEF include increased digital literacy and skills across the target populations, enhanced access to digital devices and internet for underserved households, and improved employment opportunities for residents through IT certification. Measurable results will likely involve tracking the number of individuals receiving training, certifications earned, and participation in digital creative programs. The ultimate goal is to see a significant reduction in the digital divide in Baltimore City, enabling more residents to engage effectively in the digital world and addressing the systemic inequities faced by the most vulnerable.

The Racial Equity Research Grants program supports education research projects that will contribute to understanding and ameliorating racial inequality in education. We are interested in funding studies that aim to understand and disrupt the reproduction and deepening of inequality in education, and which seek to (re)imagine and make new forms of equitable education. Thus, we are interested in research projects that seek to envision educational opportunities in a multiplicity of education systems, levels, settings, and developmental ranges and that reach beyond documenting conditions and paradigms that contribute to persistent racial inequalities. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in relation to racial equity in education. In this cycle of funding, we will continue to fund scholarship focused on a range of communities and issues with respect to equity. We encourage proposals from across the methodological spectrum, including qualitative methods, mixed-methods, and quantitative methods. We want to especially encourage Racial Equity proposals that focus on the following areas: (1) innovative forms of measurement and assessment, (2) artificial intelligence (AI), and (3) current political challenges in k-12 and higher education around diversity, equity, and inclusion. As with other Spencer grant programs, this program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not required to be developed around a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or geographic location. We will be accepting applications for projects ranging from one to five years with budgets up to $75,000. The Racial Equity Research Grants program supports education research projects that will contribute to understanding and disrupting racial inequality in education and work to reimagine generative possibilities to advance educational equity, with budgets up to $75,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. While the field of education has long focused on issues of rising inequality across the globe, we now find ourselves in a time of increased urgency given the current intersections of the COVID19 public health crisis, rapid shifts in educational systems, economic challenges, and growing civil resistance to systemic racism, Indigenous erasure, and anti-Blackness. There is perhaps no issue of greater importance right now than racial inequality across all systems and structures. We believe that educational research can play an important role in developing new forms of education that are humane, equitable, and just. As such, there is a pressing need for robust approaches to scholarship that can contribute consequentially to achieving equity in education. We encourage a wide range of methodological approaches to creatively and ambitiously engage in advancing racial equity. This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not required to focus on a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. We hope that scholars will identify the most compelling and needed areas of research. For instance, scholars might focus on: instructional challenges and innovations; racial and geographic disparities and promising directions for engaging and supporting children, families, and communities; informal learning environments and informal educators; assessment challenges and opportunities; climate change and equity, social-emotional learning and well-being; educator and leader development; digital learning environments; systems change and policy making; and intersections between housing, health, and education. We are interested in proposals at all levels and in all settings of learning, including early childhood, higher education, and in schools, families, and communities across the world. We are also interested in studies that seek to understand the situated experiences of minoritized groups, including but not limited to, Black, Latine/x, AAPI, and Indigenous communities. In addition, we are interested in studies that focus on those learners who are multiply marginalized, including intersections with English language learners, immigrants, students with disabilities, highly mobile and institutionalized youth (e.g., foster youth or those in youth prisons), LGTBQIA+ youth, and those in rural communities. Finally, we encourage proposals that are reflective of other international, national, and local contexts. We recognize that the experiences of inequality, as well as the histories and structures producing it, will vary. Thus, we expect to fund proposals that explore meanings and possibilities of equity, as well as explanations of inequality, in a variety of ways. For example, engaging and understanding issues of coloniality may be central to scholarship focused on and with Indigenous communities. We see wrestling with these complexities as necessary to cultivating educational equity. Finally, we especially welcome proposals that advance strength-based perspectives and push beyond solely documenting current paradigms. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in relation to racial equity in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a significant impact on practice and policy. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education and inequality. We also value work that is engaging emerging possibilities. We invite proposals that aim to grow the current scope of research on racial equity, develop new knowledge through interdisciplinary scholarly engagement, and include collaboration in the service of increasing the impact of educational research. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, and from scholars at various stages in their careers. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines. We expect and welcome methodological diversity in answering pressing questions; thus, we are open to projects that utilize a wide array of research methods including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, ethnographies, design-based research, participatory methods, and historical research, to name a few. We are also interested in methodological research that can enable and support research on and with racialized communities that build capacity for equitable educational systems. This could include exploration of methods appropriate in small samples and populations, the development of new measures and indices, and studies regarding the impact of methods and algorithms on reducing or promoting inequality. We are open to projects that might incorporate data from multiple and varied sources or work closely with practitioners or community members over the life of the project. We expect that projects will interrogate the systems and structures that are associated with racial inequities. We seek proposals that focus on a strengths-based, rather than a deficit oriented, approach. A strengths-based perspective affirms and extends the knowledge, resources, goals, capacities, and interests of individuals, families, and communities, and identifies and builds upon existing assets and resources. LOI: May 29th 2024

This funding opportunity supports research collaborations focused on improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare disparities related to chronic diseases among U.S. Hispanic/Latino populations and in Latin America.

The Youth Opioid Prevention Grant Program (YOPGP) in Oregon City is dedicated to preventing opioid misuse and reducing overdose deaths among young people through evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies. The program aligns with a mission to improve the community's overall quality of life by investing directly in youth-focused initiatives. It seeks to create a healthier environment for young individuals by addressing the critical issue of opioid-related harms. The primary beneficiaries of this program are the youth within the Oregon City community. The impact goals are twofold: to discourage or prevent the misuse of opioids and to prevent or reduce overdose deaths and other opioid-related harms. This is achieved by focusing on comprehensive prevention efforts and harm reduction strategies specifically tailored for young people, aiming to foster a safer and more resilient youth population. The program prioritizes two main areas: preventing opioid misuse and preventing overdose deaths and other harms. Under misuse prevention, strategies include media campaigns, corrective advertising, drug take-back programs, and evidence-based prevention in schools and communities. It also emphasizes addressing mental health needs of young people at risk of misusing opioids, including emotional modulation, resilience skills, and increased access to mental health services through schools and behavioral health workers. For harm reduction, the focus is on increasing the availability and distribution of naloxone and other overdose-treating drugs, alongside training and education for various community members and organizations. The expected outcomes include a measurable decrease in youth opioid misuse and a reduction in overdose deaths and other opioid-related harms in Oregon City. The program anticipates improved community well-being and a more informed and resilient youth population capable of making healthier choices. The strategic approach is rooted in a theory of change that posits that by implementing evidence-based prevention and harm reduction programs, providing mental health support, and increasing access to life-saving resources, the incidence of opioid misuse and its associated negative consequences among youth will significantly decline. The funding for the YOPGP comes from the Oregon City Budget Committee, which earmarks $40,000 annually. The City plans to distribute up to $40,000 in awards each year, with individual grants capped at $20,000 for a one-year duration (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, schools or institutions of higher learning, and local government advisory committees, departments, or coalitions. Projects must not involve major capital improvements, promote or inhibit religion, discriminate, or replace existing funding sources.

This funding opportunity supports research to develop and test effective non-stimulant treatment strategies for adults with ADHD, aiming to improve mental health outcomes in diverse and under-resourced communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Ohio that assist families affected by sickle cell disease through education, outreach, and resource development.

This program provides zero-interest loans and grants to nonprofit utility organizations to help finance projects that create jobs and stimulate economic growth in rural communities across the United States.

This program provides competitive funding for Connecticut nonprofit organizations to support capital projects or programs in sectors such as child care, education, healthcare, cultural institutions, and human services.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit and community organizations in Knoxville to implement programs that raise awareness and prevent youth violence during National Youth Violence Prevention Week.