Grants for Nonprofits - Workforce Development

The FY25 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program is a $5 million fund aimed at helping fire departments across the Commonwealth purchase essential safety equipment that meets NFPA and OSHA standards, with applications open from September 19 to October 17, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in California for projects that assist very low to moderate-income residents of Palm Desert, including seniors, the disabled, domestic violence victims, and the homeless.

This funding opportunity is designed for U.S. non-profit organizations and educational institutions to manage a prestigious fellowship program that brings mid-career professionals from over 100 countries to the U.S. for academic and professional exchange, fostering international collaboration and understanding of American institutions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist low-income, first-generation adults and other priority groups in accessing postsecondary education and career pathways, including apprenticeships and short-term programs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to existing Small Business Development Centers to enhance their services in business advising, training, and technical assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States.

The Alabama RC&D Grants program focuses on enhancing human and natural resources to improve the quality of life for citizens across all counties in Alabama. This initiative, supported by the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, provides grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, with funding information specifying awards between $5,000.00 and $25,000.00. The program aims to align with a mission of fostering community well-being through strategic project investments. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are local Alabama citizens, with a broad impact goal of improving their overall quality of life. The program achieves this by supporting projects in various key areas, including natural resources conservation, community facilities and services, tourism, and economic development. These projects are intended to create tangible benefits that directly address community needs and promote sustainable growth. The program's priorities for FY 2024-2025 are structured into three main categories: General Funds, Education Funds, and Workforce/Community Training. General Funds prioritize projects related to natural resources conservation, community facilities and services, and tourism and economic development. Education Funds focus on K-12 outdoor education, education benefiting small farmers and community gardens, and K-12 technology. Workforce/Community Training emphasizes projects covering multiple council regions, with a preference for those submitted by RC&D councils or partnering organizations. Expected outcomes include enhanced natural environments, improved community infrastructure, stimulated local economies, and increased educational opportunities. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the broad impact goals, the focus on distinct project categories suggests that success will be measured by the successful implementation and observable benefits within these areas. Eligibility requires applicants to be registered 501c3 non-profits or governmental units/sub-units, ensuring that funded projects are implemented by established and accountable entities. The program has clear restrictions, disallowing funding for operational/administration phases, salaries, endowment campaigns, religious purposes, individuals, development/public relations activities, land/property purchases, or post-event situations. These restrictions help ensure that grant funds are directed towards new, impactful projects rather than ongoing operational costs or activities outside the program's core mission. This strategic allocation of resources reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that targeted project funding in these key areas will lead to a better quality of life for Alabama citizens.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local workforce development boards and partner organizations in Pennsylvania to enhance collaboration among businesses and address workforce needs within priority industry sectors.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit programs that help young people in economically challenged neighborhoods of Greater Boston prepare for successful careers, particularly those facing barriers such as homelessness, disabilities, or low income.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profit associations in Illinois to enhance workforce training programs for manufacturers, helping them improve employee skills and productivity.

The Regional Site Readiness Program’s Planning Grant, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, offers $100,000 to $500,000 to local governments, economic development organizations, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and private landowners for planning and due diligence activities aimed at preparing industrial and manufacturing sites for future development across all counties in Illinois.

The Center for Fiction / Susan Kamil 2024–2025 Emerging Writer Fellowship is a grant program designed to support early-career fiction writers based in New York City. The Center for Fiction's mission, though not explicitly detailed in its entirety, aligns with fostering literary talent and providing crucial support to emerging voices in fiction. This fellowship specifically addresses a critical need for developmental opportunities for writers who are at an early stage in their careers and have not yet received significant recognition or traditional publishing contracts. The program directly supports the literary arts and contributes to the cultural landscape of New York City by nurturing its writing community. The primary target beneficiaries of this fellowship are emerging fiction writers residing in any of the five boroughs of New York City. These individuals are defined as those who have not yet published a novel or short story collection with a major or independent publisher, nor are they currently under contract for such a work. While prior publication in magazines, literary journals, or online is acceptable, it is not a prerequisite. The impact goal is to empower these writers by providing them with the resources, mentorship, and exposure necessary to develop their craft, revise their manuscripts, and connect with industry professionals, thereby helping them achieve major recognition for their work. The program prioritizes supporting writers whose work demonstrates promise of excellence, focusing on those in the early stages of their careers who lack the support needed for significant recognition. Key focuses include providing financial relief through a $5,000 grant, offering professional editorial mentorship to refine manuscripts, and granting access to a dedicated Writers Studio. Furthermore, the fellowship emphasizes professional networking opportunities through monthly dinners with editors, authors, and agents, and public readings to build a writer's profile. Expected outcomes include the professional development of the fellows, marked by revised and improved manuscripts, expanded professional networks, and increased visibility within the literary community. Measurable results could include the number of fellows who secure publishing contracts post-fellowship, the quality of their revised manuscripts, the success of their public readings, and the overall trajectory of their careers as fiction writers. While the document does not explicitly state the foundation's full strategic priorities or theory of change, it implies a belief that direct financial support, professional guidance, dedicated writing space, and networking opportunities are crucial catalysts for emerging writers to overcome barriers to entry and achieve success in the competitive publishing world.

This grant seeks innovative commercial solutions from a wide range of organizations to enhance military and civilian infrastructure, focusing on sustainability, energy efficiency, and advanced construction technologies.

The Robert F. Orr Charitable Foundation is currently accepting applications for grants dedicated to charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. While the foundation's broad mission encompasses these areas, specific grantmaking priorities guide its funding decisions. The foundation seeks to align its support with initiatives that demonstrate a clear commitment to positive societal impact, particularly within the states of Hawaii, Idaho, and Utah. The foundation's grantmaking priorities are divided into three core areas: Environment, Education, and Human Services. Within the Environment category, the foundation prioritizes causes and programs that foster environmental conservation and support restoration projects, aiming to preserve and improve natural ecosystems. For Education, the focus is on K-12 STEM programs and job training initiatives, with the goal of enhancing educational opportunities and workforce development. In Human Services, the foundation supports programs for disadvantaged persons and individuals with disabilities, striving to improve their quality of life and promote inclusivity. Target beneficiaries for these grants include environmental organizations working on conservation and restoration, educational institutions and programs serving K-12 students in STEM fields, and organizations providing job training or services to disadvantaged and disabled individuals. The overarching impact goals are to contribute to a healthier environment, a more educated and skilled workforce, and a more equitable society for vulnerable populations within the specified states. While the document does not explicitly detail "expected outcomes and measurable results" or the foundation's "strategic priorities and theory of change," the articulated priorities strongly suggest a belief in the power of targeted support to create tangible, positive change in these key areas. Organizations seeking funding must qualify as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications are accepted through an online grant application form or an accessible alternative for assistive technology users. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2024. While the size of the grant and its duration are not specified, the foundation's commitment to these defined priorities indicates a strategic approach to philanthropy, aiming for meaningful, albeit not precisely quantified, outcomes through its funding.

This program provides funding to rural Kansas communities with populations under 5,000 for projects that enhance quality of life, such as childcare improvements, public art, library upgrades, and food retail expansions.

This funding opportunity supports New Jersey Workforce Development Boards in creating partnerships to improve adult literacy and job skills for residents, helping them secure stable employment and achieve self-sufficiency.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that help recruit, train, and retain women in high-wage, nontraditional occupations through apprenticeship programs across the United States.

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 funding opportunity provides $5 million each to two eligible regions in New York State to improve school food infrastructure, promote local farm products in school meals, and support workforce development in related fields.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based organizations that develop and implement programs to help older adults with behavioral health conditions manage chronic diseases effectively.

The Tennessee Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Assistance Program, announced by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF), is a grant opportunity provided in partnership with the Forest Service. This program aims to promote the creation, enhancement, and protection of urban and community forest ecosystems throughout Tennessee, supporting full-circle management of these valuable resources. The broader mission alignment for this program is rooted in fostering sustainable and healthy communities through environmental stewardship, which aligns with the strategic priorities of both the Forest Service and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The program targets units of local governments (city, town, county), non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, and public educational institutions. Community tree volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, or civic groups that are not 501(c)3 organizations are also eligible if they apply in partnership with a non-profit or local government. The impact goals are to integrate U&CF principles into planning, promote the role of U&CF in human health and wellness, cultivate diversity and leadership in the U&CF community, strengthen forest health and biodiversity, improve management and stewardship, and increase funding for U&CF initiatives. Key priorities for projects include extreme heat mitigation, urban wood utilization, urban food forests, and workforce development. The program also emphasizes increasing public awareness and environmental education to promote stewardship, as well as engaging with communities under the Justice40 initiative through outreach, education, and technical and financial assistance. This focus reflects a strategic theory of change that links targeted interventions in urban forestry to broader improvements in public health, environmental resilience, and social equity within Tennessee communities. Expected outcomes and measurable results include facilitating strong partnerships among various governmental and non-profit entities, increasing awareness and practice of full-circle management in urban forests, and improving community preparedness for natural disasters. The program also seeks to increase the number of communities participating in Arbor Day Foundation recognition programs and to increase awareness of the numerous benefits of trees, such as those related to extreme heat mitigation and stormwater management. Applicants can apply for amounts between $5,000 and $40,000, with projects expected to be completed within one year. Eligible projects encompass urban and community forestry management, tree planting, program development or capacity building, urban and community wood utilization, and workforce development.