Local Science and Technology Grants

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Grant Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) in partnership with the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, offers approximately $500,000 in federal funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). This program is designed to provide comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based approaches to reducing violent crime by employing a full range of appropriate violent crime reduction strategies. As the State Administrative Agency, DCJS is responsible for managing the coordination and distribution of these funds to support and improve Virginia's overall criminal justice system. The overarching goal of this initiative is to reduce violent crime and promote safe communities across the Eastern District of Virginia. This is primarily achieved through the reduction of gun violence and gang activity, with a specific focus on areas that have experienced increased rates of violent crime and gang-related incidents. The program targets local and state law enforcement agencies, local and state governmental entities, educational institutions, and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations located in or serving the Eastern District of Virginia. Funding preference will be given to three regions most impacted by violent crime: Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk, though other cities in the Eastern District with high violent crime rates will also be considered. The program prioritizes several key funding areas. These include Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategies, which promote prevention and intervention through partnerships between law enforcement, local government, and the community. GVI involves community members delivering moral messages against violence, law enforcement issuing warnings about consequences, and support providers offering help. Another priority is Gun and Gang Crime Investigation/Suppression, focusing on programs and task forces that target perpetrators of gun and gang-related crimes, including illegal firearm possession, illegal gun sales, and gang-benefitting crimes, with an emphasis on multiagency cooperation. Additional funding priorities encompass Firearms Analysis programs, which aim to enhance and support state and local law enforcement agencies in analyzing firearms and ballistic evidence, including NIBIN analysis and firearm tracing. Lastly, Prevention and Reentry Programs are crucial, dedicated to violent crime prevention, identifying high-risk individuals through educational, faith-based, community-oriented, and outreach efforts, and supporting the successful reentry of offenders through housing, educational, and vocational partnerships. While these priorities guide funding decisions, innovative, evidence-based projects outside these specific areas that are aimed at reducing firearm and gang violence will also be considered. Grants are typically awarded for a 12-month period, with a possibility of a 24-month period depending on the specified need in the application.

This grant provides funding for middle school students in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to engage in philanthropy by awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations of their choice.

This fellowship provides up to $150,000 over two years to individuals in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota who are committed to personal growth as leaders and driving equitable, large-scale change in their communities.

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 funding initiative provides financial support to businesses and organizations along the Route 40 corridor in Cecil County, Maryland, for exterior improvements and revitalization efforts, with a special focus on removing blighted structures.

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.

The Harford County Office of Economic Development administers the Harford Strides Fund as a temporary grant program to assist tourism related organizations in the infancy stage of program development. The fund supports organizations building models for long term sustainability that draw audiences from outside the county and encourage overnight hotel stays. Applicants must demonstrate success, lessons learned, and best practices, show clear intent to drive overnight stays, document hardship that jeopardizes program or operations but for county funding, and show pursuit of additional funding sources. Organizations must occupy a niche within tourism and may not apply if they have submitted to the Partnership Fund. Eligible applicants are Harford County 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organizations in good standing with the state and registered as Maryland charitable organizations. The program has 220,000 dollars available and may provide support for up to two consecutive years, subject to eligibility and need. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Grant size is determined by need and available funds. Additional information is available from the Harford County Office of Economic Development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for nonprofit organizations and public agencies to develop, acquire, or rehabilitate affordable housing for low-income households and individuals experiencing homelessness in Vancouver, Washington.

The Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF) is offering its Mission Support grant to nonprofit organizations primarily serving Imperial County. This grant aligns with IVWF's mission to enhance the quality of life for all residents in the Imperial Valley, recognizing the critical need to support organizations addressing health and wellness, and community engagement within disinvested communities, particularly those historically excluded from planning and decision-making. The foundation also prioritizes supporting these nonprofits in building their capacity to effectively execute their work and mission, reflecting a strategic priority to strengthen the local nonprofit ecosystem. The grant targets a broad range of beneficiaries within Imperial County, including children, disadvantaged students, farm workers, homeless individuals, LGBTQ individuals, low-income families, seniors, and veterans. The impact goals are centered around fostering a healthier and more engaged community. Expected outcomes include improved food security, increased active living and physical activity, enhanced mental and emotional health, safer neighborhoods, and stronger social health. For community engagement, the goals involve empowering residents to address local issues, promoting collaborative efforts, creating social opportunities, increasing community awareness, and building local capacity for change. The IVWF's focus areas for the Mission Support grant are Health and Wellness, Community Engagement, and Nonprofit Capacity Building. Within Health and Wellness, specific priorities include addressing food insecurity, promoting physical activity, supporting mental and emotional health, ensuring safe and healthy living environments, and funding programs for asthma prevention, prenatal care, diabetes, and obesity. Community Engagement focuses on empowering residents to identify and address community needs, fostering collaboration, creating social connections, increasing awareness, and building community-led change. Nonprofit Capacity Building is another key strategic priority, aimed at strengthening the operational, staffing, and volunteer capabilities of organizations. This includes support for attending conferences and workshops, acquiring and improving equipment and software, and accessing technical assistance or consulting services. By investing in these areas, IVWF aims to create a ripple effect, where strengthened nonprofits can more effectively deliver services, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and thriving Imperial Valley. The foundation’s theory of change emphasizes that by empowering local nonprofits and fostering community-led initiatives, significant improvements in health, wellness, and overall community well-being can be achieved.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit and community organizations in Knoxville that provide engaging programs and employment initiatives for at-risk youth, particularly those involved with the juvenile justice system.

This program provides $1,000 grants to local businesses in Carroll County to improve their storefronts and attract more customers through various facade enhancements.

This program provides funding to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government entities in Telluride for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability within the community.

The program provides a 50% matching grant to eligible businesses that are located within an Economic Development Target Area (EDTA). The purpose is to improve the appearance of their building and the surrounding site. By visually enhancing the exterior of buildings, businesses increase their property values, maintain their marketability, and demonstrate confidence. The CFG program works to assist those owners to promote reinvestment, strengthen Fort Wayne’s commercial activity and enhance economic vitality in the City’s heart. Program Objectives Maintain vibrancy of core commercial areas by encouraging investments that enhance the visual aesthetics of commercial properties and lead to increased property values. Stimulate economic development by providing incentives to increase existing business investment, ensure business sustainability and create aesthetically pleasing areas that attract new business and consumers. Complement other revitalization efforts to ensure the maximum leverage of resources. Support local businesses and encourage local entrepreneurship, to further enhance the spirit of Fort Wayne

This program provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners in Fort Pierce for essential home improvements, enhancing their quality of life through necessary rehabilitation efforts.

This grant provides funding for local artists, organizations, and nonprofits in Basalt to create public art projects or ongoing arts programs that enhance community engagement and cultural appreciation.

The Boise City Department of Arts & History Catalyst Grant program is a one-time funding opportunity designed to support small-scale and mid-sized arts, history, and cultural activities. These activities include public programs, events, projects, exhibitions, and tours throughout the year. This pilot program aligns with the Department of Arts and History's (A&H) mission to cultivate a distinct sense of place that reflects Boise’s rich past, diverse communities, and unique natural setting. It achieves this by creating opportunities that nurture and sustain Boise’s creative economy, with an overall vision of bringing people together and building positive relationships to create "A City for Everyone." The target beneficiaries of this grant are individuals or representatives of organizations or nonprofit Friends groups associated with a government agency. The projects must directly benefit residents living within Boise City Limits, and if an event is involved, the venue must also be located within Boise City Limits. The impact goals are to strengthen Boise’s cultural base, promote community engagement, and foster a creative economy. The program prioritizes projects that contribute to a distinct sense of place, celebrate Boise's diverse communities, and are accessible to all residents, adhering to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and the Department of Arts & History's Equal Opportunity Statement against discrimination. The program focuses on a wide range of arts, history, or cultural initiatives. Examples of activities include public programs like presentations, workshops, walking tours, and trainings; events; performances; exhibits; educational opportunities; oral history projects; collaborations; innovative production that cultivates the cultural community; research, planning, and/or analysis available for Boise residents; and virtual/online projects with a clear intent to reach Boise residents. These diverse activities aim to achieve the broader strategic priorities of the A&H mission. The expected outcomes include the successful execution of numerous small-scale and mid-sized cultural activities that enrich the lives of Boise residents. Measurable results for this one-time pilot program include awarding a standard size of $2,000 per grant, with a total of $40,000 expected to be awarded in FY2024. Five applications are anticipated to be funded in each round. The theory of change for the Boise City Department of Arts & History through this Catalyst Grant is that by providing accessible funding for diverse cultural activities, they will foster a more vibrant and inclusive creative economy, ultimately leading to a stronger sense of community and a more interconnected "City for Everyone."

This program provides funding to commercial property owners and managers in Boulder to create affordable spaces for small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities, helping them thrive in the community.

The Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) is offering its Summer Capacity Building Grant, a program designed to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and efficiency of eligible organizations within specific counties of South Dakota. While the description doesn't explicitly detail the BHACF's overarching mission, the focus on "capacity building needs" suggests an alignment with fostering a robust and resilient non-profit sector in the Black Hills area. This grant directly supports the foundation's implied strategic priority of empowering local organizations to better serve their communities through enhanced operational capabilities. The target beneficiaries for this grant include IRS 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, government entities, and religious organizations operating within Oglala Lakota, Fall River, Custer, Pennington, Meade, Lawrence, and Butte counties in South Dakota. The core impact goal is to strengthen these organizations, enabling them to achieve greater effectiveness, sustainability, or efficiency. This focus on internal organizational health indicates a theory of change where by investing in the operational capacity of these entities, the foundation expects a ripple effect of improved service delivery and community impact. The grant prioritizes several key areas for capacity building. Eligible projects include measurements and evaluation, partnership development, strategic planning, board engagement/development, marketing and donor engagement, technology needs and technical support, and staff development/retention. These focus areas are indicative of the foundation's understanding that a holistic approach to organizational development is necessary for long-term success. The expected outcomes are directly tied to improvements in these areas, leading to more effective and sustainable organizations. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the types of eligible projects, the emphasis on "measurements and evaluation" as a funding area suggests that grantees will be expected to demonstrate how their capacity-building efforts lead to tangible improvements in their operations and service delivery. The grant duration of one year and a maximum grant amount of $5,000 further indicate a focused approach on achievable, short-to-medium term improvements in the selected capacity-building areas. Ineligible projects, such as religious or political activity, fundraising, debt retirement, or multi-year funding, further define the boundaries and strategic intent of this capacity-building initiative.

The County of San Luis Obispo's Continuum of Care Builds Program aims to address and reduce homelessness by creating new Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units. This initiative is authorized by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the HEARTH Act of 2009, and administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program aligns directly with HUD's overarching mission and strategic plan for FY 2022-2026, which focuses on creating strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities with quality, affordable homes for all. The target beneficiaries of the CoC Builds program are individuals experiencing homelessness, who will be served through new Permanent Supportive Housing projects. The primary impact goal is to reduce the prevalence of homelessness by addressing both immediate shelter needs and the underlying factors contributing to homelessness. This approach is expected to lead to improved outcomes for individuals and communities by providing stable housing and supportive services. The program prioritizes several key areas, reflecting HUD's strategic goals. These include supporting underserved communities and promoting equitable community development, strengthening the "Housing First" approach to reduce and ultimately end homelessness, and ensuring access to and increasing the production of affordable housing. Furthermore, the program emphasizes advancing sustainable communities by strengthening climate resilience, energy efficiency, and environmental justice, particularly for low-income households and communities of color. It also aims to integrate health and housing policies, recognizing housing's essential role in overall well-being. The expected outcomes of the CoC Builds program include an increase in the supply of Permanent Supportive Housing, leading to a measurable reduction in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo County. By aligning with HUD's Strategic Plan, the program seeks to achieve better health outcomes for residents, foster more equitable access to housing opportunities, and build more resilient and sustainable communities. The maximum funding available for new PSH projects is $4,750,000, with up to $1,000,000 designated for supportive services, indicating a comprehensive approach to both housing and the necessary support systems for long-term stability. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are rooted in the belief that providing permanent supportive housing, coupled with comprehensive services, is the most effective way to address chronic homelessness. By fortifying support for underserved communities and implementing the Housing First approach, the program anticipates that individuals will achieve greater stability, improve their health, and integrate more fully into their communities. The program's success will be measured by the creation of new PSH units, the number of individuals successfully housed, and the long-term reduction in homelessness, all contributing to HUD's vision of quality, affordable homes for all and stronger, more inclusive communities.

This program provides up to $25,000 in reimbursement funding to support new or expanding businesses in Cadillac's designated districts, aimed at stimulating growth and revitalizing commercial spaces.