Private Science and Technology Grants

The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has launched the 2024-2025 Downtown Creative Collaborators Grants (DCCG) program. This program is designed to support projects and events that will take place in Downtown Miami during the fiscal year 2024-2025 (October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025). The DDA's mission, as aligned with this grant, is to strengthen Downtown Miami's appeal as a global destination and stimulate demonstrable economic impact within the area through innovative projects and events. The DCCG program targets organizations producing and implementing activations in Downtown Miami. The goal is to benefit the Downtown community by fostering connections, attracting tourism, and providing affordable, family-friendly programming. The program also aims to promote Miami as an international and diverse cultural center, a culinary destination, and an innovation hub, while also highlighting its rich history, art, culture, and natural resources. Funding priorities for the DCCG include activating outdoor venues, creating community-building opportunities, offering family-friendly programming, promoting Miami as a global city, providing cultural and historic education, raising public transportation awareness, and offering free or discounted projects and events. The grant specifically encourages content that features the communities, history, and natural resources in Miami-Dade County. Priority will be given to projects that clearly and visibly state free or discounted admissions for area residents, families, and students in their marketing and promotional materials. Expected outcomes include a measurable economic impact in Downtown Miami, increased appeal of the area as a global destination, enhanced community engagement, and greater awareness and ridership of Downtown Miami's multimodal transportation options. By supporting diverse and innovative projects, the DDA aims to further establish Downtown Miami as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, entertainment, and innovation, contributing to the overall strategic development and economic growth of the city center. Grant awards can range from $5,000.00 up to $50,000.00, and applicants must secure additional funding commitments, as the DCCG cannot be the sole funding source.

The Early Care Spaces grant program, spearheaded by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, is an open application initiative offering grants of up to $100,000. Its core mission aligns directly with the foundation's vision of a world where all Oakland children read at or above grade level by third grade. This program specifically targets early language and literacy development for Oakland children from birth to five years old, recognizing the critical window for literacy growth from early care through second grade. The foundation's strategic priority is to support equitable approaches to literacy during these formative years. The program's impact goals are multifaceted, focusing on expanding children's vocabulary and comprehension, increasing confidence in listening and speaking, and empowering parents and caregivers as leaders in their children's education. A key component of the foundation's theory of change is also the career advancement and upskilling for Black early care providers, enabling them to offer language-rich, developmentally appropriate, and culturally affirming care, thereby addressing systemic inequities. Early Care Spaces prioritizes funding for early care provided outside of traditional education systems, such as family resource centers and community spaces, while still welcoming organizations that partner with traditional systems. The program also places a strong emphasis on initiatives with deep connections to informal care providers or Family, Friend and Neighbor care. Furthermore, it seeks to support diverse organizations and providers that truly reflect the neighborhoods and communities they serve, with a particular focus on the Oakland flatlands, areas experiencing disinvestment and displacement of BIPOC communities. The expected outcomes include increased access to high-quality early literacy support for Oakland's youngest children, especially in underserved communities, and the strengthening of the informal care sector. Measurable results would likely include improvements in children's language and literacy skills, increased parental engagement in early education, and enhanced capacity and leadership among Black early care providers. This annual program, commemorating the foundation's 15th anniversary of formal grantmaking, aims to address existing gaps in Oakland's early care funding landscape and contribute to long-term literacy success for all children in the city.

The Porter County Community Foundation seeks to strengthen the community through lasting generosity and leadership by offering grants for humanitarian, cultural, educational, and environmental purposes. While the foundation acknowledges the importance of general operating support for nonprofits, it prioritizes funding requests that build organizational capacity, enhance efficiency, expand successful programming, or foster cooperation and collaboration among organizations for innovative initiatives. This approach aligns with their mission to ensure long-term growth and vitality within the community by strategically investing in projects with clear, impactful goals. The foundation targets organizations serving Porter County, Indiana, with a focus on proposals that demonstrate the potential for significant community benefit. Grants are awarded through an open process, and the committee considers several factors when making difficult choices due to limited funds. These factors include support from sources other than the foundation, evidence of meaningful financial support from the organization's board, the overall financial strength of the organization, and the request's impact on enhancing the organization's capacity to better serve Porter County. Key priorities for funding include initiatives that increase organizational capacity through planning, training, and professional development (excluding recurring annual conferences), as well as projects that enhance efficiency through equipment acquisition and extraordinary expenses difficult to budget for. The foundation also prioritizes expanding successful programming to reach new audiences and facilitating cooperation and collaboration among organizations for new, innovative programming. These focuses aim to foster a stronger, more efficient, and interconnected network of community service providers. Expected outcomes include increased organizational efficiency and sustainability, improved capacity to serve Porter County residents, and the successful expansion of programs to new audiences. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed for each funding area, the foundation's emphasis on "increased efficiency and sustainability" and "capacity to better serve Porter County" implies a focus on quantifiable improvements in service delivery, outreach, and operational effectiveness. The maximum grant amount is $10,000, and the foundation generally does not fund annual appeals, event sponsorships, multi-year grants, sectarian programs, political organizations, endowment campaigns, debt reduction, individuals (except scholarships), completed programs, travel for groups, camp scholarships, or re-granting organizations.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations in developing workforce programs that engage diverse groups in STEM fields to promote careers in clean energy and facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy economy.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to established researchers to mentor emerging scientists in sleep and circadian research, particularly those facing barriers to accessing research experiences.

The Community Giving Foundation's Healthy Workplace Grant program is designed to foster happy and healthy teams within nonprofit organizations. This initiative directly aligns with the Foundation's mission by promoting community well-being, specifically focusing on the individuals who drive the nonprofit sector. By investing in the health and positivity of these teams, the Foundation aims to strengthen the operational capacity and resilience of local nonprofits, ultimately enhancing their ability to serve the community effectively. The program acknowledges the critical role of employee well-being in organizational success and community impact. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are 501(c) and government nonprofit organizations located within the Berwick Health and Wellness Fund service area, which includes specific boroughs and townships in Columbia and Luzerne counties, Pennsylvania. The program targets the staff and volunteers within these organizations, aiming to improve their mental and physical health. The overarching impact goal is to cultivate more positive, supportive, and healthy work environments within these vital community organizations, leading to increased employee satisfaction, reduced burnout, and improved overall productivity. The grant prioritizes creative and innovative approaches to enhancing workplace health and positivity. Funds can be utilized for a variety of purposes, including the purchase of supplies or equipment, the implementation of specific programming, or professional development opportunities that boost mental and physical well-being. The emphasis is on encouraging imaginative methods that contribute to a healthier office culture. This focus on creative solutions ensures that organizations can tailor their initiatives to their unique needs and challenges, fostering a more effective and sustainable impact. Expected outcomes include a measurable improvement in the mental and physical health of nonprofit teams, a more positive and supportive workplace culture, and enhanced organizational effectiveness. While specific measurable results are not detailed in terms of quantifiable metrics within the provided text, the application process itself encourages "creative methods for increasing health and positivity," implying that successful applications will demonstrate thoughtful approaches to achieving these outcomes. The Foundation's strategic priority, as evidenced by this grant, is to invest in the human capital of the nonprofit sector, recognizing that healthy, engaged teams are fundamental to a thriving community. This aligns with a theory of change where targeted support for employee well-being directly contributes to stronger, more impactful nonprofit operations, ultimately benefiting the wider community. Grants are awarded in amounts ranging from $200-$1,000, indicating a focus on supporting a broad range of smaller-scale, impactful initiatives.

This grant provides funding to educators and nonprofit preschool organizations in Iowa to create innovative projects that integrate agriculture into classroom instruction or afterschool programs.

This initiative supports U.S.-based startups with innovative solutions in Earth Observation for supply chains and Off-World Production, providing mentorship and resources to help them scale their space-based technologies.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to tribal entities and organizations in Montana for projects that enhance community forests, promote climate resilience, and improve environmental quality.

This grant provides financial support to local artists in Norman, OK, for community projects, the creation of new artwork, or educational opportunities that enrich the local creative scene.

The Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation (APDI) is offering grants up to $50,000 for pediatric medical devices aimed at improving the monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment of youth substance use disorders and addiction. Up to $150,000 in total grant funds are available for distribution. Eligible applicants include inventors from established businesses, startups, and academic researchers with commercializable device concepts that address unmet pediatric needs. The goal is to support the development of devices that can be commercialized, with an emphasis on bridging the gap between prototyping and FDA approval, marketing, and sales. Proposals should focus on innovations such as AI-based diagnostic tools, digital therapeutics, wearable devices, and neuromodulation therapies. The application deadline is July 30, 2024, and winners will be announced on August 15, 2024.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and individual artists in Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga Counties to create public art projects that engage the community and enhance arts participation.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and community projects in the Garrison area of North Dakota, focusing on initiatives that benefit youth, senior citizens, and community development.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Gilroy and South County for projects that enhance community welfare across various sectors, including education, health, and the arts.

This program provides funding and support for community-driven projects that improve and beautify specific neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, encouraging local pride and volunteer participation.

The Arc Fund, an initiative by CultureSource, is a $1.5 million grant program designed to support culture-workers of color in Southeast Michigan. Its core mission aligns with addressing historical disadvantages, underrepresentation, and oppression faced by these professionals due to their race. The fund aims to spur growth and provide opportunities for career advancement, contributing to a more equitable and vibrant arts and culture ecosystem in the region. The program specifically targets culture-workers of color living and working full-time in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties in Southeast Michigan. Eligible beneficiaries include arts administrators, artists, arts organizers, curators, and arts programmers whose primary professional focus is advancing arts and culture in the region. The impact goal is to empower these individuals to make significant career leaps, fostering professional development and reducing financial or other obligations that limit their flexibility and growth. The Arc Fund prioritizes individuals prepared to invest in new skills, pursue novel artistic endeavors, or address financial burdens that hinder their career trajectory. It focuses on providing unrestricted awards, professional development experiences, and social networking opportunities. This comprehensive approach reflects a strategic priority to not only offer financial support but also to build capacity and community among culture-workers of color. The expected outcomes include the distribution of 74 unrestricted awards of $15,000 each, enabling recipients to fund various aspects of their professional growth. Measurable results will likely involve tracking the number of awards distributed, the engagement in professional development, and the overall career advancement reported by the awardees. While a formal theory of change is not explicitly detailed, the initiative implicitly operates on the theory that targeted financial support, skill-building, and networking will directly counter historical inequities, leading to significant career progression and a more inclusive cultural landscape.

The Conservation, Environment and Public Trails Grant Program, administered by the Santa Barbara Foundation, is dedicated to fostering environmental sustainability, land conservation, habitat restoration, public trails, and overall ecosystem health within Santa Barbara County. This program directly aligns with the foundation's mission by investing in projects that preserve and enhance the region's natural resources, ensuring a healthy and accessible environment for all residents. The grants support both new and existing initiatives that demonstrate a clear need and aim to create lasting positive change in the community. The primary beneficiaries of this program are the communities and natural landscapes of Santa Barbara County. The impact goals include improving equitable access to natural resources and trail systems, restoring degraded habitats, protecting ecologically significant lands, and promoting sustainable environmental practices. The program seeks to empower well-managed, financially viable organizations to implement effective projects that address identified environmental needs, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and environmentally conscious Santa Barbara County. Key priorities for funding include projects focused on preserving and ensuring equitable access to natural resources and trail systems, community-based restoration in various natural areas (wetlands, streams, coastal areas, grasslands, woodlands), early-stage investigations for land conservation efforts, and piloting or expanding projects that exemplify best practices in conservation. The strongest projects are those that foster partnerships and collaborations, incorporate community involvement and education, and align with broader regional plans such as Santa Barbara County’s Conservation Blueprint or the Food Action Plan. Expected outcomes include the establishment of new trails and restoration of existing ones, the permanent protection of ecologically and agriculturally valuable lands, the restoration of critical habitats, and the implementation of innovative solutions for sustainable land, forestry, and water management. Measurable results could include increased acres of conserved land, miles of accessible trails, improved biodiversity in restored areas, and enhanced community awareness and engagement in conservation efforts. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in its emphasis on collaborative approaches, community engagement, and alignment with existing regional conservation strategies, reflecting a theory of change that prioritizes collective action and long-term planning for environmental resilience.

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is offering grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 to public charities that promote societal change benefiting women and girls, particularly in areas like economic security, education, healthcare, and legal rights, with a preference for organizations headquartered in the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area.

This program provides financial support to small nonprofit organizations with annual budgets under $200,000 to enhance their operations and community programs.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Mississippi to support projects that improve economic security and health for women and girls, particularly in underserved communities.