State Education Grants

Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant Applications for the new Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant program are now open through May 7! Program Overview: The Iowa Department of Education has received $900,000 to support the enhancement and expansion of summer meal programs in currently underserved and eligible areas. Program Details: Funding Source: $900,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Purpose: Enhance and expand summer meal programs in underserved areas. Target Audience: Iowa children ages 18 and under. Programs Supported: Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Grant Opportunity: Provides additional revenue source for summer meal programs beyond federal meal reimbursement. Allowable Expenses: Enhancing meal quality, incorporating locally grown foods, updating program equipment, conducting program outreach, and operational/administrative personnel expenses not fully covered through meal reimbursement. Eligible Sites for Expansion: Possible new meal site locations include: Schools Community buildings Libraries Apartment complexes Parks Swimming pools Splash pads Churches Other public sites where children gather Non-Congregate Distribution: Non-congregate distribution may be an option for State agency approved sponsors in rural areas unserved by a congregate meal service. Application Deadline: May 7 Don't miss this opportunity to expand summer meal programs and ensure Iowa children have access to healthy meals during the summer break! Apply now!

This funding opportunity provides financial support to educational agencies and organizations in Illinois to help identify and assist children with disabilities in accessing early intervention and special education services.

This grant program is designed to support conservation efforts within Iowa counties. It targets counties that demonstrate a commitment to conservation by allocating at least 22¢ per $1,000 of taxable property value towards such initiatives. The overall mission alignment of this program is to foster environmental stewardship and resource protection across the state, ensuring that local governments have the necessary funding to implement impactful conservation projects. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are the Iowa counties themselves, specifically their conservation departments or entities responsible for managing natural resources. Indirectly, the residents of these counties and the broader environment benefit from the projects undertaken. The impact goals include enhancing natural habitats, preserving critical ecosystems, and providing educational opportunities related to environmental conservation. The program prioritizes a range of activities, including land acquisition for conservation purposes, capital improvements that benefit natural areas, direct resource protection efforts, and environmental education initiatives aimed at raising public awareness and promoting sustainable practices. Notably, the program explicitly excludes funding for sports complexes, playgrounds, and dog parks, maintaining a clear focus on core conservation activities. It also sets specific requirements for multi-use and biking trails, ensuring they align with broader conservation objectives. Expected outcomes include an increase in protected natural areas, improved ecological health of county lands, and greater public engagement in environmental issues through educational programs. Measurable results could include the acreage of land acquired or improved, the number of individuals participating in environmental education, and the specific conservation gains achieved through resource protection projects. The application process requires detailed project descriptions, maps, budgets, and compliance with ADA and civil rights regulations, ensuring that projects are well-planned and accountable. Submissions for this grant are due by August 15, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to New York-based not-for-profit academic medical centers and community health centers to enhance clinical education for healthcare providers in HIV, Hepatitis C, STIs, and drug user health over a five-year period.

This funding opportunity supports programs that engage AmeriCorps members in service activities to strengthen communities across Illinois, focusing on areas like education, economic opportunity, and public health, with eligible applicants including nonprofits, local governments, and educational institutions.

Local education agencies (e.g., School Districts, Charter Schools, and County Offices of Education) must submit a successful request for application (RFA) describing how the LEA will both increase the number of early educators available to serve in the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK), and increase specific competencies for early educators within CSPP, TK, or Kindergarten (K) programs. Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) to be eligible to apply for funding.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations to help students overcome barriers to completing healthcare training programs, addressing workforce shortages in New York State.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations and public entities in Georgia to provide vital intervention services for sexual assault victims and promote community education on prevention strategies.

The GCI Suicide Prevention Grant Program, offered by The Alaska Community Foundation in partnership with GCI, aims to significantly reduce suicide rates and foster mental wellness throughout Alaska. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to strengthen community and personal connections, thereby promoting overall well-being. The program's core objective is to empower Alaskans, fostering a collaborative approach to community wellness and addressing a critical public health issue within the state. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are organizations committed to suicide prevention and mental wellness initiatives across all counties in Alaska. These include 501(c)3 public charitable organizations, faith-based organizations providing social services, federally recognized Tribes or Tribal nonprofit organizations, city governments or Boroughs, and K-12 schools. The program specifically excludes individuals, state or federal government agencies, for-profit organizations, private nonprofit organizations not meeting specific IRS designations, and activities that discriminate or involve religious indoctrination. The program prioritizes reaching communities that may lack easy access to crucial suicide prevention support. The program's priorities and focus areas are clear: empowering Alaskans to work together for community wellness, demonstrating measurable results and accountability, ensuring cultural sensitivity, and unifying communities. Emphasis is placed on projects that will have a tangible impact, particularly in underserved areas. This strategic focus ensures that funding is directed towards initiatives that are not only effective but also culturally appropriate and community-driven. Expected outcomes and measurable results include a reduction in suicide rates and an increase in mental wellness across Alaska. The grant program seeks to support projects that can demonstrate these results, emphasizing accountability in their implementation. The average grant award is approximately $5,000, with requests ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. This funding is intended to support project or operational costs, explicitly excluding capital projects, aligning with the foundation's strategic priority to directly impact and improve community health and resilience through targeted interventions.

The General Operating Support (GOS) Grants, offered by the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA), aim to bolster established not-for-profit organizations that deliver arts programming to their communities. This initiative directly aligns with the IACA's mission to support and strengthen the arts in Illinois. The grant provides financial assistance ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for activities occurring between November 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025. Eligible entities include registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations, branches of government, charitable trusts, institutions of higher education, religious organizations, and school affiliate organizations, all of whom must be in good standing with the state and meet specific operational and application criteria. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are not-for-profit arts organizations and, by extension, the diverse communities they serve across all counties in Illinois. The IACA's strategic priorities for this initiative are deeply rooted in equity and outreach. The program specifically focuses on under-resourced communities, including rural areas, high-poverty regions, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) groups, and individuals with disabilities. This targeted approach seeks to ensure that state support reaches a broader and more equitable demographic of Illinois communities. The initiative's core aims include analyzing the demographic distribution of past awards, engaging constituents for feedback on their needs and experiences, identifying areas for improvement in the IACA's funding approach regarding equity, and recommending actionable steps to achieve greater grant-making equity. These objectives are designed to build an evidence base that can be used to advocate for the resources necessary to expand state support to a wider array of Illinois communities. Expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around a more equitable distribution of arts funding and increased access to arts programming for under-resourced communities. The IACA anticipates that by addressing equity strengths and weaknesses and implementing recommended actions, they will successfully reach more diverse communities. Allowable expenses cover a wide range of operational costs, from artist fees and salaries to facilities, supplies, technology, marketing, and general administrative overhead, ensuring that organizations can effectively implement their programs and achieve their community impact goals.

This funding opportunity supports K-12 schools in developing inclusive athletic programs that enable meaningful participation for students with developmental disabilities, fostering social inclusion and community engagement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local educational agencies in California to implement innovative educational initiatives that align with state priorities and improve student outcomes.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture invites applications for the Underserved Farmers Mini Grant, funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The program enhances the competitiveness of specialty crops in New Jersey by supporting projects led by underserved farmers, including socially disadvantaged, beginning, and military veteran farmers. Grants of up to 5,000 dollars may support activities such as researching new cultivars, outreach to youth and communities on specialty crops, targeted marketing, personnel, purchase of special purpose equipment, educational workshops, planting specialty crops, and distribution of promotional materials. Projects must conform to USDA AMS guidelines and general terms and conditions. Eligible applicants include qualified businesses and producers, as well as nonprofit and community based organizations developing projects that increase the production, marketing, and research of specialty crops in New Jersey. The grant period runs from June 1, 2024 through September 29, 2025. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Additional information is available from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

Assembly Bill (AB) 716 established the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) in 2002. Funds for the CCHE came from Proposition 40, the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002. $122 million in grants were distributed competitively for the acquisition, restoration, preservation, and interpretation of historical and cultural resources. In 2013, AB 482 (Atkins) authorized the creation of a specified competitive grant program administered by CCHE to support small capital projects in museums. On September 23, 2018, Senate Bill (SB) 1493 was approved and expanded the museum grant program’s project focus to include exhibits, educational programs, outreach programs, public programs, curriculum, marketing, and collections care in museums. The Budget Act of 2020 (SB 74) states that the California Natural Resources Agency shall prioritize the funds for museums severely affected by COVID-19 and that serve historically underserved communities and/or students subject to Title 1 of the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Budget Act of 2021(AB 128) appropriated $50 million for museum grants and directed the California Natural Resources Agency to continue prioritizing the funding for museums severely affected by COVID-19 and that serve historically underserved communities or students subject to Title 1 of the Federal Elementary and SecondaryEducation Act. On September 13, 2022, SB 963 amended the Museum Grant Program’s 20-year-old statutes to reflect the state’s evolving priorities.

This funding opportunity is designed to support a nonprofit organization in California that will create and manage a network of community-based organizations to enhance their capacity and engagement with state initiatives, particularly in underserved communities.

DPR's Research Grants Program supports projects that seek to advance integrated pest management (IPM) knowledge in agricultural, urban, or wildland settings. Projects should focus on reducing impacts to public health or the environment from pesticides of high regulatory interest. Summaries of previously funded Research Grants Program projects can be found on the Research Grants webpage.  The 2025 Research Grants Program is particularly seeking applications that address one or more of the following topic areas: · IPM for underserved or disadvantaged communities; · Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (such as fumigants like 1,3-dichloropropene or sulfuryl fluoride); · Advancement of urban IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in urban settings; · Advancement of IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in agricultural settings adjacent to or near a school(s); · Meeting the IPM needs of small growers; and/or TWO or more of the three sustainability pillars noted below and referenced in the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap: o Human Health and Social Equity o Environmental Protections o Economic Vitality For further definitions of these priority topic areas, please review the 2025 Research Grants Solicitation. Following the submission deadline, applications are concurrently reviewed by DPR staff and the Pest Management Advisory Committee (PMAC). Both groups evaluate the proposal application according to scoring criteria that can be found in the 2025 Research Grants Solicitation. This year, DPR invites projects with budgets ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to apply. Eligible grantees include nonprofit agencies, tribal governments, individuals, businesses, and public agencies. There is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted, including multiple applications from the same person or entity. PMAC members may apply, but they must follow the rules regarding conflict of interest in the PMAC Charter. All applicants and associated project personnel must meet DPR’s eligibility requirements that can be found in the 2025 Research Grants Solicitation. Keywords: Agriculture, Agricultural Commodity, Agricultural Crops, Agronomy, Air Quality, Automation, Bacteria, Bactericide, Climate Change, Community Health, Cover Crops, Cropping System, Crops, Ecology, Ecosystem, Emissions, Fauna, Fertility, Field Sanitation, Flora, Fruits, Fumigant, Fungi, Fungicide, Herbicide, Horticulture, Housing, Insect Pests, Insecticide, Integrated Pest Management, Irrigation, Lakes, Land Management, Laws and Regulations, Machinery, Mating Disruption, Miticide, Natural Enemies, Nuts, Oceans, Pathogens, Personal Protective Equipment, Pest, Pest Management, Pesticide, Plant Disease, Plant Protection, Pollinator, Pollution, Reduced-Risk, Rivers, Rodenticide, Soil Health, Streams, Sustainable, Training, Urban Pest Management, Vegetables, Vertebrate Pests, Virus, Volatile Organic Compounds, Water, Water Quality, Watershed, Weeds, Wildlands, Worker Health and Safety

This funding opportunity supports public junior colleges, technical institutions, and non-profits in Texas to create workforce training programs that help individuals transition to stable, well-paying jobs in high-demand fields.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to counties, municipalities, tribal governments, and weed management entities in Minnesota for projects aimed at controlling and eradicating harmful noxious weeds.

The IDEA Capacity Building Grant, offered by the Division for Special Education Services and Supports, aims to provide federal funds to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and Georgia Network for Education and Therapeutic Services Support (GNETS) in Georgia. The grant supports projects for students with disabilities, focusing on professional learning, high-quality instructional materials, and evidence-based interventions. The grant period is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with funds allocated to improve literacy and ELA standards compliance.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that can enhance access, equity, and inclusion for individuals with disabilities in workforce development programs across California.