OpenGrants funding guide

Nonprofit Grants: Federal, Foundation and Corporate Money

Nonprofits are the applicant type federal grants were largely built for, so for a U.S. 501(c)(3) the money is genuinely there: the constraint is research and capacity, not eligibility. These are the programs that come back every year for nonprofits in any field: federal competitions and the state rounds that pass federal money through, national and community foundations that take unsolicited proposals, capacity-building and operating support, corporate giving with an open application, and, labeled as what they are, fiscal sponsorship, in-kind donations and government contracts. Each card gives the money, the catch and the next window, so you can plan a year of applications your back office can actually carry.

Data refreshed: November 4, 2026 · Editorial verified: October 28, 2026 · 57 programs

40Grants

6In-kind donations

11Contracts & fiscal sponsorship

How to use this page

Read the filings, not the websites. Every private foundation files a 990-PF listing the grants it actually made: recipient, amount and often purpose. That is evidence; a foundation’s stated priorities are aspirational and often out of date. A funder whose site describes broad national interests may turn out to give almost entirely in one county, at one consistent size, to organizations with budgets like yours or larger, which tells you whether to approach it, what to ask for and whether you are the right size. ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer makes the filings free, and the 990 lookup walkthrough shows the method. It beats any grant list, this one included: use the cards to find the door, and the 990 to decide whether to knock.
Match the money to your back office. Federal awards are the largest and carry the heaviest compliance: SAM.gov registration and a UEI before you can apply (allow weeks the first time), federal financial and procurement standards, and a Single Audit once you spend $1 million of federal money in a year. An award you cannot administer is a liability. Smaller organizations usually do better starting with community, corporate and foundation grants and with state pass-through rounds, where you compete against a handful of local applicants instead of the whole country, and growing the back office alongside. Fiscal sponsorship, in-kind donations and government contracts are labeled on their cards; they are not grants, but each is a real route, and contracts are often larger and steadier than grant income.
Recurring programs are plannable, and the free tools lose very little. Every card names its cycle, and when a window has closed it shows the next expected one, so you can put it on a calendar now. Grants.gov lists every federal opportunity free, Assistance Listings tell you which agency owns a funding stream and whom its statute lets it fund, and 990s are public, so a paid grant list mostly adds convenience. When you budget a federal award, claim your overhead: the de minimis indirect rate is 15% of modified total direct costs, with no negotiation required.

What's included: Programs a U.S. 501(c)(3) can apply to, directly or through a named state, county or local board, whatever its field, that have run in at least two of the last three years or keep a standing window: recurring federal competitions and the state-run rounds that pass federal money through, national foundations that accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry, capacity-building and general operating support, corporate giving programs with an open application, and community foundations with open competitive grants. Fiscal sponsorship, in-kind donations and government contracts are included and labeled. What's left out: One-off funding notices, programs dormant since 2024 or cancelled in 2025–26, invitation-only funders, loans, programs only governments, businesses or individuals can apply to, money limited to one field that a sibling OpenGrants guide covers (economic development, outdoor and conservation, faith-based organizations, grants for individuals), which the section intros link instead, and anything we could not confirm on the program’s own page.

Federal grant rules for nonprofits, as of October 28, 2026

As of October 28, 2026, two federal rules decide what a nonprofit keeps from a federal award, and both are in force. Under the Uniform Guidance as revised on October 1, 2024, a recipient or subrecipient without a negotiated indirect cost rate may charge a de minimis rate of up to 15% of modified total direct costs, with no negotiation (2 CFR 200.414(f)). Many nonprofits still budget at 10%, or at zero; rent, accounting and insurance are real costs of the program, so claim them. And an organization that spends $1,000,000 or more of federal awards in its fiscal year, counted across every federal source including pass-through subawards, must have a Single Audit (2 CFR 200.501(a)). Budget for it before you cross the line.

A rewrite of those rules is on hold, not withdrawn. OMB proposed replacing the Uniform Guidance with a binding regulation on May 29, 2026 (91 FR 32198). Section 157 of the stopgap spending law signed September 2, 2026 (P.L. 119-103) bars OMB from issuing or finalizing it through December 11, 2026, the date the stopgap funding runs out. What it would change, and what to do before then: OMB's 2 CFR 200 rewrite is on hold until December 11.

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Showing 57 of 57 programs

1. Fiscal sponsorship, free software and in-kind donations

Two kinds of help sit in this section, and neither is a cash grant. Fiscal sponsorship lets a project without its own 501(c)(3) receive grants and tax-deductible gifts through a sponsor that has one. It is a legitimate, common route, but the sponsor is the legal applicant and recipient and controls the money, and the fees on these cards run from 6% to 15% of what you raise. The question that matters is the model: a comprehensive sponsor absorbs your project, while a pre-approved grant relationship regrants to a separate entity (see the encyclopedia entry, and the posts on who signs a sponsored grant and 2026 compliance changes). To shop wider, search the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors directory. In-kind programs are for organizations that already hold an IRS determination letter: a day of applications unlocks software and ad spend worth more than many first grants. But Google Ad Grants and Microsoft carry ongoing compliance, and a sponsored project cannot join TechSoup. Money paid to a person rather than to an organization is in the grants for individuals guide.

9 programs

Google Ad Grants (Google for Nonprofits)

Google — Google for Nonprofits

Up to $10,000 a month of in-kind advertising on Google Search (about $120,000 a year); unused funds do not roll over and there is no spend requirement

In-kindEquity-freeany field

The catch: The grant is kept, not won. Google deactivates an account that misses a 5% click-through rate (measured across the whole account) two months in a row, and the account must also record at least one real conversion a month (a donation, sign-up or contact form; required for accounts created since 2018 and any account on smart bidding), run at least two ad groups per campaign and two sitelinks, geo-target where your audience actually is, bid on conversions (required for accounts created since April 2019), pause single-word keywords (your own brand name is exempt), overly generic keywords and keywords with a Quality Score of 1 or 2, and answer Google's annual program survey. It buys text ads on Google Search only; there is no cash.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply any time; the $10,000 refills every month for as long as the account stays compliant

Applicant tip: Set up conversion tracking before you launch: it is a standing requirement and the smart bidding Google requires runs on it. When the click-through rate slips, Google's own fix is to pause the keywords with the most impressions and the lowest rate until the account average is back above 5%.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A nonprofit charitable organization in good standing, with a website that meets Google's website policy. Governmental organizations, hospitals and healthcare organizations, and schools, academic institutions and universities are not eligible. Google's independent verification partner, Goodstack, confirms your legal status before you can activate anything.
How to apply: Direct application: request a Google for Nonprofits account at google.com/nonprofits (Google sends your legal name, registration number and address to Goodstack for verification), then activate Google Ad Grants from the account console. Approval of the account does not activate the products; each is turned on separately. Once active, the budget is pre-loaded in your Google Ads account, which you sign in to at ads.google.com with the email you used to sign up.
Pays for fit: technology & software
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Microsoft nonprofit grants and discounts (Microsoft 365 Business Basic grant, Azure grant)

Microsoft — Microsoft for Nonprofits

Free: Microsoft 365 Business Basic for up to 300 users, $2,000 a year in Azure credits, Power Apps for up to 10 users, Power BI Desktop, and Windows 11 Professional grants of up to 50 licenses through TechSoup. Discounted, not free: Microsoft 365 Business Premium at $5.50 per user per month, Copilot at 15% off

In-kindEquity-freeany field

The catch: Grants cover paid employees and unpaid executive staff (board, officers, executive director) only; volunteers and temporary staff can be licensed at the discounted rate but not under a grant. Business Basic gives web and mobile apps, not the desktop apps. Microsoft retired the free Business Premium grant in 2025, so Premium is now a paid discount. Grantees must regularly attest to Microsoft's donor rules or can lose eligibility, should remove unused granted licenses, may be audited, and cannot share licenses with other organizations. Microsoft can deny or end participation at any time.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: register any time

Applicant tip: Put paid staff and your executives on the free Business Basic grant and buy discounted Business Premium only for the people who need desktop apps and device security. Register the organization yourself rather than handing it to an IT vendor: Microsoft does not let a third-party provider complete the registration.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A nonprofit or non-governmental organization with recognized charitable status, such as a 501(c)(3) in the U.S. Not eligible even with nonprofit status: hospitals and health systems (narrow rural exceptions), governments, schools and universities, banks and insurers, professional and trade associations, sports organizations, political, labor and fraternal organizations, and nonprofits whose activities focus on influencing public policy.
How to apply: Direct application: register through Microsoft's nonprofit registration. The person registering must be an employee or strategic volunteer of the nonprofit; an outside IT provider cannot register for you. Microsoft's third-party validation supplier checks eligibility, which can take up to seven business days, may ask you for documents, and can be appealed if you are denied.
Pays for fit: technology & software
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Salesforce Power of Us Program (10 free Nonprofit Cloud Core licenses)

Salesforce — Power of Us Program

10 Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud Core licenses at no cost; additional licenses at a nonprofit discount (no percentage is published on the pages read)

In-kindEquity-freeany field

The catch: The licenses are free; running the system is not. Salesforce strongly recommends a system administrator and a consulting partner before you start, a 30-day trial org does not convert to production, and Premier Success support is activated when you make your first paid purchase. Additional licenses and add-ons (Marketing Cloud, Data 360, Slack, Tableau) are paid, and state sales tax may apply to future purchases unless you upload a state or local tax-exemption certificate, because 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status does not by itself exempt you.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply any time

Applicant tip: Do not build in a trial org: it deactivates after 30 days and will not convert, so apply first and implement in the org Salesforce provisions for you. Plan who will administer the system before you apply, since every staff member who uses Salesforce needs a license and the free allowance is 10.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A U.S. nonprofit with a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) IRS determination letter and a Tax ID, in compliance with Salesforce's Acceptable Use Policy. You need a Trailblazer ID to log in to the application portal. Read the eligibility guidelines linked from the application page for any excluded organization types.
How to apply: Direct application: log in to the Power of Us portal with a Trailblazer ID, submit your Tax ID and IRS determination letter, and allow up to three days for review. After the approval email, log back in to choose your product; Salesforce provisions an org with your licenses. You do not need an existing Salesforce org or a trial to apply. Salesforce reviews the documents itself; the pages read name no outside validator.
Pays for fit: technology & software
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

TechSoup nonprofit technology donations and discounts

TechSoup — U.S. donation and discount program

Varies by product: donated and discounted software, hardware and services from partner companies, each with a flat administrative fee set offer by offer (check each offer page for the fee and limits). One example: Windows 11 Professional grants of up to 50 licenses, per Microsoft's nonprofit offers page

In-kindEquity-freeany field

The catch: Donated does not mean free. TechSoup charges an administrative fee on each offer, set offer by offer and reviewed against the product's fair market value and TechSoup's own costs. Some 'Access to Discounted Rates' offers charge the fee every year to keep the discount, after which you pay the corporate partner directly; others, such as QuickBooks Online and the optional paid TechSoup Plus membership, bill on a recurring schedule. Fiscally sponsored projects are shut out.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: join and request any time

Applicant tip: TechSoup is where other companies' programs often send you: Microsoft lists its Windows 11 Professional grants, and Salesforce its Tableau Desktop offer, 'through TechSoup'. Join before you need a product, and if you are fiscally sponsored, wait: a sponsored project cannot join until it holds its own 501(c)(3) letter.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A 501(c)(3) public charity (on its own or under an IRS group exemption) or a public library. Fiscally sponsored projects are not eligible and cannot use their sponsor's TechSoup account or the corporate partners' nonprofit portals; organizations with other tax statuses fall outside the program.
How to apply: Direct application: join TechSoup U.S. with the free Core membership, get qualified with your IRS determination letter, then request offers from the catalog. Each request carries that offer's administrative fee.
Pays for fit: technology & software
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Canva for Nonprofits (free Canva Pro features)

Canva — Canva Nonprofits

Free access to all Canva Pro features plus team collaboration tools for one team of up to 50 users; additional seats at 50% off Canva Enterprise

In-kindEquity-freeany field

The catch: The free allowance is one team of up to 50 users; more seats are paid, at 50% off Canva Enterprise. Goodstack verifies each organization against Canva's eligibility guidelines, which differ by country, and grant-making foundations and most non-501(c)(3) nonprofits are excluded. The pages read do not state a renewal or re-verification rule.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply any time

Applicant tip: Count seats before you invite everyone: staff, board and volunteers all draw on one 50-user team, and the next step up is paid. Have your organization's IRS documents ready before you start, since Goodstack's guidance for your country spells out what it checks.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A registered charitable nonprofit (a 501(c)(3) in the U.S.) that is independent of government and not run for commercial profit. Not eligible: government agencies, political organizations, educational institutions, for-profit companies, most other 501(c) types (including 501(c)(4), (5), (6) and (7)) and grant-making foundations.
How to apply: Direct application: start from Canva Nonprofits ('Get started for free'). Canva partners with Goodstack to verify eligibility, and Goodstack's guidance for your country lists the supporting documents it needs.
Pays for fit: technology & software
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Fractured Atlas fiscal sponsorship

Fractured Atlas — Fiscal Sponsorship

No award: you raise the money and keep it less an 8% administrative fee on all donations; no extra credit card processing fees

Contract or serviceEquity-freearts, culture & humanities

The catch: Fractured Atlas, not your group, is the legal recipient of the money. It must review and approve every written solicitation and grant application, certain activities are prohibited for sponsored projects, and 8% comes off all donations (vendor fees such as returned-check fees are passed through, and grants administration can carry extra fees). A sponsored project is also shut out of TechSoup donations.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply any time

Applicant tip: Build the sponsor's review into your grant calendar: Fractured Atlas has to approve each grant application and written solicitation before it goes out, so send drafts well ahead of the funder's deadline. If a donor wants your project to receive a round figure, the fee is taken from the total, so a donor covering it gives the amount divided by 0.92.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Artists, arts groups and arts projects without their own 501(c)(3). Fractured Atlas calls itself an arts and technology organization and says its programs are geared toward artists. A paid Fractured Atlas membership is required, and you must tell it if you have investors or intend to lobby.
How to apply: Direct application: join Fractured Atlas at a paid membership level, then apply for fiscal sponsorship. Fractured Atlas says it emails a decision within two weeks, usually much faster.
Pays for fit: fiscal sponsorship
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Community Partners fiscal sponsorship (comprehensive and limited projects)

Community Partners — Fiscal Sponsorship

No award: comprehensive (Model A) projects pay 9% of private revenue (foundations, individuals, corporations) and 15% of any public revenue (government grants, contracts, fee-for-service); after the first full year, raise at least $22,500 a year or pay a $2,000 minimum fee

Contract or serviceEquity-freeany field

The catch: Under comprehensive sponsorship you are legally part of Community Partners, which signs your contracts and grant agreements and reviews each grant proposal before you submit it. The fees above are for that model; the pages read give no rate for the limited (Model C) option. You must also recruit an active advisory board, follow its project and employee handbooks, file periodic project reports and credit Community Partners on public materials. A sponsored project is shut out of TechSoup donations.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply any time

Applicant tip: If you expect government money, price the 15% rate into the budget before you apply; the same dollar costs 9% when it comes from a foundation or donor. Decide between the comprehensive and limited models up front, because the limited option rules out cost-reimbursement government funding.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects without their own 501(c)(3), from anywhere in the country, with genuine charitable intent, committed leadership, community impact and funding prospects. Under the comprehensive model it does not take profit-making ventures, projects where housing is a key element (transitional housing, domestic violence shelters, foster youth homes), projects that routinely litigate or practice medicine, or schools. Its limited (Model C) option excludes projects on cost-reimbursement government funding and those with extensive lobbying.
How to apply: Direct application: read the applicant criteria and mutual expectations, then complete the online application. Community Partners says you can accept grants and donations once it approves you, usually within 4 to 8 weeks.
Pays for fit: fiscal sponsorship
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Players Philanthropy Fund (PPF) fiscal sponsorship

Players Philanthropy Fund — Fiscal Sponsorship

No award: a standard 6% management fee on deposits; government-funded grants carry a separate fee structure; a $5,000 opening deposit is part of onboarding

Contract or serviceEquity-freeany field

The catch: PPF is the legal recipient and runs your funds; sponsored projects operate under its EIN. It offers Model A, a comprehensive relationship in which your project is fully integrated into PPF's operations and oversight, and Model C, a grantor-grantee relationship it describes as for highly trusted, vetted, operationally established clients. The 6% fee applies to deposits, other filing and charitable fees may apply and are set during vetting, government grants are priced separately (no rate is published), and a sponsored project is shut out of TechSoup donations.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply any time

Applicant tip: Ask in the intro call which model you would sit in and what the government-grant fee is before you sign: the 6% headline covers deposits, and the pages read do not publish the government rate or say whether the $5,000 opening deposit offsets fees. PPF charges no management fee on in-kind donations.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals, companies and organizations with a charitable project, in any of the 50 states, that want to operate under PPF's 501(c)(3). Existing 501(c)(3) organizations can also use PPF for back-office help and oversight of government grants. PPF sponsors more than 600 projects and vets each applicant.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the online fiscal sponsorship application, hold an intro call with a PPF representative, decide who signs the agreement, sign it by DocuSign, make the $5,000 opening deposit, then onboard.
Pays for fit: fiscal sponsorship
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

HCB fiscal sponsorship for teen-led projects (The Hack Foundation / Hack Club)

Hack Club — The Hack Foundation (HCB)

No award: a single fee of 7% of revenue; HCB lists no legal, startup, transaction, card, subscription or check-deposit fees

Contract or serviceEquity-freeeducation & youth

The catch: The Hack Foundation, a 501(c)(3), is the legal recipient and holds your funds; 7% of revenue goes to Hack Club's operations. The project has to stay teen-led and charitable under 501(c)(3) rules. Like any fiscally sponsored project, it is shut out of TechSoup donations. The pages read do not label HCB as a comprehensive or pre-approved grant model.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply any time

Applicant tip: If you already have $50,000 or more in committed funding, HCB asks you to email its named contact rather than only submit the standard application. Funders can see your books if you want them to: HCB offers a Transparency Mode that makes finances visible to your team and, optionally, public.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects led and primarily run by teenagers aged 13 to 18, without nonprofit status of their own, whose mission would qualify as a nonprofit activity under 501(c)(3) rules. HCB accepts only new groups run by teenagers: adult-led groups and existing 501(c)(3) organizations are not eligible, projects that would not qualify under 501(c)(3) (for-profit ventures, political campaigns, private benefit) are out, and it cannot currently support organizations in India.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through HCB; the team reviews every application individually and contacts you if it needs more information. HCB's support is in English only.
Pays for fit: fiscal sponsorship
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

2. Community foundations: how to find yours, and the statewide funds with open grants

Hundreds of community foundations cover the country, so the first job is finding yours. The Council on Foundations' community foundation locator maps them by state, and the Community Foundations National Standards locator lists the accredited ones. Then sort its money. Much of it sits in donor-advised funds, which you cannot apply to, because the donor recommends every grant. The door is the open competitive round, usually one or two a year, and the foundation's Form 990 shows who it actually funded and for how much. Our guide to the funds you can apply to and the encyclopedia entry on community foundations explain the split. Most local rounds are fenced by county or city. The cards below are the exception: statewide competitive rounds that any eligible nonprofit in the state can enter, so geography is the catch, and most run on fixed spring or fall windows.

5 programs

Rhode Island Foundation Community Priority Grants

Rhode Island Foundation — Grants and Community Investments (Rhode Island)

Average grant in 2025 was $60,000. General operating caps by annual operating budget: up to $40,000 under $150,000; $50,000 for $150,001–$400,000; $65,000 for $400,001–$1 million; $75,000 for $1,000,001–$2.5 million; $150,000 for $2,500,001–$5 million; general operating not prioritized above $5 million. No overall program maximum is published.

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: The work must fit one of five Community Priorities (civic and cultural life; climate action and sustainability; education and student success; healthy and strong communities; housing and economic mobility). No individuals, for-profits, event sponsorships or capital projects. Two stages, and an invitation to the full application is not guaranteed.

Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · Two rounds a year, each starting with a pre-application: Round 1 pre-application in January, Round 2 pre-application from late June to mid-July; award notifications in June and December

Applicant tip: Pick general operating or program support deliberately: the operating caps scale with your budget, and above $5 million the Foundation says it will not prioritize operating requests. Ask the Grants team about fit before the pre-application window, since the pre-application is the only gate.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Rhode Island 501(c)(3) nonprofits, or groups without 501(c)(3) status through a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Out-of-state organizations that serve Rhode Islanders in unique ways may complete the pre-application for evaluation. One Community Priority grant per 12 months.
How to apply: Pitch gate: complete a short pre-application in a round's window. The assigned officer reviews it (the review may include an in-person conversation) and only some applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Pays for fit: general operating, programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Oregon Community Foundation Community Grants Program

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) — statewide Community Grants (Oregon)

Varies — check official page (the 2026 Fall cycle's typical awards were $15,000–$20,000, with requests up to $40,000 considered, one-year terms)

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: Two-cycle sit-out: an organization funded in one cycle cannot apply in the next two. Priorities and award terms are set cycle by cycle, so the spring and fall rules differ; the fall cycle's capital requests were capped at $500,000 and its awards were one year with no reporting requirement.

Next deadline: Dec 15, 2026 · Twice a year: spring cycle (application window November 17 to December 15, awards in late April) and fall cycle (deadline in late June, awards in late October)

Applicant tip: Check the sit-out rule before you draft: a Community Grant in either of the two previous cycles can lock you out. Read that cycle's guidelines for the funding priorities, because the spring program page describes general operating support while the fall cycle's FAQ asked applicants to choose a project, a small capital request or capacity building.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal entities and government entities serving communities throughout Oregon; a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor is accepted. Nonprofits must register with the Oregon Department of Justice (houses of worship, government and Tribal entities are exempt).
How to apply: Direct application: submit online during the cycle window; the guidelines and questions are posted ahead of it, and OCF lists an informational session for the cycle. No staff conversation is required, but a program officer will give application-specific feedback on request.
Pays for fit: general operating, programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Maine Community Foundation Community Building Grants

Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) — statewide competitive grants (Maine)

Maximum $10,000 per grant

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: Funds only activities after the award, usually from early summer; requests for earlier costs are declined. Project grants cannot pay for endowments, annual appeals or scholarships, and administrative costs are capped at 20% of the request. Faith-based organizations and governments can apply for projects only, not general support.

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Annual: applications open mid-November and close mid-February (February 14 in 2025, February 17 in 2026); notifications by June 1

Applicant tip: Decide your track first, since the $500,000 expense line sends you to general support or to a new-project grant. Odds are county by county, so look at what MaineCF funded where you work before you shape the ask.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Organizations with a Maine address that meet MaineCF's grant eligibility requirements. General support: most recent completed fiscal-year expenses under $500,000 (not a municipality, government agency, public school or faith-based organization). Project grants: expenses at or above $500,000, or a municipality, agency, public school or faith-based organization of any size, for a NEW project (first two years) with a total budget of $100,000 or less.
How to apply: Direct application: submit online during the annual window, which opens in mid-November and closes in mid-February. No conversation with staff is required; applicants in the final review pool are called for a brief phone interview after the deadline.
Pays for fit: general operating, programs & projects
Equity taken: None
Who wins: In the 2026 round MaineCF received 611 applications requesting $5,756,437 and awarded 363 grants totaling $3,137,050 (program page); the share funded varies by county.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Wyoming Community Foundation Competitive Cycle (spring and fall)

Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) — statewide Competitive Cycle (Wyoming)

Most awards $1,000–$10,000, with other amounts considered; full funding, partial funding or denial, and conditions may be attached

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: Grantees skip the next cycle before reapplying, and a final report on a prior grant is required before a new request. Low priority: block grants, capital campaigns, annual campaigns, debt retirement and one-time special events. No lobbying.

Next deadline: Mar 15, 2027 · Twice a year: spring cycle opens December 15, deadline March 15, notification June 15; fall cycle opens June 15, deadline September 15, notification December 15

Applicant tip: Book staff office hours before you draft: the page offers them for eligibility, financial documents and application tips. Priority goes to groups that address identified needs with long-term solutions, partner with other nonprofits to avoid duplication, and use WYCF money to bring in other funding.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Nonprofits exempt under Section 501(c)(3) working in Wyoming; public or governmental agencies and other exempt organizations are occasionally eligible for a charitable purpose. No grants to individuals.
How to apply: Direct application: submit online in the spring or fall cycle; one application per organization per grant deadline. Staff office hours are offered for questions on eligibility, financial documents and the application.
Pays for fit: general operating, programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

South Dakota Community Foundation South Dakota Fund Grants

South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) — statewide South Dakota Fund (South Dakota)

Usually $2,000–$20,000 (requests under $2,000 or over $20,000 are usually not considered; financial literacy requests may exceed $20,000)

GrantEquity-freearts, culture & humanitieseducation & youthhealth & human serviceshousing & homelessnesscommunity & economic development

The catch: Matching funds are encouraged and requests for more than half of project cost get low priority; a challenge grant may be required. One request per organization per 12 months, and no new request until the final report is in. Operating expenses for governments, vehicles or equipment over $10,000 and loans are not funded; capital projects are low priority; general operating support for nonprofits is not addressed on the page.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: letters of inquiry accepted year-round, and the Board awards grants throughout the year

Applicant tip: Build the request around a project with volunteer involvement and a match, since the page says volunteer-supported projects are favored and requests above half of project cost rank low. The 90-day clock starts only when you submit the full application, so the LOI is the step to do early.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Public nonprofit organizations as defined by IRS Publication 78, or a verified fiscal sponsor, in South Dakota; grants have reached all 66 counties. Focus areas are culture, economic development, education, financial literacy, and health and human services, with child well-being, housing and workforce development added from 2026.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a Letter of Inquiry through GOapply at any time of year. Staff reply in about 15 business days; invited applicants then complete a full application, decided about 90 days after submission. Staff contact is not required.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

3. Corporate giving programs with an open application

Corporate grants are small and drawn around a company's footprint: a store, a plant, a branch or an employee base. Decisions are often made locally, and many of the biggest corporate foundations now take invitations only, so the programs with a real open application are oversubscribed. The catch is almost always geography. Dollar General funds organizations within 15 miles of one of its stores, Walmart wants a store or club that serves your area, Publix and PNC fund only where they operate, and Honda names 17 states. Apply where the company operates, tie the request to the focus it states, and run the distance test before you write a word (how companies draw those maps). The general playbook is in corporate grants for nonprofits, and the encyclopedia explains how corporate giving works. Outdoor-brand programs (REI, Patagonia and others) sit in the outdoor guide, and free software and in-kind donations have their own section.

7 programs

Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants (Adult Literacy, Family Literacy, Summer Reading and Youth Literacy)

Dollar General Literacy Foundation

Adult Literacy and Family Literacy up to $10,000; Youth Literacy up to $5,000; Summer Reading up to $3,000. The foundation says it may award less than the maximum because of request volume.

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youth

The catch: The 15-mile rule is measured from your organization's address, not from where you serve, and grants are non-transferable: they stay with the organization selected. Summer Reading and Youth Literacy carry a two-year rule (after two years in a row you are not eligible in the third); Adult and Family grants have no limit on consecutive years. Travel is capped at $500 and Summer Reading incentives at $500. Funded organizations complete an acknowledgement form and a year-end report.

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Annual: Adult Literacy, Family Literacy and Summer Reading grants open in early January and close in early February; Youth Literacy opens in early March and closes in early April

Applicant tip: Start the pre-screening early, because verification can take up to 48 hours, and download your answers as PDFs while the cycle is open: the foundation does not share blank application questions outside the grant windows. You may apply for more than one grant type if separate programs qualify, for example an adult class and a summer youth program.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A nonprofit (as determined by the IRS), public library, school or college that provides direct literacy services in a state where Dollar General operates, with the organization's address within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. Adult Literacy funds adult education instruction, GED or high school equivalency preparation and English language acquisition; Family Literacy requires all of adult education instruction, children's education and parent-and-child time together; Youth Literacy serves K-12 students below grade level or struggling to read; Summer Reading serves new and below-grade-level readers in Pre-K through 12.
How to apply: Direct application: during an open window, create an account on the foundation's grant portal (linked from dgliteracy.org), pass the pre-screening with your nine-digit tax ID (schools and libraries use their NCES or IMLS ID), then complete the application for the grant type. Verification can take up to 48 hours.
Pays for fit: programs & projects, technology & software
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Spark Good Local Grants

Walmart — Walmart.org Spark Good Local Grants (Walmart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers)

$250–$5,000 per grant, requested from one Walmart store, Sam's Club or distribution center

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: A funded organization cannot reapply to the same facility in the same fiscal year, and banking information is due within 21 days of notice. Walmart may exclude organizations that deny service, membership or involvement on the basis of religion or other protected characteristics.

Next deadline: Dec 31, 2026 · Three cycles a year: February 1–April 15, May 1–July 15, and August 1–December 31

Applicant tip: You may hold up to 25 pending or approved applications at once, so apply to every store, Sam's Club and distribution center that serves your area rather than only the nearest one. Finish Deed verification before a cycle opens; decisions come before the next cycle starts.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) public charities (government entities and K-12 schools also qualify), each verified through Deed and serving the same area as the Walmart store, Sam's Club or distribution center they ask. 501(c)(4), (c)(6), (c)(19) and 509(a)(3) organizations are not eligible. The footprint is the catch: you can only ask a facility that serves your area.
How to apply: Direct application: create a Spark Good account on Walmart.com, complete Deed verification, then apply to the store, Sam's Club or distribution center that serves your area.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Community Possible grant program (Work, Home and Play grants)

U.S. Bank — U.S. Bank Foundation

Varies — check official page (no published range; operating, program and capital grants to 501(c)(3) partners in designated U.S. Bank communities)

GrantEquity-freecommunity & economic developmenthousing & homelessnessarts, culture & humanities

The catch: Capital grants go only to organizations with a funding history, whose entire mission fits a pillar and that have a U.S. Bank employee on the board, and cover no more than 1 percent of the campaign goal. Operating support also requires the whole mission to fit a focus area, and renewal is not assumed. The money is tied to designated U.S. Bank communities, not the whole country.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling letter of interest for new organizations; annual invitation for established partners

Applicant tip: The foundation prioritizes proposals that span more than one pillar, such as job training paired with housing stability, and sets money aside each year for organizations new to it, so the open letter of interest is a real door rather than a formality.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits based in and serving designated U.S. Bank communities whose work fits the Work (workforce education and economic prosperity), Home (neighborhood stability and safe, affordable housing) or Play (arts, culture and places) pillar. Applicants certify a non-discrimination policy. 501(c)(4), (5) and (6) groups, merchant associations, private foundations and for-profits are excluded, and religious organizations are funded only for non-sectarian programs that benefit a broad base of the community.
How to apply: Pitch gate: organizations new to the U.S. Bank Foundation submit an electronic letter of interest at any time; established partners apply annually by invitation from a U.S. Bank community affairs manager.
Pays for fit: general operating, programs & projects, equipment & buildings
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

AWS Imagine Grant

Amazon Web Services (AWS) — Imagine Grant

Momentum to Modernize: up to $50,000 unrestricted plus up to $20,000 in AWS credits. Go Further, Faster: up to $150,000 plus up to $100,000 in credits. Pathfinder: up to $200,000 plus up to $100,000 in credits. AWS sets actual amounts at its sole discretion.

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: Round Two is invitation only, so passing Round One is the real gate. The cash is unrestricted but the credits are AWS promotional credit. Past winners are advised to wait one calendar year or one cycle before reapplying unless the new project is clearly and sufficiently different in nature, scope or stage; non-winners may reapply. AWS tells winners about administrative requirements, and the program page does not publish reporting terms.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · Annual: Round One portal opens in mid-March and closes in early June; Round One results and Round Two invitations go out in mid-July; Round Two (invitation only) runs from mid-August to mid-September; winners are announced December 1

Applicant tip: Choose the tier before you write: you apply in one category only, and the categories are defined by the work (infrastructure migration and modernization; cloud innovation with AI, ML, HPC or IoT; frontier generative or agentic AI), not by your budget. A nonprofit with no AWS history can start with AWS's separate Nonprofit Credit Program, which the FAQ lists at up to $5,000 a year in credits.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Registered 501(c) nonprofits based in the United States (501(c)(3) organizations included), of any budget size and any mission area. Educational institutions are excluded. Using AWS is not required, but the grant suits organizations planning to. Each organization may submit one application per cycle, in one award category.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a Round One application in the AWS portal during the spring window; only organizations AWS invites after evaluating Round One submit the Round Two proposal.
Pays for fit: technology & software, capacity building
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Honda and Honda USA Foundation Programmatic Funding (2027 pillars: Education, Environment, Mobility, Traffic Safety)

Honda USA Foundation (with Honda) — corporate social responsibility funding

Requests of $25,000 to $100,000

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youthenvironment & animals

The catch: Honda states that no exceptions are granted for late submissions, and the window closes at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on the last day. Not funded: religious-purpose programs or events, athletic teams, individuals, political support, programs or events already completed, and organizations outside the U.S. or using funds outside it. Organizations that discriminate on protected bases are ineligible.

Next deadline: Expected: October 2027 · Annual: online application window October 1–31 (11:59 p.m. Pacific) for the following year's awards; decisions expected in spring · Set an alert ↗

Applicant tip: The Eligibility Quiz is the only way into the application and the window is a single month, so take it before you start writing. Check that the program itself, not just your office, serves one of the 17 named states, and expect a smaller group to need a clear case for managing a $25,000-plus award.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. organizations with 501(c)(3) status or a tax-exempt nonprofit fiscal sponsor, plus schools and school districts listed by NCES, running programs that serve one or more of 17 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas. Honda says it primarily funds organizations with annual operating budgets over $500,000, a stated priority rather than a hard minimum. The 2027 pillars are Education, Environment, Mobility and Traffic Safety.
How to apply: Direct application: read the funding page, complete the online Eligibility Quiz, then submit the programmatic application in Honda's online system. Requests sent any other way are not considered.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

PNC Foundation grants (early childhood education and economic development)

PNC Foundation — PNC Financial Services Group

Varies — check official page (no award sizes published)

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youthcommunity & economic development

The catch: PNC does not fund religious organizations except for non-sectarian activities, advocacy groups, individuals, private foundations, operating funds for agencies that receive PNC United Way allocations, annual funds for hospitals or colleges and universities, conferences and seminars, or tickets and goodwill advertising. PNC says requests exceed what it can fund.

Next deadline: Varies — no published window; contact your PNC regional representative · Standing intake through regional representatives; PNC publishes no application windows or deadlines on the page

Applicant tip: Take the quiz before you write anything: it confirms your county is inside PNC's footprint, and the regional representative is the real gate. For early childhood requests, be ready to show that a majority of the children served come from low- and moderate-income families.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Organizations with a current IRS tax-exempt designation that can receive charitable contributions, for activity in a community where PNC has a significant presence (the page lists the eligible counties for each region). Priorities are early childhood education (PNC Grow Up Great grants support children from birth to age five, serve a majority of children from low- and moderate-income families and include one of three listed activity types) and economic development for low- and moderate-income communities: affordable housing, community services, arts and culture, and neighborhood revitalization.
How to apply: Pitch gate: take the Eligibility Quiz on PNC's page, then contact the PNC representative listed for your county before sending a request.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Publix Super Markets Charities online donation requests

Publix Super Markets Charities

Varies — check official page (no amounts published; donations are mailed as checks)

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youthfood & hungerhousing & homelessness

The catch: Only organizations in the eight Publix states qualify. The FAQ gives no decision timeline; approved donations are mailed by U.S. mail (allow at least four weeks) and checks are valid for 180 days. In-store sidewalk solicitations and donations of unsellable goods go to the local store manager, not through the online system.

Next deadline: Varies — check official page (no published deadline) · Standing online requests; no deadline or window is published on the pages read

Applicant tip: Register the organization first and keep the profile current: the page states that registration is required before any request, even one a volunteer files, can be processed. Questions go to the Charitable Donations Help Desk listed in the FAQ.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Nonprofits (the FAQ refers to 501(c)(3) organizations) and schools that operate or serve clients in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia or Kentucky, working on youth, education, reducing hunger or alleviating homelessness. Donations to schools are made to the school itself; PTAs, PTSAs and booster clubs cannot register separately, and Publix Charities cannot donate to benefit an individual.
How to apply: Direct application: an employee or board member registers the organization on the Publix Charitable Donations site, then requests are submitted online; a volunteer may file on the organization's behalf only after that registration.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

4. Foundations that accept unsolicited proposals, including operating support

Most of the biggest foundations are invitation-only: Ford, Carnegie, Starr and Mott say outright that they do not take unsolicited proposals, and Mellon makes most of its grants by invitation. The funders below do take cold requests, and each has real filters, such as Hearst's $2 million audited-expense floor and $100,000 minimum, or Chichester duPont's $50,000 ceiling. General operating support (definition) and capacity grants are scarcer still; the open ones here are regional, such as Cummings in eastern Massachusetts and Kauffman in the Kansas City region, and unrestricted grants explains why. Before you apply, read the foundation's Form 990-PF, not just its website. Stated priorities are aspirational; the filing lists who was actually paid, how much and often for what, and ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer shows it free. Our 990 lookup guide and funder research playbook walk through it. If recipients differ from you in size, place or field, move on. And when you ask for capacity, name what you are buying: the CRM, the controller or the plan.

9 programs

Hearst Foundations grants (culture, education, health, social service)

Hearst Foundations (William Randolph Hearst Foundation and The Hearst Foundation)

Varies — check official page (minimum grant $100,000; the foundations point applicants to their Grant Recipients Database for typical awards)

GrantEquity-freearts, culture & humanitieseducation & youthhealth & human services

The catch: Organizations with audited expenses under $2 million, or in a leadership transition, are not funded, and the minimum grant is $100,000. Not funded: seed money or pilots, advocacy or policy research, festivals, conferences, media production, special events, and capital projects less than 50% toward their goal. Local chapters of national groups and organizations without regional or national reach are funded only in limited cases. A site visit comes before any Board decision, submission to award averages about six months, and you wait three years after a grant (one year after a decline) to reapply.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: year-round with no deadlines; staff review takes four to six weeks and the Board approves grants quarterly

Applicant tip: Read the Grant Recipients Database and both Hearst foundations' 990-PFs on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer before you set an ask: with a $100,000 minimum, a request pitched at small-grant size will not fit, and comparable recipients show what a fundable project looks like. If you cannot tell which of the four fields fits best, the FAQ invites you to email the foundations before you submit.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) with audited expenses of at least $2 million and a leader in place for at least a year, working in culture, education, health or social service. One request per organization.
How to apply: Direct application: submit one request through the Hearst Foundations Grants Portal (instructions are linked from the FAQ page). A university or medical center files a single request through its central development office.
Pays for fit: programs & projects, equipment & buildings
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation grants

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation

Typically $1,000 to $20,000; a request cannot exceed $20,000 or one quarter of your average income over the past three fiscal years

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: One year of funding only: multi-year and emergency requests are not considered. You must spend the award within a year and send a short narrative report within six months to a year. The foundation cannot give feedback or take calls, and an application missing its 990, determination letter or operating budget is disqualified with no chance to add it later by email.

Next deadline: Nov 10, 2026 · Two award rounds a year (Spring and Fall); the Spring round's request deadline is November 10 and the Fall round's deadline is posted on the foundation's home page

Applicant tip: Write the two short summaries so they stand alone: the foundation says directors should grasp your purpose, population and use of funds from them without opening the three-page letter, and vague or jargon-heavy summaries may not be considered. Size the ask to the cap (the lesser of $20,000 or a quarter of your three-year average income), because the foundation may award less than you request.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: IRS-qualified U.S. nonprofit with at least one completed Form 990 (a 990-N postcard counts). Schools and other publicly supported organizations apply with an operating budget instead; fiscal sponsors are accepted. Individuals and businesses (LLCs) cannot apply.
How to apply: Direct application: create an organization profile in the foundation's online application portal, then submit two summaries, a three-page letter of request, your latest 990, an itemized program budget (for program support) and your IRS determination letter. Letters of interest or introduction are not considered.
Pays for fit: general operating, programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

W.K. Kellogg Foundation grants (open letter of inquiry)

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Varies — check official page (the grantseekers page publishes no amount range)

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youthhealth & human servicesfood & hunger

The catch: No grants for individuals, capital investments, or political parties or candidates. Nothing is awarded on the inquiry alone: expect up to 30 business days for a yes-or-no on the LOI, then a formal proposal and about 60 business days of review.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: the application process is always open, with no fixed grantmaking cycles or deadlines

Applicant tip: The grantseekers page gives no amount range, so read the foundation's 990-PF on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer to see which organizations it funded and how much before you decide whether to inquire. Because the process is always open, you can send the LOI when your project is ready rather than aim at a window; the page offers its instructions in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Organizations whose work advances the foundation's priorities: early care and education, maternal and child health, healthy and affordable food systems, career pathways for parents and caregivers, and healing from racism. The page lists no other formal criteria. It funds across the U.S., with generational commitments in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans.
How to apply: Pitch gate: register in the foundation's Fluxx grants portal and submit a letter of inquiry. The foundation replies within 30 business days, either encouraging a formal proposal or declining; if invited, a formal proposal takes about 60 business days to review.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Harry Chapin Foundation grants (arts-in-education, community education, agriculture and environment)

Harry Chapin Foundation

A few hundred dollars up to a general maximum of $10,000; one-year grants

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youtharts, culture & humanitiesenvironment & animals

The catch: Grants cover one year; a renewal needs a new proposal and report each year and is never automatic, and no organization receives more than three years of grants in its lifetime. A short report on use of the money is due within 12 months of the award. The foundation will not fund an organization that uses a fiscal agent.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: the board meets three times a year as needed, with no fixed deadline

Applicant tip: Make the request realistic: the page warns that an inflated ask may simply go unfunded if the foundation cannot meet your stated need, and the average award is far below the $10,000 maximum. Send a complete package at once, because the board reviews as needed and the page says earlier, fuller requests are better placed for the next meeting.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations (the IRS determination letter is required) running arts-in-education, community education, or agricultural and environmental programs. Most grantees are grassroots groups with annual operating budgets of $750,000 or less. Organizations that use a fiscal agent are not funded.
How to apply: Direct application: upload a brief PDF proposal through the form on the foundation's Apply page (half-page summary, five-page narrative, organizational and project budgets, list of other funders and your determination letter). The New York/New Jersey Common Application Form is accepted.
Pays for fit: programs & projects, general operating
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Per the foundation's Apply page, 2025 brought more than 157 applications and 44 grants totaling $107,783 (an average of about $2,450); most grantees are grassroots organizations with budgets of $750,000 or less.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Mellon Foundation Humanities in Place funding inquiry

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation — Humanities in Place

Varies — check official page (the program page publishes no amount range)

GrantEquity-freearts, culture & humanities

The catch: An inquiry is not an application: staff decide whom to invite, and Mellon says most of its grants are made through invitations. The foundation does not fund tuition, K-12 education and programming, fundraising events, or direct unrestricted funding for individuals, and requests must serve charitable or educational purposes.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: Humanities in Place inquiries are accepted on a rolling basis

Applicant tip: Anchor the inquiry in a specific place and the people who keep it, since the program is built around place-keeping, and scan Mellon's grants database for past Humanities in Place awards near your field before you write. Most other Mellon areas are invitation-only, so this inquiry is the one open door.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Mellon makes most grants to U.S. organizations the IRS classifies as 501(c)(3) public charities. Humanities in Place backs community groups' cultural-heritage programming, initiatives focused on often-overlooked communities or regions, and cultural heritage sites such as museums and public spaces.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a funding inquiry through the Mellon Grants Portal, which takes Humanities in Place inquiries on a rolling basis. Staff review inquiries and invite the organizations they choose to submit a full proposal.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None
Who wins: In its first two years Humanities in Place gave $89 million to 95 projects, much of it to community-based organizations that were new to Mellon, and over 30 percent of those grants began as unsolicited inquiries (Mellon, 'Cultivating humanities in place').

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Chichester duPont Foundation grants

The Chichester duPont Foundation

Generally up to $50,000 per grant; usually one year, with multi-year funding possible in areas of special interest

GrantEquity-freeenvironment & animalseducation & youthhealth & human services

The catch: One application per calendar year, and the foundation's policy is to accept applications for no more than four consecutive years. Preference goes to new initiatives, special projects, program expansion and capital improvement where the grant would play a pivotal role; requests above $50,000 are not generally considered. An evaluation report is due within 12 months of the grant.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · Annual: the portal opens by March 1 and applications are due June 1; trustees meet about December 1 and grants go out by December 31

Applicant tip: The foundation says applicants who have built a relationship and program understanding with at least one trustee have the best chance, and its FAQ says it coordinates trustee contact for applicants, so ask for that introduction before the portal opens, not after you submit. Check its grant listings and 990-PF on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer to see the size and kind of projects it funds.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Individuals, for-profits, programs outside the United States, and groups engaged in propaganda or lobbying are not eligible. The trustees emphasize environment, education and health care.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the foundation's online grant portal with a cover letter stating the amount requested, a proposal of three pages or fewer, an outline of how success will be evaluated, your board-approved budget and your IRS 501(c)(3) letter.
Pays for fit: programs & projects, equipment & buildings
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Clif Family Foundation Open Call (general operating support)

Clif Family Foundation

Typical grants $5,000 to $50,000 for one year

GrantEquity-freefood & hungerenvironment & animalshealth & human services

The catch: The Open Call pays general operating costs only, for one year. Not funded: faith-based or religious organizations, chapters or affiliates of national organizations, individuals, government agencies, medical or health centers, deficit funding, endowments, capital construction, fundraising events, media projects, summer camps, after-school academic programs, and food banks unless they work on wider systemic change.

Next deadline: Mar 1, 2027 · Twice a year: March 1 and early August; decisions come about four months after each deadline

Applicant tip: Use the eligibility quiz before you draft: it screens for the budget size, priority area and exclusions above. Plan around the lag, since announcements come about four months after each deadline, and the foundation asks you not to contact its program officers about the Open Call but to email its general address instead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A 501(c)(3), or a group fiscally sponsored by one, that advances one of the foundation's priorities: regenerative and organic farming, food production workers' health and safety, climate justice, healthy food access, inclusive outdoor access, or air, water and soil free of pollution. Priority goes to U.S.-focused grassroots groups with strong community ties and operating budgets under $8 million.
How to apply: Direct application: take the eligibility quiz, then apply in the foundation's Temelio application portal, which reopens ahead of each cycle. A separate by-invitation track exists and does not take unsolicited requests.
Pays for fit: general operating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Cummings $35 Million Grant Program (Massachusetts)

Cummings Foundation

$10,000–$100,000 a year in constant installments: 125 grants paid over 3 years and 25 over 10 years; about 150 grants a year from a $35 million pool

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: Nearly all grants are unrestricted general operating support, but faith-based organizations (non-religious activities only), municipalities and public schools, organizations with fiscal sponsors and large multi-departmental organizations get purpose-restricted grants. The annual installment should not exceed about 20 percent of your average annual revenue over the past three years. Requests above $25,000 a year need a full application with a budget and bring a post-award site visit. Athletics, arts, culture, land and historic preservation and animal welfare are not currently considered, and endowments, medical research, tuition-charging schools and religious endeavors are excluded. Prior grantees can reapply only after every earlier grant is fully paid and agreement terms (annual impact reports, a reciprocal website link) are met.

Next deadline: Expected: September 2027 · Annual: letter of inquiry due mid-September (portal opens mid-July); invited full applications due in January; grant decisions by the end of May

Applicant tip: Size your ask with the 20 percent rule before you write: with three-year average revenue of $400,000, the largest sensible installment is about $80,000. Requests of $25,000 a year or less use a short form with no budget, while larger ones need the comprehensive application, so a first-time applicant can cut the work by asking at or under that line; 10-year grants require a prior Cummings grant.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Essex, Middlesex or Suffolk County, Massachusetts (or Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy or Wellesley in Norfolk County) that provides most of its services there; a local branch of a national or regional group needs its own EIN and board.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a letter of inquiry in the Foundation's online portal (one per cycle, no extensions). Only invited organizations submit a full application, and some 10-year candidates give a presentation.
Pays for fit: general operating
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Capacity Building Grants (Kansas City region)

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

$100,000–$250,000, one-time

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youthcommunity & economic development

The catch: One-time and non-renewing: the proposal must explain why a one-time grant fits and how the benefits last afterward. The work must support Kauffman's priorities (college access and completion, workforce and career development, entrepreneurship) and benefit the Kansas City region. No lobbying (strategic advocacy and education are allowed); the Foundation does not fund bricks and mortar, endowments, loans or seed capital for private businesses, religious activities or individuals. Funds typically arrive 4 to 6 months after the application period closes.

Next deadline: Expected: summer 2027 (no 2027 dates posted yet; the 2026 window ran mid-July to mid-August) · Annual: summer application window (the 2026 window ran July 13 to August 13)

Applicant tip: Scope the ask as a named system, role or plan: the program lists staffing and leadership, financial health, internal systems, data and evaluation, strategic planning and communications as fundable. Because the intake form screens on budget size and Kansas City impact first, confirm both gates before you draft anything.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an operating budget of at least $300,000 last year (the Foundation's intake form screens for it) whose work closes economic mobility gaps through college access and completion, workforce and career development, or entrepreneurship, with potential to drive impact in the Kansas City region.
How to apply: Direct application: choose Capacity Building on the intake form on the Kauffman grants page during the posted application window; the form starts the grant process.
Pays for fit: capacity building
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

5. Federal money you apply for through your state, city or an intermediary

A large share of federal money reaches small nonprofits as subawards. Congress funds a formula or block program, a state agency, city, county or local board runs the competition, and your organization applies there. Competing against a handful of local applicants beats competing nationally, and these programs pay for security, shelter, food, victim services, senior meals, afterschool learning, national service and community development. Cycles are set locally, so the only reliable calendar is your intermediary's, and much of the money reimburses: you spend first and claim later. As a subrecipient you inherit the federal rules (2 CFR 200; see subrecipient monitoring and pass-through funding): a Single Audit once you spend $1 million in federal funds in a year, and your pass-through must honor your negotiated indirect rate or offer the 15% de minimis rate. Read what a pass-through entity must do and why a subaward is not a subcontract first. Twelve states also fund nonprofit security grants of their own; the faith-based guide lists all 13 programs.

12 programs

Nonprofit Security Grant Program — Urban Area (NSGP-UA), ALN 97.008

U.S. Department of Homeland Security — FEMA (through your State Administrative Agency)

Up to $200,000 per site, up to three sites per funding stream and no more than $600,000 per organization per state (FY 2026: $150 million for NSGP-UA of $300 million total)

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: No cost share, but the cost of the vulnerability assessment and the Investment Justification is unallowable. NSGP buys security for the site (planning, equipment, training, contract security), not programming. The FY 2026 notice also asks subapplicants for bios and resumes of leaders and board members with names and addresses, says subapplicants should not include unvetted foreign nationals or noncitizens, and has the state report with each payment request whether the subrecipient's work supports noncitizens or it has diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

Next deadline: Expected: mid-2027 (FY 2027 notice not yet published; your state's deadline will come weeks before FEMA's) · Annual: FEMA publishes one notice a year and each State Administrative Agency sets its own deadline weeks before FEMA's (FY 2026: notice posted June 24, 2026; federal deadline July 24, 2026; awards announced September 28, 2026)

Applicant tip: FEMA multiplies the state's score by three for houses of worship and other religious organizations, by two for secular schools and medical facilities, and by one for every other nonprofit, then adds 15 points if you have never had an NSGP award, so a secular applicant needs a stronger state score to land at the same rank. Draft the vulnerability assessment and Investment Justification before the notice posts: the FY 2026 federal window ran only 30 days and state deadlines closed earlier.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Nonprofits described under section 501(c)(3) (houses of worship, schools, museums, and senior and community centers are among the eligible types) that can show a high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack and whose site is inside a designated high-risk urban area listed in Appendix B of the notice. Churches, mosques and synagogues do not need an IRS recognition letter. Nonprofits cannot apply to FEMA directly.
How to apply: Through your state: send your State Administrative Agency (SAA) an Investment Justification for each site, a site-specific vulnerability assessment and your mission statement by the SAA's deadline; the SAA scores the applications and applies to FEMA in FEMA GO.
Pays for fit: security, equipment & buildings
Equity taken: None
Who wins: More than $2 billion to nonprofits and more than 18,000 applications funded over the program's history (FY 2026 notice).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Nonprofit Security Grant Program — State (NSGP-S), ALN 97.008

U.S. Department of Homeland Security — FEMA (through your State Administrative Agency)

Up to $200,000 per site, up to three sites per funding stream and no more than $600,000 per organization per state (FY 2026: $150 million for NSGP-S of $300 million total; state allocations were $0 or $1.4 million to $5.9 million)

GrantEquity-freeany field

Applicant tip: Check Appendix B of the notice first: a building outside the listed urban areas applies under NSGP-S, and an organization with sites in both streams can apply for up to six sites in one state but no more than $600,000 combined. In Colorado and Minnesota a federal application is also the only way into the state's own top-up money, which goes to federal applicants left unfunded or under-funded.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Nonprofits described under section 501(c)(3) (houses of worship, schools, museums, and senior and community centers are among the eligible types) that can show a high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack and whose site is outside the designated high-risk urban areas. Churches, mosques and synagogues do not need an IRS recognition letter. Nonprofits cannot apply to FEMA directly.
How to apply: Through your state: send your State Administrative Agency (SAA) an Investment Justification for each site, a site-specific vulnerability assessment and your mission statement by the SAA's deadline; the SAA scores the applications and applies to FEMA in FEMA GO.
Pays for fit: security, equipment & buildings
Equity taken: None
Who wins: More than $2 billion to nonprofits and more than 18,000 applications funded over the program's history (FY 2026 notice).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program — subgrants to local governments and private nonprofits (ALN 14.231)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Office of Community Planning and Development

Varies — check official page (formula grants to states, metropolitan cities, urban counties and territories; HUD's FY2026 CPD formula allocations spreadsheet lists each recipient, and the recipient sets subgrant sizes)

GrantEquity-freehousing & homelessness

The catch: The recipient must match its ESG grant dollar for dollar (the first $100,000 of a state's grant is exempt, and that benefit must pass to the subrecipients least able to match), so ask what match your recipient expects from you. Religious nonprofits are eligible, but ESG money cannot pay for worship, religious instruction or proselytization and cannot acquire, build or renovate a principal place of worship (24 CFR 576.406 and 5.109).

Next deadline: Varies by state, city or county — check your ESG recipient's funding calendar · Annual formula allocation; each state, city or county sets its own subrecipient application window

Applicant tip: Check whether your city or county gets ESG directly from HUD (it is on HUD's FY2026 allocations spreadsheet); if not, apply to the state, and secure the local government's written approval early, because the state cannot subgrant for a nonprofit's emergency shelter without it.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Units of general purpose local government and private nonprofit organizations. ESG defines a private nonprofit as a secular or religious organization described in IRC section 501(c) and tax-exempt that has an accounting system, a voluntary board and nondiscriminatory practices. A state cannot fund a nonprofit's emergency shelter without written approval from the local government where the shelter operates.
How to apply: Through your state: states must subgrant everything beyond their own administration (and HMIS work if the state is the HMIS lead) to local governments or private nonprofits, and metropolitan cities and urban counties may subgrant to private nonprofits; each recipient runs its own application round within its consolidated-plan program year.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant — state subawards (ALN 16.575)

U.S. Department of Justice — Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)

Varies — check official page (annual formula grants from the Crime Victims Fund to each State Administering Agency; the Fund's distribution cap was $1.9 billion in FY2025 and $1.95 billion in FY2026, and each state sets subaward sizes)

GrantEquity-freejustice & civic lifehealth & human services

The catch: Subrecipients must match at least 20% of total project cost in cash or in-kind from non-federal sources unless a waiver is granted through the state (28 CFR 94.118). Faith-based programs may not use the money for worship, religious instruction or proselytization (28 CFR 38.5).

Next deadline: Varies by state — check your State Administering Agency · Annual federal formula award to each state; each State Administering Agency sets its own subaward solicitation and project period

Applicant tip: Ask your State Administering Agency about a match waiver before you build the budget: OVC's September 2021 bulletin sets the waiver process under 28 CFR 94.118, and the VOCA Fix Act of 2021 allows or requires states to waive match in certain circumstances.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Crime victim assistance programs that meet VOCA's requirements, with a record of effective services to victims and support from sources other than the Crime Victims Fund; faith-based and neighborhood programs are eligible (28 CFR 94.112). Each state must give at least 10% of its grant to each of sexual assault, spousal abuse and child abuse victims and 10% to underserved victims of violent crime.
How to apply: Through your state: your State Administering Agency (listed on OVC's state directory) runs the subaward solicitation and selects programs; OVC does not take applications from local programs for this money.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None
Who wins: OVC reports that VOCA assistance subgrantees served 6.8 million victims in FY 2025.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) — Local Recipient Organization funding (ALN 97.024)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security — FEMA (Emergency Food and Shelter National Board)

Varies — check official page (FEMA awarded the National Board $117,000,000 for each of Phase 42 (FY2024) and Phase 43 (FY2025); each qualifying county or city has a posted allocation and its Local Board sets each agency's award)

GrantEquity-freefood & hungerhousing & homelessness

The catch: EFSP supplements existing programs and is not seed money for new agencies; the National Board will not release payment to an agency whose UEI has expired or that is debarred, and open compliance holds from earlier phases block payment. Religiously affiliated agencies may not proselytize in EFSP-funded programs.

Next deadline: Varies by Local Board — check your county or city's EFSP Local Board · Annual phases tied to each federal appropriation; Local Boards advertise and select agencies after the National Board posts allocations and releases Local Board Plans

Applicant tip: Look up your county or city on the Phase 42 (FY2024) and Phase 43 (FY2025) allocation lists on efsp.unitedway.org, and get your SAM.gov UEI active now: the National Board verifies UEIs daily and holds payment until the UEI is active. If your area did not qualify, ask your State Set-Aside Committee instead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Local public and nonprofit organizations that already run emergency food, shelter, or rent, mortgage or utility help in a county or city that qualified for an EFSP allocation; the agency needs a Federal Employer Identification Number and an active SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier, and the Local Board decides who is funded.
How to apply: Through your local board: each qualifying county or city convenes an EFSP Local Board (a State Set-Aside Committee covers areas that did not qualify) that advertises the money, sets priorities and selects Local Recipient Organizations; the National Board then pays the selected agencies directly.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None
Who wins: FEMA says EFSP serves more than 2,500 local jurisdictions with Local Boards and funds roughly 10,000 to 12,000 public and nonprofit Local Recipient Organizations.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Older Americans Act Title III — Senior Nutrition Program (Title III-C) and Supportive Services (Title III-B) (ALN 93.045 / 93.044)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — Administration for Community Living

Varies — check official page (formula grants to state units on aging and area agencies on aging, which award grants, subgrants or contracts to local service providers)

GrantEquity-freeseniors & disabilityfood & hunger

The catch: Title III supportive and nutrition services require a 15% non-federal match at the state level (one-third from state resources), and participant contributions must be voluntary, with suggested amounts based on the actual cost of service (45 CFR 1321.9). Religious providers may not use direct funds for worship, religious instruction or proselytization (45 CFR 87.3), and the state or AAA must ensure beneficiaries get written notice of those protections.

Next deadline: Varies by Area Agency on Aging — check your local AAA · Annual federal allotment; each Area Agency on Aging procures providers on its own area-plan cycle

Applicant tip: Before you pitch your AAA, confirm your kitchen can meet the program's meal standard: ACL requires meals that follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, provide at least one-third of the Dietary Reference Intakes and comply with state and local food-safety rules.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Local organizations awarded funds by an Area Agency on Aging (or, in single-planning-area states, the state) to deliver services under the area plan; ACL notes congregate meal sites in senior centers, faith-based facilities and other community locations. Services are for people 60 and older and their spouses of any age, plus certain people with disabilities.
How to apply: Through your local Area Agency on Aging: AAAs fund service providers by grant, subgrant or contract under their area plan; ask your AAA (or your state unit on aging in a single-planning-area state) when it next procures nutrition or supportive services.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None
Who wins: ACL says the Senior Nutrition Program serves nearly one million meals a day through about 5,000 local providers.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) — child care, at-risk afterschool and emergency shelter meals (ALN 10.558)

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Food and Nutrition Administration

Reimbursement, not a grant: per-meal and per-snack rates set annually by USDA, paid through your state agency for eligible meals you serve

Contract or serviceEquity-freefood & hungereducation & youth

The catch: You are paid only for meals that meet CACFP meal patterns and are documented, after you serve them, so you carry the cost of food and staff until the claim is paid. Religious organizations may take part, but the funded meal service cannot include worship, religious instruction or proselytization, any such activity must be separate and voluntary, and participants must get written notice of their rights (7 CFR 16.4).

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: apply to your state agency at any time

Applicant tip: If you run an afterschool program that continues into summer, read FNS's transition memos CACFP 03-2014 and CACFP 12-2013 on moving between the at-risk afterschool meals component and the Summer Food Service Program, so one site can serve meals year-round.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Public or private nonprofit child care centers, outside-school-hours centers, Head Start programs, adult day care centers, emergency shelters serving homeless children and at-risk afterschool programs (which must meet 7 CFR 226.17a), participating independently or under a sponsoring organization; for-profit centers only under added conditions.
How to apply: Through your state: apply to your state CACFP agency as an independent center, or join a sponsoring organization that handles applications and claims for several sites.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), ESEA Title IV, Part B

U.S. Department of Education — Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (through your state education agency)

Varies — check official page (FY 2026: $1.33 billion appropriated and $1.31 billion in new awards to 52 state-level recipients, from $6.5 million to $160.4 million each; your state sets subgrant sizes, none under $50,000, for three to five years)

GrantEquity-freeeducation & youth

The catch: Subgrants run three to five years and a state may renew them based on performance. A state may require a local match of up to the subgrant amount, set on a sliding scale by poverty and ability to pay, with in-kind contributions allowed, and it may not weigh your ability to match when choosing winners. Funds must add to, not replace, other money for the same activities, programs must be built with the schools their students attend (sharing data within privacy law), and the application needs a preliminary plan for continuing after funding ends.

Next deadline: Varies by state — check your state education agency · Annual federal formula to the states; each state education agency runs its own competition for new three- to five-year subgrants on its own calendar

Applicant tip: Apply with a school district: states must give priority to applications submitted jointly by a local education agency that receives Title I, Part A funds and another eligible entity, and to programs serving students in schools identified for comprehensive or targeted support. Your application must also describe the partnership and how the program will be run in active collaboration with the schools its students attend.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Community-based organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits), local education agencies, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, other public or private entities, and consortia of two or more of them may apply to their state education agency. Programs must target students who mainly attend high-poverty schools (those eligible for schoolwide programs) and their families. ED states that faith-based organizations are eligible.
How to apply: Through your state: the U.S. Department of Education sends the money to state education agencies, which run a competition for subgrants on their own schedule; find your state's 21st CCLC contact on ED's program page and ask when the next competition opens.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

AmeriCorps State subgrants through state service commissions (formula and state competitions)

AmeriCorps, through governor-appointed state service commissions

Varies by state — check your state service commission (AmeriCorps share capped at $26,800 per member service year for competitive cost-reimbursement programs and $27,000 for non-EAP formula subgrants)

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: The same AmeriCorps match applies to cost-reimbursement programs (24% in years one to three, rising to 30%), and commissions can add their own requirements and earlier deadlines. Programs a commission forwards still compete nationally against other states' picks.

Next deadline: Varies by state — check your state service commission · Annual; each commission runs its own competition and sets its own deadline, often well ahead of the national AmeriCorps deadline (FY 2027 national deadline: January 13, 2027)

Applicant tip: Ask your commission early which of its competitions fits you; AmeriCorps' competition page warns that single-state deadlines may be significantly earlier than the national one. If you cannot raise the 24% match, ask about Education Award Program fixed-amount grants, which carry no match requirement.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Nonprofits, tribes, local governments, schools and colleges operating an AmeriCorps program in a single state apply to that state's service commission, which funds some programs directly and forwards others to the national competition.
How to apply: Through your state: apply to your governor-appointed state service commission under its own request for applications and deadline; AmeriCorps lists every commission's contact on its State Service Commissions page.
Pays for fit: staff & national service
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program — nonprofit subrecipient funding through your city or county

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Office of Community Planning and Development (through entitlement cities and urban counties)

Varies — check official page (HUD sends formula grants to cities and counties, $2,305,100,000 of the $3.3 billion FY2026 CDBG appropriation went to entitlement communities, and your city or county sets each nonprofit subaward)

GrantEquity-freecommunity & economic development

The catch: Each activity must meet a national objective (low- and moderate-income benefit, slum and blight, or urgent need). Public services are capped at 15% of the grant plus prior-year program income (24 CFR 570.201(e)), and planning plus administration at 20%. Subrecipients follow 2 CFR 200, including the Single Audit once federal spending reaches $1,000,000 a year.

Next deadline: Varies by city or county — check your local CDBG office's funding calendar · Annual formula allocation once appropriations are enacted; each grantee files its Annual Action Plan, which HUD asks for at least 45 days before the grantee's program year starts and will not accept after August 16 of the federal fiscal year

Applicant tip: Read your city's or county's current Annual Action Plan before you pitch: if your project is not tied to a priority need in the Consolidated Plan it is unlikely to be funded. Because HUD cannot accept an action plan after August 16, local funding rounds usually close months before the program year begins.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Private nonprofits that propose an eligible CDBG activity, in a city or county that receives CDBG directly from HUD: principal cities of metropolitan areas, other metro cities of 50,000 or more, and qualified urban counties of 200,000 or more. HUD does not fund nonprofits directly. At least 70% of a grantee's money over one to three years must benefit low- and moderate-income people.
How to apply: Through your city or county: there is no competition at HUD. The entitlement community writes a five-year Consolidated Plan and an Annual Action Plan, and nonprofits apply to its local funding round (often an RFP or NOFA) to be written into that plan. Smaller communities get CDBG through the state, which awards only to units of local government, so a nonprofit there partners with its town or county.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program — state pass-through subawards

U.S. Department of Justice — Bureau of Justice Assistance (through your State Administering Agency)

Varies — check official page (BJA formula-funds the state administering agencies and eligible local governments each year; each state sets its own subaward sizes)

GrantEquity-freejustice & civic life

The catch: BJA's FAQ says a state may not use its required pass-through money for nonprofit subawards without BJA's approval of a waiver, which needs a written certification from a local government that the project benefits it, so expect to need a local-government partner. JAG money cannot pay for security enhancements or equipment for a nongovernmental entity that is not engaged in criminal justice or public safety. Subrecipients follow 2 CFR 200 and the conditions in the state's JAG award.

Next deadline: Varies by state — check your State Administering Agency · Annual: BJA issues a State and a Local JAG notice each fiscal year (FY 2026 Grants.gov deadlines: State September 18, 2026; Local November 3, 2026), and each State Administering Agency then runs subaward rounds on its own calendar

Applicant tip: Ask your SAA which of its rounds are open to nonprofits and whether the one you want draws on required local pass-through money: if it does, line up a signed local-government certification before the solicitation opens, because that letter is what lets the state fund a nonprofit from that money.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Private and nonprofit neighborhood or community-based organizations whose project's primary purpose fits a JAG program area (law enforcement; prosecution and courts; prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment; planning, evaluation and technology; crime victim and witness programs; mental health and crisis intervention). Nonprofits cannot apply to BJA; only state administering agencies and listed local governments can, and a state may subaward to nonprofits (34 U.S.C. 10152(b)).
How to apply: Through your state: your State Administering Agency (SAA) runs its own subaward solicitations on its own calendar, separate from BJA's federal notices; BJA tells organizations that do not get a direct award to contact their SAA and ask whether JAG subaward funding is available. SAA contacts are listed in OJP's SAA directory.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing (ALN 14.252; re-granted by Enterprise Community Partners)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Community Planning and Development), through Enterprise Community Partners, LISC and Habitat for Humanity International

Varies by request for proposals — check Enterprise (its last rural and tribal RFP expected awards averaging $50,000 for 18 months from a $3.13 million pool)

GrantEquity-freehousing & homelessnesscommunity & economic development

The catch: Cost reimbursement only: you spend first and claim later. Federal law requires $3 of private match for each $1 of Section 4 money; Enterprise carries that obligation but asks grantees to show they can document match at 3:1 (a $50,000 request implies $150,000), and a summary of charges does not count as evidence. Federal terms (2 CFR 200, including a Single Audit where federal spending requires one) apply. One proposal per organization, and grants run about 18 months.

Next deadline: Expected: 2027 (Enterprise's next RFP follows HUD's award of the funds applied for in 2026; no RFP is open now) · Irregular, tied to HUD's notices (posted in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2026); Enterprise's RFPs follow HUD's award (urban in autumn 2024, rural and tribal in December 2024)

Applicant tip: Check the RFP's eligibility appendix before writing: your organization must fit HUD's CDC or CHDO definition, and a rural proposal must pass the Section 4 rural-area test for your zip code. Start collecting private-match documentation now, since it has to be real, dated backup rather than a summary.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) community development corporations (CDCs) and community housing development organizations (CHDOs) as Section 4 defines them, working for households at or below 80 percent of area median income; Enterprise also accepts Native CDCs and tribally designated housing entities in rural areas. HUD funds only Enterprise, LISC and Habitat for Humanity International, and local organizations apply to them.
How to apply: Through a named intermediary: Enterprise Community Partners issues its own Section 4 requests for proposals (urban, and rural and tribal) and its last RFP took proposals in SlideRoom with an informational webinar; LISC and Habitat for Humanity International also receive Section 4 funds and re-grant on their own terms.
Pays for fit: capacity building
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

6. Federal competitive grants nonprofits apply for directly

Nonprofits are the applicant these programs were built for, so the limit is capacity, not eligibility. Start with a SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; the first one takes weeks. Search for free on Grants.gov and the Assistance Listings. Awards here run from $5,000 museum grants to $2,000,000 tax-site matching grants, plus AmeriCorps members, and most programs open once a year. The compliance weight comes with the money: a single audit once you spend $1,000,000 in federal awards in a fiscal year (2 CFR 200.501), and an indirect cost rate capped at a 15% de minimis election unless you negotiate one (2 CFR 200.414(f)). OMB's rewrite of those rules is on hold until December 11, the same date the stopgap funding law expires, so treat every FY 2027 award as subject to appropriations. Field-specific federal money sits in the faith-based guide (reentry and mentoring), the economic development guide and the outdoor guide.

9 programs

AmeriCorps State and National Competitive Grants (FY 2027, AC-08-28-26, ALN 94.006)

AmeriCorps — AmeriCorps State and National

Varies — cost-reimbursement grants up to $26,800 per Member Service Year (one full-time position); Education Award Program grants $800 (or $1,000) per member; match of 24% in years 1–3 rising to 30% by year 10

GrantEquity-freeany field

The catch: Cost-reimbursement grants need a cash or in-kind match, and AmeriCorps money cannot pay for members' childcare in the federal share. Members and staff on AmeriCorps time are barred from prohibited activities, including religious instruction and worship (45 CFR 2520.65(a)(7)), and you may not discriminate on religion against participants or against staff paid with AmeriCorps funds (45 CFR 2540.210(c)).

Next deadline: Jan 13, 2027 · Annual (winter): notice posted in late summer, applications due in January, awards announced around mid-April

Applicant tip: AmeriCorps gives priority only when a funding priority is a significant part of the program design, so pick the one that fits (the FY 2027 list includes strengthening families, high-poverty and rural communities, and outdoor recreation and public lands) and build the narrative around it. Single-state applicants should call their state service commission early: its deadline can come weeks before the federal one.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), tribes, colleges and state and local governments that will enroll AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed service. New applicants can seek cost-reimbursement, Education Award Program or Professional Corps grants but not full-cost fixed-amount grants.
How to apply: Direct application: multi-state programs, and applicants in South Dakota, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands, apply to AmeriCorps in eGrants by the annual January deadline. Through your state: single-state programs apply through their Governor-appointed state service commission, whose own deadline comes earlier.
Pays for fit: staff & national service, programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

AmeriCorps VISTA Project Sponsorship (concept paper and project application)

AmeriCorps — AmeriCorps VISTA

In-kind: full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members serving one year on your anti-poverty project, each receiving a modest living allowance and benefits; some sponsors also receive a VISTA support grant, and some cover member costs under cost-share agreements

In-kindEquity-freecommunity & economic development

The catch: You must recruit, train and supervise the members, and the project must follow VISTA's four core principles: anti-poverty focus, community empowerment, sustainable solutions and capacity building. Some sponsors cover part of member costs under cost-share agreements, and VISTA members may not give religious instruction, conduct worship services or proselytize (45 CFR 2556.175).

Next deadline: Not posted when checked (Oct 28, 2026) — AmeriCorps’ forecast listed October 2026 for the next notice · Annual request for concept papers in eGrants; the FY 2026 request opened in late March 2026

Applicant tip: AmeriCorps encourages applicants to develop the concept paper with their regional office, so email yours (addresses are on the concept paper page) before the window opens. Frame the member roles around capacity that lasts after the year ends, because capacity building and sustainable solutions are two of VISTA's four core principles.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Public or private nonprofit organizations (not limited to 501(c)(3)s if they focus on anti-poverty outcomes), tribal governments and state and local agencies that will use members to build lasting anti-poverty capacity in economic opportunity, healthy futures, education or veteran and military families. Organizations whose principal purpose includes lobbying or electoral activity cannot sponsor.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a concept paper in eGrants during an open request period, ideally after talking with your AmeriCorps regional office; if accepted, you are invited to submit a full project application with budget and performance measures.
Pays for fit: staff & national service, capacity building
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant (ALN 21.009)

U.S. Department of the Treasury — Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

$5,000 to $2,000,000 (2027 cycle: about 325 awards from $46 million); dollar-for-dollar match required

GrantEquity-freecommunity & economic development

The catch: Every federal dollar must be matched by non-federal cash or allowable in-kind support (indirect costs don't count), at least 90% of the people served must fall under the Earned Income Tax Credit income limits, and volunteers must be IRS-certified. The government-wide federal grant principles apply, including civil rights notices that must be available to every taxpayer at the site.

Next deadline: Expected: May 2027 · Annual: applications May 1–May 31; awards announced around October 1; one-year period of performance October 1 to September 30

Applicant tip: Publication 4671 requires an IRS determination letter with the application and accepts a group-exemption subordinate listing for affiliates of a parent organization, so pull the right document before the window opens. Plan the one-to-one match first: it can be non-federal cash or documented in-kind support, but indirect costs do not count toward it.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Organizations already recognized as tax-exempt under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, plus state and local governments, colleges and coalitions, that run free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income, elderly, disabled and limited-English taxpayers. Organizations still waiting for a determination letter cannot apply.
How to apply: Direct application: download the package from Grants.gov and submit it there during the annual May window (next business day if the last day falls on a weekend), following IRS Publication 4671.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-25

NEA Grants for Arts Projects, including Challenge America (FY 2027 guidelines)

National Endowment for the Arts — Grants for Arts Projects

Challenge America: $10,000 (organizations with operating budgets under $250,000); other GAP disciplines: $10,000 to $100,000; Local Arts Agencies discipline: $30,000 to $150,000. 1:1 cost share required

GrantEquity-freearts, culture & humanities

The catch: 1:1 non-federal cost share (cash or in-kind; federal funds cannot count as match). NEA does not fund general operating support or a full season of programming, so you apply for a defined project of up to about two years. Missing the Part 1 deadline on Grants.gov makes you ineligible to complete Part 2, and generally only one application per calendar year is allowed.

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Two rounds a year: a February and a July Part 1 deadline on Grants.gov, with award notification about nine months after each

Applicant tip: Challenge America is optional: an eligible small organization can instead choose another discipline, and requests over $10,000 only work there. The Part 1 package posts only a few weeks before each deadline while the Login.gov, SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations can take weeks, so finish registration before the package appears.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, units of state or local government and federally recognized tribes with at least five years of arts programming and at least $20,000 in total expenses in the most recently completed fiscal year. Individuals, fiscal sponsors, for-profits, State Arts Agencies and Regional Arts Organizations are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: two parts. Part 1 is a short organizational form on Grants.gov (it needs active Login.gov, SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations); once it is accepted, Part 2 is the full application in the NEA Applicant Portal.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

NEH Public Humanities Projects (ALN 45.041; Grants.gov 20261209-GE-GI-BP-BR-GGX)

National Endowment for the Humanities — Division of Lifelong Learning

Planning grants up to $75,000 (up to 24 months); Implementation grants up to $500,000 (12 to 48 months). The Grants.gov notice lists no cost sharing

GrantEquity-freearts, culture & humanities

The catch: Projects must fall in one of the three public-facing areas, and Public Lectures and Discussion Forums must address one of NEH's interest areas (Western civilization and America's place in it, great works of literature, history, philosophy and theology, the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, civic education, civil discourse, cultural literacy, close reading). Money arrives slowly: notification comes about seven months after the deadline and projects start the following fall at the earliest.

Next deadline: Dec 16, 2026 · Annual (winter): application opens in mid-October, due in mid-December, notification the following July; earlier rounds closed in January and August

Applicant tip: NEH reports that recent rounds averaged 64 applications and 13 awards, about a 20% funding ratio, so use the live Q&A and email the Division of Lifelong Learning with your project idea before you draft. The $75,000 Planning level exists for projects that are not yet ready for Implementation.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits, colleges and universities, and state, county, city and tribal governments (the entity types on the Grants.gov notice) developing public humanities projects in one of three areas: exhibitions, historic place interpretation, or public lectures and discussion forums (forums are Implementation level only).
How to apply: Direct application: submit on Grants.gov once your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations are active; NEH sends several follow-up confirmation notices that can land in spam. NEH holds a live Q&A before the deadline and answers questions at [email protected].
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

IMLS Museums for America (MFA-FY27, ALN 45.301)

Institute of Museum and Library Services — Office of Museum Services

$5,000 to $350,000 (FY 2027 notice: about $21.7 million for about 122 awards; average award in previous years $177,860); 1:1 non-federal cost share

GrantEquity-freearts, culture & humanities

The catch: Cost share is an eligibility test, not a scoring factor: non-federal funds, which can include cash and staff or volunteer time, must equal or exceed your IMLS request, and a budget with less than 1:1 may be rejected. Projects run one to three years, and IMLS states that all awards are subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion.

Next deadline: Nov 13, 2026 · Annual: notice posted in late summer, applications due in mid-November, award decisions the following August (the FY 2026 round ran later, January to March 2026)

Applicant tip: IMLS says it particularly welcomes projects tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence and to using new technology, including AI, for visitor experience and collections care; name the priority your project serves in the narrative. Put volunteer and staff time in the match from the start, since in-kind support counts toward the 1:1.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Museums of any size and discipline (including aquariums, arboretums, botanical gardens, children's museums, historic houses and sites, nature centers and science centers) run by a private nonprofit with tax-exempt status or a unit of state, local or tribal government, located in a U.S. state or territory. A museum needs professional staff and must exhibit objects to the public on a regular basis; a nonprofit that operates an eligible museum can apply for it.
How to apply: Direct application: submit on Grants.gov (notice MFA-FY27) with proof of tax-exempt status. IMLS's eligibility criteria page defines a qualifying museum, so check it before you register.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

IMLS Inspire Grants for Small Museums (IGSM-FY27, ALN 45.301)

Institute of Museum and Library Services — Office of Museum Services

$5,000 to $75,000 (FY 2027 notice: about $3 million for about 75 awards); no cost share for requests up to $25,000, at least 1:1 non-federal cost share above that

GrantEquity-freearts, culture & humanities

The catch: Requests above $25,000 need non-federal cost share at least equal to the IMLS request, and cost share is an eligibility test rather than a scoring factor. Projects run one to three years, IMLS will not consider applications that renew or add money to an active IMLS award, and all awards are subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion.

Next deadline: Nov 13, 2026 · Annual: notice posted in late summer, applications due in mid-November, award decisions the following August (the FY 2026 round ran later, January to March 2026)

Applicant tip: A request of $25,000 or less needs no cost share, which makes the small tier the lighter first federal application. IMLS defines 'small' only through your Organizational Profile (staff and volunteers, weekly person-hours, operating budget, collection and facility size), so fill that profile in with real numbers.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Small museums of any discipline, including small rural or remote museums and museums that have not previously received federal funding, run by a private nonprofit with tax-exempt status or a unit of state, local or tribal government. IMLS sets no fixed size cutoff, and a nonprofit that operates a qualifying small museum can apply for it.
How to apply: Direct application: submit on Grants.gov (notice IGSM-FY27) with proof of tax-exempt status. IMLS suggests watching its informational video and scheduling a counseling call with a program officer before you apply.
Pays for fit: programs & projects, capacity building
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) Grant Program (ALN 21.008; 2027 grant year, TREAS-GRANTS-052027-001)

U.S. Department of the Treasury — IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, LITC Program Office

$10,000 to $200,000 per clinic per year (2027 notice: about $26 million for about 150 awards); dollar-for-dollar match required

GrantEquity-freejustice & civic life

The catch: Dollar-for-dollar match in non-federal cash or third-party in-kind support, and only funds used directly for the LITC program count. Grant money can pay only for representing eligible taxpayers in tax controversies and for ESL taxpayer education. Awards can run up to three years but depend on annual appropriations, and first-time applicants generally get a one-year grant.

Next deadline: Expected: July 2027 · Annual: application window opens in May and closes in July; selections announced in November; grant year runs January 1 to December 31

Applicant tip: Plan for both services: the Program Office funds an organization only if it provides ESL taxpayer education as well as representation in IRS disputes. It also wants new clinics in underserved areas, so document the unserved geography, and give yourself several weeks to get your EIN, 501(c)(3) status and SAM.gov registration in order first.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Organizations exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and clinical programs at accredited law, business or accounting schools, whose staff and volunteers represent low-income taxpayers in disputes with the IRS and also run education for taxpayers who speak English as a second language (ESL). Clinics may charge only a nominal fee.
How to apply: Direct application: submit through the LITC Grants Portal at litcgrants.treasury.gov, following IRS Publication 3319; the notice is also posted on Grants.gov.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

HUD Comprehensive Housing Counseling (CHC) Grants (ALN 14.169, NOFO FR-6900-N-33)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Office of Housing Counseling

Varies — HUD sets each award from its scoring of your counseling performance, not from a request (FY2025 NOFO: about 175 awards from about $56.1 million; CHC maximum $3,000,000; no match)

GrantEquity-freehousing & homelessness

The catch: Cost-reimbursement awards (18-month period in the FY2025 NOFO) that can pay only for housing counseling and group education under 24 CFR Part 214 and HUD Handbook 7610.1. You cannot be funded both directly and as a subgrantee, or through two networks. Award size follows HUD's scoring of past counseling performance and cost per client.

Next deadline: Expected: November 2026 · Roughly annual NOFO on Grants.gov with irregular timing: applications closed in March 2023, February 2024 and May 2026, and HUD has forecast another notice

Applicant tip: Approval comes first: if you are not yet HUD-approved you cannot apply at all, and the FY2025 NOFO says HUD may issue a supplemental NOFO limited to new applicants. Because the dollar request is a $1.00 placeholder, the client-served and cost-per-client data you report drives the amount, so keep those records clean.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Housing counseling agencies already approved by HUD, if they are 501(c)(3) nonprofits (that do not conduct 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6) activities) or units of government, plus state housing finance agencies that meet HUD's criteria. You must be HUD-approved before the NOFO issues; individuals are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: a HUD-approved local agency applies on Grants.gov to HUD's counseling NOFO, entering a $1.00 placeholder request while HUD sets the amount from the performance data on Form HUD-9906. Through an intermediary: you can instead receive a subgrant from a HUD-approved intermediary or state housing finance agency, but not both, and not from two networks.
Pays for fit: programs & projects
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

7. Government contracts and fee-for-service work

Nonprofits routinely deliver public services under contract with federal, state, county and city agencies, and that revenue is often larger and steadier than grant income. It is a purchasing relationship, not a competition for support: the agency buys a defined service, often paid per unit or per client and sometimes on reimbursement, and the agreement carries procurement and performance terms rather than grant terms. Federal contracts use the same SAM.gov registration as federal grants. Small-business set-asides generally do not help a nonprofit, because SBA defines a small business as an entity organized for profit, so the doors that open for nonprofits are AbilityOne, state purchase-of-service contracts and open agency solicitations. Every card below is a standing channel you can use year after year, labeled as a contract, not a grant. Older Americans Act services are carded as grants in the state pass-through section. A state may call an agreement a contract when it is legally a subaward, and the test is substance, not the title: see why a subaward is not a subcontract.

6 programs

AbilityOne Program (Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act): nonprofit agency participation

U.S. AbilityOne Commission (through the central nonprofit agencies NIB and SourceAmerica)

Varies — check official page (contract value is set per Procurement List product or service; the Commission publishes no standard range)

Contract or serviceEquity-freeseniors & disability

The catch: Employing people with disabilities is the test, not a bonus: at least 75 percent of direct labor hours (work on preparation, processing and packing, or directly related to the service, excluding supervision, administration, inspection and shipping) must be performed by people who are blind or have significant disabilities. You pay your central nonprofit agency a Program Fee, a percentage of the sales revenue of each Procurement List contract. Awards skip full competition under a statutory exception (FAR 6.302-5), but only for requirements already on the Procurement List.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: affiliation is continuous, and services are added to the Procurement List as federal customers' requirements are identified

Applicant tip: Start with the central nonprofit agency, not the federal customer: NIB and SourceAmerica visit contracting offices to find requirements that local nonprofit agencies could fill, so tell them where you are and what work you can staff. Check the Commission's service business lines (custodial, food service, contact centers, grounds, document management and others) against the jobs you could realistically create.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A nonprofit agency that meets the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act criteria, including at least 75 percent of total direct labor hours performed by people who are blind or have significant disabilities, and that affiliates with a central nonprofit agency, NIB or SourceAmerica.
How to apply: Through a central nonprofit agency: affiliate with NIB (people who are blind) or SourceAmerica (a range of disabilities). The central agency works with federal customers and the Commission to match government requirements to your capabilities and to get work added to the AbilityOne Procurement List. The Commission says there is no cost to affiliate.
Pays for fit: services under contract
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Federal Bureau of Prisons Residential Reentry Center (halfway house) contracts

U.S. Department of Justice — Federal Bureau of Prisons, Residential Reentry Management

Varies — check official page (priced per solicitation; no published range). Contracts ordinarily run a two-year base plus three one-year options, or a one-year base plus four options; performance-based contracts use a three-year base plus up to seven option years

Contract or serviceEquity-freejustice & civic life

The catch: You become a supervised contractor: the BOP runs one formal comprehensive inspection a year plus normally three or more unannounced informal inspections, and you must answer written findings within 30 days. Option years are the government's unilateral right, so a contract can end after the base period. Contracts are written around usage negotiated in man-days, so confirm in the solicitation how occupancy risk is shared before you price it.

Next deadline: Varies — check SAM.gov for open solicitations · Rolling by area: BOP Residential Reentry Management field offices identify bed needs and Central Office advertises each area's contract when it is needed; there is no annual calendar

Applicant tip: Read the Statement of Work before deciding to bid: the proposal is graded against it, and the plan must show how the administrative and program requirements will be met. Start the staff background-check process early, since executive staff are screened before award and every employee and volunteer with inmate contact is fingerprinted.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Providers that can meet the BOP's Residential Reentry Center Statement of Work or Performance Work Statement. The BOP page invites all interested providers to apply and does not limit offerors by tax status, so nonprofit and for-profit operators compete. Executive staff and every employee and volunteer with inmate contact must pass background checks, including fingerprinting.
How to apply: Direct application: watch SAM.gov Contract Opportunities for BOP residential reentry solicitations in your area, request the Statement of Work, and submit a plan showing how the administrative, program and other requirements will be met. The BOP says it selects the provider that best demonstrates it can meet the requirements, at the best cost savings to the public.
Pays for fit: services under contract
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) third-party provider partnerships

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Food and Nutrition Service (through your state SNAP agency)

Varies by state — check your state's SNAP E&T plan (each state sets provider budgets; beyond a state's unmatched federal E&T grant, the federal share is 50 percent of eligible costs)

Contract or serviceEquity-freecommunity & economic developmentfood & hunger

The catch: The catch is the match: beyond a state's unmatched federal E&T grant, the federal government reimburses 50 percent of eligible E&T costs (7 CFR 273.7(d)(2)), so the other half has to be non-federal money, and reimbursement runs through the state agency's claim, so plan to carry your costs until it pays. States must separate SNAP E&T costs from your other funding, and each state decides whom to serve and which services count.

Next deadline: Varies by state — check your state SNAP agency · Annual: each state submits a SNAP E&T state plan to USDA every year, and provider partnerships are set inside it; timing varies by state

Applicant tip: Bring non-federal spending to the table: ask the state which of the job-training costs you already pay for with private or other non-federal money could count toward the half you must supply. USDA's potential-provider page also points to national nonprofit networks that give technical help to organizations becoming SNAP E&T providers.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Workforce development providers, such as community-based organizations and community colleges, that a state SNAP agency chooses as partners to deliver education, training and support services to SNAP recipients. USDA says states should select partners with a proven track record of preparing people for high-quality jobs. There is no federal application: the state decides.
How to apply: Through your state: find your state SNAP agency contact in USDA's state SNAP directory, read the state's most recent SNAP E&T state plan, and propose a partnership. The state signs the provider agreement and claims the federal share.
Pays for fit: services under contract
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) provider enrollment

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (through your state Medicaid agency)

Varies by state and service — check your state Medicaid agency (the state or its managed care plan sets the payment rate for each service)

Contract or serviceEquity-freeseniors & disabilityhealth & human services

The catch: This is billing for services, not a grant: you are paid at the state’s or managed care plan’s rate for services you have delivered, so you carry staff costs until claims pay. Each state sets the licensure, certification, background-check and training standards for each service, and being enrolled does not by itself bring referrals.

Next deadline: Varies by state — check your state Medicaid agency · Varies by state: enrollment rules and any capacity limits are set in each state's waiver or state plan

Applicant tip: Before you invest in licensure, ask your state Medicaid agency which HCBS programs are taking new providers for your service and county, and for the provider qualifications each one sets. In managed care states, ask the plans as well, since a network contract may be the real gate.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Providers that meet the state's qualifications for the HCBS service they want to deliver and enroll with the state Medicaid agency. CMS says state Medicaid agencies run HCBS through 1915(c) waivers, 1915(i) state plan services, 1915(j) self-directed personal assistance and 1915(k) Community First Choice, and that 47 states and DC operate at least one 1915(c) waiver.
How to apply: Through your state: find the HCBS waiver or state plan program that covers the service you deliver (CMS's HCBS authorities page and your state Medicaid agency list them), meet the state's provider qualifications for that service, and complete the state's Medicaid provider enrollment. In managed care states you may also need a network contract with the plan.
Pays for fit: services under contract
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Social Security Ticket to Work: Employment Network (EN) approval

U.S. Social Security Administration — Ticket to Work Program

Pay for outcomes per Ticketholder, no upfront funding: Outcome payments of $571 a month for up to 36 months (SSDI) or $319 a month for up to 60 months (SSI) once earnings pass substantial gainful activity and cash benefits stop, plus earlier milestone payments; SSA's table totals $34,453 (SSDI) and $32,498 (SSI) across all phases

Contract or serviceEquity-freeseniors & disabilitycommunity & economic development

The catch: Performance-based only: Social Security pays when a Ticketholder reaches set work and earnings levels, so you carry staff and services until then, and outcome payments continue only while the person keeps earning above the threshold and off cash benefits. Ticketholders choose which EN to assign their Ticket to, you build an individual work plan with each one, and you must keep a SAM.gov registration current. The revenue itself is unrestricted.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling: Social Security states no application window; submit the RFA when ready

Applicant tip: If you already serve people with disabilities, check how many clients are Ticketholders; Social Security says the unrestricted revenue can complement your other funding. If you cannot carry the administrative load alone, an Administrative EN lets providers operate under one EN of record that handles Ticket Program administration while the partners deliver services.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: An entity approved by Social Security to provide or coordinate employment-related services for Ticketholders, people ages 18 through 64 who receive SSDI and/or SSI because of a disability. An EN can be one organization, a partnership or a consortium. You need an EIN and an active SAM.gov registration with a UEI whose records match the name on your application.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the EN Request for Application (RFA) and business plan and submit it to Social Security. When it is approved you receive a Ticket Program Agreement, and once EN training is done and the staff who handle Ticketholder personal data receive favorable suitability determinations, you can start serving Ticketholders. Workforce entities are pre-qualified and skip the business plan.
Pays for fit: services under contract
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

SAM.gov Contract Opportunities: federal service contracts open to nonprofits

U.S. General Services Administration — SAM.gov (notices posted by federal contracting offices)

Varies — check official page (each notice states its own value; there is no standard range)

Contract or serviceEquity-freeany field

The catch: This is procurement, not a grant: you answer a priced proposal or quote, the agency buys a defined service on contract terms with performance requirements, and payment is for delivered work, often on invoice. An active SAM.gov registration must be in place and kept current. Notices set aside for small businesses are not winnable for most nonprofits, so filter them out.

Next deadline: Varies — check SAM.gov for open solicitations · Continuous: federal contracting offices post notices as needs arise, and each notice sets its own response date

Applicant tip: Search the service product codes and NAICS codes for your field instead of grant keywords: the G series of product service codes covers social services and NAICS 624 is social assistance. Read pre-solicitation notices, which come before the formal solicitation, to learn what an agency is about to buy.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any entity with an active SAM.gov registration can compete on full-and-open notices, and nonprofits are not barred by tax status. Small-business set-asides generally exclude nonprofits, because SBA defines a small business concern as an entity organized for profit (13 CFR 121.105(a)(1)).
How to apply: Direct application: search Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov (no account needed) for service notices in your field, watch pre-solicitation, solicitation, award and sole source notices, and answer the contracting officer named on each notice with a proposal or quote. An optional free account saves searches and lets you join interested vendor lists; register in SAM.gov before an award.
Pays for fit: services under contract
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

12-month calendar

Each program with a known or expected deadline, plotted by month. Solid = a confirmed date, from the official page or the program's OpenGrants listing. Grey italic = expected, based on the program's past cycle. The calendar follows the filters above.

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