Nissan Foundation Grant

The Nissan Foundation is currently accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for its 2026 grant cycle, continuing its mission to "build community by valuing cultural diversity." Established in 1992 following civil unrest in Los Angeles, the Nissan Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that promote cultural understanding, respect, and diversity. With over $17.7 million awarded to more than 150 organizations since its founding, the Foundation is a key philanthropic initiative of Nissan in the United States. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with at least three years of operational history. They must also operate within Nissan’s primary areas of U.S. operations, which include Atlanta, Central Mississippi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Middle Tennessee, New York City, North Central New Jersey, Southeast Michigan, and Southern California. For the 2026 cycle, new applicants from Southeast Michigan and Dallas/Fort Worth are specifically welcomed. The Foundation does not fund organizations located outside of these geographic regions. The 2026 application cycle begins with the LOI submission window opening on October 6, 2025, and closing on November 14, 2025. Only submissions using Nissan Foundation’s official LOI form are accepted—drafted letters will not be reviewed. Organizations selected to move forward will be invited to submit full proposals in mid-January 2026, and final grant award decisions will be announced in mid-July 2026. Funded projects must take place between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. Examples of previously funded projects include multicultural festivals, museum exhibitions, public television programming, and mobile cultural education initiatives. While the grant amount is not disclosed on the application page, past awardees have received funding to implement a broad range of community-focused and culturally educational programs. Applicants must ensure that their projects align closely with the Foundation’s mission and cannot include requests for political activities, religious endorsements, scholarships, capital campaigns, DEI workplace programs, or social services such as healthcare. Questions and additional information can be directed to the Foundation through Nissan’s official philanthropy webpage.

Use Nissan’s official LOI form; ensure cultural diversity mission alignment; serve Nissan operational communities only.