Grants for County governments - Private

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to acquire recreation and habitat lands and to develop recreation areas for the state’s growing population. The program supports local and state parks, trails, water access, and restoration on state lands to enhance public outdoor recreation. Funding is available across categories such as Local Parks acquisition and development, State Lands development and renovation, and Water Access and Trails in accordance with program rules. Typical projects include buying land for parks, developing athletic complexes, renovating community parks, building regional trails and waterfront facilities, and developing state lands. Local Parks awards may reach 1,000,000 dollars for acquisition or combination projects, with up to 500,000 dollars for development costs, and 500,000 dollars for development only. State Lands development and renovation awards range from 25,000 to 325,000 dollars. Eligible applicants vary by category and include cities, counties, towns, federally recognized tribes, special purpose and port districts, and state agencies as specified in the program guidance. Eligible costs include land acquisition through perpetual or long term interests and a wide range of development features such as buildings, campgrounds, play areas, restrooms, roads and paths, and interpretive elements, subject to category rules. Applications are submitted through the state’s process by May 1, 2024. Grant duration is not stated. Proposals are assessed for alignment with category requirements and public benefit. Official information is available from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, government entities, and select for-profits for programs addressing substance use disorders in West Virginia, focusing on areas such as foster care, youth prevention, recovery housing, and workforce development.

The Community Foundation of Burke County (CFBC) offers Community Grants to tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations that have programs benefiting the residents of Burke County. The grants aim to support programs and projects that promote cooperation and collaboration among organizations without duplicating services. Please note that proposals from outside of Burke County are not reviewed, and grants or loans to individuals are not provided. Funding guidelines for the 2024 Community Foundation Grant Cycle will be available in July 2024. For more information or inquiries, please contact the Foundation office at (828) 437-7105.

The Ben Serafin Fund, managed by the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), is dedicated to supporting local service districts and nonprofits within Douglas County, Oregon. A clear preference is given to organizations located in Glide and those actively serving the Glide community, highlighting a commitment to localized impact. While the overall strategic priorities and theory of change for the Oregon Community Foundation are not explicitly detailed in this specific grant description, the fund's focus on community-based support aligns with a common foundation mission of fostering local well-being and strengthening community infrastructure through targeted financial aid. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations and local service districts operating within Douglas County, particularly in Glide. The implicit impact goal is to enhance the capacity and reach of these organizations, enabling them to provide essential services and address community needs effectively. By prioritizing local entities, the fund aims to empower grassroots initiatives and ensure that resources are directed where they can have the most direct and meaningful impact on residents in the specified geographic area. The fund's priorities and focuses are clearly delineated by its geographic and organizational preferences. The emphasis on Glide and Douglas County organizations indicates a strategic intent to address specific regional challenges and opportunities. While specific expected outcomes and measurable results are not detailed within this grant description (e.g., number of people served, specific program successes), the general expectation is that funded projects will contribute to the betterment of the community, whether through improved services, increased community engagement, or enhanced local capacity. Approximately $50,000 is available for grantmaking, with typical grant sizes ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, though larger grants of $20,000 or more are occasionally awarded. This funding structure suggests a strategy of supporting multiple, diverse projects that can collectively contribute to community development rather than focusing on a single large initiative. Eligibility criteria include demonstrating 501(c)(3) status, providing a list of the board of directors, and submitting current and past organizational budgets, audited financial statements if available, and multiyear project budgets if applicable. These requirements ensure that funds are allocated to reputable and well-managed organizations, reflecting a strategic approach to responsible grantmaking.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for New Jersey-based nonprofit organizations and government entities to implement public humanities projects that engage local audiences through activities like exhibitions, oral history projects, and community programs.

The Spark Cleantech Accelerator (CTA) is a 12-week in-person program at the UT Research Park in Knoxville, Tennessee, designed to support early-stage cleantech businesses and drive the commercialization of their technologies. Created in partnership with Evergreen Climate Innovations, the program aims to foster innovation in Tennessee, the Midwest, and the Southeast. This initiative aligns with the broader mission of supporting sustainable technological advancements and economic development in the region by focusing on emerging cleantech enterprises. The program targets early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs and companies, particularly those with applications from Tennessee, the Midwest, and beyond. Eligible businesses are those demonstrating a positive impact on energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, carbon capture, increased recycling/upcycling, and a circular economy. The program prioritizes companies with strong market potential, defensible intellectual property (issued or pending patents), and technologies that can address the challenges of Spark partners such as utilities, local governments, and manufacturing companies. It also focuses on software or hardware technologies, including intelligent connected devices and advanced materials processes, at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 2-6, and applicants open to establishing a permanent business location in Tennessee. The Spark CTA provides a comprehensive suite of services, including $15,000 stipends to offset travel/living costs and support business/technical milestones, prototyping services through the University of Tennessee’s Center for Materials Processing, and one-on-one mentorship from experts in various fields like business, market analysis, IP/patent strategy, product design, engineering, and manufacturing. It also facilitates crucial connections with customers, investors, strategic partners, suppliers, universities, and national laboratories, along with training workshops. The program emphasizes partnership opportunities with key organizations such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Lab, and the City of Knoxville. Expected outcomes include the successful commercialization of new cleantech innovations, the growth of early-stage cleantech businesses, and the creation of a vibrant cleantech ecosystem in Tennessee and surrounding regions. Measurable results would encompass the number of businesses supported, the development and deployment of new technologies, the securing of investments, and the establishment of new partnerships. The program's strategic priority is to accelerate the development and market entry of technologies that contribute to environmental sustainability and economic prosperity, operating on a theory of change that by providing targeted support, resources, and connections, early-stage cleantech companies can overcome barriers to commercialization and achieve significant impact.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Washington Innovation Fund is a program designed to enhance Washington state's criminal legal system by supporting innovative, sustainable, and data-driven practices. Its overarching goals are to improve community safety, foster collaboration among various sectors, and provide support to victims and individuals involved in the criminal legal system. This aligns with a foundational mission of creating a fair and equitable criminal legal system in Washington that prioritizes these critical areas. The program draws on the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program, a significant federal source of criminal justice funding, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which provides essential resources to state and local jurisdictions for system improvement and community advancement. The target beneficiaries of the JAG Innovation Fund include local governments and private community-based or non-profit agencies that are working to improve the criminal legal system. The program aims to impact community safety directly, enhance support for victims, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration and collective accountability within the system. Ultimately, the expected outcomes include the implementation of more effective and data-informed stewardship of criminal legal system resources, leading to a more just and safer Washington. The JAG Innovation Fund focuses on several key priorities for funding, including organizational or program capacity building, supporting new ideas, projects, or promising practices, enhancing system and community collaborations, and expanding or supplementing existing programs or practices. The program identifies nine specific Purpose Areas to allow for diverse and flexible criminal legal system improvement projects. These areas range from Planning, Evaluation and Technology Improvement to Crime Victim Programming, Support and Advocacy, Community Safety Enhancement, and Corrections, Community Corrections and Re-Entry, among others. Approximately $1,000,000 of JAG funding is dedicated to the Innovation Fund each award cycle, with individual project awards supporting proposals up to $150,000. The funding period for projects is from November 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. To ensure accountability and community relevance, non-governmental applicants must provide one or more letters of support from a local government unit in the project's jurisdiction, explaining the proposed program's benefits to the local government agency and jurisdiction. This requirement underscores the program's strategic priority of fostering robust community and governmental partnerships as a theory of change for sustainable criminal legal system improvements.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and tribal governments in New York State for projects that engage the public in meaningful discussions and reflections on current issues through the humanities.

This program provides funding to rural communities in Tennessee for building or improving arts and cultural facilities to boost local economies and enhance quality of life through arts programming.

The Responsive Grant Program at the CFNRV is an annual initiative designed to address ongoing or emergent community needs, as identified by local nonprofits directly serving those needs. This program aligns with the Community Foundation of the New River Valley's mission to support the well-being and development of the region by providing flexible funding that empowers organizations to respond effectively to challenges and opportunities. By entrusting nonprofits with the discretion to allocate funds where they are most needed, the foundation demonstrates its commitment to a responsive and community-driven philanthropic approach. The primary beneficiaries of this program are the communities within Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe counties, along with the City of Radford. The grant aims to support organizations classified as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities or units of government, such as libraries or schools, that serve these areas. The expected impact is to strengthen the capacity of these nonprofits to deliver essential services and programs, ultimately leading to improved community outcomes across various sectors. The flexibility of the operating support provided is a key element in achieving this goal, allowing for adaptive and impactful interventions. The program's primary focus is on providing operating support, with grants typically up to $4,000. This emphasis ensures that nonprofits have the necessary resources to maintain their operations and address their most pressing needs, rather than being restricted to specific project-based funding. The foundation does not support civic or membership organizations that redistribute money to other nonprofits, nor does it fund programs that proselytize or require religious instruction. This clear delineation of priorities ensures that funding is directed towards direct service provision and community outreach, particularly from religious institutions. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the program's strategic intent is to foster a resilient and responsive nonprofit sector capable of addressing the evolving needs of the New River Valley. By providing flexible operating support, the foundation aims to empower organizations to achieve their own impact goals, which in turn contribute to the overall well-being of the communities they serve. The foundation's theory of change implicitly relies on the belief that by strengthening the operational capacity of effective nonprofits, broader positive societal outcomes will naturally follow.

This grant provides financial support for arts-based projects in rural South Carolina that aim to enhance community engagement and access to the arts while addressing local challenges.

This fellowship provides a prestigious opportunity for aspiring journalists with less than five years of experience to work alongside The Wall Street Journal's editorial team, enhancing their skills and contributing to impactful journalism.

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, in partnership with the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay, is offering a grant opportunity through the Central Coast Community-Based Water Quality Grants Program. This initiative focuses on supporting water quality-related projects within the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s jurisdiction. The program's core mission aligns with the Rose Foundation's broader goals of fostering environmental health and community well-being, specifically by addressing critical water issues in California's Central Coast. The program primarily targets projects that advance environmental justice and provide water quality benefits to underrepresented communities. This focus aims to address historical inequities and ensure that all communities have access to clean and safe water. The expected outcomes include tangible improvements in water quality, enhanced environmental justice outcomes, and increased resiliency for communities facing water-related challenges. Measurable results will likely involve reductions in pollutant loading, progress toward water quality objectives, and the preservation and restoration of watershed functions. Key priorities and preferred topic areas for this grant include the human right to water, environmental justice capacity building, and understanding the water quality impacts of climate change. The program also emphasizes drought-related water supply resiliency, climate adaptation and mitigation, sustainable drinking water and wastewater treatment, and sustainable groundwater management strategies. Additionally, projects that benefit marine habitats in San Luis Obispo County, reduce pollutant loading to meet Central Coast Basin Plan objectives, restore impaired waterbodies, implement on-farm Best Management Practices to reduce salt and nitrate, and prevent or address Harmful Algal Blooms are highly encouraged. The grant offers two funding tracks: a Large Grant Track for requests up to $200,000 (with most awards between $100,000-$200,000) and a Small Grant Track for requests up to $50,000 (with most awards between $20,000-$50,000). Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, federally recognized and State Indian tribes, and public agencies with jurisdiction over water resources management. All projects must be conducted within the Central Coast Water Board's Region 3 jurisdiction, encompassing Southern Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and portions of Ventura, Kern, and San Mateo Counties. The foundation's strategic approach underscores a commitment to community-driven solutions and measurable environmental impact through collaborative partnerships.

The Women's Fund is committed to providing a permanent endowment to support non-profit agencies serving women and girls in Rock County. By focusing on hands-on grant-making and leadership through volunteer opportunities, the Fund aims to mirror the diverse population it serves, welcoming donors of all backgrounds. Established as a component of the Community Foundation, its Advisory Board, consisting of community volunteers and foundation staff, is dedicated to raising funds and recommending grants that address the current needs of women and girls in Rock County, Wisconsin. The Fund specifically seeks proposals for projects or programs that address the mental health needs of women and girls, covering a wide range of services from prevention and response to various mental health issues. Collaborative efforts across Rock County are encouraged to maximize impact. Grant renewed every year. Grant annual deadline: September 15th

The Arts and Culture Access funding is designed to support the engagement of Orange County Public Schools students in the arts, which is associated with improvements in math, reading, cognitive abilities, critical thinking, verbal skills, motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork. This initiative facilitates students' development of these skills through field trips and in-school programs that are integrated into their class curriculum. The program welcomes applications year-round, with a primary funding decision period in late summer. For priority consideration, applications should be submitted by June 30th, following the opening of the application period on June 1st.

Community Grants Fall Round applications for projects beginning after December 1: The Community Foundation of Greene County's General Community Grants are funded through the Field of Interest Funds and discretionary funds such as The Good For Greene Fund and The Francis “Bob” Bradford Fund. These grants support projects aligning with the goals of specific funds, aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Projects can span various sectors including animal welfare, environmental protection, arts and culture, community development, education, health, and human needs. The award for a Community Grant does not exceed $5,000. Applications are considered based on their potential impact, promotion of cooperation among agencies, and effectiveness in addressing community needs. Grant renewed every year. Grant Summer Annual deadline: June 1st

Missouri Humanities offers Mini Grants to support humanities based projects that serve audiences within Missouri. The organization promotes public engagement with history, literature, and cultural heritage through grants to eligible nonprofits and civic, educational, or cultural entities operating as nonprofits. Grants may fund honoraria and travel for speakers and scholars, supplies directly needed for funded activities, facility and equipment rental, publicity and communications, exhibit materials and design, acquisition of audiovisual equipment for interpretive exhibits, administrative expenses outside regular staff salaries, accessibility related costs, and printing. Projects must serve Missouri audiences and communities. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations and civic, educational, or cultural organizations operating as nonprofits, including schools and other educational institutions, local governments and agencies, and civic associations. Applicants must have principal offices in Missouri, possess a UEI number, and may apply individually or in partnership; individuals and for profit entities are not eligible. Preference is given to underserved communities and first time or infrequent applicants. Mini Grants fund up to 5,000 dollars. Applications are due May 1, 2024 via the foundation’s process. Additional information is available from Missouri Humanities.

The Tourist Development Council Arts, Culture & Heritage (ACH) funding program, administered by the St. Johns Cultural Council, aims to bolster the economic impact of local tourism. Its core mission is to encourage exceptional arts, culture, and heritage programming while enhancing advertising and promotion for these tourism opportunities. This aligns with a broader strategy to position St. Johns County as a culturally rich and vibrant destination, utilizing a portion of the Tourist Development Tax to support relevant operations and promotions that specifically attract visitors. The program targets organizations and events within St. Johns County that are dedicated to arts, culture, or heritage and primarily seek to draw tourists. Beneficiaries include for-profit businesses, private institutions of higher education, and municipalities that are qualified to operate in Florida. The ultimate impact goal is to increase the positive economic contributions of tourism through cultural engagement. The ACH Grant Program prioritizes activities that attract visitors, evidenced by promotion to tourists. It offers two main funding options: "Out-of-Area Marketing Support" for existing, unchanged events or programs, and "Program and Marketing Support" for new or significantly improved programs/events. A significant focus is on marketing efforts that reach audiences outside St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties, with reimbursement based on the percentage of documented out-of-area reach. Expected outcomes include enhanced advertising and promotion of St. Johns County's cultural offerings, leading to a greater influx of tourists. Measurable results will likely be tied to the documented out-of-area reach of marketing campaigns and the overall increase in tourism-related economic activity within the county. The program's strategic priority is to leverage arts, culture, and heritage as key drivers for tourism, thereby contributing to the county's economic vitality.

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) is offering its 11th round of farmer mini grants in Spring 2024, providing a total of $60,000 in funding. This program was established in 2016 in response to feedback from the farming community, aligning directly with SMADC's mission to support farms and the future of agriculture in Southern Maryland. The core objective is to expand and promote a viable, market-driven, sustainable, and profitable agricultural farming community in the region. The primary beneficiaries of this program are actively farming individuals in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland. Both urban and rural farms are encouraged to apply, including youth aged 16 and older who have a background in agriculture. The impact goals are centered around enhancing farm sales strategies, facilitating business maintenance and expansion, and improving overall farm operations through tangible investments. The grant program prioritizes projects that are simple in scope and can be completed within one year. Specific areas of focus include services or equipment to transition sales strategies (e.g., online sales, home delivery, on-farm sales), purchase of foundation livestock or plant stock, marketing and promotion, new fencing, hoop houses, materials for value-added production, on-farm upgrades for food safety, irrigation installation or upgrades (especially in relation to GAP certification or FSMA standards), washing/packing stations, and freezer/refrigeration units. The expected outcomes are diverse, aiming to directly improve farm infrastructure, market access, and operational efficiency. Measurable results would include increased sales due to new strategies or equipment, enhanced food safety compliance, improved crop yields or livestock health, and expanded market reach for participating farms. The grants are awarded up to $3,000 per applicant, requiring a one-to-one dollar match from the farmer, ensuring a shared investment and commitment to project success. SMADC's strategic priority is to foster a robust and sustainable agricultural sector in Southern Maryland. Their theory of change suggests that by providing direct financial assistance for practical, farm-level improvements, they can empower individual farmers to adapt to market demands, enhance their competitiveness, and ultimately contribute to the long-term economic viability and environmental sustainability of agriculture in the region. The matching fund requirement further reinforces this by promoting farmer self-sufficiency and accountability.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, to develop programs that improve access to education and career readiness for children and families facing inequities.