Private Science and Technology Grants

This grant provides $200,000 over two years to early-career researchers in New England focused on innovative projects that improve child health.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the construction and renovation of child care and early learning facilities in King County, prioritizing projects that serve low-income, BIPOC, and underserved communities.

The Centre Foundation's Field-of-Interest grant program, open to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental units in Centre County, Pennsylvania, offers $162,914 in funding for projects focusing on education, health, social services, arts, and youth development, to be used within a year starting from December 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in nine Pennsylvania counties that offer programs and services for young children affected by abuse, focusing on creating safe and joyful environments.

This grant provides financial support and resources to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that are developing innovative solutions to improve healthcare access for underserved communities.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in rural Oklahoma communities with populations under 50,000, aiming to strengthen local initiatives and foster community partnerships.

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is offering the Charles F. Flinn and Walker B. Tilley Fund for Sustainable Forestry, a grant program designed to support the economic, social, and environmental values of Mendocino County's working forests and rangelands. The foundation's primary mission, as aligned with this grant, is to make grants to nonprofit organizations that assist public and small private (non-industrial) forest owners. This initiative reflects the foundation's strategic priority to foster sustainable practices within the region's vital natural resources. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations working with public and small private forest owners in Mendocino County. The overarching impact goal is to enhance the long-term sustainability and health of these working forests and rangelands, ensuring they provide ongoing economic benefits, social value, and ecological integrity. The foundation's theory of change posits that by supporting these organizations, it can empower forest owners to adopt best management practices and implement projects that directly contribute to these multifaceted goals. The program prioritizes a range of key activities. These include research and demonstration projects, particularly those involving re-measurement of plots, and public and youth education and outreach focused on the economic production of forests, rather than solely conservation. Education on best management practices is also a core focus. Furthermore, the fund supports restoration efforts for forests and watersheds, with a preference for forest restoration projects over stream restoration, as well as the removal of invasive species and mitigation of forest road impacts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved forest health, increased adoption of sustainable forestry practices, enhanced economic viability for small forest owners, and greater public understanding and engagement with sustainable forest management. Specific activities like fire management, including Tan-Oak management, and fish and wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, are also key areas of focus. The foundation anticipates that these investments will lead to a more resilient and productive forest ecosystem within Mendocino County, demonstrating tangible progress in sustainable land management.

This program seeks passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds to become community facilitators, leading workshops on early childhood development and equity for families with children from prenatal to age 5 in Washington.

This grant provides financial support to small and mid-sized arts organizations in San Francisco that are deeply connected to their communities, helping them cover essential operating costs and foster artistic expression.

This contest provides financial support and promotional opportunities to small businesses in the U.S. with 50 or fewer employees, helping them grow and gain visibility through AT&T's network.

The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) is offering Maison Hospitaliere Grants to support indigent women in the Greater New Orleans area. This grant program aligns with the foundation's mission to address critical community needs by providing direct assistance to vulnerable populations. The grants are specifically designed to support organizations that offer living assistance and care, reflecting GNOF's commitment to enhancing the well-being and stability of women in need within its service area. The primary beneficiaries of the Maison Hospitaliere Grants are indigent women in the Greater New Orleans area. The impact goal is to provide essential living assistance and care, thereby improving their quality of life and fostering greater self-sufficiency. Eligible organizations are 501(c)(3) entities that directly serve this demographic, ensuring that the funding reaches those most in need. The program prioritizes direct services to women, offering both general operating support and program-specific support. This flexible approach allows recipient organizations to address their most pressing needs, whether it's maintaining daily operations or funding specific initiatives. The grants will range up to $20,000, providing significant financial assistance to support these vital services. The foundation explicitly states that capital projects, event sponsorships, and research requests are ineligible, ensuring that funds are focused on direct service delivery. Expected outcomes include increased access to care and living assistance for indigent women, improved living conditions, and enhanced support systems. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the focus on direct services suggests an emphasis on quantifiable improvements in the lives of beneficiaries, such as the number of women served, the types of services provided, and the duration of support. The Maison Hospitaliere Grants represent a strategic priority for the Greater New Orleans Foundation to address poverty and vulnerability among women. While a detailed "theory of change" isn't explicitly outlined, the program implicitly operates on the theory that by supporting organizations providing direct living assistance and care, the foundation can create a tangible positive impact on the lives of indigent women, contributing to a stronger, more equitable community. Faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply for programs that are secular in nature, ensuring broad participation while maintaining a focus on direct social services.

The "Helping Today" grant program, sponsored by The Erie Community Foundation, is designed to bolster Erie County nonprofits that are directly addressing the most pressing needs within their community. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the Foundation's broader mission to foster community well-being by empowering local organizations to make a tangible difference. The grant aims to strengthen the capacity of these nonprofits, ensuring they are well-equipped to tackle significant community issues. The primary beneficiaries of this program are individuals and families who are socio-economically disadvantaged, as well as historically marginalized communities within Erie County. The overarching impact goal is to uplift these populations by supporting projects that offer direct benefits and work towards equitable outcomes. By focusing on capacity building, the Foundation seeks to enhance the effectiveness and reach of its grantee organizations, thereby creating a more resilient and supportive community for all. The program prioritizes projects that enhance a nonprofit's ability to serve its community effectively. This includes support for a wide range of operational areas, such as general operations, program development, strategic planning, marketing and community awareness initiatives, capital purchases (including essential technology and vehicles), facilities improvements, and rigorous program evaluation. These focus areas reflect a strategic approach to fostering organizational health and sustainability, which in turn leads to more impactful service delivery. While the grant size can range from $10,000 to $100,000, individual grants are capped at $50,000 and must be utilized within a 12-month period. Expected outcomes include stronger, more efficient nonprofits that can more effectively address community needs, leading to improved conditions for disadvantaged and marginalized groups. The Foundation's theory of change is rooted in the belief that by investing in the operational and programmatic capacity of local nonprofits, it can catalyze significant positive social change and contribute to a healthier, more equitable Erie County.

This grant provides funding to governmental entities and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina for projects that promote economic development, job creation, and workforce training, particularly in rural and tobacco-dependent communities.

The Public Art Learning Fund, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), is designed to fortify the public art landscape across New England by offering professional development opportunities directly to artists. NEFA's overarching mission, as reflected in this grant, is to cultivate more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout the region. This initiative aligns with NEFA's strategic goal of fostering a sustainable and equitable public art ecosystem by investing in the skills, resources, and connections of artists working in the public realm. The primary beneficiaries of this fund are artists residing full-time in one of the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) who are actively engaged in public artmaking or are in the process of expanding their practice into this domain. The fund aims to empower these artists, contributing to more just and inclusive public art. Expected outcomes include artists developing enhanced skills and resources, leading to the creation of more vibrant public spaces and a stronger regional community of practice. The Public Art Learning Fund prioritizes opportunities that specifically expand an artist's public art practice and contribute equitably to more just and inclusive public artmaking. NEFA seeks clarity on desired learnings and their application to the artist's practice. The fund welcomes artists at various stages of their public artmaking careers from urban, suburban, and rural communities, recognizing that diverse cultural and artistic expressions are crucial for equitable and vibrant public spaces. A key focus of this grant is equity. NEFA acknowledges that various barriers, including race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, can limit access to professional development. Therefore, the Public Art Learning Fund actively prioritizes equity in its funding decisions. This may include, but is not limited to, prioritizing artists who self-identify as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and/or those who are rooted in rural communities, aligning with NEFA's theory of change that targeted support can address systemic inequities and build a more inclusive artistic landscape. Grants range from $500 to $3,000 and support opportunities taking place between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Eligible applicants must also have a Creative Ground profile, and the proposed professional development must directly relate to strengthening their public art practice and occur within the grant period. These measurable results, such as the number of artists served and the nature of their professional development, contribute to NEFA's broader strategic aim of fostering a more equitable and sustainable public art ecosystem in New England.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce's Rural Building Reuse Program is a grant initiative designed to transform older, underutilized buildings in communities into valuable assets for economic growth. This program aligns with a broader mission to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing North Carolina companies, and foster the development of healthcare entities, thereby creating new, full-time jobs. By revitalizing vacant or underperforming properties, the program aims to stimulate local economies and improve the overall well-being of rural areas within the state. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are local governments in North Carolina, who then act on behalf of businesses and healthcare entities. The program focuses on three main categories: the renovation of vacant buildings, the renovation or expansion of buildings occupied by existing North Carolina companies, and the renovation, expansion, or construction of licensed healthcare entities. The impact goals are centered on job creation, economic development through business attraction and expansion, and improved access to healthcare services in rural communities. Priorities for funding include vacant buildings that have been unoccupied for at least three months. For existing businesses, companies must have operated in North Carolina for at least 12 months, meet weekly wage standards, provide at least 50% employee benefits, and be represented on the Priority Industry Table. In the rural health category, eligible applicants are units of local government in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, or rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties, with a priority for towns under 5,000 population in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties. A key requirement for all categories is a cash match equal to the grant request, with local government contributing at least 5% from local, non-state or federal resources. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in new, full-time jobs, the successful renovation and reuse of older buildings, and the expansion of business operations across the state. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of jobs created, the number of buildings renovated or expanded, the types of businesses supported, and the economic impact on local communities. The program's strategic priorities are clearly linked to fostering economic resilience and growth in rural North Carolina, with a theory of change that posits that by investing in physical infrastructure, the state can catalyze private sector investment, leading to job growth and improved community vitality.

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville's Compass Society Grant program is designed to fund collaborative, visionary projects that create significant and sustainable impacts across various aspects of the community's quality of life. This program aligns with the Foundation's mission to drive future-focused opportunities, aiming to build a better community for future generations. It emphasizes collective action, requiring organizations to work together to achieve outcomes greater than any single entity could accomplish alone. The grant targets a broad range of beneficiaries across Jackson, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan counties in the Greater Huntsville area. Projects are expected to address multiple focus areas within the Foundation's Quality of Life Framework, which includes Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environment, Health & Wellness, Neighborhoods & Communities, and Recreation. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen the community by investing in programs that provide essential services, foster growth, and enrich lives holistically. Priority for funding is given to projects that demonstrate visionary, collaborative, and high-impact characteristics. "Visionary" projects create innovative, future-focused programs, while "collaborative" projects involve three or more partners, not necessarily all nonprofits. Projects must also span at least three of the Foundation's Quality of Life focus areas. "High-impact" initiatives are those that can affect a large number of people through scalable, ripple-effect transformations, indicating a strategic focus on widespread and lasting change. The expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around these priority areas. Projects are anticipated to produce innovative solutions, foster strong community partnerships, and demonstrate a broad reach across multiple quality-of-life indicators. The Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are rooted in the belief that collaborative, innovative, and impactful initiatives, guided by a future-focused vision, are essential for sustainable community development. By funding projects that meet these criteria, the Community Foundation aims to empower organizations to drive meaningful transformation and enhance the overall well-being of the Greater Huntsville area.

This grant provides funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and local government entities in Akron, Iowa, to support projects that enhance community quality of life in areas such as arts, education, health, and the environment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to dairy farmers in the Northeast to improve their milk storage and handling systems, enhancing efficiency and food safety.

The Indiana Department of Health’s (IDOH) Maternal and Child Health Division aims to fund community-based organizations, local health departments, hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations in Indiana. The primary goal is to implement evidence-based or promising practice programs focused on teen pregnancy prevention and positive youth development. This initiative aligns with the IDOH's mission to improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state by empowering youth to make healthy decisions and avoid risky behaviors. The funding is provided by the Family and Youth Services Bureau and the IDOH, Maternal and Child Health Division (MCH). The program's target beneficiaries are youth within Indiana, with an intentional focus on high-risk groups. These include youth in or aging out of foster care, those in the child welfare system, idle youth (not working or in school), school dropouts, youth living in poverty, youth in juvenile centers, traditionally underserved racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQIA+ youth, and runaway or homeless youth. The impact goals are to reduce teen pregnancy rates, promote self-regulation, encourage healthy relationships, and foster goal setting through a positive youth development framework. The priorities and focuses of this grant include providing evidence-based sexual risk avoidance education curricula that normalize voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity. Programs should also emphasize the benefits of self-regulation, success sequencing, healthy relationships, and goal setting. Applicants may also implement the Teen Café Model alongside an evidence-based curriculum. Additionally, the program prioritizes teaching youth skills to avoid risky behaviors, explaining how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability, defining "consent" and "active consent," and teaching the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity. Where appropriate, mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision should be provided to support these objectives. Expected outcomes include a decrease in teen pregnancy rates among participating youth, an increase in youth demonstrating self-regulation and goal-setting behaviors, and improved decision-making regarding sexual activity. Measurable results will likely be tracked through participant engagement, knowledge acquisition on consent and risk avoidance, and, ultimately, a reduction in pregnancy rates within the target populations. The strategic priority is to equip Indiana's youth with the knowledge and skills necessary for positive development and to avoid the risks associated with early sexual activity, thereby improving long-term health and well-being outcomes. The theory of change posits that by providing comprehensive, evidence-based education and support, at-risk youth will be empowered to make informed choices that lead to healthier lives and a reduced incidence of teen pregnancy. Projects are scheduled to start October 1, 2024, and conclude September 30, 2026, contingent on federal funding availability.

The Racial Equity Research Grants program supports education research projects that will contribute to understanding and ameliorating racial inequality in education. We are interested in funding studies that aim to understand and disrupt the reproduction and deepening of inequality in education, and which seek to (re)imagine and make new forms of equitable education. Thus, we are interested in research projects that seek to envision educational opportunities in a multiplicity of education systems, levels, settings, and developmental ranges and that reach beyond documenting conditions and paradigms that contribute to persistent racial inequalities. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in relation to racial equity in education. In this cycle of funding, we will continue to fund scholarship focused on a range of communities and issues with respect to equity. We encourage proposals from across the methodological spectrum, including qualitative methods, mixed-methods, and quantitative methods. We want to especially encourage Racial Equity proposals that focus on the following areas: (1) innovative forms of measurement and assessment, (2) artificial intelligence (AI), and (3) current political challenges in k-12 and higher education around diversity, equity, and inclusion. As with other Spencer grant programs, this program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not required to be developed around a particular research topic, discipline, design, method, or geographic location. We will be accepting applications for projects ranging from one to five years with budgets up to $75,000. The Racial Equity Research Grants program supports education research projects that will contribute to understanding and disrupting racial inequality in education and work to reimagine generative possibilities to advance educational equity, with budgets up to $75,000 for projects ranging from one to five years. While the field of education has long focused on issues of rising inequality across the globe, we now find ourselves in a time of increased urgency given the current intersections of the COVID19 public health crisis, rapid shifts in educational systems, economic challenges, and growing civil resistance to systemic racism, Indigenous erasure, and anti-Blackness. There is perhaps no issue of greater importance right now than racial inequality across all systems and structures. We believe that educational research can play an important role in developing new forms of education that are humane, equitable, and just. As such, there is a pressing need for robust approaches to scholarship that can contribute consequentially to achieving equity in education. We encourage a wide range of methodological approaches to creatively and ambitiously engage in advancing racial equity. This program is “field-initiated” in that proposal submissions are not required to focus on a particular research topic, discipline, design, or method. We hope that scholars will identify the most compelling and needed areas of research. For instance, scholars might focus on: instructional challenges and innovations; racial and geographic disparities and promising directions for engaging and supporting children, families, and communities; informal learning environments and informal educators; assessment challenges and opportunities; climate change and equity, social-emotional learning and well-being; educator and leader development; digital learning environments; systems change and policy making; and intersections between housing, health, and education. We are interested in proposals at all levels and in all settings of learning, including early childhood, higher education, and in schools, families, and communities across the world. We are also interested in studies that seek to understand the situated experiences of minoritized groups, including but not limited to, Black, Latine/x, AAPI, and Indigenous communities. In addition, we are interested in studies that focus on those learners who are multiply marginalized, including intersections with English language learners, immigrants, students with disabilities, highly mobile and institutionalized youth (e.g., foster youth or those in youth prisons), LGTBQIA+ youth, and those in rural communities. Finally, we encourage proposals that are reflective of other international, national, and local contexts. We recognize that the experiences of inequality, as well as the histories and structures producing it, will vary. Thus, we expect to fund proposals that explore meanings and possibilities of equity, as well as explanations of inequality, in a variety of ways. For example, engaging and understanding issues of coloniality may be central to scholarship focused on and with Indigenous communities. We see wrestling with these complexities as necessary to cultivating educational equity. Finally, we especially welcome proposals that advance strength-based perspectives and push beyond solely documenting current paradigms. Our goal for this program is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious, and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in relation to racial equity in education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may have a significant impact on practice and policy. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education and inequality. We also value work that is engaging emerging possibilities. We invite proposals that aim to grow the current scope of research on racial equity, develop new knowledge through interdisciplinary scholarly engagement, and include collaboration in the service of increasing the impact of educational research. To this end, this program supports proposals from multiple disciplinary and methodological perspectives, both domestically and internationally, and from scholars at various stages in their careers. We anticipate that proposals will span a wide range of topics and disciplines. We expect and welcome methodological diversity in answering pressing questions; thus, we are open to projects that utilize a wide array of research methods including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, ethnographies, design-based research, participatory methods, and historical research, to name a few. We are also interested in methodological research that can enable and support research on and with racialized communities that build capacity for equitable educational systems. This could include exploration of methods appropriate in small samples and populations, the development of new measures and indices, and studies regarding the impact of methods and algorithms on reducing or promoting inequality. We are open to projects that might incorporate data from multiple and varied sources or work closely with practitioners or community members over the life of the project. We expect that projects will interrogate the systems and structures that are associated with racial inequities. We seek proposals that focus on a strengths-based, rather than a deficit oriented, approach. A strengths-based perspective affirms and extends the knowledge, resources, goals, capacities, and interests of individuals, families, and communities, and identifies and builds upon existing assets and resources. LOI: May 29th 2024