Private Science and Technology Grants

The Business Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC) of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia awards grants to support innovative STEM opportunities for girls and young women in the region. Since 2014, the BWGC has awarded over $520,000 in grants, aligning with the Foundation's mission to foster positive community impact by supporting initiatives in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Leadership, and Entrepreneurship. This grant program is a key part of the Foundation's strategic approach to investing in the future workforce and leadership within Northern Virginia. The target beneficiaries are girls and young women, from preschool through college-age, residing in Northern Virginia. Specifically, organizations providing services in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park, are eligible. The impact goal is to create measurable positive changes in the lives of these girls and young women by providing them with exciting and enriching experiences in STEM, leadership, and entrepreneurship, thereby contributing to their educational and career development. The BWGC grant cycle prioritizes nonprofit organizations and schools that offer STEM programs with an emphasis on innovative components such as entrepreneurship, leadership, or mentorship. Funding is considered for both existing and new programs that directly support these areas. Applications for general organizational support, capital improvements, endowments, or scholarship awards are not considered, highlighting the program's focus on direct program delivery and innovation. Expected outcomes include increased participation and engagement of girls and young women in STEM fields, enhanced leadership skills, and the development of entrepreneurial mindsets. Measurable results are demonstrated by the impact on over 3,500 girls and young women since 2014. The Foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in innovative STEM, leadership, and entrepreneurship programs for girls and young women, they will empower the next generation of leaders and innovators, contributing to the economic vitality and social well-being of Northern Virginia.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation's Economic Stability Community Grants program aims to empower individuals facing barriers to achieve stability, self-sufficiency, and prosperity. This initiative directly aligns with the foundation's core mission and belief that the region thrives when all residents have opportunities and support to lead self-determined lives. By fostering economic stability, the foundation seeks to create an environment where children can learn and grow, individuals can pursue their aspirations, and the anxieties associated with economic insecurity are alleviated. The program focuses on a strategic approach to address systemic challenges that prevent individuals from achieving economic well-being. The target beneficiaries for this grant program are people with barriers to success and low-income individuals residing in South Hampton Roads, including specific counties in Virginia such as Accomack, Northampton, Franklin, and Isle of Wight, as well as the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. The overarching impact goal is to facilitate a pathway for these individuals to become stable, self-sufficient, and prosperous, thereby strengthening the entire region. The foundation's theory of change posits that by providing targeted support in key areas, individuals can overcome economic disadvantages and build a more secure future for themselves and their families. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly defined across three main areas. Firstly, it seeks to end homelessness by supporting programs that provide safe and affordable housing, along with supportive services to ensure long-term housing stability. Secondly, it emphasizes workforce readiness, training, and certification acquisition, connecting low-income individuals to employment opportunities, with a preference for programs that offer support to maintain employment for at least one year. Thirdly, the program promotes the development of sound financial education and savings programs to help low-income individuals build financial assets for long-term economic well-being. These strategic priorities aim to address the root causes of economic instability. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation outlines clear expected outcomes and measurable results for grant proposals. These include individuals and families experiencing homelessness being permanently housed in safe/affordable housing and remaining there for at least one year. Economically disadvantaged adults are expected to develop job-relevant skills and maintain employment for at least one year. Underemployed individuals should secure higher-wage positions post-training and remain employed for at least one year. Finally, economically disadvantaged individuals are expected to improve their financial literacy, participate in banking services, and increase their savings. Proposals must articulate their fit with these priorities, desired outcomes, and a plan for measuring program effectiveness in reaching these goals.

The Dallas Foundation’s Summer Grant Cycle is a funding initiative designed to disburse funds from its Community Impact Fund and various Field of Interest Funds. The Community Impact Fund strategically aligns with the foundation's core priorities: "Strong & Healthy Start" and "Community & Economic Resilience." Field of Interest Funds are tailored to donor-specific causes, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to both broad community needs and individualized philanthropic interests. This approach reflects the foundation's mission to support a diverse range of impactful projects within Dallas County. The grant cycle targets nonprofit organizations operating in Dallas County, focusing on specific beneficiaries and impact goals. Key areas of support include initiatives that build a strong and healthy start for children, with a particular emphasis on prenatal to three care, family homelessness, and child and youth mental health. This focus aims to address foundational well-being and development during critical early life stages. Additionally, the cycle addresses critical needs by providing essential resources such as food, clothing, emergency shelter, and healthcare to low-income, indigent, homeless, or ill children and families, directly impacting their immediate survival and stability. A significant priority is Community & Economic Resilience, which encompasses education and workforce development, including Pre-K12, out-of-school time programs, and post-secondary access. This also extends to economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and employment initiatives, and housing and neighborhood infrastructure, covering affordable housing, property support, transportation, utility access, and access to parks and recreation. The foundation also prioritizes support for children with intellectual and physical disabilities, including disabled, blind, and deaf children, as well as educational programs for intellectually and developmentally disabled children to foster productive lives. Furthermore, older adults, particularly low-income older adults, are a target beneficiary, ensuring support for this vulnerable demographic. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the focus areas inherently suggest desired outcomes. For "Strong & Healthy Start," expected outcomes include improved health and developmental indicators for young children and reduced family homelessness. For "Critical Needs," the expected outcomes involve increased access to basic necessities and improved well-being for vulnerable populations. In "Community & Economic Resilience," anticipated results include enhanced educational attainment, increased employment and entrepreneurial success, and improved access to affordable housing and essential infrastructure. For children with disabilities and older adults, the goal is improved quality of life, greater independence, and enhanced support services. The foundation's theory of change appears to be rooted in a belief that investing in these key areas will lead to a more resilient, healthier, and equitable Dallas County.

The AARP Vermont Winter Placemaking Grant Program, open to eligible local organizations and communities, offers financial support ranging from $1000 to $10,000 for projects aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and appeal of spaces for older adults, with a focus on enhancing community design and livability during the winter months.

This funding opportunity provides up to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for creating engaging media projects that promote public understanding of humanities topics in Oklahoma.

This funding program provides financial support for projects that improve access to the arts for underserved groups, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and military families.

This grant provides financial support for projects and events that boost community development, tourism, and economic growth in McKinney, Texas.

This grant provides funding for nonprofit arts organizations, schools, and higher education institutions in Tennessee to conduct immersive professional development workshops focused on arts education and integration.

This program provides an immersive 12-week accelerator for female tech founders of for-profit businesses, helping them access capital and grow their ventures.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Herkimer and Oneida counties to support programs and services that promote healthy lifestyles and access to resources for older adults.

Grant Opportunity: New Hampshire Library Technology Grant Program The program offers competitive grants of up to $10,000 to community libraries in selected towns for online access, technology upgrades, distance learning, and staff development. Eligible applicants must serve rural, underserved, or under-resourced communities within the Foundation’s eight regions. Libraries may receive one grant per 12-month period and can reapply in subsequent periods. For more information, visit NHCF website.

This program provides financial assistance to recent STEM graduates working in Delaware to help reduce their student loan debt and encourage them to build their careers in the state.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Newark, New Jersey, that enhance STEAM education for underserved students, with a focus on innovative programming and teacher development.

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The Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program in Vermont is a cooperative agreement between the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This program is designed to strengthen the middle-of-the-supply-chain for Vermont food products, fostering resilience and economic development within the state's agricultural sector. The overarching mission is to promote value-added products, ensure fair prices and wages, create safe job opportunities, and keep profits within rural communities. This aligns with a broader strategic goal of enhancing food system infrastructure and supporting local and regional markets. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are diverse and include agricultural producers and processors, nonprofit organizations, local government entities, and institutions such as schools, universities, and hospitals. For-profit entities that meet Small Business Administration (SBA) small business size standards and primarily benefit local and regional producers are also eligible. The program specifically emphasizes underserved communities and small and medium-sized enterprises. The impact goals are centered around increasing and diversifying processing capacity, improving aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of Vermont food products. It also aims to address gaps in pandemic assistance and existing USDA grant programs to bolster the agricultural supply chain. The RFSI grant program prioritizes projects that improve job quality through increased wages, benefits, and worker safety and well-being. A significant focus is placed on small and medium-sized enterprises that expand services and product offerings, particularly those with an emphasis on value-added products. Demonstrating local support for the project is a key criterion, as is submission by cooperatives, farmer, and worker-owned enterprises. These priorities reflect a strategic intent to not only strengthen infrastructure but also to foster equitable and community-driven agricultural development. Approximately $2,000,000 will be available for infrastructure projects, with individual grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. These grants are set to run from fall 2024 through February 2027, allowing for sustained project implementation. The expected outcomes include a more robust and diversified food system in Vermont, increased local and regional market access for Vermont food products, and enhanced economic opportunities for agricultural businesses and workers. Measurable results will likely include metrics related to increased processing capacity, job creation and quality improvements, the number of value-added products developed, and the reach of local and regional distribution networks. The underlying theory of change is that by strategically investing in critical food system infrastructure and supporting key stakeholders, Vermont can build a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous agricultural future.

The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has launched the 2024-2025 Downtown Creative Collaborators Grants (DCCG) program. This program is designed to support projects and events that will take place in Downtown Miami during the fiscal year 2024-2025 (October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025). The DDA's mission, as aligned with this grant, is to strengthen Downtown Miami's appeal as a global destination and stimulate demonstrable economic impact within the area through innovative projects and events. The DCCG program targets organizations producing and implementing activations in Downtown Miami. The goal is to benefit the Downtown community by fostering connections, attracting tourism, and providing affordable, family-friendly programming. The program also aims to promote Miami as an international and diverse cultural center, a culinary destination, and an innovation hub, while also highlighting its rich history, art, culture, and natural resources. Funding priorities for the DCCG include activating outdoor venues, creating community-building opportunities, offering family-friendly programming, promoting Miami as a global city, providing cultural and historic education, raising public transportation awareness, and offering free or discounted projects and events. The grant specifically encourages content that features the communities, history, and natural resources in Miami-Dade County. Priority will be given to projects that clearly and visibly state free or discounted admissions for area residents, families, and students in their marketing and promotional materials. Expected outcomes include a measurable economic impact in Downtown Miami, increased appeal of the area as a global destination, enhanced community engagement, and greater awareness and ridership of Downtown Miami's multimodal transportation options. By supporting diverse and innovative projects, the DDA aims to further establish Downtown Miami as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, entertainment, and innovation, contributing to the overall strategic development and economic growth of the city center. Grant awards can range from $5,000.00 up to $50,000.00, and applicants must secure additional funding commitments, as the DCCG cannot be the sole funding source.

The Early Care Spaces grant program, spearheaded by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, is an open application initiative offering grants of up to $100,000. Its core mission aligns directly with the foundation's vision of a world where all Oakland children read at or above grade level by third grade. This program specifically targets early language and literacy development for Oakland children from birth to five years old, recognizing the critical window for literacy growth from early care through second grade. The foundation's strategic priority is to support equitable approaches to literacy during these formative years. The program's impact goals are multifaceted, focusing on expanding children's vocabulary and comprehension, increasing confidence in listening and speaking, and empowering parents and caregivers as leaders in their children's education. A key component of the foundation's theory of change is also the career advancement and upskilling for Black early care providers, enabling them to offer language-rich, developmentally appropriate, and culturally affirming care, thereby addressing systemic inequities. Early Care Spaces prioritizes funding for early care provided outside of traditional education systems, such as family resource centers and community spaces, while still welcoming organizations that partner with traditional systems. The program also places a strong emphasis on initiatives with deep connections to informal care providers or Family, Friend and Neighbor care. Furthermore, it seeks to support diverse organizations and providers that truly reflect the neighborhoods and communities they serve, with a particular focus on the Oakland flatlands, areas experiencing disinvestment and displacement of BIPOC communities. The expected outcomes include increased access to high-quality early literacy support for Oakland's youngest children, especially in underserved communities, and the strengthening of the informal care sector. Measurable results would likely include improvements in children's language and literacy skills, increased parental engagement in early education, and enhanced capacity and leadership among Black early care providers. This annual program, commemorating the foundation's 15th anniversary of formal grantmaking, aims to address existing gaps in Oakland's early care funding landscape and contribute to long-term literacy success for all children in the city.

The Porter County Community Foundation seeks to strengthen the community through lasting generosity and leadership by offering grants for humanitarian, cultural, educational, and environmental purposes. While the foundation acknowledges the importance of general operating support for nonprofits, it prioritizes funding requests that build organizational capacity, enhance efficiency, expand successful programming, or foster cooperation and collaboration among organizations for innovative initiatives. This approach aligns with their mission to ensure long-term growth and vitality within the community by strategically investing in projects with clear, impactful goals. The foundation targets organizations serving Porter County, Indiana, with a focus on proposals that demonstrate the potential for significant community benefit. Grants are awarded through an open process, and the committee considers several factors when making difficult choices due to limited funds. These factors include support from sources other than the foundation, evidence of meaningful financial support from the organization's board, the overall financial strength of the organization, and the request's impact on enhancing the organization's capacity to better serve Porter County. Key priorities for funding include initiatives that increase organizational capacity through planning, training, and professional development (excluding recurring annual conferences), as well as projects that enhance efficiency through equipment acquisition and extraordinary expenses difficult to budget for. The foundation also prioritizes expanding successful programming to reach new audiences and facilitating cooperation and collaboration among organizations for new, innovative programming. These focuses aim to foster a stronger, more efficient, and interconnected network of community service providers. Expected outcomes include increased organizational efficiency and sustainability, improved capacity to serve Porter County residents, and the successful expansion of programs to new audiences. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed for each funding area, the foundation's emphasis on "increased efficiency and sustainability" and "capacity to better serve Porter County" implies a focus on quantifiable improvements in service delivery, outreach, and operational effectiveness. The maximum grant amount is $10,000, and the foundation generally does not fund annual appeals, event sponsorships, multi-year grants, sectarian programs, political organizations, endowment campaigns, debt reduction, individuals (except scholarships), completed programs, travel for groups, camp scholarships, or re-granting organizations.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations in developing workforce programs that engage diverse groups in STEM fields to promote careers in clean energy and facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy economy.

The Community Giving Foundation's Healthy Workplace Grant program is designed to foster happy and healthy teams within nonprofit organizations. This initiative directly aligns with the Foundation's mission by promoting community well-being, specifically focusing on the individuals who drive the nonprofit sector. By investing in the health and positivity of these teams, the Foundation aims to strengthen the operational capacity and resilience of local nonprofits, ultimately enhancing their ability to serve the community effectively. The program acknowledges the critical role of employee well-being in organizational success and community impact. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are 501(c) and government nonprofit organizations located within the Berwick Health and Wellness Fund service area, which includes specific boroughs and townships in Columbia and Luzerne counties, Pennsylvania. The program targets the staff and volunteers within these organizations, aiming to improve their mental and physical health. The overarching impact goal is to cultivate more positive, supportive, and healthy work environments within these vital community organizations, leading to increased employee satisfaction, reduced burnout, and improved overall productivity. The grant prioritizes creative and innovative approaches to enhancing workplace health and positivity. Funds can be utilized for a variety of purposes, including the purchase of supplies or equipment, the implementation of specific programming, or professional development opportunities that boost mental and physical well-being. The emphasis is on encouraging imaginative methods that contribute to a healthier office culture. This focus on creative solutions ensures that organizations can tailor their initiatives to their unique needs and challenges, fostering a more effective and sustainable impact. Expected outcomes include a measurable improvement in the mental and physical health of nonprofit teams, a more positive and supportive workplace culture, and enhanced organizational effectiveness. While specific measurable results are not detailed in terms of quantifiable metrics within the provided text, the application process itself encourages "creative methods for increasing health and positivity," implying that successful applications will demonstrate thoughtful approaches to achieving these outcomes. The Foundation's strategic priority, as evidenced by this grant, is to invest in the human capital of the nonprofit sector, recognizing that healthy, engaged teams are fundamental to a thriving community. This aligns with a theory of change where targeted support for employee well-being directly contributes to stronger, more impactful nonprofit operations, ultimately benefiting the wider community. Grants are awarded in amounts ranging from $200-$1,000, indicating a focus on supporting a broad range of smaller-scale, impactful initiatives.