Grants for Nonprofits

U.S. National Science Foundation · $300K–$800K

This NSF program is open to U.S. institutions of higher education and U.S. non-profit, non-academic research organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, and research labs); for-profit businesses and individuals cannot apply directly. It funds the design of novel or greatly improved research tools and methods (in bioinformatics, instrumentation, and research methods) that advance biological research broadly. Awards typically range from about $300,000 to $800,000, and the infrastructure produced must be useful to a community of researchers beyond a single team.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

Open to U.S. nonprofit research organizations (museums, observatories, labs, professional societies) and accredited two- and four-year higher-education institutions submitting on behalf of faculty; individual researchers cannot apply directly. Funds fundamental materials science research spanning nanoscale to macroscale phenomena, materials discovery, and characterization. International branch campuses face extra justification requirements, and no award amount or deadline is listed in this posting.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California pursuing oak woodland conservation, particularly projects that bring ranchers and conservationists together for sustainable farming and habitat protection. No specific award amount or deadline is published for this ongoing program. Limited to California oak woodland projects, so it is not a fit for out-of-state or unrelated environmental work.

Natural Resources · $5K–$150K

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources program (FY25) provides technical and financial assistance to government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for projects that protect and restore habitat and species in the Great Lakes Basin, with awards from $5,000 to $150,000. Eligibility is broad, covering most organization types. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $1K–$120K

Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status) can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources Forest Health Management grant, though institutions of higher education are excluded. It funds data collection to analyze disease and health conditions in Illinois trees and forests. Awards range from $1,000 to $120,000.

Natural Resources · $1K–$350K

Illinois units of local government (municipalities, park districts, school districts, forest preserve districts), universities, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources Coastal Management Program grant; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. It funds coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects, with awards from $1,000 to $350,000. This is a reimbursement grant requiring documentation of grant and matching expenses, and applicants must be pre-qualified through the state's GATA grantee portal.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · $50K–$2M

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for Lower Los Angeles River watershed projects in California that must meet at least four of thirteen statutory objectives, such as fish passage restoration, climate adaptation, or reducing water pollution, under Proposition 1. Awards range from $50,000 to $2,000,000. Eligibility is limited to projects addressing the Proposition 1 objectives within the Lower LA River watershed.

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments serving severely disadvantaged communities in the San Fernando Valley can apply for this Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy grant funded under Proposition 68 (2018), part of a $4 billion bond for drought, water, parks, and climate resilience projects. No specific award amount or deadline is listed here; the severely-disadvantaged-community designation narrows eligibility to projects serving that specific population.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $1M–$1.5M

This NSF initiative funds research networks to advance K-12 mathematics education by combining the science of learning, education practice, and data science. It is open to U.S. institutions of higher education, U.S. non-profit non-academic research organizations, and federally recognized tribal nations; for-profit businesses and individuals cannot apply directly. Phase I awards range from about $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, and Phase II is open only to Phase I awardees.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Law & Science Program funds social-scientific research on law and on how science and technology are applied in legal contexts, and its eligibility is unrestricted (open to any eligible entity type, subject to NSF's standard rules). It supports standard and collaborative research grants as well as conference awards across many disciplines. Funding amounts are not specified here, so review the full solicitation for award size and any entity-specific requirements.

Army Contracting Command Rock Island · Amount varies

This is a forecasted Broad Agency Announcement from Army Contracting Command Rock Island intended to fund fundamental AI research. As a forecast, specific eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines are not yet published, but BAAs of this kind are generally open to a wide range of research organizations, including universities, companies, and nonprofits with relevant technical capability. Applicants should watch for the official posting, since BAAs often involve a competitive white-paper or proposal process and may include restrictions related to national security or export control.

Natural Resources · $5K–$150K

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding Great Lakes habitat and species protection, restoration, and management priorities under the Aquatic Nuisance Species Comprehensive Management Plan. Awards range from $5,000 to $150,000.

Department of Commerce · Up to $300K

This EDA program funds economic development planning and local technical assistance in economically distressed U.S. areas, and is open to economic development district organizations, Indian tribes, states and local governments, institutions of higher education, and public or private nonprofits acting with a local government. Individuals and most for-profit businesses are not eligible, and applications must now be submitted through EDA's EDGE platform rather than Grants.gov. Awards range up to about $300,000.

Administration for Community Living · Amount varies

This forecasted Administration for Community Living program (a DRRP) would fund a knowledge-translation center for the ADA National Network on Americans with Disabilities Act implementation. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not yet posted; DRRP awards typically go to universities, nonprofits, and research organizations conducting disability and rehabilitation research. Review the formal announcement for applicant requirements and award levels.

Administration for Children and Families - ANA · Amount varies

This forecasted opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ANA) supports a National Center for Native training and technical assistance. Formal eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not yet posted; ANA awards typically target Native American/tribal organizations and entities serving Native communities, which would narrow eligibility. Review the full announcement for applicant requirements before applying.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Up to $600K

This NSF program (LTREB) funds long-term data collection to address questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science, with awards up to about $600,000 over an initial 5-year period. Proposals may only come from U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic research organizations and accredited U.S. institutions of higher education acting for their faculty, so individuals, businesses, and foreign organizations are not eligible. Marine population/community/ecosystem research is excluded unless it focuses on evolutionary dynamics.

U.S. Mission to Cambodia · Amount varies

This forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity from the U.S. Mission to Cambodia supports efforts to counter wildlife trafficking. Eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines are not yet posted; U.S. embassy/mission grants of this kind often allow nonprofits and sometimes foreign organizations, with a strong geographic focus on the host country (Cambodia/region). Review the full NOFO for applicant types and any restrictions before applying.

Wildlife Conservation Board · Amount varies

Nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply to this Wildlife Conservation Board program funding stream flow enhancement projects, including planning, scientific studies, implementation, and land/water rights acquisition, with priority for watersheds supporting salmonids and other at-risk species. Planning and Scientific Study projects must be submitted as stand-alone applications (not combined with other categories); no specific award amount or deadline is listed here.

Indian Health Service · Amount varies

This forecasted Indian Health Service program (CAReS) addresses dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian communities. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not yet published, but IHS awards are typically limited to tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, which narrows who can apply. Check the full announcement for applicant requirements and funding levels.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds research on why organisms are structured and function as they do, spanning developmental biology, neuroscience, biomechanics, physiology, symbioses, genomics, and animal behavior. Proposals may only be submitted by U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic research organizations and accredited U.S. institutions of higher education acting for their faculty, so individuals, businesses, and foreign organizations are not eligible. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified.