Funding Opportunities

For these listings, check with the grant or project officer regarding applicant eligibility.
For listings in environmental and energy, see the Current Energy and Environmental Funding Opportunities page.

Rural Youth Development Grants
Deadline: May 21

Rural youth encounter economic and physical barriers that prevent them from receiving adequate care, services, or resources necessary for healthily development. This program is intended to breakdown barriers to participation, especially for rural youth; enhance opportunities for youth involvement in policy and decision-making; create safe and inviting environments for youth activities; and improve access to information and technology. The overall goal of the program is to provide opportunities for rural youth to improve their own lives and the communities in which they live. This grant is limited to Girl Scouts of the USA, the National 4-H Council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the National FFA Organization. To download application, click here for link to USDA's website.


Funding for Children's Running Programs
Deadline: June 13, 2008

Established to help end childhood obesity by providing financial support to nonprofits across the United States that support children's running and fitness programs, the Saucony Run For Good Foundation is accepting applications for its grant program. Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of the Stride Rite Corporation, is a global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel. The grants are open to nonprofit organizations that initiate and support running and fitness programs for kids. Eligible applicants are programs whose participants are 18 years of age or less, have 501(c)(3) status, and can demonstrate that their program positively impacts the lives of participants through their increased participation in running. The foundation has two grant cycles per year, with up to seven awards granted each cycle. Grants are in amounts up to a maximum of $10,000 each. To learn more visit: http://www.sauconyrunforgood.com/.

Cable Positive's Youth AIDS Media Institute Grant
Deadline: June 27, 2008

Cable Positive is taking direct aim at HIV infection among the youth demographic with The Youth AIDS Media Institute (YAMI), a ground-breaking initiative made possible by a grant from the Motorola Foundation, that focuses directly on young people and the important role they play in halting the spread of the disease. YAMI's primary mission is to empower youth to take an active interest and make a tangible impact in their communities regarding HIV and AIDS education, prevention and awareness. The institute will educate students about the power and use of new media platforms such as text and video messaging to get this job done.
Grants of up to $5000 will be given to youth for outreach and/or awareness projects done in their local community. This includes any work that is related to HIV/AIDS education and awareness with a focus on coalition and community building, peer mentoring, and awareness raising projects. The YAMI Community Outreach Grant is interested in engaging youth to think opportunistically and creatively with the goal to maximize reach and effectiveness in regards to HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and awareness. Click here for more information and to apply.


RurAL CAP Foundation Grants
Deadlines: April 30, August 30, and November 30

The RurAL CAP Foundation has a focus on low-income people and rural communities. A limited number of small grants are provided by the RurAL CAP Foundation for educational and charitable purposes. Grants are under $5,000 and the usual grant amount is $500 to $1500 to eligible nonprofit and governmental organizations.  It's easy! Begin by referring to the Foundation Guidelines (PDF file). Then fill out the application (PDF file). Lastly, submit your final report (Word file) after your project is done.


Cigna Health Literacy Grants
Deadline: Open

Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that work with obesity awareness and prevention as well as other health concerns. Additional information is available at the Cigna Foundation website, or email to foundationgrants@cigna.com.


Mix It Up Grants (youth-led projects)
Deadline: Open
Applications for this program, sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center award up to $500 to support youth-directed projects that focus on identifying, crossing, and challenging social boundaries in schools and communities. Individuals interested in applying can click here.

Pacific Northwest Organizations Working with Youth
Deadline: Open
The Charlotte Martin Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of youth in the areas of athletics, culture, and education. An additional focus of the Foundation is preserving and protecting wildlife and habitat in the Pacific Northwest. Support is provided to nonprofit organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington that address the Foundation's priorities. Online applications may be submitted at any time. Visit their website at www.charlottemartin.org for details on the Foundation's focus areas and online application information.

Creative Ventures Fund
Deadline: Open
Applications for grants are from the Creative Ventures Fund, administered by the Rasmuson Foundation. They will provide up to $50,000 each in matching support to enrich programs offered by arts and cultural organizations in Alaska. For more information, contact Victoria Lord at the Rasmuson Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska at 877-366-2700.

Pay It Forward Foundation Mini-Grant Program
Deadline: Open
The Pay It Forward Foundation was established to educate and inspire students to realize that they can change the world, and to provide them with opportunities to do so.

Pay It Forward Mini-Grants are designed to fund one-time-only service-oriented projects that are identified by youth as activities they would like to perform to benefit their school, neighborhood, or greater community, and that include learning goals for the youth participants. Projects must contain a “pay it forward” focus – that is, they must be based on the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with the results growing exponentially.

Schools, churches, and community youth groups (with an adult sponsor) may apply for funding. Groups whose members are all over the age of 18 must include work with youth under the age of 18 as part of their projects. Mini-Grants of up to $500 are available. For more information, Email: info@payitforwardfoundation.org or go the foundation's website.

 

Literacy for the 21st Century
Deadline: March 1st

Starbucks Foundation Grants fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live. The Starbucks Foundation invites letters of inquiry from qualifying 501(c)3 organizations that work with underserved youth in the fields of literacy (reading, writing and creative/media arts) and environmental literacy. Grants range from $5,000-$20,000.  Deadline: September 1 and March 1, annually (Letters of Inquiry) Click on Starbucks.com's website for more information.