Funding can be a constant stress for some nonprofits, but this past year has been especially hard.
To help organizations transition into 2021 and set their sights on recovery, we are compiling lists of exciting grants that nonprofits can apply to this year.
Some are broad in scope, while others are limited to specific missions and locations. Some are perennial, while others are dedicated to COVID-19 relief. But do not despair if you don’t find a grant that fits your needs. We will continue to publish more lists of helpful grants in the coming weeks and months. Make sure to check out our Ultimate Nonprofit Grant Guide and list of 16 Technology Grants for Nonprofits!
3M Foundation Grants
The 3M Foundation is a good source of grants for organizations working in education and environmental sustainability. The foundation gives out grants to organizations working to bring STEM and business education to under-represented and under-resourced communities, as well as to programs focused on conservation, water and air quality, and environmental education.
The education grant cycle runs annually April to June for K-12 and July to September for higher education. The environmental grant cycle runs February to April. Visit the 3M Foundation website to learn more.
Amazon Web Services Imagine Grant
This grant intends to help nonprofits use and innovate technology to aid their missions. Amazon seeks proposals for “pilot projects, proofs of concept, strategic technology planning, or existing programs that utilize technology in a new or expanded way.” The grant will provide a combination of $100,000 in unrestricted financial support and/or Amazon Web Services Promotional Credit, project workshopping with Amazon Web Services specialists, up to five AWS Training Services Vouchers, and a chance for AWS marketing support, as AWS sees fit.
The application for 2021 is not yet open, so check the AWS website in the coming months for an update!
Bank of America Charitable Foundation Grants
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation gives out grants supporting organizations working in the fields of economic mobility, racial equality, and community vitality. This year, they are requesting proposals for programs focused on affordable housing (housing development, minority homeownership programs, sustainable development), small business (planning assistance, CDFIs), and neighborhood revitalization (transit-oriented development, community arts and culture, climate change resiliency).
The application window will run from May 31 to June 25, 2021. Visit the Bank of America Charitable Foundation website to learn more.
BCBSM Foundation Special Initiative Grants
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is awarding a number of year-long grants of up to $25,000 to nonprofits working to support healthcare for economically, socially, ethnically, or racially marginalized residents of Massachusetts. The foundation is mainly looking for projects responding to the coronavirus pandemic, though other programs that strive to expand healthcare access and combat structural inequality will be considered as well.
There will be two application rounds, the first due on April 22, 2021 and the second on August 30, 2021. Visit the BCBSM Foundation website to learn more.
Carnegie Corporation
For over a century, the Carnegie Corporation of New York has worked to promote democracy, education, and peace around the world. Projects of interest may include education innovation, improving education access in low-income communities, civic engagement, policy development, non-partisan political communication, voter engagement and voting rights, nuclear security, global political stability, peacebuilding in Africa, and Middle East scholarly research. They also are interested in supporting higher education and research in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Carnegie Corporation accepts letters of inquiry on a rolling basis. To learn more, visit the Carnegie Corporation website.
Coca-Cola Foundation Grants
Launched in 1984, the Coca-Cola Foundation provides grants of up to $500,000 to organizations around the world working in the fields of women’s empowerment, economic development, education, water security, disaster relief, and environmental sustainability. Coca-Coca devotes 1.5 percent of its operating income to the Coca-Cola Foundation grants, and in 2019 the foundation gave out 375 donations and grants. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Coca-Cola Foundation is giving out additional money in the form of relief grants.
Visit the Coca-Cola Foundation website to apply.
Google Ad Grants
The Google Ad Grant is fairly unique. Qualifying organizations will receive up to $10,000 of in-kind advertising through Google Ads. This can be a powerful way to spread awareness of your organization and attract donors, employees, and volunteers.
To be eligible, you must be based in one of 50 eligible countries, have a valid charity status, meet the grant’s website policy, and pass through an initial pre-qualification process. Visit the Google Ad Grants website to learn more.
If you are interested in obtaining the Google Ad Grant and putting it to work for you, consider using Nonprofit Megaphone to help you optimize and manage it, to get the best value for your time!
Google for Nonprofits
Like the Google Ad Grant, this is not a traditional grant. Nonprofits that meet the eligibility requirements are given access to a variety of helpful tools, like Google Workspace for Nonprofits, the YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Earth and Maps’ data visualization and community-building resources. To apply and learn more, click here.
Poetry Foundation Emergency Grants Fund
The Poetry Foundation is awarding emergency grants of $5,000 to $20,000 to support poetry and arts-focused nonprofit organizations during the coronavirus pandemic. The foundation is prioritizing organizations working to advance racial equity in poetry.
The first application round has already passed, but a second round is open until March 31, 2021. Visit the Poetry Foundation website to apply.
State Department Human Trafficking and COVID-19 Grant
The effort to combat human trafficking has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and the U.S. Department of State is distributing grants ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 to organizations working to address this. Potential projects include research into how COVID-19 has hurt government responses to human trafficking, activities that support victim identification and screening, remedies of decreased services for victims and survivors, and innovative approaches to cross-border law enforcement collaboration.
The next cycle closes March 30, 2021 and the last cycle closes June 30, 2021. Visit the Grants.gov portal to learn more.
Walmart Foundation
Aimed at organizations working on economic opportunity, sustainability, community support, and racial equity, the Walmart Foundation gives out a variety of grants and in-kind support. While the foundation directly selects some of the organizations it works with, it also regularly publishes requests for proposals, receives concept notes, and holds an open application process. Visit Walmart.org to learn more.
For more grant opportunities, take a look at our Giant Nonprofit Donations List, with over 50 for-profit businesses that provide grants and donations to nonprofits.
