The Practical Online Grants Resource

Full Spectrum of Funding Opportunities

Arts and Culture

Arts and Cultural organizations promote artistic excellence and preserve cultural heritage. Whether on stage, over the airwaves, or in exhibition halls, they ensure that our artistic and cultural past and present continues to be accessible, enjoyed, and preserved. Arts and Humanities recipients may include (but not limited to):

  • Libraries
  • Historical Societies and Landmark Preservation
  • Museums
  • Performing Arts
  • Public Broadcasting and Media

Biomedical and Health Care

Biomedical and Health Care includes funding opportunities for medical and nursing research, biomedicine, health care professionals, and organizations providing health care at the community level. Examples of areas covered include clinical and programmatic studies in gerontology and mental health; clinical studies of the cause, detection, and elimination of cancer; health care delivery and maintenance; and studies of infectious and immunologic diseases, including programs researching all areas related to AIDS. Funding sources include the National Institutes of Health agencies and other federal government agencies, professional associations, foundations, and corporations that make health care a giving priority.

Children and Youth

Children and Youth includes funding sources for before- and after-school programs, youth violence prevention, children’s health care and health research, nutrition, mentoring initiatives, teen pregnancy prevention, summer recreation, sports, out-of-school educational programs, and so on. Sources for funding include local, state, and federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, family trusts, and corporate funding programs.

Community and Economic Development

Community and Economic Development funding is intended to strengthen outreach programs for the elderly, cultural programs, programs for the disabled and the economically disadvantaged, religious programs, and social service programs. Funding sources include foundations and nonprofit organizations, federal, state, and local government agencies, and corporate giving programs. These programs can include:

  • Food Banks, Food Pantries, and Food Distribution
  • Multipurpose Human Service Organizations
  • Social Services

Education

Programs to strengthen communities, including outreach programs for the elderly, cultural programs, programs for the disabled and the economically disadvantaged, religious programs, and social service programs. Funding sources include foundations and nonprofit organizations, federal, state, and local government agencies, and corporate giving programs. These programs can include:

  • Universities, Graduate Schools, and Technological Institutes
    • Universities, Graduate Schools, and Technological Institutes are institutions that support research and provide graduate and professional education, in addition to undergraduate coursework that they also make available. This also includes Community Colleges.
  • PreK-12, Adult and Alternative Education
    • Funding opportunities for PreK-12th grade schools and school districts, including teacher training and curriculum development, mentoring, special programs, technology, and materials; funding opportunities for adult education include literacy training, vocational education, and citizenship training. Funders include nonprofit organizations and foundations, corporate giving programs, and local, state, and federal government agencies.
  • Private Elementary and Secondary Schools
    • Private Elementary and Secondary Schools are private institutions of learning that provide elementary and secondary education.
  • Private Liberal Arts Colleges
    • Private Liberal Arts Colleges are private institutions of higher learning that provide liberal arts education.
  • Other Education Programs and Services
    • Other Education Programs and Services include scholarship and financial aid services, organizations promoting school reform, environmental and other experiential learning programs, and programs supporting teachers, parents, students and schools.

Environment / Conservation

This segment includes grants for conservation programs, environmental protection, research and education. These programs include: brownfields grants, environmental education, research, environmental management, wastewater management, water grants, pollution prevention, and even community recycling programs.

Faith-Based Programs

Funding to faith-based organizations carrying out religious programs, including education, counseling, special projects, technology, and inservice opportunities. This category also includes programs funded by faith-based groups for non-religious programs, as well as programs available for application without regard to religious affiliation. Sources include foundations, nonprofit organizations, corporate contribution programs, state and local agencies.

Humanities

A collection of funding opportunities to support programs and projects that study aspects of human society and culture. Grants often cover expenses for staff/personnel, research, training, and more. The humanities include the study of ancient and modern languages, literature, philosophy, history, archaeology, anthropology, human geography, law, politics, religion, and art (Wikipedia).

International Programs

Programs for international scholars, researchers, and internationally based organizations. Funding is available for both US and non-US individuals and organizations. Opportunities include fellowships, scholarships, research programs, exchange programs, grants for organizations in or working for developing nations, and more. Funders include US and non-US foundations, nonprofit organizations, and corporations with global giving programs; internationally based organizations; US federal programs; and many others. Other examples include:

  • Development and Relief Services
    • Development and Relief Service charities provide medical care and other human services as well as economic, educational, and agricultural development services to people around the world.
  • International Peace, Security, and Affairs
    • Charities working for International Peace, Security, and Affairs include cultural and student exchange programs; organizations promoting peace and security; human rights groups; groups promoting improved relations between particular countries; organizations providing foreign policy research and advocacy; and United Nations-related organizations.
  • Humanitarian Relief Supplies
    • Charities in Humanitarian Relief Supplies specialize in collecting donated medical, food, agriculture, and other supplies and distributing them overseas to those in need.
  • Single Country Support Organizations
    • Single Country Support Organizations raise funds for organizations in or provide aid to a single foreign country.

Operating Grants

Funders who offer grants for general operating support, including support for overhead, staff support, ongoing operations, utilities, and more. Grants support nonprofits, educational programs, arts organizations, museums, outreach services, community development programs, research programs, and many others. Sources include foundations, nonprofit organizations, corporate contributions programs, state and local agencies.

Research

Research includes funders that support projects for undergraduate and graduate students, college faculty, post-doctoral students, and private sector researchers. Types of research programs supported include: the arts; humanities; biomedical and health care; community and economic development; education; children and youth; environmental studies; alternative energy sources; agriculture; scholarships; and fellowships. Types of research funded include: basic/fundamental, applied, creative/discovery, clinical, commercial, directed, developmental, fundamental, investigator-initiated, outcomes-based, professional practice, scholarly/educational, strategic, targeted, and translational. Funding sources include a variety of federal and state agencies, professional associations, foundations, and corporations that make research a giving priority.

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial aid/assistance available to students to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies. Generally, scholarships are reserved for students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic or artistic talent. Awards are also available for students who are interested in particular fields of study, who are members of underrepresented groups, who live in certain areas of the country or who demonstrate financial need. Funders include nonprofit organizations, foundations, corporate giving programs, charitable trusts, colleges and universities, and local and state government agencies.

Special Populations

In his book Racial and Ethnic Groups, Richard T. Schaefer, DePaul University, defines a minority group as, “A group that experiences a narrowing of opportunities (success, education, wealth, etc.) that is disproportionately low compared to their numbers in the society.” Originally designated as Special Populations, this category now encompasses a broader range of targeted populations as applicants or the focus of the funding:

  • Racial & Ethnic Minority Populations
    • Racial and ethnic minority populations are defined as American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.
  • People with Disabilities
    • Applies to individuals with a disability as defined by Federal law: “any mental or physical condition that substantially limits an individual’s ability to perform one or more major life activities”. The following disabilities are recognized under the ADA:
      • Physical Disabilities
      • Learning Disabilities
      • Visual or Hearing Impairments
      • Chronic or Temporary Health Problems
      • Neurological Impairments
      • Communication Disorders
      • Psychological Disabilities
  • Age
    • This group includes individuals who are protected by The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), individuals who are 40 years of age or older. Special attention is focused on the elderly population or individuals over the age of 65. Children can also be understood as a minority group in the terms of children’s rights and youth rights.
  • Gender
    • This subcategory refers to grants that designate either specifically men or males or specifically women or females as the target recipients.
  • Risk Status Related to Sex & Gender
    • This group includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
  • Socioeconomic Status

Using the Database

More than a simple directory, each database record lists detailed information about a grant program, organized so that a grantseeker can see at-a-glance if the potential funder is a good fit. Search for grants can be done by keyword (or keywords), geographic location, subject heading, or any combination of the above. Advanced search tools are also available for more targeted searches. Additional search parameters include program type, sponsor name, sponsor type, title of grant, deadline, restrictions, requirements and description. Searches can also be limited to a specific category segment (such as Special Populations) or include all segments for a broader list of search results. GrantSelect also includes grant programs from sponsors outside the United States including Canada.

How We Update

The Grant Research Team at GrantSelect researches and compiles information on grant programs from sponsors located both in the United States as well as worldwide. Key information is meticulously gathered and edited before it is added to the database. In every case, each grant program must meet our standardized criteria before it can be included. The information is then published online in the GrantSelect database.

Records are updated by direct contact with the sponsoring organization via phone/fax or questionaires. Funders also provide us with brochures, press releases, letters and other mailings that keep us up to date on their projects. World Wide Web sites are also used as sources of information, if the Web site is updated at least on a quarterly basis.

Federal and state funding information is taken from the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, NIH Guides, National Science Foundation Bulletins, Government Information Sources newsletters, the Federal Register, and other publications by government agencies. Phone and fax contact are also used to update federal and state records.

Updates are done daily, ensuring that grant information is timely and relevant. Specific questions regarding the content and information contained within GrantSelect can be directed to our Chief Editor.