March 2023 Resources
Each month LOR sends a curated list of funding opportunities and other resources relevant for small rural communities in the Mountain West. To receive a link to our monthly resources guide, drop us a line to connect@lorfoundation.org.
Funding Opportunities
MARCH DEADLINES
The Reeve Foundation is providing grants to organizations that improve the lives of people with paralysis and their caregivers through projects and initiatives that foster inclusion, community engagement, and health and wellness. Direct Effect Grants (Tier 1, $25,000 for 12 months) support a wide range of projects and activities that will clearly and directly impact individuals living with paralysis and their families. Priority Impact Grants ($25,000 to $30,000 for one to two years) support the foundation’s high priority issues for individuals living with paralysis. Those priority areas include the following: assistive technology, respite and caregiving, and addressing social isolation, nursing home transition, racial equity, rural and underserved populations, and employment. Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations, municipal and state governments, school districts, recognized tribal entities, and other institutions such as community or veterans’ hospitals.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 8
The National Environmental Education Foundation is accepting proposals for its Biodiversity Conservation Grant: Enhancing Pollinator Habitats program. A total of $200,000 in grants is available to support pollinator habitat enhancement projects on U.S. public lands. Projects should cost between $50,000 and $100,000, be completed in roughly one year, and support habitats for butterflies, bees, bats, and more. Open to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, state or federal government agencies, federally recognized tribes and local governments, and educational institutions.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 10
Grants ranging between $2,500 and $10,000 are available from the Grey Muzzle Organization to shelters, rescue groups, and other nonprofit organizations to improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs. Programs could include promoting adoption, long-term care, surrender prevention programs, and early disease intervention.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 15
The Federal Emergency Management Administration is accepting applications for two programs that support funding for local fire departments.
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- The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) funds fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help increase their capacity. The goal of this program is to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, frontline firefighters available in their communities. Awards vary by community size and need, but in 2021 $5.6 million was available for approximately 500 grants. See Guidance Documents for program details.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 17
- The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) funds fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help increase their capacity. The goal of this program is to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, frontline firefighters available in their communities. Awards vary by community size and need, but in 2021 $5.6 million was available for approximately 500 grants. See Guidance Documents for program details.
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- FEMA’s Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The main objective of the program is to provide critically needed resources to carry out fire prevention education and training, fire code enforcement, fire/arson investigation, firefighter safety and health programming, prevention efforts, and research and development. Awards vary significantly based on community size and need, but in 2021 $150 million was split between approximately 200 grantees. See Guidance Documents for program details.
Open: Feb. 27
Deadline: Rolling
- FEMA’s Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The main objective of the program is to provide critically needed resources to carry out fire prevention education and training, fire code enforcement, fire/arson investigation, firefighter safety and health programming, prevention efforts, and research and development. Awards vary significantly based on community size and need, but in 2021 $150 million was split between approximately 200 grantees. See Guidance Documents for program details.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is accepting proposals for its Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) grant program. The purpose of this program is to promote the wellness of young children, from birth to eight, by addressing the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral aspects of their development. State, local, and tribal governments as well as health facilities and other nonprofits are eligible for awards that will average approximately $800,000 per year for five years. Thirteen total awards are expected to be made.
Open: Now
Due: Mar. 20
The Department of Health and Human Services is offering grants up to $500,000 to a variety of entities to provide comprehensive, evidence-based services for individuals and families facing substance use disorders or mental health conditions while experiencing homelessness. Community-based public (including state, local, and tribal governments) and nonprofit organizations are eligible for up to $15,700,000 in funding.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 21
The U.S. Forest Service, through its Wood Utilization Assistance program, is providing funding to for-profit and nonprofit organizations, schools, and state, local, and tribal governments, to address the challenge of disposing of hazardous fuels and wood residues in a way that supports wood product and energy markets. With $24 million in total funding, grants between $10,000 and $300,000 are available for a wide variety of activities that support the harvesting, processing, and delivery of wood products to market.
Open: Now
Due: Mar. 23
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of Health Prize, which comes with $250,000, is awarded to honor collaborative, community-based efforts that address systemic barriers to health and well-being and help communities achieve health equity. Awards honor entire communities rather than individuals or initiatives and cover a wide range of definitions of “community” including county, city, town, village, or other municipality or tribal government. Each applicant community should represent multiple unique organizations whose partnership predates the prize application and will be required to designate a local governmental or tax-exempt public charity operating within its community to accept the prize. Ten communities will be awarded $250,000 each.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 23
The Fisher Service Award, an initiative of Fisher House Foundation and Military Times Foundation, recognizes and celebrates innovative programs from nonprofits that support and strengthen military and veteran communities in the United States. Nonprofit organizations with innovative programs that improve the quality of life for active duty, reserve, National Guard, veterans, and their families are eligible to apply. A total of $250,000 will be divided among the top applying nonprofits, and each award winner will also receive an advertising package valued at $34,000 from Military Times.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 23
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program provides grants (up to $1 million) and guaranteed loans for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations and small businesses in rural areas can apply for grants or loans for renewable energy systems, such as biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. Grants range from $1,500 to $1 million depending on the project.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 31
APRIL DEADLINES
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is offering grants up to $150,000 to K-12 schools, community colleges, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to promote and strengthen food and agricultural science in K-12 and postsecondary programs. Grants between $50,000 and $150,000 can used for a wide range of projects that engage the next generation of agricultural and food science leaders in understanding and advancing food science in school settings, including outreach efforts, school and afterschool programs, and new curricula that engage youth.
Open: Now
Deadline: Apr. 5
The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications for its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program, which comes with funding up to $500,000. Nonprofit organizations or a partnership of nonprofits are eligible to apply for up to $500,000 (out of a total $30 million allocated) for projects that help build partnerships and address local environmental or public health issues. Examples of eligible projects include bicycle and pedestrian master plans, policies and projects to promote climate resiliency and adaptation, placement and maintenance of community gardens to reduce distances traveled to obtain fresh fruit and vegetables, or other projects that locally address climate resilience and public health.
Open: Now
Deadline: Apr. 10
The Department of Justice is providing funding to support the Medical Examiner-Coroner system with grants up to $150,000 for a variety of activities. Funding is available to nonprofits, state, county, city, or other local or tribal governments, and institutes of higher education for activities including forensic pathology fellowships and resources that help medical examiner-coroner offices achieve or maintain accreditation.
Open: Now
Deadline: Apr. 11
The USDA’s Rural Development’s RISE program is giving grants for between $500,000 and $2 million to consortiums of local governments, investors, industry, institutions of higher education, and other public and private entities to improve economic opportunity in rural areas. The funding may be used to support innovation centers and job accelerator programs that improve the ability of distressed rural communities to create high-wage jobs, form new businesses, and identify and maximize local assets.
Open: Now
Deadline: Apr. 20
The Department of Energy is making $80,000,000 in funding available for energy improvements at K-12 public schools. The “Renew America’s Schools” program will support projects proposed by K-12 schools that result in reduction to school energy costs, increase energy efficiency, and lead to improvements in teacher and student health. Awards will range from approximately $500,000 to $15 million.
Open: Now
Deadline: Apr. 21
The Justice Department’s Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative will provide funding and assistance to rural law enforcement agencies working to reduce violent crime. Funding and support are available for implementing violent crime reduction strategies, improving investigations, improving services to victims, and for enhancing collaboration between local stakeholders. Individual grant awards are expected to be between $25,000 and $150,000 and grant terms will cover a maximum 24-month period.
Open: Now
Deadline: Rolling and reviewed on a quarterly basis
STATE-SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES
Montana The Treacy Foundation is offering funding for capital campaigns and building improvements and maintenance to nonprofit organizations in Montana. The foundation’s areas of interest include arts and culture, children and youth, education, health, and human services.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 30 for grants over $10,000; Rolling for grants less than $10,000
Montana The Montana Office of Rural Health is offering Health Equity Mini-Grants ranging from $2,000 to $18,000. Grants should support projects around the state that work to advance health equity for communities most heavily impacted by health disparities. These funds are intended to complement regional and state health equity task force work, however, all are welcome to apply.
Open: Now
Deadline: Apr. 1
New MexicoThe New Mexico Department of Health is offering funding under the Rural Primary Health Care Act program for primary care healthcare services in underserved areas of the state. Eligible applicants are New Mexico nonprofit, community-based entities, local governments, and tribal governments that provide primary healthcare services. Funding amounts vary by need and organization size.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 6
Colorado Colorado’s Department of Education is now accepting applications for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program to support nonprofits and K-12 schools in offering afterschool and summer programming. CDE will award approximately $5.5 million in 21st CCLC funding this cohort. Grants awards will range from $50,000 to $180,000 per year per center. Priority will be given to those programs serving students that attend high-poverty, low-performing schools.
Open: Now
Deadline: Apr. 10
Colorado Colorado nonprofit organizations serving older adults are eligible for grants ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 from the NextFifty Initiative. The initiative provides funding aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers, strengthening organizations serving older adults, supporting new and innovative approaches to aging, and reducing ageism.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 22
Wyoming The Wyoming Community Foundation offers general operating grants between $1,000 and $10,000 to nonprofits throughout the state. WYCF gives priority to nonprofit organizations who address an identified community need and work to create a long-term solution, partner with other nonprofits or programs to enhance services without duplication, and leverage dollars received from WYCF to obtain additional or future funding. Most grant amounts awarded are between $1,000 and $10,000, with other amounts considered.
Open: Now
Deadline: Mar. 15 for general operating grants
OTHER RESOURCES
CityRenewables has created a Clean Energy funding guide that helps local governments prioritize and leverage existing federal funding to advance system-wide energy transition goals—from block grants and technical assistance to competitive grants and loans.
HUD’s Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance program is designed to improve fiscal health and build administrative capacity of relatively small units of general local government and their nonprofit partners in places experiencing persistent poverty and economic distress. This site includes many resources for small cities and has avenues for communities seeking technical assistance.