April 2026 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
April Deadlines
Children’s Book Project
The Pilcrow Foundation provides matching grants to rural libraries to purchase up to $1,200 in new children’s books, supporting literacy in small, under-resourced communities.
Deadlines: April 1 and October 1
Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
The Children’s Mental Health Initiative provides $3 million to state, local and tribal governments to deliver comprehensive community-based mental health services for youth through age 21 with serious emotional disturbances.
Deadline: April 9
DOGS RULE Grant
The PEDIGREE Foundation DOGS RULE Grant offers $50,000 per year for two years to animal shelters and rescue organizations to implement innovative programs that increase adoption rates.
Deadline: April 13
Program Development Grants
The PEDIGREE Foundation provides between $10,000 and $15,000 to animal shelters and rescue organizations to support new or existing programs that increase dog adoption rates.
Deadline: April 13
Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings Grant Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers grants up to $2.5 million to states, tribes, schools, and nonprofits to improve wildfire smoke preparedness in community buildings through air quality upgrades, planning, and public health protections.
Deadline: April 15
Justin J. Watt Foundation Grants
The Justin J. Watt Foundation provides funding for middle school after-school athletics programs serving low-income communities to help with the purchase of essential uniforms and equipment.
Deadlines: April 15, September 15, and January 15, 2027
Veterinary Services Grant Program
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides between $75,000 and $300,000 to organizations, governments, and rural veterinary clinics to expand food-animal veterinary services and address workforce shortages in underserved areas.
Deadline: April 16
Unsung Heroes
Voya provides $2,000 grants to K–12 educators to fund innovative classroom projects that improve student learning, with top awards of up to $25,000.
Deadline: April 17
Small Storage Program
The Bureau of Reclamation offers grants covering up to 25 percent of project costs (up to $30 million) for state, tribal, local, and nonprofit entities to plan, design, or build small water storage projects.
Deadline: April 17
Zero Suicide
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers awards of up to $700,000 per year to healthcare providers and public agencies to implement suicide prevention frameworks for adults at risk.
Deadline: April 20
Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance
USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations funding offers between $50,000 and $2 million to support facilities that process timber and biomass from federal and tribal lands, helping reduce the cost of forest restoration and wildfire risk mitigation.
Deadline: April 22
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program
The Department of Health and Human Services offers $100,000 grants to rural organizations and partners to build capacity and partnerships for comprehensive substance use disorder systems focused on opioid misuse.
Deadline: April 27
Foundation For Financial Planning Grants
Foundation for Financial Planning provides between $5,000 and $40,000 to nonprofits that connect volunteer financial planners with underserved individuals for free, one-on-one financial guidance and crisis support.
Deadline: April 30
May Deadlines and Beyond
Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention – Transition to Practice Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration offers approximately $24.2 million across 33 awards to expand clinical training and transition-to-practice programs that strengthen the nursing workforce in rural and medically underserved communities.
Deadline: May 21
Grants For Arts Projects
The National Endowment for the Arts offers between $10,000 and $100,000 to nonprofits, governments, and tribes for arts projects that expand access, strengthen communities, and support arts education and cultural engagement.
Deadline: June 9
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grants
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation provides grants to organizations advancing equity for children and families through education, health, food systems, economic opportunity, and racial healing, prioritizing community-driven solutions.
Special Requirement: LOIs are accepted throughout the year. Organizations typically hear back within 30 days regarding submitting a formal proposal.
Deadline: Rolling
Disaster Recovery Program
The Public Media Bridge Fund offers rapid-response grants of up to $100,000 to small public radio and TV stations to restore operations after disasters that disrupt essential broadcasting services.
Deadline: Within 30 days of a disaster
Emergency Restructuring Program
The Public Media Bridge Fund provides rapid-response advisory support and limited financial assistance to public media stations facing sudden funding loss to stabilize operations and pursue restructuring, partnerships, or mergers.
Deadline: Rolling
Believe in Reading
Believe in Reading provides up to $10,000 to nonprofits and libraries for established literacy programs serving communities with significant need, with most first-time grants at $3,000 or less.
Deadline: Rolling
Glenn W. Bailey Foundation Grants
Glenn W. Bailey Foundation provides between $20,000 and $35,000 to support STEM education programs that offer hands-on learning and prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Deadline: Rolling
Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program
The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention offers up to $750,000 to state, local and tribal governments and partners to provide comprehensive reentry and transitional services for youth returning from confinement.
Deadline: Opened on March 30
State-Specific Funding Opportunities
Tourism Event Growth & Sustainability Program
Eligible State(s): New Mexico
New Mexico True provides funding, marketing, and technical assistance to nonprofits, businesses, and governments to grow tourism events that drive travel and overnight stays in New Mexico.
Deadline: April 7
Equinox Grant Program
Eligible State(s): Idaho
Innovia Foundation’s Equinox Grant Program offers up to $30,000 to nonprofits, tribes, and public entities in Bonner and Boundary counties to support community-driven projects in education, health, economic opportunity, and quality of life.
Deadline: April 10
Destination Forward Grant Program
Eligible State(s): New Mexico
New Mexico True supports local and tribal governments in developing sustainable tourism infrastructure projects that increase visitation, strengthen local economies, and enhance community and visitor experiences.
Deadline: April 14
Maki Foundation Grants
Eligible State(s): New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
The Maki Foundation provides between $1,000 and $5,000 to grassroots organizations in the Rocky Mountain West to protect wild lands, rivers, and wildlife through conservation and public lands advocacy.
Deadline: April 30
Direct Effect Grants
Eligible State(s): Colorado
The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority provides funding to Colorado nonprofits and public entities to advance affordable housing, economic development, education, and food access.
Deadlines: April 30 and July 17
Wyoming Women’s Foundation Grants
Eligible States(s): Wyoming
The Wyoming Women’s Foundation offers grants to nonprofits across Wyoming to advance economic self-sufficiency for women and expand opportunities for girls through leadership, income growth, and systems change initiatives.
Deadline: May 15
Rural Health Small Grants
Eligible State(s): Montana
The Montana Healthcare Foundation offers grants of up to $10,000 to support community-driven health projects led by organizations in rural Montana communities.
Deadline: June 15
Community Connect Grant Program
Eligible State(s): New Mexico
The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion offers grants of up to $2.49 million to governments, tribes, schools, and ISPs to expand public Wi-Fi access in underserved communities through place-based connectivity solutions.
Deadline: Rolling
Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Foundation Grants
Eligible State(s): New Mexico
The The Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Foundation provides between $5,000 and $20,000 grants to nonprofits in New Mexico serving low-income children, older adults, and people with disabilities, prioritizing rural communities.
Deadline: Rolling
Resources
LiNae Bauscher Foundation Scholarship
Eligible State(s): Idaho
The LiNae Bauscher Foundation offers a full-tuition in-state college scholarship for one Idaho student and provides community support for local families in need across the Treasure Valley.
Deadline: April 30
Regional Grant Trainings
Eligible States(s): Wyoming
The Wyoming Grants Management Office is hosting a series of free, in-person regional trainings to help organizations navigate pre-award and post-award grant processes. Sessions will be held across the state.
Creative Industries Pre-Application Initiative
Eligible State(s): New Mexico
The New Mexico Economic Development Department is inviting local governments, municipalities, tribal Nations, Pueblo governments, and state agencies to participate in a pre-application phase for a new creative industries initiative. This planning-focused phase supports communities, especially rural areas, in developing strong arts and cultural economy projects, building partnerships, and preparing for a formal grant funding round in fall 2026. Participation in this phase is required to be eligible for future funding.
Station Resources
The Public Media Bridge Fund offers a free online suite of tools, services, and resources for local public media organizations. Available supports include legal assistance through ProJourn, graphic design tools from Canva, and additional services to strengthen operations.
Rural America at a Glance: 2025 Edition
Rural America at a Glance is an annual report that provides an overview of key social and economic trends in nonmetropolitan communities across the United States. The report covers topics including the rural economy, business and industry, employment and education, population and migration, and rural poverty and well-being.