December 2024 Resources

Each month LOR curates a list of funding opportunities and other resources relevant for small rural communities in the Mountain West and sends it out via email to folks who are interested. To receive this monthly email with resources—we call it the LOR Helps email—drop us a line to connect@lorfoundation.org.

Funding Opportunities

December Deadlines

Pivotal’s Action for Women’s Health grant will offer between $1 and $5 million to organizations working to improve women’s mental and physical health. Eligible applicants are nonprofits with a record of improving women’s health outcomes, particularly organizations that center equity in their approach and are poised to scale their work to strengthen the health of more women.
Deadline: Dec. 3 (registration); Jan. 10 (application)

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries provides grant funds of approximately $5,000 to schools to extend, update, and diversify their library collections with the goal of encouraging students to develop a love of reading and learning. Eligible applicants include public schools, neighborhood schools, charter schools, and magnet schools that are Title 1 eligible, as well as private and parochial schools in which at least 50 percent of the student population qualifies for financial aid.
Deadline: Dec. 6

Youth Service America’s Youth Stop Hunger Innovation Grants offer twelve $2,500 awards to youth who are looking to fight hunger in their community by addressing its root causes. Eligible applicants are groups of two to five young people between the age of 5 and 25 years old in the United States. Applying groups should have plans to help more young people engage in volunteerism.
Deadline: Dec. 8

The Oasis Institute Community Care Corps offers grants ranging from $30,000 to $200,000 to fund projects in which volunteers provide non-medical assistance to family caregivers, older adults, and adults with disabilities to help them maintain their independence. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, hospitals and healthcare systems, institutions of higher education, local aging services organizations, centers for independent living, AmeriCorps, and time-banking or volunteer agencies.
Deadline: Dec. 11

The USDA Forest Service’s Wood Innovations Program has allocated $8 million for projects that will expand and accelerate wood products and wood energy markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs. Eligible applicants are for-profit entities, state and local governments, tribal governments, school districts, community nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and special purpose districts. Awards will range from $10,000 to $300,000.
Deadline: Dec. 11

The EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities program is offering subgrants to community-based nonprofits and local and Tribal governments for assessment, planning, and project development activities across a wide range of environmental issues. The process relies on intermediary grantmaker organizations, which vary by state, and will alleviate much of the burden that the federal grants process places on small organizations supporting underserved communities.

For EPA Region 8, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc is currently serving CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY and is accepting applications for all grant tiers until December 12th.
For EPA Region 10 , Philanthropy Northwest is currently serving AK, ID, OR, WA and 271 native tribes and is accepting applications until December 15th.

Grants range from $150,000 for assessment, $250,000 for planning, and $350,000 for project development. In addition, $75,000 will be available for capacity-constrained community-based organizations. Grants can address air quality and asthma, water quality, small cleanup projects, food access, lead and asbestos contamination, healthy homes, emergency preparedness, and job training in environmental jobs.
Deadlines: Dec. 12 (CO, MT, WY); Dec. 15 (ID)

The National Endowment for the Humanities Save America’s Treasures program provides grants between $25,000 and $750,000 to help local governments, tribes, school districts, institutes of higher education, and nonprofits preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections. Eligible properties include historic districts, buildings, sites, and structures. Eligible objects and collections include artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art.
Deadline: Dec. 12

The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant offers $10,000 in small business grants to applicants who complete two grant-eligible courses or virtual events through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program. Eligible applicants are small business owners over the age of 18. Nonprofit business owners are not eligible.
Deadline: Dec. 13

The Project SCALES School Food System Transformation Grant provides funding between $500,000 and $1 million for foster partnerships that improve school food systems and food options available to students. Projects must be collaboratively administered by at least three partners, with one lead partner and at least two partner organizations. One of the three partners must be from the food industry and one must be a school food authority.
Deadline: Dec. 13

Temper of the Times Foundation offers grants, typically between $5,000 and $15,000, to nonprofits for projects that will produce measurable outcomes for wildland ecosystem conservation and restoration. Grants may be used to fund the production of print, radio, or television ads; to pay for advertising space or airtime; and to produce or distribute pamphlets, books, videos, or press packets.
Deadline: Dec. 15

The Reaching Rural Initiative is offering a one-year planning initiative to rural agency leaders or mid-level professionals working in counties, cities, or tribes as justice, public safety, public health, or behavioral health practitioners. The initiative seeks rural practitioners interested in adopting bold solutions and reimagining how diverse organizations and agencies with different missions can address the challenge of substance use and misuse among justice-involved individuals in rural communities. Applicants may apply to participate in the Reaching Rural initiative as an individual practitioner or as a member of a cross-sector team from the same community or region.
Deadline: Dec. 16

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program has allocated $12 million for eligible nonprofits to purchase home sites and develop volunteer-based homeownership programs for low-income persons and families. Only national and regional nonprofits and consortia with experience providing self-help homeownership housing programs are eligible to apply. Funds must be used for land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and reasonable and necessary planning and administration costs.
Deadline: Dec. 17

The USDA Forest Service’s Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program offers grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $1 million to directly support the installation of wood energy systems or development of wood product facilities. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, local and state governments, tribal governments, for-profit businesses, institutions of higher education, and special purpose districts.
Deadline: Dec. 18

The USDA’s Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program offers grant awards ranging from $50,000 to $1 million to provide financial assistance to facilities that purchase and process byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects in areas at risk of wildfire or insect infestation. Eligible applicants are for-profit entities, state and local governments, tribal governments, school districts, communities, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and special purpose districts.
Deadline: Dec. 18

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program will offer $292 million in total funds to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs). This funding will enable the purchase of essential equipment, training of emergency personnel, and outfitting responders with compliant protective gear. Public and state universities, local governments, tribal governments, nonprofits, county governments, and emergency service organizations are eligible to apply for grants up to $9 million.
Deadline: Dec. 20

January 2025 Deadlines (and Beyond)

NewSchools Venture Fund program offers grants ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 to early-stage organizations and new initiatives reimagining education. Funding supports innovative schools, K-8 literacy and numeracy tools, new teaching methods, and support for students with learning differences, with a focus on equity. Grantees also receive coaching, expert access, and peer connections. Applicants are encouraged to confirm their eligibility by December 10 to have the opportunity to receive personalized support on their application.
Deadline: Jan. 8

The National Science Foundation Advancing Informal STEM Learning program offers funding between $50,000 and $3.5 million to institutions of higher education, nonprofits and for-profits, state and local governments, tribal nations, and foreign organizations promoting public engagement and understanding of STEM. Priority is given to initiatives that foster inclusion, broaden participation, and support underserved and underrepresented communities through activities like community STEM, science communication, public research participation, intergenerational engagement, and STEM media.
Deadline: Jan. 8

The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions program provides funding of up to $15,000 to small and mid-sized institutions to support arts and humanities preservation. Eligible applicants include governments, tribal entities, nonprofits, and higher education institutions. An estimated 55 awards will be given.
Deadline: Jan. 9

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service’s Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program provides funding ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to nonprofits, school districts, tribal governments, and local governments to increase local food access in schools.. Via activities like school gardens and field trips, grants will support the launch or expansion of farm-to-school programs that combine local food sourcing and education.
Deadline: Jan. 10

The JAMS Foundation-ACR Initiative for Students and Youth provides support up to $20,000 for conflict resolution education and training for pre-K through 12th grade students and youth in the United States, as well as the adults working with these youth populations. The 2025 funding cycle focuses on the development of procedures that integrate conflict resolution and restorative practice training to foster a more peaceful and positive school climate. Proposed projects should build upon the current work of the school system’s policies and practices regarding youth involved in fights, disruptive behavior, or violating school conduct rules.
Deadline: Jan. 10

The Les Paul Foundation is offering grants of up to $2,000 to nonprofits for programs and projects that encourage innovation in music production and/or performance and to innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics programs for students and others in challenging situations. Proposals for medical research related to curing tinnitus and other hearing impairment issues will be considered.
Deadline: Jan. 15

The Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant program provides up to $50,000 in matching grants to nonprofits, municipal and regional arts centers, radio stations, and universities to support military and veterans through arts programming. Funding is available for programs that improve the health, wellbeing, and quality of life for military service members and veterans exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers, through experiences of art or artmaking.
Deadline: Jan. 15

Press Forward’s Open Call on Infrastructure will invest a total of up to $20 million in helping newsrooms overcome challenges in creating and disseminating local news. Press Forward’s grants for this cycle are focused on game-changing solutions that help newsrooms:

Build Audience: How can newsrooms attract new audiences, and diversify and deepen relationships with existing ones?
Strengthen Operations: How can newsrooms share staff or use tools and technology to become more efficient?
Cultivate Talented People: How can working in the field become more attractive, diverse, inclusive and sustainable?
Generate Revenue: How can local news outlets generate more revenue from a wider range of sources?

All journalism support organizations, newsrooms-led coalitions, and collaborations are eligible for these grants of between $500,000 and $1.5 million over three years.
Deadline: Jan. 15

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals is offering grants of up to $600,000 to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals and improve the distribution of a behavioral health workforce. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, hospitals, rural health clinics, governments, and tribal organizations. The program focuses on improving access to behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and young adults. An estimated 101 awards will be given.
Deadline: Jan. 21

The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support community-wide reading programs in the United States. Each applicant organization selects a book from the Big Read library and engages with community partners to develop, conduct, and promote engaging literary and artistic programs. Applicants also offer events and activities related to the theme and chosen book. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, arts and cultural organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments. Applicants must provide a budget for the project that includes matching funds.
Deadline: Jan. 23

The National Endowment for the Humanities’ Landmarks of American History and Culture program has allocated $2.5 million for one-week residential, virtual, or hybrid workshops to enhance how educators incorporate place-based approaches to humanities teaching and scholarship. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, institutions of higher education, governments, and tribal entities. An estimated 15 awards will be given.
Deadline: February 12

The Hearst Foundations fund is offering $100,000 or more to nonprofits for initiatives that create sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults, improve health and quality of life, increase academic achievement, promote the arts and sciences, and support family stability. Eligible applicants are well-established nonprofits that operate with audited expenses of greater than $2 million and that primarily serve large demographic or geographic constituencies.
Deadline: Rolling

All Kids Play Youth Sports Grants provide financial assistance to families and communities that lack resources to pay for youth sports. Eligible applicants include low-income families with kids in grades K-12, nonprofits, school sports programs, or government-run programs in low-income communities that provide community-based recreational level sports for kids in grades K-12.
Deadline: Rolling

The Smart Family Fund offers grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to fund early-stage nonprofit ventures that could make a significant impact on the world but have yet to acquire large-scale funding. Eligible applicants are early-stage, U.S.-based nonprofit organizations. Applicants must be able to clearly articulate how they will demonstrate the efficacy of the intervention, quantify the potential positive impact in the world, and communicate how the organization is differentiated and better than other ecosystem players.
Deadline: Rolling

The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation provides funding to nonprofits that offer free or subsidized spay and neuter clinics, adoption and rescue services, foster and transport services, obedience training, and pet care education. Priority is given to applications that seek to implement the foundation’s Namaste Spay and Neuter Initiative, which supports host organizations organizing large-scale clinics that provide pet owners with free spaying and neutering.
Deadline: Rolling

The Milbank Foundation provides support to organizations that integrate people with disabilities into all aspects of American life. The foundation’s current priorities include: initiatives that empower people with disabilities and foster independence and self-sufficiency, rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans, helping seniors to age in the place of their choice, healthcare reforms across the country, and programs that address mental health issues and prevent substance abuse and suicide, especially among young people. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $500,000 in 2023 totalling $1,850,000 in total funding that year.
Deadline: Rolling

Lowe’s has allocated $100 million for the restoration and revitalization of community spaces across the country through Lowe’s Hometowns. Lowe’s will fund 100 large-scale community projects, chosen from consumer nominations, to be completed in partnership with local nonprofits, Lowe’s store associates, and community volunteers. Additionally, nearly 1,700 additional projects are selected and completed by Lowe’s associates across the country.
Opens: January 21; Deadline: TBD

State-specific Funding Opportunities

Colorado
The Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center’s Colorado Business Builder Grant Program is offering grants up to $10,000 that are designed to support small to mid-scale Colorado food and farm businesses. Eligible applicants include farms, ranches, food processors, value-added food businesses, and distributors sourcing locally or regionally. A total of $200,000 will fund an expected 20 to 60 awards.
Deadline: Jan. 10

Colorado
The Colorado Department of Law’s Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing Challenge Grant has allocated $20 million for collaborative, community-driven projects in coordination with schools that increase protective factors for children and youth to decrease vaping. Eligible applicants include school districts, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), formal or informal networks of Charter Schools, tribal governments or organizations, and community partners that work with these educational institutions.
Deadline: Jan. 15

Idaho
The Idaho Youth in Philanthropy Project (YIPP) is a new initiative designed to foster a passion for community service and philanthropy among rural high school students across Idaho. The hands-on leadership program prepares students in smaller communities to become future leaders in philanthropy by engaging them in the grantmaking process and supporting nonprofits that address critical local needs. High schools in rural Idaho are invited to apply, with priority given to communities with populations under 30,000 to ensure support reaches areas with limited access to nonprofit resources.
Deadline: Dec. 6

Idaho
The Idaho Rural Community Investment Fund provides between $50,000 to $400,000 in grants to small towns and cities (population less than 25,000), counties, and Indian tribes in Idaho to help workforce growth and strengthen the area’s economy by improving public infrastructure systems. To be competitive, a local match is necessary but there is no required percentage.
Deadline: Dec. 16

Idaho
The Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation is offering grants up to $35,000 in Ada, Adams, Camas, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley, and Washington counties to address community challenges and support projects, programs, and services that are well planned and executed to benefit the community. The six areas of focus are cultural arts, education, environment, financial stability, health and rural communities.
Deadline: Jan. 7

Idaho
The Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center’s Idaho Business Builder Grant Program is offering grants between $3,000 and $15,000 designed to support small to mid-scale Idaho food and farm businesses. Eligible applicants include farms, ranches, food processors, value-added food businesses, and distributors sourcing locally or regionally. A total of $100,000 will fund seven to 15 projects in the first round of the Idaho Business Builder grant program.
Deadline: Jan. 15

Montana
The Town Pump Charitable Foundation provides financial support to Montana nonprofits and local governments with a priority on supporting basic needs and education for Montana citizens. The Foundation’s general grants focus on food insecurity, homelessness, and veterans’ needs; education, including classroom activities and reading programs; and community assistance, including support for first responders and community projects. In addition to general grants, the Foundation offers several other grant programs at various times throughout the year: Keep Kids Reading Grants support libraries’ summer youth reading programs. Meals for Backpacks Grants support schools, food banks, food pantries, and other community organizations that provide weekend meal programs to Montana students. The Adopt a Family Grant Program awards grants to groups working to make Christmas brighter for Montana neighbors (grant amounts vary by program).
Deadline: Dec. 19

New Mexico
The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion’s “Student Connect” assistance program has allocated $25,000,000 in grant funds to construct towers, build fixed wireless service, and provide receivers for designated student homes to help rural students receive broadband connections. Eligible entities include internet service providers, public schools and school districts in rural communities, and tribal governments.
Deadline: June 30

New Mexico
The Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation offers grants typically between $5,000 and $20,000 to nonprofits serving low-income and vulnerable populations in three mission areas: essential needs for children and youth, programs serving seniors, and programs serving people with disabilities. Both general operating support and funds for specific programs are provided. Preference is given to nonprofits serving rural counties.
Deadline: Rolling

New Mexico
The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion’s Grant Writing, Engineering and Planning program is awarding up to $100,000 to aid tribal governments, local governments, rural telephone cooperatives, and rural electric cooperatives in procuring grant writing, engineering, and/or planning assistance to help identify community broadband needs and to help access funding sources for broadband-related projects. All awards are assistance and not merit grants, and the money must go toward infrastructure.
Deadline: Rolling

Wyoming
The USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant program is offering funding of approximately $10,000 to $500,000 to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities that promote the development and expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Organizations eligible to receive funding include rural cooperatives, state government agencies, towns, and communities, nonprofits, federally recognized Tribes, and institutions of higher learning.
Deadline: Feb. 28

Idaho and Montana
AgWest Farm Credit’s Rural Community Grants support nonprofits with grants up to $5,000 that improve rural communities via projects such as building or improving facilities, purchasing equipment, making capital improvements to community assets, or improvements to local facilities.
Deadline: Rolling

Idaho and Montana, and Wyoming
Na’ah Illahee Fund’s Indigenous Lifeways Fund offers between $1,000 and $50,000 to for Indigenous-led projects and activities that promote healing and wellness in Indigenous communities, transfer traditional knowledge to future generations, address barriers to community-led problem-solving, and advance environmental justice and regenerative economies. Eligible entities include Indigenous-led nonprofit organizations and Canadian registered charities, tribes and First Nations, and Native community groups with a fiscal sponsor.
Deadline: Mar. 15