July 2025 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

July Deadlines

The National Endowment for the Humanities is offering up to $200,000 through its Public Impact Projects Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary program to help cultural organizations develop high-quality humanities projects. Funding is available for initiatives that deepen public understanding of the American Revolution, the Founding Era, and the lasting impact of the Declaration of Independence. Eligible applicants include museums, historical societies, and other cultural nonprofits.
Deadline: July 

Walmart’s Spark Good Local Grants provide between $250 and $5,000 to support local organizations that directly benefit the communities they serve. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, government entities, K–12 schools and higher education institutions, and faith-based organizations with community-focused projects. All applicants must operate in the same area as the Walmart facility they’re applying through, have a Spark Good account, and be verified by Deed, Walmart’s third-party verification service.
Deadlines: July 15, October 15, and December 31

The Veterans Administration’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant is a three-year program with $174 million in total funding to support community organizations serving veterans and their families. These grants, ranging from $7,000 to $750,000 each, will provide a range of suicide prevention services, including outreach, mental health screening, education, clinical services, peer support, benefits assistance, and emergent needs support. Priority is for organizations serving areas with limited medical services, rural communities, tribal lands, U.S. territories, minority veterans, women veterans, or areas with high call volume to the Veterans Crisis Line.
Deadline: July 18

NEXT for AUTISM offers grants of up to $10,000 for first-time applicants and up to $25,000 for returning grantees to support U.S.-based initiatives empowering autistic adults. Funding is available for community-driven and autistic-led projects that promote meaningful progress in employment, housing, social engagement, and health and well-being. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofits or have a fiscal sponsor, and programs must focus on at least one of the core areas (Work, Home, Social, or Health) for autistic adults. Priority is given to projects serving low-income, underserved, or rural communities.
Deadline: July 27

The KFC Foundation is offering up to $10,000 through its Kentucky Wishes program to support local nonprofits expanding access to food and shelter. Funding may be used for projects like community garden creation, food pantry upgrades, animal shelter renovations, or facility repairs. Eligible applicants must be local nonprofits or chapters of larger organizations. 
Deadline: July 31

August Deadlines and Beyond

The Nasdaq Foundation is offering average grants of $75,000 to nonprofits improving financial literacy and economic opportunity in under-resourced communities. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based organizations providing education about capital markets, tools for building wealth, and entrepreneurial support including mentorship or access to capital.
Deadline: August 1

The Road Runners Club of America will award between $500 and $1,000 to support youth running programs through its Kids Run the Nation Grant Fund. Eligible applicants include schools, nonprofits, and running clubs offering programs that engage kids in running more than once per week for multiple weeks, ideally culminating in a fun run or event. Programs should include structured lessons and activities—preferably using the RRCA curriculum—and be inclusive of all genders, races, and income levels. Both startup and established programs are eligible but must meet SafeSport Act requirements, including abuse prevention training and background checks for adult staff and volunteers.
Deadline: August 1

The Access Fund is offering grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 to projects that preserve or enhance climbing access and opportunities and conserve climbing environments throughout the US. Eligible applicants include local climbing organizations, land trusts, conservation groups, and government entities. Proposals that show support from the climbing community, cooperative efforts with land authorities, and dedication to sustainable impact will receive preferential consideration for funding. Larger requests are considered with secured matching funds and prior approval.
Deadline: August 1

The Clif Family Foundation is offering general operating and project support funding to grassroots organizations advancing food systems, community health, and environmental protection. Typical grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 and last for one year. Priority is given to applicants that address two or more focus areas, demonstrate strong community ties, and operate with clearly defined plans for change. Funds may not be used for construction, endowments, deficit funding, media projects, individuals, government entities, religious groups, or event sponsorships.
Deadline: August 2

The Leary Firefighters Foundation is offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 through the Jeremiah Lucey Grant Program to support training, equipment, and technology upgrades for fire departments nationwide. Both paid and volunteer departments are eligible. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed improvements will enhance firefighter safety or operational effectiveness.
Deadline: August 15

ETC’s Performing Arts Funding Grant Program offers up to $5,000 to U.S. nonprofits involved in the performing arts, with preference given to groups that produce their own work. In addition to financial support, ETC’s Light the Way Equipment Grant Program provides in-kind donations of professional lighting equipment to organizations training technical and design professionals in the performing arts. Applications for the equipment grants are due by July 15, 2025.
Deadline: August 31

The Foundation for Rural Services is offering grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 to support projects that enhance quality of life in rural communities. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and municipalities seeking to fund education, business development, or telecommunications initiatives. Projects must benefit areas served by a National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) member.
Deadline: September 5

Jewish Helping Hands offers grants of up to $5,000 for grassroots projects that support vulnerable and marginalized populations. Eligible individuals and organizations may apply for funding to address unmet needs related to basic necessities—such as food, shelter, health, water, internet connectivity, and gender equity. Priority is given to initiatives promoting self-help and empowerment in East Africa, Central America, North America, Israel, and underserved Jewish communities globally.
Deadline: September 12

The Les Paul Foundation is offering grants of up to $2,000 to nonprofits that support music education or STEAM-related programming. Funding priority is given to projects that align with the foundation’s mission to inspire innovative and creative thinking through the support of music education, recording, innovation, and medical research related to curing tinnitus. Eligible applicants include music education organizations and schools, music recording and industry education programs, STEAM programs that emphasize innovation, after-school science or music programs that reflect Les Paul’s legacy, and museum exhibits developed in collaboration with the foundation.
Deadline: September 15

Petco Love is accepting applications from U.S.-based animal welfare organizations seeking support for adoption and sheltering programs. Eligible applicants include foster-based nonprofit rescues, municipal agencies responsible for animal control sheltering, and nonprofit shelters, SPCAs, and humane societies that facilitate adoptions. The grant program aims to strengthen and empower organizations committed to improving animal welfare outcomes nationwide.
Deadline: September 30

The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative provides funding to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations that promote safe and responsible off-highway vehicle use, land stewardship, and public education. Eligible applicants include riding clubs, public recreation areas, conservation groups, and communities working to preserve access for motorized off-road vehicles. Grants support a wide range of projects such as trail development and maintenance, staging area improvements, educational and safety programs, wildlife and land management, and efforts to protect or expand recreational access. Award amounts vary depending on project impact, demonstrated need, and competition.
Deadlines: September 30 and December 15

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides loans and grants through the Single Family Housing Repair Program to help very-low-income rural homeowners address health and safety hazards. Loans of up to $40,000 may be used to repair, improve, or modernize homes, while grants of up to $10,000 must be used specifically to remove health and safety hazards. Loans and grants may be combined for up to $50,000 in total assistance. Eligible applicants must own and occupy the home, be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere, and have an income below 50 percent of the area median. Grants are limited to homeowners aged 62 or older who cannot repay a loan.
Deadline: Open

The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers loan guarantees through the Timber Production Expansion Program to help establish, reopen, or expand wood processing facilities. Eligible applicants include businesses seeking to improve sawmills or similar operations in rural areas. Loans are provided through qualified lenders, and applicants must demonstrate viability and readiness. Funding is available until depleted.
Deadline: Open until funds are depleted

The D’Addario Foundation offers average grants of $2,500 to nonprofits providing immersive, community-based music education programs. Eligible programs must offer free or affordable instrument instruction that addresses a demonstrated local need and engages students multiple times per week, year-round, and for as many years as possible. The foundation prioritizes organizations with sustained, high-impact programming and prefers not to fund equipment purchases, though in-kind product donations may be available.
Deadline: Rolling (LOIs accepted year-round; invited applications due in October)

The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation offers grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations for national or large-scale projects that improve the wellbeing of children. Funding is not available for individuals, general operating expenses, consultant fees, construction, government matching, or academic research tied to degree requirements. Projects must demonstrate broad geographic impact and cannot be limited to one field of interest. Materials must be produced in English, and funds must be used within the calendar year unless an extension is approved.
Deadline: Rolling

State-Specific Funding Opportunities

Colorado The Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) offers planning and implementation support to rural communities seeking to grow their outdoor recreation economies. The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office will partner with graduate students, CSU Extension, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help selected communities develop and execute 12 to 24-month Community Action Plans. Support includes facilitated strategy sessions focused on Main Street revitalization, stakeholder engagement, and resource identification. Eligible applicants include rural Colorado communities with outdoor recreation assets seeking economic development through recreation and tourism.
Deadline: August 22

Colorado The Boettcher Foundation offers Community Connections and Rural Catalyst Grants to support Colorado-based nonprofits. Community Connections grants ($20,000–$75,000) fund projects such as building construction or strategic program investments. Rural Catalyst Grants ($1,000–$10,000) strengthen nonprofit infrastructure in rural areas, with a focus on housing, childcare, mental health, workforce development, regional collaboration, and leadership diversity.
Deadlines: September 1 (Community Connections), September 30 (Rural Catalyst)

Colorado The Gates Family Foundation offers Capital Grants to support land acquisition, construction, renovation, or expansion projects led by Colorado nonprofits. Eligible projects must align with one of the foundation’s priority areas—arts and culture, community development, education, parks and recreation, or child and family wellbeing. Recent grants range from $500 to $150,000. Applicants must have 30 precent of their total project budget secured before applying.
Deadline: September 1

Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming The Denver Foundation’s Greenwood Fund offers grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to support conservation and collections care projects at small museums in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Eligible applicants must be nonprofits (or have a fiscal sponsor), maintain a regular public schedule, and have collections and conservation budgets under $1 million. Preference is given to museums with permanent collections on exhibit. In 2025, applicants may also request up to $2,500 in additional funding for video-based fundraising appeals.
Deadline: August 15

Idaho and Montana The PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for programs that increase access to healthcare in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Eligible initiatives include both direct care and community-based prevention, particularly for vulnerable populations. Priority areas include maternal and infant health, early childhood education, housing, nutrition, and resilience-building efforts.
Deadline: July 15

New Mexico New Mexico’s Outdoor Equity Fund is awarding $3 million in grants to support programs that connect low-income youth to meaningful outdoor experiences and environmental education. Eligible projects must engage young people in nature-based recreation and include education on climate, environment, or cultural heritage. Applicants must serve New Mexico youth and demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion in outdoor access.
Deadline: July 31, 2025 (FY26 Round 1)

New Mexico New Mexico’s Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant supports shovel-ready infrastructure projects that expand public outdoor access. Eligible projects include trail design and construction, signage, river access, outdoor classrooms, trailheads, and wildlife viewing areas. Applicants must ensure all projects are open to the public. Eligible entities include tribal governments, counties and municipalities, nonprofits, public schools and universities, soil and water conservation districts, and acequia and land grant associations.
Deadline: September 30, 2025 (FY26 Round 1)

Wyoming The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering grants of up to $300,000 and loans of up to $1 million through its Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program to support job-creating projects in rural areas. Eligible applicants include current or former Rural Utilities Service electric or telecommunication borrowers and other nonprofit utilities eligible under the Rural Electrification Act. Grants help establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs), while loans are passed through to local businesses for specific job-creation projects. Funds may be used for business incubators, workforce training, rural medical facilities, nonprofit community development, business startups and expansions, and technical assistance. Projects must be located in rural areas with fewer than 50,000 residents.
Deadline: Rolling

Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana  Small food and farm businesses can apply for grants ranging from $3,000 to $50,000 through the USDA’s Business Builder Grant Program. Administered by the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center, the program supports small and mid-sized farms, food businesses, aggregators, processors, and distributors seeking to scale operations, enter new markets, or build infrastructure. No match is required. Applicants must be legal entities and provide a Unique Entity ID (UEI) within two weeks of the deadline. Grants are typically reimbursement-based, though up-front payment is available for equipment purchases over $5,000. 
Deadline: Rolling

Resources

The Living Beyond Breast Cancer Young Advocate Program
This program trains individuals diagnosed with breast cancer before age 45 to use their personal experiences to create change in their communities and raise awareness about the unique needs of young people facing the disease. This year’s program begins with a virtual kickoff session on Zoom on Saturday, August 9, followed by in-person training in Philadelphia, PA, from August 15–17, 2025.

CDC’s Suicide Prevention Communication Campaign Playbook
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a Suicide Prevention Communication Campaign Playbook to help community leaders design effective, research-based campaigns. This resource offers guidance on identifying high-risk populations, developing strategic messaging, applying behavioral models, and evaluating campaign impact. It emphasizes culturally relevant language, hope-centered messaging, and the importance of targeting rural communities—where suicide rates nearly doubled between 2000 and 2020.

Rural America Placemaking Toolkit
A resource guide highlighting placemaking activities, projects, and success stories from across rural America. The toolkit can help communities identify projects that align with their capacity, goals, and available resources.

Find Your Local USDA Service Center
USDA Service Centers connect individuals with staff from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development. Use the online directory to locate your local service center and agency offices by state and county.