March 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

March Deadlines

The Aim High grant competition, funded by the New York Life Foundation and administered by the Afterschool Alliance, will award $1.8 million to after-school, summer, and expanded learning programs serving middle school students in under-resourced communities. Grants include fifteen one-year awards of $20,000 for programs with strong student engagement and impact data, and fifteen two-year grants of $100,000 to support efforts reducing school absences and chronic absenteeism. Eligible applicants are nonprofits serving middle school youth, with at least 75% from low-income families.
Deadline: Mar. 7

The Call for Kindness Fellowship supports youth leaders ages 13 to 23 in the U.S. with up to $5,000 in startup grants and a year-long leadership development program to implement social impact projects rooted in kindness. Fellows receive coaching, mentorship, and an in-person retreat, with opportunities for continuation grants. In 2025, up to 45 projects will be funded, including 28 general and 17 in special categories focused on LGBTQIA+ initiatives, equity in law, animal welfare, civil discourse, and the arts. Projects must be youth-led, community-focused, and allow up to two fellows per initiative.
Deadline: Mar. 9

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP), the National Endowment for the Arts’ largest grant program, offers project-based funding typically ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to strengthen the nation’s arts and culture ecosystem. The program supports initiatives that elevate artists and designers, celebrate creativity and cultural heritage, promote cross-sector collaborations, and advance health and well-being through arts and design projects. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state and local governments, and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Applicants must have at least three years of arts programming experience prior to the application deadline.
Deadline: Mar. 11 & July 10

Youth Service America, in partnership with The Hershey Company, offers Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Youth Grants for youth-led service projects during Youth Service Month (April 11–May 11) and Global Youth Service Day (April 25–27). Youth ages five to 25 can apply for $250 or $500 grants, requiring engagement of at least 25 or 50 youth volunteers, respectively. Projects should address community issues, foster meaningful connections, engage diverse youth volunteers, and promote social awareness and relationship skills.
Deadline: Mar. 16

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute are teaming up to launch a new program that offers up to $50,000 in funding to 30 community-based organizations. These projects will use data to address pressing local needs—from housing to transportation to environmental pollution—making strides toward building healthier communities. Eligible applicants must focus their projects on specific local areas while submitting only one proposal and be a tax-exempt nonprofits. While universities cannot apply directly, they may collaborate with an eligible nonprofit.
Deadline: Mar. 18

The Classics for Kids Foundation provides matching grants to schools and nonprofits serving school-age children for up to 50 percent of the total cost to purchase stringed instruments (including violins, guitars, and ukuleles.) While no total grant amount is provided, the application allows the school or nonprofit to estimate total costs and prices for programs of varying sizes.
Deadline: Mar. 31, then quarterly

The Skatepark Project is offering two grant opportunities to help communities throughout the country create safe and inclusive public skateparks for youth.  The Skatepark/Skatespace grant provides up to $25,000 to nonprofits and local governments seeking to build free, public skateparks built from concrete by experienced contractors. The Community Activation Grant offers funding (no amount provided) and technical assistance to help support the development and implementation of skateboard-related programs.
Deadline: Mar. 31

April Deadlines and Beyond

America’s Field Trip, a nationwide student contest sponsored by America250, invites students in grades 3–12 to share their perspectives on what America means to them for a chance to win a field trip to iconic landmarks like the National Archives Museum, Kennedy Space Center, and Yellowstone National Park. The contest encourages students to submit essays or artwork, with submissions judged on clarity, student voice, and presentation. Twenty-five first-place winners will receive a fully funded three-day, two-night trip with a chaperone, while 25 second-place winners will be awarded $500 each. Entries must be submitted through a parent, legal guardian, or teacher with proper authorization. 
Deadline:by Apr. 16

Voya’s Unsung Heroes Awards program helps K-12 educators and their schools complete innovative classroom projects with grants ranging from $2,000 for up to 50 educators and top awards up to $25,000. Full-time educators, including teachers, principals, and paraprofessionals with innovative projects that improve student learning are eligible to apply if they are employed by an accredited K-12 public or private school.
Deadline: Apr. 18

The Henry Luce Foundation’s American Art Program is offering two opportunities to foster diverse experiences and perspectives through art. The Exhibition Competition funds exhibitions that enhance the understanding of American art, including Native American art, while challenging conventional narratives and engaging underrepresented voices. The foundation also operates a Responsive Grant program that helps museums place art on view via collection-based projects that enhance the understanding and presentation of U.S. art, spanning various mediums and including Native American arts.
Deadline: Apr. 25

The Foundation for Financial Planning (FFP) provides annual grants to community-based and national organizations for programs linking volunteer financial planners to people in need. Eligible nonprofits must engage Certified Financial Planner™ professionals as volunteers, include one-on-one engagements between financial planner volunteers and pro bono clients, and help people in need of financial guidance or in a financial crisis. Grants are available to nonprofit organizations and generally range from $5,000 to $40,000. 
Deadline: Apr. 30

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation’s Domestic Violence Shelter Grants provide $20,000 to at least one shelter in each U.S. state, supporting life-saving services for women and children escaping abuse. Eligible applicants must be nonprofits that have been operating for more than five years and primarily serve domestic violence survivors.
Deadline: Apr. 30

The Sun Life Health Access Heroes Grant program provides funding to nonprofit organizations improving health access in U.S. communities, with a focus on diabetes and oral health. Areas of interest include diabetes prevention, awareness, and education; diabetes management and care; treatment and recovery support for diabetes-related complications; obesity prevention; nutritional awareness and education; nutritional access and food insecurity; oral health equity and access; children’s oral healthcare; and oral disease prevention and management. 
Deadline: Apr. 30

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program has allocated $15 million to support private landowners in restoring and protecting fish and wildlife habitats. The program provides both technical assistance and financial support, up to $75,000, primarily through cooperative agreements. If selected, the PFW staff will work with grantees to help identify key conservation areas and establish habitat goals. Eligible applicants include public housing authorities, independent school districts, county and state governments, private and public institutions of higher education, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized and other Native American tribal organizations, nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals.
Deadline: Sep. 30

Tee It Up for the Troops provides grants to nonprofits supporting U.S. military veterans and their families as they heal, transition, and thrive. Funded through golf events and fundraisers, these grants address critical areas such as employment, housing, caregiver support, PTSD and traumatic brain injury treatment, sports rehabilitation, and suicide prevention. Applications are accepted year-round, with national grant requests submitted by May 1 reviewed by the end of the second quarter. Event-specific grant requests are considered upon receipt if supported by the event chair.
Deadline: Rolling

The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program offers $10,000 grants for resident-led initiatives in U.S. cities and towns with populations under 30,000. Projects must engage communities in identifying and achieving local goals and must be planned with and led by at least five local residents. Additionally, projects must include partnerships with local government, a nonprofit, or an informal resident-led group with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization.
Deadline: Rolling

State-Specific Funding Opportunities

Colorado The Governor’s Office and History Colorado are seeking artists to contribute to the Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway, allocating up to $2 million for public art, including design stipends and project budgets. Up to 20 artists or teams will be selected to create works celebrating Colorado’s historical narratives, with budgets determined on a case-by-case basis. The artist selection process will conclude by June 1, 2025, with design beginning in the summer and a completed walkway expected to open by August 2026.
Deadline: Apr. 1

Idaho The Silver Family Foundation supports nonprofits in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho that focus on transformative youth development, prioritizing programs offering long-term investments in underserved and at-risk youth ages 5 to 18. Funding priorities include youth mentorship, academic intervention, high school completion, and college or post-secondary preparation. Grant proposals are by invitation only and reviewed twice a year in March and September, while letters of inquiry are accepted year-round without invitation.
Deadline: Rolling

Montana The Montana Healthcare Foundation invites local organizations to apply for grants of $50,000 or $100,000 to develop innovative, locally driven solutions to critical health challenges. Eligible applicants include Montana-based charitable organizations, educational institutions, and state, tribal, or local government agencies. Proposals will be evaluated based on partnerships with local leaders and communities, demonstrated need, sustainability, their focus on at-risk populations, and overall feasibility and scalability.
Deadline: Mar. 14

Montana The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) invites proposals for the Forest Stewardship Grant Program, which is aimed at funding strategies to mitigate wildfire risk. The request for proposals serves as the initial step for applying to various awards under the Stewardship Program’s 2024 cycle, including Landscape Scale Restoration, Wildland Urban Interface, Community Wildfire Defense, and Montana Forest Action Plan awards. 
Deadline: Mar. 15

Montana The USFS State, Private, and Tribal Forestry programs jointly administer the Landscape Scale Restoration Grant, a program awarding up to $225,000 to support the science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes. This grant funds projects on state, private, and tribal forest lands that align with Montana Forest Action Plan priorities. Eligible projects must address at least one of the following objectives: reducing wildfire risk, improving fish and wildlife habitats, enhancing water quality and watershed function, mitigating invasive species and forest health threats, restoring key forest ecosystems, or measuring ecological and economic benefits such as air and soil quality.
Deadline: Mar. 15

Montana The Montana Department of Health and Human Services is offering grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 to health care facilities for staff training in Social Determinants of Health. This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of the diabetes, cardiovascular, and asthma workforce by addressing key social determinants. Eligible applicants include health clinics, health facilities, and hospitals serving individuals with asthma, hypertension, or diabetes. Funding amounts are based on workforce size.
Deadline: Rolling

New Mexico The New Mexico Arts Commission and the New Mexico Arts Division are seeking nominations for the 2025 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts, which honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the arts in New Mexico. Nominations are open to all New Mexicans and arts groups statewide and will be reviewed by the New Mexico Arts Commission and the Governor. The 2025 awardees will be celebrated at a ceremony on October 16, 2025, at the historic St. Francis Auditorium in the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe.
Deadline: Mar. 17

New Mexico The New Mexico Historic Preservation Division’s Cultural Properties Restoration Fund is offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to support historic preservation projects in New Mexico. Eligible applicants include state agencies and other political subdivisions engaged in restoring, preserving, stabilizing, protecting, and interpreting significant cultural properties. To qualify, properties must be listed in or eligible for the State Register of Cultural Properties (SRCP) or the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Guidance webinars will be held on February 5 and 26.
Deadline: Mar. 18

New Mexico The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion will award more than $7 million through the Promoting Internet Needs of New Mexicans (PINON) Grant. Awards ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 will be granted to eligible New Mexico entities working to implement the state’s Digital Equity Plan and achieve its measurable objectives. Funded projects must serve one or more of the eight covered populations identified in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021: Low-income households, seniors, incarcerated individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, those facing language barriers, racial and ethnic minority groups, and rural residents. Eligible activities may include digital skills training, digital navigator programs, device distribution, technical support, and capacity-building efforts. 
Deadline: Mar. 21

New Mexico The Taos Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025 Impact Grants, awarding between $3,000 and $6,000 to support key community needs, including animal welfare, arts & culture, basic needs, social advocacy, environmental sustainability, health, education, and youth. This grant cycle provides both project funding and core operational support to nonprofits in Taos and western Colfax County. Eligible applicants must be a nonprofit, a public or governmental agency, or a federally recognized tribe in New Mexico.. 
Deadline: Apr. 1

Wyoming and Colorado The Laura Jane Musser Fund offers grants through two initiatives: the Rural Arts Initiative provides up to $12,000 for nonprofit arts organizations, including those in Colorado and Wyoming. The Environmental Initiative offers up to $8,000 for planning and up to $35,000 for implementation. The Rural Arts Initiative supports arts organizations with budgets under $350,000 in rural communities (population under 15,000) to develop, implement, or sustain artistic opportunities in literary, visual, music, and performing arts. The Environmental Initiative funds public and nonprofit projects that enhance the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces while promoting responsible public use and ensuring sustainable ecosystems.
Deadline: Mar. 6

Resources

Grapevine is a digital platform for launching Giving Circles—groups of donors that pool funds and make grants to nonprofits on a regular schedule. Nonprofits can join an existing Giving Circle on a topic important to their mission, or launch a new Giving Circle and start recruiting donor members. This is a fundraising strategy that uses collective giving, where individuals come together with like-minded people and pool their resources to amplify their impact. Grapevine says it has helped direct over $45M to more than 6,000 small, local nonprofits across the country from more than 85,000 members and 1,100 Giving Circles. They also offer advisory services nonprofits can use to plan and launch strategies to grow membership or amplify their message. 

Childcare Facilities Toolkit
Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and Information Technology (OEDIT) and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) announced the upcoming release of the Child Care Facilities Toolkit, an introductory video series designed for local governments and community leaders interested in supporting and optimizing child care facility development in their communities. Individuals can access the toolkit and register for upcoming technical assistance opportunities to help plan for and implement these solutions.

New Mexico
Economic Development Department Business Resource Map
The EDD Resource Map is a searchable database of resources for entrepreneurs in New Mexico. The comprehensive directory provides small businesses in New Mexico with access to essential support resources, including contact information for financial lenders and programs, business support organizations, training and coaching services, and current opportunities to help businesses grow and succeed.