May 2024 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
May Deadlines
The Alliance for Green Heat’s Firewood Banks Program offers funding of up to $15,000 for banks distributing 100 or more cords of wood, and up to $10,000 for individuals or organizations starting firewood banks in the coming year. Eligible expenses include tools, equipment, materials, and miscellaneous supplies related to firewood production and distribution. Banks may suggest additional items they find useful. Applicants must have a bank account or a fiscal sponsor and a unique entity identifier (UEI) to qualify for funding.
Deadline: Applications open May 1 and awarded on a rolling basis until all funds have been distributed
The National Book Foundation will provide one-year grants of $5,000 or $10,000 to support the capacity-building initiatives of nonprofit literary arts organizations across the country. Organizations can apply for grants to support projects that strengthen organizational sustainability and effectiveness in areas such as fundraising, finance, marketing, staff or board skill-building, strategic planning, diversity and equity initiatives, leadership development, sabbaticals, and succession planning.
Deadline: May 10
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will allocate $ 2.1 million for the Healthy Watersheds Consortium (HWC) grant program to promote the protection of healthy freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems nationwide. The grant program aims to enhance watershed protection by funding projects that build capacity and implement measures to preserve healthy watersheds. Eligible applicants are invited to apply to manage the HWC Grant Program and further these conservation efforts.
Deadline: May 10
The Learning Landscapes Challenge is a $2.2 million competition sponsored by Siegel Family Endowment and the Walton Family Foundation that aims to design and build K-12 education environments to help learners succeed in the years ahead. Participants are invited to propose infrastructure solutions, including physical, digital, and social innovations that integrate digital, in-school, and community-based learning experiences. Phase one of the challenge invites individuals, groups, and organizations to compete for $5,000 and entry into phase two. Winners can secure up to $200,000 in phase two and up to $500,000 in phase three.
Deadline: May 14
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services offers $4 million in funding for the creation or expansion of crisis intervention teams and integration of mental and behavioral health services with law enforcement agencies. Through the Promoting Access to Crisis Teams – Community Policing Development Program (PACT-CPD), state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies can apply for grants up to $400,000 to improve their response to individuals in crisis in their communities.
Deadline: May 14
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is offering $5 million in funding for projects focused on enhancing crime fighting, community engagement, and organizational improvements in support of community policing. This opportunity is open to all qualifying law enforcement agencies, and they may apply for any amount up to $175,000.
Deadline: May 14
The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is accepting applications for up to $300,000 to help small and rural agencies combat violent crime. The program aims to boost the capacity of police departments or prosecutors’ offices to effectively implement strategies from the Violent Crime Reduction Operations Guide or the Prosecutors’ Guide to Reducing Violence and Building Safer Communities to combat violent crime. Eligible applicants include city or township governments and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Deadline: May 15
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program offers funding for projects that address threats of violence both online and in physical spaces. It supports the development of promising practices and will allocate around 25 to 30 percent of available funds for new or innovative prevention approaches for preventing targeted violence and terrorism. Eligible applicants include state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, nonprofits, independent school districts, and institutions of higher education.
Deadline: May 17
The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention provides nearly $16 million to strengthen and extend mentoring services for children and youth affected by opioids and other substance misuse. The program supports mentoring initiatives aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency, substance misuse, and high-risk behaviors like truancy. Eligible applicants are organizations that have been established for at least three years and have a proven track record of delivering a structured mentoring program. These organizations may apply for funding up to $2 million.
Deadline: May 21
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) allocates $2.5 million in funding for the Cultural and Community Resilience program, which supports efforts to preserve cultural resources and promote resilience against the impacts of climate change and COVID-19. Eligible applicants include city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and special districts, with priority for disadvantaged communities. Projects should focus on community collecting initiatives or oral history programs and can range from planning to implementation stages. Applicants can request up to $150,000 in funding.
Deadline: May 21
USDA NRCS has announced $22 million in funding for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) to support managed grazing practices. This funding provides technical assistance and education to livestock producers for improving conservation on grazing lands. Cooperative agreements, divided into two categories, will be announced by the end of June. The first category offers $8 million in agreements ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 for one to two years. The second allocates $14 million for agreements from $350,000 to $1 million, lasting three to four years. Existing GLCI projects can apply for renewal funding.
Deadline: May 26
The Disability Inclusion Fund from Borealis Philanthropy is accepting grant applications of $75,000 for two years from organizations dedicated to strengthening disability inclusion, rights, and justice. DIF supports organizations that engage in social movements, collaboration, and efforts to create a more equitable world for people with disabilities. Focus areas include grassroots movement-building, advocacy, cultural change, mutual aid, and policy reform. The program prioritizes disability-led organizations, especially those led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations with annual budgets under $1 million.
Deadline: May 29
The new Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy (C-SITE) program by the U.S. Department of Energy offers $18 million in annual funding for high-impact clean energy projects. Recipients must be local or tribal governments representing disadvantaged, energy, or small- and medium-sized jurisdictions. Partnerships with subrecipients, such as nonprofits, academic institutions, planning organizations, or philanthropies, are allowed. Nonprofits can collaborate with local or tribal governments to strengthen their applications, as the DOE prioritizes projects with strong local support. Lastly, applications should demonstrate the ability to attract further investments for completion, sustainability, and scaling impact.
Deadline May 31
The Kentucky Fried Wishes program by the KFC Foundation offers up to $1 million in grants to 100 nonprofit organizations in the U.S. in 2024. Each quarterly cycle awards 25 grants up to $10,000 in the following focus areas: improving health and well-being (applications open in May), expanding access to food and shelter (applications open in July), and caring for the environment and animals (applications open in September). The program targets local-level nonprofits that directly benefit their surrounding communities.
Deadline: May 31
June Deadlines (and Beyond)
The Herb Block Foundation is offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to support projects focused on citizen education and voter participation. The “Encouraging Citizen Involvement” grant program supports nonprofits working to ensure involvement in nonpartisan and non-lobbying activities. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Defending Basic Freedoms and Encouraging Citizen Involvement programs may be national. Grants cannot be used for capital programs, religious purposes, lobbying, or partisan activities and indirect costs cannot exceed 10 percent of the grant unless for general operating support.
Deadline: June 4
The Department of Justice’s FY24 COPS Hiring Program offers $156.7 million in funding for law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire career officers, enhancing community policing and crime prevention efforts. Programs should aim to strengthen community partnerships, conduct effective problem analysis, and improve personnel and agency management. Eligible applicants include city, township, state, county, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The maximum grant award is $6.25 million.
Deadline: June 6
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families offers four grant programs to support community members experiencing homelessness. These include the Basic Center Program ($250,000) for shelter and counseling for runaway or homeless youth, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Demonstration Program ($350,000) for community-based initiatives to prevent youth homelessness, the Maternity Group Home Program ($250,000) for shelter and support for pregnant or parenting youth and their children, and the Street Outreach Program ($150,000) for street-based services to assist runaway and homeless youth at risk of exploitation. Local, state, and tribal governments, institutes of higher education, school districts, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for these grants.
Deadline: June 7
The Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau offers $6 million in funding for the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations program. This grant program aims to provide technical assistance to employers and labor unions to support women’s employment in apprenticeable and nontraditional occupations. It includes developing pre-apprenticeship and training programs for women, offering orientations for employers and workers to create a supportive environment, and establishing networks and support groups to improve women’s retention in these roles. Community-based organizations are eligible to apply.
Deadline: June 10
Newman’s Own Foundation offers the Food Justice for Kids Prize, providing up to $1 million in total funding over two years for projects that ensure equitable access to health, local foods for children in the U.S. Grants of up to $100,000 over two years will support community-based initiatives focused on Indigenous children’s food justice or enhanced nutrition education and nutritious school food. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, public schools, tribes, governmental entities or affiliated organizations, and other organizations with a fiscal sponsor.
Deadline: June 11
The U.S. Department of Justice’s School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) offers up to $73 million to improve security at schools and on school grounds. Funding covers up to 75 percent of costs for measures such as coordination with law enforcement, officer training, metal detectors, locks, lighting, emergency notification technology, and other security enhancements. Awards last three years, with a maximum federal share of $500,000 and a local match requirement of at least 25 percent. Eligible applicants include states, local law enforcement, federally recognized Native American tribes, and other public agencies.
Deadline: June 11
Press Forward has begun accepting funding applications for its open call to support journalism efforts around the country. The open call on Closing Local Coverage Gaps will provide 100-plus news outlets (nonprofit or for-profit) with as much as $100,000 each in funding to address the long-standing inequalities in journalistic coverage of underserved communities. The funding will be unrestricted, general operating support, allowing the news organizations to spend it as needed to sustain and grow their operations.
Deadline: June 12
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) offers $750,000 in total funding for the Public Impact Projects at Smaller Organizations program and is accepting applications. The program aims to enhance the ability of small and mid-sized museums and cultural organizations to create and develop public humanities programming. Eligible applicants include local, state, and tribal governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and higher education institutions. The maximum grant award is $25,000.
Deadline: June 12
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program funds initiatives to improve school safety by equipping students, teachers, and staff with tools to recognize, respond to, and prevent violence. Measures include behavioral threat assessments, intervention teams, and technology like anonymous reporting systems. The program offers two application categories: Category 1 for state governments and public/state-controlled higher education institutions, and Category 2 for local and tribal governments, nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions), private higher education institutions, and independent school districts. The maximum grant award for category 1 is $2 million and $1 million for category 2.
Deadline: June 12
The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize offers funding to assist school districts in building capacity, conducting energy audits, and planning and executing energy improvement projects across a range of school facilities. This opportunity consists of three phases. In phase one, applicants will form teams and identify at least 10 schools or school facilities with significant need and eligibility for investment. Phase one winners will receive a $300,000 cash prize and advance to phases two and three, where they will enter into cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of Energy for implementation.
Deadline: June 13
The Saucony Run For Good Foundation is now accepting applications for grants up to $10,000 for community-based nonprofits that initiate and support running programs for kids eight years of age and younger. Eligible programs use running participation to improve the health and well-being of children and serve youth populations not traditionally exposed to running programs.
Deadline: June 15 and Dec. 15
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) offers $44.5 million in funding to improve pedestrian and bicycle network connectivity by addressing key barriers and enhancing infrastructure for safe, accessible, and equitable active transportation. The program supports communities in identifying and implementing improvements, developing plans, and creating transportation networks to connect local destinations or multiple communities. ATIIP also integrates active transportation facilities with transit services to improve public transportation access. Eligible applicants include local and regional governmental organizations, special districts, state and multistate groups, and Indigenous tribes. Grants range from $100,000 to $15 million.
Deadline: June 17
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering grants and low-interest loans through the Off-Farm Labor Housing Programs to provide up to $40,000 for developing or rehabilitating affordable rental housing for domestic, migrant, and seasonal farm laborers with very-low, low, or moderate incomes. Eligible applicants include broad-based nonprofits, farmworker nonprofits, federally recognized tribes, community organizations, and state or local governments. The program serves domestic farm laborers, those earning most of their income from farm work, as well as their families, including retired or disabled farm laborers and their families. Occupants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or individuals authorized to work in agriculture, with income eligibility based on household size.
Deadline: June 18
The ProLiteracy: Literacy Opportunity Fund aims to strengthen adult literacy programs and offers grants of up to $6,000 to nonprofit literacy organizations working directly with adult students. Grants can be used for general operating expenses such as salaries, technology, and supplies, or for specific projects and programs. ProLiteracy also provides support through the National Book Fund and Mobile Learning Fund, which offer print materials and online learning resources for adult education programs. Eligible entities must be nonprofits with an employer identification number (EIN) that provide direct literacy services to students, excluding book distributions and lending libraries.
Deadline: July 1 (and Oct. 1)
The National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of Defense’s Defense Health Agency (DoD) have formed the Military Families Outdoors Program to promote health and wellness among active-duty military service members and their families. Eligible applicants for funding include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions), state, county, city, or township governments, and both private and public higher education institutions. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are also eligible. The program offers funding with an award ceiling of $5 million.
Deadline: July 15
The WaterSMART Grant for Water and Energy Efficiency Projects plans to award up to $5 million to between 40 and 50 projects that conserve water, implement renewable energy, and support broader sustainability benefits in the Western United States. The program aims to enhance water efficiency, increase renewable energy production, and reduce conflict risk in high-risk water areas. Eligible projects include water conservation measures such as canal lining, municipal metering, and high-efficiency appliances, as well as renewable energy projects like developing new hydropower or solar, wind, or geothermal power systems. Eligible applicants include states, tribal entities, local authorities, and nonprofits, with a required 50 percent local match.
Deadline: Oct. 30
The U.S. Bank Foundation’s Community Possible Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations that foster stable jobs, affordable housing, and vibrant communities within U.S. Bank’s 26-state retail footprint, including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Grants focus on workforce education and economic prosperity, neighborhood stability and revitalization (such as safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing), and artistic and cultural enrichment (including learning through play and preserving outdoor recreation areas). Priority is given to organizations with a clear mission to promote equity by serving low- and moderate-income communities, women, and communities of color facing barriers to economic success.
Deadline: Rolling
The Americana Foundation’s American Heritage program area supports projects and programs with grants typically between $10,000 and $25,000 that seek to tell the full story of the American experience. Examples of eligible projects include interpretation or reinterpretation of art, decorative arts, or other objects of early American material culture (“Americana”) and their placement on public display for the appreciation and understanding of present and future generations; internships, fellowships, apprenticeships, and other career development opportunities for people interested in the curation, conservation, preservation, or restoration of Americana; and exhibits, visual media, interactive experiences, and other educational programs that contribute to better understanding of the American experience.
Deadline: Rolling and applications are reviewed quarterly
The Cisco Global Impact Cash Grant Program offers up to $75,000 to organizations and programs that focus on one of the following areas: crisis response, access to education, economic empowerment, and climate impact and regeneration. Programs must serve an audience where more than 65 percent of individuals are economically underserved relative to the target geography and use internet or internet-based technology to improve program efficiency and reach.
Deadline: Rolling
Kroger’s charitable giving program directs more than $300 million annually to initiatives focused on ending hunger and eliminating waste, as well as supporting diversity and inclusion, health and nutrition, and stronger communities. Focus areas include the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, which aims to end hunger and eliminate waste, as well as diversity and inclusion, health and nutrition, and stronger communities. Kroger also offers sponsorships, gift card donations, and in-kind or product donations.
Deadline: Rolling
The Rural Technology Fund offers grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 for rural technology education and assistive technology projects. The education grants back teacher- and student-led projects in public schools and libraries, aiming to spark student interest in technology careers. Funded projects should introduce students to computer technology, encourage solving real-world problems, and target rural or high-poverty areas equitably. They may also help establish ongoing student interest groups, such as maker spaces and coding clubs. The assistive technology grants support the purchase of equipment to improve accessibility for students with disabilities in public schools and libraries.
Deadline: Rolling
State-Specific Opportunities
Colorado The Colorado Soil Health Program supports farmers and ranchers in improving their soil quality by partnering with conservation districts and local entities. Enrolled farmers benefit from a matching payment of $75 per acre annually, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Producers can enroll at any stage of their soil health journey and receive support to experiment with healthy soil practices on parts of their operations. Additional support includes technical assistance from soil health experts, two free soil tests (in years one and three), and a free soil moisture monitoring system. Participants also can attend field days to learn about soil health practices and research. Moreover, they can participate in the Star Field Evaluation protocol and may receive potential marketing support. To become a conservation and soil health leader, interested parties can contact their local conservation district
Deadline: Rolling
Colorado The Colorado Creates Grant provides general operating support funding ranging from $4,000 to $10,000 per application to help organizations and communities develop art and cultural activities throughout Colorado, with an emphasis on rural areas. Grant awards are fixed amounts based on the applicant’s most recent fiscal year’s cash operating revenue, ensuring that successful applicants in the same revenue range receive equal funding.
Deadline: May 29
Colorado The Startup Colorado Entrepreneur Grant Program and Community Funding aim to support startup founders and small business owners in accelerating their business goals while fostering a vibrant startup community. The Entrepreneur Grant Program provides up to $2,500 in grants to help founders access education, technical assistance, and networking opportunities. The Community Funding Program supports events throughout the state, including meetups, workshops, and startup weeks, helping to cultivate a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in various regions across Colorado. The grant program focuses on funding projects, initiatives, and events that emphasize collaboration, inclusiveness, accessibility, and community support.
Deadline: Rolling
Colorado The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has launched the second year of the Transformative Landscape Change (TLC) Challenge program to encourage local communities to reimagine public spaces with waterwise landscaping. The program aims to convert water-intensive landscapes into climate-appropriate, low-water-use, and aesthetically pleasing spaces. The program is open to local governments and municipal water providers but not to residential or commercial property owners.
Deadline: June 1
Idaho The Union Pacific Foundation’s Community Ties Giving Program provides grants from $5,000 to $30,000 for direct services and organizational capacity building in safety, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. The program, which is open to local nonprofit organizations in communities where Union Pacific Railroad operates (primarily in the midwestern and western United States), prioritizes efforts that advance the diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented populations. Eligible communities are listed on the Union Pacific website, with several non-LOR communities in all five Mountain West states, as well as the LOR community of Weiser, Idaho.
Deadline: May 31
New Mexico The Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area allocated up to $43,000 in funding to assist language projects in Rio Arriba, Taos and Santa Fe counties and is now accepting proposals. Eligible organizations including tribal governments, tribal-affiliated schools and other programs committed to preserving, revitalizing and promoting Indigenous languages. People and organizations can begin the application process by contacting Steve Vigil at info@riograndenha.org.
Deadline: May 17
New Mexico The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division’s Trails+ Grant Program seeks to invest in conservation-minded, shovel-ready projects and is open for applications to support projects that enhance communities’ outdoor recreation opportunities. Approved projects can go beyond trail infrastructure, such as rivers, parks, wildlife viewing areas, and contribute to economic development, prosperity, and wellness. This grant funds shovel-ready projects that directly add to that access.
Deadline: June 30
Wyoming The Wyoming Women’s Foundation offers grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations in Wyoming supporting the long-term economic self-sufficiency of women and opportunities for girls in the state. Funding priorities include income and asset development through education, job training, and financial programs; mentoring and leadership initiatives, such as career development and STEM programming; and systems change efforts that tackle barriers to economic self-sufficiency and the gender wage gap through advocacy and education. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, either independently or through a sponsoring agency.
Deadline: May 15
Resources
Colorado The Boettcher Foundation has opened the application process for the Boettcher Foundation’s Doers & Difference Makers Fellowship. Ideal candidates demonstrate deep commitment to their community, whether formal or informal leaders, and make a positive impact through creativity, network-building, and resourcefulness. The fellowship immerses a small cohort of ten to 12 fellows in a nine-month program starting in September 2024, including weekend retreats in September, January, and May, and virtual programming in the other months. The program focuses on facilitated learning, financial investment, individualized coaching, and building connections among Fellows. The fellowship covers all travel and lodging costs and includes a professional development grant for further investment in leadership and personal growth upon completion.
Deadline: May 17
The Community Tool Box is a resource for community builders worldwide. Used by millions each year, the tool box offers guidance for taking action, teaching, and training others in community organizing. It provides support for assessing community needs and resources, addressing social determinants of health, engaging stakeholders, planning and implementing actions, building leadership, enhancing cultural competency, planning evaluations, and sustaining long-term efforts.
“15 Resources for Women-Owned Businesses,” written by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, covers the top programs providing assistance to women-owned businesses. They include the Association of Women’s Business Centers, International Association of Women (IAW), Ladies Who Launch, Moms As Entrepreneurs, and more.
The Small Business Administration’s Natural Resource Sales Assistance Program supports small businesses in securing a fair share of government property sales and leases through the use of small business set-asides. These set-asides allow small businesses exclusive bidding opportunities on products before opening them up to other businesses. Sometimes, agencies will divide materials into smaller parcels to make them more accessible to small businesses. The SBA offers counseling and assistance to help small businesses navigate government sales and leasing. This program covers five categories of federal resources:
- timber and related forest products
- strategic materials,
- royalty oil
- leases involving rights to minerals, coal, oil, and gas, and
- surplus real and personal property.
The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s JEDI Office has launched a new business resource map that will connect New Mexicans to business, entrepreneurial, and community resources from across the state, and it is now live on the New Mexico Economic Development Department.
Agrivoltaics, also known as agrophotovoltaics or dual-use solar, is an innovative practice that combines solar energy production with agriculture. If you’re interested in learning more about agrivoltaics, the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center has produced three informative videos on the topic.