GrantStation Insider | October 2, 2025

Application deadline: None
Grant amount: Minimum of $100,000
Target population: Students, low-income and rural populations, and general population
Description: The Hearst Foundations support nonprofits in four key areas: culture, education, health, and social services. Their priorities include higher education, STEM programs, healthcare access for underserved populations, and artistic initiatives. With a focus on expanding opportunity and improving quality of life, the Foundations invest in organizations working to build a more equitable future for all.

Application deadline: October 31, 2025|
Grant amount: Average grant of $5,000–$20,000
Target population: Animals
Description: The Folke H. Peterson Charitable Foundation provides grants to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that protect animals, prevent cruelty, and provide essential medical care and food. Funding supports programs, projects, general operations, and emergency needs, with a focus on improving the welfare of animals nationwide. Organizations that euthanize healthy animals are not eligible for support.

Application deadline: November 21, 2025
Grant amount: Up to $3,500
Target population: Artists
Description: The Puffin Foundation provides grants to emerging artists and arts organizations often excluded from mainstream opportunities. Funding is currently focused on projects in the areas of fine arts, music, and photography. The Foundation prioritizes art that educates and engages the public on topical issues such as climate change, healthcare, social justice, and civil rights.

Application deadline: None
Grant amount: $1,000–$5,000
Target population: Individuals impacted by breast cancer and youth
Description: The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation empowers communities by funding nonprofit organizations that advance equity in youth education and breast cancer awareness. Grants support programs that expand after-school learning, provide youth camps, and increase access to technology for K–12 students. Funding also supports breast cancer initiatives focused on education, research, family support, and resources for those affected. 

Application deadline: November 15, 2025
Grant amount: $3,000–$5,000
Geographic scope: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC
Target population: Children, artists, and underserved communities
Description: The Nora Roberts Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations that empower people through literacy, with a strong focus on communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. In addition to its literacy mission, the Foundation also supports programs for children, the arts, social justice, and the environment. Grants may provide general operating or project support, helping organizations expand access to knowledge, creativity, and opportunity.

Application deadline: November 1, 2025
Grant amount: Average grant of $5,000–$15,000
Geographic scope: San Mateo County, California
Target population: Children, families, and underserved communities
Description: The Atkinson Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations in San Mateo County to empower individuals in achieving their full potential through educational, social, and economic opportunities. Funding priorities include K-12 enrichment, youth development, early childhood care, vocational training, and essential community support such as food security, healthcare, services for immigrants and seniors, and resources for survivors of abuse. The Foundation seeks to strengthen underserved communities through programs that expand opportunity, foster resilience, and promote self-sufficiency.

Application deadline: November 30, 2025
Grant amount: Up to $5,000
Geographic scope: Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties, Minnesota
Target population: Twin Cities residents
Description: CHS and the CHS Foundation are investing in their home community through Backyard Giving Grants. Nonprofits serving Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties can apply for funding to support community events, expand food access, provide stable housing, and educate youth about agriculture. With a focus on bringing people together and building the next generation of agricultural leaders, CHS is committed to strengthening the Twin Cities and its residents. 

Application deadline: October 24, 2025
Grant amount: Up to $25,000
Geographic scope: Rhode Island
Target population: Biomedical researchers
Description: The Rhode Island Foundation provides grants to support biomedical research across the state. Funding helps new investigators launch pilot studies, improve proposals, and redirect or expand their work in response to shifting federal priorities. Areas of interest include infectious diseases, heart and cardiac conditions, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and other health concerns. Grants aim to advance scientific knowledge and strengthen Rhode Island’s research community.

GrantStation is closely monitoring federal actions and their impact on the nonprofit sector. This article tracks ongoing developments, providing links to source materials.

This conference being held on October 21, 2025, will bring together nonprofit professionals from across missions and sectors for a unique virtual event designed to inspire, connect, and equip participants with essential tools. Attendees can explore multiple immersive floors and hear from 30+ experienced speakers.

When looking for grant opportunities, it may be beneficial to look beyond your mission and program focus and explore options for your population focus. For example, let's say you have a program focusing on mental health for seniors. While your search may initially be for both terms together and then mental health on its own, don't overlook funders that have an interest in a broad range of issues concerning seniors and the elderly. Funders with an open focus on a population may be a great option for your program, even though they don't state a focus on the mental-health aspect of your work.

Webinar date: October 9, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Description: In this frenzied moment of private grant seeking, you’re bound to consider approaching the most well-known foundations. Even if you follow funders’ written guidelines, you won’t have the information you need to make a solid first–or second–impression. Many top-tier foundations no longer accept unsolicited proposals, and their program officers can seem unreachable. During this webinar, Susan Schaefer of Resource Partners will lay out a roadmap that creates momentum toward those most elusive foundations.

Webinar date: October 14, 2025, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Description: Has your nonprofit lost federal funding or are you feeling the ripple effects with private grants? If so, it’s time to explore new strategies to bridge the gap. One powerful solution is pursuing larger donations. This webinar will give you the confidence and tools you need by showing you how to apply capital campaign solicitation strategies to your everyday fundraising. Kevin Wallace and Melissa Sais of CampaignCounsel.org will lead you through a proven process used in capital campaigns that will prepare you to identify, cultivate, and solicit major-gift prospects.

Webinar date: October 16, 2025, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Description: Funders often look at financials first because they want to support sustainable organizations with realistic project budgets that demonstrate thoughtful planning. Without a compelling budget and appropriate financial package, even the best written grant proposals will be declined. This piece of the proposal writing process is not just for your financial or executive teams to manage. This webinar will help you understand what funders are looking for in your organizational budgets, how you can build effective and accurate program and project grant proposal budgets, and how you can communicate about costs in compliance with funder guidelines.

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Are you looking for innovative ways to serve your members and expand your organization’s reach? GrantStation’s Membership Partner Programs offer flexible solutions built for leaders like you. The Premium Licensing Program (PLP) provides GrantStation Memberships as a powerful benefit for your constituents. The Membership Value Program (MVP) enables you to offer annual memberships at a significant discount—helping your community access vital grant resources while generating revenue for your organization. Custom partnership opportunities are also available to fit your needs.

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GrantStation shares database profiles of local, national, Canadian, and international grantmakers with upcoming deadlines each week. Information on featured funders is available on the GrantStation homepage.