GrantStation Insider | October 16, 2025

Application deadline: None
Grant amount: $10,000–$1,000,000
Target population: Underserved communities 
Description: The Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation supports nonprofit and faith-based organizations across the U.S. that serve vulnerable communities through education, recreation, health, and social service programs. Funding may be used to improve curricula, upgrade facilities, offer scholarships, or expand access to medical and community care. Priority is given to initiatives that promote self-sufficiency, wellness, and long-term community impact.

Application deadline: December 1, 2025
Grant amount: $5,000–$35,000
Target population: Theater companies and audiences
Description: The Venturous Theater Fund aims to make venturous, challenging theater possible for companies and audiences alike. The Fund supports small and medium-sized nonprofit theaters in the U.S. that produce bold new plays driven by the unique voice and vision of the playwright. Grants cover extraordinary production costs for works that are ambitious in scale, experimental in form, or provocative in subject. Eligible theaters have annual budgets under $5 million and are either nonprofit organizations or fiscally sponsored by one.  

Application deadline: None
Grant amount: $1,000–$1,430,000
Target population: Young people in rural communities 
Description: The CHS Foundation supports programs that strengthen rural communities and prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders. Funding priorities include agricultural education, leadership training, and career development for students from high school through early professional stages. National and multi-state initiatives are preferred.

Application deadline: December 15, 2025
Grant amount: $100,000 per year for two years
Target population: Children and families in underserved communities
Description: The Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation funds research that improves access to high-quality mental health care for children and families, especially in under-resourced communities. Grants support innovative approaches such as new care models, digital tools, and programs in schools or homes that can be scaled to reach more youth. Projects should demonstrate measurable improvements in access to care and positive outcomes for children and families. 

Application deadline: December 10, 2025
Grant amount: Up to $50,000
Geographic scope: Southern Arizona
Target population: Low-income communities
Description: The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s Thriving Communities Grant supports organizations in Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties working to build equitable, food-secure communities. Grants fund initiatives that strengthen local food systems, expand access to healthy food, and address the root causes of hunger and poverty. Projects may include community education, infrastructure upgrades, organizational capacity building, and collaborative justice work.

Application deadline: November 15, 2025
Grant amount: $1,000–$15,000
Geographic scope: North Carolina and Tennessee
Target population: Community members
Description: The American Snuff Charitable Trust provides grants to nonprofits in select counties of North Carolina and Tennessee, working to strengthen and uplift their local communities. Funding priorities include education and after-school enrichment, community development, and initiatives promoting equity in health and economic opportunity. The Trust also supports programs that prevent cruelty to children and projects applying innovative, research-driven solutions to local challenges.

Application deadline: December 22, 2025
Grant amount: $10,000–$25,000
Geographic scope: Hawaii
Target population: Children
Description: The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation supports initiatives that enhance early childhood education and improve the lives of Hawaii’s children and families. Priority is given to projects that expand access to pre-K programs for low-income families, strengthen teacher training, and improve statewide early education systems. Larger grants are available for major capital improvements.

Application deadline: December 15, 2025
Geographic scope: Greater Baltimore area, Maryland
Target population: Women
Description: The Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle provides grants to nonprofit organizations in Baltimore City and County that advance opportunities for women and their families. Funding supports a wide range of programs, including housing, addiction recovery, financial literacy, education, health services, parenting, workforce development, legal aid, and violence prevention. Both project-specific and general operating support are available to help organizations strengthen services and create lasting impact.

Application deadline: December 2, 2025
Grant amount: $272,255–$816,750
Target population: Residents of public housing 
Description: ​​The ROSS-SC Program supports residents of Public and Native American Housing in achieving economic and housing self-sufficiency. Grants fund Service Coordinators who connect residents with education, job training, financial literacy, and health services to help them progress toward independence and stability. For seniors and residents with disabilities, coordinators also link participants to supportive services that help residents age in place.

Application deadline: April 14, 2026
Target population: Youth
Description: The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program strengthens local partnerships to prevent and reduce youth substance use. Administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the CDC, the program funds community coalitions that unite schools, nonprofits, local governments, and other stakeholders to address substance use risk factors and promote healthy youth development. Grants support evidence-based prevention strategies, coalition coordination, and initiatives that build lasting community resilience.

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

This checklist from The National Council of Nonprofits outlines some initial steps that nonprofits should engage in when they learn that their federal grant or contract is terminated by a federal agency. While the full steps that should be taken, and the rules that apply, will be specific to your grant or contract and the specific federal agency that provided the funding, this checklist will provide a strong basis for next steps and understanding your rights.

When we find a potential grant, sometimes we get so excited about what does qualify that we forget to look at what doesn't qualify. Always remember to check out a funder's restrictions before moving into deeper research. Not only can you verify that you won't be wasting your valuable time, but the restrictions section often includes clarifications about certain types of support. Also double-check any geographic restrictions, such as whether your organization needs to be headquartered in the funder's service area or just providing services in the region.

Webinar date: October 21, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Description: Strong organizations don’t grow by chance, they grow by design. A well-crafted strategic plan can double your chances of success by providing the clarity and direction needed to guide growth. Yet despite its importance, nearly 70% of strategic plans ultimately fail, leaving organizations frustrated and struggling to achieve their goals. During this webinar, Marie Palacios of Funding for Good will break down the ten things every organization should know before committing to a comprehensive planning process. 

Webinar date: October 23, 2025, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Description: If you’re like many nonprofit professionals, you face a common challenge: the fear and uncertainty that surrounds asking for donations. Many people dread asking for money. This apprehension can hinder your mission and limit the financial support your cause desperately needs. During this webinar, Mindy Muller will explore concrete strategies you can use when asking for donations. You’ll see how to relate to different personality types when seeking donations from individuals, businesses, and grantors.

Webinar date: October 30, 2025, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Description: An A+ proposal budget provides an honest, complete, and clear picture of the total value of everything it takes to do your work successfully. It also stands as an invaluable management and evaluation tool when it comes to running your grant-funded program. So how can you craft this type of budget? That’s the question you’ll explore with Maryn Boess in this down-to-earth, myth-busting session.

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Government funding is shifting quickly in 2025. This mid-year survey (January–July) captures your experiences to create the most current picture of trends impacting grantseekers. Your input helps build free community reports and webinars that track emerging funding patterns, set benchmarks, and strengthen grantseeking strategies.

Please share your insights by October 24th!

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.