2025 Grant Opportunities for Nonprofits

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Erin Booker

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June 5, 2025

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5 minutes

Nonprofit Trends

How To Nonprofit

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The grant landscape is shifting, and savvy nonprofits are seizing new opportunities to secure flexible funding that fuels their missions. As we navigate the current grant tides, understanding the nuances of grant opportunities—particularly unrestricted funding—has become more crucial than ever for sustainable nonprofit operations. Join us as we explore today's grant environment, providing practical strategies for finding and securing the funding that keeps your deserving organization thriving.

The importance of unrestricted funding for nonprofits

The power of unrestricted funding extends beyond simple budgetary freedom. These funds enable nonprofits to invest in critical infrastructure often overlooked by project-specific grants. Staff and community development, technology upgrades, emergency reserves, and operational improvements—the fundamental building blocks of organizational sustainability—become possible when unrestricted dollars enter the equation. For disability-led community organizations and other groups serving underrepresented communities, communities of color, and indigenous communities this flexibility becomes even more essential as their work inherently involves navigating complex, interconnected challenges that don't fit neatly into traditional grant categories.

Movement-building non-profit organizations particularly benefit from unrestricted funding's adaptive nature. Social change work demands the ability to respond quickly to political shifts, community crises, and emerging opportunities. When organizations are locked into rigid project parameters, they miss chances to capitalize on momentum or address urgent needs that fall outside their funded scope. Unrestricted grants acknowledge that meaningful change happens through sustained effort, relationship-building, and strategic flexibility rather than just measurable outputs.

Understanding the flexibility of unrestricted grants for nonprofits

Think of restricted grants as gift cards to specific stores—useful within their parameters but limiting when needs arise elsewhere. Unrestricted grants, conversely, function like cash, providing charitable organizations with the autonomy to make strategic decisions based on real-time assessment of priorities and opportunities3. This distinction fundamentally shapes how nonprofits can operate, plan, and respond to their communities.

The beauty of unrestricted funding lies in its recognition that nonprofit leaders possess intimate knowledge of their eligible organizations' needs and their communities' challenges. Rather than forcing square pegs into round holes, unrestricted grants trust organizational leadership to allocate resources strategically. This trust translates into more effective programming, stronger organizational infrastructure, and greater community impact as nonprofits can address root causes rather than symptoms.

Corporate grants for nonprofits to apply for right now

When we hear the word "corporate", many people think of "greed". But we'd rather think of "corporate grants". Here are a bunch of corporate grants that will kick the greed to the curb.

Google Ad Grants

Listen to Grant Hensel, CEO of Nonprofit Megaphone, a Google Ads Grant management agency, speak about these innovative programs on the Nonstop Nonprofit podcast:

Awareness is still a huge issue, even ten-plus years in. To be successful, the Google Ad Grant is a component of digital marketing and it requires a decent web presence—like a good website and something for people to do once they arrive.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) IMAGINE Grants
Warren Buffett foundations
Bank of America Charitable Foundation Grants
Coca-Cola Foundation Grants
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation National Grant Program
Medtronic Foundation
ExxonMobil Good Neighbor Grants
Whole Foods WholeCities Foundation
REI Cooperative Action Fund
Kaiser Permanente
Cigna Group Foundation
Exelon Corporation
Cisco Systems
Mutual of America Foundation
Walmart Foundation
Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation
KidsGardening & Mrs. Meyer’s

Grants from the world's wealthiest (and not-so-wealthiest) private foundations

Novo Nordisk Foundation
Gates Foundation Grants
The Rockefeller Foundation Grants
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grants
The Kresge Foundation Grants
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grants
Lilly Endowment
McKnight Foundation
The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation
Levitt Foundation
Public Welfare Foundation
Truist Foundation
Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Action for Transformation Fund (through the JustFund Common Application)
NDN Collective Community Action Fund
The Lawrence Foundation Grants

How to find the best grant for your nonprofit

In 2025, nonprofits have a wealth of grant opportunities—from small local grants of a few thousand dollars to multi-million dollar federal awards. Smart nonprofits leverage multiple platforms and approaches to identify the best-fit funders for their missions.

Instrumentl: All-in-one grant search and tracking

Instrumentl has revolutionized grant prospecting by combining comprehensive database access with intelligent matching algorithms that connect nonprofits with relevant funding opportunities. Since 2015, thousands of deserving organizations have used the platform to discover grants, manage applications, and track funding relationships more effectively. The platform's strength lies in its ability to surface opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden in the vast landscape of available funding.

The platform's efficiency gains are substantial—users report cutting application preparation time by 96% and reducing prospecting time by 75% while finding 3.5 times more relevant grants. Instrumentl's comprehensive approach extends beyond simple grant searching to include deadline tracking, team collaboration tools, and document management systems that streamline the entire grants lifecycle.

Pros: Instrumentl offers intelligent matching to relevant grants and detailed funder profiles (past grantees, typical grant sizes, etc.) to help you gauge fit. It also sends deadline reminders and allows team collaboration and tracking in-app. Nonprofits praise its up-to-date listings and the ability to save opportunities to a personal tracker.

Cons: The platform is a paid service, so it’s an investment typically suited for larger organizations with an active grant strategy. Smaller community organizations on tight budgets might find the cost challenging, though the time saved on research can be worth it if you’re pursuing many grants.

Tips for using Instrumentl: Take time to set up your profile and project filters to get the best matches. Save searches and set up email alerts for new grants in your niche. Use the funder insights (like the 990 “snapshot”) to tailor your approach—for example, note if a community foundation usually funds general operating costs or only specific programs. Instrumentl has also introduced AI tools to help draft proposals, which can be a time-saver for users.

Instrumentl’s comprehensive database includes thousands of 2025 grants—from corporate grants like Entergy Charitable Foundation, supporting education, poverty solutions, and environmental programs to regional opportunities. Be sure to use filters or keywords to find grants fitting your mission and location.

Candid: Foundation Directory and Philanthropy News

Candid's Foundation Directory represents the gold standard for foundation research, providing access to detailed profiles of hundreds of thousands of grantmakers and historical data on millions of grants. The platform's strength lies in its comprehensive coverage and the quality of its data, which comes directly from tax filings and verified sources.

The Foundation Directory's value proposition centers on helping nonprofits tap into funding opportunities beyond the small percentage of foundations that issue open Requests for Proposals. Most foundation funding happens through proactive outreach and relationship building rather than competitive application processes, making detailed funder research essential for success.

Pros: Candid’s resources provide breadth and depth on foundation funding. FDO is comprehensive—you can find niche family foundations and major national funders alike, often with data on past giving that helps you gauge if your project might fit. The RFP bulletins are updated constantly, alerting you to new grants in areas like education, health, arts, etc., that have upcoming deadlines. Candid also provides insight into funder priorities and even shows which nonprofits have received grants, helping you identify peers or model proposals.

Cons: FDO’s cost can be prohibitive for small nonprofits unless you use a library or a grant from a funders’ network. Also, FDO focuses only on foundations (and corporate/family grantmakers), so it won’t list government grants. You’ll need other tools for federal opportunities. The PND RFP listings are free but not exhaustive—they include many foundation grants but not all (some foundations don’t announce publicly or use invitation-only processes). Additionally, using FDO effectively has a learning curve; it helps to take Candid’s tutorials or training on grant research.

Tips for using Candid: Take advantage of the free access points—many libraries and community foundations host FDO terminals. Examine funders’ 990 tax returns (available via FDO) to see if they have a pattern of giving general operating support or only specific programs. Also, subscribe to Candid’s RFP Bulletin or browse the PND RFP page regularly; it’s an easy way to catch timely opportunities. You might also follow Candid’s blog for insight on grantseeking trends and tips from experts.

Candid’s listings range from local funders to large foundations. Do check the Philanthropy News Digest regularly; RFPs are announced there. By monitoring it, you might discover opportunities tailored to your region or cause.

Grants.gov: Federal grant opportunities

Federal grants often come with substantial funding amounts but also require extensive compliance and reporting requirements that smaller non-profit organizations may find challenging to navigate. Especially these days, understanding the federal landscape becomes essential for nonprofits whose missions align with government priorities in areas like education, health, social services, and community development.

Grants.gov provides more than just a listing of available opportunities—it offers comprehensive resources for understanding the federal grants lifecycle through its Learning Center and Community Blog. These resources prove particularly valuable for organizations new to federal funding, as they explain the complex terminology, procedures, and compliance requirements that characterize government grants. Even experienced grant seekers benefit from staying current with policy changes and procedural updates that emerge from the Office of Management and Budget.

Pros: Grants.gov is free, comprehensive, and authoritative—if a federal agency is offering a grant or cooperative agreement, it should be on Grants.gov. For nonprofits looking for substantial funding (often six- or seven-figure awards), federal grants can be game-changers. The site includes detailed synopses, deadlines, and downloadable application packages.

Cons: Federal grants typically come with significant paperwork, strict compliance requirements, and competition on a national scale. The application process can be rigorous (long proposals, detailed budgets, registration in multiple systems like SAM.gov). Grants.gov itself, while improved over the years, still requires careful navigation—you might need to read lengthy Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) to understand eligibility and project requirements. Additionally, many federal grants are project-specific (restricted funding), so they may not allow covering general operating costs. Timing is also key: federal grant cycles are inflexible; missing a deadline by even a minute can disqualify your submission.

Tips for using Grants.gov: The platform allows you to search by keywords, agency, eligibility (e.g. “nonprofits”), and other filters. You can also see forecasted opportunities and sign up for notifications from specific agencies. Use the Grants.gov Workspace feature to collaborate if multiple team members will assist in preparing the application.

GrantStation: Curated Grant Listings and Tools

GrantStation fills a unique niche in the grant prospecting ecosystem by focusing specifically on "open shop" funders—affiliate foundations and corporate giving programs that actively accept inquiries and applications.

GrantStation provides a user-friendly and affordable way to scan a broad spectrum of grant opportunities. Its listings show many corporate and family foundation grants geared towards community-led solutions, which often can be more flexible or easier to apply for than large federal grants. It’s a good tool for smaller nonprofits or those just starting to build a grants pipeline, as well as a supplemental resource for any organization to ensure you’re not missing “under-the-radar” funders.

Pros: Cost-effective access to a wide array of grant leads. GrantStation’s interface is user-friendly, allowing keyword searches and filtering by region or interest. GrantStation also provides extra resources: a weekly Insider newsletter (national and regional editions), a database of international grants, and a section called PathFinder with grant-related trainings and articles.

Cons: The depth of information per funder is sometimes limited. GrantStation gives you a high-level summary and basic guidelines, but it may not have as much historical data on funders as FDO or the analytics that Instrumentl offers. Also, while GrantStation lists government grants alongside partner foundations, it may not capture every federal opportunity.

Tips for Using GrantStation: Leverage the free GrantStation Insider newsletter. Save funders of interest to your personal list on the platform. Also, take advantage of GrantStation’s educational content: they often host webinars on grant writing and publish articles on trends. If budget is an issue, watch TechSoup for steep discounts.

Local business services

Check your city council, chamber of commerce, or small business economic development committee for local support opportunities. Often, underserved communities recognize that a small symbol of support can make all the difference to a program built by and tailored to their own folks. So talk to 'em—maybe there are existing grant opportunities you've yet to uncover.

Google your location

Forgive us if this sounds a little basic, but some of the world's wealthiest endowments are local community foundations (shout out to Tulsa, Kansas City, and Cleveland!). It's worth a lil' search; try this: "your city your state foundation". When we search "mobile alabama foundation", we get all kinds of local foundations and grant opportunities.

Make it happen, Cap'n!

This is one of those "easier said than done" things, but as we all know, donors give because they're asked. Same goes for companies, family foundations, other nonprofits, and other institutions (we trust you'll find them). What if you're the one who talks to your city council about getting a grant program started in your town? Think of the deserving organizations to come after you that'll benefit!

Strategies for crafting compelling grant applications

Compelling grant applications tell stories that connect organizational mission with funder priorities, demonstrating clear alignment between available resources and community needs. ...so as a grant writer, you've got to bring your D-game and your R-game (Data and Relationships!)

Successful applications balance emotional appeal with data-driven evidence, showing both the measurable impact of proposed work and the organizational capacity to deliver results effectively. Do your research ahead of time; understanding a partner foundation's past grants provides insight into their true priorities beyond stated guidelines, while knowledge of their decision-making process helps tailor application timing and format appropriately.

Successful grant seekers (like you!) invest significant time in relationship building before submitting applications, recognizing that additional funding decisions often reflect trust and alignment rather than just proposal quality. The narrative arc of compelling applications follows a logical progression from problem identification through solution design to implementation planning and lasting impact measurement. Each section builds upon previous elements while maintaining focus on the specific outcomes that matter most to the target funder.

Addressing challenges in securing unrestricted grants

“So the biggest [benefit] was just not having to get more grants to pay for the management of other grants… all of this time and effort is going into applying for a grant and you’re not even really able to do anything with it. Now you can actually use the grant for the program it was intended for.”

Ansley Fender, CEO of Grantcycle, brought the grant acquisition and management solutions in her conversation with Justin Wheeler, CEO and Co-founder of Funraise, on the Nonstop Nonprofit podcast.

Funders often feel more comfortable supporting specific projects with measurable outcomes rather than general operations. Overcoming this preference requires nonprofits to clearly articulate how unrestricted funding enables better programmatic outcomes and organizational sustainability.

Successful strategies for securing unrestricted operating grants often involve reframing operational grants for nonprofits as capacity-building investments that enhance program effectiveness. Rather than simply requesting general operating support, savvy nonprofits present compelling cases for how flexible funding will strengthen their ability to deliver mission-critical services. This approach acknowledges funder concerns about accountability while demonstrating the strategic value of organizational investments.

Building trust through transparency and consistent communication helps overcome funder hesitation about unrestricted operating grants. Organizations that provide regular updates on their work, share both successes and challenges honestly, and involve funders in strategic thinking create relationships that support more flexible funding arrangements. These partnerships often evolve over time from project-specific support to general operating grants as trust and understanding between funder and grantee deepen.

Future Trends: The evolution of unrestricted funding

Do you feel it? The funding landscape is experiencing a gradual but significant shift toward trust-based philanthropy that prioritizes organizational capacity and community engagement over narrow project restrictions. This evolution reflects growing recognition that sustainable social change requires strong organizations with the flexibility to adapt and respond to evolving community needs.

Forward-thinking funders increasingly understand that their role involves supporting movements and deserving organizations rather than just funding isolated programs.

Demographic changes in philanthropic leadership are accelerating this trend toward more flexible giving. Today's emerging philanthropic leaders frequently prioritize equity, community-led solutions, and organizational sustainability in ways that naturally support unrestricted funding approaches.

Let's talk tech! Technology continues to reshape both grant-seeking and grant-making, with evolving AI tools making it easier for nonprofits to identify matching funders and craft compelling applications. Simultaneously, funders are using technology to streamline their own processes and reduce administrative burdens on applicants. These technological advances promise to make the grants ecosystem more efficient and accessible for organizations of all sizes.

The growing emphasis on measuring long-term systemic change rather than just short-term outputs also supports the case for unrestricted funding. As the sector develops more sophisticated approaches to lasting impact measurement, funders are recognizing that meaningful change often requires sustained investment in organizational infrastructure and community grants that don't fit neatly into project-specific categories.

Smart nonprofits are positioning themselves for this future by developing strong organizational systems, building diverse funding portfolios, and cultivating relationships with funders who share their values around trust and flexibility. Those who master the art of securing and stewarding unrestricted operating grants will find themselves better equipped to navigate uncertainty, seize opportunities, and create lasting change in underrepresented communities.

3 Insights for nonprofit grantwriters

By using the platforms and strategies described, and keeping an eye on both familiar and new funding sources, your nonprofit can tap into the right grants in 2025—whether you seek program-specific dollars or the holy grail of flexible funding to power your mission forward. Good luck with your grant seeking!

Treat grants like true partnerships

Don’t approach grants as one-off transactions. A surprisingly effective yet underused practice is to cultivate relationships with grantmakers year-round—send brief updates, invite program officers to see your work firsthand, and thank them even when you’re not in the middle of an application. This simple relationship-building can dramatically improve your grant renewal rates because funders feel like invested partners, not just check-writers.

Collaborate with peer organizations on grants

Instead of competing solo for every grant, consider teaming up with other nonprofit arts organizations for a joint proposal on a big initiative. It’s an uncommon strategy, but a coalition approach can unlock larger grants that none of you could win alone. By sharing expertise and presenting a united plan, you offer funders a lasting impact—a compelling proposition that’s still far from mainstream in the nonprofit grant world.

Leverage technology to streamline grant writing

While nonprofits are increasingly using tech for donor outreach, few apply the same efficiency to nonprofit grants. Try using artificial intelligence writing assistants or grant management tools to handle the repetitive parts of applications (like filling common data, proofreading, or generating initial drafts), which is simple to implement. Automating these tedious tasks gives your team more time to focus on the human elements—crafting compelling narratives and building funder relationships, which ultimately leads to more successful grant outcomes.

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Nonprofit grant FAQ

What are unrestricted grants?

Unrestricted funds are financial contributions provided to organizations or individuals without specific stipulations on how the funds must be used. These grants offer recipients the flexibility and autonomy to allocate resources where they are most needed, whether for operational costs, program or workforce development, or other essential activities. Unrestricted grants empower recipients to respond dynamically to evolving needs and priorities, ultimately enhancing their ability to achieve their mission and maintain sustainability.

How can nonprofit organizations obtain grant funding?

Nonprofit organizations can obtain grant funding through a strategic and organized approach that involves thorough research, relationship-building, and meticulous preparation. Firstly, nonprofits need to identify potential grant opportunities by researching partner foundations, government agencies, and corporations. Establishing relationships with grantmakers is crucial, as is preparing a compelling grant proposal. Lastly, persistence and adaptability are key, as securing grants often requires multiple applications and continual refinement of strategies based on feedback.

What is the difference between restricted and unrestricted funds for nonprofits?

Restricted and unrestricted funds for nonprofit grants differ primarily in terms of their usage conditions. Restricted grants are donations or grants given to a nonprofit with specific stipulations on how they are to be used, often dictated by the donor. These funds must be applied solely to their designated purpose, such as supporting a particular program, project, or capital campaign, and community nonprofits are typically required to report back on their use to ensure compliance with the donor's intentions. On the other hand, unrestricted operating grants are financial contributions without any limitations placed by the donor or the grant databases, allowing the nonprofit the flexibility to allocate these resources to underserved communities, communities of color, or indigenous communities.

Can nonprofits give grants to individuals?

Yes, nonprofits, particularly those designated as 501(c)(3) organizations under U.S. tax law, are allowed to make grants to nonprofits or directly to individuals as part of their charitable activities. However, they must ensure that these grants align with their stated goals and purposes, such as providing scholarships, disaster relief, or financial assistance to those in need. Additionally, eligible nonprofits must adhere to strict record-keeping and reporting requirements to demonstrate that the grants serve the public interest and do not benefit private individuals or interests.

How long do grants for nonprofits last?

Grants to organizations have a track record of long-term sustainability when it comes to social responsibilities, public health, mental health, and innovative solutions that benefit societal challenges and special projects like civic engagement and financial literacy, so the grants need to last for years rather than just months, weeks, or one-time support. Many grant interest forms that provide operating support grants to community institutions like public schools to establish economic opportunity and economic empowerment accept applications on a rolling basis so that funding is available when it's needed.