Grants for Nonprofits

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH/NCI exploratory/developmental bioengineering research grant (EBRG, R21, clinical trial not allowed) funding feasibility-stage projects that develop new capabilities or improvements for biomedical, pre-clinical, or clinical research and care. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a bioengineering research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH research project grant (R01, clinical trial optional) funding multi-level health-care research to improve care for older adults from populations that experience health disparities. Eligible applicants are domestic institutions such as universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations; foreign organizations and foreign components are not eligible. No specific award amount is stated. This suits research institutions focused on aging and health-disparities care research.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH research project grant (R01, clinical trial optional) funding invasive neural recording and stimulation studies in humans to understand neural circuitry underlying mental health disorders. A broad set of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. Technology and therapy development are out of scope, so this suits research institutions conducting specific neuroscience studies.

Washington Headquarters Services · Up to $100M

A Department of War (Washington Headquarters Services) non-research cooperative agreement program to help manage and sustain DoW land in the U.S. through natural and cultural resource projects supporting installation resilience and military readiness. Eligibility is very broad: public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals are invited to apply. Awards range widely, up to about $100 million. The broad eligibility, including individuals, is unusual, so confirm specific requirements in the announcement.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH (R38) award supporting in-depth research experiences for resident clinicians early in their careers to build a pipeline of clinician-investigators. Eligible applicants are domestic institutions and organizations such as universities, tribal governments, and faith- or community-based organizations; foreign organizations and foreign components are not eligible. No award amount is stated. This is a structured research-training mechanism aimed at academic and clinical institutions rather than individuals applying directly.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH program (Blueprint MedTech Translator) funds translational research and clinical feasibility studies for therapeutic and diagnostic devices targeting nervous- or neuromuscular-system disorders, open to a broad range of institutions including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges, faith- and community-based organizations, and individuals or businesses developing their own devices. It is a milestone-driven cooperative agreement requiring NIH staff involvement in project planning and monitoring. No award amount is specified, and the deadline is not imminent.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA · $150K–$975K

Open to universities and researchers, nonprofits, businesses (including small businesses), and individuals with expertise in commercial fishing and maritime safety. Funds research to improve worker safety in commercial fishing — vessel design, survival and emergency equipment, monitoring and communication systems. Awards run roughly $150,000–$975,000, administered by CDC/NIOSH.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA · $250K–$975K

A CDC/NIOSH and Coast Guard training grant (T03) to develop and deliver safety training for U.S. commercial fishermen. Eligible applicants include school districts, public/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations, faith- or community-based organizations, regional organizations, bona fide state agents, and FFRDCs. Awards range from about $250,000 to $975,000. Eligibility is moderately broad across organizations but excludes individuals; review the listed categories to confirm fit.

Food and Drug Administration · Up to $600K

This FDA award (up to $600,000) funds natural history studies that generate high-quality data to support medical product development for rare diseases with unmet needs. Eligibility is very broad, covering universities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), small and other for-profit businesses, tribal and local/state governments, and even foreign organizations and their non-U.S. components. No unusual disqualifiers are noted, and the deadline is not imminent.

Washington Headquarters Services · $100K–$10M

Open to industry, nonprofits, colleges and universities, and state or local educational agencies; foreign entities are not eligible. An ongoing 'open' announcement funding STEM education, outreach, and workforce-development programs for the Department of War's research enterprise, with specific topics released as amendments (often beginning with a white paper). Awards range widely, from about $100,000 to $10 million.

Bureau of Reclamation · $50K–$300K

Open to watershed groups — and the states, tribes, local governments, special districts, nonprofits, or universities that sponsor them — located in 19 western states and several U.S. territories. Federal entities and individuals cannot apply. Funds forming watershed groups and planning watershed-restoration and water-management projects, with awards of about $50,000–$300,000. Eligibility is narrow: you must be or sponsor a qualifying watershed group in an eligible state.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government and tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH R21 funds exploratory, early-stage projects developing methods or agents to target 'undruggable' molecules in serious diseases. Award size isn't specified and follows standard NIH R21 limits; best suited to researchers pursuing high-risk, innovative therapeutics.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH program provides researchers access to limited identifiable data or biospecimens from the ECHO Cohort to study maternal and child health topics, rather than funding new data collection. Eligible applicants include federal agencies, faith- and community-based organizations, and tribal governments, but foreign organizations and their non-U.S. components are not eligible. No award amount is specified, and the deadline is not imminent.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

Open to higher-education institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations, domestic or foreign (security restrictions may limit foreign participants; government labs, FFRDCs, and service academies can't be prime applicants). This Army Research Institute broad agency announcement funds basic, applied, and advanced research in the behavioral and social sciences tied to soldier performance and readiness. Applicants are encouraged to contact the listed technical point of contact first; funding varies by budget cycle.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $15K–$75K

Open to individuals (as legal entities), commercial organizations, state/local/tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits; federal agencies and employees can't apply, and projects must be conducted in Alaska. Funds marine workforce training, seafood-safety and management education, fishing innovation, and consumer outreach. Awards are small, roughly $15,000–$75,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to domestic institutions — universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations (foreign institutions are not eligible). This NIH T35 funds short-term (often summer) research-training experiences for health-professional and graduate students. It supports the institution's training program rather than an individual.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $1M

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, foreign organizations, and certain government/tribal entities. This NIH R01 funds preclinical mouse-model testing of repurposed or investigational drugs — alone or with non-drug interventions — for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Awards up to about $1,000,000.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $500K

Open to U.S. schools and colleges of nursing and other research institutions, nonprofits, and certain government/tribal organizations; foreign organizations are not eligible. This NIH P20 funds new research centers that build nursing-led, community-partnered research infrastructure and pilot studies. Awards up to about $500,000.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

Open to U.S. universities, research institutions, nonprofits, foreign organizations, and certain government/tribal entities. This NIH X01 provides access to TOPMed genomic and multi-omics data resources to study heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders — it offers data generation, not direct funding. Aimed at researchers doing functional-genomics and mechanism studies.

Food and Drug Administration · Up to $900K

Open to nearly any organization — universities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3)), for-profits and small businesses, state/local/tribal governments, and foreign organizations. This FDA R01 funds clinical trials of orphan products evaluating safety and efficacy to address unmet needs in rare diseases. Awards up to about $900,000; clinical trials are required.