Best grants for nonprofits in 2026: federal, foundation, and corporate funding guide

Nonprofits in the United States receive approximately $90 billion in grant funding annually, yet most organizations pursue only a fraction of the opportunities available to them. The most successful nonprofits build diversified funding portfolios across federal, foundation, and corporate grants. This guide maps every major grant source for 501(c)(3) organizations in 2026, from massive federal programs on Grants.gov to community foundation micro-grants. Whether you're a startup nonprofit or an established organization looking to expand, this is your roadmap to non-dilutive funding.

Understanding the nonprofit grant landscape

Nonprofit grants come from three primary sources: government agencies (federal, state, and local), private foundations, and corporations. Each source has different expectations, application processes, and reporting requirements. The most resilient nonprofits don't depend on any single source, they build a portfolio that typically includes 30-40% government grants, 30-40% foundation grants, and 20-30% from corporate giving and individual donations.

Before pursuing any grant, your organization needs to be a registered 501(c)(3) with the IRS. Some grants accept fiscal sponsorship (where an established 501(c)(3) manages funds on your behalf), but having your own tax-exempt status is essential for the majority of opportunities. You'll also need a Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov registration (DUNS numbers were retired in 2022) for federal grants, and audited financial statements for larger grants.

For help crafting competitive applications, our grant proposal writing guide provides section-by-section templates that work for both federal and foundation proposals. If you're applying for federal grants, start your SAM.gov registration now, our Grants.gov walkthrough covers the full process. And for managing multiple grant applications simultaneously, our grant writing software comparison reviews platforms like Instrumentl and Candid that are designed for nonprofit fundraisers.

Comparison: top nonprofit grant sources

Federal grants for nonprofits

How to find federal grant opportunities

All federal grant opportunities are posted on Grants.gov, which serves as the central clearinghouse for competitive grants from every federal grant-making agency[1]. For nonprofits, the most relevant agencies include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

To search effectively, filter by "Eligible Applicants" and select "Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status." Use Assistance Listing numbers (formerly CFDA numbers, now on SAM.gov) to track specific programs across funding cycles. Set up email notifications for new opportunities matching your keywords. Our complete Grants.gov tutorial walks through the entire process, including SAM.gov registration.

Major federal grant programs for nonprofits

AmeriCorps (formerly the Corporation for National and Community Service): AmeriCorps grants fund nonprofit organizations that engage members and volunteers in community service. The FY2026 State and National competition ran in early 2026; watch americorps.gov for the next notice. Grants support programs in education, disaster response, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, health, and veterans services. AmeriCorps VISTA specifically funds anti-poverty programs.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): HHS is the largest grant-making federal agency[2]. Key programs for nonprofits include Community Health Center grants, Head Start and Early Head Start, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants, and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) discretionary grants. Many HHS grants are formula grants to states, which then fund local nonprofits, so your state agency is often the door rather than Grants.gov.

Department of Education: Beyond direct education grants, the Department of Education funds nonprofits through programs like 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), and Title III grants for English Language Acquisition. Education nonprofits should also explore our education grants guide and EduBracket for additional resources.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): The NEA's Grants for Arts Projects range from $10,000 to $100,000 and require at least a 1:1 nonfederal match. NEA changed its guidelines and priorities in 2025, so read the current guidelines before applying. The agency also distributes grants through state arts councils, creating a secondary opportunity for smaller organizations.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA terminated its environmental justice grant programs in 2025, including the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving grants, and those terminations are being challenged in court, so do not plan around them. Brownfields grants and other EPA programs continue; check EPA's grants page for what is open.

Private foundation grants

Finding foundation grants with Candid Search

Candid (formerly the Foundation Center and GuideStar) now sells Candid Search, which combines Foundation Directory and GuideStar data: the most comprehensive database of private foundation grants in the world. It profiles grantmakers and their past grants in detail. There is a limited free tier; paid plans start at $183/month billed annually (lower for verified nonprofits), and Candid partner locations, mostly public libraries, give free in-person access, so check for one near you before paying.

Use Candid Search to find foundations by your nonprofit's focus area, geographic location, and funding range. The platform's 990 Finder tool lets you view any foundation's tax returns, showing exactly who they fund and how much they give. This research is essential before applying, you should only approach foundations that have a documented history of funding organizations like yours.

Major foundations funding nonprofits in 2026

Gates Foundation: One of the world's largest private foundations, with a trust endowment of $89 billion at the end of 2025[3]. Primary focus areas are global health, global development, U.S. education, and U.S. economic mobility. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals; it invites organizations to apply and posts open calls, such as Grand Challenges, on its website. It has announced it will close at the end of 2045.

Ford Foundation: With an endowment of about $16 billion, the Ford Foundation focuses on reducing inequality in all its forms. It does not accept unsolicited proposals as a rule, and fewer than 1% of the unsolicited requests it receives are funded, so most grantees are organizations Ford already knows.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): The largest philanthropy focused solely on health in the United States, [4]. RWJF funds research, policy development, and community programs related to health equity, healthy communities, and health systems improvement. The foundation publishes open calls for proposals on its website and also makes targeted grants by invitation.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation: Focused on improving conditions for vulnerable children, the Kellogg Foundation paid out about $408 million in grants in fiscal 2024. Priority places are Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans in the U.S., plus parts of Mexico and Haiti, with a focus on racial equity, community engagement, and early childhood development.

MacArthur Foundation: Known for its "genius grants" to individuals, the MacArthur Foundation also makes institutional grants, but it has been narrowing its programs: it closed its nuclear and criminal justice work and is winding down climate solutions in 2026. Most institutional grants are by invitation, so check its current strategies before reaching out.

Nonprofits with a focus on women's empowerment, minority communities, or veteran services should also explore our demographic-specific guides: grants for women-owned businesses, grants for Black-owned businesses, and veteran business grants. Many of the programs in those guides fund nonprofit organizations as well as for-profit businesses. For education-focused nonprofits, our education grants guide covers Department of Education programs in detail.

Corporate grants and giving programs

Google.org

Google's philanthropic arm gives cash grants and in-kind support[5] (including Google Ad Grants of $10,000 a month for eligible nonprofits, discounted tools, and pro bono help from Google employees). Its open calls are the Impact Challenges, currently $30 million pools for organizations using AI in areas such as government innovation and science. Apply for the Google Ad Grant (separate from cash grants) at Google for Nonprofits, it's available to most 501(c)(3) organizations.

Walmart Foundation

The Walmart Foundation's only open application is Spark Good Local Grants[6]: $250 to $5,000, awarded by local Walmart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers to organizations serving their community. Its larger national and regional grants are by invitation only. Apply through Walmart's Spark Good portal.

Other major corporate grant programs

Bank of America Charitable Foundation: Makes grants focused on workforce development, basic needs, and community development. Local market presidents identify and recommend grant recipients, so building relationships with your local Bank of America is valuable.

Wells Fargo Foundation: Funds housing affordability, small business growth, and financial health programs. It runs both national programs and local grant-making.

Target Foundation: Now focused on its hometown, the Twin Cities and Minnesota, with grants for entrepreneurship and small business, workforce development, housing and asset building. Target also gives in-kind support through volunteering and product donations.

For nonprofits exploring technology solutions, AI writing tools can help draft and polish grant narratives more efficiently, see Nesyona's AI tool reviews for options suited to professional writing. Understanding the tax implications of grant revenue is also critical for nonprofit financial planning; CeoCult's tax deduction guide covers relevant financial strategies. Rural nonprofits should also explore USDA agriculture grants and rural business development programs, which fund community organizations serving agricultural regions.

Nonprofits looking for startup-style innovation funding can explore startup grants like SBIR/STTR, which fund research conducted by small organizations including some nonprofits. For a quick overview of the most accessible programs open in 2026, see our top 10 small business grants list.

Capacity building grants

Capacity building grants fund your organization's infrastructure rather than specific programs, things like strategic planning, technology upgrades, staff development, financial systems, and governance improvements. These grants are often overlooked but can be transformational for growing nonprofits.

Nonprofit Finance Fund: Provides capacity building grants and affordable loans to nonprofits with strong programs but weak financial infrastructure. It also offers advisory services and free financial-planning resources for nonprofits.

Kresge Foundation: The Kresge Foundation's capacity building grants help nonprofits in its focus areas (arts, education, environment, health, human services) strengthen organizational systems and sustainability.

TechSoup: While not a traditional grant-maker, TechSoup provides deeply discounted technology products and services to nonprofits. Microsoft, Adobe and hundreds of other tools are available at deep discounts, effectively functioning as in-kind grants worth thousands of dollars annually. Register at TechSoup.org.

Who should pursue nonprofit grants

Operational tools for grant-funded nonprofits

Winning grants is only the first step. Managing the funds, reporting outcomes, and stewarding donors all require infrastructure. The following platforms are the most-cited tools in nonprofit grant management workflows in 2026.

Nonprofit accounting

Aplos is one of the most widely adopted fund-accounting platforms built specifically for nonprofits. Unlike general-purpose accounting tools, Aplos handles restricted-fund tracking, grant compliance reporting, and Form 990 prep natively, the three areas where general accounting software typically falls short for nonprofits. Check its site for current pricing.

Donor CRM and fundraising

Bloomerang and DonorPerfect are two of the most-deployed donor CRMs in the mid-market nonprofit segment. Bloomerang focuses on donor retention metrics (its retention dashboard is one of the strongest in the category). DonorPerfect emphasizes deep fundraising-cycle automation (recurring gifts, event management, online forms) and is widely used by organizations between $250K and $5M annual revenue.

Bonterra Fundraising Essentials (formerly Network for Good) offers an all-in-one fundraising platform that bundles donor management, online giving forms, and email marketing, designed for smaller nonprofits that want a single subscription rather than separate tools. Particularly strong fit for organizations under $500K annual revenue without dedicated development staff.

For grant-funded organizations specifically, the combination of Aplos (accounting and grant fund tracking) with either Bloomerang or DonorPerfect (donor stewardship between grant cycles) covers the operational stack most funders expect to see in capacity assessments.

Bottom line

The best approach to nonprofit grant funding in 2026 is diversification. Start with Grants.gov for federal opportunities, use Candid's Foundation Directory to research private foundations, and don't overlook corporate programs like the Google Ad Grant and Walmart Spark Good Local Grants. New nonprofits should begin with community foundation grants and local corporate giving while building the track record needed for larger funders. For application support, our grant proposal writing guide provides templates for every section. Compare grant management tools →

Nonprofits that operate in education, workforce development, or skills-based programming should also check EduBracket's free course directory, many funders want to see documented staff development and training in grant applications. For AI-assisted grant writing and proposal drafting, Nesyona's AI writing tools can significantly cut time spent on narrative sections. Financial management and compliance understanding also matters: CeoCult's finance guides cover nonprofit-relevant topics like EIN registration and tax-exempt status implications.

1. Grants.gov, Grant-Making Agencies, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ↩
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Budget & Performance, Grant Outlays, hhs.gov. ↩
3. Gates Foundation, Foundation Trust (endowment), gatesfoundation.org. ↩
4. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Grants and funding opportunities, rwjf.org. ↩
5. Google.org, Impact Challenges, google.org. ↩
6. Walmart Foundation, Program guidelines (Spark Good Local Grants), walmart.org. ↩