Grant and Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Standard Grants Program is a competitive, matching grant program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The program promotes partnerships projects that must involve a) only long-term protection, restoration, enhancement and/or establishment of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit diversity of wetland ecosystems and b) maintaining an abundance of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and other populations of wetlands-associated migratory birds consistent with the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, Waterbird Conservation Plan for the Americas, and Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan. The program requires a 1:1 non-federal match and research funding is ineligible. This program supports the Department of Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission of protecting and managing the nation's natural resources by collaborating with partners and stakeholders to conserve land and water and to expand outdoor recreation and access.

Eligibility:

• County governments
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• State governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• City or township governments
• Small businesses
• Independent school districts
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Special district governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
Deadline: July 10, 2025.
Contact: Justin Markey, Fish and Wildlife Service; email: Justin_Markey@fws.gov;

See more at: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358607

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $398 million in competitive grants under the Buses and Bus Facilities Program to assist in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities. Eligible applicants for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program include designated recipients that allocate funds to fixed route bus operators, States (including territories and Washington D.C.) or local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service, and Indian tribes. Eligible subrecipients include all otherwise eligible applicants and also private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation. Except for projects proposed by Indian tribes, all proposals for projects in rural (non-urbanized) areas must be submitted by a State, either individually or as a part of a statewide application.

Eligibility:

• State governments
• County governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• City or township governments

Award Ceiling: $39,810,323

Deadline: July 14, 2025.

Contact: Kirsten Wiard-Bauer, FTA Office of Program Management, Federal Transit Administration; email: FTALowNoBusNOFO@dot.gov.

See more at: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358956

Our funding targets innovative, effective and measurable programs enhancing the quality of life within our communities and support the following giving pillars: Community Vitality and Education. Priority consideration is given to programs that serve low- to moderate-income families and underrepresented populations. Consideration is also given to initiatives that focus on diversity and inclusion. Key focus areas within the giving pillars include:

Community Vitality

• Thriving Communities – Quality of Place and resident-led initiatives leading to vibrant neighborhoods, cities and states
• Affordable Housing – Initiatives leading to increased access to quality, affordable and energy efficient housing
• Environment – Energy Efficiency and conservation efforts as well as environmental education programs

Education

• Quality Literacy Programs – Literacy and tutoring programs focused on early childhood through adult learners
• STEM Programs – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education programs targeted to underresourced areas and/or underrepresented populations; Digital device access
• Workforce Development – Programs addressing needs of our communities; credentialing programs providing skills for living wage jobs

Eligibility:

• Be a nonprofit organization and have obtained recognition of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) as a public charity under Code 509(a) and in good standing. (If an organization is exempt under Section 509(a)(3), it must be Type I or Type II.)
•  Have their organization’s primary address located within CenterPoint Energy’s footprint

Award Ceiling:  Funding is ultimately contingent upon the initiative’s alignment with the Foundation’s priorities and funding availability

Deadline: (opens June 16^th) July 18, 2025.

Contact: CenterPoint Energy Foundation, email: CNPGives@centerpointenergy.com;

See more at: https://www.centerpointenergy.com/en-us/corporate/community/centerpoint-energy-foundation/application-process

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL) is pleased to announce the availability of the FY2025 Cemetery Grant for qualifying not-for-profit and local government cemeteries. Allowable grant requests include those to defray costs of exceptional cemetery maintenance or training cemetery personnel in the maintenance and operation of cemeteries. Eligible applicants shall be cemetery operators properly registered with REPL, be a documented not-for-profit entity under the IRS tax code and be in compliance with any applicable endowment and/or preneed cemetery merchandise and services trust accounts. The REPL Superintendent is accepting only online applications.

Please gather all information prior to application entry. Once you start the application, the information entered cannot be saved and if you exit out of the application you will lose all information previously entered. The Cemetery Grant application instructions are being provided as a worksheet guidance document only. This will allow you to gather all of the necessary information prior to submitting the grant application online.

Eligible applicants include:

• Local government or not-for-profit cemetery operators properly registered with REPL
• Any cemetery required to establish and maintain an endowment care trust pursuant to ORC section 1721.21 and/or a preneed cemetery merchandise and services trust pursuant to ORC section 1721.211 must be in compliance with those sections to be eligible for a grant

Grant funding totals: $2,500

Deadline: July 31, 2025.

Contact: Daphne Hawk, Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, phone: 614-466-5384; email: CemeteryGrants@com.ohio.gov

See more at: https://cemeterygrants.com.ohio.gov/

The Kettering Fund was founded July 1, 1958 by Charles F. Kettering, renowned inventor, businessman and philanthropist. The Kettering Fund was gifted to the Kettering Family Foundation in 2014 and now operates as a sub-fund of the Foundation.

The mission of The Kettering Fund Ohio is to support scientific, medical, social and educational studies and research carried on within the State of Ohio. The Fund’s Distribution Committee meets biannually (May and November) to determine funding recommendations to the trustees of The Kettering Family Foundation.

The Kettering Family Foundation (KFF) will consider activities in the following categories:

• Arts, Culture and Humanities
• Education
• Environment
• Health/Medical
• Human Services
• Public and Society Benefit

Eligibility:

• Unit of government
• Religious organizations
• Organization that has a current 501(c)(3) determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service

Award Ceiling:  Funding is ultimately contingent upon the initiative’s alignment with the Fund’s priorities and funding availability
Deadline: July 31, 2025.
Contact: Kettering Fund; email: info@ketteringfamilyphilanthropies.org

See more at: https://www.cfketteringfamilies.com/philanthropy/fund

ODOT is hosting a special solicitation for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient, and accessible transportation option for all Ohioans. A variety of pedestrian and bicycle related projects are eligible for this opportunity with an emphasis on projects that can begin construction before July 2026.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is hosting a special solicitation for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient, and accessible transportation option for all Ohioans. A variety of pedestrian and bicycle related projects are eligible for this special solicitation, including:

• Plans and Studies - the development of pedestrian and/or bicycle related plans or studies at the state, regional, local, or corridor level.
• Data Collection - the collection of data related to walking and biking.
• Education and Promotion - activities that educate on bicycle and walking matters and those which promote walking, biking, and transit as a transportation option.
• Short Term Infrastructure Projects - engineering, design, and/or construction of pedestrian and bicycle projects that can begin construction by June 30, 2026.
• Traditional Infrastructure Projects - engineering, design, and/or construction of standalone pedestrian and bicycle projects of statewide significance.

Eligible applicants include:

• political subdivisions (i.e. city, village, township, county, school district, health district, park district, etc.),
• regional planning organizations, and
• other non-profit agencies with support from a political subdivision

Award Ceiling:  Cost should be commensurate to the potential impact. Projects for over $3M are highly unlikely to be fully funded through this solicitation.
Deadline: Electronic applications can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed and awarded quarterly (January, April, July, and October) based on funding availability.
Contact: Caitlin Harley, Safe Routes to School & Active Transportation Program Manager, phone: 614-466-3049, email: Caitlin.Harley@dot.ohio.gov

See more at: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/traveling/bicycling-and-pedestrians/Resources/pedbikefunding

The Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program will award approximately $250 million to provide safe, reliable drinking water in areas that lack infrastructure, bring sewage treatment capacity to unsewered areas, and develop regional infrastructure to serve multiple communities. This presentation offers more information.

Water and wastewater construction projects are eligible for up to $5 million in grant funding, and infrastructure engineering design projects are eligible for up to $250,000.

Examples of water infrastructure construction projects include, but are not limited to:

• Sewer/wastewater treatment plant improvements/expansion
• New/replacement sanitary sewer lines
• Excess sanitary sewer infiltration/inflow correction
• Improvements to public drinking water treatment facilities
• Drinking water line improvements or extensions
• Repair, replacement, and construction of drinking water storage towers

Click to download the application to the Ohio Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program, and contact Matt Lindsay at mlindsay@mvrpc.org to discuss potential projects in your community.

Through its Planning and Local Technical Assistance programs, EDA assists eligible recipients in developing economic development plans and studies designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. The Planning program helps support organizations, including District Organizations, Indian Tribes, and other eligible recipients, with Short Term and State Planning investments designed to guide the eventual creation and retention of high-quality jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nation’s most economically distressed regions. As part of this program, EDA supports Partnership Planning investments to facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which articulate and prioritize the strategic economic goals of recipients’ respective regions. The Local Technical Assistance program strengthens the capacity of local or State organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible recipients to undertake and promote effective economic development programs through projects such as feasibility studies and impact analyses.

Please see the Federal Funding Opportunity for full information on how to apply. Also note that any applicants who are in the process of developing an application under the previous FFO will need to apply under the new FFO and use the associated new forms.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received. This Planning and Local Technical Assistance opportunity will remain in effect until superseded by a future announcement.

Contact: Ellen Heinz, State of Ohio Economic Development Representative, (312)505-4953, eheinz@eda.gov

See more at:

 https://www.eda.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/fiscal-year-2021-2023-eda-planning-and-local-technical-assistance

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=280447