Author Archives: grantcentraldepot

Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge is an early stage deep tech startup competition. Applicants may submit in one of 11 track for the chance to win the €100,000 Grand Prize or €25,000 Second Prize. An additional €25,000 will be awarded to one Emerging Pioneer and customized prizes will be given in the different tracks in cooperation with corporate partners.

Applications are due by September 22, 2024. Eight hundred Deep Tech Pioneers will be announced on October 30 and have until November 15 to update their applications before finalist selection.

Eligibility

This challenge is open to startups that:

  • Are in early stage development, including before incorporation
  • Have developed/are developing new technology, a scientific discovery, or a complex engineering process
  • Have a proof of concept, prototype, solid scientific validation for their product, or are developing one
  • Have a team of at least 2 people
  • Are not a subsidiary or offshoot of another, existing company
  • Expect their product to be economically viable within 15 years
  • Have the potential to significantly impact their industry, society, or the environment in general

Tracks

https://builtin.com/robotics/microrobotics

Applicants may submit in any of the 11 tracks.

  • Aerospace
  • Advanced Computing & Electronics
  • Industry & Machines
  • Sustainable Construction & Infrastructure
  • Energy
  • Environment & Biodiversity
  • Food & Agriculture
  • Industrial Biotech & New Materials
  • Digital Health & Medical Devices 
  • Medical Biotech & Pharmaceuticals

Award

All 800 Deep Tech Pioneers will be invited to attend Investor Day in Paris on March 12, 2025 where they’ll be able to meet with over 300 venture capitalists and corporate venture capitalists.

Seven finalists per track plus an additional seven finalists for the Emerging Pioneers Prize will pitch their idea during the Global Summit in Paris on March 13 and 14, 2025. The Grand Prize, Second Place, and Emerging Pioneer Prize as well as the corporate prizes will be chosen from these presentations.

ProLiteracy: Literacy Opportunity Fund

The Literacy Opportunity Fund is presented by ProLiteracy with funding from The Nora Roberts Foundation. The Fund supports general operating and project expenses for literacy organizations in the United States.

Applications for grants up to $6,000 are accepted annually on January 3, April 1, July 1, and October 1. The application portal opens one month before the deadline.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and organizations with a fiscal sponsor who engage in direct work with adult literacy students.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used to cover general operating expense, including:

  • Salaries and stipends
  • Supplies
  • Equipment
  • Space rental

Funds may also be used for specific projects, events, or new programming.

National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program

The National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program will fund 8-10 Regional Alliances to recognize, reward, and elevate outstanding STEM teachers.

Cooperative Agreements of up to $35 million will support Alliances for five years with the potential to extend for an additional 10 years. Applications are due through Grants.gov or Research.gov by October 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM the applicant’s local time. Optional letters of intent may be submitted until August 20.

Eligibility

Applicant

Proposals may be submitted by 2 and 4 year insitutions of higher education accredited and with a campus in the United States. Primary Investigators must hold a terminal degree in a STEM discipline, Education, STEM Education, or a related field.

Alliance Partners

Regional Alliances must include a State Educational Agency and/or a Local Education Agency from each of the states included in the Alliance. Additional partners may include:

  • Nonprofit education associations
  • Cross-sector STEM organizations
  • Private entities, including STEM-related businesses

National STEM Teacher Corps Members

Photo by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-teaching-students-how-to-use-a-microscope-8617841/

Members serve 4 year turns during which they receive a minimum annual stipend of $10,000. All members must:

  • Be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent resident aliens
  • Teach science, technology, engineering, or math in a K-12 school (public, private, or charter)
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree, at minimum, from an accreditied institution
  • Be a full time employee with at least 50% of work time spent teaching students
  • Have at least 5 years of teaching experience in a STEM field prior to the 2023-2024 school year
  • Teach in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or a Department of Defense Education Activity school

Alliance Responsibilities

Regional Alliances are required to:

  • Engage with local partners to create communities of practice
  • Recruite eligible members
  • Coordinate the online network to support members in their region
  • Hold regional member meetings
  • Create professional growth opportunities for members
  • Support members to ensure their success and continued participation in the program

Pulitzer Center U.S. Local News Reporting Grants

Pulitzer Center U.S. Local News Reporting Grants support local journalism that addresses systemic issues and holds local power players accountable.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis for in-depth, investigative reporting projects. The Pulitzer Center will also create educational materials and organize events to promote funded projects.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • Freelancers
  • Staff journalists
  • Groups of newsrooms working in collaboration

Funding Limitations

Grant funding may not be used for:

  • General operating expenses
  • Staff salaries
  • Equipment purchases
  • Advocacy and marketing
  • Routine news coverage
  • Books
  • Feature length films
  • Academic research
  • Seed money for start ups

Application

Applications must include:

  • A project description of 250 words or fewer
  • A preliminary budget with a basic breakdown of costs 
  • A compelling distribution plan

Sony Create Action Grant

The Sony Create Action Grant supports social justice and community focused nonprofits in the United States.

Applications are due by September 30, 2024 for submissions including an Action Plan describing how they will address social justice issues through photography, videography, filmmaking, or a related field.

Eligibility

This grant is open to social justice and community focused 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations who received less than $500,000 in annual donations in 2022 and 2023.

Award

Ten grantees will receive:

  • $50,000
  • $50,000 worth of eligible Sony Electronics products
  • Collaboration with Sony’s photographer/videographer to produce promotional photos/video for the organization, its Action Plan and the grant program

Review Criteria

All applications will be reviewed based on:

  • Action Plan relevance and use of creatives/creators (25%)
  • Action Plan proposed impact (15%)
  • Effectiveness of Budget Plan (40%)
  • Sony electronics product needs description (10%)
  • Application clarity and cohesiveness (10%)

Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs

The Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs support research and education projects that build new knowledge in computing, communications, and information science and engineering.

Applicants may apply for a Small Project, Medium Project, or OAC Core Project. Applications are due through Grants.gov or Research.gov October 1-23, 2024 (Medium and OAC Core Projects) or October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 (Small Projects). The National Science Foundation expects to award 400-600 grants.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

  • Institutions of higher education accredited and with a campus in the United States
  • Nonprofit, nonacademic organizations
  • Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, etc. engaged in research and education activities

Primary Investigator

Primary Investigator, Co-PIs, and other senior/key project personnel must hold either: 

  • A tenured or tenure-track position, or 
  • A primary, full-time, paid appointment in a research or teaching position

Project Types

Small Projects

  • Up to $600,000
  • Up to 3 years
  • Well suited to one or two investigators and at least one student and/or postdoctoral researcher

Medium Projects

  • $600,001 to $1,200,000
  • Up to 4 years
  • Well suited to one or more investigators and several students and/or postdoctoral researchers

OAC Core Projects

  • Up to $600,000
  • Up to 3 years
  • Well suited to one or two investigators and at least one student and/or postdoctoral researcher

Core Programs

Projects should align with one of these core programs:

Division of Computing and Communication Foundations

Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS)

Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS)

Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC)

The Oak Foundation

The Oak Foundation is committed to the fight for social justice, environmental protection, and a safer more sustainable world. They fund programs in eleven different focus areas, all addressing difficult global, social, or environmental issues.

Although they are headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Oak Foundation has a presence in Denmark, India, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zimbabwe. Each year they make over 300 grants in 40 countries, averaging $600,000 each.

Grantees are typically invited to apply, but any nonprofit organization that believes their work aligns with the Foundation’s funding priorities can submit a Letter of Inquiry. After review, an invitation to submit a concept note and/or full application may be extended.

Programs

Jason Debus Heigl Foundation

The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation was founded in 2008 in memory of Jason Heigl and his love of animals. They provide funding to programs that address animal cruelty and overpopulation. At this time they are focusing on programs that implement their Namaste Spay and Neuter initiative.

Applications can be submitted through their website at any time. No minimum or maximum award is listed.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the United States engaged in:

  • Free or subsidized spay/neuter clinics
  • Rescue
  • Fostering and transport
  • Adoption
  • Pet care education
  • Obedience programs

Program Expectations

Applicant programs should:

  • Promote positive change
  • Benefit as many animals as possible
  • Maximize awareness and education
  • Produce measurable results
  • Derive funding from other sources

Namaste Spay and Neuter Initiative

Namaste Days are free spay/neuter clinics for cats and dogs. After the clinic, the Heigl Foundation will reimburse the cost of surgeries, pain medications, and other pre-approved expenses, such as vaccinations.

Fast Break for Small Business Grant

Fast Break for Small Business is a cooperative effort of LegalZoom and the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G Leagues, which supports small business owners and emerging entrepreneurs in the United States.

Awards of $10,000 and a LegalZoom product valued at up to $500 will be given to 150 small businesses. A LegalZoom product valued at up to $500 will also be given to 3,000 entrepreneurs whose business hasn’t launched. Applications are due by September 13, 2024.

Eligibility

Small Businesses

The award for small businesses is open to for-profit entities that:

  • Are based in the United States
  • Have been in business for at least 3 months
  • Have an annual revenue of less than $1 million
  • Have an active business bank account
  • Can provide their most recent business tax return OR
  • If they’ve been in operation for less than 12 months, can provide their (1) Articles of Incorporation, (2) Sole proprietorship formation, (3) Fictitious name statement or DBA, (4) EIN registration, (5) City, state, or federal business license, (6) Relevant professional license

Entrepreneurs

The award for entrepreneurs is open to for-profit entities that:

  • Are based in the United States
  • Have been in business for fewer than 3 months or can provide a summary of their business idea

Ineligible Industries

Businesses in the following industries are ineligible:

  • Adult entertainment
  • Tobacco shops, stands, and wholesalers
  • Firearms and ammunition sellers, gun clubs, and shooting ranges
  • Marijuana or cannabis related industries
  • Massage parlors, saunas, or hot tub facilities
  • Gambling facilities, including racetracks
  • Real estate investment companies, house flippers, hotels, or real estate rental businesses
  • Banking and financial institutions
  • Merchant services and payment companies
  • Lending businesses and small business loan brokers
  • Pawn shops
  • Check cashers
  • Bail bondsmen
  • Collection companies and debt consolidation firms
  • Multi-level marketing companies
  • Transportation of hazardous materials
  • Oil and gas exploration/securities
  • Rideshare businesses

March of Dimes Discovery Research Grants

March of Dimes Discovery Research Grants support established researchers on a global level making distinct improvements to clinical care for pregnant people and babies.

Applications for $200,000 over two years are due by September 6, 2024. Projects will start January 1, 2025.

Eligibility

This grant is open to anyone committed to research on maternal and infant health, including:

  • Health professional and researchers
  • Epidemiologists
  • Social scientists with a PhD and a faculty appointment or equivalent at a university
  • Hospitals
  • Research institutions
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Start-ups
  • Nonprofit organizations

Priority Areas

  • Spontaneous preterm birth – Research that focuses on improving clinical care through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the causes of spontaneous preterm birth.
  • Racial inequities as they relate to morbidity, mortality, and access to care – Research that focuses on solutions to the impacts of racial inequality on maternal health outcomes.
  • Cardiovascular health conditions developed or exacerbated during pregnancy – Research that focuses on substantive methods to characterize, prevent, and/or mitigate the development of cardiovascular issues during pregnancy.

Requirements and Restrictions

All research projects must:

  • Have the potential to improve clinical care and decrease the rate of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality

Research projects may:

  • Include the periods of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and up to one year postpartum
  • Include human studies, studies with human tissue, or studies at the population level
  • Include improvements to information and communications technology
  • Include models systems research if it will validate novel human disease processes