Operating Grants for Nonprofits

Last updated October 24, 2026

Grantable tracks 371 active operating grants for nonprofits in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 17 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 210 list an award amount, with a median of $23K.

Grants tracked: 371; from 301 funders
Median award: $23K; middle half $10K–$60K
Total listed funding: $27.2M; across 210 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 7; 24 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
MSAC Grants for Organizations Maryland State Arts Council · Foundation Not published · $50K The MSAC Grants for Organizations program offers annual operating grants to organizations in Maryland that present or produce arts programs for the public. It aims to enhance the sustainability and vitality of Maryland's cultural landscape.	Not published	$50K
Operations and Program Grant Quad Cities Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $20K The Operations and Program Grant by the Quad Cities Community Foundation provides essential operating and program support to nonprofits, enhancing their long-term sustainability.	Not published	$5K – $20K
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation: Operating Grants - Jobs The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg · Foundation Not published · Varies The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation The Weinberg Foundation fulfills its mission of meeting the basic needs of people experiencing poverty by providing grants across five focus areas that serve a range of populations, primarily…	Not published	Varies
Baltimore City Community Grants Program: Operating Grants - Health The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg · Foundation Not published · Varies This program was created to provide support to small nonprofits with an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less that provide direct services to low-income individuals and families in Baltimore City.	Not published	Varies
Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund - Increased Operating Costs The Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: This fund has paused grant making as of May 2, 2025._ In response to the significant impact of Hurricane Helene on our community, the Community Foundation for the CSRA established the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund.	Not published	Varies
Annual Responsive Grants - Cycle 2 (Livable and Resilient Communities and Successful Aging) San Antonio Area Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The San Antonio Area Foundation's Annual Responsive Grants - Cycle 2 focuses on Livable and Resilient Communities and Successful Aging.	Not published	Varies
Ausherman Family Foundation General Grants Ausherman Family Foundation · Foundation Rolling · From $3K General Grants fund operating, program, and/or project costs for 501(c)(3) organizations (or fiscally sponsored) serving Frederick County, MD, within the Foundation's areas of interest (Children/Youth/Families, Health & Human Services…	Rolling	From $3K
SACF Community Support Initiative Grant Scranton Area Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Nonprofit organizations across Lackawanna County are navigating a wide range of challenges, pressures, and changes that are affecting their ability to meet community needs.	Not published	Varies
Operating Grants The Weld Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies Operating grants are part of The Weld Trust's grantmaking portfolio designed to support organizational operations of nonprofits, schools, and government entities.	Not published	Varies
Economic Freedom: Early Care and Education Grant Colorado Gives Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K The Economic Freedom: Early Care and Education Grant from the Colorado Gives Foundation aims to enhance access to quality child care and education for children under 8 in Jefferson County.	Not published	$5K – $25K
Portland Arts & Culture: General Operating Support Grant City of Portland Office of Arts & Culture · State Not published · $21K – $350K The Portland Arts & Culture General Operating Support program provides essential funding for local arts organizations that enhance the cultural ecosystem of the city.	Not published	$21K – $350K
General Operating Support (GOS) Grant (UT) Utah Division of Arts & Museums · Foundation Not published · Up to $375K The General Operating Support (GOS) Grant is a two-year funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations and municipal governments in Utah focused on the arts or public museums.	Not published	Up to $375K
VCA General Operating Support: Medium and Large Arts Organizations Grant Virginia Commission for the Arts · Foundation Not published · $5K The VCA General Operating Support program provides vital funding for medium and large arts organizations in Virginia, aimed at supporting their operational needs.	Not published	$5K
Speckhard-Knight Charitable Foundation Grant Speckhard-Knight Charitable Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2K – $15K The Speckhard-Knight Charitable Foundation Grant aims to support nonprofit organizations in Jackson and Washtenaw Counties, providing essential resources for individuals to live inspired and independent lives.	Not published	$2K – $15K
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation: Operating Grants - Housing The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg · Foundation Not published · Varies The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation The Weinberg Foundation fulfills its mission of meeting the basic needs of people experiencing poverty by providing grants across five focus areas that serve a range of populations, primarily…	Not published	Varies
Support Grants Arts Council Santa Cruz County · Foundation Not published · Varies We serve as a connector between artists, arts networks, government leaders, arts advocates, arts educators, and arts education organizations.	Not published	Varies
Special Programs for the Aging: Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) · Foundation Not published · $100K – $6M The Special Programs for the Aging grant provides funding to enhance the quality of life for older adults in Illinois.	Not published	$100K – $6M
Partners For Health: General Operating and Project Grants Partners for Health Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Partners for Health Foundation offers General Operating and Project Grants aimed at strengthening organizations and supporting specific initiatives that promote health equity.	Not published	Varies
Nonprofit Relief Fund Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Inc · Foundation Not published · $50K – $200M MCN, with key partners, is advocating for creation of a one-time Nonprofit Relief Fund providing $200 million for nonprofits statewide.	Not published	$50K – $200M
Hickory Fund Grant The League Club Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K The Hickory Fund Grant aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities in Wisconsin and South Carolina. Funding supports capital campaigns, new programs, general operating support, and social entrepreneurship.	Not published	$5K – $25K
Baltimore City Community Grants Program: Operating Grants - Aging The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg · Foundation Not published · Varies This program was created to provide support to small nonprofits with an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less that provide direct services to low-income individuals and families in Baltimore City.	Not published	Varies
Jack’s Community Grants Jack in the Box Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies At Jack in the Box, we know the value of being original. For over 70 years, our unique style and way of doing things has revolutionized the fast-food industry.	Not published	Varies
Youth in the Humanities Grant Humanities Council of Washington DC Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The DC Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) documents, preserves, and celebrates the lived experiences of all Washington, DC residents and communities through oral history.	Not published	Varies
The Vatterott Foundation Grants Vatterott Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: The Foundation accepts applications on a rolling/ ongoing basis. Organizations are welcome to apply once a year.	Not published	Varies

Showing 73–96 of 369

About operating support grants

Operating support grants (also called general operating or unrestricted grants) give nonprofits flexible funding they can apply to whatever the organization most needs — salaries, rent, utilities, technology, or building reserves — rather than restricting the money to a single program. This flexibility makes operating support among the most valuable and sought-after funding, because it strengthens the whole organization and helps it adapt. It is generally awarded to established nonprofits a funder already trusts to use the money well.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow operating grants for nonprofits down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do operating grants for nonprofits award?

Of the 371 operating grants for nonprofits Grantable lists as of October 24, 2026, 210 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $23K, and the middle half fall between $10K and $60K. The largest is $6M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most operating grants for nonprofits?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg (6), 4Culture (5), Texas Commission On The Arts (5), Tennessee Arts Commission (4), and Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (3). In all, 301 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are operating grants for nonprofits due?

Of 371 grants listed, 7 accept applications on a rolling basis, 24 have a published upcoming deadline, 49 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 291 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 50% fall in January–March.

What is an operating support grant?

An operating support grant provides unrestricted or general-purpose funding that a nonprofit can allocate across its core costs — staff, overhead, infrastructure, and mission work — at its own discretion. Because it isn't tied to a single project, it lets organizations cover the real costs of running well, invest in capacity, and weather changes in their funding mix.

Which funders give unrestricted operating support?

Operating support most often comes from private and family foundations, community foundations, and some corporate funders, particularly those that have an established relationship with a grantee and want to support the organization as a whole. Trust-based philanthropy has made multi-year, unrestricted operating grants more common, though many funders still reserve them for organizations with a strong track record.

How is operating support different from project grants?

A project grant restricts funding to a specific program with its own budget, deliverables, and reporting, whereas operating support can be spent flexibly across the organization's general needs. Project grants are easier for new applicants to win because the scope is defined, but operating support is more valuable to the grantee because it covers overhead and lets leadership direct resources where they are needed most.

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