Seed Grants for Nonprofits

Last updated September 29, 2026

There are currently 77 open seed grants for nonprofits in Grantable's free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 51 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.

Open grants: 77; from 72 funders
Median award: $10K; middle half $5,000–$25K
Total listed funding: $3.3M; across 51 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 7; 7 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Start Up Support for a New Program/Project CPPS Heritage Mission Fund · Foundation January 13, 2027 · $5K – $100K For organizations requesting start up support for a new program. Grant funds would be used to launch a new program and cover new expenses that are not currently a part of the organization's budget.	January 13, 2027	$5K – $100K
Brabson Family Foundation Grant Brabson Library & Educational · Foundation March 1, 2027 · Up to $10K Seed funding for pilot programs/projects from 501(c)(3) nonprofits; favors novel ideas addressing a specific challenge with scalability. In 2025 received 600+ applications and funded ~5%; most grants under $10,000.	March 1, 2027	Up to $10K
StartUp Program (STU) Division of the Arts Grants · State March 1, 2027 · Varies Comprehensive program of financial support, training, and consultation to develop and strengthen management capacity of emerging arts organizations, organizations applying for annual grants for the first time, or previous grantees with…	March 1, 2027	Varies
Amplify Your Impact Reisenbach Philanthropies Inc · Foundation May 15, 2027 · Varies Amplify Your Impact™ is an initiative that provides high-potential new programs in New York City with funding and intensive support.	May 15, 2027	Varies
Board of Visitors Grant: Category D The Board of Visitors · Foundation Rolling · Up to $5K The Board of Visitors Grant: Category D provides funding up to $5,000 for 501(c)3 organizations that address healthcare needs for women, children, and the elderly in Phoenix.	Rolling	Up to $5K
Barra Foundation: Catalyst Fund Grant The Barra Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Barra Foundation's Catalyst Fund Grant provides essential early-stage funding for social impact organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region.	Rolling	Varies
Smart Family Fund Grant The Smart Family Fund · Foundation Rolling · $25K – $100K The Smart Family Fund is a private foundation dedicated to supporting early-stage non-profits that demonstrate the potential for scalable, positive impact.	Rolling	$25K – $100K
Distribution Requests Grant Ripley County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Ripley County Community Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations serving Ripley County.	Rolling	Varies
ACS Student Communities Starter Grant American Chemical Society · Foundation Rolling · Up to $350 The ACS Student Communities Starter Grant offers funding up to $350 for institutions looking to establish or revive ACS student chapters after five years of inactivity.	Rolling	Up to $350
AmeriCorps Oregon Planning Grants OregonServes State Service Commission · Foundation Rolling · Up to $75K The AmeriCorps Oregon Planning Grants offer funding to assist organizations in developing new AmeriCorps programs that tackle community challenges.	Rolling	Up to $75K
Catalytic Grants Howell Conservation Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $5K Catalytic Grants are philanthropic investments into organizations or projects designed to help kickstart new ideas and gain financial traction with other supporters.	Rolling	Up to $5K
Wabash Valley Community Foundation Seed Grants Wabash Valley Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $10K The Wabash Valley Community Foundation offers Seed Grants to support preliminary projects aligned with the "See You in Terre Haute" Community Plan.	Rolling	Up to $10K
Pioneer Seed Grants Iowa 4-H Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
SJF: Seed Grants Social Justice Fund Northwest · Foundation Rolling · $5K The SJF Seed Grants provide $5,000 in funding to support new and emerging groups focused on community organizing in ID, MT, OR, WA, or WY.	Rolling	$5K
SFFI: Impact Investments Grant Schlecht Family Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Schlecht Family Foundation Inc is committed to transforming communities in Dane County and rural Wisconsin through innovative support for organizations.	Rolling	Varies
New Horizons Grants Blue Cross & Blue Shield · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation recognizes the need to foster innovation as means of improving health and wellbeing in Louisiana.	Rolling	Varies
C. Scott & Dorothy E. Watkins Charitable Foundation Grant - New Organizations C Scott & Dorothy E Watkins · Foundation Rolling · Varies The C. Scott & Dorothy E. Watkins Charitable Foundation Grant supports new organizations in Utah focusing on education, health care, and community services. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profits serving local areas.	Rolling	Varies
Micro Grants The Schenectady Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $10K Address requests of $10,000 or less. Often utilized for planning, research, and development of future projects, or to get pilot projects off the ground.	Rolling	Up to $10K
Strategic Grants John's Island Community Service · Foundation Rolling · Varies Distributed funding for non-standard requests that fall outside the regular annual grant cycle.	Rolling	Varies
Black Wildflowers Fund - School Start-Up Grant The Wildflower Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Exclusively for Wildflower Community—designed to bridge the wealth gap and minimize the financial strain often experienced by Black educators who embark on the School Start-up Journey.	Rolling	Varies
Community Impact Grants Program Union County Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Community Impact Grants Program, administered by the Union County Foundation, invites competitive grant applications four times a year.	Rolling	Varies
OTHER – Seed Grants/Grow Grants Grassroots Fund · State Rolling · $50K – $400K Seed Grants: Provides seed money to grassroots organizers to launch new projects or start to significantly change the direction of an existing project.	Rolling	$50K – $400K
The Transformational Partnerships Fund: Seed Grants Ecmc Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $10K The Transformational Partnerships Fund offers Seed Grants of up to $10,000 to colleges and universities seeking to explore partnerships that can enhance their operations.	Rolling	Up to $10K
Seed Grants Arts & Science Council · Foundation Rolling · Varies Grant program to support initial funding for new creative projects or ventures.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 1–24 of 74

Seed grants for nonprofits by the numbers

How deadlines work

Rolling or ongoing: 7 9%
Upcoming date published: 7 9%
Stated cycle, no date yet: 11 14%
No deadline published: 52 68%

Only 7 of these grants publish a date, too few to show a seasonal pattern.

Funders with the most open seed grants for nonprofits

Branford Community Foundation 2 open
Community Heart & Soul 2 open
Ripley County Community Foundation Inc 2 open
Schlecht Family Foundation Inc 2 open
The Wildflower Foundation 2 open

72 funders have at least one open grant in this category.

Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 77 open seed grants for nonprofits (active, with a deadline today or later or none published) as of September 29, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum.

About seed grants

Seed grants provide early-stage funding to launch a new organization, program, or idea before it has a track record or other support. They are typically smaller and intended to help recipients test a concept, build initial capacity, or reach a milestone that unlocks larger funding. Because they fund unproven work, seed grants emphasize the strength of the idea, the team, and a credible plan rather than past results.

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

Seed Grants by state

Browse seed grants available to organizations in 4 states.

Seed Grants in Vermont 3 Seed Grants in Alaska 1 Seed Grants in Delaware 1 Seed Grants in Michigan 1

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do seed grants for nonprofits award?

Of the 77 open seed grants for nonprofits Grantable lists as of September 29, 2026, 51 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $5,000 and $25K. The largest is $1M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most seed grants for nonprofits?

By number of open listings, the most active funders are Branford Community Foundation (2), Community Heart & Soul (2), Ripley County Community Foundation Inc (2), Schlecht Family Foundation Inc (2), and The Wildflower Foundation (2). In all, 72 funders have at least one open grant in this category.

When are seed grants for nonprofits due?

Of 77 open grants, 7 accept applications on a rolling basis, 7 have a published upcoming deadline, 11 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 52 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What is a seed grant?

A seed grant is early-stage, often modest funding meant to get a new nonprofit, program, or pilot off the ground. It typically covers startup costs — initial staffing, a pilot, research, or proof-of-concept work — and is designed to help an organization reach the point where it can attract larger or ongoing funding. The focus is on potential and feasibility rather than an established history.

Who offers seed funding to nonprofits?

Seed grants come from foundations with innovation or startup initiatives, community foundations, corporate social-impact programs, and venture-philanthropy or social-entrepreneurship funds. Some funders run dedicated pilot or incubation programs, and many pair a seed grant with mentorship, training, or technical assistance to improve the odds that the new effort succeeds.

How do you improve your chances of winning a seed grant?

Because there's little or no track record to point to, a strong seed application leads with a clear, well-defined problem, a credible and specific plan, and evidence that your team can execute. Funders also look for a defined milestone the seed money will achieve and a realistic path to sustainability beyond the grant. Pilots, letters of support, and any early proof points strengthen the case.

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