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
OTHER – Community Heart & Soul Seed Grants   Community Heart & Soul · State Rolling · $1M   Provides start-up funding for resident-driven groups looking to implement the Community Heart & Soul model in communities with populations under 30,000.	Rolling	$1M
OTHER – Community Heart & Soul Seed Grants Community Heart & Soul · State Rolling · $1M Provides start-up funding for resident-driven groups looking to implement the Community Heart & Soul model in communities with populations under 30,000.	Rolling	$1M
AMS Peace & Social Justice Seed Grants The American Montessori Society Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Annual grants awarded by the AMS Peace & Social Justice Committee to help fund projects that promote peace and social justice education.	Rolling	Varies
Seed Fund Grant Chapel of the Cross · Foundation Rolling · $15K – $25K The Chapel of the Cross Seed Fund aims to foster innovative community initiatives that may not have been possible without this support.	Rolling	$15K – $25K
Francis R. Dewing Foundation Grant Frances R Dewing Foundation 7600-XXXXXX15480 · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Francis R. Dewing Foundation Grant provides seed money to support innovative projects in early childhood education, benefiting children up to sixth grade.	Rolling	Varies
FAST Innovation Seed Grant Foundation for Angelman Syndrome · Foundation Rolling · $10K – $50K A funding opportunity designed to support innovative proof-of-concept research to advance the understanding and treatment of Angelman Syndrome.	Rolling	$10K – $50K
Advisor Recommendation (Donor Advised) Grants Ripley County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Advisor Recommendation (Donor Advised) Grants by the Ripley County Community Foundation support nonprofits in Ripley County. Advisors must submit a recommendation form for funding distributions to qualified organizations.	Rolling	Varies
Comis Foundation Grant The Comis Foundation 2423-00-48 · Foundation Rolling · $5K – $75K The Comis Foundation Grant aims to provide equitable opportunities for children to thrive through education and community engagement.	Rolling	$5K – $75K
Thrive Philanthropy - Seed Grant Thrive Philanthropy · Foundation Rolling · Up to $5K Thrive Philanthropy's Seed Grant supports innovative, small-scale projects outside the USA that promote just, plant-based food systems and reduce animal consumption.	Rolling	Up to $5K
Daily Grants / Seed Funding The Pollination Project Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $500 The Pollination Project provides one-time seed funding to grassroots changemakers at early stages of their work. The foundation exists to uplift individuals and organizations whose work helps build a kinder, more compassionate world.	Rolling	Up to $500
Barclay-Giel Seed Grants PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $10K This program provided seed grants to support community-based public health programs. The Commissioned Officers Foundation (COF) ended this program on June 7, 2025, to better align efforts with long-term strategic goals.	Rolling	Up to $10K
SFFI: Seed Grants Schlecht Family Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Schlecht Family Foundation Inc offers Seed Grants aimed at nonprofit and social enterprise organizations in their startup phase, or established nonprofits launching new programs in Dane County and rural Wisconsin.	Rolling	Varies
Fast Grants Our Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $750 Fast Grants provide one-time assistance for unplanned charitable projects that are small in scale but help organizations meet unanticipated needs or opportunities, or provide support for new and innovative projects that positively impact…	Rolling	Up to $750
nccPA Health Foundation: Equitable Care - Be the Change Grant nccPA Health Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $3K The nccPA Health Foundation: Equitable Care - Be the Change Grant supports PAs and PA students in implementing projects that improve health access and promote equity in their communities.	Rolling	Up to $3K
Arts DuPage Seed Grants The Dupage Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $5K Arts DuPage Seed Grants, offered by the DuPage Foundation, support emerging arts organizations in DuPage County. Eligible applicants, with less than three years of 501(c)(3) designation, can receive a $5,000 matching grant.	Rolling	$5K
Al Qasimi Foundation - Seed Research Grants Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to AED50,000 The Al Qasimi Foundation offers Seed Research Grants to support applied research and pilot initiatives that positively impact the Ras Al Khaimah community.	Rolling	Up to AED50,000
First Steps Grants The Binky Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies _NOTE: The First Steps Grant Application is accessible here, and will continue to be accessible until the grant window is closed at the discretion of the Foundation._ Although there are many organizations nationwide that are involved in…	Rolling	Varies
Crossroads Fund: Seed Fund Grant Crossroads Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $15K The Crossroads Fund: Seed Fund Grant supports organizations and groups in the Chicago Metropolitan area that promote social change. It focuses on collaborative, risk-taking, and strategic efforts that yield concrete community benefits.	Rolling	Up to $15K
Arts Organizations: StartUp Program Grant Delaware Division of the Arts · Foundation Rolling · Up to $3K The Delaware Division of the Arts offers the StartUp Program Grants aimed at strengthening the management capacity of emerging arts organizations in Delaware.	Rolling	Up to $3K
Mission Program Grants: New Worshiping Communities Seed Grant Presbyterian Mission Agency · Foundation Rolling · Up to $10K The Mission Program Grants: New Worshiping Communities Seed Grant offers up to $10,000 to support the establishment of new worshiping communities connected to the Presbyterian Church (USA).	Rolling	Up to $10K
Medical Research Grants- Seed Grants The Rhode Island Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $25K The Medical Research Grants- Seed Grants program, offered by the Rhode Island Community Foundation, supports early-career researchers at academic or hospital institutions in Rhode Island.	Rolling	Up to $25K
BCF Emergent Needs Grants Branford Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $2K – $20K The BCF Emergent Needs Grants provide funding for urgent projects and emergencies that fall outside the typical annual grant cycle.	Rolling	$2K – $20K
Social Innovation Grant United Way of East Tennessee · Foundation Rolling · $10K – $30K	Rolling	$10K – $30K
Timely Grant Program United Way of Knox County Ohio Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Launched in 2018, the Timely Grant Program offers quick, flexible funding for urgent needs, such as pilot programs, capital projects, and one-time initiatives.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 25–48 of 74

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.

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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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