Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits

Unrestricted grants — also called general operating support — are the most flexible and most valued form of nonprofit funding. These grants can be used for any organizational purpose: salaries, rent, utilities, programs, or anything else the organization needs. While harder to find than program grants, a growing number of funders recognize that strong organizations need unrestricted support.

285 grants
Foundation
Updated daily
Horizons Foundation · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Community Issues Grant Program Overview: Horizons Foundation's flagship funding program that provides grants to grassroots LGBTQ nonprofits across the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Geographic…

MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open · Annual Foundation

Community Power Initiative (CPI) Launched: June 2024 Purpose: Provide multi-year, general operating support to nonprofits serving Marin County residents. Designed to reduce administrative burden,…

CITI FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Community Progress Makers Fund Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Citi Foundation Amount: US $1,000,000 Last Updated: September 24, 2025 Summary The Community Progress Makers Fund, an initiative by the…

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE FOX VALLEY · Rolling / Open Foundation

Community Vision Fund- Annual Responsive Grants ​ Status: ACTIVE Funder: Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Amount: US $1,000 - US $15,000 Last Updated: March 06, 2026 Summary Overview…

Evanston Community Foundation · Rolling / Open · Semi-annual Foundation

Community-Led Grants Status: Semi-annual cycles (Fall and Spring); Spring 2026 cycle is now closed Geographic Scope: Evanston, Illinois Purpose: Community-led grantmaking approach that places power…

Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development · Rolling / Open Foundation

Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Amount: Up to US $1,000,000 Last Updated: October 28, 2025 Summary The…

HUTTON FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Core / General Operating Support: Cycle 1 Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Hutton Foundation A Delaware Corp Amount: US $5,000 - US $15,000 Last Updated: February 26, 2026 Summary The Hutton Parker…

$20,000 over 2 years ($10,000/year)
ADAM AND MARIA SARAH SEYBERT · May 15, 2027 · Biennial Foundation

Core Grants Program Overview: The Seybert Foundation supports organizations working to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged children and youth in the City of Philadelphia through General…

Coshocton Foundation · Rolling / Open Foundation

Coshocton Foundation Unrestricted Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Coshocton Foundation Last Updated: April 22, 2025 Summary The Coshocton Foundation, established in 1967, supports the community through…

PROPEL NONPROFITS · Rolling / Open · One-time Foundation

COVID-19 Recovery Grants for Nonprofits Status: One-time grant program, no longer accepting applications (program concluded in 2020) Overview: Propel Nonprofits awarded grants to support…

BENEFICIAL STATE FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open · One-time Foundation

COVID-19 Response Fund Status: Created August 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic; appears to be concluded Geographic Scope: California, Oregon, Washington, and beyond Program Overview: Beneficial…

NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Craven County Community Foundation Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: North Carolina Community Foundation Inc Amount: US $500 - US $15,000 Last Updated: March 12, 2026 Summary The Craven County Community…

GREATER OLEAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DBA · Rolling / Open Foundation

CRCF: Community Fund Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation Amount: Up to US $2,500 Last Updated: March 03, 2026 Summary The CRCF Community Fund offers unrestricted…

NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Currituck-Dare Community Foundation Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: North Carolina Community Foundation Inc Amount: US $1,000 - US $3,000 Last Updated: February 12, 2026 Summary The Currituck-Dare…

THE KRESGE FOUNDATION · Rolling / Open Foundation

Overview Detroit Arts Support provides multi-year operating support grants to arts organizations in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. DAS in supported by The Kresge Foundation, Fred and Barbara…

DOGWOOD HEALTH TRUST · Rolling / Open Foundation

Overview Dogwood Health Trust Dogwood Health Trust was created in 2018, but our ethos was inspired by a tradition of caring for a community that is more than a century old and rooted in our…

US $10,000 - US $250,000
Dory Foundation · Rolling / Open Foundation

Dory Foundation Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Dory Foundation Amount: US $10,000 - US $250,000 Last Updated: October 07, 2025 Summary The Dory Foundation Grant supports innovative, early-stage…

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are unrestricted grants hard to find?
Many funders prefer program-specific grants because they can point to tangible outcomes. However, the Trust-Based Philanthropy movement is changing this — more funders now offer general operating support. MacKenzie Scott's no-strings-attached gifts have also shifted norms. Community foundations, corporate sponsors, and earned revenue are other unrestricted funding sources.
Which major foundations give unrestricted grants?
The Ford Foundation moved to primarily general support. The Hewlett Foundation's organizational effectiveness grants are unrestricted. MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving provides large unrestricted gifts. Many community foundations offer general operating grants. The Kresge Foundation, Packard Foundation, and Open Society Foundations also provide significant unrestricted funding.
How do I find more unrestricted funding?
Look for funders who explicitly mention "general operating support" in their guidelines. Build multi-year relationships with program funders and request unrestricted renewals. Develop earned revenue streams for maximum flexibility. Community foundations, United Ways, and federated campaigns often provide unrestricted annual grants to member agencies.

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