Unrestricted Grants for Nonprofits

Q: How much money do unrestricted grants for nonprofits award?

Of the 284 unrestricted grants for nonprofits Grantable lists as of October 10, 2026, 171 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $15K, and the middle half fall between $4,500 and $53K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Q: Which funders offer the most unrestricted grants for nonprofits?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are North Carolina Community Foundation Inc (40), Greater Salina Community Foundation (6), Allegany Franciscan Ministries Inc (4), The Womens Foundation for the State of Arizona (4), and New Profit Inc (3). In all, 208 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

Q: When are unrestricted grants for nonprofits due?

Of 284 grants listed, 3 accept applications on a rolling basis, 14 have a published upcoming deadline, 67 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 200 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Last updated October 10, 2026

Grantable tracks 284 active unrestricted grants for nonprofits in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 5 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 171 list an award amount, with a median of $15K.

Grants tracked: 284; from 208 funders
Median award: $15K; middle half $4,500–$53K
Total listed funding: $45.8M; across 171 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 3; 14 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
CFMT Community Impact Grants The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $30K The CFMT Community Impact Grants aim to foster a thriving and inclusive community in Middle Tennessee through unrestricted operating support for nonprofits.	Not published	Up to $30K
Tommy Leonard Charitable Fund—Nonprofit of the Month Falmouth Road Race Inc · Foundation Not published · $3K	Not published	$3K
Mary Ceader Trust Bucks County Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A permanent fund established to serve the best interests of Bucks County residents as determined by the Bucks County Foundation.	Not published	Varies
Seeding Grants United Way of South Central Michigan · Foundation Not published · $60K Provide unrestricted, one-year investments to BIPOC-led organizations, representing a shift toward more equitable funding practices in philanthropy.	Not published	$60K
CFNRV: Responsive Grant Program The Community Foundation of the New River Valley Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $4K The Community Foundation of the New River Valley's Responsive Grant Program provides annual funding of up to $4,000 to nonprofits addressing community needs.	Not published	Up to $4K
Strategic Investment Grants Heart of Maine United Way · Foundation Not published · $2.3M Heart of Maine United Way's Strategic Investment Grants serve as the primary vehicle for funding programs that align with community goals across a 6-county region.	Not published	$2.3M
Independence Foundation Grant Independence Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $10K The Independence Foundation Grant supports organizations in healthcare, human services, legal aid, and the arts, focusing on promoting well-being and cultural change in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.	Not published	$5K – $10K
Lake County Resilience Grant Legacy Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The Lake County Resilience Grant provides crucial funding to nonprofit organizations in Lake County, Indiana, affected by federal and state funding cuts.	Not published	Up to $40K
Sleep Champion Award American Academy of Sleep Medicine · Foundation Not published · Varies The AASM Foundation is investing in people, research, and communities to improve the sleep health of all people.	Not published	Varies
Wilkes Community Foundation: Greater Wilkes Community Fund Grant North Carolina Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $3K The Wilkes Community Foundation's Greater Wilkes Community Fund supports local nonprofits through competitive grants, addressing diverse community needs since 1994.	Not published	$1K – $3K
COVID-19 Recovery Grants for Nonprofits Propel Nonprofits · Foundation Not published · Varies Propel Nonprofits awarded grants to support organizations' response to and recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including resulting financial impacts on operations and effects on communities served.	Not published	Varies
The Bisexual+ Fund Grant Philanthrofund Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $2K – $3K The Bisexual+ Fund Grant, offered by the PFund Foundation, supports organizations that promote equity for bisexual+ individuals in the upper Midwest, including Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.	Not published	$2K – $3K
Maliasili Conservation Fund (MCF) Maliasili Initiatives Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A groundbreaking pooled funding initiative launched to provide multi-year, unrestricted support to a portfolio of Africa's leading conservation organizations.	Not published	Varies
Circle of Giving Renton Regional Community Fndn · Foundation Not published · $200 – $4K A donor initiative created in 1999 to award grants to local nonprofits. The foundation does not accept applications; instead, donors recommend organizations they are passionate about.	Not published	$200 – $4K
Bertie-Hertford Community Foundation Unrestricted Endowment Grant North Carolina Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $500 – $1K The Bertie-Hertford Community Foundation Unrestricted Endowment provides essential funding for local nonprofit organizations in Bertie and Hertford counties, enabling them to meet community needs effectively.	Not published	$500 – $1K
IronMountain Solutions: Employee Peaks Fund Grant Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville · Foundation Not published · Varies The IronMountain Solutions Employee Peaks Fund, established in 2018 in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, supports local non-profits.	Not published	Varies
Spur Community Grants: General Operating Support Spur Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: If you have no relationship or previous point of contact with Spur, we ask that you contact a Spur staff member before applying._ At Spur Community Foundation, we believe impactful philanthropy helps ensure that the Wood River…	Not published	Varies
New York City Good Neighbor Committee Grants The Ford Foundation · Foundation Not published · $30K – $100K The New York City Good Neighbor Committee Grants support local organizations in NYC focusing on arts, education, and human services.	Not published	$30K – $100K
Annual Grants Program (Southern Arizona) The Womens Foundation for the State of Arizona · Foundation Not published · $65K – $975K WFSA's foundational annual grants program for nonprofits in Southern Arizona. The foundation has invested $4.5 million in more than 300 organizations over 30 years through this program.	Not published	$65K – $975K
A.V. Hunter Trust Grants to Organizations (General Operating) Av Hunter Trust Incorporated · Foundation Not published · $10K – $20K General operating grants to qualifying 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofits (operating >=3 full years, annual budget < $1,000,000, financially stable) that provide direct services to Coloradans in the priority areas People in Financial…	Not published	$10K – $20K
PACF: Community Impact Grant Princeton Area Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Our Vision: Thriving Philanthropy, Thriving Communities The Princeton Area Community Foundation is the philanthropic nexus of central New Jersey.	Not published	Varies
General Participatory Grantmaking Program The Bronx Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K Strategic Funding Priorities (Four Pillars): Participatory Grantmaking Committee (PGC):	Not published	Up to $50K
RAF Better Communities Grants: Fall Focus Areas Rochester Area Foundation · Foundation Not published · $10K – $20K The RAF Better Communities Grants focus on enhancing quality of life in the Rochester area through unrestricted funding for nonprofits.	Not published	$10K – $20K
Northern Albemarle Community Foundation Grant Program North Carolina Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The Northern Albemarle Community Foundation Grant Program supports local nonprofit organizations in Camden, Gates, Perquimans, and Pasquotank Counties with annual grants ranging from $500 to $3,000.	Not published	$1K – $5K

Showing 145–168 of 281

About 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.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow unrestricted 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 unrestricted grants for nonprofits award?

Of the 284 unrestricted grants for nonprofits Grantable lists as of October 10, 2026, 171 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $15K, and the middle half fall between $4,500 and $53K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most unrestricted grants for nonprofits?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are North Carolina Community Foundation Inc (40), Greater Salina Community Foundation (6), Allegany Franciscan Ministries Inc (4), The Womens Foundation for the State of Arizona (4), and New Profit Inc (3). In all, 208 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are unrestricted grants for nonprofits due?

Of 284 grants listed, 3 accept applications on a rolling basis, 14 have a published upcoming deadline, 67 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 200 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

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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