Are you ready to unlock your nonprofit’s Full potential?

Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

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A J Muste Foundation for Peace and Justice

The Foundation’s Social Justice Fund supports grassroots activist projects, giving priority to those with small budgets and little access to more mainstream funding sources. The Fund is interested in confronting institutionalized violence against racial, ethnic, gender-based, and LGBTQ communities.

Deadline: October 20, 2025

https://ajmuste.org/apply/sjf

Third Wave Fund

Applications are open for the Mobilize Power Fund, a rapid response fund for gender justice organizations. Potential projects include healing justice work, conflict mediation/resolution, legal or bail fees, marches or rallies, leadership training and skills building, and more.

Deadlines: August 5 and October 7, 2025

https://www.thirdwavefund.org/mobilize-power-fund

The Impact Fund

The Fund provide recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits who seek to confront social, economic, and environmental injustice that affect marginalized groups. Focus areas include human and civil rights, prisoners’ rights, voting rights, juvenile justice reform, gender equity, disability rights, immigrants’ rights, LGBT rights, combatting racism, fair housing, and more.

Deadline: October 7, 2025

https://www.impactfund.org/legal-grants/application-requirements

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ's Office for Victims of Crime is supporting the development, expansion and strengthening of victim service programs for all victims of crime throughout the U.S., including services to child and youth victims, and services to elder abuse, fraud, and exploitation, among other programs.

Deadline: August 15, 2025

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/360096

Nathan Cummings Foundation

The Foundation supports U.S. nonprofits working to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice. Submit Letter of Inquiry.

Deadline: October 2025 (check website)

https://nathancummings.org/apply-for-funding/

Office on Violence Against Women

The Addressing Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative will support programs to help Hispanic, Black, and Tribal institutions in strengthening their institutional response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Deadline: September 9, 2025

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/360060

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Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation

The Foundation is seeking applications for its Dental Grant Program to support community-based initiatives that provide dental care and ultimately serve as a primary dentist to underserved/limited access children.

Deadline: September 19, 2025

https://aapdfoundation.org/apply-for-grants/

Administration for Children and Families

The Administration’s Prevention Services Evaluation Partnerships: Supporting Adoptive Families Program supports programs that help adoptive families at risk of disruption or dissolution that may result in foster care placements. This funding opportunity focuses on partnerships between researchers, agencies, and community nonprofits with experience working with adopted children, foster children, or children in kinship care. 

Deadline: September 8, 2025

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/355490

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood

The Foundation is providing seed money to implement imaginative proposals that exhibit the greatest chance of improving the lives of young children, from infancy to 7 years, on a national scale. Areas of support include parenting education, early childhood welfare, and early childhood education and play. Submit Letter of Inquiry online.

Deadline: September 30, 2025

https://earlychildhoodfoundation.org/#application-process

P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education

The Teacher Grant program provides funding for art supplies for teachers to support a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into education in the school classroom setting, with a special focus on those who learn differently.

Deadline: September 30, 2025

https://www.mossfoundation.org/grants/

DWF Foundation

Foundation grants provide funds, resources and mentoring support to help individuals, groups and communities achieve their full potential. Areas of support for nonprofits include Health and Wellbeing, Education, Homelessness, Employability, and more.

Deadline: September 30, 2025

https://dwfgroup.com/about-us/dwf-foundation

 (If the link doesn't open, please copy and paste in a separate tab or different browser.)

William T. Grant Foundation

The Foundation’s Institutional Challenge Grant supports building sustained research-practice partnerships with public agencies and nonprofits in order to reduce inequality in youth outcomes.

Deadline: September 15, 2025

https://wtgrantfoundation.org/funding/institutional-challenge-grant

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Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

Lady Freethinker

Applications are now open for the Urgent Need Fund for nonprofits that are planning or currently working on projects to rescue or care for animals or raise awareness to improve the way animals are treated.

Deadline: August 9, 2025

https://ladyfreethinker.org/urgent-need-grants-program/

Cold Noses Foundation

The Foundation’s Grant program funds special projects relating to the humane treatment of animals, finding homes and non-lethal alternatives to euthanasia, veterinary care for needy families or organizations, and humane education.

Deadline: July 31, 2025

https://www.coldnosesfoundation.org/grant-guidelines

Glide Foundation

The Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Grant Program to support animal protection organizations, such as the Humane Society, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and rescue organizations; land, preservation, and wildlife conservancy groups; and nonprofits committed to agricultural purposes. Priority given to California nonprofits.

Deadline: August 15, 2025

https://www.glidefoundation.org/grants.html

Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative

The Initiative provides support for efforts that promote safe, responsible use of off-highway vehicles, educate the public on proper recreational land use and wildlife conservation practices, and protect access to public lands. Funds may be used for trail development, land management, conservation projects, safety and education, outdoor recreation, and more.

Deadline: September 30, 2025

https://yamahaoai.com/

Clif Family Foundation

The Foundation supports strengthening the food system and communities, enhancing public health, and safeguarding the environment and natural resources. Grants are provided throughout the U.S., with some emphasis on California.

Deadline: August 1, 2025

https://cliffamilyfoundation.org

T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program

Grants support community projects in small towns (population less than 50,000 people) across the U.S. Projects can occur in all fields of interest, including the environment and animal welfare.

Next Deadline: September 30, 2025

https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants

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Quadratec

Quadratec Cares ‘Energize the Environment’ Grant Program supports nonprofit programs or initiatives to benefit our environment, including trail improvements, litter prevention, park beautification, community environmental efforts, and more.

Next deadline: October 30, 2025

https://www.quadratec.com/page/quadratec-cares-grant-program

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Let me spill some tea — mine and my friends’.

I’ve reviewed numerous grant proposals in my time. And over the years, I’ve also had the pleasure (and sometimes horror) of chatting with lots of other grant reviewers. Together, we’ve seen it all. The brilliant. The bizarre. The “Oh, honey, no.”

So today, I’m sharing some of the most head-scratching, hilarious, and downright tragic mistakes that have crossed both my desk and the desks of my fellow reviewers. And more importantly, how you can avoid landing in the next installment of our blooper reel.

Grab your coffee. Let’s talk the truth.

Mistake #1: The Copy-Paste Catastrophe

Picture this.

A beautifully formatted grant proposal lands in the pile. It’s passionate, well written… until about halfway through, where it suddenly declares:

“This funding will support the vital programs of Big City Ballet.”

Problem? This proposal was from a wildlife rescue center.

Oops.

How to Avoid It:

• Customize every proposal. Even if you’re working from a template, triple-check names, program titles, and mission statements.
• Ask someone outside your organization to read your final draft. Fresh eyes catch embarrassing slip-ups.

Mistake #2: The Budget from Planet Mars

One time, a reviewer told me about a proposal requesting $50,000… attached to a budget totaling over two million dollars. No explanation. No matching funds. Just a quiet two million sitting there like a forgotten side dish at Thanksgiving.

I’ve seen my share of wacky budgets too. Look, I’m all for ambition. But math is not a place for magical thinking.

How to Avoid It:

• Make sure your request matches your budget. Simple as that.
• Explain how the numbers connect to your project goals. Don’t just plop a spreadsheet in and call it a day.
• Reviewers want to see that you can handle the funds you’re asking for. Give them confidence.

Mistake #3: The “I’ll Send It Later” Attachments

Here’s a fun one from the reviewer grapevine.

An applicant wrote:

“See attached financial statements.”

Except… there were no attachments.

It’s like sending a Valentine that says “open for a surprise” and finding an empty envelope.

I’ve had to chase down missing documents too, and trust me, it’s not a good look for your proposal.

How to Avoid It:

• Before you hit submit, check your attachments. Every single one.
• Some grant portals let you preview your submission. Use it.
• Create a checklist of required documents so you don’t miss anything in the rush.

Mistake #4: The Never-Ending Proposal

Some proposals are so long, reviewers have joked about needing a snack halfway through. One memorable gem clocked in at 97 pages. Ninety. Seven.

Unless you’re writing the next War and Peace, keep it concise.

I’ve definitely reached the end of some proposals and thought, “Well, that was my whole afternoon.”

How to Avoid It:

• Follow the word or page limits. Reviewers respect applicants who respect boundaries.
• Use appendices for extra details if the funder allows it.
• Be ruthless about cutting repetition and fluff. Less is often more.

Mistake #5: The “One Size Fits All” Proposal

One grant reviewer shared how an organization proudly submitted the exact same proposal to multiple funders, with zero adjustments. You could practically see the Find & Replace trail.

Funders can smell a generic proposal from ten miles away. They want to know why their mission matters to you.

I’ve run into this one too. And trust me, funders notice.

How to Avoid It:

• Research your funder’s priorities.
• Use their language and tie your project to their goals.
• Personalize your proposal so the funder feels seen and valued.

One Last Confession

Here’s the real secret, straight from me and every reviewer I’ve ever talked to: Most reviewers want you to win!

We want your proposal to be clear, compelling, and complete. We want to say yes.

So if you’re sending out grants, remember, the small stuff matters. Check your math. Proofread your attachments. Tell a story that makes your reader care.

Because while your mission might be serious, grant writing doesn’t have to be a grim slog. Learn from these bloopers, laugh a little, and keep writing.

Your next grant win could be one clean proposal away.

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Grab our FREE Grant Writing Checklist below!

Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

‍

Sexual Assault Services: Community-Based Services Program

The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women is accepting applications for this program focused specifically on enhancing access to services for all survivors through community-based organizations, particularly in culturally specific communities.

Deadline: July 25, 2025

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359764

Grants to Enhance Community-Based Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking

Also from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, this program supports comprehensive services for survivors across multiple forms of violence, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Deadline: August 1, 2025

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359765

Help For Children

Help For Children grants are made to charitable organizations that address child abuse through prevention or treatment.

Deadline: January 16, 2026

https://www.hfc.org/how-to-apply

Administration for Community Living

The Elder Justice Innovation Grants Program supports the development and advancement of knowledge and approaches in new and emerging issues related to elder justice and adult maltreatment prevention.

Deadline: July 30, 2025

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/356414

American Psychological Foundation

The APF’s Direct Action Visionary Grants seek to fund innovative interventions, based on psychological knowledge, that directly address pressing needs of communities.

Deadline: July 31, 2025

https://ampsychfdn.org/funding/direct-action-visionary-grants/

AJ Muste Foundation for Peace and Justice

The Foundation’s Social Justice Fund supports grassroots activist projects, giving priority to those with small budgets and little access to more mainstream funding sources. The Fund is interested in confronting institutionalized violence against racial, ethnic, gender-based, and LGBTQ communities.

Deadline: October 20, 2025

https://ajmuste.org/apply/sjf

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