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Partnering with a business or brand through a corporate grant to fund your nonprofit doesn’t have to feel out of reach. You might be scrappy, short on time, and unsure where to start–and that’s ok too!
This roundup features steps to secure a grant and outlines nine corporate grants you can land as a small nonprofit (without needing fancy connections). We’ll show you exactly how to nail your applications and showcase the heart of your mission while saving time along the way.
Jump right in with 6 corporate grants for small nonprofits
A quick and easy search on Zeffy Grant Finder surfaced quite a few options for grassroots nonprofits to partner with corporations for funding. Here’s what we found:
This isn't just a list of grants, it’s a lifeline to grow your nonprofit. The following corporate grants are examples of what real scrappy nonprofits are actually landing. They're low-lift, accessible, and built for people who don’t have time to write a thesis every time they apply for funding.
Wells Fargo offers grants to national and local nonprofit organizations to support their programs and projects. The funds are not unrestricted and must be used for specific initiatives. A limited number of sponsorships are available to support fundraising events, as long as applications are received at least 90 days before the event.
Wells Fargo is all about strengthening communities and helping to create local jobs by investing in small business owners. That’s why it funds nonprofits focused on providing capital, technical assistance, and networks of support for entrepreneurs.
Eligibility is based around a few key nonprofit focus areas:
Housing affordability
Financial health
Small business growth and sustainability
Typical grant amounts
Wells Fargo Education Grants: Up to $50,000
Wells Fargo Arts and Culture Grants: Up to $50,000
Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund: Up to $420,000,000
Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative: $25,000-$100,000
Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Grant Program: Up to $200,000
Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge: Up to $5,000,000
How to apply
Bloomberg Philanthropies awards grants by invitation. If you receive an invitation, submit a proposal outlining the project's goals, target outcomes, and how it will use the money.
Pro tip: Consider attending relevant industry events or webinars where Bloomberg Philanthropies representatives may be present to learn more about their funding priorities and application processes.
Who qualifies?
Nonprofits that align with Bloomberg Philanthropies' strategic focus areas:
Public health: Addressing critical health issues such as tobacco control, obesity prevention, and road safety
Environment: Combating climate change through clean energy initiatives, ocean conservation, and sustainable urban development
Nonprofit arts organizations: Increasing access to the arts, enhancing cultural organization management, and supporting community-strengthening public art initiatives
Education: Improving public schools in underserved areas, enhancing leadership and teaching quality, and supporting student success
Government innovation: Driving innovation in city governments to improve efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and public service delivery
Important deadlines
Rolling deadlines throughout the year
3. NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants
The NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants award nearly $2.5 million to nonprofits in 11 markets served by NBC and Telemundo-owned television stations.
Typical grant amounts
Starts at $2,500,000
How to apply
Apply through your local impact grants website. Your proposal will be evaluated based on factors such as community impact, alignment with the chosen category, and measurable outcomes.
Top applicants advance to final rounds, where local NBC/Telemundo panels select 3-8 winners per market, based on organizational strength, demonstrated impact, and financial need.
Who qualifies?
501(c)(3) nonprofits working within NBCUniversal's focus area are eligible for grants.
Must be operating for over a year
Be within one of the 11 NBC and Telemundo-owned television markets
Have annual revenue between $100,000 and $1,000,000
Operate within one of the following areas:
Youth education and empowerment
Next generation storytellers
Community engagement
Important deadlines
Applications open between March and April each year
4. Zendesk Tech for Good Grants for Website Development
The software company Zendesk offers nonprofit grants through its Tech for Good Impact Awards program. These are designed to support the external project goals of nonprofits whose mission or projects align with Zendesk Foundation's focus areas:
Foster community
Promote resilience in times of crisis
Create career paths in tech
Typical grant amounts
Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000
How to apply
The application form is available online. Applicants should showcase how new technology and grant funding will support their program goals and beneficiary communities. Zendesk Tech For Good has a website section detailing its application evaluation process.
Who qualifies?
Verified charitable organizations, including U.S. 501(c)(3) public charities and international organizations
Nonprofits who operate in alignment with the Foundation's core focus areas
Organizations who are not current Zendesk customers or current and past Zendesk grantees
Important deadlines
Applications are due on August 15th
4. State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants
State Farm company is committed to helping build safer, stronger, and better-educated communities. With its Good Neighbor Citizenship program, the organization supports nonprofit initiatives in the following areas:
Safety: Home and auto safety and disaster preparedness
Community development: Affordable and sustainable housing, personal financial literacy, job training, small-business development, among other neighborhood-based needs
Education: Higher education, K-12 academic performance, financial literacy, and college and career success
Typical grant amounts
Starting at $10,000
How to apply
State Farm invites nonprofits to award grants to, but it also allows organizations to express interest in its grant program. You can submit a questionnaire outlining your nonprofit's focus areas and proposed initiatives.
Who qualifies?
501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organizations
501(c)(4) volunteer fire companies
Educational institutions in need of financial support
Programs conducted by state or federal government, municipal, and county entities that align with the State Farm charitable focus
Important deadlines
You can submit a grant interest form all year long
6. The Unless Project
The Unless Project supports nonprofits with transformational solutions but limited resources.
It’s a grant-meets-accelerator program by A Little Better Co., or ALBC, a marketing and public relations firm.
Typical grant amounts
Selected nonprofits gain access to a six-month intensive program worth up to $150,000 in resources and services. While the winner receives a small $2,500 cash grant prize, the program's value comes through expert guidance in branding, strategy, marketing, analysis, and related services.
How to apply
The online application process begins with an eligibility questionnaire. Your application then goes through a series of reviews, and both in-house teams and external advisors vote on it.
Who qualifies?
Qualifying nonprofits should have a mission aligned with:
Environmental sustainability
Social progress and advocacy
Human health and wellness
Artistic activism
Applicants must have an annual operating budget of under $3,000,000
Important deadlines
The program is currently being remodeled after a successful 2024 launch. To learn what's next, sign up for updates here.
7. Costco Wholesale Grant
Costco focuses on nonprofit programs supporting children, education, health, and human services. The Costco Wholesale Grant program, focuses on areas where it has stores.
Typical grant amounts
Typical award sizes vary, and Costco suggests organizations submit proposals for no more than 10% of their program's overall budget
For new applicants, they advise submitting conservative requests
How to apply
The application process is online, and you will need the following materials:
W-9
Cover letter
Organization budgetary details (past and current year)
Program budget information
Measurable results/impact report (only required if your organization has secured funding in the past)
Who qualifies?
501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Focus on supporting children, education, and/or health and human services
Exceptions to eligibility include:
Political organizations
Government agencies
Religious organizations
Individual primary and secondary schools, PTOs, and PTAs
Important deadlines
Organizations may submit one funding application per fiscal year (September to August), with applications accepted year-round.
These next options aren’t cash grants, but give serious digital power. Let’s dig in!
8. Big Sea Wavemakers Grant
Big Sea Wavemakers offers small nonprofits free marketing services to help them reach more donors and grow their mission online. To expand their reach, they can build or improve their website, brand, and messaging.
Typical grant amounts
The free marketing services nonprofits receive are equal to a value of $30,000.
Google supports charitable organizations through resources that help them do more with less. These include financial grants, volunteer programs, and digital tools.
With a Google for Nonprofits account, you also get free access to other tools, including Google Maps, Google Workspace, and YouTube's nonprofit program.
Typical grant amounts
Ad grants provide up to $10,000 monthly in search ads, which can help you find volunteers, attract donors, and boost awareness.
How to apply
To begin, sign up for Google for Nonprofits and verify your nonprofit status through TechSoup or a similar partner. Once the verification is complete, you will receive an email notification within three to four days. You can then activate your Google Ad account to receive funds.
Who qualifies?
Nonprofit organizations with IRS recognition
Cannot be a governmental, healthcare, or educational entity
Must have a high-quality website that complies with Ad Grants' website policy.
Corporate grants are a source of funding from companies, which usually give them to support causes they care about. It’s a win-win situation because brands can commit to doing more good globally and hit any corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals, while nonprofits get more money to do what they set out to do.
The win-win formula
Benefits for corporations:
Building community ties
Boosting employee morale
Supporting industries they’re connected to
Benefits for nonprofits:
More money for your efforts
Partnerships that open the door (mentorships, volunteer work, event sponsorship)
Quick start tips to keep your corporate grant strategy simple
No time for 10-page proposals? You’re not the only one, and we’ll help you gain momentum without taking hours of your time.
Use a grant database to save hours
You don’t have to sift through corporate sites and hope to land on a grant you’re eligible for. Zeffy created a free grant search tool so you don’t have to.
There’s nothing like the power of AI to surface relevant grants for your nonprofit at a glance. Simple search things like “marketing grants” or “Texas school grants” to find the top results, their deadlines, eligibility, contact info, and a quick link to apply.
Some small nonprofits might not want to rely on once-a-year deadlines that sneak up on you. You might want to look at monthly grants or grants that have a rolling application period, which basically means you can apply throughout the year when it works best for you.
Don’t ignore the “small” grants
Who wouldn’t love the big bucks? Sometimes, the larger grants are harder to receive and less frequent throughout the year.
Don’t be afraid to apply for grants under $10K and watch how they add up. Applying for more grants also builds momentum and credibility for future funding.
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