15 corporate grants for nonprofits you can apply for today

Doing good in the world requires changemakers to navigate the never-ending question of how to fund their missions. Grants are often high on the list of funding options for nonprofits, but figuring out how to get your foot in the door—or even knowing which door to knock on first—can be tricky to figure out.

We’ll walk you through common types of grants for nonprofit organizations and share popular corporate grants you can apply for today. Plus, we’ve got additional resources for finding the right grant for you nonprofit and top tips for taking grant funding to the next level. 

Common types of grants for nonprofits

Each grantmaking institution and individual grant has its own requirements, stipulations, and deadlines, but most grants for nonprofits come from the following sources. Understanding what type of funding you’re applying for will help you better understand how to get grants for nonprofits.

Government grants for nonprofits 💼

Government grants for nonprofits are financial awards provided by federal, state, or local government agencies to support the activities and initiatives of nonprofit organizations, making them ideal for organizations addressing broad societal issues.

Foundation grants for nonprofits 🏛️

Foundation grants for nonprofits come from private, family, or community foundation funds and are suitable for organizations with a specific focus on diverse areas, including social services, healthcare, and the arts.

Education grants for nonprofits 📚

Education grants for nonprofits aim to support projects and programs dedicated to education or support educational institutions, making them suitable for organizations working on after-school programs, literacy initiatives, STEM education, and scholarships.

Technology grants for nonprofits ⚡

Technology grants for nonprofits provide funding to enhance technological infrastructure, making them ideal for organizations looking to upgrade software, hardware, or implement new technologies to improve their efficiency and impact.

Community grants for nonprofits 🏘️

Community grants for nonprofits focus on supporting initiatives that directly benefit local communities, making them well-suited for organizations involved in community development, neighborhood revitalization, social services, and cultural events.

Operational grants for nonprofits 💪

Operational grants for nonprofits are designed to cover day-to-day expenses, making them suitable for organizations in need of funding for staff salaries, rent, utilities, and other administrative costs.

Unrestricted grants for nonprofits 💸

Unrestricted grants for nonprofits provide flexibility in fund usage, making them ideal for organizations that require general support for their mission and the freedom to allocate funds where they are most needed.

Corporate grants for nonprofits 🛍️

Corporate grants for nonprofits involve direct financial contributions or in-kind services from businesses, making them suitable for organizations looking to collaborate with corporations like Google, Microsoft, IBM, Coca-Cola, or Walmart for support in technology, community well-being, education, and more.

You’ve likely heard of a few of the big philanthropic institutions built on corporate fortunes like the Ford Foundation or the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Whether funds come directly from a corporation or through the family foundation of its founder's heirs, the rise of corporate social responsibility means businesses of all kinds are giving back in big ways.

Keep reading for popular corporate grants you can apply for today (and insight on the typical grant cycle for each). 

How to find the right grant for your organization

Candid (formerly Foundation Directory Online) is a popular grants database for nonprofits. Other sites, like Grants.gov and GrantStation, can also help you wade through all these funding sources to match you with the best opportunities for your particular organization.

Plus, new platforms like Instrumentl let you do all of your prospecting research and keep track of the entire grant application process in one place.

Check out these other free resources to save time whenever you’re ready to stop digging through grant opportunities for nonprofits and start applying: 

• How to write a grant proposal: 9 steps to success
• Nonprofit grant management: The beginner’s guide
• Corporate sponsorship for nonprofits: 7 steps to secure more funding

15 popular company grants available for nonprofits

1. Bank of America 🏦

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation focuses much of its grantmaking for nonprofits on programs related to housing, jobs, and ending hunger.

In 2021, BofA announced a four-year, $1B initiative to fund economic mobility, health care, and racial equity. Since then, the company has been issuing requests for proposals twice a year, so check out the criteria and frequently asked questions to see if your nonprofit would be a good fit.

2. Clif Bar 🏔️

Twice a year, the Clif Bar Family Foundation awards grants to support the daily operating costs of grassroots organizations as well as specific projects. Applicants must meet two of their three funding priorities:

• Strengthen our food system
• Enhance equitable community health outcomes
• Safeguard our environment and natural resources

The deadlines to apply are March 1 and August 1.

3. Coca-Cola 🥤

The Coca-Cola Foundation offers community support by way of grants and sponsorships to a wide variety of organizations, donating $1.5 billion dollars to charity since its inception. Just note that Coke does not fund initiatives that have a heavy focus on nutrition and physical activity—at least they stay on brand!

4. Dick's Sporting Goods 🏀

It’s no surprise that Dick's Sporting Goods is a big supporter of youth sports programs. Dick's also helps cover the cost of athletic registration fees and equipment as well as resources for teachers.

Nonprofits and public schools can apply online for grants up to $25K, but you must have a Dick's Sporting Goods store located in your community to be eligible.

5. GEICO 🐸

The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation awards grants to charities focused on education, community engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Eligible nonprofits can request funding for the following year from October 1 through December 31.

6. Kroger 🥦

Primarily focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, health, nutrition, ending hunger, and eliminating waste, Kroger donates $300 million every year through its charitable giving arms, including the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation.

You can read through their full guidelines and apply for a grant online.

7. State Farm 🏡

Jake from State Farm gives back! This insurance giant offers several community-based grants, including its Good Neighbor Citizenship program, which funds initiatives related to safety, community development, and education. Currently, the grant application process is by invitation only, but you can submit your program for consideration on their website.

8. Walmart 😀

Three times a year, Walmart awards Spark Good Local Grants of $250 to $5,000 to nonprofit initiatives that align with one of its four giving priorities:

• Creating Opportunity
• Advancing Sustainability
• Strengthening Community
• Center for Racial Equity

Organizations can submit up to 25 applications each year to fund various programs.

9. Wells Fargo 🏇

Wells Fargo offers grants to local and national nonprofits that focus their efforts on "financial health, housing affordability, small business growth, and sustainability to address these complex societal issues and help create a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future."

Even if you haven’t been invited to submit a proposal, your organization can submit a grant interest form.

10. Whole Foods 🥕

Whole Foods has several charitable initiatives through which it funds community-based organizations working for access to healthy foods, nutrition and wellness programs for kids, and efforts to alleviate poverty in the US and globally.

Be sure to check out the Store Giving Program, which funds local nonprofits through a grant application and voting process twice a year.

11. Apple 🍎

While this tech behemoth isn't totally transparent about its grantmaking process, Apple has given hundreds of millions of dollars to local, national, and international nonprofit groups through programs like their Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.

The most promising funding option for organizations not already on Apple's charitable radar is its Employee Giving program, in which Apple makes a monetary donation for every hour an employee volunteers at a nonprofit—or matches the dollar amount donated.

12. Costco 🛒

Costco's charitable giving is centered on nonprofit programs in that support children, education, and health and human services in communities where the wholesale giant has locations. Organizations can submit one funding application per fiscal year (September to August) on a rolling basis.

13. Home Depot 🟧

Through national partnerships, the Home Depot Foundation funds various efforts to build and repair homes for veterans, aide communities recovering from natural disasters, and promote skilled trade workforce development.

The Veteran Housing Grants program, for example, allows nonprofits to apply on the foundation's website for grants totaling between $100K and $500K during two or three cycles each year.

14. Microsoft

Unlike other corporations on this list, Microsoft's offerings for nonprofits come in the form of technology grants and discounts. The company's widely used nonprofit ad grant program is currently "paused," but nonprofit organizations, along with publicly funded libraries and museums, can still apply online to offset the cost of various cloud-based software.

15. Deere 🚜

The John Deere Foundation partners with organizations including Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and One Acre Fund to support efforts for community development, education, and ending hunger. Its website highlights a few grants, including a STEM-based youth LEGO program, and nonprofits in Deere's "home communities" can reach out directly to see if they qualify for any other funding opportunities.

Take grant funding for nonprofits to the next level

Funding a nonprofit is hard, never-ending work, especially for organizations with a smaller staff and limited budget to begin with—not to mention groups working in historically marginalized communities. A solid nonprofit fundraising strategy weaves together several funding sources, so don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

As you work through the grant writing process and put together your grant proposals, Givebutter is here as a complementary fundraising tool for your nonprofit. We help changemakers raise money with hundreds of online fundraising and donor engagement tools—all completely free to set up and use.

Sign up for your free account and see how Givebutter can help level up your fundraising game as you grow. You’ve got this! 🚀