As the federal grant funding landscape undergoes changes, it’s more important than ever to stay proactive in seeking funding opportunities. Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation will be sharing a regular round-up of non-federal grants for those looking to diversify their funding sources. As a reminder, SPF offers funding search assistance! Please visit our website to explore some of our funding resources, or contact Research Development Support & Marketing Coordinator Cara Peters at cara.peters@humboldt.edu 

College Service Grants: Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO) & Allstate Foundation - Awards $10,000. Applications accepted through March 30, 2026. This program allows campuses to further champion youth-led, youth-driven service projects that place youth at the forefront of these initiatives. Through this process, campuses can encourage students to harness their unique perspectives and talents to increase their impact and build a generation of confident, capable leaders committed to lifelong service. Funded initiatives fall into one of the following categories:

• Microgrants: Directly provided to students for new, youth-led service initiatives.

• Access Support: Initiatives that increase student access to service experiences.

• Increasing Impact: Initiatives that enhance the depth of impact of existing youth-led service activities.

Ocean Health Grants; 11th Hour Racing - Awards typically range from $40k – $150k. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Supports local pilot programs that model best practices of sustainability, restore coastal ecosystems, and advance ocean stewardship. Applications are accepted for the following focus areas: sustainability in the marine industry and community-led ecosystem restoration projects. 

Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants: Burroughs Welcome Fund - Awards $2,500–$50k. Rolling application through April 23, 2026. Promotes new connections between scholars, practitioners, and/or educators working to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change on human health. Also of interest is work piloting new approaches toward reducing the impact of health-centered activities, for example, developing more sustainable systems for health care. Another interest area is preparation for the impacts of extreme weather and other crises that can drive large-scale disruptions that will immediately impact human health and delivery of health care. Public outreach, climate communication, and education efforts focused on the intersection of climate and health are also appropriate for this call.

Research Projects and Existing Program Evaluations: Brady Education Foundation - The funding range is $20,000 - $375,000. The next cycle will accept letters of intent starting May 15, 2026 through June 15, 2026. Projects may be submitted under one of the following grant areas: 

Existing Program Evaluation proposals must concern evaluating the effectiveness of programs designed to promote positive cognitive, achievement, and/or learning outcomes for children (birth through 18 years). See secondary aims in link above.

Research Project proposals must focus on developmental or educational research that will inform future education research, practice, philanthropic funding, and/or public policy. Examples of this type of grant include (but are not limited to): measurement development, studies investigating factors associated with achievement outcomes, studies investigating strength families bring to the learning environment and how those can be capitalized upon to promote children’s learning and achievement outcomes, and policy studies.

Research Grants on Reducing Inequality: William T. Grant Foundation - The funding range is $25,000-$600,000, with amounts varying by funding category. Applicants may apply to only one category. Letters of inquiry accepted through July 29, 2026. Supports research to build, test, or increase understanding of programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5-25. The program invites studies from a range of disciplines, fields, and methods, and encourages investigations into various youth-serving systems, including justice, housing, child welfare, mental health, and education.

Knowledge for Freedom: Teagle Foundation - Funding range is $100,000-$300,000, based on the scope of the project. Concept papers accepted through August 1, 2026. Supports programs that invite underserved high school students to college to study humanity’s deepest questions about leading lives of purpose and civic responsibility. This initiative is designed to be adaptable enough to reflect the assets and needs of each institution and coherent enough to create a community of shared practice among programs across the nation.

NOTE: If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please contact our Pre-Award Specialists Pia Gabriel at pg12@humboldt.edu, Kaz Wegmuller at kaz.wegmuller@humboldt.edu, or Jocelyne Takatsuno at jt366@humboldt.edu 

While exploring alternative funding is valuable, continued engagement with federal grants remains critical, consistent applications help demonstrate the demand for these programs and ensure their ongoing availability. We’re here to help you navigate these funding opportunities and keep research thriving at Cal Poly Humboldt.