Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits

NOTE: To apply for a Professional Development grant, please contact our Director of Programs.

Apply for a Professional Development Grant

Professional Development grants aim to:

• Increase retention of staff and volunteers
• Assist programs in strengthening their collaborative networks
• Enhance quality of services

NOTE: Completed applications must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the start of the program. Late applications will not be accepted.

About the Foundation

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) creates opportunities to connect with Judaism and the Jewish community at key life moments. In addition to flagship programs that are active across North America and around the world, the HGF invests in Jewish life at home in Western Massachusetts.

Everything the HGF does is in partnership. By leveraging philanthropy, the HGF encourages others to invest in Jewish life.

Professional Development Grants

The Harold Grinspoon Professional Development Grant encourages organizations and individuals to gain new tools and knowledge to strengthen local Jewish schools and organizations by helping to subsidize the cost of professional development opportunities. Jewish educators and employees are urged to take part in professional development opportunities to help further better and grow their organization.

What event qualifies?

Eligible programs must be hosted by a recognized Jewish institution or reputable educational institution. The program must help participants develop impactful skills that will improve the organization. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is focused on helping organizations develop better outreach, marketing, and fundraising and will continue supporting professional development for educators.

Examples of qualifying programs include

• Training to develop skills for outreach, fundraising, or marketing
• Onsite programs conducted by a guest educator/trainer to train in groups or one-on-one sessions.
• Programs targeted directly to educators
• Online classes for employees to develop and enhance job related skills

What funding is available?

Organizations will have a professional development budget determined by a brief application submitted in September.

Leadership at each organization is responsible for deciding how to use the funds.

NOTE: Minde Browning applications are accepted throughout the year and decisions are made on a first come, first serve basis. Please submit the request a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the start of the activity in which the grant request will fund.

The Library Fund

It has awarded more than $23.3 million since its inception to increase literacy, information literacy, and information access for Marion County residents. The Library Fund is a field-of-interest fund of The Indianapolis Foundation (a CICF affiliate).

Minde Browning Professional Development Fund

The purpose of the Minde Browning Fund is to provide small professional development grants to professionals serving in any of the eligible Marion County libraries.

Note: Applications deadlines are the last day of each month. Awards will be announced shortly thereafter. We encourage organizations to submit their requests a month in advance. 

These mini-grants provide professional development funds for the staff and volunteers of qualified watershed organizations in the Lake Champlain Basin, to cover expenses such as travel, meals, registration and accommodations at meetings, conferences, workshops and other venues designed to enhance the organizations’ capacity to operate. 

The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) is a Congressionally-designated initiative to restore and protect Lake Champlain and its surrounding watershed. We work with partners in New York, Vermont, and Québec to coordinate and fund efforts to address challenges in the areas of phosphorus pollution, toxic substances, biodiversity, aquatic invasive species, and climate change. The LCBP also administers the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, which builds appreciation and improves stewardship of the region’s rich cultural resources by interpreting and promoting its history.

Professional Development Grant Application for NYS Historical Societies and Cultural Museums 

The Pomeroy Foundation provides need-based scholarships of $1,000 each to historical societies and cultural museums in New York State for professional development purposes.

Scholarships for professional development are to be used as follows:

• Membership in Museum Association of New York (MANY) if not already a member.
• Registration and travel related expenses to attend MANY Conference if not attended in the past two years.
• Any remaining funds can be used toward one other professional development opportunity of your choice.