Research and Grant Opportunities

Civic Work

Strong civic leadership is the cornerstone of positive change, empowering individuals and organizations to address community challenges and drive meaningful impact. Across Tennessee and the United States, a variety of programs and grants support those dedicated to civic work, from grassroots organizers and nonprofit leaders to students and professionals committed to service. Whether you’re seeking funding for local initiatives, leadership development opportunities, or national programs that foster civic engagement, these resources provide the support and tools needed to amplify your efforts and create lasting change.

Tennessee

Humanities Tennessee

• “Founded in 1973, Humanities Tennessee is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting lifelong learning, civil discourse, and an appreciation of history, diversity, and community among Tennesseans.”
• Learn more about grants from Humanities Tennessee

United States

The Lumina Foundation

• “Lumina Foundation believes that education provides the basis for individual opportunity, economic vitality and social stability. With its partners, Lumina strives to meet workforce demands and close gaps in attainment for groups not historically well-served by higher education.”
• Learn more about grants from the Lumina Foundation.

The Spencer Foundation

• “Since it was established in 1971, the Spencer Foundation has sought to support high-quality, innovative research with the potential to improve education. In pursuing that goal, we have always had broad ideas about the questions such research might ask, the methods it might use, and the ways in which we might support it.”
• Learn more about grants from the Spencer Foundation.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation

• “We believe that people have the inherent capacity to solve their own problems and that social transformation is within the reach of all communities. We act on this belief by partnering with diverse communities, amplifying their voices and helping them to create conditions in which their children can thrive.”
• Learn more about grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The Ford Foundation

• “We are on the frontlines of social change around the world, working with visionary leaders and organizations to change social structures and institutions—so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and have a voice in decisions that affect them.”
• Learn more about grants from the Ford Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

• “The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.”
• Learn more about grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

National Endowment for the Humanities

• “Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans.”
• Learn more about grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities

National Endowment for Democracy

• “NED is dedicated to fostering the growth of a wide range of democratic institutions abroad, including political parties, trade unions, free markets and business organizations, as well as the many elements of a vibrant civil society that ensure human rights, an independent media, and the rule of law.”
• Learn more about grants from the National Endowment for Democracy

The Kettering Foundation

• “Kettering’s primary research question is, what does it take to make democracy work as it should? Kettering’s research is distinctive because it is conducted from the perspective of citizens and focuses on what people can do collectively to address problems affecting their lives, their communities, and their nation.”
• Learn more about research opportunities with the Kettering Foundation

The Carnegie Corporation of New York

• “Our work incorporates an affirmation of our historic role as an education foundation but also honors Andrew Carnegie’s passion for international peace and the health of our democracy.”
• Learn more about grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York