9 Worthwhile Marketing Grants for Nonprofits & How to Apply

An effective marketing strategy is paramount for accomplishing your nonprofit’s mission and making a genuine impact. Securing funds to power your nonprofit marketing plan isn’t always easy, though.

Marketing efforts should account for 5-15% of your operating budget. Sometimes, that’s still not enough to effectively spread the word. If your budget is tight or you simply want to expand your outreach efforts, consider exploring marketing grants for nonprofits.

There are several nonprofit marketing grants available. While some are specific to a certain cause or sector, others are geared toward only smaller or larger organizations. If you’re curious about which grant you should apply for, this guide will explore the following:

• What are marketing grants for nonprofits?
• Where to find marketing grants for nonprofits
• How to apply for nonprofit marketing grants
• 9 top nonprofit marketing grants

Nonprofit marketing grants can help your organization build a solid outreach strategy. But this can only be done after finding the right grant for your needs and following the necessary steps to apply. Let’s dive into the basics!

What are marketing grants for nonprofits?

A nonprofit grant is a fund awarded to an eligible organization that does not need to be repaid. Marketing grants are often rewarded based on nonprofit values or industry criteria. These grants come from various sources:

 

• Government grants are funded by the government or with taxpayer money. Government grants are given on the federal, state, and local levels.
• Foundation grants are funded by organizations dedicated to funding the nonprofit sector. They are often started by individuals.
• Corporate grants are funded by corporate companies, like Google or Walmart, that want to use some of their money to support philanthropic causes. These typically make up part of a company’s larger corporate giving strategy.

Nonprofit grants can be further divided by their funding project, such as:

• Unrestricted funds cover day-to-day operating costs and support the general work of an organization.
• Capital support supports specific capital campaigns like construction or renovation projects.
• Restricted funds support a particular purpose, project, or program. This is the most common type of grant funding.

Nonprofit marketing grants can assist with carrying out charitable initiatives, supporting donor outreach, and spreading awareness.

Any marketing or promotion you do for your online giving page, exciting fundraising events, and other initiatives can be taken to the next level with the right marketing grant. Plus, all donor communication and retention efforts can be elevated with enhanced marketing communications. For example, you can use a grant to send out targeted email newsletters to new members.

The value of grants to nonprofits is immeasurable, especially once you consider the impact that your organization can have on your mission if your marketing plan and fundraising efforts exceed goals.

Where to find marketing grants for nonprofits

The process for finding and applying for marketing grants will differ depending on your mission, your funding project, and the grant you choose. That’s why before you start your search for the best marketing grant for your nonprofit, make sure you define your mission and conduct the necessary research.

You already know what your mission is, but it’s important that you’re able to effectively communicate it to anyone, especially if you’re trying to get a grant from them. They need to resonate with your mission as much as you do, as well as entirely understand what your goals are and how a grant will help you reach them.

Next, we recommend you start off the search process with grant databases. There is a wide array of grant research resources that you could check, but we recommend these:

• GrantStation— A database to search, review, and apply for nonprofit grants.
• GrantWatch — Another database to find and apply for nonprofit grants.
• Grants.gov — A website under the Office of Management and Budget to help nonprofits find federal grant-making agencies.
• GuideStar — An online database that connects nonprofits with grant opportunities (and vice versa). Create a profile for your nonprofit to start applying for grants, while also helping grant-makers discover your cause.
• GrantsforUS.io — A website that advertises upcoming grant opportunities per U.S. state.
• Grantmakers.io — A website that makes the machine-readable IRS 990 dataset available for nonprofit professionals.

Along with dedicated grant databases, you can also conduct a simple online search. To narrow down results and find relevant grants, research popular keywords related to your mission.

For example, let’s say you run a nonprofit organization that provides clean water. If you search keywords like “sustainability” or “environment,” you might find grants like Georgia Power’s Waters for Georgia Grant that align with your eligibility.

How to apply for nonprofit marketing grants

As previously mentioned, each grant application process will differ according to the grant. To give you a general overview of the application process, most grants require you to perform these steps:

1. Review grant guidelines. Pay special attention to due dates, eligibility requirements, and proposal instructions. Ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria.
2. Gather necessary documentation. Have all necessary documents including your tax-exempt status, financial statements, 501(c)(3) determination letter, and all other supporting materials on hand.
3. Write a project proposal. Through a formal request to a funder, communicate your cause and why it’s worth funding. Be specific and refer to data to persuade funders of your ability to amplify your impact. Consider including recent projects that speak to your organization’s efficiency and credibility.
4. Review and submit the application. Once you have filled out all necessary fields, review your application to ensure that it’s accurate and compelling. If you’re applying to more than one grant at a time, keep track of all your applications and follow up if necessary.

Keep in mind that some grants, including the Google Ad Grant, require you to optimize your existing website for the best marketing results. That might mean you need to scope additional time to audit your materials and make improvements based on grant requirements.

9 top nonprofit marketing grants

There are many grants to explore, so sifting through databases might seem daunting. Refer to this list of nonprofit marketing grants to start your search.

Google Ad Grants

The Google Ad Grant program awards $10,000 in ad credits to eligible nonprofits each month. This grant allows nonprofits to promote their digital content. If your organization complies with the program’s rules and guidelines, it can continue to receive this grant each month for as long as it needs!

With the Google Ad Grant program for nonprofits, organizations can:

• Increase online conversions, including donations, volunteer sign-ups, event registrations, and more
• Reach out to new donors and volunteers through audience targeting
• Market multiple ad campaigns to promote different initiatives or programs
• Analyze and track performance to create more effective ads that drive action

The Google Grant isn’t your traditional nonprofit marketing grant where the funding organization has only a limited amount of money to allocate. Any nonprofit that meets Google’s eligibility requirements and complies with the ongoing guidelines can apply for this grant! Check out this video for eligibility tips:

Because Google offers such a large sum to nonprofits, the program has stiff application and eligibility requirements. These include keeping your website up-to-date, maintaining account hygiene, and optimizing your campaign pages.

These activities all fall under the umbrella of Google Ad Grant management. Many nonprofits outsource their grant management to a dedicated Google Ad Grant agency. Depending on your budget and goals, your organization can choose to manage grants in-house or partner with an expert agency.

The Carnegie Corporation

The Carnegie Corporation is a grant-awarding institution that invests in nonprofits that want to make meaningful change in the world. Considering that the foundation’s mission is “to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge,” this is a great nonprofit marketing grant opportunity. Available grants range from education grants to peacebuilding grants to equality grants.

The Carnegie Corporation usually contacts the organizations it awards grants to. However, their Grant Inquiries page states that you’re welcome to contact their team or explore their other potential funding sources. To read about past grantees, explore The Carnegie Corporation’s grant database.

The Coca-Cola Foundation

Since 1984, the Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 billion in grants to support community initiatives around the world.​ In fact, Coca-Cola is committed to giving back 1% of its prior year’s operating income annually.

The company supports over 350 separate programs and projects related to safe water access, economic empowerment, climate resilience, disaster preparedness and response, and more. Note that they don’t accept unsolicited proposals for grants out of respect for all stakeholders’ time.

Walmart Foundation

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation provide more than $1.7 billion in cash and in-kind donations to support nonprofit organizations whose missions align with their philanthropic priorities. Their grantees are usually split between the priority areas of opportunity creation, sustainability, community building, and racial equity.

Over the past decade, Walmart has financially supported FoodCorps, a nonprofit that provides food and food education to American elementary schoolers. In the past four years, Walmart has awarded FoodCorps over $4 million in grants.

Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation was founded 85 years ago and is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. With an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation awards grants to nonprofits that are dedicated to civic engagement, fighting inequality, and promoting environmental sustainability. They have a limited number of programs and projects, so explore all of their grant opportunities.

To see their past grants, explore their database of over 8,000 grantees. They support all sorts of organizations, like Columbia University, Carnegie Hall, and Borealis Philanthropy which addresses racial inequity in journalism.

Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services IMAGINE Grant is dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations to leverage technology to advance their goals. Nonprofits can apply to three IMAGINE Grant programs. Two aim to help fundraisers move their research and marketing to the cloud so that they can innovate quickly and at a lower cost, while one focuses on nonprofits using generative AI to accelerate impact.

Award packages can range from $20,000 in AWS Promotional Credit to $200,000 in unrestricted financial support. Recent grantees include Charity Navigator, Bat Conservation Trust, and One Simple Wish.

Bank of America

Bank of America is a longstanding grantor for nonprofits. The company aims to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities nationwide. Their grants are focused on helping missions that serve basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. If you work in one of these industries, you’re a good candidate for these nonprofit marketing grants.

They have strong nonprofit alliances, including sponsorships and grants to local organizations that help improve financial lives. They even involve employees in the action through workplace giving. For instance, Bank of America proudly offers volunteer grants and matching gifts through its foundation. These funds are awarded to nonprofits where employees volunteer or donate.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a private foundation that aims to help people lead healthy, productive lives. In the United States, it seeks to ensure everyone has access to opportunities to succeed in school and in life. In developing countries, it helps lift people out of hunger and extreme poverty.

While the foundation focuses on global health, education, and poverty alleviation, it also recognizes that effective outreach is fundamental for driving impact, making this a powerful nonprofit marketing grant opportunity.

Note that the foundation primarily directly invites proposals but occasionally awards grants through published RFPs. You can explore the grantmaking process and available opportunities on its website.

NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants

As a leading commercial broadcast television and radio network, NBC understands the importance of effective communication. They’re also committed to giving back to charity. This year, NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants will award nonprofit organizations $2.5 million.

To be eligible, organizations must work in at least one of three specific areas:

1. Youth Education and Empowerment, including in-school and out-of-school programs that equip youth with tools for success, like STEM education and youth entrepreneurship.
2. Next-Generation Storytellers, including programs that develop pathways for young voices from underrepresented communities to explore careers in news, arts, sports, and entertainment.
3. Community Engagement, including programs that enable people to engage and volunteer locally.

If your nonprofit engages in one of these areas, this may be the nonprofit marketing grant for you. The grants are general operating grants and will be awarded between $100,000 and $1 million.

PayPal

You’ve probably heard of or even used PayPal’s payment processing services. However, did you know they also have a Giving Fund?

With it, they inspire philanthropy from individual consumers who use the PayPal platform. This drives more people to use their services and increases charitable giving.

Here’s how the PayPal Giving Fund works:

1. Nonprofits create a registered PayPal account. They’ll receive lower processing fees and access to donation opportunities across PayPal and its partner organizations like GoFundMe.
2. Supporters donate through PayPal or one of its partners. Your nonprofit will need to register for the fund to automatically be listed in the PayPal app and on PayPal’s fundraising site as grant-eligible for donors. Many PayPal partners will even cover processing fees for your nonprofit.
3. PayPal provides the donor with a receipt and sends the money to the nonprofit. The funds are added to your nonprofit’s account, and PayPal even provides participating charities with a monthly donation report.

As one of our favorite CSR examples, PayPal repurposes its technology to help nonprofits. It also makes charitable giving a part of donors’ everyday lives.

Additional Resources

Marketing grants for nonprofits are invaluable resources that can catapult your mission and fundraising efforts farther than you’ve ever thought possible. This journey can all start by finding the right grant for your nonprofit needs. Hopefully, you found some viable options in the list above or through the grant databases that we recommended.

If you want to continue your research on the best nonprofit grant and how you can expand your marketing potential, explore the following resources:

• Google Ad Grants: The Complete Guide + How to Get Started: Have questions about the Google Ad Grant program? Refer to this guide for a full explanation of the program and how your nonprofit can receive this nonprofit marketing grant.
• A Great Google Grant Agency in 2024: Best Partners: Check out our list of the top Google Grants agencies to help you land the best partner to spread cause awareness.
• A Winning Nonprofit Marketing Plan: How to Make People Look: Build a bulletproof marketing plan with these steps. You’ll even find free templates to help fortify your strategy.