10 Nonprofit Grants with October 2026 Deadlines
10 Nonprofit Grants with October 2026 Deadlines
October is one of the busiest grant months of the year. Many funders close their fall cycles in the last two weeks of the month, and if you miss them, the next chance is often spring. The good news: if you start now, you still have three to five weeks to put together a strong application.
We pulled together 10 grants with deadlines between October 16 and November 1, 2026. Most are open to organizations across the United States, and the rest cover large multi-state or statewide regions. Every deadline below was checked against the funder’s own website in late September 2026.
A calendar heads-up: October 31, 2026 falls on a Saturday and November 1 is a Sunday. If a deadline lands on the weekend, plan to submit by Friday, October 30 so a portal glitch or a missing document doesn’t cost you the cycle.
October Grants At a Glance
| # | Grant | Deadline | Funding | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Designer Brands (DSW) Foundation Community Grants | Oct 16 | Up to $5,000 (first-time applicants) | Company communities across the U.S. |
| 2 | Social Justice Fund NW Rural Organizing Grant | Oct 22 | $10,000–$25,000 | Rural ID, MT, OR, WA, WY |
| 3 | Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability | Oct 30 (noon MT) | Up to $100,000 | Nationwide |
| 4 | DAV Charitable Service Trust | Oct 30 (last business day of Oct) | Varies | Nationwide |
| 5 | NBA Foundation Fall Grant Cycle | Oct 31 | Varies | NBA team markets |
| 6 | Sparklight / Cable One Charitable Giving Fund | Oct 31 (midnight ET) | Varies | Cable One service areas |
| 7 | Creek Bed Foundation | Oct 31 (window Oct 1–31) | Varies | Nationwide |
| 8 | Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation | Nov 1 | Varies | Nationwide |
| 9 | Animal Charity Evaluators Movement Grants | Oct 18 (5 pm PT) | Varies | Open to U.S. and international groups |
| 10 | Montandon Charitable Trust | Nov 1 | $10,000–$125,000 | Texas |
1. Designer Brands (DSW) Foundation Community Grants
Deadline: October 16, 2026
Funding: Up to $5,000 for organizations that haven’t been funded by the Foundation before
Where: Communities across the U.S. where Designer Brands (DSW’s parent company) has stores, offices, or distribution centers
What it funds: Programs that help people build confidence and independence, remove barriers for underrepresented groups, and strengthen the local communities where the company’s employees live and work.
Good to know: With DSW stores in most states, this is one of the more widely available corporate grants on the list. It’s a smaller award, which makes it a great fit for a focused program request.
Learn more: Designer Brands Foundation
2. Social Justice Fund Northwest – 2026 Rural Organizing Grant
Deadline: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Funding: $10,000–$25,000, awarded as one- or two-year grants
Where: Rural, frontier, and reservation communities in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming
What it funds: Grassroots community organizing on issues like affordable housing, food and health care access, immigration justice, farmworker and labor organizing, coalition building, and local civic engagement.
Good to know: Groups led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color and organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less get priority. Both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) groups can apply, and groups without a fiscal sponsor can still apply (you’d need one in place before funds are released). This grant funds organizing, not stand-alone direct services. A free virtual info session runs September 29.
Learn more: 2026 Rural Organizing Grant
3. The Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability
Deadline: October 30, 2026 at noon Mountain Time
Funding: Up to $100,000 in unrestricted prize funding per category winner
Where: Nationwide
What it funds: Innovative, scalable solutions to housing affordability in three areas: construction and design, finance, and policy and regulatory reform.
Good to know: This one is unusually open. Nonprofits, for-profit companies, universities, and government agencies can all be nominated, and self-nominations are welcome (many past winners nominated themselves). Finalists also get national visibility, introductions to funders, and pro bono consulting. Finalists are announced in January 2027 and winners in May 2027.
Learn more: The Ivory Prize
4. DAV Charitable Service Trust
Deadline: The October cycle closes on the last business day of October, which is Friday, October 30, 2026
Funding: Varies
Where: Nationwide
What it funds: Programs that improve the lives of ill and injured veterans and their families.
Good to know: The document list is the part that trips people up. You’ll need your current board list with term dates, a program budget, your annual operating budget, your IRS determination letter, a W-9, audited financial statements, and your most recent Form 990. If you don’t have an audit, this may be one to plan for in a future cycle instead. Organizations can be considered once every 12 months.
Learn more: DAV Charitable Service Trust Grants
5. NBA Foundation – Fall Grant Cycle
Deadline: Application window is October 1–31, 2026
Funding: Varies
Where: Organizations serving youth in NBA team markets (national organizations can also apply)
What it funds: Workforce and career-readiness programs for under-resourced young people ages 14 to 24, including job readiness, skills training, job placement, and career advancement.
Good to know: You don’t need a connection to an NBA team to apply. You’ll need your Form 990, current organizational budget, project budget, and board list. The Foundation hosts a national application webinar on September 28, which is well worth attending if you’ve never applied.
Learn more: NBA Foundation Grant Information
6. Sparklight / Cable One Charitable Giving Fund
Deadline: October 31, 2026 by midnight Eastern Time
Funding: Varies
Where: Communities served by Cable One and its family of brands, including Sparklight (primarily smaller cities and rural areas across a number of states)
What it funds: Three focus areas: education and digital literacy, food insecurity, and community development. Special projects that expand programs or build capacity and capital campaigns are both welcome.
Good to know: This fund generally won’t cover salaries, overhead, or recurring annual programs, so frame your request around a specific project. Check whether Sparklight provides service in your area before you apply.
Learn more: Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund
7. The Creek Bed Foundation
Deadline: The application window runs October 1–31 for funding in the following calendar year
Funding: Varies
Where: Nationwide
What it funds: Land and sea conservation and wildlife protection.
Good to know: This small family foundation keeps things simple. Start with a short email describing your organization and the specific project you have in mind, and they’ll tell you if they’d like a formal request. The email address is listed on their website. That low barrier to entry makes this a good one for smaller conservation groups.
Learn more: The Creek Bed Foundation
8. Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation
Deadline: November 1, 2026 (for grants awarded in 2027)
Funding: Varies
Where: Nationwide
What it funds: Three areas: nutrition education, improving access to food, and advancing careers in the culinary arts.
Good to know: The Foundation is clear that your organization’s primary mission needs to fall within one of those three areas. Food banks, community kitchens, nutrition programs, and culinary training programs are the natural fit.
Learn more: Apply for a Grant
9. Animal Charity Evaluators – Movement Grants
Deadline: October 18, 2026 at 5 pm Pacific Time
Funding: Varies
Where: Open to groups in the U.S. and internationally
What it funds: Effective animal advocacy work, with this round focused on animals that get little funding elsewhere (such as fish, insects, and wild animals), projects that make the animal protection movement stronger (training, scaling operations, collaborations, and strategic gatherings), and research that will directly change a decision.
Good to know: Read the “not funding” list carefully before you apply. This round excludes direct care like sanctuaries, rescues, and veterinary care, as well as diet change campaigns and conservation-focused work, so it’s best suited to advocacy and movement-building groups rather than shelters. Applications outside the scope will be declined without feedback.
Learn more: ACE Movement Grants call for applications
10. Harry E. and Eda L. Montandon Charitable Trust (Texas)
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Funding: $10,000–$125,000, with an average grant of about $25,000
Where: Organizations based and principally operating in Texas
What it funds: Programs and capital needs for organizations serving people with disabilities of all ages, and children who are ill, living with a disability, or otherwise disadvantaged.
Good to know: Capital and program requests are strongly encouraged. Applications are submitted by email using the Trust’s downloadable application form, and each organization can apply once per calendar year.
Learn more: Montandon Charitable Trust
How to Make a Late-October Deadline Work
Three to five weeks is enough time for a solid application if you’re organized. A few things that make the biggest difference:
- Pick two or three, not all ten. A tailored application to a funder that truly fits beats five rushed ones.
- Gather your documents this week. Your 990, budgets, board list, and determination letter are requested again and again. Having them in one folder saves hours.
- Create portal accounts early. Some systems take a day or two to send login confirmations.
- Read the “we don’t fund” list first. It’s the fastest way to rule a grant in or out.
- Submit a few days early. Especially with weekend deadlines this year.
Do You Need Help With Grant Writing?
If one of these grants is a great fit but your calendar is full, we can help. Our grant writing team works with nonprofits to research the right opportunities and write applications that get funders’ attention. Get in touch with Impact Funding Solutions to talk about your fall grant plan.
Deadlines and guidelines can change. Always confirm the details on the funder’s website before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About October 2026 Grants for Nonprofits
What grants can nonprofits apply for in October 2026?
Nonprofits can explore grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, community foundations, and other funders during October 2026. The opportunities in this article are a starting point. Review each funder’s current guidelines to confirm its deadline, eligibility requirements, geographic focus, and funding priorities before applying.
Do all of these grants have October deadlines?
Not necessarily. Some grants may have an October deadline, while others may accept applications on a rolling basis or open during October. Check the deadline listed on each funder’s official website, as grant schedules can change.
How do I know whether my nonprofit is eligible for a grant?
Start with the funder’s eligibility criteria. Look closely at where it funds, which types of organizations can apply, and whether your proposed project fits its priorities. Also check for requirements such as nonprofit status, an operating history, or a minimum or maximum annual budget.
What should my nonprofit prepare before applying?
It helps to have a short organization description, a clear project summary, a budget, recent financial information, and evidence of your impact ready to use. Each application may ask for different materials, so use the funder’s instructions as your final checklist.
Should my nonprofit apply for every grant on this list?
Focus on the opportunities that genuinely fit your organization’s mission, location, programs, and funding needs. A smaller number of well-matched applications is usually a better use of your time than applying to every available grant.
Where can I find the most current information about a grant?
Visit the funder’s official website or application portal before you begin. Confirm the deadline and guidelines there, even if you’ve applied to the same funder before.
