Community Roots Project Grant

About this opportunity

The best neighborhood ideas come from the people who live there. The Community Roots Project Grant funds resident-led projects that make a block safer, greener, kinder, or more joyful: community gardens, alley cleanups, youth sports and tutoring, block parties, murals, tool libraries, tenant associations, and more. Grants are deliberately small and fast — decisions in under three weeks — because a garden cannot wait for a six-month review cycle. Every funded project gets a volunteer project coach, a simple spending tracker, and an invitation to the annual Roots Gathering where organizers trade ideas. Past projects include a vacant-lot orchard now tended by forty families, a teen-run bike repair stand, and a multilingual story time in a laundromat.

Eligibility requirements — read before applying

Led by a group of at least 3 local residents, a tenant association, or a small nonprofit
Project takes place in one identifiable neighborhood or community
Total project budget under $50,000 (this grant plus any other funds)
At least 20 hours of volunteer time pledged by the team
Written permission for any physical site (lot, wall, park) included
One active grant per group at a time; past recipients may reapply after a year

How to apply

1. Gather your team and agree on one clear project with a named lead.
2. Create a Grant Well account and fill in the short project form (under 30 minutes).
3. Upload a simple budget and 2–3 photos of the site or community involved.
4. Collect 10 signatures of neighbors who support the project.
5. A program officer visits or video-calls to walk the idea through with you.
6. Approved projects receive funds in two parts: 70% to start, 30% at the midpoint check-in.

Eligible applicants: Nonprofits, Community Groups · All U.S. states · Last verified Oct 14, 2026