Community Development & Employment Grants

Last updated October 28, 2026

Grantable tracks 3,255 active community development & employment grants in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 74 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 1,480 list an award amount, with a median of $30K.

Grants tracked: 3,255; from 1,982 funders
Median award: $30K; middle half $10K–$150K
Total listed funding: $515.9M; across 1,480 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 130; 148 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
North Carolina Appalachian Regional Commission Funds Grant North Carolina Department of Commerce · Foundation Not published · Up to $1M The North Carolina Appalachian Regional Commission Funds support economic development across 13 states, focusing on infrastructure, workforce, and community resilience.	Not published	Up to $1M
Community Solutions Grant Program FR Bigelow Foundation · Foundation Not published · $50K – $250K The Community Solutions Grant Program, administered by the F. R. Bigelow Foundation, offers financial support to enhance the quality of life for East Metro residents through various initiatives in Arts & Culture, Economic Development…	Not published	$50K – $250K
Warner Area Community Foundation Grant South Dakota Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Warner Area Community Foundation Grant, part of the South Dakota Community Foundation, aims to enhance philanthropy by supporting local nonprofits and providing scholarships.	Not published	Varies
St. Louis County Port Authority Community Investment Fund Grant St. Louis County Port Authority Grant · Foundation Not published · Varies The St. Louis County Port Authority Community Investment Fund enhances economic and community development by providing support to projects that benefit underserved areas.	Not published	Varies
Nordson Corporation Foundation Grant - Connecticut (New London & Windham Counties) The Nordson Corporation Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Nordson Corporation Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing the quality of life in Connecticut's New London and Windham Counties through education and community support.	Not published	Varies
Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (RISE) Zone Program Maryland Department of Commerce · State Not published · Varies Offers tax credits to businesses that locate or expand within designated RISE Zones near higher education institutions to support job creation and investment. County Government, Municipalities/Towns, State Colleges, State University, Other	Not published	Varies
Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation Grant Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation Grant aims to uplift the community through economic and equal opportunity initiatives. It supports programs focused on neighborhood revitalization, youth development, and military and veteran support.	Not published	Varies
Newington Greater Together Community Fund Grant Hartford Foundation for Public Giving · Foundation Not published · Varies The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has launched the $100,000 Greater Together Community Fund Grant for Newington.	Not published	Varies
CLCF Opportunity Grant Central Louisiana Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $250 – $2K The CLCF Opportunity Grant supports eligible organizations in Central Louisiana with grants ranging from $250 to $2,000. Applications are accepted quarterly, focusing on areas such as literacy, arts, culture, and community development.	Not published	$250 – $2K
Smart Growth 2026-2027 Community Planning Grant Program Dept of State Funding · State Not published · Varies Community planning grant program supporting smart growth initiatives. RFA# 26-OPDSG-18.	Not published	Varies
WaterStone Bank Foundation: Charitable Giving & Sponsorships Grant WaterStone Bank · Foundation Not published · Varies The WaterStone Bank Foundation, established in 2002, actively supports community initiatives through charitable giving.	Not published	Varies
Guy I. Bromley Trust Grant Guy I Bromley Residuary Trust · Foundation Not published · Varies The Guy I. Bromley Trust Grant supports educational, cultural, human services, and health care initiatives in Atchison, Kansas, and the Greater Kansas City area.	Not published	Varies
DCNR: Community and Watershed Forestry Program Grant Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) · Foundation Not published · $50K The DCNR Community and Watershed Forestry Program offers financial support to enhance forest buffers, convert lawns, and plant urban trees. Grants start at $50,000, covering up to 80% of project costs, with local matching funds required.	Not published	$50K
Strategic Projects: Capital Grants M J Murdock Charitable Trust · Foundation Not published · $50K The Strategic Projects: Capital Grants by the M J Murdock Charitable Trust offer vital funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest.	Not published	$50K
Chisholm Community Foundation Grants Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Chisholm Community Foundation Grants support innovative projects that benefit the Chisholm and Balkan communities in various sectors, including arts, education, and environmental conservation.	Not published	Varies
America Walks Community Change Grants America Walks Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies America Walks' Community Change Grants are an annual (since 2015) national micro-grant program supporting grassroots advocates, community organizers, nonprofit organizations, and agencies running innovative, inclusive projects that create…	Not published	Varies
The Innovation Fund Grant Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Berks County Community Foundation was founded in 1994 to help individuals, families, organizations and businesses achieve their charitable objectives. Since that time, the foundation has grown to manage hundreds of charitable funds.	Not published	Varies
Alaska Pacific University Soil Health Grant Alaska Pacific University · Foundation Ongoing · Varies Alaska Pacific University's Soil Health Program provides small, accessible grants to Tribal Conservation Districts, villages, and individual growers/farmers (including immigrant and refugee communities) to restore soil and build resilient…	Ongoing	Varies
The McKean County Development Fund Grant McKean County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The McKean County Development Fund, part of the McKean County Community Foundation, aims to enhance community development initiatives that improve the economic and social well-being of McKean County.	Not published	Up to $2K
CFEC: Community Investment Grants (over $25,000) Community Foundation of Elkhart County Inc · Foundation Not published · $25K The Community Foundation of Elkhart County offers Community Investment Grants exceeding $25,000 to support impactful projects that enhance the quality of life in Elkhart County.	Not published	$25K
Community Economic Development (CED) Fund South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development · Foundation Not published · $50K – $300K The CED grant program supports certified community development corporations (CDCs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) sponsored projects in South Carolina.	Not published	$50K – $300K
Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund Grant The Reinvestment Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) was created to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, to create and preserve quality jobs, and to revitalize low-income…	Not published	Varies
Land & Building Acquisition Program ($550,000) Grant Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) · Foundation Not published · Up to $550K The Land & Building Acquisition Program, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, offers $550,000 to enhance the quality of life for Illinois residents.	Not published	Up to $550K
PCA Creative Communities Initiative Grant Pennsylvania Council on the Arts · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The PCA Creative Communities Initiative (CCI) funds community-driven, arts-based projects that enhance social cohesion and economic vitality in Pennsylvania.	Not published	Up to $25K

Showing 457–480 of 3,222

About community development grants

Community development grants fund efforts to revitalize neighborhoods through affordable housing, public facilities, infrastructure, business assistance, and services for low- and moderate-income residents. HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, authorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, is the flagship federal source, providing formula grants to states, cities, and counties. National intermediaries like LISC and Enterprise Community Partners, plus the Treasury's CDFI Fund, channel additional capital into community development.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow community development & employment grants down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do community development & employment grants award?

Of the 3,255 community development & employment grants Grantable lists as of October 28, 2026, 1,480 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $30K, and the middle half fall between $10K and $150K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most community development & employment grants?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (23), Economic Development Authority (22), Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (21), Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) (17), and Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (16). In all, 1,982 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are community development & employment grants due?

Of 3,255 grants listed, 130 accept applications on a rolling basis, 148 have a published upcoming deadline, 427 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 2,550 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 49% fall in October–December.

What community development grants are available?

Eligible community development activities include housing rehabilitation and development, micro-enterprise and business assistance, infrastructure, public facilities, planning, public services, and removal of architectural barriers. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is the primary federal program, supplemented by funding from intermediaries and foundations. Projects generally must benefit low- and moderate-income communities.

Who funds community development?

HUD administers the Community Development Block Grant program, distributing formula grants to states, cities, and counties that then fund local projects. National community development intermediaries such as LISC and Enterprise Community Partners, along with the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund and local community foundations, provide loans and grants. Most CDBG funds reach nonprofits through their local or state government.

How does a nonprofit access CDBG funds?

CDBG dollars flow from HUD to your city, county, or state, which run their own application cycles and consolidated planning processes; nonprofits apply to that local jurisdiction rather than directly to HUD. Identify whether your community is an "entitlement" city or county or is served through the state program, then track that jurisdiction's annual action plan and application timeline. Aligning your project with the jurisdiction's stated priorities is essential.

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