Community Development & Employment Grants

Last updated October 28, 2026

Grantable tracks 3,253 active community development & employment grants in its free grants database, drawn from federal, state and foundation sources and updated daily. 74 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 1,478 list an award amount, with a median of $30K.

Grants tracked: 3,253; from 1,981 funders
Median award: $30K; middle half $10K–$150K
Total listed funding: $515.8M; across 1,478 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 130; 146 with a published date

On this page: Federal State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
IAF Research Fellowship Program Grant Social Science Research Council · Foundation Not published · $20K The IAF Research Fellowship Program, administered by the Social Science Research Council, aims to support rigorous research on community-led development in Latin America and the Caribbean.	Not published	$20K
Forest Resource Planning Assistance Maryland Department of Planning · State Not published · Varies Provide planning assistance in support of local forest protection or green infrastructure plans County Government, Municipalities/Towns, Regional	Not published	Varies
Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) Grant Legacy Philanthropy Works · Foundation Not published · $8K – $12K The Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) Grant offers support for innovative projects that enhance community resources in rural areas.	Not published	$8K – $12K
Program Open Space Local Maryland Department of Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Provides financial and technical assistance to local subdivisions for the planning, acquisition, and/or development of recreation land or open space areas.	Not published	Varies
ECCF: Community Grants Erie County Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Erie County Community Foundation offers Community Grants aimed at addressing diverse needs in Erie County, including arts, education, and health. The foundation emphasizes inclusivity, ensuring all community members can thrive.	Not published	Varies
State Transit Village TransOptions Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
Rural Murals Grant Program Kansas Department of Commerce · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K The Rural Murals Grant Program, funded by the Kansas Department of Commerce, aims to revitalize vacant spaces in rural communities of 15,000 or fewer residents through public art projects.	Not published	Up to $8K
Envision Enterprise Grants United Way of Greater Charlottesville · Foundation Not published · $10K These grants support local small business owners with limited access to capital by providing funds for growth and expansion. The program aims to strengthen the local business community and economy.	Not published	$10K
Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) grants Commerce Open Grants/Loans/RFPs · State Not published · $485M Commerce is now accepting applications for $4.85 million in Clean Energy Siting and Permitting (CESP) grants to help local governments and tribes improve the siting and permitting of clean energy projects across Washington state.	Not published	$485M
Community Investment Program (General Funding) United Way of Knox County Ohio Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Annually, the United Way of Knox County dedicates funds to local initiatives demonstrating significant impact. This funding initiative, known as Community Investment, is driven by volunteer efforts.	Not published	Varies
APAC: Apache Corporation Tree Grant Program APA Corporation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Apache Corporation Tree Grant Program is dedicated to large-scale conservation efforts by providing trees to nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the U.S. Since 2005, it has donated over 5 million trees, enhancing public…	Not published	Varies
Community Development Block Grant Program (CA) California Department of Housing and Community Development · Foundation Not published · Varies The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) in California offers funding to improve living conditions for low- and moderate-income residents.	Not published	Varies
WCF: Community Grants Winona Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K The Winona Community Foundation offers competitive grants aimed at addressing critical needs in the Winona area, supporting a variety of charitable organizations.	Not published	Up to $15K
Community Power Grant Inatai Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies One of Inatai Foundation's primary funding streams supporting community power building work across Washington State	Not published	Varies
Keystone Savings Foundation Grant - Requests Under $25,000 Keystone Savings Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $25K The Keystone Savings Foundation Grant supports non-profit organizations in Lehigh Valley, focusing on education, health services, arts, community development, and economic growth.	Not published	Up to $25K
Rural West-Central Texas- Paula Windham Fund Grants Community Foundation of Abilene · Foundation Not published · Varies The Rural West-Central Texas- Paula Windham Fund Grants support non-profit organizations that enhance the quality of life in rural communities. Applicants must interview with Foundation staff and apply via the Foundant GLM system.	Not published	Varies
USDA Grant: Supporting Farmers of Color and Small Farm Resiliency Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies This is an awarded USDA grant project (announced December 2024) focused on deepening relationships between farmers of color and USDA programs. MFAI is implementing this initiative in collaboration with regional partners.	Not published	Varies
DCNR Community Recreation and Conservation Planning Grants Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) · Foundation Not published · $25K – $75K The DCNR Community Recreation and Conservation Planning Grants support planning projects aimed at enhancing parks and recreational facilities.	Not published	$25K – $75K
FY 2021 - 2023 Economic Development RNTA Department of Commerce · Federal Not published · $1 – $1.5M NOTICE: PLEASE READ - April 6, 2023 EDA is excited to announce the launch of its new grants management platform: the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE).	Not published	$1 – $1.5M
Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Challenge Patronicity · State Not published · $500K Supports any public facing project whose ideas fit within Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper strategies.	Not published	$500K
The Wellik Foundation Grant Arizona Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The mission of The Wellik Foundation is to preserve the unique quality of life of the Wickenburg area.	Not published	Varies
ReForest Colorado Grants (Colorado Tree Coalition) Colorado Tree Coalition Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies ReForest Colorado funds tree planting and planting-related expenses in communities affected by natural disasters.	Not published	Varies
Ouray County Community Fund Grant Western Colorado Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Ouray County Community Fund (OCCF) supports local nonprofits and community projects in Ouray County through a competitive grant process.	Not published	Varies
Darby Town Community Endowment Fund Grant Montana Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Darby Town Community Endowment Fund Grant, established by Richard and Barbara Ackerman in 1999, offers funding up to $5,000 for projects that benefit the local Darby community.	Not published	Up to $5K

Showing 1009–1032 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 3,253 community development & employment grants Grantable lists as of October 28, 2026, 1,478 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, 1,981 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are community development & employment grants due?

Of 3,253 grants listed, 130 accept applications on a rolling basis, 146 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, 48% 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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