Grants for Grassroots Organizations

Last updated October 9, 2026

Grantable tracks 492 active grants for grassroots organizations in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 17 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 299 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.

Grants tracked: 492; from 340 funders
Median award: $10K; middle half $5,000–$33K
Total listed funding: $25.2M; across 299 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 18; 28 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Growing Green Communities Small Grant Program California ReLeaf · Foundation Not published · Varies Part of California ReLeaf's grant program that has distributed more than $9 million since 1992 to nonprofits, local agencies, and community-based groups throughout California for tree planting and care, education and outreach projects…	Not published	Varies
Seeding Advocacy Seeding Justice · Foundation Not published · Varies Seeding Justice's policy and advocacy-focused grantmaking program designed to support organizations doing policy and advocacy work as part of movement building.	Not published	Varies
Neighborhood Grants The United Way of Central Maryland Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K United Way of Central Maryland's Neighborhood Grants support resident-led, community-centric projects that inspire community connections, empower local leaders, and build vibrant neighborhoods.	Not published	Up to $10K
The Giving Project Crossroads Fund Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies An innovative participatory grantmaking and fundraising program that democratizes philanthropy.	Not published	Varies
MN Forward Pooled Fund Grant Program - Futuring Grant Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K The MN Forward Pooled Fund Grant Program - Futuring Grant supports organizations and coalitions in Minnesota with budgets of $3 million or less.	Not published	Up to $50K
Community Opportunity Fund: Transformation Grant- Belonging Focus Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $300K The Community Opportunity Fund: Belonging Grant, offered by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, aims to foster inclusive spaces where all voices are valued.	Not published	Up to $300K
Good Relatives Collaborative Grants Good Relatives Collaborative · Foundation Not published · $50K – $100K The Good Relatives Collaborative Grants, funded by the Bush Foundation, aim to empower grassroots and Native-led organizations across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations.	Not published	$50K – $100K
Grants for Social Change and Environmental Stewardship The Wolcott Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The Wolcott Family Foundation (WOLFF) offers grants aimed at fostering social change and environmental stewardship, particularly for grassroots organizations in Colorado.	Not published	$1K – $5K
The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program Community Heart & Soul · Foundation Not published · $10K The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program offers $10,000 in startup funding for community-driven groups in small towns to adopt the Community Heart & Soul model. Applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m.	Not published	$10K
Jane’s Fellowship Grant The Russell Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · $11K Jane's Fellowship Program, established by The Russell Family Foundation, empowers grassroots leaders in Pierce County through a year-long cohort experience.	Not published	$11K
DLC Community Impact Grants Duquesne Light Company · Foundation Not published · Up to $10K Duquesne Light Company's Community Impact Grants (CIG) program, initiated in 2021, aims to empower grassroots organizations addressing social equity, education, and environmental justice in Allegheny and Beaver counties.	Not published	Up to $10K
Grassroots Leadership Fund - General Support Funding The Rose Foundation for Communities the Environment · Foundation Not published · Varies The Grassroots Leadership Fund, in partnership with the Kresge Foundation’s Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Initiative, supports local activists across the country, and the small groups they lead, with immediate…	Not published	Varies
Immigration Justice Giving Project Grant Social Justice Fund Northwest · Foundation Not published · $300K	Not published	$300K
Resilience Grants Evanston Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Designed with community-need in mind, these special grants allow the Foundation to remain responsive and supportive of local organizations and the communities they serve in an ever-changing landscape.	Rolling	Varies
CNN Small Grants Central Northeast Neighbors · Foundation Not published · $1K – $4K The CNN Small Grants Program, now in its 16th year, empowers grassroots organizations in D1EC to address community needs through collaborative projects.	Not published	$1K – $4K
VCF: Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth Grant The Vermont Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 – $10K The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth, established by the Vermont Community Foundation, aims to empower teenagers in several communities through grants for innovative programs.	Not published	$500 – $10K
Fire Safe Council Grant Program San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency · Foundation Not published · Varies Alpine/Viejas, Alvarado Estates, Campo/Lake Morena, College Canyons, Chula Vista, Crest, Cuyamaca Woods, Escondido, Eucalyptus Hills, Fallbrook, Inland Rural, Jamul, Julian, Kensington, Lakeside/San Diego Audubon Society, Los Tules at…	Not published	Varies
GKFF Accelerator Grants George Kaiser Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The GKFF Accelerator Grants aim to enhance funding access for historically disadvantaged nonprofits in Tulsa.	Not published	Varies
One Omaha Fiscal Sponsorship One Omaha · Foundation Not published · Varies Provide fiscal sponsorship services to local groups looking to secure funds for community projects that improve or strengthen Omaha and its neighborhoods.	Not published	Varies
Working with Lots Mini-Grant Program Detroit Future City · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Detroit Future City (DFC) Field Guide to Working with Lots is a tool that provides step-by-step instruction to support Detroiters in transforming vacant land in order to create cleaner, safer and more attractive neighborhoods.	Not published	Up to $5K
New Jersey Highlands Coalition: Small Grants - Emergency Funding New Jersey Highlands Coalition · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The New Jersey Highlands Coalition offers emergency funding grants up to $5,000 for grassroots organizations working to protect the region's vital natural and cultural resources.	Not published	Up to $5K
Civic Experiment Grant Program Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Volunteer Generation Fund Volunteer Florida Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Volunteer Generation Fund provides funding to support volunteer service initiatives. Each summer, Volunteer Florida releases a funding application for this program.	Not published	Varies
Community Connections Grant (previously Community Action Project Grant) City of Hampton · State Not published · Up to $4K The Community Connections Grant, formerly known as the Community Action Project Grant, provides funding of up to $4,000 for grassroots initiatives aimed at enhancing neighborhood quality of life in Hampton.	Not published	Up to $4K

Showing 385–408 of 490

About grants for grassroots organizations

Grants for grassroots organizations support small, community-led nonprofits doing organizing, mutual aid, advocacy, and direct service close to the people they serve. Because many lack the staff and history that large federal grants require, grassroots groups often rely on community foundations, grassroots-focused intermediaries, and funders such as the Clif Family Foundation that prioritize small budgets and local leadership.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for grassroots organizations award?

Of the 492 grants for grassroots organizations Grantable lists as of October 9, 2026, 299 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $5,000 and $33K. The largest is $2.9M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for grassroots organizations?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are Bread and Roses Community Fund (13), Crossroads Fund Inc (11), Social Justice Fund Northwest (11), Headwaters Foundation for Justice (9), and Southern Vision Alliance (8). In all, 340 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for grassroots organizations due?

Of 492 grants listed, 18 accept applications on a rolling basis, 28 have a published upcoming deadline, 106 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 340 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 54% fall in January–March.

What grants are available for grassroots organizations?

Grassroots funding tends to come as smaller project, capacity-building, and general-operating grants, often with simpler applications than large federal programs. Many funders specifically prioritize organizations with modest annual budgets and leadership rooted in the affected community, and some offer rapid-response or seed grants to emerging groups.

Who funds grassroots nonprofits?

Community foundations, grassroots-focused intermediaries, and values-aligned private funders are the most common sources. Funders such as the Clif Family Foundation support small-to-midsize grassroots groups, and a number of social-justice and movement funds exist specifically to move resources to organizations with small budgets and community-based leadership.

How can a grassroots group without grant experience get started?

Begin with local funders and small community or corporate grants that have lighter application requirements, and consider partnering with a fiscal sponsor if you lack 501(c)(3) status. Building relationships with community foundations, documenting your impact, and starting small all help establish the track record that larger funders look for.

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