National Days of Service Funding: MLK Day Project Grant Competition

The National Days of Service Funding: MLK Day Project Grant Competition, administered by ServeOhio, aims to support community service projects for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, 2026. Grants will fund initiatives that enhance community assets, engage youth volunteers, and include educational components. Eligible applicants are non-profit and public organizations in Ohio. Projects should promote collaboration and can occur throughout January 2026, with funding restrictions on volunteer support costs.

ServeOhio is the state's Commission on Service and Volunteerism created to empower local communities to mobilize AmeriCorps members and volunteer resources for the purpose of building a stronger Ohio. ServeOhio is authorized under section 121.40 of the Ohio Revised Code and is purposed specifically to administer grants in Ohio under the federal National & Community Service Trust Act of 1993. Through collaborations and partnerships with nonprofit, government, and community organizations across the state, ServeOhio increases the effective utilization of AmeriCorps members and community volunteers working to address the state's frontline issues in education, health, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship.
ServeOhio is pleased to announce the availability of grants to support community service projects organized for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day). Projects or a series of projects for this day of service can occur January 1 through January 31, 2026.
Purpose
The primary intent is to support projects or a series of projects that create or improve community assets or infrastructure, such as parks, schools, senior centers, community gardens or low-income homes through youth volunteer engagement. Projects may span multiple days throughout the project window. Projects should be collaborative in nature, involve a broad spectrum of community participants, and benefit the larger community.
All projects must include an educational component to help volunteers learn more about the issue they’re impacting and the community/population they’re serving. Examples might include a brief training, inviting community members and leaders to participate and speak to the group, or a facilitated discussion of the issues affecting the community.
Consistent with the approved project budget, funds may be used for:

• Supplies/materials
• Volunteer Support (i.e. food, water, t-shirts, promotional items)

The primary purpose of the grant is to support the project(s), therefore no more than 20% of the total funding request should be allocated to volunteer support costs. For example, if requesting $1,000, no more than $200 should be budgeted for volunteer support.
Funds may not be used for staffing, travel costs, gift cards, awards, or grantee administration/overhead costs. Supplies/materials may include small equipment (useful life of two years or more) up to $100 unit cost. All awards will be paid by reimbursement upon submission of the project report and documentation of expenditures.
All applicants will self-select the region for which they are applying. This should reflect the location where the project will take place. View a breakdown of regions by county.

Eligibility

Non-profit and public organizations in Ohio including, but not limited to, volunteer centers, faith-based organizations, school districts, community colleges, universities, and local governments are eligible to apply. Because the source of funds may be federal, AmeriCorps members may not apply for these funds directly. However, AmeriCorps members are encouraged to be involved in planning, leading, and serving on the day of service.