This Week In Grants
T-Mobile Foundation Hometown Grants
The T-Mobile Foundation Hometown Grants Program makes funds available to nonprofit organizations and local government entities to revitalize public community spaces in rural areas. The purpose of the program is to create and restore communal spaces that foster personal connections in small towns with a population of less than 50,000
Funding Amount: Up to $50,000
Application Deadline: 9/30/2025; 12/31; 3/31; 6/30
Match: Not Defined
Note: Projects should be shovel-ready, physical builds or improvements that can be completed within 12 months of receiving funding.
More information can be found here.
Rainforest Trust: Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards
This funding opportunity awards grants to non-government organizations for the creation and expansion of protected or conserved areas, on land or sea, through designation, land titling, purchase, or any other recognized methodology. The goal of this funding opportunity is to facilitate new, lasting and sustainable protected or conserved areas that correspond with local community and government needs and desires.
Funding Amount: Up to $250,000 or more
Application Deadline: 3/1, 7/1, 10/1 for requests above $250,000; rolling for requests below $250,000
Match: Not Defined
More information can be found here: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/get-involved/apply-for-funding/
Polaris Industries - T.R.A.I.L.S. Grant
The Polaris TRAILS GRANTS program makes funds available to government and nonprofit organizations to promote safe and responsible riding, support trail preservation and help protect the environment and natural resources that are a part of the off-road trail systems. Funds can be used by organizations for off-road trail development and maintenance projects, safety and education initiatives, and other projects to increase and maintain land trail access.
Funding Amount: Up to $10,000
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed twice a year: 9/1 and 3/1
Match: Not Defined
More information can be found here.
DOI Announces $102.9 Million in Funding for Wetlands Conservation
The Department of the Interior recently announced $102.9 million in funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) has been approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which is designed to conserve, restore, or enhance critical wetland and upland habitat for migratory birds. The deadline to apply for funding for cycle 2 of FY26 is February 26, 2026. A 1:1 match is required, and award funding ranges from $250,000 to $3,000,000.
This program intends to promote partnership projects which include:
Long-term protection, restoration, enhancement and/or establishment of wetland and associated upland habitats to benefit diversity of wetland ecosystems
Maintaining an abundance of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and other populations of wetlands-associated migratory birds.
Projects funded by this award will not only benefit birds, but will also help reduce flooding risks, minimize coastal erosion, improve water quality, and improve public access to recreational activities such as bird watching and hunting. Funding will help conserve or restore 548,242 acres of critical wetland habitat.
You can read more about the program here.
Recently, the Department of Education announced that it would release the remaining withheld grant money for schools.
On July 1st, 2025, the Trump Administration suspended over $6 billion in funding for after-school and summer programs, English Language instruction, and adult literacy as part of a review to ensure that the grants and spending align with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
This funding freeze left many states, school districts, and nonprofit organizations such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America in a state of uncertainty surrounding whether they would be able to function at their normal level, or if they would have to scale down their offerings or close.
This funding freeze faced large amounts of backlash from educators and Congress members from both parties. After being challenged by multiple lawsuits and petition letters from educators and senators, the Office of Management and Budget announced that its review of the programs had been completed and that it would begin disbursing the funds beginning last week.
More information can be found here.