This week in Grants
Creative Forces: Community Engagement Grant
The National Endowment for the Arts' "Creative Forces: Community Engagement Grant" program supports the health, well-being, and quality of life of military-connected populations. This grant funds non-clinical arts engagement projects taking place in healthcare, community, or virtual settings. Eligible projects will have one of the following outcomes in mind:
Creative Expression: Participants have a better understanding of themselves and others by creating or engaging with art.
Social Connectedness: Participants have supportive relationships in their lives and a sense of belonging to the community.
Resilience: Participants feel they can rebound from stress, unexpected events, or life's challenges.
Independence and Successful Adaptation to Civilian Life: Participants have both an individual and shared sense of purpose, as well as a positive self-worth, that support adapting and readjusting to civilian life.
Funding Amount: $10,000 (Emerging Grants); $25,000 (Advanced Grants)
Application Deadline: 1/15/2026
Match: 1:1
You can find more information on this program here.
NJEDA - Asset Activation Grant Program
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority's Asset Activation Grant Program awards public, private, or non-profit entities for early-stage planning and analysis for projects that activate under-utilized public assets. These assets will benefit the applicant's community and regional economy.
Proposed plans may include, but are not limited to:
Conceptual Design.
Feasibility Study.
Economic Analysis.
Market analyses.
Redevelopment Needs Assessment and/or Plan.
Proposals should target deficient, under-utilized, or vacant land, buildings, or infrastructure owned by a county, municipality, district, public authority, public agency, or other public body.
Funding Amount: Up to $100,000
Application Deadline: Rolling
You can find more information on this program here.
FY2026 Local Recreation Improvement Grant
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) has just opened a new round of funding for its annual Local Recreation Improvement Grant (LRIG) program! This program awards projects that improve and repair public recreational facilities such as local parks, town stadiums, and municipal recreation centers. Eligible costs for the LRIG program include:
Updating community centers, playgrounds, pools, fields, walking or bicycle trails, rail trails, multi-sport courts, and recreational facilities.
Professional services, such as engineering and architectural costs.
Equipment costs, such as the cost of playgrounds or bleachers.
Remediation costs associated with preparing the site for use.
If you have a project in mind or want to discuss potential ideas for a project, feel free to reach out to your project manager to start an application!
Funding Amount: Up to $75,000
Application Deadline: 2/13/2026
Match: Not Required (but bolsters your application)
You can find more information on this program here.