August 2022 Resources
Each month LOR sends a curated list of funding opportunities and other resources relevant for small rural communities in the Mountain West. To receive a link to our monthly resources guide, drop us a line to connect@lorfoundation.org.
Funding Opportunities
Communities planning for changes in water availability are invited to apply for technical assistance. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, in partnership with its Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy and Arizona State University’s Global Futures Laboratory (ASU), is seeking agricultural communities interested in exploring the impacts of changes in water availability and climate uncertainty. This project will let communities explore different scenarios for changes in water availability and then consider options for addressing the impacts of such changes. Communities must submit a letter of interest to Nina Gruber at ngruber@lincolninst.edu addressing the guidelines listed to be considered for the program.
Open: Now
Deadline: Initial review of letters of interest begins September 12
The Aura Cacia Positive Change Project funds nonprofit organizations committed to helping women and girls overcoming challenges in their lives. The project funds programs that directly support women and girls; last year’s grants averaged between $20,000 and $25,000.
Open: Now
Deadline: September 30
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is providing funding between $5 million and $100 million to support middle mile broadband infrastructure and reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas. Local broadband providers often need to connect to major high-speed networks to offer quality service to local communities. This funding supports such “middle mile” connections. State, local, and Tribal governments are eligible to apply as are nonprofit organizations, telecommunications companies, and public utilities.
Open: Now
Deadline: September 30
The Karma for Cara Foundation supports youth volunteerism with microgrant up to $1,000. Students 18 years of age and under may apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities throughout the United States.
Open: Now
Deadline: October 1 (then quarterly)
Funding available to Public Housing Authorities and multifamily housing owners to fund staff assisting families working toward financial independence. Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and—for the first time—private and nonprofit multifamily housing owners can apply for funds to support the salaries and training needs of program coordinators who assist families receiving housing assistance. Awards will average around $140,000 for successful applicants.
Open: Now
Deadline: October 2
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation offers grants ranging from $15,000 to $35,000 to provide equipment and education tools to public safety organizations. Grants, generally ranging from $15,000 to $35,000 (cannot exceed $50,000), are made in the following funding areas: lifesaving equipment, prevention education, disaster relief, support to military veterans, and scholarships and continuing education. Fire departments, law enforcement, EMS organizations, municipal and state organizations, public safety organizations, nonprofit organizations, and schools are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis.
Open: October 6
Deadline: Once 600 applicants are accepted, the program closes until the next quarter.
The Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 to professional dancers in need. In order to be eligible, individuals must be 21 years of age and older, have an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less, live in one of the 50 states, a Tribal Nation, a U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia, and face a hardship associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Open: September 13
Deadline: October 14
The U.S. Bartenders Guild National Charity Foundation provides immediate financial assistance for those in the hospitality industry who encounter temporary financial hardship due to unforeseen and/or catastrophic life events. Events covered by the emergency assistance program can include an accident, acute medical diagnosis, or localized wind, water, earth, or fire-related natural disasters. The program is also accepting applications from individuals who have medical complications associated with a COVID-19 diagnosis that require intensive medical treatment. Grant amounts are based on the needs of the particular recipient and average $1,200 to $7,500.
Open: Now
Deadline: January 1
The Mockingbird Foundation offers grants from $100 to $10,000 for schools and nonprofits enhancing music education for children. The goal of the program is to enhance access to music education—broadly defined—and focused on creative expression, available to children throughout the country.
Open: Now
Deadline: Interested applicants should complete the online form by January 15, and full proposals are invited in March for submission in April.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation Community Facility Loan program supports access to essential community facilities throughout the rural West. RCAC’s Community Facilities Loan Program offers loans to nonprofits and local governments to develop and improve essential community facilities that primarily serve populations with low incomes in the rural West. Applicable facilities include public and nonprofit office buildings, treatment centers, emergency and transitional housing, assisted living, human services, public safety, child care, education, and cultural facilities. Amounts vary by project, loan type, and terms.
Open: Now
Deadline: Rolling
USDA RD’s Electric Infrastructure Loan Program is offering insured loans of varying amounts to finance the construction of electric distribution facilities in rural areas. Local governments, nonprofits, and businesses in rural areas can access funding to support the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities.
Open: Now
Deadline: Ongoing
New Mexico only Hydro Flask provides grants of $10,000 to $15,000 to increase access to outdoor parks. This program supports nonprofit organizations that are focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and providing more equitable access to parks, including outdoor public-access recreational areas. Project categories include the creation of new parks, park maintenance and restoration, park access and education, and reducing single-use plastics in parks. Grants of $10,000 to $15,000 are available for projects in New Mexico. Interested organizations are encouraged to complete the eligibility quiz here.
Open: Now
Deadline: September 9
Colorado only Chinook Fund offers grants from $4,000 to $10,000 to small, community-led organizations across Colorado advancing systemic change. Chinook Fund seeds community-led, systemic change by mobilizing resources for and trusting in grassroots social justice organizations across Colorado. Priority is given to organizations that are engaging in community organizing as well as to work that is collaborative, strategic, and comes with risk.
Open: Now
Deadline: September 15
Wyoming and Colorado only The Laura Jane Musser Fund Rural Initiative provides support for citizen efforts in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions in a number of civic areas. Those areas include—but are not limited to—economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education. Nonprofits and local governments are eligible to apply and must represent rural communities with a population of 10,000 or less. Planning grants ($5,000) and implementation grants ($25,000) are both available.
Open: September 1
Deadline: October 3
Colorado-only Colorado’s Rural Jump-Start Program provides grants and tax incentives for economic development in rural areas. The program incentivizes new businesses to launch in or move to rural, economically distressed areas and hire new employees. Depending on location, new businesses are eligible for grants up to $40,000 and $5,000 for each new hire, in addition to relief from state and local taxes.
Open: Now
Deadline: Rolling
Toolkits and Other Resources
Need help taking your brick-and-mortar business digital? LOR’s guide to creating an e-commerce website can help! It’s just one of the many resources available for free on the LOR Helps Library.
Created by the National League of Cities, Results for America, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Local Infrastructure Hub helps small to midsize cities, towns, and villages access federal infrastructure funding. The Hub recently announced that it will offer a total of 30 “grant application bootcamps” focused on topics including energy efficiency, flood mitigation, transportation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and disaster preparedness. These online, virtual programs will help community leaders prepare applications. The first five bootcamps begin this fall.
USDA Rural Development has created a searchable database of all grant and loan programs. This resource covers topics ranging from broadband to business development to water infrastructure and funding sources available to local governments, institutes of higher education, Tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations.
Looking to expand access to child care in rural communities? A new guide is available from the Administration of Children and Families and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This guide includes resources on how to develop plans and how to access federal funding for child care expansion initiatives in rural parts of the country.
Beginning October 4, the Project for Public Spaces is hosting a virtual, eight-session course on placemaking geared toward professionals and students who have an understanding of placemaking and are currently working on projects.
Senior citizen can realize lifelong dreams with AARP’s “Wish of a Lifetime” program. Interested seniors can submit a “wish” via the online application.
Need help making rent or know someone who does? The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau can help. CFPB helps renters and landlords pay rent, cover utilities, and make up for a loss in rental income.
The Bureau of Reclamation has released an easy-to-use tool to track WaterSmart funding opportunities. Interested communities can identify funding projects across an array of water use areas and pursue programs of interest.