March 2026 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

March Deadlines 

YouthBuild
The U.S. Department of Labor will award nearly 60 grants between $1 and $2 million to governments, tribal entities, schools, and nonprofits running community-based programs that provide construction training, education, and supportive services for those ages 16–24.
Deadline: March 2

Local Data for Equitable Communities
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute awards up to $50,000 to 30 community-based organizations using data and lived experience to address challenges impacting health equity.
Deadline: March 3

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
The Institute of Museum and Library Services offers up to $1 million to strengthen the library and archives workforce through recruitment, education, training, research, and community-centered implementation projects.
Deadline: March 13

National Partnership Grant
The CAPTRUST Community Foundation awards multiple grants of $25,000 and one $100,000 Charity of Choice grant to nonprofits enriching the lives of children facing illness, disability, abuse, poverty, or family instability.
Deadline: March 13

Museums For America
The Institute of Museum and Library Services offers between $5,000 and $300,000 grants for projects that expand public access, strengthen collections stewardship, and respond to community needs.
Deadline: March 13

Trail Accelerator Grant
The International Mountain Bicycling Association provides between $10,000 and $30,000 in matched, in-kind planning and design services to public agencies and nonprofits developing mountain bike trail networks and bike parks.
Deadline: March 15

Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grant
The Hershey Company and Youth Service America will award $250, $500 or $1,000 to youth between the ages of 5 and 25 to lead service, philanthropy, awareness, leadership, or advocacy projects during Youth Service Month, April 10 to May 10, 2026.
Deadline: March 15

Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program
The U.S. Department of the Interior will provide between $10,000 and $249,000 to communities with fewer than 50,000 people to purchase equipment that strengthens wildfire response capacity.
Deadline: March 23

2026 AmeriCorps State and National Grant
AmeriCorps provides federal funding to local-serving nonprofits, tribal entities, and public agencies to implement service programs that improve quality of life and create workforce pathways, with priority for rural and tribal communities.
Deadline: March 31

T-Mobile Hometown Grant
T-Mobile will award up to $50,000 to nonprofits and local governments in towns with populations of 50,000 or fewer to fund placemaking projects that strengthen community identity and spark local investment.
Deadline: March 31

America’s Field Trip
Sponsored by America250, the America’s Field Trip Contest, invites students from grades 3 to 12 to submit original essays or artwork about what America means to them for a chance to win $500 or a fully funded field trip to a cultural landmark.
Deadline: March 30

Skatepark Grant
The Skatepark Project will provide up to $25,000 to nonprofits and local governments to build free, public concrete skateparks in underserved communities.
Deadline: March 31

Classics For Kids Grants
Classics for Kids Foundation provides matching grants covering up to 50 percent of the total cost of stringed instruments for schools and nonprofits serving school-age children.
Deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31

April Deadlines and Beyond 

Tee It Up For the Troops
Tee It Up for the Troops provides grants to nonprofits that serve military veterans and their families with programs focused on employment, housing and homelessness, family and caregiver support, post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury treatment, sports rehabilitation, and suicide prevention.
Deadline: April 1

American Art Program Exhibition Competition
Hosted by the Henry Luce Foundation, the competition supports scholarly loan exhibitions that advance understanding of American art, including Native American art, and amplify underrepresented artists and histories.
Deadline: April 24

Domestic Violence Shelter Grant
The Mary Kay Ash Foundation will award $20,000 to emergency domestic violence shelters providing life-saving housing and support services to women and children fleeing abuse.
Deadline: April 30

Milbank Foundation Grant
Milbank Foundation grants range from $8,500 to $400,000 for nonprofits advancing disability inclusion, veteran support, mental health and substance use services, aging in place, and community-driven healthcare reform.
Deadline: Rolling

Community Activation Grant
The Skatepark Project will provide up to $5,000 to nonprofits and municipalities to support skateboarding programs that build youth skills, leadership, and community connection.
Deadline: Rolling

American Art Program Responsive Grant
The Henry Luce Foundation supports museums in reinterpreting and reinvigorating their collections of American art, including Native American art, through research, documentation, reinterpretation, and exhibitions.
LOIs (concept notes) are accepted year round, but full proposals are by invitation. 
Deadline: Rolling

Seed Grant
Community Heart & Soul will provide $10,000 to community-led groups in cities and towns with populations under 30,000 to launch community projects based on the Community Heart & Soul model.
Deadline: Rolling

Site Partner Program
Rural Assembly Everywhere is offering a $500 stipend to 30 local partners to host community gatherings during the week of July 23-30 as part of a national rural conversation.
No deadline available

State-Specific Funding Opportunities

Idaho Future Fund
Eligible state(s): Idaho
Idaho Future Fund provides between $10,000 and $20,000 to nonprofits and public educational institutions to address critical gaps in preschool through grade 12 education.
Deadline: March 1

Montana Healthcare Foundation Grant
Eligible state(s): Montana
The Montana Healthcare Foundation 2026 Call for Proposals offers between $10,000 and $100,000 to Montana-based organizations to design and pilot innovative solutions to critical health challenges.
Deadline: March 15

Clean and Beautiful Grant
Eligible state(s): New Mexico
New Mexico True provides competitive grant funding to municipalities, counties and tribal governments for litter reduction, waste diversion, and community beautification projects across the state.
Deadline: April 2

Cooperative Marketing and Advertising Grant
Eligible state(s): New Mexico
The New Mexico Cooperative Marketing and Advertising Program provides a 2-to-1 marketing match to local and tribal governments and tourism-related nonprofits to promote New Mexico destinations through co-branded campaigns aligned with the New Mexico True brand.
Mandatory pre-Application survey deadline: February 27
Deadline: April 7

Resources

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
The U.S. Bureau of Health Workforce will repay up to 85% of qualifying nursing education debt for registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nursing faculty who commit to two years of full-time service in high-need facilities or nursing schools.
Deadline: March 12

Colorado Nonprofit Bridge Loan Fund
Eligible state(s): Colorado
The loan fund from 1st Southwest Bank provides short-term, low-cost loans of up to $250,000 to Colorado nonprofits awaiting reimbursement from federal, state, or local government contracts or grants.
Deadline: Rolling

Rural Economic Resiliency Study
Eligible state(s): Colorado
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade invites rural stakeholders to complete the Rural Economic Resiliency Study, an eight-minute survey that will update the state’s roadmap for sustainable economic growth.

Build Your Grant Seeking and Grant Management Capacity
Eligible state(s): New Mexico
The Capacity Building Training for Northern New Mexico Communities event will be held on March 12 to help local governments and community partners strengthen grant readiness, funding navigation, and project development skills.

New Mexico Outdoor Recreational Survey
Eligible state(s): New Mexico
The New Mexico State Parks Outdoor Recreation Survey invites residents and eligible entities to provide input by April 15 to help shape the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for the next five years.