NSDC Grant Update: December 20, 2024
This is your weekly grant opportunities update from The National Special Districts Coalition. Special districts are either eligible to apply directly, or able to partner with a qualifying entity to apply for any of the grants listed.
New Grant Opportunities
Department of Agriculture
FY 2025 Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to maintain and improve electric infrastructure in rural communities nationwide to increase economic opportunities and quality of life. This program provides loans and loan guarantees for the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements to improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Retail or power supply providers including state and local government entities, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified
WHEN'S IT DUE? Rolling
Department of Agriculture
FY 2025 Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees Program
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns. Through this program, qualified private-sector lenders may apply for a loan guarantee on loans made to eligible borrowers that are building or preserving affordable rural rental housing. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible borrowers are state and local governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations (including LLCs), and federally recognized tribes
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $400 million
WHEN'S IT DUE? Rolling
Department of Health and Human Services
FY 2025 Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP)
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support community-based projects that promote access to preventive clinical and public health services for underserved children. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Public or private entities, including institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profits including small businesses, state or local governments, school districts, and Indian tribes and tribal organizations
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $450,000
WHEN'S IT DUE? March 17, 2025
Department of the Interior
FY 2025 Headquarters Recreation and Visitor Services Program
WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program oversees a broad and complex set of recreation related programs that provide a multitude of recreation opportunities and experiences. The program will focus on projects that build healthy communities and economies, advance environmental justice, address the climate crisis, and provide safe and equitable access to outdoor recreation opportunities for all Americans. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State, county, city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments and organizations; nonprofits; and private institutions of higher education
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $2.75 million
WHEN'S IT DUE? February 14, 2025
Department of the Interior
FY 2025-2029 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership: Acquisition and Development
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to provide new or significantly improved recreation opportunities to the public in urban, disadvantaged communities lacking access to walkable outdoor recreation. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State Lead Agencies, which may submit on behalf of eligible sub-recipients, including state agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native Corporations and Organizations, Native Hawaiian communities, local units of governments and special purpose districts
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified
WHEN'S IT DUE? June 1, 2025, and November 1, 2025
Department of Justice
FY 2025 Second Chance Act Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents and Their Minor Children
WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program provides funding to eligible applicants to implement, develop, or expand services within detention or correctional facilities to respond to the needs of juvenile or adult incarcerated parents who have children younger than age 18 to prevent violent crime, reduce recidivism, and provide support for minor children. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State and local governments, Native American tribal governments and organizations, and nonprofit organizations
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $4 million
WHEN'S IT DUE? February 6, 2025 (Grants.gov), February 20, 2025 (JustGrants)
Department of Transportation
FY 2025 Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to help applicants develop transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities that will qualify for federal funding and financing programs for additional development phase activities or construction. Funding will support either the hiring of staff or the procurement of expert firms to provide financial, technical, and legal assistance with project-related planning and design phase activities. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Rural local governments or political subdivisions, states, federally recognized tribes, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $27 million
WHEN'S IT DUE? April 3, 2025
Department of Transportation
FY 2025 Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Program
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to provide low-interest and flexible credit assistance to support large-scale, surface transportation improvements related to highway, transit, railroad, intermodal freight, and port access projects of regional and national significance. The program is designed to fill market gaps and leverage substantial private co-investment by providing supplemental and subordinate capital. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State governments, local governments, transit agencies, special authorities, special districts, railroad companies, private firms, state infrastructure banks, and transportation improvement districts
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified
WHEN'S IT DUE? Rolling
National Endowment for the Arts
FY 2026 Challenge America
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support primarily small arts organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (LEAs)/school districts, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities and tribes
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $2.8 million
WHEN'S IT DUE? April 24, 2025 (pre-submittal in Grants.gov),
May 13, 2025 (submittal through NEA portal)
National Endowment for the Arts
FY 2026 Grants for Arts Projects
WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support an expansive range of arts activities to strengthen the nation’s arts and culture ecosystem. These activities may include opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Click here for more information.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes
TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $62.25 million
WHEN'S IT DUE? Round 1: February 13, 2025 (Grants.gov);
February 26, 2025 (NEA portal). Round 2: July 10, 2025 (Grants.gov); July 22, 2025 (NEA portal).
Latest Grant News
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $90 Million to Improve Health, Safety, and Lower Energy Costs in K-12 Public Schools Across America
EPA Announces $2.5 Million to Fund Climate and Environmental Community Action Grant as Part of Investing in America Agenda
Interior Department Announces $450 Million for Community Parks