NCompass Blog

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

Applications are due by March 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET, and all projects must be completed by December 15, 2025. Applications must be submitted through http://www.aarp.org/communitychallenge , where you will also find full details about the grant program.

These grants are open to the following types of organizations: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits; Government entities; Other types of organizations considered on a case-by-case basis. AARP Community Challenge grants may be used to support three project types: Permanent physical improvements in the community; Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change, and New, innovative programming pilots or services.

Examples of previously funded Community Challenge Projects include:

• Avoca (IA) Public Library: Avoca’s Main Street already had green space and places to sit, but Avoca Public Library organizers wanted to give residents a reason to spend time downtown. To invite people in and advance the town’s creative placemaking plans, they installed oversized, weather-proof musical instruments outside the library. Since the instruments don’t require any training or talent to play, they are popular with residents of all ages.
• Aliceville (AL) Public Library: The project resulted in new computers, upgraded software and faster internet service at the library’s computer lab. The library also offered technology classes geared toward older adults.

In 2025, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities. Organizations are eligible to apply for more than one grant opportunity and may submit multiple applications.

1. Flagship Grants

Flagship Grants continue the successful Community Challenge grant program, first launched in 2017. Flagship Grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. In 2025, Grants will not exceed $25,000. These grants offer a broad opportunity for communities to apply for funding across several project categories: Public Places, Transportation, Housing, Digital Connections, and Community Resilience.

2. Capacity-Building Microgrants

Combining $2,500 grants with additional resources — such as webinars, cohort learning opportunities, up to two hours of one-on-one coaching with leading national nonprofit organizations, and AARP publications — this grant opportunity will accept applications for project that benefit residents (especially those age 50 or older) in the following categories: Disaster Preparedness Planning, Walk Audits, Bike Audits, HomeFit Guide Modifications.

3. Demonstration Grants

This opportunity funds projects that encourage replication of promising local efforts. Grants tend to fall
between $10,000-$20,000 and will not exceed $25,000. This grant opportunity will accept applications for
projects that benefit residents (especially those age 50 and older) in the following categories: Enhancing pedestrian safety, Expanding high-speed internet (broadband) access and adoption, Reconnecting communities divided by infrastructure, and Implementing housing design competitions.

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

Applications are due March 1, 2025.

Through the Game On! Grant, $2,000.00 will be available to be awarded either as one grant of $2,000 or two of $1,000 each to assist a library (or libraries) in developing gaming programs or collections for their communities.

GameRT members in good standing currently employed at a public, school, academic, or special library in the United States or Canada are eligible to apply. GameRT membership requires ALA membership.

Libraries will need to illustrate a plan for a sustainable gaming program or collection created with the funds as well as financial need and institutional support for the proposed project.

For more grants like this one, check out the NLC’s Grant Opportunities for Nebraska Libraries.

The National Endowment for the Arts has updated its FY 2026 grant guidelines, with deadlines in March and July 2025. These changes impact organizations applying in the Grants for Arts Projects or Challenge America categories.

A webinar covering the updated Grants for Arts Projects guidelines will take place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 2:00 pm ET. Free to attend; no registration required; join the webinar at https://www.arts.gov/news/events/webinar-fy26-grants-arts-projects-application-guidelines  A recording will be posted shortly after the presentation in the Applicant Resources section of the Grants for Arts Projects webpage.

Challenge America

The Challenge America opportunity is canceled for FY 2026. Organizations that have applied or were planning to apply to the FY 2026 Challenge America grant opportunity are encouraged to apply to the Grants for Arts Projects category at the March or July deadlines instead.

Grants for Arts Projects

The National Endowment for the Arts has revised the FY 2026 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines. A set of Frequently Asked Questions addressing the changes is available in the guidelines.

As part of these changes, the February 13, 2025, Grants for Arts Projects deadline has been canceled. The FY 2026 deadlines are now March 11, 2025, for GAP 1 and July 10, 2025, for GAP 2. Organizations that have already submitted an application must submit a new application under one of these deadlines. 

Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Eligible organizations that received American Rescue Plan (ARP) or CARES funding are also eligible to apply to Challenge America or GAP. Applicants may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school districts), and other organizations that can help advance the NEA’s goals.

Challenge America

Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines to reach historically underserved groups/communities that have rich and dynamic cultural identities. Challenge America may be a good entry point for organizations that are new to applying for federal funding. The category features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000. 

Grants require a cost share/match of $10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions. Total project costs must be at least $20,000 or greater.

Application Deadline: April 24, 2025 for projects taking place beginning in 2026. The Challenge America opportunity is canceled for FY 2026.

Grants for Arts Projects 

Grants for Arts Projects is the NEA’s largest grant program for organizations, providing expansive funding opportunities for communities across the nation in a wide range of artistic disciplines. Through project-based funding, the program supports 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.

This grants program also welcomes projects that engage with individuals whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, race or ethnicity, economics, or disability. 

In recognition of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the NEA also welcomes arts projects that educate and engage communities in dialogue about the past, present, and future of our nation.

Cost share/matching grants range from $10,000 to $100,000. Designated local arts agencies that are eligible to subgrant may request from $30,000 to $150,000 for subgranting projects. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required. 

Application Deadlines: February 13 March 11 and July 10, 2025 for projects taking place beginning in 2026.