This is your weekly grant opportunities update from The National Special Districts Association. 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 Energy

FY 2026 Digitizing Utilities Prize Round 3: Resilient Grid Innovation

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to incentivize technology development partnerships with interdisciplinary teams of software developers and data experts to transform digital systems, data analytics, and grid resource integration for the electric sector. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are private entities, nonfederal entities, tribes, municipalities, and academic institutions.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $2.4 million
• WHEN IS IT DUE? April 9, 2026 (Phase 1); December 3, 2026 (Phase 2 open to Phase 1 winners only)

Department of Housing and Urban Development

FY 2024 and 2025 Continuum of Care Competition and Renewal or Replacement of Youth Homeless Demonstration Program Grants

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program promotes a communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by supporting collaborative efforts by nonprofit providers, states, Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities, and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals; families; persons fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are entities designated by their CoC to apply, and may include nonprofit organizations, state governments, local governments, instrumentalities of state or local governments, and tribes and tribally designated housing entities.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $3.617 billion
• WHEN IS IT DUE? February 9, 2026

Department of Housing and Urban Development

FY 2026 Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building Grant Program

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support the development and expansion of the infrastructure necessary to undertake comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately owned rental or owner-occupied housing. Applicants must either have not received a direct lead hazard control award from the funding agency or must be a previous award recipient that has a demonstrated need to rebuild capacity within their jurisdiction. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; and Federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $4,445,850 
• WHEN IS IT DUE? February 26, 2026

Department of Justice

FY 2025 The Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program will support local jurisdictions' efforts to reduce the number of deaths and injuries of individuals with forms of dementia or developmental disabilities who wander from safe places. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are state, local, special district or federally recognized Native American tribal governments; health care agencies; public, private, or state-controlled institutions of higher education; and nonprofits.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $2,438,604 
• WHEN IS IT DUE? February 20, 2026 (Grants.gov); February 27, 2026 (JustGrants)

Department of Justice

FY 2026 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Awareness Projects

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program will enhance the general public's awareness of the rights and services for victims of all types of crimes by supporting innovative and collaborative approaches to promoting community-wide awareness during NCVRW, from April 19, 2026, to April 25, 2026. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants include public agencies, governmental agencies, nonprofits, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, tribal organizations, community coalitions committed to advocating for the rights and services of crime victims, organizations without 501(c)(3) status that serve crime victims, and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)-funded organizations.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Unspecified
• WHEN IS IT DUE? January 30, 2026

Institute of Museum and Library Services

FY 2026 Inspire! Grants for Small Museums

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program is a special initiative of the Museums for America grant program designed to support small museums of all disciplines in project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are states, local governments, Native American tribal organizations and private non-profit organizations.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $3 million
• WHEN IS IT DUE? March 13, 2026

Institute of Museum and Library Services

FY 2026 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support projects that provide training and professional development to library and archives professionals; develop faculty and information leaders; and recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives professionals. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are states, local governments, tribal governments, and non-profit organizations.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $8.5 million
• WHEN IS IT DUE? March 13, 2026

Institute of Museum and Library Services

FY 2026 Museums for America (MFA)

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support museums of all sizes and disciplines in strategic, project-based efforts to serve the public through exhibitions; educational/interpretive programs; digital learning resources; professional development; community debate and dialogue; audience-focused studies; and/or collections management, curation, care, and conservation. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applications are units of state, local, and tribal governments, or private non-profit organizations.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $21.699 million
• WHEN IS IT DUE? March 13, 2026

Institute of Museum and Library Services

FY 2026 National Leadership Grants For Libraries (NLG-L)

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program supports projects that develop, enhance, or adapt replicable practices, programs, models, or tools to strengthen library and archival services for the American public. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are libraries that are units of state, local, or tribal government or private nonprofit organizations that have nonprofit status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $11.5 million
• WHEN IS IT DUE? March 13, 2026

Institute of Museum and Library Services

FY 2026 National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-M)

• WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program supports projects that address critical needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession to strengthen museums services for the public through the development and replication of model practices, tools, research findings, and collaborations. Click here for more information.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are states, local governments, tribal governments and private non-profit organizations.
• TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $5.8 million
• WHEN IS IT DUE? March 13, 2026