ComEd Powering the Holidays Grant Program

The ComEd Powering the Holidays Program is a community grant initiative offered through a partnership between ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. The 2026 program represents the sixth year of the initiative and provides grants for community-based holiday lighting events throughout ComEd's service territory. The program is intended to use holiday events as a way to celebrate community identity and culture, create opportunities for intercultural exchange and understanding, foster respect and open-mindedness toward different cultures, build appreciation for what is important to neighbors, and help people develop a sense of belonging within their communities. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus administers the program. Grants are available for up to $2,500 and must support a holiday occurring between November 1, 2026 and February 13, 2027. Grant funds should primarily support the purchase or upgrade of holiday lighting equipment, although decorations and displays contributing to a public holiday display are also eligible. Examples include tree lighting and decorations, lighting and decorations for lamp posts, parks, and other public spaces, holiday trees, safety and reliability improvements for holiday lighting, and other displays associated with community-based holiday lighting events. Funds may also pay for installation or removal of lighting displays and event-related services such as entertainment or children's activities. Energy-efficient lighting is strongly encouraged. Purchased materials must have a demonstrated reuse case because the grant cannot support a one-time-only occasion. Events must provide an opportunity for attendance by the general public. An event may be private or subject to attendance caps, but the general public must be able to attend the event or community-based holiday configuration for free on occasion. Events must comply with federal, state, and local policies and be deemed safe by authorities. Grant funds cannot support lobbying, activities required for regulatory compliance, capital costs, staff salaries, routine supplies, or private-vendor training or services otherwise available through professional associations and public agencies. Applicants must provide a 20 percent local match, although the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus may waive this requirement on a case-by-case basis for communities experiencing financial hardship. Print and digital promotion of the holiday lighting event may count toward the required match. Eligible applicants include municipalities, townships, counties, and other local governments within ComEd's service territory in Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago, and Woodford counties in Illinois. Not-for-profit organizations and cultural institutions may apply when partnering with at least one municipality and must demonstrate municipal support. Within Chicago, this support should be documented by a letter from the local alderperson. Elsewhere, support should be demonstrated by a letter from the Mayor, Village President, or Village or City Manager. Applicants must be in good standing with ComEd concerning utility provision. Organizations that received Powering the Holidays grants in 2024 or 2025 are ineligible, while recipients from 2021 through 2023 may apply. Applications opened July 6, 2026 and must be submitted online through the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Submittable portal by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on August 21, 2026. Applicants create a free Submittable profile to begin the submission process. Application materials described in the scoring criteria include a cover letter, support letters, project description, budget, work plan, information addressing project impact, partnerships, and demonstrated need. Support letters are encouraged. The contact person identified in the application will receive communications concerning the application and grant decision. Partial project funding is possible. Applications are reviewed by professionals in event planning, public arts, and civic engagement. Scoring gives 2 possible points for the cover letter, 1 for support letters, 8 for the budget, 8 for the work plan, 10 for impact, 3 for partnerships, and 23 for need. The project description is not scored but provides reviewers with an overall proposal summary. Applicants can strengthen their submissions by demonstrating allowable and cost-effective expenses, planning for the local match, providing a thorough work plan, connecting expected outcomes to multiple program goals, engaging relevant community partners, and clearly demonstrating need. Award decisions are expected by late October 2026. Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. Awards operate on a reimbursement basis. Payment requires successful completion of the project or procurement, documentation of expenditures and expenses, event photographs, a reimbursement request, and a report. Projects and final reports must be completed and submitted no later than March 31, 2027. Award recipients must participate in media or press interactions during the grant period and identify ComEd as a funder in materials explaining or promoting the funded project. Questions or comments may be directed to Ben Schnelle at bschnelle@mayorscaucus.org.

Prioritize a clear demonstration of need because Need is worth 23 points, the largest scoring component. Demonstrate positive outcomes connected to multiple program goals for the 10-point Impact criterion. Provide a thorough and well-described work plan. Build a cost-effective budget using allowable expenses and clearly plan for the required 20 percent local match. Consider relevant community partners and explain their engagement. For the strongest cover letter score, obtain a signature from the Mayor or President, Village or City Manager, or CEO. Include a relevant support letter where possible.