T-Mobile Hometown Grants

The T-Mobile Hometown Grants program is a private corporate social responsibility initiative launched by T-Mobile as part of a five-year, $25 million commitment beginning in April 2021. The program is designed to support small towns, villages, and rural communities across the United States by funding community-driven infrastructure and placemaking projects. Through partnerships with organizations such as Main Street America, T-Mobile aims to strengthen local connections, enhance public spaces, and promote equitable access to resources in towns with populations under 50,000. The initiative reflects T-Mobile’s broader strategy to invest in underserved communities and foster long-term, sustainable development through targeted financial support. The primary purpose of the grant is to fund “shovel-ready” projects that can be completed within 12 months and that directly benefit the community. Eligible project types include improvements to public infrastructure such as parks, trails, and community centers, as well as adaptive reuse of historic buildings and technology upgrades for public facilities like libraries. The program prioritizes projects that create inclusive gathering spaces and strengthen community engagement. However, funds cannot be used for certain expenses, including engineering or architectural planning costs, salaries, ongoing operational expenses, or reimbursement for projects that have already been completed. Eligibility for the program is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status, as well as local government entities. Applicants must represent small towns with populations under 50,000. Eligible applicants include elected officials, town managers or employees, tribal leaders, and nonprofit community leaders. For-profit businesses are explicitly excluded from receiving funding. The program is nationwide in scope but restricted to qualifying small communities, ensuring that resources are directed toward areas that may otherwise face challenges in securing funding for community development projects. The application process requires submission through T-Mobile’s online portal. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive proposal ranging from three to five pages that outlines the scope of work, project need, anticipated community impact, and methods for measuring success. Supporting documentation may include site maps, architectural drawings, and photographs. Applicants must also provide a detailed budget explaining how grant funds will be used, including identification of additional funding sources if the total project cost exceeds $50,000. Up to five letters of support from community stakeholders are required to demonstrate local engagement and alignment. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis, with submission windows occurring from January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December. The application portal closes at the end of each quarter and reopens at the beginning of the next. Following submission, applicants are notified of their status within 30 to 60 days after the close of the quarter. Selected projects are evaluated based on criteria including demonstrated community need, potential for meaningful impact, strength of partnerships, feasibility of execution within the proposed timeline and budget, and alignment with T-Mobile’s mission to promote connectivity and opportunity. Award amounts are up to $50,000 per project, and recipients are required to provide progress updates at six and twelve months following the award. Projects must be completed within one year of receiving funding. The program operates on a recurring quarterly cycle, although it is currently in its final phase, with the last round of grant recipients scheduled to be announced on June 26. While the program is nearing completion, it has already supported hundreds of communities nationwide, leaving a lasting impact through improved infrastructure, increased community engagement, and strengthened local economies.

Emphasize strong community need and measurable impact; demonstrate partnerships and local support; ensure project feasibility within 12 months