Arlington County Opportunities Grant

The Arlington County Opportunities Grant supports the county’s broader Realizing Arlington’s Commitment to Equity (R.A.C.E.) initiative by funding nonprofit-led projects that directly address inequities in the community. Established through a collaboration between Arlington County and the United Way of the National Capital Area in fall 2023, the grant reflects the county’s equity-based funding approach. This initiative aims to eliminate, reduce, or prevent racial and social inequities and disparities, particularly those affecting historically marginalized groups in Arlington. The grant supports projects that promote human services and community well-being while also strengthening the operational capacity of nonprofit organizations in the region. The FY 2027 cycle offers $1.25 million in total available funding. Proposals may cover a wide array of community needs and are encouraged to utilize collaborative models that can maximize impact. Applicants requesting more than $50,000 must address additional questions within the application that focus on scalability, sustainability, and organizational readiness. For the FY 2027 round, the county anticipates awarding up to four such higher-budget proposals. In the prior FY 2026 cycle, 23 organizations were awarded $1.8 million in total funding to address various community challenges, and a post-cycle evaluation report by United Way analyzed outcomes and community feedback from that year. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Arlington County residents. Projects must respond to a clearly identified human service need and demonstrate their ability to create tangible opportunities for local communities to thrive. The funding can be used for both direct services and operational support, provided that proposals make clear how the use of funds will result in meaningful impact. There is no indication of any required matching funds or cost-sharing obligations. Applications are due by Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. All proposals must be submitted through the official portal linked on the county’s grant webpage. Proposals exceeding the $50,000 threshold will trigger additional evaluation questions. The grant awards are expected to be approved at the Arlington County Board meeting in April 2026. Contact for questions is available through the program's official email address: EquityGrant@arlingtonva.us. Arlington County has not specified the performance period length or additional reporting requirements in the announcement. However, based on the annual cadence of prior cycles, it is reasonable to infer that the program is recurring. As such, applicants may expect future opportunities for funding in subsequent years, following similar deadlines and processes. No LOI or pre-application step is indicated. Further technical assistance sessions, FAQs, and a program report from the previous cycle are linked through the County’s website for applicants seeking additional context or guidance.

Proposals over $50K must be scalable; responsiveness in previous grant cycles is evaluated; equity impacts must be measurable and tied to community needs