Grant Program
Equity Grant Program
The Equity Division offers an Equity Mini Grant intended to help grassroots and local community organizations access funding. In order to be informed about all grant openings, the best way is to subscribe to our AEI Newsletter and Updates and like and follow the Austin Equity and Inclusion Facebook page.
The NEW FY26 Equity Mini Grant Application Window is Now Open!
Austin Equity and Inclusion has officially relaunched ! the FY26 Equity Mini Grant Program. Both new and previous applicants are encouraged to apply.
Applications Open: August 14, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. (CT)
Application Deadline: August 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (CT)
Applications submitted after August 28th will not be eligible.
Important note to applicants: prior to applying, please carefully read and review the Critical Instructions – How to Apply and Next Steps sections below
Register for Technical Assistance
August 19th at 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
August 26th at 5:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
- History, Mission, and Objectives
Austin Equity and Inclusion’s Equity Grant program is intended to help local community organizations and community organizers access funding with minimal barriers. The funds are open to a wide range of applicants with a focus on grassroots efforts that are often volunteer-run or operated at an annual budget of $500,000 or less.
Offered annually since 2018, the Equity Mini Grant fund offers a flexible funding opportunity intended for community organizations and grassroots organizing efforts striving to address significant quality-of-life disparities in our community.
The work of the Equity Mini Grant Fund has taken many forms. Over the last several years, these funds have supported grassroots and volunteer-led efforts tackling significant challenges in our community, including COVID-19 recovery efforts, public safety, homelessness response, and immigrant inclusion. This year’s program supports community-based efforts that strengthen economic mobility and expand opportunities for immigrants and refugees to thrive. The ideal project would work to address disparities holistically, placing the experience and leadership of people most impacted at the center of every phase of the work. Austin Equity and Inclusion seeks to foster alternative paths to traditional funding that support and respect the vision of individuals and organizations that work alongside communities most affected by inequity. This fund intends to facilitate access to those that have not been able to participate in programs like this and highlight community-led solutions. Participants should understand the root causes of disparities and share a commitment to community liberation by fostering self-determination rather than creating dependency.
- Why the Relaunch?
In the spirit of transparency, we acknowledge that during the final administrative verification of the previous application process, several procedural issues were identified that did not meet Austin Equity and Inclusion's standards for a fair, consistent, and equitable process. Specifically, we identified the following concerns during the final application review process:
The application deadline had been extended beyond May 8, 2026, without prior authorization. As a result, applications that were ineligible were received and considered.
Scores were not calculated consistently across applications, as required by the FY26 Mini Grant Playbook.
Because the integrity of our programs is essential, we determined that the previous process could not move forward in a fair and equitable manner. To uphold the standards we hold ourselves to, the decision was made to relaunch the FY26 Equity Mini Grant application process using an updated playbook.
Austin Equity and Inclusion remains committed to collaborating with, supporting, and uplifting organizations that serve our immigrant and refugee communities, and we remain committed to honoring transparency, accountability and fair access to our residents. This is a clear example of our commitment.
- FY26 Equity Mini Grant Fund
This program seeks to provide $25,000 to community-driven initiatives (new projects or on-going work) that serve immigrant and refugee communities in Austin.
This funding prioritizes work that:
strengthens belonging and trust between communities and service providers;
expands access to essential services, resources, and necessities of daily life;
reduces barriers that limit participation in community and civic life; and
improves conditions that support stability, opportunity, connection, and quality of life.
- Eligibility
Applications from non-profits, student groups, for-profit businesses, homeowner associations, faith-based groups, grassroots organizers, community-driven initiatives, and more should apply.
These funds are intended for grassroots organizations and community-driven initiatives that lack sustained financial support. Applicants with annual operating budgets over $500,000 are not eligible.
To receive funding, awardees are not required to be 501(c)3 registered non-profits, but organizations/entities (or their fiscal sponsor) must register as a vendor, no later than September 4, 2026, with the City of Austin before funding can be awarded.
Only one submission is allowed per applicant/organization.
There are no insurance requirements for this grant.
Applicants must serve the City of Austin.
Awardee organizations must commit to the following:
Communicate and be responsive with City staff.
Participate in program orientation and onboarding.
Implement the funded project according to the contract scope of work and timeline.
Complete a final report with reflection at the conclusion of the project.
- Critical Instructions—How to Apply and Next Steps
Applicants are encouraged to review the updated FY26 Equity Mini Grant Program Playbook before applying.
At minimum, all applicants must comply with the following instructions:
All applications MUST be submitted before 11:59pm on Friday, August 28. Any applications received after this deadline are not eligible.
All applicants MUST register as a vendor with the City on or before Friday, September 4. Failure to register as a vendor by this date may result in your application being denied. Applicants are advised to register for and attend one of the Technical Assistance office hours if they have questions regarding registering as a vendor for the City.
Technical Assistance Office Hours
August 19th at 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
August 26th at 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
Award recipients MUST attend an Awardee Orientation on Saturday, September 12. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the award.
Award recipients must bring all required contract documents to the Awardee Orientation on Saturday, September 12.
The required documents include:
Insurance Waiver
Scope of Work
Wage Theft Prevention Certificate
Non-discrimination Certificate
- Application, Scoring, and Rubric Evaluation
All applications will be evaluated through a competitive review process consistent with City of Austin procurement and grant administration requirements. Applications will be reviewed using the scoring rubric below. A diverse review panel will evaluate five application categories worth a total of 100 points, with one additional automatic bonus question worth up to 15 points, for a maximum possible score of 115.
Applications will be scored holistically, out of 100 total points, across the following five evaluation categories.
Category Points Project/Program Description 20 Community Need 20 Community Leadership & Decision-Making 30 Impact Assessment & Data Collection 20 Grant Fund Budget 10 Applicants who have not previously received funding or contracts, in the amount of $3,000 or greater, from the City of Austin will receive +15 bonus points during the scoring process.
This bonus is intended to:
expand access to City funding opportunities;
support new and emerging organizations; and
build long-term capacity for community partners to successfully navigate City contracting and funding processes.
Bonus Points:
Category Points First-time City funding recipient +15 Maximum possible score: 115
- Past Equity Mini Grant Initiatives and Mini Grant Fund Recipients
Our inaugural Equity Mini Grant Fund was created in 2018 in response to Ordinance 20170913-001 directing Austin Equity and Inclusion, in the form of a Budget Rider, to develop a funding framework for quality of life initiatives by allocating $75,000 to an Equity Mini Grant Fund. Our office was proud to announce its first recipients in April 2018. See below for lists of past Equity Mini Grant awardees!
Past Mini Grant Fund Recipients
4th Window Grant Recipients: (FY23-24)
5th Window Grant Recipients: (FY24-25)
- Contact Information for Application Questions and Additional Support
Please email questions to equity@austintexas.gov.
Applicants experiencing technical difficulties or other barriers to submission, are encouraged to attend one of our Technical Assistance office hours. Applicants can register for these office hours below.
August 19th at 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
August 26th at 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Register Here
View the Equity Mini Grant Playbook
Updated version published on August 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (typos corrected)
Help Spread the Word about the Equity Mini Grant
Download flyers in English and Spanish—help us share this opportunity with your networks!