Grant Program

FY26 Equity Mini Grant Fund Applications Now Open!

Apply starting April 17, 2026 to May 8, 2026

Learn everything you need to know about the Equity Mini Grant Download the Equity Mini Grant Playbook in English

Aprenda todo lo que necesita saber sobre la Equity Mini Grant Descarga el manual de mini subvenciones de equidad en español

Register for a Virtual Information Session

• Equity Mini Grant Information Session 1: Apr 25, 2026 01:00 p.m. (Central)
• Equity Mini Grant Information Session 2: Apr 28, 2026 06:00 p.m. (Central)

History, Mission, & Objectives

Austin Equity and Inclusion's Equity Division provides leadership, guidance, and insight on equity to improve the quality-of-life for all Austinites. We work across all City departments and with major institutions, non-profits, and grassroots organizations working to build capacity, develop leadership, and organize together to advance racial equity in Austin. We define racial equity as the condition when race no longer statistically predicts a person’s quality-of-life outcomes in our community. 

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, but special priority will be given to grassroots efforts that are often volunteer-run or operated at an annual budget of $500,000 or less. We also prioritize awarding grants to proposals led by communities negatively impacted by systemic inequities and to organizations that co-create their proposals with the directly impacted communities they seek to serve. 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. These grants are broadly applicable. Disparities in outcomes exist in every system and institution and cannot be undone in one-off or single-issue projects. This year the program will support 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. If a project is working to build coalitions in partnership with other organizations addressing the same issue, it would be an even stronger candidate for a mini grant award. 

We understand that systems within the City of Austin have caused harm to communities, and we do not presume to limit the creativity and resilience of those we continue to harm. On the contrary, if your work is building from the leadership of communities most directly impacted, you are likely eligible to receive funding through this mini grant program. We encourage a diverse range of grassroots, community-driven initiatives, volunteer led organizing, and local non-profits to apply and share their unique perspectives and solutions. 

Austin Equity and Inclusion recognizes the problematic operations of traditional community funding and we seek to foster alternative ways that support and respect the vision of individuals and organizations that work alongside communities (and not for) most affected by historical violence.  This fund intends to facilitate access to those that have not been able to participate in programs like this and at the same time, highlight community-led solutions. Participants are also expected to understand the root causes of disparities and share the overarching goal of seeking community liberation and not create dependencies. 

FY26 Equity Mini Grant Fund

This program seeks to provide $25,000 in unrestricted funds to community-driven initiatives (new projects or on-going work) with funds anticipated to be released starting in July 2026.

For FY26, the Equity Mini Grant Program supports community-based efforts that serve immigrant and refugee communities in Austin, Travis County, and the City’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). 

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 are being accepted from non-profits, student groups, for-profit businesses, homeowner associations, faith-based groups, grassroots organizers/coalitions, community-driven initiatives/collectives, and more. 

These funds are intended for grassroots organizations and community-driven initiatives that lack sustained financial support. Applicants with annual operating budgets that do not exceed $500,000 will be prioritized. Staff size, funding sources, timelines, and other operating parameters will also be considered. 

• Applications from organizations with budgets that exceed $500,000 will still be considered.

• 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 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, Travis County, the City of Austin’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) area.

• Appeals to these eligibility requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis; please email us equity@austintexas.gov.

• Consideration of appeals will be considered based on need, unique qualifications, and community impact. We may also look at other conditions to determine strategic alignment and reach.

We ask that awardee organizations 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.

• Engage in periodic in person or virtual check-ins with City staff. 

How to Apply and Next Steps

Complete the application on the Good Grants Portal by May 8th, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. 

You may save your application and review and update at any time, but it must be submitted no later than May 8th, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. to be considered. 

Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by late June 2026.

If you have any questions, need additional support completing your application, or would like to request a paper application to complete, please email equity@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-3251.

Application, Scoring Rubric & Evaluation

All responses must be submitted on the Good Grants Portal, which hosts the electronic application . 

The application software requires setting up a login username and password. Once established, you will be able to save and resume your written application progress at your convenience.

To see the application questions, login to the Good Grants Portal, or view application questions in the Equity Mini Grant English Playbook or the Equity Mini Grant Spanish Playbook. 

The Equity Office welcomes requests for applications in other languages. For broader language access, please reach out to equity@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-3251.

Past Equity Mini Grant Initiatives & 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 (formerly the Equity Office), 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 able to push for a more approachable, accessible granting framework and was proud to announce its first recipients in April 2018. We have since expanded our programs to include the Reentry Services Grant meant to transform outcomes for formerly incarcerated people. There are two categories: The Hub Award, which provides $200,000 for those 501(c)3 non-profits who provide wrap-around services to formerly incarcerated individuals, and the Spoke Award, which provides $50,000 to entities providing direct services to formerly incarcerated individuals as they 'reenter' society. There are also additional topics or issue-focused grant openings, such as the Reimagining Public Safety Grants, and grant openings supporting work for immigrant and refugee populations.

Past Mini Grant Fund Recipients

• 1st Window Grant Recipients (FY18-19)
• 2nd Window Grant Recipients (FY19-20)
• 3rd Window Grant Recipients (FY21-22)
• 4th Window Grant Recipients: (FY23-24)
• 5th Window Grant Recipients: (FY24-25)
• 6th Window: Open from April 17, 2026 to May 8, 2026

Contact Information for Application Questions & Additional Support

Have questions or want to schedule time with Austin Equity and Inclusion's Equity Division staff? Please email equity@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-3251. 

We are also hosting virtual informational sessions and office hours. Past applicants and new applicants are also welcome to schedule consultation meetings to discuss your proposals and answer questions about the application process. 

Register for an Information Session

• Equity Mini Grant Information Session 1: Apr 25, 2026 01:00 p.m. (Central)
• Equity Mini Grant Information Session 2: Apr 28, 2026 06:00 p.m. (Central)

Family Stabilization Grant Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The first round of Family Stabilization Grant Payments have been disbursed. In the Spring of 2024, the City of Austin's City Council approved $1.3 million in funds and contracted with UpTogether (previously FII or Family Independence Initiative) to manage the program. 

Can residents apply for this assistance?

Due to the limited number of families supported by this program, the City of Austin, UpTogether, and partnering organizations are not utilizing an open application process for the general public to enroll and select families. Instead, the expertise and relationships of several community partners will be utilized to enroll participants who meet the eligibility criteria.

If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call 2-1-1 or look up resources on FindHelp.org

For the Family Stabilization Grant in 2024, the City of Austin's Equity Office successfully partnered with several local organizations in collaboration with UpTogether. The selected organizations that are disbursing funds for the Grant can be found below.

How will the participants be selected, or what is the vetting criteria?

The vetting process will prioritize households/families who have been directly impacted by substantial economic hardship. Eligibility criteria include:

1. Have a household income at or below 80% AMFI.
2. Did not receive funding through the previous UpTogether pilots (specifically the 2021-22 Central Texas 12-month Pilot and the 2022-23 Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot)
3. We will focus on (but not require) applicants with dependents in their household.
4. Experienced economic hardship, as defined by two or more of the following:
5. Live in opportunity zip codes within the Eastern Crescent
6. Missed housing and/or utility payments due to financial difficulties
7. Displaced within the past 2 years
8. Inability to afford quality childcare
9. Children or dependents enrolled at Title 1 schools
10. Lack of access to affordable, quality healthcare
11. Un/under employment; not earning a living wage

Additionally, the primary participant must be at least 18 years old.

What are the specific success metrics we're looking for in the key impact areas?

The Equity Office worked with UpTogether to determine key performance indicators and benchmarks. Some of those metrics will be guided by capacity assessments of participants throughout the program including their ability to afford basic necessities, to establish savings, caretakers’ ability to support family such as children, people with disabilities, and elders, and ability to earn more or achieve both short- and long-term career and life goals. Participants will engage in surveys and interviews to help the City of Austin identify focus areas to better serve the most impacted residents in Austin and to understand and address quality of life needs.

How long is the program? How many families?

The length of the program is 12 months and funds will be provided for 96 families at $1,000/month.

What organizations will disburse funds for the grant?

• Go Austin Vamos Austin (GAVA)
• A New Entry
• allgo
• Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI)
• Austin Area Urban League
• Saffron Trust

When will the funds begin going out to families?

The first payments went out the week of June 3, 2024.

Who is UpTogether?

UpTogether is a national nonprofit organization that, for over two decades, has partnered with governments, philantrhopy, and community organizations to distribute cash directly to families while learning how they work together in community to reach their personal goals and achieve financial security.

"We look forward to continuing our work with the City of Austin to directly invest in families," said Ivanna Neri, UpTogether's Senior Director of Partnerships. "Our work in Austin has shown us these investments are an important tool to address poverty, as families use a majority of funds on basic needs such as housing and food. We thank city leaders for their commitment to this approach."

Background 

From Action taken by the City Council during the meeting of: Thursday, April 18, 2024

"City Council 31. Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for family stabilization grant program services with FII-National d/b/a Family Independence Initiative, in an amount not to exceed $1,336,000. [Note: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established]. Approved on Consent"

Read the City of Austin Recommendation for Action on the Family Stabilization Grant Program here

On August 16, 2023, Austin City Council adopted the FY23-24 Budget, which included a budget amendment in the amount of $1.3 million for the family stabilization grant program, which is meant to build off of the successful guaranteed income pilot that concluded August 2023. Results from the pilot program can be read here. The contract for the administration program was approved at the Thursday, April 18 Council meeting.