Tompkins County announces Amplify Grant

The Amplify Grant is a locally funded initiative administered by Tompkins County through the Office of Equity and Diversity. It was created to uplift historically underserved, under-resourced, and disenfranchised communities by supporting creative, community-rooted projects. With a maximum award of $5,500, this intentionally low-barrier grant aims to fund grassroots initiatives, nonprofits, and small businesses engaged in equity-centered work that drives meaningful local impact. The Amplify Grant is backed by the Tompkins County 2025 budget and was unanimously approved by the county legislature. It reflects the county’s commitment to racial and social equity in response to community calls following the 2020 racial justice movement. The grant was established to support a wide range of local work in areas such as racial equity, environmental justice, youth empowerment, housing, food access, and other dimensions of systemic equity. Rather than favoring bureaucratic requirements, the grant process invites storytelling and expression in the format that best conveys each applicant’s vision. Applicants may submit proposals through a Microsoft Forms application and are strongly encouraged to provide supplementary materials in formats such as video, audio, photo essays, art, or spoken word. This multimedia approach is designed to be inclusive of community leaders whose strengths may not be captured in traditional application forms. Submissions must demonstrate clear community benefit, and while one outstanding recipient may be selected, the selection committee reserves the right to divide funding among multiple proposals if they collectively show promise for impact. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Awards will be announced during the GARE Local Meeting—a national convening focused on racial equity in government sectors—hosted in Ithaca, New York, from October 20–22, 2025. The Amplify Grant will be formally presented at the event’s award ceremony. All grantees must be prepared to submit a W-9 and an EIN or work through a fiscal sponsor. They are also required to provide an impact report within six months of receiving the grant. Technical assistance is available for applicants who may need support in completing or submitting their materials. Questions can be directed to Charlene Holmes at cholmes@tompkins-co.org (Equity & Diversity Office) or Carmen Arroyo at carroyo@tompkins-co.org (Office of Human Rights). This program is guided by the principle that real change is possible when public funds are used to elevate community vision, voice, and leadership.

Use formats that showcase your work best—audio, video, photo slideshows, or creative art. Focus on community impact and equity. Submit all alternative formats by email with correct subject line.