One Lexington Violence Prevention Grant

The One Lexington Violence Prevention Grant program is an initiative administered by the City of Lexington, Kentucky through its One Lexington office, with a strategic focus on addressing gun violence among youth and young adults aged 10 to 29. The program is grounded in a community-based approach and operates within the framework of the P.I.E.R. model—Prevention, Intervention, Enforcement, and Re-entry. One Lexington collaborates closely with community partners, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to reduce firearm-related incidents and foster a safer environment for young residents. The success of this approach is demonstrated by recent reductions in gun violence across Lexington, including a 60% decrease in youth-involved violence since 2021 and the lowest number of youth homicides in a decade. The grant program, now in its fifth year, opens its 2026 cycle to organizations currently engaged in youth violence prevention efforts or actively partnering in the field. Applications for the FY27 grant opened on February 23, 2026, and are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 19, 2026. The program awards up to $10,000 per organization, contingent on final budget approval by the Urban County Council scheduled for June 9, 2026. While last year’s funding totaled $150,000 and supported 18 nonprofit organizations, this year’s funding ceiling is pending confirmation. Eligible applicants must either possess 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or work through a qualified fiscal sponsor. A signed letter from the sponsor's Executive Director or CEO is required for fiscal sponsorship arrangements. Grants awarded under this program must be used exclusively for projects serving youth and young adults within Lexington-Fayette County. Activities conducted outside this geography are ineligible for reimbursement. The intended project period runs from July 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, ensuring adequate time for implementation, operations, and outcome tracking prior to the next grant cycle. Neighborhoods with higher incidences of youth violence—such as Cardinal Valley, West End, Woodhill, Winburn, East End, and Gainesway—are priority areas, and applicants focusing on these regions may earn bonus points during the scoring process. Additional bonus points are available to projects that primarily serve young adults aged 18 to 29. To aid applicants, a technical assistance webinar was offered by Community Action Council and One Lexington on February 26, 2026. This optional session provided guidance on application requirements and best practices. The recorded slides are publicly available. A nonprofit training opportunity also took place on March 4. The application process requires submission of key documentation, including a completed application and, if applicable, a fiscal sponsor letter. Each organization may submit only one proposal, though they may also serve as a fiscal agent for another applicant concurrently. Successful applicants must sign a Purchase of Services Agreement before funds are disbursed. During the performance period, grantees are required to coordinate at least one site visit with One Lexington and submit a final project report. Programs that do not comply with reporting requirements will be ineligible for the next two cycles. This year’s guidelines also introduced a new restriction: grant funds cannot be used for survivor services, victim advocacy, or crisis response activities such as emergency aid or post-incident support. These services may be eligible under future funding rounds better aligned with those scopes.

Projects focused on young adults (18–29) or East End/Gainesway neighborhoods may receive bonus points.