LCRA Community Grants

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) administers a Community Grant Program that supports local projects benefiting communities within its service areas. Founded in 1934, LCRA is a nonprofit public utility that provides energy, water, and community services to a wide region of Texas. As part of its mission to strengthen communities, the LCRA offers funding to support the development and enhancement of capital assets that serve the public good. The LCRA Community Grant Program is designed to fund capital improvement projects that add tangible value to communities by building, renovating, or purchasing essential equipment. Grant awards can reach up to $50,000. In celebration of the program’s 30th anniversary, LCRA is offering additional grants of up to $100,000 during the July 2025 and January 2026 grant cycles. Funding must be used to benefit an entire community, and projects must fall within LCRA’s wholesale electric or water service area or areas served by its Transmission Services Corporation. A map of service areas is available for reference. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, local governments, schools, hospitals, libraries, museums, volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, and other civic groups. These groups must submit detailed proposals including plans, budgets, financial statements, vendor quotes or estimates, and IRS determination letters. Applicants requesting more than $5,000 must provide at least 20% in matching funds based on the total project cost. Projects not aligned with capital improvements or not benefiting the broader community are ineligible. Applications are accepted twice annually—in January and July—through an online portal. The next application window will open January 1 and close January 31, 2026. To apply, users must first create an account and log into the submission portal. The online application system includes drop-down menus, fillable forms, and document upload features to streamline the submission process. Once submitted, applicants receive confirmation via email. After the submission period ends, LCRA conducts an eight-week review process. Applicants are notified of their status via email upon completion of the review. Projects are evaluated based on their potential to improve community capital assets, feasibility, scope, and community benefit. The program emphasizes investments that have lasting value for the community at large. Applicants seeking guidance can consult the "Navigating the Application" and "Grant Completion Process" pages on the LCRA website. For further inquiries, contact Sheila Slagel, Grants Program Manager, at 800-776-5272, ext. 3140, or grants@lcra.org, or Liz Mundine, Grants Program Administrator, at ext. 1627. Detailed FAQs and past grant examples are available online. The grant opportunity is recurring and follows a twice-yearly schedule in January and July.