Crush it Crusade Program
This grant provides funding and resources to organizations seeking to establish or enhance recycling programs, focusing on waste diversion and recycling education.
The Crush It Crusade Grant Program, now in its 11th year, is a nationwide initiative managed by Can’d Aid and supported by the Ball Foundation. It is designed to empower grassroots recycling programs and sustainability initiatives in local communities across the United States. Since its inception in 2014, the program has provided support to over 125 community organizations, local governments, and public event organizers, contributing to the recycling of more than 1,200 tons of materials. Grants support projects that promote recycling at large-scale public events or ongoing seasonal programming, such as festivals, markets, sports tournaments, and cultural gatherings. Priority is given to initiatives that are volunteer-driven, demonstrate community engagement, and aim to improve waste diversion practices. Applicants must already have a recycling program in place and be seeking to enhance education, outreach, and infrastructure to increase recycling effectiveness. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local government entities, and educational institutions. Funds can be used flexibly for equipment, signage, waste hauling, volunteer training, and public education. Grants range from $2,500 to $8,000, depending on project needs. Selected recipients become part of a learning cohort and are required to attend quarterly webinars, complete an asynchronous training module, and report recycling metrics both during the grant term and for one additional year thereafter. For the 2025/2026 cycle, applications opened on August 15, 2025, and closed on September 30, 2025. Awards were announced on October 3, 2025, with funding disbursed no later than October 17, 2025. Although the current cycle is closed, the program recurs annually, and interested organizations are encouraged to prepare for future rounds by reviewing grant requirements and program values. Crush It Crusade grantees are seen as ambassadors of sustainable practices, and are expected to visibly promote the program’s mission—encouraging aluminum recycling and reducing the use of single-use plastics—through on-site signage, social media posts, and event materials. This program not only enhances local recycling capacity but fosters a collaborative network of changemakers working to create zero-waste communities.
Award Range
$5,000 - $8,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
- The Crush it Crusade program approves both event-based and ongoing programs. - Annual or one-time events are not eligible for the program. - Candidates are assessed based on criteria including waste diversion, recycling education, and Crush it Crusade promotion. - A typical grant provides recycling bins, training on launching and managing a recycling program, and seed funding. - Recipients may only need one or a combination of the provided resources. - Seed funding can be used for product, staff/volunteer training, subsidizing hauling expenses, and supplies needed for a recycling program. - The average grant size is usually between $5,000 and $10,000, but grants outside of this range are considered based on program merit. - The grant application deadline is rolling, and applicants can apply at any time. - Grant recipients are expected to display Crush it Crusade Tool Kit items at events and partner facilities. - Recipients are required to report waste diversion efforts quarterly using the Crush it Crusade Waste Diversion Spreadsheet. - Three types of recycling receptacles are available: outdoor, indoor, and event-based. - Organizations can request specific types of bins in their application. - If employee/volunteer training is needed, organizations should reach out to recycling@candaid.org to develop a budget. - Organizations should determine the quantity and type of recycling bins they desire before filling out the grant application. - The grant application form does not allow for saving answers, so it is recommended to craft responses in a separate document before entering them.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Applicants should emphasize aluminum recycling, diversion metrics, and visibility.
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
Subscribe to view contact details
Subscribe to access grant documents