LCRA Community Grants 2026

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Community Grant Program supports capital improvement projects that benefit entire communities within LCRA’s wholesale electric, water service, or transmission service areas. This biannual grant program, established in 1995, was created to provide financial assistance to rural and economically challenged communities that face difficulties in funding critical infrastructure or community-enhancing projects. The initiative reflects LCRA’s commitment to fostering health, safety, and sustainable development in its service areas across Texas. Applicants eligible for this funding include tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, local governments, school districts, hospitals, emergency service providers, libraries, and civic or historical groups. Specific eligibility conditions require that projects be located in one of the LCRA’s designated service counties and serve the general public, without being exclusive or limited in use. The program explicitly excludes individuals, for-profit businesses, professional associations, and projects with religious or social service purposes. Grant funding is awarded for capital projects that build, renovate, or purchase community-benefitting equipment with a useful life of at least 10 years. Projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving funds, and applicants must not have received a previous grant from LCRA within the past 24 months. Typical awards are up to $50,000, but in fiscal year 2026, in celebration of the program’s 30th anniversary, LCRA will award an additional $100,000 grant in each of the July 2025 and January 2026 cycles. Applicants requesting more than $5,000 must provide a minimum 20% match, which can be fulfilled through cash, pledged donations, or in-kind labor and material donations documented at prevailing rates. The application process opens twice yearly, from January 1–31 and again from July 1–31. Applicants must submit materials through LCRA’s online portal, where they can upload documents such as detailed project descriptions, financial summaries, vendor estimates, proof of nonprofit status, and photographs if available. Once the submission window closes, the review process—conducted by an internal committee—takes approximately eight weeks. Each applicant receives updates via email, with final notifications sent out by the end of the review period. Funding typically follows six to eight weeks after award notification. Projects favored for funding often include public safety enhancements, such as those supporting volunteer fire departments, and initiatives that promote energy or water conservation. Ineligible expenses include operating costs, consultant fees (except for fire departments), appliances not part of renovations, and several categories of equipment like drones, software, radios, and personal defense items. For assistance, applicants can contact Sheila Slagel, the Grants Program Manager, at 800-776-5272 ext. 3140 or via email at grants@lcra.org. Liz Mundine, Grants Program Administrator, can also be reached at extension 1627. Additional program insights, application tips, and previous grantee examples are available on the LCRA website.

Submit full documentation, confirm match funding, show clear public benefit and capital improvement purpose.