City of Norfolk Retain Your Rain Mini-Grant

The City of Norfolk, Virginia administers the Retain Your Rain Mini-Grant program to support local environmental resilience and stormwater management efforts. This initiative is part of the City’s broader Office of Resilience programming and is designed to encourage community-driven projects that manage rainwater where it falls, improving water quality and reducing localized flooding. Norfolk’s Office of Resilience aims to foster collaborative and innovative solutions by engaging nonprofit organizations and neighborhood groups in implementing sustainable, small-scale green infrastructure projects across the city. The Retain Your Rain Mini-Grant program offers funding of up to $2,500 per cycle to eligible applicants to implement projects such as rain gardens, tree planting, rain barrel installations, urban farming, and other forms of rainwater capture or ecological restoration. Funds may also be used by past recipients for supplemental efforts related to the maintenance or enhancement of previously funded projects. The grant’s scope is intentionally narrow and community-focused, intended to catalyze grassroots environmental action rather than fund large-scale infrastructure. Eligibility for the grant is limited to nonprofit organizations, Norfolk civic leagues, and neighborhood associations with formal nonprofit status. Entities that are not nonprofits, such as schools, churches, or businesses, may also apply, provided they do so in partnership with a nonprofit organization. All applicants must provide documentation verifying nonprofit status. Selected grantees are also required to submit a W-9 form and conduct a community-facing volunteer or outreach event prior to grant close-out, fostering education and public involvement in stormwater management. The grant operates on a biannual cycle. For Spring 2025, applications will be accepted from January 1 through March 1, with awards announced by April 1. For Fall 2025, the application window runs from July 1 through September 1, with awards announced by October 1. There are no stated pre-application deadlines or formal Q&A periods, but applicants are encouraged to contact the grant administrators with questions or for feedback on project ideas. Applications can be submitted via email or delivered in person to the City of Norfolk’s Office of Resilience at 501 Boush Street, Norfolk, VA 23510. The grant selection process is not explicitly detailed, but the program emphasizes community participation, sustainability, and rainwater capture strategies. There is no mention of a matching requirement or the total amount of funding available for all grantees. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out for eligibility clarification or assistance connecting with eligible partners. The City provides direct support via email and phone to ensure inclusivity and engagement across various community sectors. Applicants seeking assistance or more information can contact the City of Norfolk’s Retain Your Rain program via email at retainyourrain@norfolk.gov or by phone at (757) 664-2460. The main government address is 810 Union Street, Norfolk, VA 23510. The program is locally focused and does not extend beyond Norfolk, Virginia.