Community Collaboration Challenge

The 2026 Community Collaboration Challenge, supported by the Leon Lowenstein Foundation and administered by the Partnership for Student Success at the Johns Hopkins Everyone Graduates Center, aims to strengthen local infrastructure for K-12 student support through collaborative, community-driven initiatives. This funding opportunity provides microgrants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to promote the scaling, piloting, or expansion of evidence-based student support services, such as high-impact tutoring, mentoring, student success coaching, wraparound and integrated student supports, and postsecondary transition coaching. The initiative builds on prior cycles of similar awards, intending to catalyze sustainable improvements in educational outcomes by fostering cooperation among schools, districts, local nonprofits, and government agencies. The purpose of the Challenge is to identify and support community partnerships that can deliver people-powered interventions known to have measurable positive impacts on K-12 student success. Special emphasis is placed on collaborative projects that also provide career-connected learning opportunities for the adults or near-peer youth serving in support roles. This includes initiatives that help those providing tutoring, mentoring, or coaching roles gain work-based learning experience, develop durable soft skills, or engage in pathways that connect to workforce development. Projects that engage high school students in peer support roles, such as mentoring or tutoring younger students, are also prioritized. Additional consideration is given to applicants who can demonstrate matching funds or leveraged resources from other sources to amplify the project’s impact. The Challenge is open to a broad array of U.S.-based entities including nonprofits (such as 501(c)(3) organizations and institutions of higher education), school districts, higher education institutions, state and local government agencies, and intermediaries. Eligibility is limited to organizations with a U.S. address, and projects must occur within the United States, including its territories. Applicants must submit basic organizational information, a project proposal including goals and community impact, and a budget for calendar year 2026. In return for funding, grantees must also commit to producing a public-facing deliverable (e.g., toolkit, webinar, report, blog series) that shares lessons learned or methods that could support replication or scale in other communities. The application window opened on December 2, 2025, and will close on January 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. The grant period spans from February to October 2026, with all funded activities expected to be completed by October 23, 2026. Applicants will be notified of awards in mid-February 2026. The submission process consists of an online form that requests basic contact and organizational details, a community background narrative, a problem statement, a description of the proposed activity (including whether it is a pilot, connector event, or expansion), and specific goals. Applicants are encouraged to attend optional webinars and office hours to receive additional support and clarification before submission. Evaluation criteria favor proposals that include evidence-based student support strategies, involve career-connected or near-peer learning opportunities, and demonstrate alignment with the Partnership for Student Success’s mission. Applicants with additional funding sources or matching support are eligible for additional scoring points. The online portal provides access to application rubrics, planning toolkits, and outcome reports from past grant cycles, allowing applicants to better understand the program's impact and the characteristics of successful proposals. Applicants may participate in optional informational webinars on December 16, 2025, and January 7, 2026, or attend office hours on January 14, 2026. These sessions offer guidance on preparing a competitive proposal and understanding the program's focus areas. All application materials must be submitted through the designated online platform by the posted deadline. The program represents a targeted investment in educational equity and collaboration, aiming to improve student outcomes through strategic community partnerships and sustained implementation of proven support models.