The FY2026 Community Development Grant is administered by the Executive Office of the Mayor (EOM) of the District of Columbia through the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs (MOCA). EOM's mission is to enhance the quality of life for District residents through community outreach, education, and inter-agency coordination. MOCA acts as a liaison to the city's diverse populations, including communities such as returning citizens, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Latinos, African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, women, Caribbean nationals, and the faith-based community.
This grant aims to support community-based organizations (CBOs) that align with the Mayor's funding priorities in three primary areas: Education, Clean and Safe Communities, and The Growth Agenda. Education-focused initiatives include early childhood education, youth enrichment, trade programs, adult training, LEP/NEP learning, recreation, arts, and civic engagement. Clean and Safe Communities initiatives involve crime prevention, mental and physical wellness, youth mentorship, and addressing chronic health disparities. The Growth Agenda emphasizes economic development through sports, live entertainment, tech, downtown support, and business facilitation.
Eligible applicants must be CBOs with 501(c)(3) status, licensed and in good standing with the District's Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) and the Office of Tax and Revenue. Organizations must be headquartered or have a service location in DC and deliver programming within the District. Existing grantees must also meet FY2025 reporting and compliance requirements. Required documents include financial statements, tax filings, certificates of good standing, insurance, programmatic materials, and signed affidavits.
Applications must be submitted online through the ZoomGrants portal (https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/FY26CDG) and will be accepted from July 17, 2025, until August 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. A Pre-Bidders Conference will be held on July 23, 2025, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC. Questions about the grant must be submitted via email to EOM.Grants@dc.gov by August 6, 2025.
The grant awards will be disbursed in two installments: one after signing the grant agreement and the second following the submission of the second quarterly report. Award letters are expected in September 2025. Selected organizations may receive up to $100,000 from a total available fund of $3,193,652. Programs will be evaluated quarterly and must run from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
Evaluation criteria include program goals and outcomes (20 points), organizational capability (25 points), community outreach (5 points), soundness of the proposal (30 points), and fiscal management (20 points). Successful applicants must also adhere to strict compliance requirements, including anti-discrimination laws and reporting guidelines.
