Arlington County opens $1.2 million Opportunities Grant round for nonprofits serving its residents
The Virginia county is taking proposals for fiscal 2028 until Dec. 11. Charities and faith-based organizations serving Arlington may apply, and the county expects to fund up to four requests above $50,000.
Arlington. Arlington County, Va., is accepting proposals for its Opportunities Grant, which pays local nonprofits to run programs for county residents, and expects to allocate $1.2 million in ongoing funding for the 2028 fiscal year. Proposals are due at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 11.
The county announced the round on Oct. 19. IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations and faith-based organizations that serve Arlington County may apply, and the county says new organizations are welcome.
What applicants should know
The grant is meant to fund programs or projects that create opportunities for Arlington residents to thrive while reducing, eliminating or preventing inequities in human and community services. Collaborative approaches are encouraged.
The county anticipates funding up to four proposals that request more than $50,000. Those applicants must answer additional questions about scalability, sustainability and readiness, and the program's guidance encourages most organizations to keep requests at or below $50,000.
Two virtual technical assistance sessions are scheduled: an overview of the program on Oct. 29 from 2 to 3 p.m., and a grant-writing session on Nov. 4 from 1 to 2 p.m. Staff will also hold virtual office hours while the round is open. Community representatives and county staff will review the proposals, and community members can ask to join the review panels. Award recommendations are expected to go to the County Board in March 2027.
“The economic pressures that many local organizations faced last year still remain.”
Earlier rounds
The program grew out of the county's budget guidance for fiscal 2024, which made an equity-based funding notice for human and community service grants a priority. Its first cycle, in fiscal 2025, awarded $2.4 million to 22 human services nonprofits. In fiscal 2026, 23 awards ranged from $26,000 to the cap of $150,000; Patch reported that they totaled about $1.8 million.
In the most recent round, for fiscal 2027, the County Board on April 22 approved $1.69 million for 31 human services nonprofits, chosen from 69 proposals. The board added $437,000 in one-time money through that year's budget, and apart from five larger awards, grants were capped at $50,000. Recipients included Arlington Free Clinic, Meals on Wheels of Arlington and Aspire! Afterschool Learning.
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