MLK Day Project Grant Competition

The MLK Day Project Grant Competition is a grant from ServeOhio that funds community service projects honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through youth volunteer engagement. Projects must create or improve community assets and infrastructure such as parks, schools, senior centers, community gardens, or low-income homes.

All projects must include an educational component to help volunteers learn about the issues and communities they are serving. Grant awards range from $250 to $1,000, with an estimated 20 to 25 grants awarded per cycle. There is no matching requirement.

Funds may be used for supplies, materials, and volunteer support. The application window opens October 27, 2025, with a deadline of November 14, 2025.

Opens Oct 27 2025 12:00 AM (EST) Deadline Nov 14 2025 11:59 PM (EST) The primary intent is to support projects or a series of projects that create or improve community assets or infrastructure, such as parks, schools, senior centers, community gardens or low-income homes through youth volunteer engagement. Projects may span multiple days throughout the project window.

Projects should be collaborative in nature, involve a broad spectrum of community participants, and benefit the larger community. All projects must include an educational component to help volunteers learn more about the issue they’re impacting and the community/population they’re serving.

Examples might include a brief training, inviting community members and leaders to participate and speak to the group, or a facilitated discussion of the issues affecting the community. Grant awards will be in the range of $250 to $1,000. Depending on amounts requested, an estimated twenty to twenty-five grants will be awarded.

There is no matching requirement for these cost-reimbursement grants. Consistent with the approved project budget, funds may be used for: - Supplies/materials - Volunteer Support (i.e. food, water, T-shirts, promotional items) Funds requested should be commensurate with the number of volunteers engaged; the higher the grant request, the higher number of volunteers that should be engaged in the project.

The primary purpose of the grant is to support the project(s), therefore no more than 20% of the total funding request should be allocated to volunteer support costs. For example, if requesting $1,000, no more than $200 should be budgeted for volunteer support. Funds may not be used for staffing, travel costs, gift cards, awards, or grantee administration/overhead costs.

Supplies/materials may include small equipment (useful life of two years or more) up to $100 unit cost. All awards will be paid by reimbursement upon submission of the project report and documentation of expenditures. Non-profit and public organizations in Ohio including, but not limited to, volunteer centers, faith-based organizations, school districts, community colleges, universities, and local governments are eligible to apply.

The application form must be completed, signed, and submitted by Friday, November 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Because the source of funds may be federal, AmeriCorps members may not apply for these funds directly. However, AmeriCorps members are encouraged to be involved in planning, leading, and serving on the day of service.

All applicants will self-select the region for which they are applying. This should reflect the location where the project will take place. For a breakdown of regions by county, click here.

ServeOhio staff and board members will review applications. Reviewers will evaluate proposals based on: Other factors that may be considered include geographic diversity of projects and whether an applicant has received funding for another project in the past year. Funding preference will be given to applicants that do not presently receive other grant funding from ServeOhio.

All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by Monday, December 1st at 5:00 PM via the person listed on the application as the project manager. The primary intent is to support projects or a series of projects that create or improve community assets or infrastructure, such as parks, schools, senior centers, community gardens or low-income homes through youth volunteer engagement.

Projects may span multiple days throughout the project window. Projects should be collaborative in nature, involve a broad spectrum of community participants, and benefit the larger community. All projects must include an educational component to help volunteers learn more about the issue they’re impacting and the community/population they’re serving.

Examples might include a brief training, inviting community members and leaders to participate and speak to the group, or a facilitated discussion of the issues affecting the community. Grant awards will be in the range of $250 to $1,000. Depending on amounts requested, an estimated twenty to twenty-five grants will be awarded.

There is no matching requirement for these cost-reimbursement grants. Consistent with the approved project budget, funds may be used for: - Supplies/materials - Volunteer Support (i.e. food, water, T-shirts, promotional items) Funds requested should be commensurate with the number of volunteers engaged; the higher the grant request, the higher number of volunteers that should be engaged in the project.

The primary purpose of the grant is to support the project(s), therefore no more than 20% of the total funding request should be allocated to volunteer support costs. For example, if requesting $1,000, no more than $200 should be budgeted for volunteer support. Funds may not be used for staffing, travel costs, gift cards, awards, or grantee administration/overhead costs.

Supplies/materials may include small equipment (useful life of two years or more) up to $100 unit cost. All awards will be paid by reimbursement upon submission of the project report and documentation of expenditures. Non-profit and public organizations in Ohio including, but not limited to, volunteer centers, faith-based organizations, school districts, community colleges, universities, and local governments are eligible to apply.

The application form must be completed, signed, and submitted by Friday, November 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Because the source of funds may be federal, AmeriCorps members may not apply for these funds directly. However, AmeriCorps members are encouraged to be involved in planning, leading, and serving on the day of service.

All applicants will self-select the region for which they are applying. This should reflect the location where the project will take place. For a breakdown of regions by county, click here.

ServeOhio staff and board members will review applications. Reviewers will evaluate proposals based on: Other factors that may be considered include geographic diversity of projects and whether an applicant has received funding for another project in the past year. Funding preference will be given to applicants that do not presently receive other grant funding from ServeOhio.

All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by Monday, December 1st at 5:00 PM via the person listed on the application as the project manager. Oct 27 2025 12:00 AM (EST) Nov 14 2025 11:59 PM (EST)