Provided by: The City of Charlotte Urban Design Center 

Purpose: The Placemaking Grant program is a community-building initiative that supports quick-win and transformative projects to create and enhance community vibrancy, safety, and identity. It focuses on activating underutilized spaces, improving streetscapes, adding art and beautification, and creating gathering spaces. 

Program At-a-Glance 

• Grant amounts: $5,000 to $25,000 per project 

• Eligibility: 
  • Neighborhood and homeowners’ associations, community organizations, businesses or merchant organizations, and/or individuals with project teams (Applicant groups must be significantly composed of people who live within Charlotte city limits) 
  • Project must be publicly accessible and within Charlotte City Limits 
• Project types include:  
  • Wall murals, street furniture, painted crosswalks, bike parking, playscapes, swings, sidewalk dining, pop-up plazas/parks, street murals, painted traffic circles, programming/events, bus stop improvements, green infrastructure, community agriculture, signal cabinet wraps, and more. 
• Project Timeline: Must be completed by May 31, 2027 
• Application period: Opens mid-March 2026  

Website: UDC Placemaking Grant   

Provided by: Keep Charlotte Beautiful (KCB)

Purpose: To support community-driven projects that promote litter prevention, waste reduction, beautification, and community greening across Charlotte.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Up to $8,000 per project 
• Eligibility: Open to neighborhoods, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and individuals citywide 
• Project Timeline: Projects must be completed by December 31, 2027 
• Application period: Applications open September 2026 

Website: Keep Charlotte Beautiful

Provided by: City of Charlotte Economic Development

Purpose: The City of Charlotte offers matching grant programs to support commercial property owners and businesses located within designated Business Corridor Revitalization geographies. These programs help improve building appearance, enhance safety, and upgrade interior spaces, contributing to the long-term economic vitality and vibrancy of our city’s business corridors.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: $5,000-$90,000 (based on grant and building/business size)
• Eligibility:
  • Façade Improvement Grant: Eligible improvements for the Façade Improvement Grant include approved architectural façade renovations, signage, parking, and landscaping upgrades, public right-of-way infrastructure enhancements, and reimbursement of up to $3,000 for architectural fees in addition to the maximum grant amount.
• • Interior Upfit Improvement Grant: Eligible improvements for the Interior Upfit Improvement Grant include upgrades to HVAC, fire suppression, plumbing, and electrical systems, as well as improvements to flooring, lighting, wall reconfiguration, interior restrooms, and utility infrastructure.
  • Security Improvement Grant: Eligible improvements for the Security Improvement Grant include security lighting, cameras, fencing, locking devices, windows, alarm systems, ironwork, and strategic landscaping (trees and shrubbery), all based on a security analysis conducted by a CMPD Crime Prevention Officer.
• Project Timeline: Projects must be completed within 24 months of contract signing.
• Application periods: Quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15

Website: Business Matching Grants

Provided by: KaBOOM!

Purpose: To create high-quality, kid-designed playspaces in underserved communities through a collaborative, community-led design and build process.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Varies by project; includes full playspace equipment, planning support, and project coordination
• Eligibility: Open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and municipal agencies in select cities (Charlotte included); must serve children from low-income communities and demonstrate community need and engagement capacity
• Project Timeline: Includes a 5–12 week planning process followed by a 1-day community build
• Application period: Accepted on a rolling basis; applicants must complete an eligibility quiz and may be invited to submit a full application

Website: KABOOM!

Provided by: The City of Charlotte’s Housing and Neighborhood Services

Purpose: This program empowers eligible neighborhood-based organizations citywide to bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s a community garden, a wellness initiative, or a Little Free Library, if your project builds connection and strengthens your neighborhood, the Community Microgrant can help support your efforts. 

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: $500 – $5,000 (reimbursement-based)
• Eligibility: neighborhood-based organizations located within Charlotte city limits
  • Project must align with at least one of the following priorities:
    • Innovation & Sustainability: Environmental stewardship and forward-thinking solutions
    • Community Health & Wellness: Improving physical, mental, and social well-being
    • Neighborhood Engagement & Belonging: Building stronger, more inclusive community connections 
• Project timeline: up to 6 months to complete
• Application period: October 1, 2025 – March 1, 2026 (rolling review)

Website: Community Microgrant

Provided by: The City of Charlotte’s Housing and Neighborhood Services

Purpose: The Community Partnership Grant is a new funding opportunity designed to help community-based nonprofit organizations build or strengthen partnerships with neighborhood-based organizations to deliver programs, services, or projects that provide direct benefit to neighborhoods. 

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Up to $35,000, one or multiple awards may be made (reimbursement-based) 
• Eligibility: Nonprofits currently serving residents within Charlotte city limits. See website for additional eligibility criteria.
• Project Timeline: Letters of Intent (LOI) will be accepted from mid-January to February 28, 2026 
• Application period: Applicants selected through LOI review will be invited to apply in March 2026 

Website: Community Partnership Grants

Provided by: Arts & Science Council (ASC), funded by Mecklenburg County

Purpose: To support free, community-driven arts, science, and history programming in underserved neighborhoods across Mecklenburg County.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Up to $40,000 per project; partial funding may be awarded based on available resources
• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations serving Charlotte and the towns of Cornelius, Huntersville, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville; programs must be free and take place in community spaces like libraries, parks, and rec centers
• Project Timeline: Programming must occur between January 1 – December 31
• Application period: Open July 2026, and close August 2026; applicants notified by September

Website: Culture Blocks Grant for Organizations

Provided by: Knight Foundation

Purpose: To support an inclusive and thriving Historic West End by promoting community engagement, public spaces, and arts and culture that connect residents and strengthen civic life.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Not specified 
• Eligibility: Organizations working to engage and uplift the Historic West End community in Charlotte 
• Project Timeline: Throughout the year, Knight Foundation issues open challenges or calls for proposals focused on specific funding priorities. 
• Application period: Not specified, check website and social media for open calls and available opportunities

Website: Knight Foundation – Charlotte Program

Provided by: Foundation For The Carolinas

Purpose: The Longleaf Fund gives money to help build or improve places where at-risk kids in certain Carolina cities can play, learn, or grow. It supports projects like playgrounds, sports areas, computer labs, or tools for kids with disabilities, especially if the community is also helping to fund the project.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts:  $10,000 to $150,000 
• Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government units, schools, or congregations serving Charlotte, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount (NC), or Florence, Spartanburg (SC) 
• Project Timeline: 12–18 months  
• Application period: Open January 13, 2026 through February 26, 2026 

Website: Foundation For The Carolinas Grant Application and Information Portal

Provided by: Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

Purpose: To restore and revitalize community spaces across the U.S., supporting projects that create lasting impact and inspire local change.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Not publicly specified per project, but part of a $100 million, 5-year commitment; includes funding and volunteer support
• Eligibility: Open to community-nominated projects that demonstrate impact, need, feasibility, and inspiration; must benefit underserved or overlooked communities 
• Project Timeline: Selected projects must be completed between July and November 2025 
• Application period: The nomination window for 2026 opens in February 2026 

Website: Lowe’s Hometowns Grant

Provided by: The City of Charlotte’s Housing and Neighborhood Services

Purpose: The Neighborhood Matching Grants (NMG) Program supports resident-led efforts to improve and strengthen Charlotte’s neighborhoods. The program focuses on building capacity, encouraging active resident participation, and supporting projects that deliver visible and lasting impact.  

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: up to $25,000 per project (reimbursement-based) 
• Eligibility: Neighborhood-based organizations within the program’s eligible geography (see website for more information) 
• Project Timeline: All projects must be completed within 12 months of the contract date. 
• Application period: Apply by March 1, 2026. Attendance at a pre-application workshop is required. Details & Registration.

Primary goals of the NMG Program:

• Support resident-led solutions that empower neighborhoods to identify and implement projects based on their priorities and needs. 
• Strengthen capacity and improve access to resources that support sustainable initiatives and create lasting impact. 
• Encourage engagement by supporting opportunities for residents to connect, contribute, and feel a sense of belonging in their community. 
• Create opportunities for partnership and collaboration among residents, community organizations, and the City of Charlotte. 

Website: Neighborhood Matching Grants

Provided by: City of Charlotte’s Landscape Management and Housing & Neighborhood Services

Purpose: To support community-led efforts in maintaining and enhancing Charlotte’s urban tree canopy through care, education, and engagement.

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Matching grants of up to $3,000 for eligible tree care initiatives 
• Eligibility: Open to eligible organizations citywide; participation in a pre-application workshop is required 
• Project Timeline: Projects may run concurrently with Neighborhood Matching Grant projects; must follow city guidelines 
• Application period: Applications are accepted once per year; the next cycle will open in September 2026 

Website: Tree Care Grant

Provided by: Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District

Purpose: To support land users in reducing runoff, preventing erosion, and addressing non-point source water pollution through the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Program At-a-Glance

• Grant amounts: Up to 75% reimbursement of eligible costs, with a maximum of $7,500
• Eligibility: Open to residents and property owners in the City of Charlotte, unincorporated Mecklenburg County, and for streambank stabilization only, the six other municipalities (Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson)
• Project Timeline: Projects must be approved before implementation; participants must maintain practices for at least five years
• Application period: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; interested applicants must first submit an interest form and complete a site assessment

Website: Urban Cost Share Program

The Placemaking Hub

Arts and Science Council

City of Charlotte Current Grant Opportunities

Foundation For The Carolinas Grant Application and Information Portal

Housing and Neighborhood Services Community Impact Grants Website

HNS Additional Funding Opportunities Page

Keep Charlotte Beautiful

United Way of Greater Charlotte Funding Opportunities