Grant Opportunities: Prompt Response, STEAM Fellowship, and More

The Foundation offers several grant programs to support nonprofits working in our community. Deadlines and program guidelines vary.

Prompt Response Grants

Arlington Community Foundation is now accepting grant requests up to $2,500 from our Prompt Response Fund. Grants may be awarded to support a time-sensitive, unanticipated opportunity or need that would be difficult for an organization to address without a prompt response grant. Eligible grantees are 501(c)(3) or publicly supported organizations serving Arlington residents. Prompt response grants are not meant to support political or religious activities. Neither are they meant to be awarded for general operating support or to start new programs. Any grant amounts awarded should be committed or expended expeditiously and, at the latest, within 3 months of the date of the award.

Program priorities

Prompt Response Fund grant requests will only be considered by the Foundation if it is determined that:

The request could not have been predicted or reasonably planned for.

The request is to support a short-term urgent funding need or opportunity created by an unforeseen event.

The request covers a last dollar purpose for a one-time event.

The request is time-sensitive in nature and a response is needed within 45 days or less.

This request will not be a recurring cost.

Example of an emergency request: To help get the office back into safe operational use after a ceiling tile fell.

Example of a last dollar request: To help 10 students participate in an upcoming school event that they would otherwise have to miss without this funding.

Eligibility

Requests may be submitted at any time by nonprofit 501(c)3 agencies serving Arlington County residents.

Generally, Prompt Response Fund grants are NOT awarded:

For costs associated with programs or services provided to citizens outside of Arlington County

For sectarian or religious purposes

For political purposes

To cover general operating expenses

To cover expenses that will be recurring in nature

Examples of approved Prompt Response requests:

To provide meals for clients displaced by renovations to residential units.

To provide formal clothes for nine children from economically disadvantaged families so that they may attend a one-time theater performance.

To provide transportation subsidies for students from low-income families to attend a leadership conference because other sources of funding will not cover transportation.

For emergency lodging for 12 individuals displaced by a recent affordable housing apartment fire.

To make a donation to the Prompt Response Fund, click here.

Apply for a grant

Video: application tutorial

STEAM Workforce Development Teacher Fellowships ($4,000 Stipend)

Beginning this year, the program will now be referred to as the STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Math) Fellowship Program to include the arts. Applicants planning to pursue a fellowship in the arts must demonstrate how they will build connections between the arts and science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

The STEAM Workforce Development Teacher Fellowship provides Arlington Public Schools high school, middle school and elementary school teachers with opportunities to learn about work place needs in STEAM-related fields and for them to use the experience to enhance student learning to match workplace expectations in a selected industry. STEAM Fellows participate in a three-week summer fellowship, receiving a $4,000 stipend upon completion.

The Summer 2024 STEAM Fellowship application is now closed. Click here or the button below to sign up for next year’s STEAM Fellowship updates!

Sign up for STEAM Fellowship updates

Need some inspiration? Meet previous STEAM Fellows

2023 STEAM Fellowship: Making the plaques for Arlington “Stumbling Stones”. Read on WTOP News.
2022 STEAM (Formerly STEM) Fellows: A 6 minute video where 3 Fellows share their experiences. Watch on YouTube.