"After years of pandemic-related disruptions, many Houston neighborhoods have seen fewer people showing up — to civic meetings, local events, and community organizations. LISC Houston refreshed this grant program to help rebuild those connections. The idea is simple: neighbors know their community best, and small amounts of flexible funding can help turn local ideas into real action."
LISC Houston's Small Grants Program has supported grassroots leadership in Houston since 2015, reaching more than 52,000 residents. The 2025 cohort includes 13 organizations and resident groups from neighborhoods like Third Ward, Fifth Ward, Sunnyside, and Spring Branch. Projects include youth programming, mural-making, reading programs, food equity efforts, and neighborhood festivals. The 2025 program focuses on reigniting civic engagement and rebuilding neighborhood connections after disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celebrating Resident-Led Change: Introducing the 2025 Small Grants Awardees
Since its launch in 2015, LISC Houston’s Small Grants Program has played a pivotal role in supporting grassroots leadership and catalyzing resident-led change throughout Houston. What began to seed local solutions has grown into one of LISC Houston’s most meaningful tools for neighborhood revitalization—providing small, flexible grants to fuel big community impact.
Over the years, the Small Grants Program has empowered more than 52,000 residents to implement creative and effective solutions to the challenges they see every day in their neighborhoods. From community safety forums and cultural celebrations to youth programming and placemaking projects, this initiative has helped turn ideas into action and strengthened our communities.
Building on Momentum, Adapting for Today
As we looked toward 2025, we recognized that Houston neighborhoods are continuing to face complex challenges—particularly following the social and civic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many community organizations and resident-led efforts have seen decreased participation and diminished capacity. In response, we’ve refreshed the purpose of the Small Grants Program to focus more intentionally on reigniting civic engagement, reactivating local associations, and rebuilding neighborhood connections.
The 2025 program is centered around supporting community initiatives that bring people together, foster pride, and strengthen the capacity of neighborhoods to lead their own development. These grants are designed to spark re-engagement and collective action—from beautification events and cultural celebrations to literacy programs and disaster preparedness workshops.
This shift reflects a deeper commitment by LISC Houston to align all our lines of business—housing, health, economic development, education, and more—with our national goals and our strategic focus on creating thriving, resilient communities. We’re especially focused on neighborhoods that have historically lacked adequate resources and investment, ensuring our support reaches those who need it most.
Introducing the 2025 Awardees
We are proud to introduce the 2025 cohort of Small Grants awardees: 13 organizations and resident groups representing neighborhoods across Houston, including Greater Third Ward, Fifth Ward, Magnolia Park, Spring Branch, Sunnyside, Northline, Near Northside, East End, and more.
These grantees will lead initiatives that exemplify the spirit of place-based, community-driven work. Projects range from a Juneteenth boxing showcase and youth leadership gala to mural-making, reading programs, neighborhood festivals, civic center revitalization, and food equity efforts.
Each initiative is a powerful example of how small-scale funding can help spark meaningful, visible change that creates opportunities for neighbors to connect, celebrate their identity, and build toward a stronger future.
Congratulation to our 2025 Awardees:
Magnolia Park Arts & Community
Fit Houston
Ewing Place Resident Council
Melrose Civic Club
Friends of Moody Park
Havah Life
Destined for Empowerment CDC
Lindale Park Civic Club
The ETC Lab
EADO Boxing Club
Sunnyside Super Neighborhood
Kennedy Place Residence
Art League of Houston
Why This Matters
At the heart of LISC Houston’s work is the belief that residents are the most effective agents of change in their communities. The Small Grants Program is one of the clearest reflections of that belief providing the resources and recognition that grassroots leaders need to activate their vision.
We remain committed to using this program as a foundation for broader neighborhood transformation and as a complement to our larger investments across Houston. When paired with our work in affordable housing, economic development, leadership training and more, these resident-led efforts help build the trust, collaboration, and momentum needed for long-term success.
To learn more about this year’s cohort or to stay connected with their upcoming events, visit our website.
Let’s celebrate the power of local leadership and continue investing in the neighborhoods that make Houston whole.
For more information or any questions, please contact Carolyn Andrews, at 832-512-7087 or candrews@lisc.org.
