Small Investments. Big Community Impact. | LISC Houston

LISC Houston's Small Grants Program awards grants of up to $5,000 to grassroots organizations and community leaders across Houston neighborhoods. In 2026, the program received 113 applications. Since 2015, it has engaged more than 52,000 residents across hundreds of initiatives. This year's funded projects focus on public space activation, civic engagement, health and wellness, and youth and family programming — work that is ready to move from idea to action with strong community support.

Small Investments. Big Community Impact. LISC Houston is proud to announce the 2026 Small Grant Awardees, continuing our commitment to supporting resident-driven efforts that strengthen and connect neighborhoods across Houston. This year, we received 113 applications from community-based organizations and grassroots leaders across our target neighborhoods. At its core, the Small Grants Program is about more than funding, it is about removing barriers and creating access. Too often, grassroots organizations with strong ideas and deep community connections face challenges accessing the resources needed to bring those ideas to life. By offering grants of up to $5,000, LISC Houston is able to provide a simple, accessible pathway for organizations to move quickly from idea to implementation, supporting efforts that are grounded in community voice and ready to take action. Since launching the program in 2015, LISC Houston has supported hundreds of community initiatives, engaging more than 52,000 residents and leveraging millions of dollars toward neighborhood-based efforts. What we continue to see year after year is that small, strategic investments can create meaningful and lasting impact—not just through the projects themselves, but by building trust, strengthening relationships, and creating momentum for continued investment. This year’s applications reflected a clear shift toward action-oriented, community-driven work. Many proposals focused on activating public spaces through concerts, clean-ups, bike rides, and neighborhood events, bringing visibility and energy back into shared community spaces. Others are centered on rebuilding civic engagement, with efforts to reactivate civic associations, increase resident participation, and create opportunities for neighbors to come together and shape what happens in their communities. We also saw strong representation of projects focused on health and wellness, including outdoor fitness, food access, and programming that support both physical and mental well-being. Youth and family engagement was another major theme, with organizations creating opportunities for mentorship, recreation, and connection across generations. Across all of these areas, what stood out most was the emphasis on implementation—projects that are ready to happen now, supported by strong partnerships and clear community buy-in. As part of our review process, priority was given to initiatives that move beyond planning and demonstrate clear, visible impact, projects that bring residents together in tangible ways and contribute to stronger, more connected neighborhoods. 2026 Small Grant Awardees We are proud to support a cohort of community-driven projects advancing neighborhood priorities across Houston. These initiatives reflect strong local leadership and a commitment to bringing residents together in meaningful ways.Denver Harbor / Port Houston Denver Harbor Cares – A Vision for Denver HarborPriority Area: Leadership & Civic EngagementProject Description: Facilitates community meetings and engagement activities to gather resident input and develop a shared vision and priorities for the neighborhood ending with implementation of resident-led project. The underlying goal is for residents to feel empowered by their engagement and increase long-term participation in their civic associations. Houston Community ToolBank, Inc. – P.A.C.K. DayPriority Area: Safety & Cleanups / Health & WellnessProject Description: Host a community event where residents assemble emergency preparedness kits while receiving resources and information to support household and neighborhood readiness. East End Community Family Centers – Semillas del Futuro (Seeds of the Future)Priority Area: Education & Youth / Leadership & Civic EngagementProject Description: Provides programming for youth and families focused on education, leadership development, and community engagement activities. Activities will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, volunteer planting stations, youth-led garden tours, ecobricking demonstrations, small business tables, and civic association sign-up opportunities. New Hope Housing, Inc. – Harrisburg Food PantryPriority Area: Health & WellnessProject Description: Operates a neighborhood-based food pantry offering consistent access to fresh and healthy food for residents in the East End. The pantry also serves as a platform for engagement through activities such as cooking classes, where residents can learn new skills, exchange recipes, and build connections around food, transforming the pantry from a distribution site into a shared community resource. Fifth Ward Empower CDC – Expungement & Legal ClinicsPriority Area: Economic Development / Leadership & Civic EngagementProject Description: Organizes legal clinics that assist residents with record expungement and provide guidance on overcoming legal barriers to employment and housing. New Liberty Road CDC – Fifth Ward RisingPriority Area: Leadership & Civic EngagementProject Description: Leads community outreach and organizing efforts to engage residents in identifying priorities and participating in neighborhood improvement initiatives.  Initiative aims to launch a Spanish-speaking civic group and host a National Night Out. Gulfton / Sharpstown My Connect Community – Thrive Together InitiativePriority Area: Health & Wellness / Education & YouthProject Description: Delivers community-based programming that connects residents to resources, promotes wellness, and supports families through engagement activities. The team will host a Senior Connection Day where adults 55+ can participate in group exercises and Burnett Bayland Park along with Cultural and Women’s Health Networking opportunities.  This project aims to reduce isolation and help activate green spaces. Near Northside Friends of Moody Park – Summer Concert SeriesPriority Area: Arts, Culture, History, & MediaProject Description: Organizes a series of outdoor concerts and events at Moody Park to activate the space and bring residents together through music and cultural programming. Spring Branch Win All Else Fails – Caregiver Connect SeriesPriority Area: Health & WellnessProject Description: Hosts a series of gatherings and support sessions for caregivers, providing resources, peer connection, and opportunities for shared learning.  They will host a sensory friendly movie night and offer seizure certification to the community. Sunnyside Havah Life – Sunnyside Through Our LensPriority Area: Arts, Culture, History, & Media / Education & YouthProject Description: Engages youth in photography and storytelling to capture and share their perspectives on the Sunnyside community. The goal of this initiative is to not only provide photography and videography skills, but also create an archive for the neighborhood preserving the cultural and history of the neighborhood. Kay Davis in the Community Foundation – Nourish and Flourish: From Kitchen to CommuntiyPriority Area: Leadership & Civic EngagementProject Description: Intergenerational wellness cohort where community members will learn hands-on cooking, tips for growing herbs and vegetables at home, and nutrition education. Third Ward Houston Community Land Trust – Community StewardshipPriority Area: Housing & Neighborhoods / Economic DevelopmentProject Description: Advances community land trust efforts to support long-term housing affordability and stabilize homeownership opportunities. They plan to host a Family Fun day to support mental health and provide community members with Transfer on Death and Heirs Property support.  They will also host art exhibitions with Project Row Houses to reinforce community preservation. Emancipation Economic Development Council (EEDC) – Third Ward Clean UP!Priority Area: Economic DevelopmentProject Description: The Super Neighborhood, in partnership with all four civic associations, will come together to address litter across Third Ward through a coordinated cleanup effort. This project will address litter across Third Ward while also serving as a community-wide assessment to identify needs and opportunities for future investment. These awardees represent a strong and balanced cohort of projects, each one rooted in community priorities and designed to create immediate, visible impact while contributing to longer-term neighborhood strength. We extend our sincere thanks to our small but mighty evaluation team, whose thoughtful review and commitment made this process possible. Looking ahead, these projects will be implemented throughout 2026, with activities completed by October and a Small Grants Showcase later this year to highlight impact and celebrate the work of our partners. We are excited to see how these efforts come to life, and how, together, they continue to demonstrate that when communities are equipped with the right resources, even small investments can lead to powerful, lasting change. For more information or any questions, please contact Carolyn Andrews, at 832-512-7087 or candrews@lisc.org.

- Read the full list of 2026 awardees to find projects happening near you - Look up a funded organization in your neighborhood and get involved as a volunteer or participant - Contact LISC Houston to ask about future small grant cycles or eligibility - Share this article with a neighbor-led group that might benefit from small grant funding - Follow LISC Houston's work to stay updated on new funding opportunities