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First readWhat to know+
Topic: Small grants up to $5,000 for Houston neighborhood projectsSource: LISC HoustonProgram Start: 2015Residents Reached: More than 52,000 since 20152026 Applications: 113 groups applied this year
Next rungHow to step in+
Good first step: Share A neighbor, church, or local group that does community work
Hey, LISC Houston gives up to $5,000 to local groups improving neighborhoods. Projects around parks, health, youth, and civic stuff all qualify. Check out lischouston.org to learn more!
Time and placeWhere this sits+
Our NeighborhoodLocal Initiatives Support Corporation
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Houston's Small Grants Program awards up to $5,000 to grassroots groups and community leaders working to strengthen Houston neighborhoods. In 2026, the program drew 113 applications and selected a cohort of projects focused on public space activation, civic engagement, health and wellness, and youth and family programming. Since 2015, the program has supported hundreds of initiatives touching more than 52,000 Houston residents.
The Small Grants Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to community-based organizations and grassroots leaders in LISC Houston's target neighborhoods. The 2026 awardee cohort spans eight Houston neighborhoods — Denver Harbor, East End, Fifth Ward, Gulfton/Sharpstown, Near Northside, Spring Branch, Sunnyside, and Third Ward. Funded projects include emergency preparedness kit assembly events, outdoor concert series, youth photography and storytelling programs, food pantries with cooking classes, expungement and legal clinics, caregiver support sessions, community land trust education days, neighborhood cleanups, and intergenerational cooking and nutrition cohorts. Priority goes to projects that are ready to launch now, have strong community partnerships, and will bring residents together in visible, tangible ways.
If your organization serves a Houston neighborhood and has a community-driven project ready to move, this program is worth exploring. The application process is designed to be accessible — no elaborate grant-writing experience required. Review the 2026 awardee list to get a feel for the kinds of projects that fit. Then reach out to LISC Houston directly to learn when the next grant cycle opens and whether your neighborhood qualifies. You can also connect with one of this year's awardees in your area — many are hosting open events and welcoming new volunteers and partners.
No fixed date
Not location-specific
Several 2026 awardees are hosting public events you can attend or support. Friends of Moody Park is bringing live music to Near Northside through a Summer Concert Series at Moody Park. Houston Community ToolBank is hosting a P.A.C.K. Day where Denver Harbor residents can build emergency preparedness kits together. New Hope Housing's Harrisburg Food Pantry in the East End offers not just food access but cooking classes and community connection. Empower CDC in Fifth Ward is running free expungement and legal clinics to help residents clear barriers to jobs and housing. Houston Community Land Trust in Third Ward is hosting a Family Fun Day alongside art exhibitions with Project Row Houses. My Connect Community in Gulfton/Sharpstown is activating Burnett Bayland Park with a Senior Connection Day for adults 55 and older. Each of these projects welcomes community members — you don't have to be a grant recipient to get involved.
Grassroots organizations often have strong ideas and deep community trust but struggle to access the resources they need to act. A small, well-timed grant can move a project from idea to reality — and the ripple effects go further than the project itself. Building relationships, boosting resident participation, and attracting future investment all start with moments like these. LISC Houston has seen this play out for over a decade across the city.
