Grow Grant: A Complete Guide to Eligibility, Funding & Application
The Grow Grant is a $1,000–$4,000 award from the Grassroots Fund for established, volunteer-driven community groups in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. Eligible groups need at least three active organizers, and no formal tax status is required. Applications open twice a year, with the deadline falling on the third Tuesday of March and September.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Grow Grant:
- What Is the Grow Grant?
- Who Can Apply?
- Grow Grant Eligibility and Requirements
- How to Apply?
- Application Requirements and Documents
- Funding Amount and Award Information
- What Can Grow Grant Funds Be Used For?
- Application Process and Selection
- What Is the Deadline?
- How Grant Funding Can Support Organizational Growth
- How to Improve Your Grow Grant Application
- Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Application
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Grow Grant?
The Grow Grant is a funding program administered by the Grassroots Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports local, volunteer-led community work across New England. Grow Grants are intended for established groups, those with some track record of working together and gathering input from the wider community, that want to sustain current work or build on past success in new ways.
This distinguishes the Grow Grant from the organization’s Seed Grant program, which is designed for newly forming groups with less experience. The Grow Grant program prioritizes initiatives that deepen existing community work or broaden participation in efforts that create healthy, just, safe, and environmentally sustainable communities, including work tied to environmental justice, food access, climate resilience, and mutual aid.
Who Can Apply for the Grow Grant?
According to the Grassroots Fund’s published guidelines, eligible applicants include:
- Local, grassroots groups based in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont
- Groups with three or more organizers actively involved in decision-making
- Volunteer-driven community groups and community-based organizations
- Groups without 501(c)(3) status: a fiscal sponsor is not required, only a bank account in the group's name
The program does not fund:
- Individuals
- For-profit businesses seeking to cover business expenses
- National or international initiatives
- Lobbying or partisan political activity
- Land or building acquisition
- Standalone studies without follow-up action
- Book or report publication
- Re-granting programs
- Retroactive expenses incurred before submission
Grow Grant Eligibility and Requirements
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Requirement
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Details
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Location
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Group must work locally in CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, or VT
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Leadership
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At least 3 active organizers involved in decisions
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Tax status
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Not required; a bank account in the group's name is sufficient
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Budget
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Groups under ~$100,000 in annual spending are prioritized
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Prior grants
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Groups without tax-exempt status/fiscal sponsor may receive 2 Grow grants per year (spring and fall); all other eligible groups may receive 1
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Recommended preparation includes being ready to describe how your group applies the Grassroots Fund’s Guiding Practices, its framework for inclusive, community-driven decision-making since reviewers weigh this during evaluation.
How to Apply for the Grow Grant
Step 1: Confirm Your Group's Eligibility
Review the Grow Grant eligibility guidelines to make sure your group meets the current requirements before starting the application. Grant matching services can help compare your group’s profile with available funding opportunities and identify grants that align with your eligibility, goals, and funding needs.
Step 2: Create an Individual Account
Create an individual account on the Grassroots Fund website if you do not already have one.
Step 3: Find or Register Your Group
Search the existing groups list and join your group if it is already registered. If it is not listed, follow the process to register a new group. Grant community support can provide shared experiences and practical guidance to help you navigate group registration and participation requirements.
Step 4: Access the Online Application
Open the Grow Grant application and complete both required sections: Group Information and Project Information.
Step 5: Save Your Progress Regularly
Save your application frequently while working on it, as the application does not automatically save your progress.
Step 6: Submit Before the Deadline
Complete and submit your application before the applicable deadline. The spring round closes on the third Tuesday of March, while the fall round closes on the third Tuesday of September.
Step 7: Confirm Your Submission
Watch for an automated confirmation email after submitting your application. Later communications provide updates about the review process and funding decision.
Questions about the Grow Grant application process can be directed to the program manager at mary@grassrootsfund.org, or addressed during the funder’s virtual office hours held in the weeks before each deadline.
Grow Grant Application Requirements and Documents
The Grassroots Fund’s online portal walks applicants through the required fields, and the application itself covers group background and a description of the proposed project or initiative. Because the portal doesn’t auto-save, treat your draft answers, project description, statement of need, and expected outcomes as materials worth preparing in a separate document first, then transferring into the form. This lets you refine your project goals and budget details before submission rather than composing them under time pressure.
Note: Additional funding rounds throughout the year, including the 2026 Big Dreams Grant, may have separate eligibility criteria outlined in their program descriptions.
Grow Grant Funding Amount and Award Information
How much funding does the Grow Grant provide? Awards range from $1,000 to $4,000 per grant cycle. The Grassroots Fund recommends that groups apply for the full $4,000 if they can put it to use, though reviewers may recommend partial funding based on the application’s rubric score. Funding amounts and award structures can shift between cycles, so always verify the current figures on the Grassroots Fund’s official Grow Grants page before applying.
What Can Grow Grant Funds Be Used For?
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Potential Use
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May Be Eligible?
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What Applicants Should Verify
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|---|---|---|
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Deepening ongoing community programs
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Likely, if aligned with program goals
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Confirm fit with the Guiding Practices during application
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Broadening participation in local initiatives
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Likely
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Describe specific outreach or capacity plans
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Business expenses for a for-profit entity
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Not eligible
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N/A, excluded by program guidelines
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Land or building acquisition
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Not eligible
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N/A, excluded by program guidelines
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Publishing books or reports
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Not eligible
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N/A, excluded by program guidelines
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Lobbying or partisan political activity
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Not eligible
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N/A, excluded by program guidelines
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Always verify the latest Grow Grant funding information and eligible-expense guidance on the official program website before submitting a funding request.
Grow Grant Application Process and Selection
The Grassroots Fund uses a multi-step review process: Community Grant Readers score and comment on each application using a published rubric; staff conduct follow-up calls and apply the same rubric; and a rotating Grantmaking Committee of roughly 16 community leaders makes final funding decisions, focusing discussion on applications with notable scoring gaps or open questions. All applicants receive a decision by email, along with reviewer feedback, whether the outcome is approval or denial.
What Is the Grow Grant Deadline?
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Item
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Details
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|---|---|
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Grow Grant Deadline
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Third Tuesday of March (Spring Round) and third Tuesday of September (Fall Round)
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Spring Round Deadline
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March 17
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Fall Round Deadline
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September 15
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Spring Funding Decisions
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Typically announced at the end of June
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Fall Funding Decisions
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Typically announced at the start of January
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Note: Deadlines and timelines may change each year. Confirm the current application period directly with the Grassroots Fund before preparing materials.
How Grant Funding Can Support Organizational Growth
Grant funding gives grassroots groups, nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations room to invest in capacity building without diverting funds from core programming. That might mean scaling a volunteer training initiative, expanding outreach into underserved parts of a community, or piloting a new program the group hasn’t had the resources to test. Sustainable growth in this context usually looks less like rapid expansion and more like strengthening the systems, leadership, communication, and community input that let a group’s work continue reliably. Receiving a grant doesn’t guarantee any particular organizational outcome; how funds are used still determines the impact.
How to Improve Your Grow Grant Application
- Confirm eligibility against the published guidelines before drafting anything.
- Ground your statement of need in specific, current examples from your community.
- Connect your project goals directly to the program's stated funding priorities.
- Keep your budget realistic and tied to concrete expected outcomes.
- Describe how your group applies inclusive, community-driven decision-making.
- Save drafts often and review the full application before submitting.
Common Grow Grant Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants across grant programs
- Not checking eligibility requirements
- Missing the application deadline
- Writing a vague project description
- Creating an unrealistic budget
- Failing to connect funding to clear outcomes
- Ignoring the application rubric
- Not explaining community impact
Avoiding these common issues can help you prepare a clearer and more complete application. For additional guidance on identifying and preventing common application errors, see our guide on Common Grant Application Mistakes.
Conclusion
Before applying for the Grow Grant, confirm your group meets the published eligibility requirements, review the current application guidelines, and give yourself enough time to prepare a clear project description and realistic budget. Because deadlines, funding amounts, and program details can shift between cycles, cross-check everything against the Grassroots Fund’s official page before you submit.
A well-prepared application built on accurate information and a genuine statement of need gives your group the strongest possible shot at funding. If you’d like help refining your proposal or exploring other grant opportunities, the American Grant Association is available to support that process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Grow Grant?
It’s a $1,000–$4,000 grant from the Grassroots Fund for established, volunteer-driven community groups in New England working to sustain or expand local initiatives.
Who can apply for the Grow Grant?
Local grassroots groups in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont with at least three active organizers.
How do I apply for the Grow Grant?
Register an account and group on the Grassroots Fund website, then complete the online application before the deadline.
What are the Grow Grant requirements?
Groups must work locally in the six eligible states, have three or more organizers, and maintain a bank account in the group’s name; formal tax status isn’t required.
What is the Grow Grant deadline?
The third Tuesday of March and September each year, currently March 17 and September 15.
How much funding does the Grow Grant provide?
Between $1,000 and $4,000, with reviewers able to recommend partial funding.
