Community Grant Program

About

Each year Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration distributes $7 million dollars in funding to qualified community-based organizations (CBOs) in the District of Columbia through the outreach offices of the Mayor’s Office on Community Affairs (MOCA). These outreach offices manage community grant programs and work with grantees to implement programs focused on Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Priorities for District residents:

Arts & Creative Economy

Committed to investing in the District’s diverse, inclusive, and thriving creative economy and arts and culture scenes.

Civic Engagement

Dedicated to ensuring residents across all eight wards have access to a government working to reduce civic issues, boost outreach initiatives, and empower neighborhoods

Education

Focused on supporting residents’ educational attainment at every stage of life to give Washingtonians opportunities to live happy, purposeful lives.

Health & Wellness

Promotes health, wellness and equity across the District for every resident to flourish.

Jobs & Economic Development

Committed to bringing jobs and opportunity to every neighborhood, supporting small and local businesses, diversifying the economy, and connecting more DC residents to DC-sustaining careers.

Public Safety

Build a safer, stronger DC by investing in our public safety agencies, enhancing transparency and ties between police and community members, and increasing accountability.

Youth Engagement

Support youth to feel loved, challenged, and prepared to thrive and positively influence society.

MOCA Grantees By Agency

MOCA Grantees by Agency

Mayor’s Office on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Affairs (MOLGBTQA)

Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc.

Wanda Alston Foundation

Whitman-Walker Health

Equality Chamber of Commerce | DC Metro Area

Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL)

CASA for Children of the District of Columbia

The DC Center for the LGBT Community

Equality Chamber Foundation

Defend Yourself

Joseph's House

Latin American Youth Center

Sasha Bruce Youthwork, Inc.

The Ellington Fund

Young Playwrights' Theater, Inc.

AsylumWorks

Washington Blade Foundation

Rainbow History Project

The Dance Institute of Washington, Inc.

Washington Improvisational Theater Co

The Mayor’s Office of Volunteerism and Partnerships (Serve DC)

Serve DC annually awards nearly $4 million in AmeriCorps grants to District-based organizations committed to using national service to address critical needs in public safety, education, environment, and disaster relief. Serve DC funding supports nearly half of the 1,400 AmeriCorps members who serve in every Ward of the District at non-profit and community-based organizations, working to fight poverty and advance economic opportunity and academic achievement.
After-School All-Stars
Center for Inspired Teaching
City Gate
City Year
Higher Achivement
Jumpstart
Kid Power, Inc.
Latin American Youth Center
The Literacy Lab
The National Reentry Network
Reading Partners
Relay Graduate School of Education
Teach for America
Teens Run DC
Washington AIDS Partnership

Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant (IJLS)

The Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant, under Mayor Bowser's leadership, the District has generously funded nearly two dozen community organizations to provide immigration legal services. If residents need legal consultations or help applying for citizenship, asylum, various visas, or other immigrant legal services, the following organizations may be able to help on a pro bono (free) or reduced fee basis.
African Communities Together (ACT)
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Research Institute
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
Asylum Seeker Assistance Project
Ayuda: Consultation and Representation Expansion Program
Ayuda: Community Legal Interpreter Bank
Briya Public Charter School: Immigration Legal Services and Education for the Briya Public Charter School Community
Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition: DC Detained Immigrant Representation Program
CARECEN
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Immigration Legal Services
DC Affordable Law Firm: DC Comprehensive Immigration Legal Services Project
DC Volunteer Lawyers Project: Relief: Representation & Legal Advocacy for Immigrant Families
KIND Inc.: Unaccompanied Immigrant and Refugee Children: Access to Justice and Protection in Washington, DC
Latin American Youth Center: LAYC Immigrant Justice Program
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia: Immigrants’ Rights Legal Services Project

Mil Mujeres

Nigerian Center

Renaissance Center for Culture and Education
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International: TASSC Legal Services Program
Trabajadores Unidos de Washington DC: Adult Workers Immigration Legal Services Resources Project
US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants: USCRI DC Children’s Legal Services
Whitman-Walker Health De Colores Legal Access Initiative

2020 DC HOPE Community Grant

The Mayor's Office of Community (MOCA) solicited grant applications from District based 501(c)(3) community-based organizations (CBOs) serving the District of Columbia residents--to help implement community social distancing engagement and public health awareness outreach efforts based on federal funding provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Bowser Administration is dedicated to reopening the District of Columbia and in order to do so; our community-based organizations are crucial partner to assist in engaging with our vulnerable populations across all eight wards about COVID-19 related resources, services and guidelines in order to flatten the curve.
African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association
Anacostia Coordinating Council
Asian American LEAD
Bread for the City, Inc.
Bright Beginnings, Inc.
Byte Back
Capital Youth Empowerment Program
CARECEN
Casa Ruby
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Inc.
CENAES
Central Community Development Corporation
CentroNia
Children's National
Christian Tabernacle of God, Inc.
Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development
Columbia Heights Day Initiative DBA District Bridges
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Community College Preparatory Academy
Community of Hope
Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center dba Central Community Development Corporation
DC Dream Center
DC Jobs with Justice
Echelon Community Service
Empower DC
Ethiopian Community Center
Exodus Treatment Center
Faith for the City
Fiesta DC
GOOD Projects
Greater Washington Urban League
Healthy Babies Project
Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington DC
HOLA CULTURA
Homes for Hope, Inc.
Jah Kente International, Inc.
La Clinica del Pueblo
Latin American Youth Center
Leadership Council for Healthy Communities
Many Languages One Voice
Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, Inc.
Mary's Center
Miriam's Kitchen
Momma's Safe Haven
National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens
NCS Systems, Inc.
Neighbors Consejo
One Tent Health
Palisades Village
Pathways to Housing DC
Prevention of Blindness Society
Reese Adbarat DSK Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Rehoboth Baptist Church
Renaissance Center for Culture and Education
Rich Capital Concepts
Rising Sun Programs
Rockson Community Development Corporation
Run Hope Work
Sasha Bruce Youthwork DC
Saving Our Next Generation
SLK Health Services Corporation
SOME, Inc.
Special Olympics District of Columbia, Inc.
Step Afrika!
Stoddard Baptist Home Foundation, Inc.
The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens
The Wanda Alston Foundation
The Washington City Orphan Asylum
Thurgood Marshall Child Development Center
Tutoring Cafe
Uptown Community Initiatives
Us Helping Us
Vida Senior Centers
Voices for a Second Chance
Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Inc.
Washington Literacy Center
Yaay Me, Inc.

Available Funding

Please find the application openings and submission deadlines for the MOCA grants:

Focus Area	Criteria	Application
African Community	Updated Deadline: 7/15/2022 Funding: $15,000 Notice of Funding \| Request for Applications \| FAQs and Application Links	Closed
FY2023 African American Community Grant	Updated Deadline: 10/31/2022 Funding: $10,000 Notice of Funding \| Request for Applications \| FAQs and Application Links	Closed
Latino Community Development Grant	Updated Deadline: 7/15/2022 Funding: $50,000 Notice of Funding \| RFA \| FAQs and Application Links	Closed
Asian & Pacific Islander Community	Updated Closed Funding: $40,000 Notice of Funding \| Request for Applications \| FAQs and Application Links	Closed
FY23 LGBTQ+ Community	Updated Deadline: 8/29/2022 Funding: $50,000 Notice of Funding \| Request for Applications \| FAQs and Application Links	Closed
LGBTQ Homeless Youth Services (Youth Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency)	Updated Deadline: 8/2/2021 Funding: $10,000 Notice of Funding \| Request for Applications \| FAQs and Application Links	Closed
LGBTQ Homeless Youth Services (Cultural Competency Training)	Updated Deadline: 8/2/2021 Funding: $15,000 Notice of Funding\| Request for Applications \| FAQs and Application Links	Closed
Immigrant Justice and Legal Services Grant	Updated Deadline: 7/8/2022 Funding: $3,500,000 Notice of Funding \| Request for Applications	Closed
FY2022 Multicultural Summer Youth Employment Program Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs	Deadline: 5/2/2022 Funding: $15,000 Request for Proposal \| Notice of Funding	Closed
FY2023 Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Grant Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs	Updated Closed Funding: $40,000 Notice of Funding \| Request for Applications	Closed

Each year we are in need of volunteers to review grantee applications for each of our outreach offices.

Interested in being a Grant Reviewer?

Please complete the Grant Reviewer Form to sign up to become a grant reviewer for fiscal year 2023.

Funding Alerts and Grants Clearing House

Funding Alert

We know how important it is to have access to capital to support mission critical operations. The Funding Alert, a free resource produced by Serve DC, highlights grant opportunities and resources for community-based, faith-based, 501 (c) (3) nonprofits, and District government agencies. In response to the District’s current public health emergency, the Funding Alert also includes coronavirus (COVID-19) related funding opportunities!

Sign-up to receive funding alerts!

District Grants Clearinghouse

The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism & Partnerships is the electronic clearinghouse for all District of Columbia government grant notices. See the chart below for current notices.

DC government agencies with requests or questions relating to the District Clearinghouse should contact [email protected].

Public Notices	Summary	Application Packet	Submission Deadline
Improving Children’s Health and Mitigating COVID-19 Impacts Department of Energy and Environment	NOFA		11:59 pm February 13, 2023
OSSE FY2023 Healthy Tots Wellness Grant Office of the State Superintendent of Education		RFA	3:00 pm February 17, 2023
OSSE FY2023 Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act Teacher Pipeline Grants Office of the State Superintendent of Education	NOFA		3:00 pm February 17, 2023
FY2023 Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant Program Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development	NOFA	RFA	5:00 pm February 24, 2023
DC FloodSmart Homes Resilience Upgrades Department of Energy and Environment	NOFA		11:59 pm February 27, 2023
FY2023 Locally Made Manufacturing Grant Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development	NOFA		5:00 pm March 3, 2023
Access To Job Grant Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs	NOFA		5:00 pm March 4, 2023
FY2023 Neighborhood Prosperity Fund Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development	NOFA		5:00 pm March 3, 2023
OurTime Community Programs – Early Intervention (OurTime-CP-EI) Department of Behavioral Health	NOFA	RFA Attachments	12:00 pm March 6, 2023
DC Electric Vehicle Grand Prix Department of Energy and Environment	NOFA		11:59 pm March 6, 2023
OSSE FY2023 Summer Accelerator Grant Office of the State Superintendent of Education	NOFA	RFA	3:00 pm March 20, 2023
FY23 Reimagine Downtown Action Plan & Engagement Program Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development	NOFA		5:00 pm March 21, 2023
FY2023 Notice of Funding Availability Department of Employment Services	NOFA		5:00 pm September 30, 2023

Meet Our Team

Vacant
Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs

Semhal Hagos

Semhal Hagos
Mayor's Office on African Affairs
[email protected]
(202) 727-5390

Julie Norris, Grants Management Specialist (MOAAA)

Julie Norris
Mayor's Office on African American Affairs
[email protected]
(202) 442-8162

Sara Park, Grants Management Specialist (MOAPIA)

Sara Park
Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
[email protected]@dc.gov
(202) 727-5560

Eduardo Pedromo, Grants Management Specialist (MOLA)

Eduardo Pedromo
Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs
[email protected]
(202) 671-2826

LeAndrea Gilliam, Program Analyst & Housing Specialist (MOLGBTQA)

Leandrea Gilliam
Mayor's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs
[email protected]
(202) 727-7149

Rold Louis
Serve DC - The Mayor's Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships
[email protected]

Cristina Sacco, Associate General Counsel

Cristina Sacco, Associate General Counsel
Grants Manager for the Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant
[email protected]
(202) 727-0872

Annual Reports

FY19 Grants Annual Report

Mayor's Office of Community Affairs