The FY 2026 cycle of the RACE to Rebuilding Trust & Community Grant is now open. Applications are due Friday, December 13, 2024.
FY 2026 Grant Guidelines(PDF, 1MB)
The posted grant guidelines describe the process and include the application questions. An application portal will be available in late October for applicants to submit their proposals. Any questions may be addressed to EquityGrant@arlingtonva.us.
OVERVIEW
In the fall of 2023, Arlington County, in collaboration with United Way of the National Capital Area, launched a new equity-based funding program, RACE to Rebuilding Trust & Community, to support local organizations’ efforts to respond to community-defined needs.
Through this grant, Arlington County intends to eliminate, reduce, and prevent racial and social inequities and disparities to improve outcomes for those who have been historically marginalized.
This grant will provide grants to Arlington nonprofits to implement a program or project in direct response to a demonstrated community or human service need identified through their experiences. It also provides grants to support the day-to-day functions for organizations who demonstrate how their operations will be enhanced to meet the direct needs of residents in the communities they serve. In the FY 2025 grant cycle, Arlington County awarded $2.39 million to 22 nonprofits meeting a variety of community needs. Reflecting on that cycle, United Way produced a report evaluating the successes and challenges of the process, incorporating diverse perspectives and their unique feedback. That report may be accessed below.
United Way Process Evaluation(PDF, 2MB)
In an effort to align funding decisions with values of transparency and racial equity, the County Board convened leaders in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community in 2020 and 2021, facilitated by the United Way of the National Capital Area and supported by the national organization E Pluribus UNUM Fund.
In October 2021, as a part of Realizing Arlington’s Commitment to Equity’s (R.A.C.E.) focus on racial equity, a working group of community leaders and Arlington County representatives came together to develop a process to evaluate community needs through the lens of racial equity.
A series of discussions led to recommendations for a co-designed process to reform the County Board-awarded and discretionary funding process (outside of Arlington’s normal competitive procurement processes) to be more inclusive of root causes and shift to a community-needs model to support historical marginalized communities.
To move the process forward, the County Board adopted a resolution supporting a transition to a racial equity-based competitive process for Board-awarded community and human services funding that addresses inequities in Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities and systemic impacts for all. As such, the County Board allocated up to $1.5 million for FY25 (with the potential for additional funding available through FY23 closeout funds) to support this grant.
Previous Meetings
- Community Meeting - Transitioning to an Equity-Based Nonprofit Funding Process in Arlington. On Jan. 9, 2023, leaders of the Back, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community convened to share more information about this co-created process for making equitable nonprofit funding decisions, and County Board members and representatives from Realizing Arlington’s Commitment to Equity (R.A.C.E.) effort discussed next steps for implementation. View a copy of the presentation shared during the meeting.
- February County Board Recessed Meeting. At its Feb. 21, 2023, Recessed Meeting, the County Board adopted a Resolution supporting this transition to a racial-equity based competitive process. Read the resolution.
- June County Board Recessed Meeting. At its June 13, 2023, Recessed Meeting, the County Board received a presentation from staff sharing information on the NOFA process, including information on the application, technical assistance available to applicants, background on the criteria for proposal evaluation, and the post-evaluation and funding award process. View the presentation.
- Community Information Session - Race to Rebuilding Trust and Community NOFA. Watch the recorded presentation from July 31, 2023 for more details about the Equity-Based Notice of Funding Availability. View the PowerPoint.
Applicants are invited, but not required, to participate in technical assistance sessions. Each session provides training and guidance on different parts of the application. The dates of the FY 2026 technical assistance sessions are as follows:
- Technical Assistance Session 1: Grant Overview [Hybrid]
Session slides(PDF, 3MB)
Session recording (coming soon)
- Technical Assistance Session 2: RACE Equity Module Training [Virtual]
Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Join with Microsoft Team here.
Meeting ID: 271 618 763 619
Passcode: 7kP2tg
Dial in: +1 347-973-6905, Phone Conference ID: 308 085 740#
- Technical Assistance Session 3: Logic Models and SMART Goals [Virtual]
Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 2 to 3 p.m.
Join with Microsoft Teams here.
Meeting ID: 221 283 886 574
Passcode: JjsXhT
Dial in: +1 347-973-6905, Phone Conference ID: 306 620 856#
- Technical Assistance Session 4: Evaluation and the Rubric [Virtual]
Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 2 to 3 p.m.
Join with Microsoft Teams here.
Meeting ID: 229 714 304 413
Passcode: FGtSfh
Dial in: +1 347-973-6905, Phone Conference ID: 863 186 151#
- Technical Assistance Session 5: Wrap-Up [Virtual]
Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 3 to 4 p.m.
Join with Microsoft Teams here.
Meeting ID: 260 315 944 540
Passcode: 4iq7TU
Dial in: +1 347-973-6905, Phone Conference ID: 116 342 759#
Registration to attend a session is encouraged but not required.
Register here
Arlington County Government provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act; and language interpretation upon request. To arrange for a reasonable accommodation or language translation, please email EquityGrant@arlingtonva.us to provide as much advance notice as possible.
Requests for sign language and/or language interpreters must be made at least five (5) full business days in advance.
These were the frequently asked questions from the first cycle. Updated questions and responses will be available as they come in.
Overview
Can awardees from the first round of the grant apply again?
Yes.
Can organizations located outside of Arlington County apply?
If an organization serves Arlington County residents, it may apply. Funding requests should reflect or relate to the number/percentage of clients served who are Arlington County residents.