Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor Community Grants
Grant Guidelines: 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Corridor Community Grants
Application Due: 5pm ET on February 16, 2025
Incomplete applications will
not
be reviewed.
Overview
In partnership with its sponsors, including Target, Keep America Beautiful® will provide MLK Corridor Community Grants in 2025 to support communities in revitalizing, beautifying and transforming areas in and around Martin Luther King Jr. corridors and neighborhoods. With over 950 MLK corridors across the United States transecting a variety of different neighborhood types and commercial uses, these grants will provide funding to businesses, residents, and community groups to address challenges and meet their needs for creating vibrant and welcoming spaces. Past MLK projects have included murals and public art installations, the creation of community gardens and green spaces, tree plantings and cleanup efforts.
Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. If you need to exit before completing the grant application, you will be able to save your progress and resume completing the application later by clicking on "Save my progress and resume later" at the top or bottom of each page. You will be able to print a copy of your completed grant application at the end of the application. You must click "Confirm" on the final page for the application to be submitted formally.
Funding Available
Up to $200,000 in funding will be available.
Cash grants will range between $5,000 – $20,000
Eligibility
These grants are open to Keep America Beautiful affiliates, nonprofits, local governments, and other community organizations. Non-KAB affiliates are strongly encouraged to partner with a KAB Affiliate in their community. KAB affiliates will receive priority review and consideration
Project location must be along or near an MLK corridor – these can include streets, roadways, neighborhoods, community spaces, parks and other areas named after Martin Luther King Jr. Proximity to HBCUs is a plus.
Application Guidelines
Applicants
must
submit at least one letter of support from a local government representative, community group, or local partner critical to the project’s successful execution to demonstrate buy-in for the project.
KAB affiliates in President's Circle will receive priority review and consideration.
Proposals must clearly describe the need for the project.
Projects must address a need identified by the community and foster a sense of inclusion and self-determination.
Projects with a focus on the following will be prioritized:
Projects aimed to have longer lasting or more permanent impacts that build on or strengthen social or community infrastructure.
Projects that engage local artists or use native plants (when relevant) and outline maintenance plans.
Applicant must demonstrate the ability to conclude the project and required reporting within the grant implementation period.
Other Requirements
As you plan your grant program activities, please keep in mind that grantees will receive 70% of their grant funding upon executing a grant agreement and submitting an invoice. The remaining 30% of the
award will be disbursed after submitting a final invoice and having their final reports approved by Keep America Beautiful
Grant Review Process and Considerations
Applications will be reviewed & decided by a grant review and selection committee and
evaluated for:
Clear articulation of program need—strong proposals will address a demand identified by residents, community groups, or business owners/employees along the MLK Jr. corridor. Strong projects would also address how the project fosters a sense of inclusion and neighborhood self-determination and how the project builds community/social infrastructure.
Expected impact on the project location.
Applicant ability to successfully implement project within grant timeline.
Extent to which project will support local/community artists or vendors (as applicable).
Extent to which project will support local/community artists or vendors (as applicable)
Extent to which the project has community endorsement and is expected to move forward.
Leveraging of matching funds or cross-sector collaboration.
Completeness, clarity, and respect for word limits.
Evaluation criteria above are not all required but highly encouraged to ensure strong and successful applications.
Timeline
Application deadline: 5pm ET on February 16, 2025.
Award Announcements: March - April 2025
Project Implementation: May – December 2025
Reporting Deadlines: Keep America Beautiful will require every grant recipient to complete interim and final reports by the following deadlines.
Interim Report Due: 5pm ET, September 30, 2025
Final Report Due: 5pm ET, December 15, 2025
Reporting Requirements
Grantees will be expected to report the following items in their final report:
Project’s impact/outcomes on the MLK Jr. corridor and on the community or people residing or doing business within the area.
Quotes or testimonials from community members or groups impacted by the project .
Photos (before, during and after project) as well as links to social posts or videos documenting MLK grant in action. The photos/video links should capture the initial condition of project area, showcase project execution, and capture the final result. Photos of volunteers implementing the project (if volunteers were engaged) are also required.
Verification and/or updates of materials in grant application.
Articulation of project successes and challenges.
Number of volunteers and participants in the project.
Media outreach and/or coverage.
Grant Terms Acknowledgement
I have read and fully understand the above description and requirements. By clicking the check box below, I agree to these terms and conditions of the grant program.
Yes
Eligibility
Will your project take place along or near an MLK Corridor, neighborhood, or landmark?
Yes
No
Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately, your project is not eligible for this grant. This grant is exclusive to projects located along MLK Corridors or landmarks. These can include streets, roadways, neighborhoods, community spaces, parks and other areas named after Martin Luther King Jr.
Have you secured at least one letter of support for your project from a local stakeholder critical to the project’s successful execution? (You will be required to upload it later in the application)
Yes
No
All applicants must submit at least one letter of support from a local government representative, community group or partner critical to the project’s successful execution to indicate buy-in for the project. Please secure a letter before moving forward with the application.
Contact Information
Applicant Contact Information
First Name
Last Name
Title
Contact Email Address
Contact Phone Number
Is the primary contact for this project the same as the Applicant?
Yes
No
Project Primary Contact
Project Contact First Name
Project Contact Last Name
Project Contact Email
Project Contact Phone
Organization Information
Organization Name
Street Address
Organization Phone Number
City
State
Please select...
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Alaska
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Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District Of Columbia
Florida
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Idaho
Illinois
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Maine
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Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico
Virgin Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Guam
American Samoa
Palau
Zip Code
Organization Website
Federal Tax ID #
Is your organization a Keep America Beautiful affiliate?
Yes
No
Non-Keep America Beautiful Affiliate Organizations
Only Answer the Following Questions if Your Organization Is Not a Keep America Beautiful Affiliate:
Are you partnering with a KAB affiliate?
Yes
No
Not Sure
Please indicate the name of the affiliate partner below
Hidden Fields
Account ID
Status
Invited
Submitted
In progress
In Review
Reviewed
Awarded
Fully Disbursed
Closed
Not Awarded
Withdrawn
Funding Program Id - MLK
Record Type Id - MLK
Grant Project Information
Has your organization received a Martin Luther King Jr. Community Improvement Grant from Keep America Beautiful in the past three years?
Yes
No
Don't know
Requested Grant Amount:
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
Project Summary
Briefly describe and summarize your project. What are your key goals? What problems/challenges are you looking to address and how you propose to do so? What activities do you plan to carry out?
(1500 characters max)
Project Activities
Which of the following activities will you implement using these grant resources? [select all that apply]
Litter cleanup(s)
Infrastructure installation or maintenance (e.g., permanent signage, litter bins, lighting, hardscapes, benches)
Greenspace enhancement (e.g., planting and maintenance)
Community garden installation and/or maintenance
Neighborhood or community building event(s)
Public transit shelter improvement
Enhancing public safety and/or accessibility
Mural or public art installation(s)
Other (please specify)
In a few words, please describe your project activities that do not match the activities listed above
What is the estimated number of volunteers that you expect to participate in this project?
Enter 0 if no volunteers will be used for the project.
Those people who have active working involvement in an event. A volunteer does work that would otherwise be done by a paid staff person. Does not include a person or prisoner on court-ordered community service time or work release time. Those who are present but are not actively working on the events goals or activities would be considered a participant or attendee.
How many neighborhood residents, employees, and business owners do you expect to participate in your project in another capacity (other than as a project volunteer)?
Enter 0 if you do not expect any neighborhood participants.
Participants are those who contribute to project or attend an event conducted by your organization for the project. This does not include volunteers who contribute to the completion of the project.
How many individuals will be served or reached by this program?
To help us understand the impact of this grant project, please estimate the number of individuals whose lives will be directly touched by your project. The number of people served is likely to vary significantly from project to project. For instance, a park cleanup will serve the users of that park and surrounding residents for a designated period of time (e.g., 3 months), a city-wide planting day may serve all city residents if resources are advertised and made available to all community residents, and a cleanup at a heavily trafficked MLK Jr. corridor may serve the number of visitors to the corridor on a given day.
Project Partners
How did you engage community members (business owners, employees, residents, community, local government) along the MLK Jr. Corridor and within your target area to determine the type of project or activity you are proposing?
(1500 characters max)
Project Impact
Tell us why it is critical that KAB funds this particular project. Why does the project need to be implemented? What community needs and opportunities will it address? What challenges will it help overcome? What behaviors are you aiming to shift and/or what are the expected outcomes of your project? Will you attempt to measure or quantify outcomes and, if so, how
?
(1500 characters max)
Project Plan
With an 8-month implementation grant period, understanding the steps and buy-in required to enable your project’s success is critical. Please describe how you plan to implement this project and any preparatory or early planning work you have done to ensure the project is feasible within the timeline. Expand on which groups you’ll need to secure buy-in from and steps you’ve taken to secure it.
(1500 characters max)
Will your project require any permits from your local government or relevant agency OR permissions from private property owners?
Yes
No
Not Sure
Please briefly describe any steps you have taken to secure that permit.
Please briefly describe what leads you to that conclusion.
We highly encourage you to research what may be required to implement your project before submitting an application. With an 8-month implementation period, securing buy-in and/or understanding steps required to enable your project’s success is critical.
If applicable, describe how you will involve local, community-based artists or vendors as well as your plan for maintaining and ensuring the long-term sustainability of this project.
(1500 characters max)
Community Benefits
How will your project help build on community infrastructure or social capital (eg. increasing neighborhood involvement, connection or capacitiy; or creating public or communal infrastructure)? What benefits will this project provide to local residents and/or businesses? How will this project or activity help unify the individuals working and living within the neighborhood as well the general community surrounding the neighborhood?
(1500 characters max)
Project Challenges
What challenges do you anticipate in completing your project? (E.g. permits, property owner approvals, insufficient funding, inclement weather, community buy-in, material supplies/procurement). What can you do or are planning to do to ensure those challenges do not get in the way of project success?
(1500 characters max)
Budget Section
Project Budget Details
Provide a breakdown of how you will spend the requested funds, indicating the amount in each category below. The number must total the requested grant amount. Please enter 0 if you do not anticipate expenses in a particular category.
Infrastructure expenses
Labor expenses (paid org. staff)
Contractor expenses
Media expenses
Education and marketing materials
Other materials and supplies
Food refreshments
Administrative expenses
Other expenses
Total budgeted expenses
Budget Narrative
Please provide a brief budget rationale to provide further details on your budget. If you included budget for infrastructure, materials or other expenses, use the rationale to describe what you’ll need and specify
. For example, if you are creating a mural or planting a garden and you need to hire contractors, note that here.
(750 characters max)
Additional Support
Which of the following types of additional support will your program leverage to ensure program success?
Volunteers
In-kind labor (other than program volunteers)
In-kind supplies
Discounted supplies
In-kind media
Matching funds or other funding
Other
None of the above
Please briefly describe additional funding or other resources
Please indicate the status of your matching funds.
Confirmed
Unconfirmed/Pending
Additional Information
Project Area Served
Will your project address the entire length of the MLK Jr. corridor or just a segment of it/and or surrounding neighborhood?
Entire MLK Jr. Corridor
Segment of corridor and/or surrounding neighborhood
Describe the area where you will implement the project. If the area is residential, tell us about the groups of people that live there and the area’s socioeconomic makeup. If the area is commercial or industrial, tell us about the businesses and industries there. Explain the area’s cultural, economic, or civic importance.
Is there a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) near the project area?
Yes
No
Don't know
If you selected "Yes" above indicating you are near an HBCU, please note the name of the school below.
Project Location
What is the approximate location of your project or an approximate center-point of the MLK Jr. corridor that your project will serve? [Addresses will auto-populated as you begin to enter an address]
Street Address
City
State
Zip Code
Country
Project Timeline
Project Start Date
On or after 1/1/2025
Project Completion Date
On or before 12/15/2025
Letters of Support
Please upload your letters of support below. At least one letter is required. Applications without letters of support will not be considered. (35 MB Max)
Future Funding Opportunities
Keep America Beautiful may have future partners interested in supporting shovel-ready projects across MLK Jr. corridors in select markets. Shovel-ready projects are in an advanced enough stage of planning and development that they can begin as soon as funding is secured.
Would you consider your project shovel-ready?
Yes
No
In case you are not awarded this grant, would you be interested in being considered for future opportunities if they arise?
Yes
No
How much lead time would you need to execute the project in the event there is a future funding opportunity? (Eg. 2 weeks, 3 months, etc)
If you are finished with this grant application, please click "Review and Submit" to be taken to the Confirmation Page where you can review and print your completed application. On that page, you will be asked to "Confirm" your submission, at which time your application is complete.
Contact Information