Help bring your community’s stories of service to life!
Program overview
Every community is shaped by everyday acts of kindness, local volunteerism, and unsung heroes. To celebrate these powerful stories, the National Museum and Center for Service (NMCFS), in partnership with GivingTuesday, is offering $500 community microgrants to support grassroots, community-led activations.
Disbursed as $500 Visa gift cards, these microgrants provide flexible financial support to help community leaders design local “Museums of Service,” host storytelling experiences, or build public pop-up exhibits in high-traffic spaces like libraries, town halls, and civic centers.
Timed around Generosity Week (December 1–5, 2026) during the UN’s International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, selected projects will join a nationwide movement culminating in a synchronized grand opening on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Why apply?
- No professional experience required: You do not need to be a museum professional, historian, or experienced grant writer to apply. We want to hear your ideas and help you bring them to life.
- Direct financial support: Receive a $500 Visa gift card to offset local printing, display, and event setup costs.
- Turnkey tools & technical support: All applicants gain free access to Canva design templates, step-by-step planning toolkits, weekly virtual Makerspaces, and technical coaching from the NMCFS team.
What the $500 microgrant supports
Funding is flexible and designed to cover practical project needs, including (but not limited to):
- Exhibit & display materials: Frames, poster boards, portable banners, or display stands.
- Printing & signage: High-resolution panel printing, signage, or storytelling supplies.
- Accessibility & language support: Translation services, large-print formats, or adaptive display tools.
- Community gathering supplies: Refreshments, event supplies, or promotional materials for your public unveiling.
Project commitments
To ensure funds are used responsibly to inspire local communities, grant recipients agree to:
- Document the impact: Share high-resolution photographs or visual documentation of your completed exhibit or community event.
- Submit a short report: Complete a brief 1-page summary reflecting on what your project accomplished and what was learned.
- Adhere to responsible usage: Ensure funds are used strictly for charitable community goals and not for private gain, political campaigns, lobbying, illegal activities, or restricted goods (including alcohol, tobacco, or gambling).
Questions?
We are here to help, reach out to our programs team with your questions about the microgrant, generosty in action or how to make service visible and valued in your community. Email LeAnn at [email protected].