Community Grant Program
Supporting Your Communities
As part of its ongoing commitment to rural communities across the country, FRS offers aid to communities served by NTCA members through its annual Community Grant Program. These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America.
Applications for these grants are accepted each spring, ranging from $250 to $5,000. The grants awarded each November support a variety of projects concentrated in four major categories.
Community Grant Flyer NTCA Members: Apply Here
Together, We Can Boost Our Community
FRS Community Grants are awarded annually to nonprofit organizations, schools, community groups, municipalities and other organizations doing good work in your community. Please see below for the list of projects funded in 2023 and for more information about priority projects, as well as projects that are not eligible for grants.
Interested in applying for an FRS Community Grant? Please follow these steps:
1. Identify an NTCA member partner for your FRS Community grant application. Heard about the application from your broadband provider? They are your NTCA member partner. Please contact [email protected] if you are not sure who your NTCA member partner is.
2. Review the application guide below or on the back of the Community Grant Flyer you may have received from your broadband provider. The guide includes the questions you will need to answer and the information you’ll need to complete the application.
3. Provide your application to your NTCA member partner by their deadline. Applications that have not been submitted by your NTCA member sponsor will not be reviewed.
The application guide is identical to the application. Please use it to create and submit your application to your NTCA member. All applications must be submitted by your NTCA member partner.
Community Grant Application Guide
- FRS Provides priority to projects that:
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- Could be fully funded by the grant maximum of $5,000 or have at least 75% of the project currently funded.
- Technology and broadband enabled focused projects.
- Have a long-term impact for the community and its residents.
- Promote community participation and engagement.
- Create a more sustainable rural community.
- FRS will not award projects to:
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- Individuals
- Scholarship Programs
- International Organizations
- Lobbying and Political Activities
- Ticketed Events
- Infrastructure/Building Campaigns
- Security Cameras
- Capital Campaigns or Endowments
- Digital Signage
- Event Sponsorships
- Community Food Programs
- Loan Repayments
- Religious-based Activities
- For-Profit Businesses
- Salaries of Employees or Contractors
Together, We Can Boost Our Community
NTCA members, submitting applications for the community grant is easy as 1...2...3...
- Download the flyer, personalize it with your logo and contact information, your chosen deadline and distribute it within your community.
- Have your community members submit their proposals to you by your chosen deadline.
- Select the proposals your telco would like to partner with and submit your application through Member Central by September 9, 2024.
Community Grant Flyer Community Grant Flyer and Application Guide
Note: NTCA member companies will be responsible for a 10% match (i.e. if the applicant requests and wins a grant for $5,000, the NTCA member company is responsible for $500 and FRS is responsible for $4,500).
Congratulations to our 2023 Grant Recipients!
These incredible communities each reflect the vision, service and innovation at the heart of rural America. Their winning projects help rural communities across the United States overcome an array of challenges, including access to technology, improving educational offerings, and providing first-responder services to rural areas.
Congratulations to the awardees and thank you to the generous partnering NTCA members who made these investments possible.
Napoleon Rural Fire Protection District - Steele, ND |
Alpine Volunteer Fire Department - Alpine, TX |
Hannibal Fire Department - Macon, MO |
Prince William Sound Science Center - Cordova, AK |
Justin Potter Library - Alexandria, TN |
Leon Community Playground Committee (Leon Chamber of Commerce) - Princeton, MO |
Elgin Community Library - Lawton, OK |
Wasilla High School - Palmer, AK |
B.Y.E. Ambulance Service Inc. - Fairview, IL |
Platte-Geddes School District #11-5 - Reliance, SD |
Colton Rural Fire District - Colton, OR |
Woodford County Court Services - Metamora, IL |
Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc. - Lenora, KS |
PHRED Robotics Team (Philomath High School) - Philomath, OR |
Walkerton Community Fire Association, Inc. - Walkerton, VA |
Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce - Waitsfield, VT |
Minot Regional Impact Center, Inc. - Minot, ND |
Churchland Volunteer Fire Department - Dobson, NC |
Stephenville Lions Club - De Leon, TX |
Cookeville Regional Medical Center - Gainesboro, TN |
Glasco City Library - Miltonvale, KS |
Graham County Chamber of Commerce - Willcox, AZ |
Discovery to Recovery Outpatient Substance Abuse Program - Louisville, IL |
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2022 FRS Community Grant recipient USD 419 (Galva, KS) surprised by their NTCA Partner Home Communications, Inc. that they have been selected for a $5,000 to purchase Boogie Boards and table top charging stations for enhanced classroom learning and activities. Partnered with Home Telephone Company dba Home Communications, Inc.
Grant Categories
Business and Economic Development |
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Community Development |
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Education |
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Telecommunications Applications |
Invaluable Insight on the FRS Grant Program
Each year, the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) gives back to rural communities through the grant program. In 2018, FRS awarded 12 grants for a total of nearly $50,000. Thank you to the 2018 sponsors who made the grant program possible: Ericsson, Inc., NISC, Womble Bond Dickinson, Mapcom Systems, Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) and Toly Digital. See how the grants open opportunities to rural communities.