6 Verizon Local Community Grants can elevate your organization’s reach and deepen community impact right where it matters most. In today’s landscape of tight funding, clear eligibility requirements and strategic application planning are essential.
Whether you’re leading a small nonprofit in rural America or a grassroots initiative in an urban center, these six grant programs offer tailored award opportunities to support arts, education, public safety, digital inclusion, environmental stewardship, and youth empowerment.
This post will walk you through each grant, share practical examples, highlight key deadline dates, and include direct links so you can start your application today.
1. Verizon Community Fund
Verizon’s flagship program, the Verizon Community Fund, awards multi-year grants to local nonprofit organizations tackling urgent community needs.
Typical award sizes range from $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the project scope. Past recipients include neighborhood health clinics expanding telehealth, arts centers offering free classes, and environmental groups planting urban trees.
- Eligibility: IRS-recognized nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status, annual budget under $5 million
- Deadline: Applications open June 1 and close July 31 each year
- Focus Areas: Health & Human Services, Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, and Public Safety
- Example: The “Green Blocks Initiative” in Cleveland used a $25,000 award to install 200 trees, reducing urban heat and improving air quality.
Apply here: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/local-community-fund
2. Verizon Innovative Learning Grant
This program targets K–12 nonprofits and schools delivering STEM education in underserved markets. Grants typically cover technology hardware, software licenses, and staff training.
- Eligibility: Public schools or IRS-certified nonprofits partnering with schools
- Deadline: Rolling applications reviewed quarterly
- Award: Up to $75,000 in equipment plus Verizon network support
- Practical Example: A Detroit charter school received $60,000 to equip a robotics lab, enabling over 150 students to code, build, and compete in regional tournaments.
Explore details: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/verizon-innovative-learning
3. Digital Ready: Skills for Tomorrow
Verizon’s Digital Ready program empowers job seekers and career nonprofits with digital skills training. While not a traditional grant, it offers scholarships, curriculum funding, and volunteer mentors.
- Eligibility: Nonprofit workforce development organizations, community colleges
- Deadline: New cohorts begin quarterly; submit interest by May 31 for Q3
- Funding Model: Up to $25,000 per cohort for licenses and instructor fees
- Concrete Example: A Houston workforce center used a $20,000 scholarship fund to train 80 adults in cybersecurity fundamentals, achieving a placement rate of 65%.
Learn more: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/education
4. Tech for Good Grant
The Tech for Good grant supports nonprofits leveraging technology innovations for social change. Think apps addressing food insecurity or platforms connecting volunteers to shelters.
- Eligibility: Early-stage nonprofits with a prototype ready for pilot
- Deadline: Annual cycle closes October 15
- Award: $50,000 plus mentorship from Verizon engineers
- Practical Example: “ShelterLink,” a mobile app connecting donors to real-time shelter needs, scaled from pilot to 10 cities with a $50,000 award.
Get started: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/tech-for-good
5. 5G for All Community Grants
As 5G builds out, Verizon funds nonprofits bridging the digital divide in community centers and libraries. Grants cover infrastructure upgrades and application development leveraging low-latency networks.
- Eligibility: Public libraries, community technology centers, nonprofits serving low-income families
- Deadline: Submissions accepted May 1–June 30
- Award: \Ꝑ20,000–$100,000 depending on project complexity
- Example in Practice: A rural library in New Mexico installed 5G hotspots and hosted telehealth sessions, reducing travel barriers for elderly residents.
Details here: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/5g/5g-for-all
6. Youth Empowerment Grant
Verizon’s Youth Empowerment program invests in nonprofits mentoring teens through leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy. The aim is to prepare the next generation for college and careers.
- Eligibility: IRS-certified nonprofit or school-based groups serving ages 13–19
- Deadline: Applications open August 1 and close September 30
- Award: $15,000 per nonprofit, plus ongoing coaching
- Practical Example: A Chicago youth center used a $15,000 award to launch a social media marketing bootcamp, enabling three cohorts of teens to build portfolios and secure internships.
Apply now: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/youth-empowerment
Conclusion
6 Verizon Local Community Grants showcase how tailored funding can spark real change in neighborhoods across America.
From STEM labs in underfunded schools to 5G-enabled telehealth in rural towns, these six programs cover diverse sectors—education, health, digital inclusion, environment, and youth development.
Each grant features clear eligibility criteria, transparent application processes, and practical deadlines designed to help your nonprofit plan strategically.
Use the links provided to dive deeper, mark your deadline dates, and prepare a standout proposal.
By leveraging these award opportunities, you can amplify your mission, drive measurable community impact, and build lasting partnerships with Verizon.
Your next success story begins with a well-crafted application—let today be the day you transform your vision into reality.
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