Proposed project should fill a demonstrated need in the community. This grant funding is intended for shovel-ready projects that would not otherwise be possible to implement through municipal funding. Proposal & letters of support should demonstrate strong community support for the project.

Project should connect the community in meaningful, innovative, and creative ways.

Strong applications actively involve local organizations by incorporating them into the planning and execution processes and engaging the community in activating the project site. Letters of support should come from a variety of stakeholders within the community.

You should have a shovel-ready plan ready to go and be able to complete your project within your detailed budget and within 12 months of receiving funding, if selected. Projects must be completed and usable by the public by August 31, 2026. Make sure to consider these parameters when choosing the kind of project you propose for this grant.

T‑Mobile strives to be a force for good. To read more about T‑Mobile’s many corporate initiatives and key segments, visit https://www.t‑mobile.com/responsibility.

• This grant program is specifically open to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and local government entities. If selected, the grant award must be managed and deployed by the nonprofit organization or government entity who applied for the grant.
• Grant funds may not be awarded to for-profit businesses, directly or indirectly via pass-through funding to for-profit businesses. Additionally, religious congregations are​not eligible for this grant program.
• Applicants must be located in small rural communities with a population of 50,000 people or less. 
• Proposals must focus on a physical project benefiting the public.
• The applicant organization must own the site where the proposed project would be implemented OR provide a description/​confirmation of adequate permissions to alter the site. If the applicant organization does not own the site, one of the letters of support must come from the owner of the site. 
• Applicants may submit up to one (1) application per organization per grant cycle. Applicants may re-apply to subsequent grant cycles if they are not selected in an earlier round.
• Previous T‑Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees are eligible to apply again for later grant cycles. Previous T‑Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees must demonstrate successful completion of their prior grant project in their application. 

Requested funding must be for a physical placemaking project.

Eligible Grant Uses:

• Construction/​installation supplies and materials
• Equipment
• Labor costs for construction/​rehabilitation/​installation/​artist fees
• Artist’s supplies and fees associated with a community engagement design process (i.e. a mural or creative crosswalk informed by facilitated community discussions)
• Streetscape and/​or indoor furniture for a community space
• Other physical items
• Special events or public space activation programming can only account for up to 10% or $5,000 of total grant amount

• Engineering and architectural plans or fees
• Staff salaries (beyond initial construction/​rehabilitation/​installation labor)
• Operational and maintenance expenses
• Reimbursement for projects that are already completed
• Pass-through funding to private entities or initiatives

T‑Mobile is committing up to $25 million over the next 5 years to support small towns across America by funding community projects.

T‑Mobile Hometown Grants program will help fund projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in your town. For example, this might include the town square pavilion, a historic building, an outdoor park, a ball field, or a library– every town has places where friends and neighbors connect.

• Small towns with populations less than 50,000 are eligible to apply.
• Recipients are selected and awarded on a quarterly basis.
• Grants are up to $50k per town.

We are looking for elected leaders, town managers/​employees, or non-profit leaders to submit the details for their project request to T‑mobile.com/HometownGrant.

We would like to invite all members of small towns to get involved by sharing this opportunity with their local leaders and appropriate non-profit organizations.

These individuals will need to serve as the main contact for the grant review process and will be required to provide detailed plans on how the grant would be utilized.

T‑Mobile is partnering with trusted nonprofit organizations SmartGrowth America and Main Street America on the grant selection panel. Both organizations have deep expertise in building stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.