Horizon Community Foundation announced its 2026 Community Impact Fund grant cycle, offering $115,000 in competitive grants to strengthen Northern Kentucky communities.
In a change from prior years, the foundation will award financial support to one or two larger-scale initiatives that align with its key grantmaking criteria:
- Innovation – introducing new ideas or unique approaches to tackle challenges
- Acceleration – speeding progress toward clear, community-centered solutions
- Leveraging Resources – maximizing impact through partnerships, shared assets, and diverse funding
- Equity – ensuring benefits are accessible to populations most affected by disparities
“We want to empower nonprofits who are ready to think big, who are pushing boundaries and collaborating to solve our region’s toughest problems,” said President & CEO of Horizon Community Foundation Nancy Grayson in a press release. “This approach allows us to deepen our investment and amplify outcomes for the community.”
To strengthen cross-sector collaboration, the foundation will prioritize proposals designed and delivered by multiple nonprofit partners working together toward a shared goal.
Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities serving Boone, Campbell and/or Kenton counties. The foundation will not fund:
- Capital campaigns or capital construction projects
- Equipment purchases
- Fundraising or other events
Letters of intent may be submitted beginning Feb. 1, 2026; the deadline for LOI submissions is Feb. 28, 2026. Invitations to submit full applications will be issued in the spring, and the grant award(s) will be announced on Aug. 1, 2026.
Since its launch in 2017, the Community Impact Fund has invested $632,500 in nonprofit organizations serving Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.