The King Foundation offers Community Grants twice annually to eligible nonprofit organizations located in Arkansas, North Texas, and West Texas. The program is intended to support efforts that address significant community needs across various thematic focus areas. Community Grants are administered exclusively through the Foundation’s online portal. Interested applicants are required to review the program guidelines in full and are encouraged to contact the Foundation prior to submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). The Foundation prioritizes communication and offers pre-LOI calls, live webinars, and site visits to support potential applicants through the grant process.

The purpose of the Community Grants program is to support nonprofit initiatives that serve vulnerable or underserved populations in the Foundation's designated geographic areas. The Foundation has defined focus areas based on regional needs, including support for the aging population, children and youth, economically disadvantaged individuals, education, arts and culture, and nonprofit capacity building. While program grants are available across all regions, capital grants are rarely awarded in North Texas, and nonprofit capacity grants are only offered in Arkansas and West Texas.

Funding typically ranges from $15,000 to $75,000 per award, with an average award size of approximately $30,000. Community Grants do not support general operating costs, debt retirement, endowments, or pass-through grants. The Foundation also excludes funding for events, private or for-profit schools, religious programs (unless services are nonsectarian and public-facing), and organizations without verified 501(c)(3) status unless under a fiscal sponsorship.

Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit organizations serving one of the eligible counties within Arkansas, North Texas, or West Texas. Organizations must be tax-exempt and located within the Foundation’s designated service areas. A mandatory waiting period of 18 months is required between the conclusion of one grant reporting period and the submission of a new LOI. Applicants may only reapply once they have met the reporting requirements from a previous award cycle.

For the Fall 2025 cycle, the grant process begins with a webinar hosted on April 1, 2025, followed by the portal opening on May 1, 2025. The LOI deadline is June 16, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. CT. Applicants advancing to the full proposal stage will be notified by August 8, 2025, and must submit full proposals by August 29, 2025. Site visits will take place in September and October, and final funding decisions will be announced on December 12, 2025. Approved grantees will receive payments between January and March 2026 and must implement their projects during the 2026 calendar year, with final reports due between January and June 2027.

Applications must be submitted online, and pre-LOI calls are highly encouraged. Interested organizations are advised to attend the webinar and schedule calls with regional program officers to enhance their understanding of the application process. The Foundation aims to make funding decisions through a transparent and collaborative review process.