At ACCT, we are committed to helping community colleges identify funding opportunities that advance institutional goals and support the students and communities they serve. Building on our previous blog, this update highlights four upcoming federal grant opportunities that may be especially relevant to community colleges and their partners. Each opportunity closes within the next several months and supports work aligned with common college priorities, including workforce development, environmental stewardship, youth engagement, and access to arts and cultural resources. 

For a broadlist of open federal grants relevant to community colleges, see ACCT’s tracking spreadsheet here: Community College Grants Fall and Winter 2026  

 1. Advanced Technological Education (ATE) 

• Agency: U.S.National Science Foundation (NSF) 
• Due: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 5:00 PM (Applicant’s Time) 
• Expected Award Size: $475,000 to $7,500,000 for $74 million total  
• Number of Awards: Up to 80 awards 
• Eligibility: Community Colleges (Public and Private), Nonprofit Organizations, State Governments, County Governments, Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments, and City or Township Governments. 
• Purpose: To improve the education and preparation of technicians for high-technology fields that are critical to the U.S. economy. The program supports community colleges and their partners in developing STEM curricula, training faculty, creating career pathways, and strengthening partnerships with industry to prepare students for skilled technical careers in areas such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, engineering, energy, cybersecurity, AI, and other emerging technologies.  
• Cost sharing: No 

Advocacy Note: This program is a significant national priority for ACCT. View the letter ACCT and AACC sent to Congress requesting an increase in total funding for this program nationally. 

2. National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program 

• Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 
• Due: Monday, October 12, 2026, 11:59 PM ET 
• Expected Award Size: $200,000 to $750,000 for $1million total 
• Number of Awards: Up to 5 awards 
• Eligibility: Community Colleges (Public and Private), Nonprofit Organizations, State Governments, County Governments, Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments, and City or Township Governments.  
• Purpose: To advance solutions to the economic, health, and environmental challenges faced by communities. This program is intended for communities and their partners seeking to improve the management and use of their urban and community forests. 
• Cost sharing: Yes 

 3.FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau-Wide  

• Agency: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Agency 
• Due: Friday, October 16, 2026, 11:59 PM ET 
• Expected Award Size: $30,000 to $220,000 for $900,000 total 
• Number of Awards: Up to 8 awards 
• Eligibility: Community Colleges (Public and Private), Nonprofit Organizations, State Governments, County Governments, Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments, Public and Indian Housing Authorities, City or Township Governments, and Special District Governments.  
• Purpose: To provide youth and veterans with hands-on employment, training, and mentorship opportunities while supporting the stewardship of public lands. Funded projects focus on recreation, habitat and wildlife restoration, natural and cultural resource preservation, wildfire risk reduction, and other activities that advance the BLM’s multiple-use mission. 
• Cost sharing: Yes 

4.NEA Arts and Artifacts Domestic Indemnity Program 1  

• Agency: National Endowment for the Arts 
• Due: Monday, December 7, 2026, 11:59 PM ET 
• Expected Award Size: $10,000 to $100,000 
• Number of Awards: N/A 
• Eligibility: Community Colleges (Public and Private), Nonprofit Organizations, State Governments, County Governments, Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments, City or Township Governments, and Special District Governments.  
• Purpose: To reduce the cost of insuring high-value works of art and cultural artifacts displayed in temporary exhibitions in the United States. Provides federal protection against loss or damage to eligible U.S.-owned artworks and artifacts, helping nonprofit museums and organizations make significant cultural, historical, and educational exhibitions accessible to the public.  
• Cost sharing: No

For the full list of open federal grants relevant to community colleges, see our full tracking spreadsheet here: 

The linked resource was assembled in collaboration with Dhilena Wickramasinghe, the Summer 2026 ACCT Public Policy Intern.