Martin Luther King Jr. Community Improvement Grants

American flag, hearts, printed note saying "Martin Luther King Day"Our organization, Keep Virginia Beautiful (KVB), is a nonprofit affiliate of the national civic organization Keep America Beautiful (KAB).  We’re part of a network of Virginia affiliates that stretches from the coastline to the mountains, to Northern Virginia, through RVA, to the rural Southwest corner of the Commonwealth.

We want you to know about an opportunity that honors Martin Luther King Jr., and offers grant funding to affiliates, nonprofits, local governments, and other community organizations to make a difference where it’s needed in their community.   Keep America Beautiful provides MLK Community Improvement Grants to support communities in revitalizing, beautifying, and transforming areas in and around Martin Luther King Jr. corridors and neighborhoods.

Green street sign with white writing W 125 St and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
(Photo by PxHere / Creative Commons)

There are over 950 Martin Luther King (MLK) corridors across the United States. While no two corridors are alike, transecting a variety of different neighborhood types and commercial uses, studies have shown many of the corridors face neighborhood and community improvement challenges. The continued decline of the most visible symbols of Dr. Martin Luther King’s work has gained nationwide attention, with still very little being done to address some of the core contributors, including the negative effects of litter.

As the largest community improvement nonprofit organization in the United States, Keep America Beautiful is uniquely qualified to support communities and neighborhoods wanting to address the conditions they identify in these corridors. KAB’s core resource, its science-based Model for Change, identifies the first step as involving the people. This, coupled with the expertise KAB can offer in litter reduction and beautification, will support the businesses and residents along the corridor to transform or restore MLK corridors into welcoming, nurturing environments.

Opportunity at a Glance

    • Grant is open to KAB Affiliates, nonprofits, local governments, and other community organizations. Non-KAB Affiliates are strongly encouraged to partner with a KAB Affiliate in their community. KAB affiliates will receive priority review and consideration.  Check this page for affiliates in Virginia that you might be able to partner with in your community.
    • Project locations must be along or near MLK corridors.
    • Projects must address a need identified by the community and foster a sense of inclusion and self-determination.
    • Grants awarded will range between $5,000 and $20,000.

Mural of Martin Luther King, Jr. marching in Selma, Alabama arm in arm with other civil rights leadersTimeline and Reporting Requirements

    • Application period: January 15, 2024 – March 8, 2024
    • Grants announced and executed: April 2024
    • Implementation period: April 2024 – December 2024
    • Interim Report Due: September 30, 2024
    • Final Report Due: December 15, 2024

This grant helps business, residents and community groups address their challenges and meet their needs. Past MLK projects have included murals and public art installations, the creation of community gardens and green spaces, tree plantings and cleanup efforts. For inspiration from past examples of MKL Neighborhood grant programs, follow these links:  THE FLINT MURAL and BEAUTIFY MLK CORRIDORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

Applications will open soon— stay tuned to the Keep America Beautiful webpage!