Community Grants

LCRA supports local communities in its service area with grants of up to $50,000 through the Community Development Partnership Program (CDPP).

About CDPP grants

Who can apply
Volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, cities and counties, schools, libraries, civic groups, museums and other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations with projects located within LCRA’s wholesale electric or water service area, or areas in which LCRA Transmission Services Corporation provides transmission services are eligible to apply. View a map of LCRA’s service areas.

Projects eligible for funding
Grant projects must improve the value of a capital asset by building, renovating or purchasing equipment, and must benefit an entire community. Review recent CDPP grants.

Grant application requirements
LCRA awards up to $50,000 for capital improvement projects that benefit an entire community. Applicants requesting more than $5,000 in grant funding must supply matching funds of at least 20% of the total project cost. Proposals must include plans, detailed budget, financials, vendor quotes or estimates, and IRS determination documentation. See more FAQs.

How often grants are awarded
CDPP grants are awarded twice a year and online grant applications are accepted in January and July.

How to apply

Step 1
Login or create an account in the submission portal.

Step 2
Complete the application. The application page includes detailed steps, drop-down menus, fillable forms and places to upload documents.

Read more about navigating the CDPP application.

Step 3
Submit your application. You will receive an email confirming the submittal.

After you apply

Once the application window closes, LCRA will update you via email as to where your proposal is in the review process. The review process takes about eight weeks and begins after the application window closes. We will email every applicant about the final status of their application and whether their project will receive a CDPP grant.

Grant program FAQs

What is CDPP?

LCRA awards grants of up to $50,000 to worthy community projects in the LCRA wholesale power, water and transmission service territories through the Community Development Partnership Program, or CDPP.

The CDPP was established in 1996 to provide funds to rural, economically challenged communities that have difficulty fundraising for their needed projects.

CDPP grants support economic diversification in local communities; contribute to the health, safety and development of a community; or improve the quality or quantity of services essential for the development of viable communities and economic growth.

CDPP grants are awarded twice a year for capital projects for volunteer fire departments, emergency responders, cities and counties, schools, libraries, civic groups, museums and other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. The projects must benefit or be available to an entire community and must improve the value of a capital asset by building, renovating or purchasing equipment.

What groups are eligible to apply?

The CDPP provides grants to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, such as:

  • Museums.
  • Civic groups.
  • Historical associations.
  • Emergency responders.
  • Volunteer fire departments.
  • Cities, counties and economic development corporations.
  • Special districts such as libraries, schools, hospitals, emergency services and municipal utilities.

The proposed grant project must have a physical address located within LCRA’s service areas. Organizations in all or part of the following counties are eligible for CDPP grants: Aransas, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Blanco, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Callahan, Cameron, Coke, Coleman, Colorado, Comal, Concho, Coryell, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, Fayette, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, Medina, Menard, Midland, Mills, Nolan, Nueces, Pecos, Real, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Starr, Sterling, Sutton, Taylor, Terrell, Tom Green, Travis, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Williamson and Zavala.

Grants are not available to individuals, for-profit entities, professional associations, social service projects or limited-use facilities.

What are the eligibility requirements?
  • The proposed grant project must have a physical address located within LCRA’s service areas.
  • Projects must benefit or be available to an entire community.
  • Projects should, at a minimum, have a 10-year useful life.
  • Projects must be completed within 12 months of the date the grant is funded. Failure to complete the project on schedule or to abide by the terms of the agreement may result in LCRA requiring the recipient to return the grant.
  • An applicant must not have received a CDPP grant within 24 months.
  • Projects must be maintained for the public purpose for which the grant was awarded.
What projects are eligible for funding?

Under CDPP rules, 70% of the funds available in any given grant cycle must be awarded for grants of $25,000 or less. The remaining 30% may be awarded for larger grants of up to $50,000. The larger grants are intended for projects with a far-reaching impact on a broad community. Applications in this category should be for particularly impressive and noteworthy projects.

Projects should encourage economic diversification in local communities; contribute to the health, safety and development of a community; or improve the quality or quantity of services essential for the development of viable communities and economic growth.

The projects must benefit or be available to an entire community and must improve the value of a capital asset by building, renovating or purchasing equipment.

CDPP places emphasis on projects for volunteer fire departments, projects that include public safety life-saving equipment and/or public education, demonstration components and projects that address needs caused by natural disasters.

Favorable attention also is given to projects that have a positive impact on natural resources and include:

  • Water conservation components such as:
    • Xeriscaping.
    • Low-flow toilets and fixtures.
    • Rainwater catchment systems.
  • Energy conservation components such as:
    • Solar panels.
    • Windows or insulation.
    • LED lighting and energy efficient bulbs.

Review recent CDPP grants.

What projects are NOT eligible for funding?
  • Projects that are not available to an entire community.
  • Projects that already are complete or in fundraising mode.
  • Social service projects and limited use facilities such as food pantries, transitional housing and substance abuse facilities.
  • Religious sanctuaries or church-sponsored facilities that can be used only by members.
  • Land acquisition, debt-reduction campaigns and capital campaigns projects.
  • Program operating costs, administrative and/or indirect costs, such as personnel and overhead expenses.
  • Planning or consultant fees, grant writing fees, training, workshops or seminars (except for public firefighting organizations, including volunteer fire departments).
  • Appliances, unless they are part of a renovation project and are commercial in nature or built-in and would be conveyed with the property if sold.

Additional items that are not eligible:

  • Drones.
  • Software.
  • Office equipment.
  • Tree trimming or removal.
  • Animal kennels or enclosures.
  • Computer and/or video equipment.
  • Furniture (including chairs and tables).
What are the matching fund requirements?

LCRA requires applicants to supply at least 20% of the total cost of projects greater than $5,000.

Matching funds must be available at the time of application submittal and documented in the grant application with financial or bank statements and/or letters of credit or monetary support.

Matching funds can include pledged donations and/or awarded funds reserved for the project. (Application must include documentation to substantiate the value and availability.) Funding awards in pending status at the time of grant submittal are not eligible as matching funds.

In-kind volunteer labor and/or donations of materials or equipment use may be used as matching contributions and must be identified and explained in the application and values calculated at current prevailing rates.

See more about the matching requirements.

What documentation is required?
  • A detailed description of the proposed project.
  • An IRS determination letter or Form 990, if a nonprofit.
  • A detailed project cost summary, including itemized costs and funding sources.
  • A current financial or bank statement.
  • Vendor quotes or estimates.
  • A list of key staff and members of the applicant organizations’ Board of Directors.
  • Photos of the project, if applicable.

See tips for completing the CDPP grant application.

How does the review process work?
The review process can take up to eight weeks from the application deadline. During that time, an internal committee reviews each project application and makes a recommendation to the CDPP Review Committee. See the CDPP Score Sheet for information on factors considered in the review process. From time to time, the review committee may occasionally award a smaller grant than requested because of limited funds or ineligible project components.

You will receive update emails during the review process informing you of the status of your proposal. All applicants will be notified by email of the final status of their application.

What is the grant application timeline?

Apply

Online beginning Jan. 1 and July 1

Deadline

  • Midnight on Jan. 31 and July 31
  • Will not be extended

Review process

  • Takes up to eight weeks after deadline
  • Update emails provide proposal status

Award notice

  • Delivered by email
  • Funding takes six to eight weeks after award notice

Project completion

  • Required within 12 months of the funding date
  • Failure to complete the grant project on schedule or abide by the terms of the letter agreement may result in LCRA requiring the recipient to return the grant

Eligible to reapply

  • 24 months after grant funds are received and the prior grant-funded project is completed
How much money is awarded?
Twice a year, LCRA awards grants up to $50,000 for capital improvement projects that serve an entire community. Most grants are for $25,000 or less, but several grants of up to $50,000 are awarded every grant cycle. Over a million dollars is awarded in CDPP grants every year.

Fiscal Year 2023

  • Number of applications received: 228
  • Total number of grants awarded: 80
  • Number of grants between $25,001-$50,000 awarded: 11
  • Funding awarded: $1,800,982

Fiscal Year 2022

  • Number of applications received: 230
  • Total number of grants awarded: 68
  • Number of grants between $25,001-$50,000 awarded: 9
  • Funding awarded: $1,549,541

Fiscal Year 2021

  • Number of applications received: 196
  • Total number of grants awarded: 52
  • Number of grants between $25,001-$50,000 awarded: 6
  • Funding awarded: $1,077,315

Contacts

Sheila Slagel, grants program manager
800-776-5272, ext. 3140

[email protected]​​​​​​​​​​

Liz Mundine, grants program administrator
800-776-5272, ext. 1627