Microgrants
2026 Intercultural Microgrant Program
OPENING MAY 18! The Kentucky Intercultural Microgrant Program provides seed grants to support projects led by two or more RUX members, alumni, or partners collaborating across distance and difference.
Launched with support from DevouGood, Kentucky Civic Trust, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Snowy Owl Foundation, and additional donors, the Microgrant Program supports the statewide RUX network to lead projects that celebrate and connect Kentucky's people and places. Grants range from $250-$2000 for short-term projects that foster dialogue, connection, or collaboration among Kentuckians from disparate backgrounds, identities, or experiences.
Timeline
Monday, May 18 - Friday, June 12: Application Available
Wednesday, June 3, 12:00pm ET/11:00am CT: Project Info & Support Webinar - RSVP here!
Friday, June 26: Award Notification
Tuesday, June 30: Award announcement & kickoff events
Monday, August 31: Check-in meetings with Awardees - Selection committee members and staff will be assigned awardees to meet with and support with planning, concept development, and implementation of their project.
Wednesday, September 30: Second round of check-in meetings
Friday, October 30: Creative Project Due
Monday, November 30: Project Evaluation Due
Sector-Based Opportunities
Click to expand.
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In loving memory of RUX Co-founder Josh May, we will award up to $2,000 in grants to projects that create, document, or present a musical collaboration that bridges rural and urban Kentucky.
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The Kentucky Foundation for Women (KFW) promotes positive social change by supporting varied feminist expression in the arts. Depending on the proposed budgets of the selected teams, Kentucky Foundation for Women will grant 5-10 teams up to $1,000 per team to support small projects that use arts, culture, or creativity to bridge geographic, racial, and economic divides in Kentucky or reduce political polarization. These projects will be led by women.
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RUX collaborates with institutional, elected, and grantmaking partners to invest in building stronger civic infrastructure in communities across Kentucky. We define civic infrastructure as the places, policies, programs, and practices that undergird strong communities and foster civic engagement, which allows people to connect, work together, solve problems, and participate in their community’s planning for the future.
In this year's civic health category, we are proud to partner with the Kentucky Civic Trust to support projects that bring individuals and community partners together to engage their neighbors in contributing to solutions on an issue facing the community. As a microgrant, projects must have a short timeframe and a small budget. Successful proposals will mobilize the community around an issue, expand public awareness, and strengthen working relationships among those involved. We will invest in up to 5 teams to design $500-1000 mini-projects that enhance the capacity of their communities to solve problems.
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The DevouGood Foundation partners with local nonprofits, artists, philanthropists, and visionaries to cultivate vibrant and equitable neighborhoods. These grants will support the development of innovative and practical solutions to community transportation challenges; projects that improve connectivity, accessibility, safety, reduce emissions, and transit options (walking, cycling, public transit) for underserved, rural, and equity-deserving communities. These grants aim to reduce reliance on personal vehicles, cut emissions, and enhance mobility for low-income residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Projects may have multiple benefits and can involve testing new ideas, applying best practices, increasing knowledge, and enhancing equity and accessibility. Before developing a proposal, learn more here.
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The Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA) is a member-supported nonprofit organization working to protect, restore, and celebrate Kentucky's waterways since 1993.
In partnership with KWA, we will invest in projects that clean up, improve access to, offer education about, or celebration of Kentucky’s waterways.
Guidelines
Awards will range from $250-2000.
We encourage applicants to leverage this seed funding to entice partnerships and/or matching funds, but do not require a cash match.
The primary applicant must be a network member of the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX). This includes cohort members, cohort alumni, and Membership Program members.
Supporting applicants can be alumni, members, or former/current RUX partners, committee members, or facilities from a RUX host community. You can become a RUX member at kyrux.org/membership
We encourage teams that represent meaningful collaboration across lines of ideological, geographic, racial, and economic difference.
Past and current RUX host communities include Bowling Green, Campbellsville, Covington, Estill County, Harlan County, Horse Cave, Knott County, Lexington, Louisville, Morehead, Muhlenberg County, Owensboro, Paducah, and Whitesburg. If you need help finding RUX network members that might be a good fit for your project, email us at kentuckyrux@gmail.com.
Projects must take place in Kentucky.
Please note: If you currently receive funds from KFW for the same project, you are not eligible to receive support from this microgrant.
Grants must include a partnership between two individuals, two organizations, or an individual and an organization. Organizations do not need to be nonprofit, but can be.
Projects that invite the public to participate are preferred.
Primary and secondary applicants will be required to develop a creative product by October 30, 2026, and complete an evaluation by November 30, 2026.
Thank you, 2026 sponsors!
We are accepting proposals from individuals, organizations, and funding partners to entice microgrant projects in your geographic area or area of interest by expanding microgrant funding and/or providing a project match. To partner, contact Exchange Director Savannah Barrett at savannah@artoftherural.org.
Application
Stories from Previous Grantees
