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Keep Arkansas Beautiful Mission Grants

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    Empowering Community Projects

    Keep Arkansas Beautiful is proud to offer the KAB Mission Grant — a flexible funding opportunity designed to support a wide variety of community-based projects that align with our mission to inspire and educate Arkansans through beautification, litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, environmental education and eco-restoration.

    KAB will award 16 grants of up to $2,500 each on a reimbursement basis to city and county governments, schools, nonprofits, civic groups and businesses working to make Arkansas cleaner, greener and more beautiful.

    Application Timeline

    Keep Arkansas Beautiful accepts applications year-round for its Mission Grant. However, applications are reviewed and awarded during our two annual grant cycles in winter and summer.

    • Winter Cycle: January 1–February 15
    • Summer Cycle: July 1–August 15

    Up to eight KAB Mission Grants will be awarded per cycle, for a total of 16 annually. All awards are subject to available funding.

    Apply Today

    What Projects Are Eligible?

    KAB Mission Grants are intentionally broad to allow for creativity, flexibility and local impact. Your project must support at least one of KAB’s four core focus areas:

    • Beautification & Eco-Restoration
      • Native plantings, pollinator gardens and tree planting
      • Murals and public art installations
      • Urban greening and revitalization of neglected areas
      • Trail restoration or habitat enhancement
    • Litter Prevention & Waterway Protection
      • Public cleanups (land or water-based)
      • Trash boom installation (see details below)
      • Highway, park or neighborhood litter collection events
      • Educational anti-litter campaigns
    • Recycling & Waste Reduction
      • Recycling drives and drop-off events
      • Permanent or mobile recycling bin installation
      • Community composting or reuse programs
      • Recycling education and signage
    • Environmental Education for Arkansas Students
      • Classroom or public workshops
      • Interpretive signage and awareness campaigns
      • Youth-led projects that teach sustainability
      • Outreach initiatives targeting community engagement

    What expenses does the grant cover?

    Each project may be reimbursed for up to $2,500 in direct project expenses. This grant absorbs and expands upon the offerings of the previously separate Trash Boom Grant and Green Event Grant.

    • Examples of eligible items include (but are not limited to):
      • Litter grabbers and cleanup tools
      • Native plants, trees, mulch and landscaping materials
      • Educational or directional signage
      • Trash or recycling receptacles
      • Yard equipment and light tools
      • Paint and supplies for murals or graffiti removal
      • Dumpsters or event-related rentals
      • Educational materials and printing for outreach
    • These items are NOT covered by the KAB Mission Grant:
      • Items already supplied by KAB (e.g., trash bags, gloves, safety vests)
      • Food and beverages
      • Maintenance or upgrades to previously funded projects
      • Permanent structures requiring large-scale construction

    Trash Boom Installation in Arkansas

    A "trash boom" is a floating partition that stops debris and trash in a waterway. Projects involving the installation of a trash boom to prevent waterborne litter are eligible under the Mission Grant.

    Applicants should adhere to the following guidelines.

    • Complete all fields in the online application
    • Provide a detailed project description
    • Upload at least one photo of the project site or area
    • Share a proposed budget and timeline
    • Submit any permits or approvals, if applicable
    • Agree to submit final project data, photos and outcomes

    Evaluation Criteria

    All project applications are scored on a nine-point scale based on these evaluation criteria.

    1. Demonstrated need
    2. Clarity of project goals
    3. Alignment with KAB’s mission
    4. Innovation and creativity
    5. Environmental/community impact
    6. Community engagement or volunteer involvement
    7. Feasibility and readiness
    8. Quality of reporting plan
    9. Long-term value or sustainability

    Apply for your KAB Mission Grant today!

    Other Grants and Awards

    A number of government agencies, businesses and nonprofit organizations offer grant and awards programs to help stimulate organizations and communities wanting to promote environmental change.