A Community Thrives: Help nonprofits get big grants

Nonprofits in your community are now raising funds as a part of A Community Thrives, USA TODAY Network’s crowdfunding and grant program. Your donations can help them qualify for tens of thousands of dollars in additional grant funding for their ideas to improve your neighborhood.

A Community Thrives heard from 944 organizations across 45 states, the District of Columbia and Guam with projects designed to positively impact the community around them. Now, these organizations are raising funds on the Mighty Cause crowdfunding platform.

The organizations will get to keep the money they raise, but top projects also will qualify for additional grants to support their change-making ideas.

In 2020, A Community Thrives will award $2.3 million in grants – 16 national grants and more than 100 additional grants across Gannett markets to support organizations’ operating expenses. A Community Thrives is a program of the Gannett Foundation and is sponsored by USA TODAY Network’s parent company Gannett.

The 2019 grantees include $100,000 recipient Low Income Housing Institute of Seattle (lihi.org) to build 20 tiny houses and support services for the homeless. In Arlington, Virginia, Read Early and Daily (readearlyanddaily.org) received $50,000 to retrofit a school bus for delivering books to underserved neighborhoods and hosting community literacy events. And Girls Write Nashville (girlswritenashville.com) received $50,000 to expand its after-school music education program for young girls who have fewer enrichment opportunities.

Projects will raise funds until Oct. 16. You can donate to support change in your community by visiting acommunitythrives.mightycause.com.