This is our primary funding opportunity, intended to kick-start fresh initiatives that enrich daily life for people sidelined by profoundly limited functional abilities.
Awards in this program are typically allocated across 1–3 years, depending on the project's size and scope, with a minimum request of $25,000 and ideal range of $50,000–$100,000.
New Applicants: Register as an Organization
If you have already registered as an Individual, see the next section.
Brand new users must "Register as an Organization" when creating an account.
Refer to the How to Register and Required Information sections in SMA's Help Center.
If upon trying to confirm your registration via email you see, "This link is invalid or has expired," please try to log in anyway. We would also appreciate any details you're able to send us (see the bottom of this page) after receiving this error message. Thank you for your assistance!
2024 Applicants: Create an Organization
Our application process in 2024 used Individual accounts. This year, we have switched to accepting applications from Organization accounts.
Existing Individual users will have to create an Organization in order to proceed. Until SMA updates its instructions for doing so, here's our tested version:
- Log into the application site
- Click your name in the top right corner
- Choose My Account
- On the My Account page, go to the Site Settings tab
- Click the Set up organization button and go through the process
If your organization already has a profile from another SMA portal, see the How do I Join an Existing Organization section in SMA's Help Center. Apologies to our returning applicants for the speed bump!
Apply as Your Organization
If you can't start an application, be sure your Organization is selected in the top left of your screen, where your login might have defaulted to Individual mode.
Refer to the How do I toggle between my individual and organization account? section in SMA's Help Center.
Project Criteria
We seek new projects that accommodate people sidelined by profound functional limitations due to chronic disability, illness, or injury. Our goal is to increase meaningful community interactions by facilitating access to work, school, and social settings.
Specifically, projects should ensure access for this group in one of four focus areas:
- Adaptive Resources and Technology
Physical tools and technology needed to engage fully in society. - Fully Integrated Artistic Creations
Training or assistance to freely participate in any phase of artistic production. - Accessible Careers and Technical Education
Pathways that improve academic success, career training, and physical access. - Improved Health and Well-Being
Activities that increase exposure to nature and outdoor recreation.
The ideal project will request $50,000–$100,000 from us (minimum $25,000) to cover no more than half of the total project cost over a term of 1–2 years, in conjunction with at least two (2) other secured or strong prospective funding sources covering the remainder.
Please refer to the linked Mission, Vision & Values and Goals, Objectives, Strategies & Tactics pages for further information to help determine whether the project you have in mind might be a good fit for us.
Process Overview
This year's opportunity has a two-stage application process:
Pre-Qualification (opens July 7; due August 15)
This step collects basic information about your current programming, nonprofit status, and certain Form 990 data. We also ask for a summary of the project you'd like to propose—brief description, total cost, request amount.
Using this information, we will check for obvious conflicts with our policies, before you spend the time to fill out a complete application.
Main Application (opens September 8; due October 10)
If you qualify for a grant from us and your project fits within our guidelines, you will be invited to begin this step.
We also request a complete project budget, organizational budget/actuals, and your latest available Form 990 in full.
After the final application is submitted, we will review everything during October and November and follow up with questions or site visits (physical/virtual) if necessary. We will send out final decisions by mid-December.
Important: Once you click Submit, that step can't be changed. Please be sure your submission includes all information you want considered.
You can Edit tasks that are marked as Completed before submitting them; refer to SMA's Help Center, section How do I edit a completed task?
Getting Help With Your Application
If you have questions, use the "info" icon at the top right of most pages. You'll find help links there—and a way to contact us for clarification on anything you need, including a "gut check" on the project you're thinking of submitting.
For help with the error message, "This link is invalid or has expired," do not contact SM Apply Support. Send as much detail as you can to the site administrator so we can relay it to our ongoing technical support ticket about this problem.
Building for Better Belonging (2025)
This is our primary funding opportunity, intended to kick-start fresh initiatives that enrich daily life for people sidelined by profoundly limited functional abilities.
Awards in this program are typically allocated across 1–3 years, depending on the project's size and scope, with a minimum request of $25,000 and ideal range of $50,000–$100,000.
New Applicants: Register as an Organization
If you have already registered as an Individual, see the next section.
Brand new users must "Register as an Organization" when creating an account.
Refer to the How to Register and Required Information sections in SMA's Help Center.
If upon trying to confirm your registration via email you see, "This link is invalid or has expired," please try to log in anyway. We would also appreciate any details you're able to send us (see the bottom of this page) after receiving this error message. Thank you for your assistance!
2024 Applicants: Create an Organization
Our application process in 2024 used Individual accounts. This year, we have switched to accepting applications from Organization accounts.
Existing Individual users will have to create an Organization in order to proceed. Until SMA updates its instructions for doing so, here's our tested version:
- Log into the application site
- Click your name in the top right corner
- Choose My Account
- On the My Account page, go to the Site Settings tab
- Click the Set up organization button and go through the process
If your organization already has a profile from another SMA portal, see the How do I Join an Existing Organization section in SMA's Help Center. Apologies to our returning applicants for the speed bump!
Apply as Your Organization
If you can't start an application, be sure your Organization is selected in the top left of your screen, where your login might have defaulted to Individual mode.
Refer to the How do I toggle between my individual and organization account? section in SMA's Help Center.
Project Criteria
We seek new projects that accommodate people sidelined by profound functional limitations due to chronic disability, illness, or injury. Our goal is to increase meaningful community interactions by facilitating access to work, school, and social settings.
Specifically, projects should ensure access for this group in one of four focus areas:
- Adaptive Resources and Technology
Physical tools and technology needed to engage fully in society. - Fully Integrated Artistic Creations
Training or assistance to freely participate in any phase of artistic production. - Accessible Careers and Technical Education
Pathways that improve academic success, career training, and physical access. - Improved Health and Well-Being
Activities that increase exposure to nature and outdoor recreation.
The ideal project will request $50,000–$100,000 from us (minimum $25,000) to cover no more than half of the total project cost over a term of 1–2 years, in conjunction with at least two (2) other secured or strong prospective funding sources covering the remainder.
Please refer to the linked Mission, Vision & Values and Goals, Objectives, Strategies & Tactics pages for further information to help determine whether the project you have in mind might be a good fit for us.
Process Overview
This year's opportunity has a two-stage application process:
Pre-Qualification (opens July 7; due August 15)
This step collects basic information about your current programming, nonprofit status, and certain Form 990 data. We also ask for a summary of the project you'd like to propose—brief description, total cost, request amount.
Using this information, we will check for obvious conflicts with our policies, before you spend the time to fill out a complete application.
Main Application (opens September 8; due October 10)
If you qualify for a grant from us and your project fits within our guidelines, you will be invited to begin this step.
We also request a complete project budget, organizational budget/actuals, and your latest available Form 990 in full.
After the final application is submitted, we will review everything during October and November and follow up with questions or site visits (physical/virtual) if necessary. We will send out final decisions by mid-December.
Important: Once you click Submit, that step can't be changed. Please be sure your submission includes all information you want considered.
You can Edit tasks that are marked as Completed before submitting them; refer to SMA's Help Center, section How do I edit a completed task?
Getting Help With Your Application
If you have questions, use the "info" icon at the top right of most pages. You'll find help links there—and a way to contact us for clarification on anything you need, including a "gut check" on the project you're thinking of submitting.
For help with the error message, "This link is invalid or has expired," do not contact SM Apply Support. Send as much detail as you can to the site administrator so we can relay it to our ongoing technical support ticket about this problem.