Hyper-local Philanthropy that Creates Trust, Pride, and Results

Every community has people who quietly bring folks together. They are the neighbors who most people know and trust — those who organize youth mentorship programs, run community gardens, or check in on elders. We call these people weavers. They are trusted connectors who organize neighbors to solve local problems, often without resources or recognition.

Their work is invaluable, yet traditional funding rarely reaches them. They don’t get big grants and often pay out of their own pockets to grow their efforts. The Weaver Awards change that—providing microgrants, tools, and visibility to help local weavers thrive.

That’s where Community Hosts come in. Hosts are trusted local organizations who know their community best. They are the ones who identify weavers, celebrate their stories, and connect them with the resources they need to grow. By becoming a Community Host, your organization can extend resources to people who usually don’t get them, strengthen the bonds in your community, and lead a national movement of trust-building and belonging from the ground up.

Applications Now Open for 2026 Community Hosts

Weave is inviting 25 organizations to bring the Weaver Awards to their communities for at least four years (2026–2029), with two years of startup funding provided by Weave.

Community Hosts are the backbone of the Weaver Awards. They bring the program to life on the ground, rooted in the strengths and needs of their own communities.

Selected organizations will:

• Receive $225,000 in startup funding over two years to launch the program
• Award 20+ microgrants each year ($2,500–$5,000 each) to local weavers
• Access training, tools, templates and ongoing support
• Celebrate local stories of connection and trust-building
• Convene gatherings and build a community of weavers
• Join a national cohort of Community Hosts to learn and grow together

Applications are open September 29 – November 2, 2025

Who should apply to be a Community Host? 

Strong candidates will meet these baseline requirements:

• Annual operating budget of $1M+
• Ability to run the program for four years (2026–2029)
• Legal/financial infrastructure to distribute microgrants to individuals and small nonprofits (<$250k)
• Strong local ties across diverse groups and sectors
• Staff capacity to administer grants, events, and storytelling

The most successful Hosts also:

• Believe in connection across differences
• Are relationship-driven and community-rooted
• Have experience amplifying local voices and stories
• Are eager to learn, adapt, and contribute nationally

Join an info session to learn more. Recordings will be available.

• October 8, 2025 | 1:00 pm ET [Register here]
• October 14, 2025 | 2:00 pm ET [Register here]

The Community Host Role

• Nurture a local culture of weaving: Strengthen community identity by building a community of weavers, convening gatherings, and fostering peer support.
• Lift up local stories: Celebrate weavers in newsletters, social media, local media, and other platforms.
• Champion local weavers: Create a local advisory committee dedicated to identifying and selecting Weaver Awardees who are building trust and connection, and distribute at least 20 microgrants each year ($2,500–$5,000 each) to them.
• Join a national cohort of Community Hosts: Learn with and from peers and contribute to the national movement of weaving. This includes attending the two-day, in-person onboarding gathering in Washington, D.C., on January 21-22, 2026.

The Lasting Impact of the Weaver Awards 

We know you’re already doing a lot. Running programs, chasing grants, and finding ways to keep your community strong. The Weaver Awards are designed to make that work easier—not harder—by fueling the neighbors who are already making a difference and giving you the resources to support them.

By bringing the Weaver Awards to your community, you’ll give everyday leaders the recognition and support they deserve, and you’ll leave behind a stronger, more connected community that continues to thrive well beyond year four.

In our pilot communities, the Weaver Awards have:

• Celebrated dozens of local leaders and helped them expand successful initiatives
• Distributed more than $750,000 in microgrants to individuals and groups who are often overlooked by larger grant programs
• Built peer networks that spark further funding and recognition

Questions? 

Email us at weaverawards@aspeninstitute.org.