DC Metro — Philip L. Graham Fund December 2026 Community Grants (LOI December 1)

Philip L. Graham Fund — December 2026 grant cycle

The Philip L. Graham Fund invites eligible local 501(c)(3) public charities serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for its December 2026 grantmaking cycle. Grants support Health & Human Services, Education, Arts & Humanities, and Community Endeavors. Within health and human services, priorities include primary and behavioral care, food access, shelter and affordable housing, workforce development, dental care, and services for local families.

Funding amount

The Fund does not publish a fixed individual grant award minimum or maximum for this cycle. An overall funding pool is also not specified. Applicants should propose an amount consistent with their documented organizational needs and the Fund’s priorities; no specific award is guaranteed.

Application window and deadline

December 1, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) is the Fund’s announced LOI deadline. The Fund states that the new online LOI link will become available when the portal opens November 1, 2026. Applications use a two-stage electronic process: first an LOI, then an invited full proposal. Paper applications are not accepted. The actual new-cycle online form’s availability and any form-only fields have not been independently inspected; check the Fund’s official application page for the active link.

Who may apply

Eligible applicants are IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charities delivering qualifying services in Washington, D.C.; Maryland’s Charles, Montgomery, or Prince George’s counties; or Virginia’s Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, or Prince William counties and Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, or Manassas Park. Applicants must align with the Fund’s giving priorities, have no funding request declined by the Fund within the previous 12 months, have completed required final reports on prior awards, and not be undergoing an executive leadership change.

Exclusions and restrictions

The Fund does not consider individuals, government agencies, membership organizations, national/international organizations, hospitals or hospital foundations, PTAs, most individual schools or universities (exceptions include public charter and parochial schools), or organizations substantially engaged in advocacy or litigation. Requests for research, endowments, special events, travel, annual campaigns, benefits, sponsorships, publications or films, or policy advocacy are excluded. Review all current official eligibility terms before applying.

Application requirements

Applicants should be prepared to provide information on the organization and proposed work and upload a recent audit; if no audit is available, the Fund’s FAQ permits a signed and dated most recent IRS Form 990 with the LOI. The Fund generally notifies applicants whether they are invited to a full proposal within 45 days after the LOI deadline and reaches final funding decisions four to six months after that deadline. Its public guidance does not specify a mandatory matching percentage or reimbursement structure; applicants should verify any additional terms in their individualized agreement.

Official funder instructions

How to Apply and current LOI deadline; Eligibility and excluded organizations; Frequently Asked Questions; Program focus areas; Online grantee portal. Information independently reviewed November 1, 2026.