Local organizations across the District and Maryland are leading the charge in making our neighborhoods better, brighter and more resilient, and we’re proud to support their efforts. Together with Sustainable Maryland, our Sustainable Communities Grants program provides funding to help these groups drive real, lasting change in our communities.  

Since the program’s launch in 2020, we’ve awarded over $475,000 to organizations dedicated to environmental protection and community resilience. This year, we invested $125,000 in ten local projects focused on enhancing parks, restoring native pollinator species, and increasing access to essential resources like local produce and emergency medical equipment.  

Meet our 2024 winners and learn how they’re turning these grants into impactful, on-the-ground efforts! 

• Town of Colmar Manor ($10,000) – Supporting volunteers in removing invasive species from the local Dueling Creek.  

• Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek ($10,000) – Creating a sustainable community meadow in Cheverly using native pollinator species.  

• Friends of the National Arboretum ($10,000) – Improving the visitor experience and education at the Washington Youth Garden located on the grounds of the US National Arboretum.  

• City of New Carrollton ($10,000) – Funding a stormwater management project that integrates a combination of nature-based and gray infrastructure solutions for a local field in town.  

• Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Foundation ($10,000) – Supporting two seasons of a farmer’s market, providing access to local produce for underserved communities in the area.  

• Town of Washington Grove ($10,000) – Funding a restoration project for the town meadow, focused on planting and restoring native pollinator species.  

• Joe’s Movement Emporium ($10,000) – Supporting a GreenWorks ecosystem restoration project in partnership with seven local communities to improve their tree canopy for a healthier environment.  

• Town of Berwyn Heights ($5,000) – Enabling the purchase of emergency medical equipment for use in disaster response efforts.  

• DowntownDC Foundation ($25,000) – Funding solar-powered kiosks in downtown DC parks, offering charging stations for visitors that feature planters to improve air quality in the area.  

• Gift Legacy Foundation ($25,000) – Transforming a storage container into an off-grid environmental agriculture education classroom for local community members and students.