LASC International Grants for Community Development and Poverty Relief (US)

Deadline: 17-Jan-2026

The LASC International Grants program provides funding support for impactful community-based initiatives addressing food security, poverty relief, and sustainable livelihoods across select countries in Central America and the Caribbean.

Projects to be funded will address one of the following LASC Focus Areas: Food support, security, and sustainability—this may include emergency feeding and starvation relief; subsistence farming, backyard farming, or soil improvement initiatives; sustainable and regenerative food programs such as aqua farming, greenhouse gardens, beekeeping, fruit tree planting, and baking.

Social Entrepreneurship & Microdevelopment—food-related community-based initiatives that address poverty, increase income, teach new skills, provide training, and create individual, family, and community economic opportunities. Poverty relief—development of individuals, families, and communities toward self-determination and an improved standard of living, including access to clean water, improved sanitation practices, housing development, and animal husbandry.

The LASC International Grants initiative supports projects that make a tangible difference in vulnerable communities by promoting food security, economic empowerment, and poverty reduction. The program specifically targets sustainable and locally driven solutions that foster long-term impact and resilience among marginalized populations.

Eligible proposals must originate from USA-based nonprofit organizations holding 501(c)(3) public charity status, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Each project must be implemented within one of the eligible countries: the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, El Salvador, or Nicaragua. Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate active local engagement through on-the-ground staff or partnerships that include local communities in both project design and implementation.

By focusing on inclusive development and empowering communities to become self-sustaining, the LASC International Grants aim to uplift lives through improved access to food, skills training, and essential services. This approach not only alleviates immediate hardship but also nurtures long-term growth and self-reliance.

For more information, visit LASC.