Grant Overview  

Each year, NYSAR³’s Community Reuse Grants, in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM), are offered to support community-based groups, municipalities, businesses, and non-profit organizations in New York State implement reuse initiatives in their communities.

This year, a total of $15,000 will be awarded. Each awardee will receive up to $5,000 to fund their project, with an award minimum of $1,000. Winner(s) will also receive a complimentary one-year NYSAR³ membership.

Apply Now

The grant winner(s) will be contacted in mid-October and encouraged to attend and receive their award at the NYSAR³ Annual Conference & Trade Show at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, NY November 12-14, 2025. Grantee(s) who are not able to attend in person will be asked to submit a short video accepting the award.

Applications accepted through August 31, 2025!

Download Application

Grant Eligibility:

• Applicants can be community-based groups, municipalities, counties, businesses, partnerships, or non-profit organizations.  
  • If you are a reuse organization that partners with a college or university at the end of the year to facilitate student move out, please refer to the application for the College Council Grant, not this application. The College Council Grant is for colleges/universities that are members of NYSAR³’s College Council.

  • High quality, sustainable, and replicable projects will be prioritized. Projects developed and implemented within the following categories will be considered eligible for funding of up to $5,000:

    • Implementation Projects and Pilot Programs

      • Repair programs (repair cafes, etc.)

      • Rental and lending programs (tool lending library, etc.)

      • Materials redistribution (reuse store, clothing swaps, etc.)

      • Deconstruction and building materials reuse

    • Reuse education and outreach programs

    • Procurement of reusable materials (e.g. replacing single-use food service ware, etc.)

    • Arts and creatively-focused projects

• To expand the social impact of the grant, the projects with the following characteristics will be prioritized:

  • Involves individuals with experience addressing equity and performed work that was completed within or involving marginalized community populations.

  • Organizations that work to ensure marginalized communities are considered or participate in project development/implementation.

• For an application to be considered, please note:

• This grant is meant for reuse initiatives, projects that focus on recycling initiatives will not be considered. Please refer to the application for a definition of recycling.

• All questions must be answered to the best of your ability.

• A budget must be included in the submission packet.  

• Applications must be emailed to reusegrant@gmail.com no later than 11:59 PM, August 31, 2025 to be considered.

Grant Announcement

The grant winners will be contacted in mid-October and encouraged to attend and receive their award at the NYSAR³ Annual Conference & Trade Show at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, NY November 12-14th, 2025. Grantee(s) who are not able to attend in person will be asked to submit a short video accepting the award.

Questions?

Please review our frequently asked questions below.
Still have a question? Email us at reusegrant@gmail.com. 

Frequently Asked Questions