Apply or Nominate a Weaver
Joining the Weaver Awards
Who do you know that’s weaving connection in your neighborhood or community? It could be a friend, a co-worker, or it could be you.
Nominating someone for a Weaver Award is an easy way to celebrate someone who is already doing great work, or could use the resources to start something they’ve always wanted to do.
If you have an idea and want to apply for yourself, you are welcome to submit an application for a Weaver Award!
Who can apply?
To qualify for a Weaver Award, applicants must agree to the following statements:
I live/work/learn in Lancaster County.
I am at least 18 years old.
My organization's (or initiative's) annual budget is under $250,000.
My project does not support a political party or policy.
My project is open to all neighbors and doesn't restrict participation based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual preferences or identity, political party, or faith.
How can I use the funds?
We believe that weavers know best how to use the funds to connect their communities. However, we do have a few restrictions:
Funds may not be used for:
regranting funds
large sums for items that are not for community use (i.e. building supplies for private use)
purchasing items that would be donated to individual people (i.e. wheelchairs)
tuition or certification fees
You can see a sample budget, as an example, here.
What makes a good nomination for a Weaver Award?
We are looking for folks that get neighbors together to tackle a shared issue in their community. It can be anything from a youth mentorship program to park cleanups to a music program. The project must also welcome anyone who wants to join it and foster relationships between participants.
Joining the Weaver Community
Weaver Award Recipients will:
Receive $2500 to support their efforts
Inspire others by sharing how they are connecting people to each other.
Meet other weavers from across our community
Be part of the growing movement in Lancaster County to better know your neighbors, grow deeper roots, and help build local solutions to move our community forward
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Weaver Awards recognize 20 people from Lancaster County who are leading efforts in their community to address local needs with $2,500 grants.
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The awards are for individuals and small groups doing a project that brings people together, foster relationships with one another, and addresses a shared need in the community. The Awards are not intended for large organizations, though people who work for an organization can apply as long as their organization has an annual budget under $250,000. To get an award, you have to live and work in Washington or Benton County and be 18 or older. You don’t have to be part of a nonprofit organization.
To receive a grant from Weave: The Social Fabric Project, applicants must be able to provide the tax identification number and corresponding physical address of the individual or organization that is applying for the grant.
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Yes! You can recommend a neighbor or community member. To nominate someone, you must be 18 and older and live in Lancaster County. Once you submit the nomination, the person you are recommending will be notified via email and has to fill out some additional information for their application to be completed.
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No! Anyone can get the Award. You don’t have to have a formal organization. Weaver Awards are meant for those who don’t have the time, experience, or resources to apply for traditional grants.
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After you submit your application, your proposal will be reviewed by a panel of Lancaster County Weaver Awards team member and community members. If your idea is selected for a Weaver Award, we will let you know in September 2026 via email!
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No, you need to submit a video for each question that requires a video response. It’s the best way to make sure that the judges properly evaluate your answers. Please make sure you respect the guidelines of time limits. We only allow a maximum of 2 minutes per video response.
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Spread the word by sharing the Awards home page at WeaverLancasterCounty.org! We will have a toolkit of promotional materials available for folks soon.