2025 - 2026 Award Cycle - Now Open!

Local Civics Presents

Community Champions Award

We're awarding $250–$500 grants to students with the drive to take their civic projects beyond the classroom and into the neighborhoods, schools, and communities that need them most.

Start Your Application
See How It Works

Eligible Projects

All Community Impact Projects are eligible to apply for grant funding. Project focus areas include the environment, healthcare, food and nutrition.

Timeline

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on June 19, 2026. Please contact us via support@localcivics.io for any support or clarification needed.

Eligibility Requirements

Who Can Apply

Middle and High students who are working on Community Impact Projects are qualified to apply for the award. Please check the ‘Learn More’ section below for more details.

How to Apply

Find the Badge.
Find the “Local Civics - Community Champions Award” in the Badge section.

Step 1

Log in to PathLink.
Sign in with your school credentials or create your account at citizen.localcivics.io 

Step 2

Auto-Submit on Completion.
Finish all tasks and you’re set. Award recipients are notified directly by summer 2026.

Step 3

Complete All Badge Tasks.
Work through each badge and lesson at your own pace. You’ll be able to track your progress.

Step 4
start your application

Partner With Us

Behind every Community Champion is a young person who decided their community couldn't wait. With the right support, a $250–$500 grant becomes a community garden, a mentorship program, a neighborhood cleanup that actually sticks.

We're looking for partners who want to:

  • Fund a grant — Sponsor one student project or a cohort. Your support goes directly to students turning ideas into action across the environment, healthcare, food, and nutrition.

  • Mentor a champion — Share your expertise with a young changemaker as they plan, budget, and launch their project in the community.

Whether you're an organization, a foundation, or an individual who believes in investing in the next generation of leaders, we'd love to find the right fit.

Become a Partner

*We'll follow up within 3–5 business days to discuss how you'd like to get involved.

Learn More

  • The Community Champions Award is a grant provided by Local Civics to enable students (community champions) to widen the impact of their civic projects.

  • There are two categories of students who are eligible for this award:

    • Students who attend schools that use the PathLink platform.

    • Students who are aged 13 and above attending schools that do not use the PathLink platform.

  • For students who attend schools that use PathLink:

    • Log in to PathLink with your username and password.

    • Locate the Local Civics - Community Champions Award in the badge section.

    • Complete all the tasks in the badge. That’s all you need to do.

    • Local Civics will contact you directly if you are selected as an award recipient.

    • Log in to PathLink here.

    For students (aged 13+) who want to apply independently:

    • Go to the PathLink website to create your account.

    • In the Community Section, enter these details:

      • Community Name: Community Champions

      • Access Code: CHAMPS

    • After setting up your account, look out for the badge titled: "Local Civics - Community Champions Award"

    • Complete the tasks in the badge to submit your entry for the award.

    • Click here to set up your account.

  • To be eligible as a recipient, you have to fulfil the following requirements:

    • You must have an active civic project that addresses a real community issue.

    • Submit all three badges in the Local Civics - Community Champion Award by the stated deadline.

    • Provide a detailed budget showing how you would use a $250 - $500 grant to advance your project.

    • Identify the people, groups, or organizations that your project will affect.

    • Provide a clear set of next steps for launching your project in the community.

  • No application fee is required for this award.

  • Yes. Please click on this link to learn more.

  • For additional enquries or request for support, please reach out to our team via support@localcivics.io.

Start Your Application