AAMA
The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) share a commitment to eliminating health disparities and empowering the mayors who lead their cities in that effort. Together, AAMA and ABFHA are dedicated to supporting innovative, inclusive programs and initiatives that focus on closing the gap in disparities in nutrition access, affordability and education. Working together, they have created a new multi-year community grant program focused on providing resources to help mayors and their teams address these disparities. Grant recipients will be recognized on the main stage at the 2025 AAMA Conference in Washington, DC.
Nutrition access, affordability, and education are at the root of health disparities. Improving access to affordable, nutritious foods and providing nutrition education so families can make informed choices that are right for them are critical to reducing health disparities and improving the overall health of communities. The ABFHA and AAMA hope this grant program will not only advance essential community programs that improve community health but also be a seed for attracting additional investment for these important programs.
AAMA and ABFHA will award seven (7) grants to cities of the following size each year:
One (1) grant worth $175,000 (for a city >250k population)
Two (2) grants worth $125,000 each (for cities >100k, <250k population)
Two (2) grants worth $75,000 (for a city >5k, <100k population)
Two (2) grants worth $12,500 (for a city ≤5k population)
All member mayors of the African American Mayors Association are eligible to apply for these grant awards. Applications must be made through the mayor’s office but can be a program that is solely managed within a city or county agency or is a partnership between the city and a local non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.
This award focuses on eliminating gaps in health disparities. Thus, each application’s program should focus on nutrition access, affordability, and education. The programs should seek to serve those at the root of health disparities. Each program should address at least one, but is not limited to the following:
For additional information about our grant program, please watch our informational webinar.
Applying cities must be an AAMA member-mayor city (confirmation provided by AAMA financial records)
Applications must be made through the mayor’s office but can be a program that is solely managed within a city or county agency or is a partnership between the city and a local non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.
Awards will be given in four population categories: Micro City (up to or less than 5,000) Small City (5,001 – 100,000), Medium City (100,000 – 250,000) and Large City (greater than 250,000).There are a total of four grants that will be awarded. Two(2) for Micro City, two(2) for Small City, two(2) for Medium City and one(1) for Large City.
| Micro City Grant (2 Awards) |
Small City Grant (2 Awards) |
Medium City Grant (2 Awards) |
Large City Grant (1 Award) |
| $12,500 | $75,000 | $125,000 | $175,000 |
Programs must demonstrate measurable progress in increasing access to affordable basic nutritional needs (for example, community gardens, mobile veggie and fruit stands, food security programs, etc.).
Overall, the grant program focuses on eliminating gaps in health disparities. Thus, each application’s program should focus on nutrition access, affordability, and education. The programs should seek to serve those at the root of health disparities. Each program should address at least one, but not limited to the following:
Finally, this list is meant to be suggestive, rather than exhaustive. If you would like to propose a program that you do not see specifically mentioned here, and you are wondering whether it might be eligible for funding, please do not hesitate to contact us.
There is no limit to how many applications may be submitted by a city.
If the Mayor believes that there are two or more programs that are worthy of support, then the Mayor may submit (or allow to be submitted on the member Mayor’s behalf) an application for each of those programs. Again, as long as each application is submitted on behalf of a member Mayor, it is eligible for consideration. Each application will be judged on its individual merits.
The criteria by which your application will be evaluated are broad and may include:
A selected panel of judges will review applications.
The application deadline was on Monday, November 4, 2024. Winners will be announced during the annual AAMA conference from April 16-18, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Only applications submitted through the online application will be accepted. We will not accept mailed hard copies of applications, or applications submitted via email, fax, or any other method.
Once you submit your application, a confirmation email will automatically be generated and sent to the contact(s) listed on your application. We suggest you save a final version of your application for your records.
The winners of the grant awards will be announced during the AAMA Conference from April 16-18, 2025. The winners will have been contacted in advance by AAMA staff by January 6, 2025. We will make every effort to notify all applicants of their status by then; however, if you have not received a notice by January 10th, 2025, you may take that as confirmation that your application has not been selected for a grant, unless we directly communicate otherwise.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback on individual applications. However, AAMA will periodically host a webinar on the grant program that may provide information that may be useful to all applicants. Notice for these webinars will be provided to all AAMA Member Mayors and past applicant contacts.
Contact us at info@ourmayors.org or visit the award page on our website.
All funds will be sent in the month of February 2025 after confirmation of acceptance of the award is received.
