Expanding Our Data Center Community Action Grants Program

Were Now accepting applications For the 2026 Meta Data Center Community Action Grant Program, which provides direct funding to schools, nonprofits, and community organizations working on projects that benefit the communities where we build our data centers. These grants have been part of our commitment to invest in the long-term vitality of these communities since 2011, and they also support our commitment. White House AI Youth Education Pledge,

This year, we are expanding the grant to include seven additional communities that are home to our newest data centers: Aiken, South Carolina; Bowling Green, Ohio; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Jeffersonville, Indiana; Montgomery, Alabama; Richland Parish, Louisiana; Rosemount, Minnesota. Applications are open until November 21, 2025.

To date, we have given more than $74 million to data center communities globally, $24 million of which has been awarded through the Data Center Community Action Grant Program. The projects we have funded have used technology to benefit the community, enabled local organizations to build stronger communities, and improved local science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education. Grant winners can reapply each year, meaning many projects receive long-term funding that helps them grow, sustain and create lasting impact.

Here are some ways Recent Grant Winners have used their funding to drive positive change in their communities.

Funding STEAM learning and workforce development

Since opening our DeKalb, Illinois data center in 2020, we have provided grants and sponsorships to support more than 65 local projects. Northern Illinois University (NIU) Foundation receives 2025 Meta Data Center Community Action Grant to expand summer programming for students. This was their third grant from the program, and includes an expansion of their Husky Engineering CampWhich provides STEM learning experiences for middle and high school students. 65 middle schoolers have completed coursework about sensors through NIU’s STEAM programs, and 40 have completed coursework in data and AI. NIU also used grant funds to launch STEAM Studio, which offers after-school programs, college preparation and workforce development.

“After receiving funding from DeKalb Data Center Community Action Grants, we were able to conduct and deliver our Husky Engineering Camps. Meta’s investment has already made a significant impact on our community and will continue to for years to come.”

Sam Guerrero, Director of Advancement, Institutional and Regional Initiatives, NIU Foundation

Expanding high-tech STEM education for middle school students

We have invested more than $2.5 billion in data center infrastructure in Los Lunas, New Mexico, and have provided grants and sponsorships to support more than 210 projects in the region since 2019. Last year, Belen Consolidated SchoolA local school district received their sixth consecutive Data Center Community Action Grant, which they used to help fund Their new STEM center At Belen Middle School. The center provides students with access to cutting-edge technology, giving them the opportunity to engage and learn with drones, snap circuits, coding kits, tablets, and 3-D printing.

Providing STEM education for at-risk youth

Texas is home to three Meta data centers, and our Fort Worth data center was our first in the state. Since launching in 2015, we have provided $4.9 million in direct funding to local schools and nonprofits across more than 175 grants locally. Maroon 9 Community Enhancement Organization was awarded their third Data Center Community Action Grant in 2024 to support STEM digital media. technology campThe camp teaches at-risk youth to use animation, digital art and design, and media production for social impact,

“The grant we received from META allowed us to introduce digital media and STEM skills to students – we showed students that innovation can be a path away from violence and toward empowerment.”

-Shavon Davis, Executive Director, Maroon 9 Community Enhancement Organization

Learn more about our Data Center Community Action Grant Program or submit an application Here,