Resources

Next Steps & NLC Resources

Now that you have explored best practices, funding streams, and capital strategies, it is time for you to take the next step in developing your city’s funding approach. To support you in this next step, we have compiled a selection of resources to guide your work.

The funding landscape is broad and constantly changing. We have done our best to capture the most relevant resources related to funding in health and wellbeing; however, this does not represent a comprehensive repository of all possible resources.

This list will be updated on an annual basis, and we welcome your suggestions: healthandwellbeing@nlc.org.

💡Navigation Tip: This page highlights resources from the National League of Cities. You can find additional resources in the left sidebar navigation, including those focused on economic development, infrastructure, land use & design, and health & social services under Issue-Specific Resources.

Acknowledgements

NLC would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Sara Zeigler and Aliyah Ali of Courage Forward Strategies for their research and content development for this guide. Support for this guide was generously provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.         

More from NLC:

• City Fiscal Conditions 2024 (report): A comprehensive analysis of the financial health of municipalities across the United States.
• Equitable Approaches to Municipal Fines and Fees (report): An overview of NLC’s Cities Addressing Fines and Fees (CAFFE) program, a technical assistance cohort focused on reforming fines and fees to be more equitable and responsive to resident needs.
• Filling the Gap Tool: Unlocking Housing Finance – National League of Cities (toolkit): The Filling the Gap Tool explores the funding opportunities available at the federal and state levels for the production and preservation of housing units.
• From the Event: Diversified Funding for Health Equity and Wellbeing (workshop recording): Access the recording and workshop materials for Part 1 of this workshop focused on diversified funding for health and wellbeing. Features City Success Stories with leaders from the cities of Dubuque, IA and San Antonio, TX.
• From the Event: Smart Budgeting for Modern Challenges – Lessons from City Leaders (webinar recording): In partnership with Tyler Technologies, this webinar explored how local government can transform strategic budgeting into real-world resilience.
• GrantFinder by Lexipol (tool): Searchable database of federal, state, corporate, and foundation grants available to municipal governments. NLC members receive one complimentary user license and a 25% discount on additional services.
• How Ballot Measures can Sustainably Fund Your City’s Youth Initiative (article): Cities are increasingly turning to voter-approved children’s funds to sustain youth programs amid federal funding cuts. Successful examples, such as Seattle’s FEPP Levy and San Antonio’s Pre-K 4 SA, demonstrate measurable educational and societal benefits, providing models for other municipalities to follow.
• How Philanthropy is Addressing Financial Disparities Through Municipal Fines and Fees Reform (article): An exploration of the pathways and opportunities for cities looking to reform their fines and fees programs with the support of philanthropic contributions.
• Lessons from NLC’s Cities Addressing Fines and Fees Equitably Initiative (article): Key takeaways on a recent cohort program from the National League of Cities looking at ways to make systems of fines and fees more equitable for cities.
• Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker – National League of Cities (database): The Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker is an online resource that compiles data from local governments to provide a detailed view of how large cities and counties have used ARPA funds. Even with the program’s end, it remains a valuable tool for understanding how municipalities have leveraged federal investments.
• Local Infrastructure Hub (resource): A national program to connect municipalities with the resources and expert advice they need to access federal infrastructure funding.
• Municipal Finance (resources): A comprehensive listing of all NLC’s resources, blogs and tools related to municipal finance.
• National Opioid Settlement Dashboard: Your City, Your Funds (database): The tool promotes transparency, democratizes opioid settlement information, and offers tailored investment recommendations to guide opioid abatement and remediation in communities across the nation
• Priorities, Barriers & Opportunities in the Municipal Budgeting Process (article): Explore how cities are rethinking municipal budgeting by adopting more strategic, outcome-focused approaches that better reflect community priorities.
• Public Finance Authority (service): Created by local governments for local governments, the Public Finance Authority (PFA) was established to simplify the issuance of conduit bonds, thereby increasing and streamlining economic development projects.
• What are CDFIs and Why do they Matter to City Leaders? (article): Cities can collaborate with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to expand access to capital, offer technical assistance, and build resilient local economies through inclusive partnerships.
• What the State of the City Report Says about Mayoral Priorites on Health & Wellbeing (article): Explore how wellbeing crosscuts all five mayoral identified priorities from the 2025 State of the City report, including critical connections to budgets and funding strategies.

General Funding Resources

• Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) (resource library): National network advancing development finance concerns and best practices. Offers toolkits and training for cities on topics such as bonds, tax increment financing, capital stacking, and more. 
• Beyond ROI: Understanding Value on Investment in Social Needs Partnership (HealthBegins article): How entities can harness a Value on Investment (VOI) framework to account for improved health outcomes, equity, and long-term community impact beyond short-term financial gains.
• Participatory Budgeting Project Resource Library (database): Collection of resources to support cities across their participatory budgeting process. From resources aimed at getting started and learning more, to launching a participatory budgeting process, to deepening practice.
• SAM.gov (resource): To be eligible to receive federal funds, all entities must register for a Unique Entity ID and complete an entity registration at sam.gov.

More on Funding Streams

Community Toolbox Applying for Grants (toolkit): Comprehensive set of tools and resources, including templates, to support grant writing.

Council on Foundations Community Foundation Locator (database): Searchable map of accredited Community Foundations in the United States. Use to identify possible local foundations for collaboration.

Foundation Directory Online (FDO) Candid Foundation Directory (database): Comprehensive database for identifying philanthropic funding opportunities. Explore grants from private foundations.

Government Finance Officers Association Local Government Revenue Sources – Cities (Toolkit): Data dashboards of revenue sources used by governments, including taxes, user charges, intergovernmental payments, and various other resources.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Introduction to Property Tax (resource); Collection of resources to promote understanding of basic property tax functions and their importance as a revenue source for local government. Includes explainer videos, case examples, and additional publications.

National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP): Nonprofit providing education, best practices, and case studies on PPP development. Cities can explore resources, training, and policy guidance to structure successful PPPs. 

Urban Institute Pay for Success Clearinghouse (library): Library of resources related to payment for successful. Useful for cities interested in implementing pay for success models, such as social impact bonds.

USA.gov – State Government Websites (database): Easy to navigate database to identify state-level contracts, including governor, and major state agencies. Use to identify contacts for more about state-level funding opportunities.

U.S. Federal Government Grants.gov (database): Comprehensive federal government database for grant opportunities. Use to search and apply for federal grants across multiple sectors, including infrastructure, housing, and public health. 

More on Capital Strategies

• Brookings Metro Rethinking Cluster Initiatives (report): Comprehensive report outlining how local leaders can leverage cluster initiatives strategically and intentionally. Includes literature review, interviews with cluster experts, and five in-depth case studies.
• NACCHO Collaborative Financing to Support the Social Determinants of Health (PDF) (report): Supports implementation of collective financing to address the social determinants of health.
• National Development Council (NDC) (resource): Organization specializing in economic and community development finance, with expertise in combining multiple funding sources (“capital stacking”). Provides training, advisory services, and partnership opportunities for local governments looking to layer financing for large projects. 
• Stanford PACS Guide to Effective Philanthropy (resource): Comprehensive resource for donors interested in making a significant and sustained impact through philanthropy, with guidance on collaboration, pooled funding, and aligning philanthropic goals with community needs. Provides strategies for engaging in collaborative and pooled funding models, helping donors understand how to combine resources with others to address complex community challenges.  
• Urban Institute Collaborative Funding Models (resource): Overview of collaborative funding models, including resources on blending and braiding, performance-based funding, and social impact bonds.

Issue-Specific Resources

Economic Opportunity

• Department of Labor Grants Beyond WIOA DOL Grants (funding program): Offers grants, such as Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) and Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs. Expand workforce initiatives in targeted sectors, including rural areas. 
• Office of Community Services Community Economic Development (grant program): Federal grant program that expands employment for individuals with local income in communities facing persistent poverty and high unemployment. Funds are made available to community development corporations (CDCs), and present opportunities for partnerships and braiding city funds for greater impact.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Program (grant program): The CDBG grant program provides annual grants to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
• U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Funding Opportunities (funding program): The EDA offers a range of programs and funding opportunities designed to support economic development. Use this site to identify currently open notices of funding (NOFOs)

Housing

• Kresge Foundation – Advancing Health Equity Through Housing Kresge Foundation Housing Initiative (funder): Grant programs integrating housing with health systems to address social determinants of health. Explore funding for innovative housing and health initiatives.
• U.S. Housing & Urban Development HUD Exchange (resource): Centralized hub for resources on community development funding and guidance. Access federal resources for affordable housing, urban development, and community initiatives. 

Infrastructure, City Planning and Design

• Investing in Infrastructure for Healthy Communities Regional Plan Association – Infrastructure Report (report): Report highlighting equitable infrastructure investments that prioritize community health. Discusses how urban projects can reduce inequities and improve public health outcomes. 
• U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Build America Bureau (resource): Central resource for federal financing of transportation infrastructure (e.g., TIFIA loans, RRIF, PABs). Helps cities access low-cost loans, manage capital stacking, and expedite large transportation projects. 

• U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Reconnecting Communities Program (funding program): Funding program for equitable transportation infrastructure projects that reconnect communities divided by physical barriers. Supports planning, capital construction, and community engagement efforts for cities.

Health and Social Services

• Department of Health & Human Services HHS Grants (grant program): HHS provides several grants that can benefit municipalities. The HHS site offers information for prospective and current grantees on HHS grant programs, the grant application process, and grant management.
• Catholic Health Association Community Benefit (resource): Overview of hospital community benefit funds, funds, or in-kind support that nonprofit hospitals provide to meet IRS obligations. Often directed to initiatives addressing social determinants of health, preventive care, and underserved populations.
• Urban Institute Leveraging Community Expertise to Advance Health Equity (PDF) (report):
  Report emphasizing community-based solutions to improve health services and address social determinants of health. Focuses on engaging underserved populations in health equity initiatives. 

Terms to Know

Braided Funding – This model maintains distinct funding streams while coordinating their use to achieve shared objectives. This approach enables cities to meet funder-specific requirements while leveraging multiple sources to deliver comprehensive solutions. It is particularly effective for programs where funding sources have clear restrictions, such
as federal grants for housing or state funding for education. For example, a city might braid federal, state, and local funds to address homelessness by combining housing support, healthcare services, and employment training programs.

Blended Funding – Blended funding models consolidate resources from multiple funding streams into a single pot, allowing cities to address complex, interconnected challenges with a unified strategy. This approach simplifies funding allocation and facilitates the design of holistic, cross-sector programs that address multiple needs simultaneously. Funds that are blended cannot be tracked separately, making them the best fit when funds do not have clear restrictions or reporting requirements.

Capital Stacking – Capital stacking involves leveraging multiple funding sources—federal, state, local, and private—sequentially to maximize project funding while ensuring compliance with each source. This approach allows cities to fund large-scale, multi-phase projects and navigate complex funding landscapes effectively.

Cluster Initiatives – Economic development strategies that focus on geographically concentrated industries to drive innovation, growth, and job creation. These efforts not only help solve complex problems but also offer opportunities for cities to leverage local assets and create sustainable, community-driven impact.

Fines and Fees – Debt assessed by local governments, such as court fees, traffic violations, administrative fees, and fees for services. Fines and fees can be applied at the individual or administrative/organizational level. To incorporate equity considerations into fines and fees structures, cities should consider features such as revenue caps and sliding-scale financing.

Foundation Funding – Philanthropic funding from foundations and donors can support initiatives that prioritize public health, equity, and long-term societal impact. These funds typically come in the form of grants or donations, allowing for flexibility in addressing community needs. These funds are often time-bound and do not offer sustainability; they are best suited for starting new initiatives to eventually seek long-term funding options.

Property and Sales Taxes – Taxes from property ownership and sales of goods and services in the community. These are common sources of municipal revenue that can help fund a range of services, from infrastructure improvements to public health programs. Effectively leveraging these taxes often requires navigating legal processes, the city
ordinances, or voter approval for new taxes or tax increases.

Private Corporation Contributions – Corporations contribute to public initiatives through grants, sponsorships, and in-kind support, often as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies. Cities can leverage these partnerships to fund programs, enhance community services, and foster innovation.

Public-Private Partnerships – Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are a strategic collaboration between public entities, such as government agencies, and private-sector organizations, including for-profit corporations or private charitable foundations, to design, finance, and implement public services or infrastructure. By leveraging private capital and
expertise, public agencies develop transformative initiatives while sharing financial and operational outcomes across all stakeholders.

Restricted vs. Unrestricted Funding – These are categories that encompass many other streams of funding. When pursuing a new revenue stream or leveraging an existing one, it is essential to consider whether your funds are subject to restrictions. Cities can maximize impact by aligning restricted funding with specific programs while using unrestricted funds to fill gaps, scale successful initiatives, invest in long-term priorities, and leverage resources to develop new funding streams.

Restricted Funds are designated for specific purposes, often by the funder, with strict conditions on their use. One example of this is the federal Community Development Block Grant program, which requires that funds be applied to housing or urban development.

Unrestricted Funds can be used flexibly by cities to address priorities as they emerge, for example, philanthropic contributions without condition. These can be more challenging to secure, as many funders have a vested interest in requiring specific outcomes.

Special Purpose Taxes – Sales taxes earmarked for specific purposes, such as the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) in Georgia or Local Option Sales and Service Tax (LOSST) in Iowa, allow cities to target funds to critical areas like infrastructure and affordable housing, improving connectivity and access to health and community services
when implemented strategically.

Social Impact Bonds – Loans from private investors to local government to fund initiatives up front, with the expectation of repayment based on successful outcomes. This model shifts the financial risk from the public sector to private investors while promoting accountability and results.