New website by Stoa. Not the official Weave website.
The Weaver Awards recognize folks who are building social trust by bringing neighbors together to tackle a shared problem where they live.
Twenty-five communities run the Weaver Awards with a local Community Host. Enter a ZIP code to find the one closest to you.
Some people weave us together. They are the folks most people know and trust, those we count on to get neighbors together when we need to tackle a shared problem or get something done. They welcome everyone and connect us.
Each Awardee will receive $5,000, for a total of $100,000, to support their grassroots work strengthening relationships and weaving stronger communities across Northwest Arkansas.
The 2026 NWA Weaver Awardees represent a wide range of neighbors. Some are fostering connection over meals and storytelling, others use art, nature, or shared tradition. While each project looks different, all share the same belief: when folks show up for one another, build relationships, and work to solve shared issues, they strengthen the social fabric of their community. The Awardees serve different communities across Benton and Washington counties.
Hyper-local Philanthropy that Creates Trust, Pride, and Results
Building on the success of the founding cohort, Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute is selecting 25 new Community Hosts in 2027 to inspire more weaving and nurture deeper trust in communities across the nation. They will do this by bringing the Weaver Awards to their community for four consecutive years.
Applications are now closed. Cohort 2 to be announced December 2026.
Applications for the second cohort of Community Hosts closed in 2026. Contact Weave to hear about the next round.
Community Hosts implement the Weaver Awards in their communities, creating the conditions for social trust to grow. They invest in the weavers who foster positive relationships and address immediate community needs, while also leading a shift in norms towards connection and trust that will benefit generations to come.
All interested organizations should confirm they meet the basic technical requirements of the Community Host role before applying. These include:
Please note that at this time, Weave is only accepting applications from nonprofit organizations and public entities located in the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C.
Weaver Awards
Set in the Appalachian foothills of western North Carolina, my hometown was wild, beautiful, and thriving. Wilkes County was the birthplace of NASCAR and Lowe’s Home Improvement. But as I grew up, life grew harder.