Timeline
Application Period
Scaling Pathways to Homeownership Open Call Launch – October 29, 2025
The Open Call launches on October 29, 2025. Between October 29 and December 17, 2025, you are invited to assess your organization’s readiness for the Open Call and register.
Registration Deadline – December 17, 2025
Before submitting an application, your organization must register by Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Only registrants can submit an application.
Application Deadline – January 29, 2026
Once registration has closed, registrants will have five weeks to submit their applications. All applications are due by Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.
Review Period
Administrative Review – January–February 2026
Over a period of several weeks, Lever for Change staff will review each application to ensure that it complies with the eligibility requirements and rules of the Open Call. If during Administrative Review or at any other point in the process, it is determined that an applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria of the Open Call as laid out in the Open Call Rules, the applicant will be notified and will not be eligible to progress to further stages of the Open Call.
Participatory Review – March–April 2026
During Participatory Review, each organization that has submitted a valid application will evaluate and comment on four other applications using the four criteria included in the Evaluation Rubric: innovative, impactful, bridge-building, and durable. The top organizations, as determined by Participatory Review, will move forward to the Evaluation Panel.
Evaluation Panel Review – May–June 2026
During this period, members of the Evaluation Panel will review and evaluate their assigned submissions using the four criteria included in the Evaluation Rubric: innovative, impactful, bridge-building, and durable.
Selection Period
Selection of Finalists – June–August 2026
Informed by the results of Participatory and Evaluation Panel Review, the donor team will review submitted application materials and may request additional information to select up to ten finalists.
Project Development – September–December 2026
Selected finalists will be asked to submit a comprehensive proposal in early 2026. Each of the ten finalists will receive technical and financial support to strengthen their proposal.
Grant Award– Spring 2027
Informed by the revised materials submitted after the period of technical support, the Selection Committee will review materials and select up to five finalist to receive a $4.6M Scaling Pathways to Homeownership Award. A more detailed timeline will be provided at finalist selection.
