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The Cleveland Foundation's Neighborhood Connections Program is a special grants program designed to assist Cleveland neighborhood groups to strengthen the social network in their communities while creatively addressing their most important concerns. Grants are intended to spur small, grassroots community efforts and, while doing so, to assist groups and individuals in the community to connect with others. Grants may be used for a wide array of activities and projects, and groups are encouraged to think in new ways about what will work in their communities and with whom they might partner.
Neighborhood Connections is guided by a Grant Making and Monitoring Committee whose members will review all grant applications and make funding decisions. The Grantmaking Committee is composed of 25 Cleveland residents.
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Neighborhood Connections was created to enable community groups to help improve the quality of life in Cleveland neighborhoods.
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PROGRAM GOALS
- Stimulate the development of new projects designed by grassroots groups to address their most pressing concerns and issues.
- Encourage new and stronger relationships among grassroots organizations and more established community-based organizations.
- Provide support and opportunities to develop community leadership and organizational capacity.
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GRANT AMOUNT
Grants will be awarded in amounts between $500 and $5,000. Grant recipients must secure a dollar-for-dollar match equal to the amount requested from the program. The match can be in the form of cash, volunteer labor or donated goods or services. (For purposes of this program, the value of volunteer labor is $12.00 per person, per hour.)
Grant duration is up to one year. A group may only apply for one grant at a time. No group may receive two grants within a one-year time period.
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GRANT ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION INFORMATION
Any community-based group is eligible to apply, whether or not they are incorporated and are a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Unincorporated groups will need to partner with incorporated groups to serve as a fiscal agent in order to receive a grant. (Grant applicants that are 501(c)(3) organizations should include a copy of their IRS determination letter with their application).
Grant applicants that are not incorporated must identify a fiscal agent that will handle the grant money. Fiscal agents must be 501 (c)(3) organizations. A letter indicating a willingness to function as a fiscal agent must accompany the grant application. The fiscal agent's 501 (c)(3) IRS determination letter should also be included with the application.
Other Indications of Support
Grant applications should include letters of support from community partners whose cooperation or involvement is necessary to the project's success. In addition, letters of commitment from governmental agencies or schools should be included when appropriate. For example, if the project involves public property, the governmental agency associated with the property should include a letter of support for the project and a commitment to provide whatever service is required to accomplish the project.
Neighborhood Connections does not make grants to:
- Capital campaigns
- Endowment funds
- For-profit entities
- Fundraising events
- Government agencies or departments
- Individuals
- Lobbying efforts
- Political groups
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- Single businesses
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WHAT GRANT RECIPIENTS SHOULD EXPECT
There will be technical assistance and program orientation meetings each grant cycle to assist grantseekers in preparing their proposals and to answer questions. Each session will cover the same material, including information on how to apply, what applications should include and how to seek help.
The Grant Making Committee will interview a number of grant seekers in the weeks after proposals have been submitted. If you are chosen to be interviewed, you will be called to schedule an interview. Up to three individuals associated with the group or proposal may attend that meeting. At these interviews, groups will have several minutes to amplify on the ideas presented in their proposal, and then will have the opportunity to answer questions from members of the Grant Making Committee. Grantees are permitted to bring supporting materials to the interview, including charts, photos, or other materials produced. No funding decisions will be made or communicated at these interviews.
For those who receive funding, prior to fund release, grantees and their fiscal agent will be required to attend an orientation session. These sessions will provide assistance with the implementation of the grant proposal. Additional technical assistance will be available during the grant period on a routine and as-needed basis.
Once grant activities are completed, grant recipients will be expected to complete a report regarding outcomes and accomplishments. A small number of grants will be evaluated on an in-depth basis. If chosen for this assessment, a grant recipient will be expected to cooperate with all evaluation requests.
Program staff will be available to provide assistance in successful grant management. For information, call 216-393-4640 or visit contact Us.
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INSTRUCTIONS
To apply for a grant from Neighborhood Connections, download and complete an application form and submit it, along with five copies (and five copies of supplemental/support materials), to:
Neighborhood Connections
1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1510
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(You may also call Neighborhood Connections to request a hard copy of the Guidelines and Application.)
We will provide you with confirmation that we received your grant proposal.
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