Neighborhood Matching Funds

Small and Simple Projects Fund

Do you have ideas of how to improve your community and make it a better place?

Put your ideas into action! Groups of people can apply for funding for community building projects through the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods' Neighborhood Matching Fund.

The Small and Simple Projects Fund accepts applications four times each year for projects that request up to $15,000 and that can be completed in six months.

Refer to the Application Schedule for specific information about due dates. This Fund is intended to make awards for smaller, less complex projects, allowing neighborhood groups to plan, start and finish a project within a reasonable amount of time.

To find out how you and your neighbors can get involved, call us at 684-0719 or visit http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/

Applications are accepted from:

• Neighborhood-based organizations of residents or businesses.

• Local, community -based organizations that advocate for the interests of people of color.

• Ad-hoc groups of neighbors who form a committee solely for the purpose of carrying out a specific project.

• All applicants groups must have an open membership and must actively seek involvement from area residents and/or businesses.

Types of Projects:

Proposed projects must "fit" one of the following types:

1. Race Relations and Social Justice - Create grassroots opportunities for diverse communities to interact, encourage mutual understanding and respect, celebrate uniqueness, openly address issues of racial and social inequity, and help improve the quality of life for all City residents. R&SJ projects do not have to be neighborhood based under the Small and Simple Fund category.

Examples:

• Building better and stronger relationships between the police and communities of color

• Bridging language and cultural barriers between grassroots communities

• Youth or senior-led projects

• Leadership development training/mentoring in under-represented communities

• Cultural events

• Public education events/campaign related to discrimination and bias

2. Neighborhood Climate Protection Fund - Create opportunities for neighbors to connect and collaborate on community-driven approaches to addressing climate change. Like R & SJ projects, projects funded under this category do not have to be neighborhood-based but must still build meaningful connections between Seattle residents.

Examples:

• Design and launch a neighborhood carpooling collective for 9-5 commuters who drive downtown

• Develop a campaign to reduce vehicle miles traveled to and from your school or child's school

• Organize a free car maintenance workshop with a local garage to save money and reduce emissions

• Convene a home energy audit workshop for your neighbors or another community of people you belong to

• Organize young people in your neighborhood to assist elders with weather sealing their homes

3. Neighborhood Planning and/or Design Project - A plan, design, or report outlining specific actions that will serve as a guide for future action in, or changes to, your neighborhood.

4. Capacity Building Project - Create, diversify, or enlarge participation in a community, neighborhood-based association or organization in a low-income neighborhood that diversifies and benefits community members in the neighborhood.

5. Neighborhood Physical Improvement Project - Build or enhance a physical improvement in your neighborhood.

6. Neighborhood Non-Physical Improvement Project - An activity or event such as a festival or celebration, a training session, an educational campaign, or a workshop. A festival or celebration will only be funded one time.

7. Public School Partnership Project - Pilot or start-up program that directly benefits the families and children/youth at a neighborhood public school and its immediate neighborhood.

Review Process:

Once an Application is submitted, it is reviewed and rated by City staff - from the Department of Neighborhoods, as well as staff from other departments that may have a connection to the proposed project. Staff members prepare award recommendations for approval by the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods.

Rating Criteria:

Applications are rated using the following criteria:

Project Idea (20)

• Provides a good description of what the project is and why you want to do it. (10)

• Project is based on principles of local control, self-help, and collective action with a clear public benefit. (10)

Builds Community (30)

• Project encourages widespread participation and provides opportunities to bring people together to work on a neighborhood/community issue. (10)

• Project promotes interaction and builds community between different groups, such as renters, business owners, seniors, or different ethnic or racial groups. (10)

• Project provides a -neighborhood to neighborhood- connection with opportunities for communities to learn from each other and act as partners. (5)

• Project promotes meaningful collaboration between youth and adults. (5)

Project Feasibility (15)

• Budget is reasonable and appropriate. (10)

• Activities are well planned, timeline is realistic, and project has a clear beginning and end. (5)

Community Match (25)

• Documented match is realistic and appropriate to the project and is representative of the demographic make-up of the community, i.e. represents different segments of the community. (10)

• Match is documented with signatures demonstrating widespread participation and support for the project. (15)

Outcomes (10)

• Description of how the neighborhood/community will be different as a result of this project with anticipated outcomes clearly identified. (10)

Applicants are notified of the award decisions within 4 weeks of submitting an application.

Refer to the Neighborhood Matching Fund Guidelines for more information about the Small and Simple Projects Fund, as well as the requirements that must be met to successfully apply and receive an award. More importantly, contact the Neighborhood Matching Fund Staff person assigned to your neighborhood for early advice and guidance about developing a project idea and preparing a competitive application.