Neighborhood Matching Funds

Outreach Fund

The goals of the Neighborhood Outreach and Development Fund are to 1) help neighborhood-based organizations increase their membership or 2) provide leadership training and technical assistance to help enhance the skills of its members. The Fund offers established neighborhood organizations one-time awards of up to $750.00 for special membership expansion or leadership development projects.

Who Can Apply:

Established neighborhood organizations (e.g. community councils, neighborhood business organizations), primarily run by volunteers and with an annual operating budget of $20,000 or less, can apply. The groups must have an open membership, cannot discriminate in the admission of members, and must actively seek membership or involvement of neighborhood residents and business operators.

Types of Projects:

Membership Expansion: Using a variety of methods, this type of project is designed to get more people involved/connected with the organization. Organizations are encouraged to develop an outreach strategy that "reaches out" to all segments of their community, i.e. seniors, renters, young people, people of color, people who are differently-able, etc, because the strongest organizations are those that reflect the diversity of the neighborhood.

Leadership Development: These are programs designed to enhance neighborhood organizing and leadership skills of members. This will assure that the organization has the capacity - among its members - to lead and continue the work of the organization in the future.

Both types of projects require neighborhood match (volunteer hours, cash or in-kind donations) that equal the value of the request amount.

When to Apply:

Neighborhood groups or organizations can apply to the Neighborhood Outreach and Development Fund anytime throughout the year. The applicant must submit a request letter, no longer than two pages, that includes:

• Use of the funds and what will be accomplished

• Organizational need or opportunity to be addressed

• Description of the organization and purpose

• Brief project budget, including proposed match

• Project timeline, listing key activities and completion dates

Plus, the following information specific to your project:

• Membership Expansion Project Leadership Development Project

• Membership criteria · Description of the training/leadership development program

• Current # of members · Names of members to be trained

• # of new members projected · Description of "how" the training program will build the organization

• Description of the outreach/recruitment process

Review Process:

Applications are reviewed by the Department of Neighborhoods staff. Within 30 days of submitting an application, a group will be notified of the award decision. Then a Letter of Agreement between the City (via the Department of Neighborhoods) and the group is executed. The project can start once the Agreement is in place.

For more information about the Neighborhood Outreach and Development Fund, contact Allynn Ruth at 684-0301 or the Neighborhood District Coordinator in your area.

Small Sparks is a unique program designed to encourage community members, who may not be involved in neighborhood activity, to use their personal interest and creativity to do something fun and beneficial in the neighborhood. Small Sparks organizers involve new people in their neighborhood project. Small Sparks projects are intended to "ignite imagination, create community, and make a difference" in neighborhoods across the City.

Who Can Apply and How:

Any individual with an idea for "sparking" involvement in their neighborhood can be considered for a Small Sparks award of up to $250.00. By contacting the Neighborhood District Coordinator in your area, an individual will be connected with a neighborhood Small Sparks coach who will help develop the project idea and send out the simple application form (PDF format). Applications are accepted at any time; there are no deadlines.

You can also download and print this application. If you are ready with a project idea, fill out the application and mail it to the Department of Neighborhoods. Click here for our address.

Once an application is received and approved, the Small Sparks project is carried out. The project organizer is expected to "tell their story" at a celebration for other organizers and Small Sparks participants.

Small Sparks projects

• Build on what you enjoy

• Involve new people

• Benefit the neighborhood

• Make the most of existing neighborhood resources

• Take no more than two months to complete

• Receives assistance from a neighborhood Small Sparks coach

Some of the Projects:

Garden of Homeless Angels: Street kids and community groups helped create a beautiful garden memorial to homeless kids who died. They transformed an ugly site into a green streetscape while celebrating neighborhood relationships.

Toss From the Tower: Residents of Beacon Tower wanted to know their neighbors, so they invited them to an afternoon of building and tossing paper airplanes from the Tower rooftop. Young and old joined together for a great time.

Wedgwood Neighborhood Service Exchange: Individuals from the Wedgwood neighborhood organized a flexible way for neighbors to meet and exchange skills and resources with each other. A directory of goods and services lets members know what is offered like plant, animal, and house sitting; car, window and clothes washing; rides to the doctor or airport; home repair; cooking; and more. Participants keep track of their exchanges in small booklets that resemble checking account registers.

Walking the Wagon: A wagon filled with used and interesting magazines is pulled by different families and youth throughout the neighborhood. Neighbors can choose a magazine of interest and add ones that they have already read to the mix. The wagon also displays neighborhood news and events to spread the word.

For more information about Small Sparks, contact the Neighborhood District Coordinator in your area.