Neighborhood Matching Fund

In 1988, the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) was created to provide matching dollars for neighborhood improvement, organizing, or projects developed and implemented by community members. Central to NMF is the community match which requires awardees to match their award with contributions from the community whether as volunteer time, donated materials, donated professional services, or cash.  

Since NMF's creation, more than 5,000 community projects throughout Seattle have received over $64 million in funding and generated an additional $72 million from community match.

Who We Fund

Neighborhood groups, community organizations, informal groups, and business groups who want to do a project to build stronger community connections are encouraged to apply.

All applicant groups must be open and inclusive, actively engage diverse community members, and be significantly composed of people who live and/or work in Seattle.

What We Fund

We fund a variety of unique and creative community projects. To be eligible for funding, a project must:

• involve community members in creating and completing the project; 
• create community improvements;
• be free and open to all members of the public;
• be feasible and ready to begin within 1-2 months from the award date;
• demonstrate community match;
• occur within the Seattle city limits;
• not have received NMF funding within the last two years. (applies only to events)

Community Review

Fill out an application to become a community reviewer.

Informational Workshops

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is hosting three virtual workshops in 2025 to assist community organizations and neighborhood groups interested in getting funding for their ideas. We encourage you to join the meeting but if you are not able to make it we will have a recording of the workshop available below and a Q&A that will be updated after every workshop.

RSVP for a workshop with this form.

NMF Workshop #1: Tuesday, July 15, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

• Join by phone: (206) 207-1700  
• Access Code: 2495 836 3381  Password: 2025

NMF Workshop #2: Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

• Join by phone: (206) 207-1700 
• Access Code: 2481 336 2505  Password: 2025

NMF Workshop #3: Wednesday, August 13, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Join by phone: (206) 207-1700
• Access Code: 2492 018 9311  Password: 2025

Types of Funding

NOTE TO COMMUNITY REGARDING TEMPORARY DELAYS:

Beginning June 2025, applicants are advised to add an additional 2-4 weeks to the notification and contracting timelines and dates below. All Neighborhood Matching Fund awards are undergoing additional review which is causing delays to notifications and contracting.   
 
The City is facing a significant fiscal deficit in light of recent actions at the federal level and a volatile national economy. While the City works to better understand the full impacts of those actions and economic outlook, additional levels of review for grants and contracts are being required at this time.      
 
We will share updates and more information as we are able. If you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to your project manager to help navigate these temporary adjustments to our timelines.