Apply for a Grant

Grantmaking Guidelines

Neighborhood Connections provides financial assistance and other resources to Cleveland and East Cleveland neighborhood groups to strengthen the social network in their communities. Grants are intended to spur small, grassroots community efforts. 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.

Our 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.

Funding information

Grants range from $500 to $5,000. Grant recipients must secure a dollar-for-dollar match equal to the amount requested from Neighborhood Connections. The match can be in the form of cash, volunteer labor, or donated goods or services.

Any resident-led or community group is eligible to apply, including those that aren’t an official nonprofit organization.

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.

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

Fiscal agent

Grant applicants that do not have an official nonprofit status must identify a fiscal agent. A fiscal agent is a 501(c)(3) organization that will handle the grant money on behalf of the neighborhood group. A letter from the organization willing 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.

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.