Community Grants

Green Space Grants 

Launched in September 2026, Neighborhood Connections and Western Reserve Land Conservancy are together implementing the Green Space Grants, a three-year initiative to invest in resident-led initiatives that revitalize vacant lots in the city of Cleveland. The Bezos Earth Fund has provided two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to Western Reserve Land Conservancy over three years to support this grants program. Through this investment, grant funding is available to support individuals and small organizations in advancing the program’s goals.

“Vacant Land Grants provide support for neighborhood residents to develop and implement initiatives for how we transform vacant lots into community spaces,” said Tom O’Brien, Director of Neighborhood Connections. “It’s particularly exciting because it’s more than just a plan – it includes funding for real projects everyday people can use to make our neighborhoods healthier and more resilient.”

Technical assistance for grantees will be provided by Food Access Raise Everyone (FARE), a local nonprofit organization that supports resident-led efforts throughout the city of Cleveland.

“The Land Conservancy is thrilled to partner with Neighborhood Connections to launch the Green Space Grants. Neighborhood Connections shares our commitment to strengthening Clevelanders’ relationship with the land and empowering residents to shape the places where they live. We’re excited to see residents’ ideas become tangible, place-based projects that create healthier, more vibrant neighborhoods across Cleveland,” said Isaac Robb, The Land Conservancy’s Chief Urban Programs Officer.

Green Space Grantseeker Workshops

  • In-Person Workshops:

    • Tuesday, September 29th, 6pm to 8pm at the Neighborhood Connections office (1971 E 66th St. Cleveland, OH 44103)

    • Wednesday, October 7th, 6pm to 8pm at Future Ink Graphics (2937 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113)

  • Online Workshops:

    • Video will be posted Friday, September 25th

Green Space Grant FAQs

The online application portal opened on September 11, 2026. 

Up to $5,000 

Access the online application portal after September 11, 2026 here.

Learn about how to apply and the types of community projects that qualify.

  • In-Person: TBD
  • Virtual: TBD will be on Zoom

Funds are intended to support vacant-lot initiatives led by residents to improve their neighborhood and for initiatives that benefit the community. Grants are not to support private revitalization of vacant land for private use. Grant funds can be used to:
• maintain a piece of vacant land (cutting grass, regularly picking up trash and debris, etc.)
• plan a project (preparing a plan to create a pocket park, community garden, etc.)
• reclaim a piece of vacant land (using an unused plot of vacant land to create something new)
• repair an existing project on vacant land (repairing or upgrading community garden, pocket park, etc.)

There are four deadlines for the grants:

October 15, 2026

January 15, 2027

April 15, 2027

August 15, 2027

  • You may be asked to participate in an interview with the Grant Making Committee.
  • Additional limited information may be required.
  • Applicants will be notified of the final decision by the Green Space Grantmaking Committee via email.
  • Decisions will be announced NO LATER THAN 60 days after you submit your application.
    • (Example: If you apply October 15, 2026, you will receive a decision no later than December 15, 2026.)

You have one year to complete this project.

  • A simple report is required within 30 days of project completion. You will be notified via email of when your report is due.

Please do not apply for funding that needs to be received BEFORE your grant application can be approved.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used prior to your grant application being approved.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used to pay for previous expenses.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used to pay for your own time, to pay a fiscal sponsor, or for religious organizations for religious purposes.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used to pay someone to participate in the project.

  • If you are paying a contractor, their fee must be less than 50% of your total request.

Ward 8 Grants

Ward 8 Grants are specifically for projects or programs happening in

Ward 8.

This includes the neighborhoods of:

  • Asiatown
  • Downtown
  • Glenville
  • Hough/Midtown
  • St Clair – Superior

Ward 8 Grant FAQs

The online application portal will open on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Access the online application portal after Monday, March 16, 2026 here.

NOTE: All informational sessions have passed. Please see the video above for a recap.

 

Learn about how to apply and the types of community projects that qualify.

  • In-Person: March 16, 2026 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Neighborhood Connections (1971 E. 66th Street, Cleveland, OH 44103)
  • Virtual: March 18, 2026 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Zoom
    • Zoom Meeting ID: 662 521 4007, no password required

This application is specifically for projects or programs in happening in Ward 8.

This includes the neighborhoods of:

  • Asiatown
  • Downtown
  • Glenville
  • Hough/Midtown
  • St Clair – Superior
Click here to check the ward you live in and see if you fall in this footprint.

Proposals will be reviewed a few weeks after you submit your application.

  • You may be asked to participate in an interview with the Grant Making Committee.
  • Additional limited information may be required.
  • Applicants will be notified of the final decision by the Ward 8 Grantmaking Committee via email.
  • Decisions will be announced NO LATER THAN 60 days after the end of the month that you apply.
    • (Example: If you apply April 15th, you will hear within 60 days AFTER April 30th.)

You have one year to complete this project.

  • A simple report is required within 30 days of project completion. You will be notified via email of when your report is due.

Please do not apply for funding that needs to be received BEFORE your grant application can be approved.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used prior to your grant application being approved.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used to pay for previous expenses.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used to pay for your own time, to pay a fiscal sponsor, or for religious organizations for religious purposes.

  • Grant money CANNOT be used to pay someone to participate in the project.

  • If you are paying a contractor, their fee must be less than 50% of your total request.

Ward 8 Grants

Action Grants

We believe that those most impacted by inequity and injustice are in the best position to develop solutions.

Neighbor Up Action Grants are meant to be accessible to grassroots groups led by residents in Cleveland and East Cleveland. You must attend a Grantseeker Workshop either in person or online! You do not need a grant writer or consultant to work on your application.

Individuals may not apply alone — this is about ‘Neighboring Up’ to take action!

Applications for Round 46 are due on Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11:59pm.

To get started, you’ll need:

  • Three (3) team members (this includes yourself and two other unrelated individuals)
  • A shared idea for a project or program that would make a positive difference for Cleveland or East Cleveland neighborhoods
  • An agreed upon purpose and intentions for the project

Proposals accepted need to address one of these issues:

Arts & Culture – Includes initiatives that gather people together to focus on literature, theater, music, dance, ballet, painting, sculpture, photography, motion pictures, architecture, archaeology, history, natural history, or the natural sciences. Arts & Culture includes funding for pocket parks and urban farms (natural sciences).

Neighboring – Initiatives connect residents of a single geographic area across lines of difference to build more trusting, caring communities. These include front porch nights, neighborhood clean ups, block parties, food/toy giveaways at the holidays, building understanding across lines of difference.

Seniors/Intergenerational – These projects must involve mainly people 55 and older. They can be initiatives that are led by seniors or that serve seniors. These can be initiatives that are fully focused on seniors, or they could be intergenerational activities that build relationships between seniors and other age groups.

YOU MUST WATCH THE ONLINE GRANTSEEKER WORKSHOP TO GET THE CODE TO APPLY!

 

WATCH THE WEBINAR HERE! 

If you want to submit a Neighbor Up Action Grant proposal, you must attend a Grantseeker Workshop — in-person or online — to receive your application access code.

The workshops offer step-by-step guidance on creating resident-led projects in Arts & Culture, Neighboring, or Seniors/Intergenerational focus areas.

We also offer 1-on-1 assistance via Zoom for those needing further support while completing the application.

In person grant seeker workshop: Tuesday July 28th, 6pm – 8pm , at 1971 E. 66th Street Cleveland, OH 44103

WATCH WEBINAR HERE!

2026 Grantseeker Workshop Dates: TBD

  • LOCATION(S): Grantseeker Workshops are held either at the Neighborhood Connections Office (1971 E. 66th St., Cleveland) or online via Zoom.
  • PURPOSE: The workshops offer step-by-step guidance on creating resident-led projects in Arts & Culture, Neighboring, or Seniors/Intergenerational focus areas.

In person grant seeker workshop: Tuesday July 28th, 6pm – 8pm , at 1971 E. 66th Street Cleveland, OH 44103

WATCH WEBINAR HERE!

2026 1-on-1 Grantseeker Assistance Dates:
August 25th, 26th and 27th between 4pm AND 7pm. 

Please Note: You must start the grant application process PRIOR TO requesting assistance.

Please sign up here for 1-on-1 assistance via Zoom here.

 

Application Instructions:

  • Step 1: Decide on a name for your project, and what neighborhood you will start with/focus on. Decide which individual will serve as the point of contact for the grant.
  • Step 2: Choose a focus area that best describe your project.
    • Arts & Culture. These initiatives focus on literature, theater, music, dance, ballet, painting, sculpture, photography, motion pictures, architecture, archaeology, history, natural history, or the natural sciences.
    • Neighboring. These initiatives connect residents of a single geographic area across lines of difference to build more trusting, caring communities.
    • Senior/Intergenerational. These initiatives must involve mainly people 55 and older. They can be initiatives that are led by seniors or that serve seniors. These can be initiatives that are fully focused on seniors, or they could be intergenerational activities that build relationships between seniors and other age groups.
  • Step 3: Decide on a fiscal sponsor for your grant. The fiscal sponsor must be a nonprofit under section 501c3 of the US tax code.
  • Step 4: Develop a budget that includes a grant request of $500-$5,000, along with matching funds in volunteer time, in-kind donations or other funds raised. You can use this sample budget template.
  • Step 5: Review the application questions and formulate responses. You can download them here or view them inside the grants interface.
  • Step 6: Ask your partners to provide letters of support.
  • Step 7: Complete your application and submit it by the deadline. Watch the webinar for Round 46 here.
    • Log into our Grants Interface, creating an account for yourself if it’s your first time. You will need the code provided from the Grantseeker Workshop to access the grant application.
Ward 8 Grants
Apply Now!
Neighbor Up Action Grants Due on August 31st at 11:59pm
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