How to Apply for an Action Grant
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 do not need a grant writer or consultant to work on your application. Please follow the steps below!
To get started, you and at least two other people (who aren’t related) share an idea for a project or program that would make a positive difference for people in your Cleveland or East Cleveland neighborhood. Agree on the purpose and intentions of your project together.
Individuals may not apply on their own; it’s all about ‘Neighboring Up’ to take action.
Applications for Round 44 are due on Monday, August 11th at 11:59pm.
Proposals accepted this round 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.
Before You Begin
It is now mandatory that you attend a Neighbor Up Action Grant Workshop (either online or in person) to learn how to complete the application. The in-person workshop dates have passed. Neighborhood Connections staff offers an online grant workshop that you can watch at your leisure to learn how to apply. You must watch this video and get the code to apply prior to applying for the grant!
Watch the online Neighbor Up Action Grantseeker Workshop by clicking here!
This session provides an excellent overview on the purpose of the grants, decision-making criteria by the Grant Making Committee, tips on completing your proposal, and more. The code to apply for the grant is in this video. You cannot apply without the code.
One-on-One Grantseeker Assistance
Looking for one-on-one assistance with your proposal? We are happy to help.
You must have a draft of your proposal done online prior to signing up for one-on-one assistance. This session is not to learn how to write the whole proposal. Please watch the Grantseeker Video (link above) and start your proposal before signing up for one of these sessions.
We are offering one-on-one grant application assistance on the following dates (45 minute timeslots between 2pm and 6pm) on the following days:
- Tuesday, August 5th
- Wednesday, August 6th
- Thursday, August 7th
- Friday, August 8th.
Timeslots are for 45 minutes. You may register for only one slot. You can meet via Zoom or In Person at our office. You must register!
Sign up for one-on-one assistance 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.
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.
