Overview
APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
Overview of the Spark Grant:
Spark Grants offer quick-access funding (up to $1,000) to pilot a public initiative or event sparked from creative conversations. Funds are available to artists, arts & culture non-profits, and creative businesses who generate ideas during one of our gatherings—be it a Creative Meetup, Sparrow’s Fortune Gathering, quarterly Assembly for the Arts, or Neighbor Up Arts & Culture Network Night.
Key Requirements:
- Origin of the Idea: The idea must spark from a conversation during one of the designated events.
- Collaborative Effort: The proposal must involve at least two people who attended the event and participated in the conversation.
- Fresh Initiatives Only: It should not be a funding request for an existing program or from a single individual/organization.
- Eligibility: DO NOT APPLY if you did not attend one of these gatherings and participate in a conversation that sparked the idea.
The Process:
- Attend an Event: Join one of our Creative Meetups, Sparrow’s Fortune Gatherings, quarterly Assembly for the Arts, or Neighbor Up Arts & Culture Network Night.
- Engage in Conversation: Participate actively and discuss an idea with at least one other attendee.
- Action Clinic: Meet with a designated representative (Joi Carter, Alysha Ellis, Meg Matko, or Calil Cage) at an Action Clinic to refine your idea and get the code to apply.
- Proposal Submission: Write up your proposal and submit it via our online grant system.
Funding decisions are made by a team of four: a member from Neighbor Up, a member from Creative Meetups, a member of Sparrow’s Fortune, and a member of Assembly for the Arts.
To access the grant application, click here.
Questions? Contact Neighborhood Connections at sparkgrants@neighborhoodgrants.org
These grants are generously supported by funds from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Neighborhood Connections.
