Neighborhood Small Grants Program

Neighborhood Small Grants Program

The neighborhood small grants program is designed to assist neighborhoods in developing and implementing their own projects that will increase neighborhood cohesiveness and pride.

Grant requests can be made for up to $5,000. Through the generosity of the Iowa West Foundation, this opportunity is available for three years with $75,000 available each year.

Projects must be neighborhood-based and resident-led by at least three unrelated persons residing in separate households. Projects must build on strengths and assets already existing in the community, such as residents' specific skills, volunteer skills and labor, or a neighborhood's public spaces, institutions, businesses, or churches.

Possible grants for this program would involve: • Beautification • Literacy Programs/after-school activities • Block parties, neighborhood fairs and carnivals • Block clean-ups and community gardening • Parent-Teacher Organizations • Recreation • Neighborhood-wide art showcases • Development of neighborhood plans • Large-scale community organizing efforts • Reserving meeting space

Neighborhoods can apply for a grant without having an already established neighborhood association. However, the Neighborhood Center will be in contact with those neighborhoods who receive a grant and are not already organized as a registered neighborhood association in order to assist them in doing so. In order to receive a large grant (over $500) a neighborhood group that is not incorporated must apply in partnership with an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor (i.e. a church, library or other local non-profit) to receive the grant on the applicant's behalf, and to oversee expenditure in an unobtrusive manner.

Any neighborhood in the county is encouraged to apply for funding. Neighbors can get together, come up with a program that they believe will better their neighborhood, and contact the Community Foundation or Neighborhood Center for further assistance through this program.

Grant applications are available by contacting the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation or from this website and grant award decisions will occur on a monthly basis from June through November.

Neighborhood Small Grants Grant Application