Neighborhood Improvement Grants
Grants are available from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa to support efforts to strengthen the membership and build the internal capacity of local Neighborhood Associations.
Priority will be given to requests that address the following goals:
- Empowering and strengthening the neighborhood residents, Neighborhood Associations and as a result, the community.
- Creating opportunities for Neighborhood Associations to increase their level of knowledge and skill pertaining to neighborhood relevant issues.
- Involving youth and adults from the neighborhood to solve problems together.
Click here to download the Neighborhood Improvement Fund Grant Brochure.
Deadline
To apply complete the Neighborhood Improvement Fund Grant Application and return it to the Community Foundation office. Grants are accepted on an on-going basis, as needs arise.
Criteria
Recognized Neighborhood Associations in Waterloo/Cedar Falls who meet regularly and are responding to a need in the neighborhood, as agreed upon at meetings of the association, are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by neighborhood associations. The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa may however designate another organization involved in the project as the grant recipient, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is preferred when awarding a grant.
Eligibility
- Grants will only be awarded to recognized Neighborhood Associations or Neighborhood-based Organization in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area.
- Grants will not be paid to individuals or non-charitable entities.
- Grants will be given to support the education and training of neighborhood residents and Neighborhood Associations.
- Grants will be given to underwrite or supplement the cost of residents attending trainings, Neighborhood Associations providing/facilitating trainings or groups of Neighborhood Associations/residents receiving training/education of some kind.
Procedures
Applicants must submit the following:
- Neighborhood Improvement Fund Grant Application
- Letter from the Chair of the Neighborhood Association
- List of the Neighborhood Association members with contact information
- Copy of recent Neighborhood Association minutes showing approval of the request
- Map of the Neighborhood Association's boundaries
- Detailed Project budget showing cost of project/event, total, and cost per participant, including any travel or meals, and any other sources of revenue or in-kind contributions.
Applications may be submitted at any time. The review process may take up to six weeks. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their request.
Neighborhood Associations/Organizations receiving grants will be required to sign a Terms of Grant Agreement, which clarifies the legal parameters for use of the grant.
Grant recipients will also be required to complete a Grant Report Form within two months of the expenditure of grant funds. The report must include detailed expenditures and personal testimonials from Neighborhood Residents who participated in education/training as a result of the grant award.