Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) announces the 2019 funding opportunities for community-initiated projects. Its two funds – the Small Sparks Fund and the Community Partnership Fund – support grassroots projects that build stronger neighborhoods and communities such as park improvements, public art, cultural festivals, community organizing, and much more.
Community Partnership Fund
The Community Partnership Fund will change for 2019 and 2020. Grant awards will be up to $25,000 per project. With this change, NMF will continue to:
- Maintain NMF’s funding of community-driven projects
- Support a broader variety and number of community projects
- Allow phased project planning so that projects can be completed in a timely manner
In 2019, NMF expects that more groups will be able to receive funding. The 2019 deadlines for the Community Partnership Fund are March 4, June 3, and September 9 by 5:00 p.m.
Small Sparks Fund
The Small Sparks Fund provides funding up to $5,000 per project and accept applications through October 31, 2019 on a rolling basis. This fund is perfect for small community activities such as Neighbor Day, Night Out, neighborhood clean-ups, and others.
Workshops
To learn more, the Neighborhood Matching Fund team is hosting workshops across the city about the program guidelines, requirements, and application process. The workshops occur on Saturdays from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. and the dates and locations are:
- January 26, 2019: Miller Community Center, 330 19th Avenue East
- February 2, 2019: 2100 Building, 2100 24th Avenue South
- February 16, 2019: Phinney Neighborhood Association, 6532 Phinney Avenue North
RSVP at seattle.surveymonkey.com/r/nmf-winter19.
The NMF team is available to advise community groups on ways to develop successful applications and projects. Community members are strongly encouraged to contact a Neighborhood Matching Fund Project Manager before applying at 206-233-0093 or NMFund@seattle.gov.
More than 5,000 projects have occurred across the city since this program began in 1988. To learn more about the Neighborhood Matching Fund and its support to community-initiated projects, visit seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf. The website provides details on the criteria and requirements for both funds, along with instructions for the online application process.
