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Neighborhood Match Fund

Are you a Grand Rapids resident planning a project to help reestablish community and relationships? You may be eligible for funding through the Neighborhood Match Fund (NMF).

Contracts ranging from $500 to $5,000 will be awarded for projects that support COVID-19 resident resiliency, racial equity and enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods.

How to Apply

Application Guide

Learn how to apply with our step-by-step application guide.

English Guide(PDF, 680KB) Spanish Guide(PDF, 593KB)

We're accepting project idea applications June 1 - June 30.

Who Can Apply?

Grand Rapids residents
Informal resident groups (e.g. block clubs) in Grand Rapids
Community-based organizations located in and serving Grand Rapids

You can only have one active NMF contract at a time. All reports and paperwork are due before you can apply for a new NMF contract.

Project Roles

Project Lead

The Grand Rapids resident leading the project and submitting the project idea. This individual must be from the community that the project impacts. They're the main contact with NMF staff. They're responsible for completing the project and submitting the closing report.

Contractor

An individual, informal group or nonprofit organization proposing the project. The applicant may also be the project lead/contract.

Fiduciary

An individual or nonprofit organization located in Grand Rapids. The fiduciary helps with financial bookkeeping and reporting. The NMF check is written and sent to the fiduciary. Applying as a non-profit? The Contractor is generally also the fiduciary.

A fiduciary is the project finance manager that:

• Manages the dollars
• Makes sure expenses align to the project
• Confirms the minimum match contributions were made
• Documents and reports back on how the NMF dollars were used

We write and send the check to the fiduciary. The fiduciary tracks NMF contract expenses and match contributions. We'll ask you to report on these in the NMF Closing Report form.

A third party fiduciary may charge up to 5% for their services. Please note, there are many local nonprofits that will serve as a fiduciary for free. You do not have to identify your fiduciary when submitting your idea.

Eligibility Requirements

What You Have to Do

Take place in Grand Rapids city limits
Align with the NMF purpose and objectives
Abide by City ordinances and policies

What You Can't Do

You can't use NMF fund for any of the following:

Anything that financially benefits City of Grand Rapids staff, City Commissioners or Appointed/Elected Officials
Staff salary/wage expenses
Lobbying efforts
Buying alcohol
Increasing the cost to the City for the maintenance of the project or for any other reason
Events and programs that charge admission to participate

NMF Funds

The amount we award depends on the amount requested, project scope, alignment with NMF objectives and NMF balance. If awarded, you must spend the NMF dollars during the six-month contract period. You will also be required to match the amount awarded. This means for every dollar we award, you must match that amount with any combination of:

Volunteer labor (valued at $28.54/hour)
In-kind goods and services
Cash donations

For example, an NMF contract for $500 could be matched with:

$100 worth of volunteer labor
$300 of in-kind/donated materials (e.g. food, supplies)
$100 cash donation from a local business or from a grant

Highlighted Project

Featured Project: Student Needs Pantry

The Student Needs Pantry will make available food, hotplates, small microwaves, hygiene products, transportation access to pantry, barber and salon services, access to laundry facilities and community resources.

Past Projects by Year:

2021 Projects

2021 Projects for Webpage.2.JPG

Healthy Housing Healthy Kids

The Healthy Housing, Healthy Kids Drive Up Fair event provided lead safety cleaning supplies but also engaged with Parents for Healthy Homes leaders and members!

Leaders grew their skills in logistics coordination for event planning, developing and keeping budget records, as well as growing their community networks to support continued engagement in the community to promote safety from environmental hazards.

Hispanic Center Food Distribution

The Hispanic Center Food Distribution project distributed nutritious foods, personal protection equipment, lightbulbs, books, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, and so much more. Food was also delivered as needed.

2021 Projects for Webpage.3.JPG

Students Needs Pantry

The Student Needs Pantry made available food, hotplates, small microwaves, hygiene products, transportation access to pantry, barber and salon services, access to laundry facilities and community resources for students classified as unhoused in Grand Rapids.

Caring for Children of Color

Caring for Children of Color supported, encouraged and empowered local transracial foster/adoptive Parents as well as other Caregivers by providing and giving them access to education and tools around hair care, skin care, cultural competency, and advocacy to better serve and care for their children equitably and holistically.

2020 Projects

Anishinaabek Essential Care Packages

This project provided 120 masks and 55 care packages for those in need in their community. Another aspect of the project was the teen virtual workshop that provided a platform for teens to talk through their feelings of being quarantined.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 97KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 91KB)

Masks for Inner City

African Americans have especially suffered under the COVID-19 pandemic nationally, as well as here in Grand Rapids. Seeing this need for care, Erica Millbrooks representing the Baxter Community Center’s Thread Program coordinated a mask-making program for her community. The group made 400 masks for people in need in their community.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 88KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 85KB)

Black Book Exchange Box

The Black Book Exchange Box built book houses designed by local artists that contain books that represent and identify as Black. Book houses are placed throughout the City that reflects both the community and the need for access to Black and Brown Culture. The book exchange system plans to expand into the Latino community with the launch of a Latinidad edition of book houses.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 45KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 62KB)

Clean and Sober Support

Clean and Sober Support held two neighborhood cleanups and provided resources and education on substance abuse to the community.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 74KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 76KB)

GRAMAN (Grand Rapids Mutual Aid Network)

GRAMAN provided food and basic needs support to Grand Rapids residents who were the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 53KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 87KB)

Our Kitchen Table – Educate to Elevate

Our Kitchen Table helped families learn the importance of growing healthy food by exploring food choices, budgeting, food narratives, food media, meal planning and preparation.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 50KB) Learn More(Spanish)(PDF, 61KB)

2019 Projects

COFI Project

This project empowered parents to transform their communities by first transforming themselves and educated families on the dangers of lead poisoning.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 64KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 83KB)

Swim 1922

This project in partnership with USA Swimming and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. provided a swim clinic to showcase the importance of learning how to swim as well as safety tips to help minimize drowning rates within the African American community.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 64KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 83KB)

Roosevelt Park Safety Kids Taskforce

This project provided workshops on the dangers of cyber bullying and self-defense moves to show kids how to take action and do the right thing when it is necessary to protect themselves.

Learn More (English)(PDF, 64KB) Learn More (Spanish)(PDF, 81KB)

Contact Us

Phone

616-456-3027

Email

nmf@grcity.us

Apply Online (Accepted in June & December)

Applications are accepted in June and December of each year.

Apply to the NMF

IMPORTANT DATES: FY2023 ROUND 1

Submit project idea	June 1 - June 30
Decision notification	Mid July
Meet with NMF staff	Early August
Funds available	September 1
Implement project	September - February
Closing report due	February 28 at 11:59 pm

*Only 1 award per applicant per year

NMF PowerPoint Presentation

English(PDF, 1MB)

Spanish(PDF, 1MB)