Neighborhood Small Grants Program

The East Portland Neighborhood Small Grant Program application cycle for 2012 is closed!

The City of Portland, through the Office of Neighborhood Involvement has made $37,000 available in grants, ranging in amounts from $500 up to $3,500 per program. Click on the "How to Apply" tab for complete information.

Thanks for taking a look at this great East Portland Neighborhood Office (EPNO) program! 

History of the grants program

Neighborhood leaders, including many of those here in outer East Portland, asked for resources to help both neighborhood associations and community-based groups create and operate special programs.

This program, sponsored in the City of Portland by the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and overseen by neighborhood coalition offices (like EPNO), was first funded by the Portland City Council’s fiscal year 2006-07 budget. 

Goal

The goal this program is to provide neighborhood and community organizations an opportunity to build community, attract new and diverse members and sustain those already involved. 

Guidelines

Proposed projects must address one or more of the following guidelines in order to qualify for consideration:

• Projects that build community in Neighborhood Associations and communities within EPNO’s area.
• Projects that build community in community-based organizations working with underrepresented populations within EPNO’s area.
• Projects that show partnerships between Neighborhood Associations and community-based organizations within EPNO’s area.
• Projects that show partnerships between Neighborhood Associations and under-represented organizations and communities within EPNO’s area.

Here’s how it works:

EPNO leaders recruit a grant-making committee made up of neighborhood, community, business and association leaders.

Applicants first make sure the program for which they seek funding will operate in at least one of the 13 EPNO neighborhoods. This is the first thing the Grants Committee considers when reviewing grant applications.

Each fall, the Grants Committee accepts applications for grants. The deadline to apply for a 2012-cycle grant is Tuesday November 1, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. See the "How to Apply" tab for downloadable application forms.

In January, the grants are awarded, on a competitive basis, amongst proposals submitted. 

Typical types of community-building projects

• Communications: designing new websites, email lists and forums, newsletter mailing to all households, etc.
• Outreach mobilizations: door-to-door canvassing, A-frame signs, to build membership and outreach to neighbors and businesses.
• Targeted outreach strategies to build ties with people traditionally not involved including low-income families, people of color, young adults, immigrants, and people with disabilities.
• Projects that build relationships between neighborhoods and local organizations such as schools, PTAs, churches, non-profits, and businesses.
• Providing language translation and interpretation, childcare, or other efforts to make neighborhood activities more accessible.
• Community-building activities: street tree plantings, neighborhood clean-ups, etc.
• Crime prevention activities: National Night Out, foot patrols, and block watches, etc.
• Community design/build place-making projects such as planning for playgrounds, intersection repairs, and community gardens.
• Neighborhood or culturally specific fairs and/or festivals. 
• Special one-time events and projects such as publishing community story books, block parties, neighborhood forums.

Funds cannot be used for

• Costs that may be incurred in preparing your grant application.
• Direct social services such as food baskets, health clinic services
• Ongoing general organizational support such as rent, utilities
• Direct grants, scholarships or loans for the benefit of specific individuals
• Loans or debt retirement
• Annual appeals, general fund drives
• Emergency funding
• Capital projects