Rochester Area Community Foundation Announces...
East 2017 NeighborGood Grants
Rochester Area Community Foundation requests proposals for its next round of NeighborGood Grants. These
grants are intended to help neighborhood-based organizations improve the quality of life by involving their
residents directly in neighborhood plans, projects, and activities. This NeighborGood Grant round is directed to
neighborhood-based organizations in east-side City of Rochester neighborhoods, including former Sectors
6-10 (click here for Sector Map)
Vision for the Community Foundation’s NeighborGood Grants Program
Rochester is a city of strong neighborhoods with citizens who are actively involved in improving the quality of
life in their neighborhoods and their community.
Goal
To help resident-controlled, neighborhood-based organizations improve the quality of life in their
neighborhoods through effective resident participation.
Objectives
 To increase and improve resident participation and quality leadership in neighborhood organizations.

To encourage and increase communication and cooperation within and among neighborhoods.

To identify, encourage, and invest in neighborhood resources and assets.

To accomplish projects in harmony with goals, strategies, and action steps developed in coordination
with City of Rochester and residents.

To bring people together across lines of age, race/ethnicity, income and education level, religious
difference, language, interest, profession, etc.
Who’s eligible to apply for East 2017 NeighborGood Grants?
Resident-driven organizations on the City of Rochester’s east side that are:

Neighborhood Associations (maximum grant size is $2,500)
Neighborhood associations have broad missions and broader coverage than block clubs, focus on a
wide range of neighborhood issues, and are capable of facilitating activities for smaller groups.

Block Clubs (maximum grant size is $750)
Block clubs are smaller in focus than neighborhood associations, usually organized by residents of a
few streets or one block.

Other types of neighborhood-based groups (maximum grant size is $2,000)
These associations include the following:
o Landlord and tenant associations
o Business or merchants associations
Note: Nonprofit organizations that are not neighborhood, resident, or local merchant-run are not eligible.
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How do I apply?
Eligible East 2017 organizations must submit an application on the NeighborGood application form, completing
all sections. Each group may submit one application. However, the application may include more than one
project or may include projects of component groups as long as the request is coordinated and does not
exceed the organization’s maximum grant limit.
Applications must be received by April 3, 2017.
To submit electronically
Email application by 5 p.m. to [email protected]
Please also call 585.341.4356 to confirm receipt.
To submit a hard copy
Mail to:
Rochester Area Community Foundation NeighborGood Program
500 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Attn: Saul A. Maneiro
(Must be postmarked before April 3)
Awards will be made in May 2017.
How can grants be used?
Grants may be used for a wide variety of neighborhood organizing projects and activities. Applicants are
strongly encouraged to address goals and strategies of current neighborhood plans. Examples of possible
projects include but are not limited to: membership drives, newsletters, neighborhood festivals, crime prevention,
community organizing activities, beautification and conservation/environmental activities, youth involvement
activities, public art, etc.
NeighborGood Grant projects must do some, if not all, of the following:

Address neighborhood goals, concerns, and issues through involving residents meaningfully in
neighborhood affairs and activities.

Increase resident participation in the neighborhood organization and in the neighborhood, especially
that of young people and/or others not traditionally involved.

Achieve diverse involvement and interaction among residents within and between neighborhoods.

Encourage communication and cooperation among neighborhood residents, associations, agencies
and institutions.

Develop new neighborhood leadership.

Keep the grant money in the neighborhood (contribute to building the local economy).

Build on/leverage neighborhood financial, human, and material resources.

Address specific goals, strategies, and/or action steps developed by neighborhood stakeholders.
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Grant Rules and Regulations:

Projects must be neighborhood-based; started and carried out by residents within that neighborhood.

Requests must show some matching neighborhood support in the form of donations, fundraising,
volunteer effort, and/or contributed services.

All grantees must submit a final report to the Community Foundation by one month after the conclusion
of their funded project(s).

Substantial changes to the funded projects must be approved by the Community Foundation.

Applicants and grantees may be visited by Community Foundation staff or volunteers. Grantees may
also be asked to attend Community Foundation meetings.

NeighborGood grants may NOT be used to hire or pay regular staff or to fund projects developed or
operated by public or nonprofit agencies.
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