FLINT, Michigan — This month, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint launched the 2023 application for its Neighborhood Small Grants Program (NSGP), encouraging Genesee County organizations to apply.
For almost 30 years, the NSGP has been a key supporter of local small businesses operating in middle to low-income neighborhoods near the city of Flint. By supporting the development of community-based projects addressing specific challenges, the grant program helps to build strong alliances with other local organizations to create sustainable change.
The NSGP grants are intended to empower neighborhood assets, build community pride, and help address critical issues in the Flint area through financial support.
NSGP believes that sustainable change occurs when residents have financial resources to drive the kind of change they want to see where they live, work, and play. For this reason, the organization has categorized its awards into tiers to provide more targeted support.
The program awards in three tiers; $1,000, $5,000, and $25,000. These funds are used to support community-based initiatives and projects like block clubs, newsletters, clean-ups, crime watches, neighborhood fairs, block parties, and community resource fairs, transforming blighted space into community gathering space.
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Damon Ross.
According to Damon Ross, the NSGP program officer, “the goal is to support and foster the self-sufficiency of Flint neighborhoods. We like to be a resource for organizations already doing the work and addressing the needs of their neighborhood.”
Because social impact looks different for every organization, NSGP has supported many diverse projects that showcase the initiative, resilience, and progressive approach to the community that the Flint community has to offer.
“Two projects that stood out to me were the Urban Boy Scouts mentoring program led by Cory Moore and the Martin Park Tennis Court restoration- a transformational project led by Susaye Brewer,” said Ross.
“These are projects that reflect the spirit of the city,” Ross continued. “Taking ownership, getting involved, and solving problems on our own.”
To get started on submitting an NSGP application, it may be helpful to consider some of the pre-application services NSGP offers to help support organizations and nonprofits interested in applying.
“Although not required, I strongly suggest scheduling a pre-application conversation to discuss the potential grantee's goals,” said Ross. “From there, the application can be downloaded from our website and emailed, or a hard copy is available at the office and you can submit the application at the office.”
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Flyer for the annual Connect the Blocks Neighborhood Summit.
The current application deadline for this year’s application is Friday, March 17, and the annual
Connect the Blocks Neighborhood Summit will be held virtually on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m.-12 noon.
Ross shared that “this is a virtual convening for awardees, applicants, and all citizens interested in neighborhood work. If interested you can register on our website
cfgf.org. We’ll share resources and discuss this year’s application process. It’ll be fun.”
For additional information, application guidelines, and the official 2023 application, visit: cfgf.org/Grantmaking/Flint-Neighborhoods
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