The United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) is launching the newest grant opportunity the Neighborhood Grant Program to continue to listen to the communities and respond to the needs facing central Marylanders.

UWCM is seeking funding requests for projects that inspire community connection and empower local leaders to build upon, and support, the work happening at the neighborhood-level.

Categories

Projects should primarily fit into one of the three categories:

• Build Vibrant Neighborhood Spaces – This category focuses on the increased usability, safety, or enhancement of neighborhood spaces. Examples include:
  • Community Garden Planning/ Planting.
  • Community Cleaning Initiatives.
  • Community Enhancement/ Green Space Initiatives.
  • Community Safety Initiatives.
• Build Socially Connected and Active Neighborhood Residents – this category focuses on sustaining social connection between residents for more than one day/event, engaging residents to understand needs, and mobilizing residents to act as a community to address needs. Examples include:
  • Sustaining connections between residents for mental health and information-sharing purposes
  • Hosting awareness-raising events/convenings that mobilize community residents around important neighborhood issues.
  • Researching and gaining a deeper knowledge of residents and local issue areas of importance.
  • Expanding knowledge of community resources/ access to community resources and community partners.
• Build Empowered Local Leaders – this category focuses on identifying and providing resources to local leaders (or potential local leaders) with the goal of sharing best-practices with the community (organization or public) and addressing community issues through leadership empowerment. Examples include:
  • Costs of Seminars or Skill-Building Trainings for Leaders or Organizations with the intention of benefiting the community from the knowledge gained at the seminar/training.
  • Implementation of best practices that Build Empowered Leaders or Organizations and that will have an impact on the community through that implementation.
  • Facilitation of Multi-Organizational Partnerships and Convenings that will underpin the community safety net in your neighborhood.

Funding Information

The United Way of Central Maryland Neighborhood Grant is an opportunity for neighborhood-centered organizations with total annual operating budgets under $500,000.00 in their current Fiscal Year to receive between $2,500 to $10,000 in funding to carry out neighborhood-centered projects that will be informed by local residents and inspire community connection.

Eligibility Criteria

• United Way of Central Maryland will accept applications from 501(c)(3) health and human service nonprofit agencies, and other organizations that align with the IRS tax law (an agency that may not be a 501(c)(3) but may have other nonprofit IRS designations) that have a total annual operating budget of $500,000, or less, in their current Fiscal Year.
• Additionally, United Way will accept applications from 501(c)(3) health and human service nonprofit agencies, and other organizations that align with the IRS tax law (an agency that may not be a 501(c)(3) but may have other nonprofit IRS designations) that are acting as Fiscal Agents for organizations with total annual operating budgets of $500,000.00, or less, for their current Fiscal Year.

For more information, visit UWCM.