Neighborhoods Small Grants Program

East Tennessee Foundation's Neighborhoods Small Grants Program, with funding from Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Knoxville City Council, is designed to strengthen low-to moderate-income neighborhoods in Knoxville by supporting a wide range of community-based initiatives through grants and technical assistance.

The primary focus of the program is to: increase the base of resident participation and leadership in developing solutions to neighborhood issues and problems; increase the capacity of neighborhood organizations to plan and implement neighborhood improvement strategies; build social capital by increasing the linkages between neighborhoods, neighborhood organizations and other community institutions capable of providing support; and increase the financial base, identify new resources, and maximize the use of existing community assets available to neighborhoods.

Successful applicants for one-year grants will: be resident-led neighborhood organizations or crime watch groups in Knoxville; be located in a low-to moderate-income neighborhood; provide evidence of broad support within the neighborhood and have goals that reflect the concerns of the residents; have strong leadership which is accountable to the membership; and propose projects which will strengthen the capacity of the organization to establish networks to build social capital.

Examples of possible projects include creation and distribution of a neighborhood newsletter; design and installation of neighborhood signs; organization of neighborhood clean-ups; and development and maintenance of a neighborhood park.

Grant info:

• One-year grants
• Grants will be made on a 1:1 matching basis; gifts and in-kind contributions may be used to meet the matching requirement.
• Grants generally range from $500 to $3,000
• Currently supporting projects between: June 1, 2010 - June 1, 2011
• Attendance at a Pre-Application workshop is required of all applicants
• Application deadline: Monday, March 8, 2010 (postmark date)

2010 Neighborhoods Small Grants Program (Click here for guidelines and application)

2010 Memorandum about Pre-application Workshop (February 8, 2010 of Pre-application (Click here)

2010 Definition of Low and Moderate Income Neighborhoods (Click here) 

For further information, please contact Jan Elston (865) 524-1223, toll-free at 877-524-1223 or by e-mail at jelston@etf.org.

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