GREENFIELD — Community Foundation for Monterey County is accepting applications for its Neighborhood Grant program, and hosted two workshops in Salinas and Greenfield last week to help applicants finish their grant requests.
The Neighborhood Grant program strives to provide financial and technical support to resident- and community-led groups for projects in their neighborhood or community that help improve the quality of life for residents. Over the life of the grant program, the Foundation has given away more than $1 million and aims to give out $50,000 in grants this year.
“In the past we’ve funded advocacy groups, neighborhood associations, youth-funded groups working with youth sports, or dance and cultural groups,” said Erika Matadama, program officer. “There’s a wide variety of groups we’ve funded just depending on what their idea is.”
One of the important aspects of the grant deals with how these groups build leadership within their group. The groups are not required to be nonprofits or have the 501c3 status.
The areas that are considered when the Foundation reviews the grant application begins with need and moves onto group composition, leadership, involvement and the impact they are having. Political campaigns and schools do not qualify.
Applications are due Friday, Feb. 15.
If groups are having difficulty with completing their applications, Matadamas and Karina Gutierrez-Barboza are available for one-on-one consultations at the Community Foundation offices in Salinas at 945 S. Main St., Suite 207, or by calling 831-754-5880.
Applicants will be notified of decisions on May 3.
