Neighborhood Matching Funds

About the Matching Fund

The Neighborhood Matching Fund is a City grant program that provides cash grants to neighborhood and community organizations for a wide variety of neighborhood-based projects. The program was started in response to calls from neighborhood leaders to assist them with neighborhood self-help projects. The program supports:

• Grassroots, neighborhood-based projects across the City of Seattle.

• Grassroots, neighborhood-based organizations or organizations that advocate for the interests of people of color.

• Projects that have a match of volunteer or professional services, donated materials, and/or cash resources.

• Projects which feature high community participation and self-help, wherein the beneficiaries of the proposed project are part of shaping and implementing the project.

• Projects with distinct products, rather than ongoing services.

• Neighborhood improvements, neighborhood planning, neighborhood organizing and public school/neighborhood partnership projects which have a public benefit.

A required component of the program is its match provision. For most projects, the community is required to donate cash, volunteer labor or donated services or materials at least equal in value to the cash provided by the City. The program has been used to build new playgrounds and parks, plant street trees, restore open space and wetlands, create public art, build traffic circles, develop plans for business districts, and much more.

The fund currently provides $3.2 million dollars in the following categories:

Large Projects Fund makes awards between $15,000 and $100,000. There is a two-step application process - submittal of a Letter of Intent to Apply, followed by an application about two months later. Applications are received and processed at least once a year and funds become available about four months after the application is submitted. Projects must be completed within a 12 month timeframe.

Small and Simple Projects Fund provides awards of $15,000 or less. Applications are accepted four times each year and funds become available about two months after an application is submitted. A project must be completed within a six-month timeframe.

Tree Fund applications are accepted in late summer and awards are confirmed shortly thereafter, so that trees can be planted in the Fall. Cash awards are not made. Instead, groups receive street trees (selected from a menu) and provide "match" by planting the trees in designated locations on the block.

Neighborhood Outreach and Development Fund (awards of $750 or less) and Small Sparks ($250) awards are made for projects that involve new people in neighborhood organizations or activities. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Neighborhood groups don't have to figure out the Neighborhood Matching Fund on their own. In fact, staff members prefer to work with groups at the very start of a project - when ideas are being discussed.