2015 Neighborhood Grants: $3,000 for Your Community!

What's Happening NYC

2015 Grants

It's grant application season! 

Neighborhood Grant Applications are due January 26, 2015. 
Through our Neighborhood Grants, Citizens Committee awards micro-grants of up to $3,000 to resident-led groups to work on community and school improvement projects throughout the city. We prioritize groups based in low income neighborhoods and Title I public schools. We support projects that address issues that communities identify as important to them - anything from community gardens to tenant organizing.

Questions? Contact us at grants@citizensnyc.org or212-822-9563.

Our online application is now available: click here to access it.

Here are some resources to get you started on your Neighborhood Grant application: 

• Take a look at what past grantees have done with grant funding. 
• Attend a grant application information session or watch our grant application information video to learn more about our grant application process.
• Look at our grant timeline and our how-to grant application guide. 
• Read our grant writing tips for simple, clear pointers on filling out any grant application. 

Neighborhood Grants Application Information Sessions

Join us for a grant information session to learn more about the grants and have your questions answered. For more information and to RSVP, contact Tehmina at tbrohi@citizensnyc.org or 212-822-9563.

Monday, December 1
Harlem | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, December 2
Brooklyn | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Monday, December 8
Bronx | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday, December 10
Manhattan | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Monday, January 12
Webinar | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thursday, January 15
Queens | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Project Planning Assistance 

Did you know that Citizens Committee offers Project Planning Assistance to grassroots groups? We sit down with key members of your group to talk about a particular project or issue, share resources, brainstorm strategies, and create a plan together. You don't need to be a Citizens Committee grantee to access this resource, simply fill out this form to give us some information about your group, and someone from Citizens Committee will be in contact.

Community Conversation: Our Local Food System

Our food is tied to a large and multi-part system, involving huge amounts of natural resources (land, oil, water), labor (farm workers to restaurant servers), processing, transportation (importing and exporting), and waste disposal (land fills). This food system is neither practical or sustainable. Join Urban Rebuilding Initiative and Citizens Committee for New York City in a discussion on how we can create sensible and local food systems that meet the needs of our communities.

South Bronx

11:00 AM

December 13

Community conversations are a new project we are undertaking this Winter in collaboration with neighborhood groups around the city. Interested in co-hosting or co-facilitating a discussion about a particular issue or interest in your community? Get in touch with us at info@citizensnyc.org. 

Winter Workshops

Our winter Neighborhood Leadership Institute (NLI) series is around the corner. Space is limited, register online or contact Tehmina at tbrohi@citizensnyc.orgor 212-822-9563.

Complete four workshops and receive an NLI certificate of achievement.

BASICS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

Saturday, January 24

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Bring your neighbors together to work on issues that matter to you.

GROUP STRUCTURE

Saturday, February 7

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Build and maintain an effective neighborhood association or community group.

MEDIA TOOLS

Saturday, February 21

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Increase public support for your group by framing your message and alerting local media.

NAVIGATING CITY GOVERNMENT

Saturday, March 7

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Learn how city government functions and how to have your community issues addressed.

GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING

Saturday, March 21

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Support your group's work with community fundraising efforts.

More Grants...

Youth Garden Grant: To be eligible for the 2015 Youth Garden Grant, your school or organization must plan to garden in 2015 with at least 15 children between the ages of 3-18. Grantees will receive funding as well as curriculum support and resources. December 5. 

Partnerships for Parks Capacity Grant: Groups working on park land are eligible to apply for funding to support their programs and activities. New York City Parks-focused community groups who have a long-term commitment to their neighborhood parks and/or street trees, volunteer-run groups with small budgets, and groups with a strong history of collaborative work with Partnerships for Parks, Parks Department, and/or City Parks Foundation will receive preference.February 1.

Grow To Learn Mini Grant: Grow to Learn is currently accepting applications for Mini-Grants of $500 to $2,000 to start or expand a learning garden program at NYC public and charter schools. February 11. 

Reading and Discussion Program: Reading and Discussion Programs promote thoughtful, engaged community dialogue, using a short text and a facilitator from the local community. Hosts of this program bring together members of a group, organization or neighborhood to join in a facilitated discussion of a short reading. NYS tax-exempt organizations, including schools, are eligible to receive funding from the Council for hosting a discussion. February 12.

Lowes Small Grants Program: The small grants program is an outlet for organizations seeking smaller-scale assistance for non-educational focused projects. These grants range from $100 to $2,000. Small grant project requests must also fit within the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation guidelines. These requests are received on a rolling basis, with no specific cycle dates. Please note that grant funds are distributed as Lowe’s gift cards. To apply, e-mail a project description and budget outline to community@lowes.com with a “Small Grant Request” subject line. Due to the large volume of requests, we are unable to respond to all requests and will only notify you if you receive funding, approximately three weeks after submission.

New York Council for the Humanities: Have a public program idea you want to strengthen?  Looking to start or expand a collaboration with other groups in your community?  Apply for a $1,500 Planning Grant.  These quick grants support the preparation of humanities-based public programs, such as working with advisors, developing community-wide initiatives, and creating interpretive plans. Eligible groups must either be nonprofits or working with a NYS based fiscal sponsor.  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

 

Community Events and Announcements 

GreenThumb Winter Garden Giveaway: Twice a year, GreenThumb gives garden supplies to GreenThumb registered gardens. This giveaway will include environmentally friendly melt away, shovels, ice scrapers, and trash bags to help prepare and keep your garden safe for winter. GreenThumb/LRP Compound, Queens Plaza South at 10th Street. 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. December 6. 

Grow to Learn Workshop - Garden Construction Projects: Feel handy with a drill but don’t know the difference between a rip cut and cross cut? Join Grow to Learn and EcoStation: NY’s skilled carpenter D. Rooney as we discuss lumber, tools, and construction considerations and build a storage bench! GrowNYC - 49 Chambers Street, Room 227. 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. December 6.

South Bronx Farmers and Holiday Market: The South Bronx Farmers Market invites you to shop local produce, farm products, and arts and crafts from local producers and artists! Unique items for you or gifts!  Local retailers will be offering canned goods, spices, produce, coffee as well as handmade knits and other items at affordable prices. Bronx Arts Museum. 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM. December 13.

How to Start a CSA Workshop: Thinking about how to connect with a farmer and bring fresh, local, organically grown vegetables to your neighborhood? Join this workshop to learn more. Just Food Conference Room, 1133 Avenue of the Americas, 15^th Floor.  6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. December 15.

 

Grow to Learn Meet-Up: Garden Curriculum:Come exchange lesson plans and curriculum ideas with other school gardeners at Grow to Learn's Curriculum "Meet Up"! Rather than a formal presentation or workshop, this meet-up will be participant-centered, so come ready to discuss your successes, challenges, and favorite topics to teach in the garden. This meet-up will also include an overview of existing curriculum resources in New York City and beyond for Pre-K-12 teachers; click here to RSVP. GrowNYC Greening Library, Room 212, 49 Chambers Street, Manhattan. 

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. December 17.

Bronx Master Composter Course: This comprehensive train-the-trainer course is designed to promote the practice of composting in homes, schools, and community gardens in the Bronx. The program is held at The New York Botanical Garden in the spring and consists of seven Wednesday or Thursday evening classes, two Saturday field trips, and 30 hours of Bronx-based volunteer outreach service in compost education and promotion. Course material fee is $40; limited scholarships are available. 2015 course dates will be finalized in the next month. For an application and more details, visit the NYC Master Composter Certificate Course Web page, e-mail compost@nybg.org, or call718.817.8543. Applications due February 20.

GreenThumb Resources Page: Check this page for quick links on many of GreenThumb's services and resources. Request soil, lumber, signs, and more online.

Fall Leaf Drop Off:  New York City residents are invited to bring bagged leaves to select Bronx community composting sites where the leaves will be turned into rich compost. Bags with branches, other yard waste, or street sweepings will not be accepted. Space is limited and other restrictions may apply. For details and to register, contact the NYC Compost Project hosted by The New York Botanical Garden at718.817.8543 or compost@nybg.org and tell us your neighborhood and how many bags of leaves you have.

• Wednesdays, 4–7 p.m., or by appointment • Friends of Brook Park, 10454
• Wednesdays and Thursdays, by appointment • Schervier Garden at Bon Secours NY Health Systems, 10463
• Thursdays, 2:30–4:30 p.m., by appointment • The Clinton Garden at DeWitt Clinton High School, 10468
• Fridays, 3–5 p.m., and weekends • The Enchanted Garden at John F. Kennedy High School, 10463
• By appointment only • Bainbridge Avenue Garden, 10458; Botanical Square Garden, 10458; La Finca del Sur/South Bronx Urban Farm Cooperative, 10451; Neighborhood Advisory Committee Garden, 10455; and other sites

Generation Citizen: Generation Citizen strengthens our democracy by empowering young people to be engaged and effective citizens. GC partners teachers with college volunteers to lead a rigorous semester-long, twice-weekly action civics course in which teens solve problems they are facing in their own communities right here in NYC. To learn more about bringing civics to life for your students' school, contact Program Associate Drew Lombardi at dlombardi@generationcitizen.org.