United Way’s Community Building Mini-Grants Program is the only local resource to promote civic involvement and bring about positive change at the grassroots all-volunteer level. The Mini-Grants Program provides financial and technical support to all-volunteer groups working to strengthen the community through projects that address locally identified concerns and issues. Through workshops and networking opportunities, grant recipients learn new skills, collaborate and leverage resources. Past projects include neighborhood improvement, cultural events, advocacy, youth empowerment, senior activities and more.

All applicants are required to attend an orientation session prior to the application deadline.

GRANT CRITERIA:
To be eligible for funding, organizations must meet the following:

• They must be all-volunteer organizations with an established membership.
   
• The annual budget must not exceed $25,000.
   
• Projects seeking funding must be specific and have a realistic implementation plan.
   
• They must promote the building of stronger relationships within the community. 
  
  
• Group must be based in New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham or Westport.
   

Grants range from up to $500 for one-time special events and up to $2,500 for ongoing, year-long projects.  The application deadline is in April of earch year.  Free orientations are held in Feburary/March.  All applicants are required to attend, as the orientations cover the basics of the Mini-Grants program with step by step tips on getting through the application process.  Check back to this site for dates and times of the deadline, orientation workshops and any upcoming events.

To find our more about the Community Building Mini-Grants Program, discuss your group or project idea, or to pre-register for an orientation workshop, please contact Claudia Kirk at 508-994-9625, ext. 13 or via email at ckirk@unitedwayofgnb.org.

Click here to download an application in Word or PDF format below:  

     - Community Building Application [MS Word Format]
     - Community Building Application [PDF Format]

Click here to download the Mini-Grants Progress Report:

      - Progress Report [MS Word Format]

Please do not submit the application or progress report online.  Mail or hand deliver only.

TIP FOR FILLING OUT FORMS:  Use your tab key or mouse button to move from field to field.

Remember:  Keep us informed of your events by putting us on your e-mail list so that we can support each other and build new partnerships!

                                      2010 MINI-GRANTS AWARDS RECIPIENTS:

GROUP	PROJECT	AWARD
21 FrienDS	From Our Family To Yours	$1,000
A.S.A.P. (All Scholastic Althletic Program)	Inspire The Youth	$1,000
ACE (Acushnet Classic Ensemble)	A Salute to Acushnet	$800
Acushnet Grange #285	Words for Thirds/ Dictionary Project	$500
Atlantic Aviators (Women in Aviation International)	Airport Fun Day	$500
Black Student Union @ UMass Dartmouth	Clean it up, Green it up!	$786
Bullard Street Neighborhood Association	Reach Out and Recruit	$763
Busy Hands Loving Hearts	Circle of Warmth	$1,000
Comite Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores	Leadershop Development Workshop	$1,500
Community Garden Group	Victory Garden	$600
Cove Street Neighborhood Association	Neighborhood Events and Garden	$851
Dartmouth Parents Group	Dartmouth Community Park	$1,000
District Fire Chief Gerald Nadeau Memorial Foundation	Fireman's Final Tribute	$1,225
Fairhaven Sustainability / Recycling Committee	Think Green	$577
Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Historical Association Inc.	Military Uniforms on Display	$800
Friends of the New Bedford Free Public Library	Children's Literacy Activities	$1,500
Friends of the Wareham Community Pathway	Cultivating Membership	$1,000
Friends of Trinity Day Academy	Green Mentor Project	$2,000
Goulart Square Improvement Association	Goulart Square News	$730
Greater New Bedford SouthCoast Gospel Festival	Gospel Festival	$500
Green Heart/Rhythms	Express Yourself	$280
Helping Hands and Hooves	The Rainy Day Ride	$1,440
James B. Congdon School PTO	Let's Move	$630
Kids That Grow	Growing Bright Futures	$800
Nassachusetts Clean Air Coalition (MCAC)	Spreading the Word on Clean Air	$1,300
Monte's Park Basketball League	Youth Basketball League	$1,000
NBHS After Prom Committee	After Prom Event	$500
Neighborhoods United	Support Project	$980
Nittauke Committee	Put Litter in its Place	$500
O.R.P.H. (Orpheum Rising Project Helpers)	Orpheum Theatre Photo Tour	$1,000
Operation Clean Sweep	Keep New Bedford Clean	$800
Reel Serious	Senior Voices Project	$800
Safe Zones	Expanding Our Reach	$1,500
Scotty Monteiro Jr. Foundation	Stop The Violence	$2,000
Serenity Garden Community Garden	Garden Expansion	$1,282
South Central/South 1st Neighborhood Association	Home Sweet Home	$1,109
Southcoast Community Meal Program	Feeding the Mind, Body and Spirit	$1,500
SouthCoast COMPEER	Making Friends, Changing Lives	$1,500
Team Builders Inc.	Shining Stars	$1,000
The Baby Project	The Baby Health Project	$2,500
The Women in You	Be Healthwise Alternative Education	$732
Tree City Committee - New Bedford	Giving Back to Our Environment	$500
Urban Fusion Performing Arts Program	IMPACT Music	$1,000
Waste Not Want Not	Biodegradable Products & Sustainability Education	$715
Total: 44 groups		$44,000