Mini-Grants Program

COMMUNITY BUILDING MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM

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, issues and events.  Through workshops and networking opportunities, grant recipients learn new skills, collaborate and leverage resources.  Past projects include: neighborhood events, senior and youth activities, public safety, nonviolence, environmental, performing arts, historical, advocacy and community gardens and more.

 

ATTENTION:

Mini-Grants Program 2013 Annual Funding cycle is now underway!

2013 Application Deadline: Friday, April 12th

All applicants, including past Mini-Grantees, are required to attend one of the following Orientation Workshops:

(Orientation Workshops cover the A to Z’s of the Mini-Grants Program and provide step by step tips on getting through the application process.)

 

Pre-registration preferred for all Orientation Workshops (seating is limited).

New Bedford:  Thursday, Feb 21st @ 6 pm OR Tuesday, Feb 26th @ 10am at the

Salvation Army 619 Purchase Street (please use parking lot entrance)

Fairhaven:  Thursday, February 28th @ 6pm at the Fairhaven Council on Aging (229 Huttleston Ave./Rte.6)

Marion: Tuesday, March 5th @ 6pm at the Wareham Free Library (59 Marion Road/Rte.6)

To register or to find out whether your group is eligible, contact Claudia Kirk at 508-994-9625, ext. 13 or at ckirk@unitedwayofgnb.org.  Visit the United Way website at www.unitedwayofgnb.org for more details about the Mini-Grants Program.

 

GRANT CRITERIA

To be eligible for Mini-Grant funding, groups/organizations:

  • All applicants, including past Mini-Grantees, are required to attend an Orientation Workshop
  • Must be all-volunteer groups with an established membership
  • Have an annual budget/income must not exceed $25,000
  • Projects must be specific,  small in scale, have a realistic plan and build our local community
  • Group must be based in New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown,  Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham or Westport
  • Legal incorporation 501©(3) is NOT required

FUNDING SPECIFICS

  • Year-long on-going projects may be funded up to $2,500
  • One-time, special events may be eligible for $500 maximum
  • Application deadline is in April of each year
  • Orientation Workshops are held in February/March – all applicants are required to attend
  • Projects must be completed within one (1) year of the grant award.
  • Progress Report must be submitted at project completion

For more information about the Community Building Mini-Grants Program, please contact Claudia Kirk, Program Director 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:

Click here to download the Mini-Grants Progress Report:

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

TIP FOR FILLING OUT FORMS:

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2012 MINI-GRANTS AWARDS RECIPIENTS:

Organization/GroupProject TitleAmount Funded
Total in Funding:$40,000
Acushnet Classic EnsembleFanfare for Fairhaven$1,100
Bringing Minds Together, BMAChange a Life, Change a Future$1,500
Cove Street Neighborhood AssociationNeighborhood Events$760
Fairhaven Bicentennial CommitteeFairhaven Bicentennial Community Celebrations & Events$2,500
Fairhaven Nature Trails NetworkNature Trail Network Outreach "Traveling Show"$2,200
Fairhaven Sustainability Committee5th Anniversary of Farmers Market Grand Event$500
Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Historical AssociationOur Resource/Research Library$420
Friends of Fairhaven C.O.A.BOCCEE COURT$2,300
Friends of Keith Middle School CheerleadersHawks Ready to Soar!$550
Friends of Mercy Meals and MoreEducation & Outreach$1,525
Friends of the Wareham Community PathwayA Helmet a Day Keeps the Injuries Away!$700
Gabriel Maura Memorial Library CommitteeGabriel Maura Memorial Library Rebuild$549
GNB Voc Tech After prom CommitteeAfter Prom Event-Activities$500
Grace Community BreakfastMeet, Eat and Greet - An Expansion Project$700
Haitian Cultural OrganizationCommunity Awareness of the Haitian Culture$1,500
Hayden McFadden School PTOBuilding for the Future$1,500
Inner City YouthSeed and Read$900
Jireh Swift PTOBack to Basics & Back to School$1,696
Kaminhu-Longi~Long Journey Cape Verdean Dance GroupCape Verdean Cultural Dance Program$1,750
Kids That GrowFeeding the Body & Mind$1,200
Lukumi Center of the OrishasAfrican based Music & Dance Project$1,500
NB-AGLYMaking Our Prefect Place~Perfect$2,500
New Bedford Bicycle CommitteeBicycle Riding Benefits Awareness Campaign$500
Onset Bay AssociationSeasonal Activities$1,000
Paskamansett Bird Club50th Anniversary Community Events$2,000
Take a Bow Theater CompanyA Chance to Shine$1,000
The Warming House Arts ClubCelebrating the Beauty of Buttonwood Park$2,378
V.E.N.C. Cultural Soul Academy 2$1,800
Wareham Library FoundationThe Story Walk$1,682