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 2012 Annual Funding cycle is now underway!

2012 Application Deadline: Friday, April 13^th

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 required for all Orientation Workshops (seating is limited). 

New Bedford:  Thursday, Feb 23^nd @ 6 pm OR Tuesday, Feb 28^th @ 10am at the

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

Wareham:  Thursday, March 1^st @ 6pm at the Wareham Free Library (59 Marion Rd / Rte. 6)

Acushnet: Wednesday, March 7^th @ 6pm at the Acushnet Community Center (232 Middle Rd.

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:

• 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
• All applicants, including past Mini-Grantees, are required to attend an Orientation Workshop

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, discuss your group /project idea, or pre-register for an Orientation Workshop, 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:

• Community Building Application [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:

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2011 MINI-GRANTS AWARDS RECIPIENTS: