Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Small Grant Program Guidelines
2015 PROGRAM GUIDELINES
The Neighborhood Partnership Initiative (NPI) makes technical assistance and small grants of up to
$10,000 available to community-based, neighborhood or other place-based organizations located in
communities of color and low-income communities in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding
suburbs. NPI supports community-based partnerships that lead to increased engagement, power
and influence of community members affected by racial, social and economic disparities.
The goals of the program are to support place-based community organizing and community
building partnerships that creates impact in the following areas:
1. People and Places - Builds the leadership and power of low income communities, communities
of color, immigrant communities, seniors, people with disabilities, youth, renters or other
historically excluded communities in a neighborhood or specific geographic area. Addresses a
local community issue, need or opportunity.
2. Organizations - Supports the capacity of community-based, neighborhood or other place-based
organizations to more effectively and equitably engage and involve the diversity of their
community into the leadership of their organization. Makes neighborhood or other place-based
organizations more representative of the communities in which they work.
3. Collaborations - Builds strong networks and relationships within and/or among diverse
cultural or geographic communities.
4. Systems - Expands the influence of community members on neighborhood systems, practices,
initiatives and policies that lead to greater racial, social and economic equity.
The NPI program is particularly interested in supporting organizations that are led by community
members and engage the voices, skills and talents reflective of the diversity of their community.
Grants up to $10,000 will be awarded to successful applicants for a grant period of April through
December 2015.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
One of the unique aspects of the NPI program is the provision of technical assistance to grantees.
Examples of technical assistance available include:
 Helping to apply for a NPI grant.
 Connecting organizations and leaders with others doing similar work.
 Providing community organizing training and other technical support for your project.
 Supporting projects with other CURA resources such community based research and GIS
mapping.
Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Small Grant Program Guidelines
FUNDING CRITERIA
We select grantees for the NPI Program based on the following criteria:
1. Applicant must have 501(c)(3) status or be fiscally sponsored by another tax-exempt
organization.
2. Applicant must be place-based, serving a specific geography.
3. Project must have a clearly defined constituency and accountability to them.
4. Project is collaborative.
5. Proposal shows how community members are involved in planning, leading and
implementing the project.
6. Proposal has identified clear outcomes or results and a specific work plan to achieve them.
DEADLINES
1. Letters of Interest are due on January 15, 2015.
2. Organizations will be notified by January 30, 2015 about the opportunity to submit a full
proposal.
3. Final decisions will be made by the end of March 2015.
QUESTIONS
For any questions please contact CURA staff.
 Jeff Corn at jcorn@umn.edu, or 612-625-0744
 Neeraj Mehta at nmehta@umn.edu, or 612-624-8988
 Ned Moore at nedmoore@umn.edu, or 612-625-5805
Once your application is completed, please submit to curanpi@umn.edu
The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and
employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability,
public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Small Grant Program Guidelines
Letter of Interest is due January 15, 2015.
COVER PAGE INFO
Date:
Organization Name:
Contact Person Name and Title:
Street Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
Email:
List the partner organization(s) involved in your project:
Fiscal Agent Organization (if using):
Primary Project Contact Person:
Phone:
Email:
Funding Amount Request (up to $10,000):
Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Small Grant Program Guidelines
Provide the following information in your Letter of Interest. Please do not exceed 2 pages.
1. Mission or purpose of your organization.
2. The specific geography this project takes place in.
3. Briefly describe your project, including information about:
a. The partnership involved in the project.
b. Specific project activities.
c. What issue/challenge/opportunity the project is centered on.
d. How the issue/challenge/opportunity was identified (and by whom).
e. Who your constituency (the people you are engaging and organizing with) is and how
you are accountable to them.
f. Outcomes you hope to achieve by the end of December 2015.
4. How your project fits one or more of the NPI program goals listed above.
Submit applications as an e-mail attachment to: curanpi@umn.edu