THE
TRENTON
HISTORIC
DEVELOPMENT
COLLABORATIVE
Small Grants Program – Fall 2015
Grant Application Package
I Am Trenton Community Foundation awards grants to agencies, organizations, or individuals
that serve Trenton residents. Our overall goal is to support organizations that improve our
community and add to the quality of life for Trenton residents. We utilize a competitive grant
making process to promote inclusion, equity, and diversity in Trenton. Our mission is to make
Trenton even better through community engagement, building pride in our city, and communityfocused giving.
The Trenton Historic Development Collaborative is a coalition of more than 40 community
stakeholders from the West and North Wards of Trenton who are committed to revitalizing their
neighborhood. Our community-driven plan for the neighborhood, which is bordered by West State
Street, Willow Street, Bellevue and Rutherford Avenues, and Hermitage Avenue, was approved by
the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in 2011. The THDC is now implementing this plan
with the support of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and DCA’s Neighborhood Revitalization
Tax Credit Program.
About the THDC Small Grants Program
Smaller, grassroots organizations, as well as community activists and non-incorporated groups,
were a driving force in developing the THDC plan. Many of these groups do important work in the
THDC neighborhood, but do not, at present, qualify for funding through traditional sources. To
support their efforts, and to build their capacity in the process, the Collaborative has set up the
Small Grants Program in partnership with I Am Trenton Community Foundation to support work in
the THDC planning area, as noted on the map on page 3.
This grant application packet should provide all the information you need for submitting a grant
request for the THDC Small Grants Program.
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General guidelines
Read about the types of projects, events, and community activities that the THDC Small
Grants Program is designed to support.
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Application timeline and submission requirements
The deadline for the THDC Small Grants Fall Round is Thursday, October 15th at 12 p.m.
Please review the information in this section carefully before you submit your application.
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Application
Please fill out your application using the detailed instructions and application form.
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GENERAL GUIDELINES
The THDC Small Grants Program is intended to support projects or activities that will have a
meaningful impact within the THDC neighborhood while strengthening the capacity of the grantee
to accomplish more in the future. It is not intended as a regular funding source for operating
expenses or ongoing programs – rather, it is intended to strengthen grantees so that they can
better seek other sources of funding for their regular work. While applicants may submit an ongoing program for consideration, projects that can significantly increase an applicant’s capacity will
be given preference.
At this time, the THDC Small Grants Program provides three tiers of grants:
1. Base grants (up to $500)
Five-hundred dollars may go a long way. Applicants with limited experience in grant
management, or who are only carrying out a short-term, one-time project, are encouraged to
apply at the Base level.
2. Strength grants (up to $2,500)
This category is intended to strengthen the applicant’s ability to manage, leverage and improve
existing programs. Applicants whose prior experience is very limited are strongly encouraged
to apply for a base grant instead.
3. Amp grants (up to $5,000)
A very limited number of amp grants of up to $5,000 may be awarded in this cycle. This
category is intended to significantly strengthen the capacity of organizations who have
demonstrated experience in managing grants. These grants are not intended to support the
regular operations, programs, or services that an organization provides – rather, they should be
considered an investment that will help an organization scale up. As such, applicants must be
501(c)3 non-profit organizations in good standing, or must co-apply with a 501(c)3
organization in good standing. Additionally, the application must clearly establish how the grant
will change the organization’s ability to operate, and must demonstrate how the grant will help
the applicant attract additional funds.
Geographic restrictions
The THDC Small Grants Program is intended for projects that serve the area covered by the THDC
neighborhood plan, which is generally bordered by West State Street, Willow Street, Bellevue and
Rutherford Avenues, and Hermitage Avenue as illustrated by the map on page three.
This means that activities should primarily take place in, and primarily benefit the residents of, the
THDC neighborhood:
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All applications must clearly state the location of their activities, and the way that they will
track who attends or benefits from them; for instance, by requiring all participants to sign in
with their address. Activities within the neighborhood may be open to participants from outside
the neighborhood as well, provided that the primary beneficiaries are neighborhood residents.
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Activities that cannot physically take place in the neighborhood (for example, because they
require a facility that is not available in the neighborhood) are allowed, provided that the THDC
Small Grants funding supports only the participation of neighborhood residents.
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The THDC Neighborhood
Projects outside the THDC
neighborhood are not eligible
for funding under the THDC
Small Grants Program.
Applicant eligibility
The THDC Small Grants Program was created, in part, to strengthen the capacity of organizations
and activists in the THDC neighborhood who do not have the capacity to access other sources of
funding. As such, Base grants and Strength grants are open to organizations (regardless of federal
tax status), individuals, and unincorporated groups. Amp grants of up to $5,000 are only open to
501(c)3 organizations.

Applicants that intend to apply as individuals, or without a non-profit fiscal sponsor, should be
aware that any grant amount received under this program is subject to applicable tax policies
and regulations. Please budget accordingly.
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Applicants who have previously received a grant from I Am Trenton Community Foundation or
from the THDC Small Grants Program are not eligible for further awards until all required
reports have been submitted.
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The THDC Small Grants Program does not support activities that will generate private profit to
an organization, business, or individual. For-profit entities may apply, provided that the project
has a direct community benefit and will generate no profit for the company.

Entrepreneurs starting a small business may apply for a base grant under the economic
development priority issue area only. The expenses submitted for funding must be “capacity
building” expenses that will clearly enable the applicant to scale up their operations, rather than
routine operational expenses or inputs. Purchases of inventory or raw materials to be sold are
not eligible. Purchases of needed equipment (e.g. a sewing machine) may be eligible if the
applicant adequately demonstrates the impact this will have on their operations.
Priority issues
During the planning process, community members identified and ranked the challenges and areas
of opportunity in the THDC neighborhood. Accordingly, the Small Grants Program supports projects
that will impact one of the following four priority issues, which community members considered
the most important:

Youth Services
This priority issue includes recreation, computer literacy, civic engagement, job training, college
prep, after school programs, non-violent conflict resolution, youth entrepreneurship, etc.

Education
This priority issue includes both youth education and life-long learning, with the ultimate goal
of forming active, informed, engaged, and self-reliant citizens. Examples of specific areas of
focus for a project include (but are not limited to) life skills, financial literacy, parenting skills,
and neighborhood/cultural history.

Safety
With the goal of creating a safe social and physical environment for the THDC community, this
priority issue may include interventions that address crime, drugs, poor lighting, safety in
specific locations, or the overall perception of the neighborhood as unsafe.

Economic Development
Access to economic opportunity is critical to the neighborhood’s revitalization, and to the longterm well-being of its residents. This priority issue includes job training, access to employment,
support for local goods and services, and support for grass-roots entrepreneurship. Note: any
small-business startup applications must be under this category.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to the Overview of the THDC Revitalization Plan for
more details on the work the Collaborative has underway, and to build a case for how their project
will fit into this ongoing work – for example, by addressing gaps, by enhancing current efforts, etc.
Please note that these priority areas are specific to the THDC Small Grants Program. I Am Trenton
Community Foundation’s annual grant program has different funding priorities.
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Activities not supported
The Small Grants Program will not support:
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Activities conducted outside the THDC neighborhood
Projects whose primary beneficiaries are not residents of the THDC neighborhood
Debt reduction
On-going operational support1
Capital campaigns or fundraising events1
Other foundations or grant programs
Scholarships
Partisan political activities or lobbying directed to government bodies or officials, including
voter registration drives
Religious activities (such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing).2
Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, national origin, ethnicity,
veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
For-profit activities3
Notes:
(1) The THDC Small Grants Program aims, in part, to build the capacity of organizations
working to better the THDC neighborhood. It is not intended to provide basic operational
support to such organizations, but to set them on stronger footing to achieve their goals, in
part by making them better able to access other sources of funds. As such, applications for
technical assistance with such activities as outreach, marketing, fundraising, etc. may be
considered, particularly at the Amp level. However, applicants are encouraged to devise a
project that will have a meaningful impact on the community, not just their own
organization, as much as possible.
(2) This does not exclude religious organizations from applying for projects that do not require
participation in religious activity.
(3) THDC Small Grants are intended to support activities for the general benefit of the
community. Entrepreneurs seeking start-up assistance for a small business may apply
under the “Economic Development” category, are limited to one Base grant (up to $500),
and must apply only for investments that will significantly improve the business’s
productivity (for instance, a sewing machine for a tailor), not for routine supplies,
inventory, or expenses.
Funding Cycle
This is the second funding cycle for the THDC Small Grants Program in 2015. Applicants will be
notified within five weeks of the application deadline. Project activities are expected to run for
three months. Additional rounds of this program may be announced in 2016 subject to the
availability of funding.
The I Am Trenton Community Foundation also conducts a separate, citywide grant program. More
information can be found at http://www.iamtrenton.org
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Grant Awards
Applicants are limited to one grant per funding cycle, and are not eligible for further awards under
the THDC Small Grants Program until all reports for prior grants have been submitted.
Grants of more than $500 will be disbursed in two installments, half in advance and half upon the
submission of an interim report.
Technical assistance and resources for applicants

Mandatory pre-application workshop
A workshop for prospective applicants will be held before the application deadline. Attendance
is mandatory for applicants who have not previously received a grant under this program.
We encourage past grantees to attend as well, to brush up on the requirements, assist newer
applicants, and network with others active in the community.
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, September 15
Doors open at 5:30; workshop runs from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The THDC Community Resource Center at the Carver Center
40 Fowler Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
I Am Trenton and the THDC will also alert grantees and prospective applicants of any other
learning opportunities in the neighborhood as they are scheduled.

Computer access
Free computer access is available at the following location. Applicants and grantees who do not
have regular computer access are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these resources
when applying and throughout their projects:
The THDC Community Resource Center
Located at the Carver Youth and Family Center, 40 Fowler Street, Trenton, NJ 08618
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; computers are also available Tuesday and Thursday
from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
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APPLICATION AND FUNDING TIMELINE
Applicants are advised to retain a copy of this schedule for reference, and to mark their calendars
accordingly:

Mandatory pre-application workshop
The workshop for prospective applicants will be offered on Tuesday, September 15.
Attendance is mandatory for prospective applicants who have not previously received a
grant from the THDC Small Grants Program.

Application deadline
Applications that are mailed must be postmarked on or before October 15, 2015.
Applications sent by email must be received no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Standard
Time on Thursday, October 15, 2015. Late applications will not be reviewed.

Notification of awards
Notification of awards will occur by November 15, 2015. All applicants will be notified of
grant award or rejection in writing.
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Grant activities
All grant activities must be completed between December 1, 2015, and February 28, 2016.
Grantees will be required to sign a grant agreement before funds can be disbursed.
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Mid-term report
Grantees are required to submit a short progress report by January 20, 2015. For grants
over $500, the second installment of funding is conditional on the successful and timely
submission of the mid-term report.
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Reporting
Grantees will be required to submit a final report, with supporting documentation, by
March 15, 2016.
Please direct questions to the I Am Trenton THDC Small Grants Committee via email to
grants@iamtrenton.org or by phone to (515) 674-2127. When leaving a message, please be sure to
give us the following information:
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Your name and organization
Your phone number
That this is in reference to the THDC Small Grants Program
Whether you are a first time applicant
Your question or concern
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APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW
It is I Am Trenton Community Foundation’s objective to make the application process as simple as
possible.
Application materials
1. Applicants are required to complete the cover page, project narrative, and budget form
included in this package. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. The application is also
available electronically at http://www.iamtrenton.org/wp/thdc-small-grants-program/, and in
hard copy at the THDC Community Resource Center (CRC), located on the second floor of the
Carver Youth and Family Center (40 Fowler Street). Note that the THDC Small Grants
application differs from I Am Trenton’s regular application.
The proposal narrative should not exceed three pages including the project budget, in 12point font, with one-inch margins. Applications that exceed this limit will be disqualified.
Electronic submission is very strongly preferred. Additional information for submitting the
application in hard copy can be found below.
2. Required attachments
Applications lacking the necessary supporting documentation will be disqualified. Please read
this section carefully:
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Applicants who are 501(c)3 organizations must include an IRS letter indicating the group’s
tax-exempt status.
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A letter of support is required from all partner organizations whose facilities or staff are
necessary for the project. This does not mean that all venues must be reserved ahead of
time, but a basic agreement for specialized personnel or locations (schools, commercial
kitchens, etc.) should be included to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary
access to complete the project.
3. Optional attachments
All applicants may submit evidence of their prior work, particularly any work they’ve done in
the THDC neighborhood. This may include newspaper clippings, photographs, etc. Please limit
supporting materials to two pages only.
Review criteria
All proposals submitted by the application deadline will be reviewed by I Am Trenton’s Grants
Committee. The Grants Committee comprises at least five members of the Trenton community, each
of whom will be ineligible for funding. The Grants Committee will then make funding
recommendations to the THDC Small Grants Steering Committee.
During the application review, the I Am Trenton Grants Committee will consider:
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Need for the project: Is the project appropriate for the THDC neighborhood and its residents?
Does it clearly address a THDC priority issue area? Would it improve the perception of the
THDC neighborhood?
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Project outputs: Does the project have clear, measurable outputs that will result in meaningful
improvement in the THDC neighborhood?
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Project impact: Does the application fully explain the anticipated impact of its activities on the
THDC plan priority issue it purports to address? Does it adequately show how the project will
fit within the THDC Plan? Applicants should refer to the attached Overview of the THDC Plan.
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Budget and project sustainability: Is the budget realistic? Will the project be able to sustain
itself after this grant (if applicable)?
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Community connections: Does the project strengthen community connections within the
THDC neighborhood, and/or between THDC and the larger Trenton community? Does the
project involve collaboration with other organizations and have community support?
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Project feasibility: Given the current capacity of the applicant, is the project likely to be
completed?
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Capacity building and sustainability (especially for Amp grants): Does the application clearly
demonstrate how the grant will strengthen the applicant organization? Does it show how the
grant will enable the organization to seek and receive additional funding?
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SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
As discussed above, a complete application consists of:
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A completed cover page
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A completed application narrative
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A completed budget form
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501 (c)(3) letter for all amp grant applicants
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A letter of support from any organizations whose staff or facilities are integral to the project.
Please keep a copy of the completed application for your records.
Email: Submission by email is very strongly preferred. Please send an email to
grants@iamtrenton.org with all required application materials attached as one document in PDF
format.
Drop-off: Applications may be dropped off before the application deadline at the following
location:
The THDC Community Resource Center (CRC)
Located on the 2nd floor of the Carver Youth and Family Center
40 Fowler Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
The CRC’s working hours are Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Note that drop-off applications
cannot be accepted outside the CRC’s working hours, and that the application deadline is 12 p.m.
on Thursday, October 15. If you intend to drop off your application, we highly recommend that
you do so well before the deadline. Please ensure that your application is stamped, and that you
receive a receipt for it.
Mail: Applications sent by mail should be postmarked by the application deadline and addressed
to:
I Am Trenton Community Foundation – THDC Grants Committee
PO Box 1743
Trenton, NJ 08607-1743
The application deadline is 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on October 15, 2015.
Late applications will not be accepted.
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FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS – REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
If your project is awarded a grant, you will be required to do the following:
1. Sign a grant agreement. The governing members of the group and/or parties responsible for
carrying out the activities in the proposal must sign a grant agreement with I Am Trenton
Community Foundation before funds will be disbursed. If your project will receive its funding in
two installments, the date for an interim report and second funding request will be set in the
agreement. Grantees must also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Trenton Historic
Development Collaborative.
2. Retain all receipts. You will be required to submit them with your interim and final reports.
3. Document activities in the THDC neighborhood. This program is neighborhood-focused, and
should primarily benefit residents of the THDC neighborhood. Please create and keep
photographs, sign-in sheets, and any other documentation that prove this; you will be required
to submit them in your final report.
4. Submit your interim report. This is a short write-up (one page) telling us what you’ve gotten
done so far, what’s left to do, what (if any) challenges you’re facing, and how much you’ve spent.
Please attach a copy of all receipts so far, and any photos, flyers, etc. that give us a sense of how
the project is going. This interim report is required of all grantees. Any grantees who will
receive their funds in two installments must submit their report before the second installment
can be transferred.
5. Submit a final report. All THDC Small Grants recipients are required to submit a final report
within 15 days of completing their grant project. No new grant request will be considered until
an applicant has submitted their final report for an open grant. The final report must describe
the manner in which funds were spent, the progress made in accomplishing the grant outputs,
and the impact on the neighborhood.
The Final Report Package must include:
1. A grant narrative (2 pages maximum), that answers the following questions:
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Restate the outcomes you originally planned to achieve. Did you achieve them?
Explain how.
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How did you spend the grant funding?
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What did you learn through this project? Discuss any new relationships, skills, or
collaborations that you developed.
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What impact do you believe your project had on the priority issue you originally
aimed to address, and on the neighborhood as a whole?
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Will you continue the project? If so, how?
2. A financial summary (one page) listing all expenses. Please attach copies of all
receipts.
3. Documentation that activities took place in the THDC neighborhood and/or that the
primary beneficiaries were THDC residents.
4. Any other materials, such as newspaper stories that highlight the success of the project.
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THDC SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM – APPLICATION
SECTION 1: COVER PAGE
APPLICANT NAME:
APPLICANT TYPE: ___ORGANIZATION ___INDIVIDUAL ___COLLECTIVE/GROUP
CONTACT PERSON:
TITLE (IF APPLICABLE):
MAILING ADDRESS:
EMAIL:
PHONE:
GRANT TYPE (please select one):
___Base grant (up to $500) ___Strength grant (up to $2,500) ___Amp grant (up to $5,000)
PROJECT TITLE:
BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRIORITY ISSUE (PLEASE SELECT ONE):
During the community planning process, community members identified the following as the top
four priority issues that need to be addressed in the neighborhood. Please select one issue that
most closely aligns with your proposed project:
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YOUTH SERVICES
Includes recreation, computer literacy, civic engagement, college prep, after school programs,
non-violent conflict resolution, youth entrepreneurship, etc.
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EDUCATION
Includes basic life skills, financial literacy, parenting skills, neighborhood and cultural history,
etc.
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SAFETY
Includes interventions that address crime, drugs, poor lighting, safety in specific locations,
safety in recreational areas, etc.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Includes job training, access to employment, local goods and services, entrepreneurship, etc.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO BE SERVED:
TOTAL:
IN THE THDC NEIGHBORHOOD:
FUNDS REQUESTED FROM THE THDC SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM:
TOTAL COST OF YOUR PROJECT:
WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION’S ANNUAL BUDGET?:
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS GRANT?
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SECTION 2: PROJECT NARRATIVE
1. APPLICANT OVERVIEW (150 words max):
Tell us about yourself. If you are applying as an organization, please provide a brief overview of
your organization (mission, vision, leadership, structure, year of incorporation, tax status, etc.).
If you are applying as an individual or non-incorporated group, please tell us briefly about your
background and reasons for applying.
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION (300 words max):
Please provide a description of your project. Be sure to address all of the following questions (in
any order):
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What are the activities?
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Why is this project important?
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Who will be doing what?
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Where will the activities take place?
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How many people will be served? How many will be residents of the THDC?
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How will you document that activities take place in the THDC neighborhood, or directly
benefit THDC residents?
3. PROJECT OUTPUTS (150 words max):
State clearly the tangible, visible results your project will achieve. Wherever possible, please
quantify your outputs.
4. PROJECT IMPACT (150 words max)
Please discuss what impact your project will have on the priority issue you identified in Section
1 above, and how it fits into the THDC Plan (see “Overview of the THDC Plan”, attached.) How
will you measure this impact?
5. CHALLENGES (100 words max)
Please discuss any challenges you foresee that may impact your ability to complete the project.
How will you address them? Note any relevant experience that you/your organization has.
6. PARTNERSHIPS (100 words max)
Please indicate any other organizations or individuals that you will collaborate with on this
project, and their role. Are they located within the THDC neighborhood?
Note: If a partner’s staff or facilities are integral to the project, please attach a letter of support.
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7. BUDGET
Please fill out the attached Budget Form for your project. List anticipated expenses in detail,
including the hours and rates of any staff or consultants.
Indicate whether any of these expenses will be funded through sources other than this grant.
For outside funding sources, please indicate whether the funds are:
 “Certain” (you have them or have a guarantee that you will get them),
 “Probable” (you’ve asked for them and have a reasonable expectation that they’ll come
through)
 “Requested” (you’ve asked, but have no guarantee you’ll get them).
Expense
Amount
Source of funds
Status
Total project cost
Requested from THDC
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