Neighborhood associations can select if they would like to have their Grant funds paid directly by the City to vendors for services and/or goods for a grant-funded neighborhood event or series of events, or if they would like to pay for the event costs and then receive reimbursement from the City upon providing proof of payment for services and/or goods, or a combination of both.

Applications must include appropriate evidence of neighborhood engagement in selecting and supporting the event or series of events applied for, in addition to a defined plan for measuring desired outcomes.

Applications submitted by Associations not previously awarded grant funding for an event or series of events will receive additional consideration to expand the reach of the Program. However, previous grant recipients are also encouraged to submit new Applications. All events must be completed between the execution of the grant agreement and the end of the fiscal year. Expenses to be covered by the grant cannot be expended until the grant agreement has been signed.

Only Associations whose neighborhood boundaries are located entirely within the City of Fort Wayne and are registered with the Department of Neighborhoods may submit Applications. You can review your registration status here.

All voluntary neighborhood association or homeowner’s association Applicants must be registered with the Indiana Secretary of State and provide your Articles of Incorporation. You can review your state registration here.

All voluntary neighborhood association or homeowner’s association Applicants must be a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit business and provide your IRS determination letter. You can review the IRS status of your organization here.

All voluntary neighborhood association or homeowner’s association Applicants must have or be able to obtain “General Liability” and “Directors & Officers” insurance coverages. If you do not already have these insurance coverages, the grant can cover the expense for you to obtain a 1-year policy which must be included within your application Budget and the total amount in requested funds.

All documents submitted by the Association to the City are subject to open records requests.

Decisions made by the City regarding the acceptance or rejection of an Application and the eligibility of a Project are final and not subject to appeal.

Only completed Applications may be submitted. Incomplete Applications will be rejected. A point system for rating the Applications has been designed to identify and reward original, deliberative, comprehensive responses to each section of the Application. Associations are encouraged to become knowledgeable about the Application process by attending one (1) of the two (2) Program workshops or meeting with the Program Grant Administrator prior to submitting their Applications.

Each Section of the Application will be scored separately and the total score for each Application will be considered independently and in comparison, to the scoring of other Applications. Additionally, each Application will be reviewed to determine the extent to which a Project can achieve the following benchmarks:

• Application includes a comprehensive plan for significant neighborhood involvement in the selection and implementation of the event or series of events.
• Application shows opportunity for residents to participate, assume leadership roles, and/or develop new skills.
• Application demonstrates neighborhood organizational capacity building and how it will be measured.
• Application shows how event or event series will strengthen or build new partnerships with public/private entities and community groups.
• Application contains letters of support, pledges of volunteer services, and/or other evidence of broad neighborhood support.
• Application clearly and specifically identifies issues to be addressed and resolved through event or event series.
• Application illustrates commitment to seek creative and workable neighborhood solutions.
• Application shows how event or event series will benefit a significant number of neighborhood residents.
• Application demonstrates improved health, safety, or quality of life for neighborhood residents.
• Application contains a well-defined scope, timeline, goals, detailed phases, measurable outcomes and will be completed by the end of the fiscal year.
• Application demonstrates awareness of required permits and/or approvals from applicable City departments or property owners
• Application explains how the event or event series has a high level of visibility, impact, and is accessible to all neighborhood residents.
• Application exhibits a realistic plan and budget
• The contractors, vendors, and/or suppliers required for event or event series have been identified
• Application illustrates additional support for the event or event series through cash and in-kind contributions from neighborhood residents, businesses, community groups and others.
• Application indicates a defined, desired outcome with a plan for measuring those outcomes.
• If Application request is to fund a previously held, or annual program or event, the Application will show a significant expansion of those existing programs or events.

To be considered for a Program Grant, the event or series of events must fit within one (1) of the following categories: (1) Community Celebration, (2) Educational Opportunity, (3) Reaching Residents, and (4) Working Together.

• Community Celebration – Bring people together for fun times! Block parties, porch parties, holiday get-togethers, annual celebrations, community concerts, etc.
• Educational Opportunity – Create learning opportunities for your residents! Workshops, classes, presentations: home repair, how to be a good neighbor, gardening, utilizing city resources, physical fitness, mental wellness, etc.
• Reaching Residents –Focus on improving the quality of life for your residents! Resource fairs, food or clothing drives, compassion-driven or life-enrichment programs, partnership programming with schools or other organizations in your neighborhood.
• Working Together – Roll up your sleeves to tackle community needs! Volunteer led clean-up events, gardening or tree planting events, helping neighbors with projects, revitalization/ repair programs, etc.

The award of a program grant is conditioned upon the review, unconditional approval, and, if applicable, permitting of the event or series of events by all municipal departments and divisions and private sector entities having jurisdiction over the event location. For example, an event being hosted in a public park, will need to seek permitting from the Parks and Recreation Department, a block party will need a barricade permit from the Department of Public Works, etc.

Projects may not promote, advance, depict, or include any religious or political belief, practice, or affiliation or any derogatory reference. Projects may not promote discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, gender identification, sexual orientation, or disability. Routine maintenance or infrastructure projects are not eligible for Program Grant funding. High-risk activities are not eligible. Current bylaws and covenants of an association are required.

Program Grant recipients shall maintain timely and responsive communications with the Project Grant Administrator. Failure to do so may result in recission of a Grant Award.

• Community Celebration – Bring people together for fun times! Block parties, porch parties, holiday get-togethers, annual celebrations, community concerts, etc.

Examples of Community Celebration

• Educational Opportunity – Create learning opportunities for your residents! Workshops, classes, presentations: home repair, how to be a good neighbor, gardening, utilizing city resources, physical fitness, mental wellness, etc.

Educational Opportunity Examples

• Reaching Residents –Focus on improving the quality of life for your residents! Resource fairs, food or clothing drives, compassion-driven or life-enrichment programs, partnership programming with schools or other organizations in your neighborhood.
  Reaching Residents Examples

• Working Together – Roll up your sleeves to tackle community needs! Volunteer led clean-up events, gardening or tree planting events, helping neighbors with projects, revitalization/ repair programs, etc.

Working Together Examples