Guidelines

Neighborhood Grants Program

The Neighborhood Grants Program has three funds:

• The Village Neighborhoods Fund which provides grants for community building projects ranging from $10,000 - $75,000
• The Jabara Learning Opportunities Fund which supports sending individuals or groups to community building conferences, workshops and trainings.

What we Fund

The Neighborhood Grants Program funds programs or strategies that:

• Strengthen and expand health, environmental, educational, and family resources;
• Foster opportunities for ownership and building assets through economic and business development;
• Create vibrant places and spaces which express and enhance the cultures and environment of the community; and/or
• Strengthen the ability of the community to get things done and include the voice of all residents in decision-making, advocacy, and planning.

Values

We review requests for funding according to how they demonstrate one or more of the following community building values:

• Resident involvement in planning, decision-making, and implementation
• Cross-cultural understanding and representation
• Grassroots leadership development
• Cooperation among residents, businesses, and community-based organizations
• Ongoing assessments of what's working and not working
• Commitment to applying what's learned to future strategies
• Economic opportunity
• Connections of resources from inside and outside The Village at Market Creek neighborhoods

How to Apply

Each fund has its own application process. Applications are available at the Jacobs Center or can be downloaded from the Jacobs Family Foundation website.

Before applying, we encourage you to discuss your project with us. Successful projects have clear answers to the following questions:

• What do you want to do and why?
• What results are you looking for and how will you know if you have achieved them?
• What kind of resources do you need?
• How will you share what you've learned?

If you have questions, please contact the Neighborhood Grants Program Assistant at 619-527-6161.

The Review Process

All Village Neighborhoods Fund proposals are initially screened within 30 days of receipt. As a hands-on funder committed to building long-term relationships, Grants Team members get to know the people and their work through a process that includes phone calls, site visits, and open discussion. The full review process can take up to 120 days. Final decisions are made by the Board of Directors at quarterly meetings. Proposals for the Spirit of the Diamond and Jabara Learning Funds are reviewed monthly.

Reporting

When a grant is approved, a letter accompanies funding which outlines reporting requirements. The Village Neighborhoods Grants require quarterly project review meetings and progress reports at six months and one year of the grant funding. Spirit of the Diamond and Jabara Learning Opportunities require final reports within 30 days of project end.