Background and Overview 

Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) seeks to formally partner with local residents to support their neighborhood development and community building work. The Strong Neighborhoods focus area of Prosper Lincoln 2.0 seeks to support and equip neighborhood stakeholders (residents, businesses owners and employees, other individuals who identify themselves as a member of the neighborhood) to achieve neighborhood development goals. 

There are several organizations that are actively working with local neighborhoods for this purpose, including Civic Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed, Lincoln Community Learning Centers, NeighborWorks Lincoln, and Lutheran Family Services. Community Builders and Organizers from these organizations independently facilitate community organizing, planning, and implementation efforts alongside neighborhood residents; these individuals also coordinate and collaborate as a part of a Community Builder Coalition. 

Guidelines

• Applications must be for neighborhood-based, resident-led programs and projects to include but not be limited to: 

  • Neighborhood events that bring residents together and strengthen relationships in communities.

  • Projects that enhance the safety, beauty or social connections within a neighborhood. 

  • Development of leadership skills and roles of neighborhood residents.

  • Incorporation of community, residents, and/or neighborhood engagement will be prioritized.  Comment end   

• Ideas from previously funded projects through Collective Impact Lincoln: 

  • Little free library/pantry, 

  • Music festival, 

  • Tree plantings, 

  • Community gardening/flower beds, 

  • Community art project, 

  • Neighborhood festivals.

• Grants may NOT be used for the following: 

  • Private programs or events, including private religious celebrations, 

  • Political activities,
    

  • Fundraising activities,

  • Alcohol, tobacco, or gaming (including raffles or other games of chance),

  • Inflatables and bounce houses. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Maximum grant per activity/project is $2,500. 

• Neighborhood organizations/groups that are located within the city limits of Lincoln, Neb. 

  • These can be formal neighborhood associations, School Neighborhood Advisory Committees at Community Learning Center schools, or informal groups of neighborhood residents that meet regularly.

• Neighborhoods where a member of the Community Builder Coalition is currently working.

• If you receive a stipend, this may be considered taxable income. Civic Nebraska will require a completed W9 tax form.

Application Process

Civic Nebraska will manage the grant application process and pay awarded grants to neighborhood groups. Grants will be advanced, not paid on a reimbursement basis. 

• Applications are submitted via Google form through the Civic Nebraska website on a rolling basis. 

• The Community Builder Coalition will review applications approximately monthly.

• Groups awarded Strong Neighborhoods Grants will be required to submit a brief report to Civic Nebraska at the end of their project and submit receipts for purchases made with grant funds.

Contact

For more information or if you have questions, please contact Lily Sughroue at li***********@ci***********.org.