Background and Overview 

Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) seeks to partner with local residents to support their neighborhood development and community building work. What began during Prosper Lincoln 2.0’s Strong Neighborhoods pillar, which aimed to support and equip neighborhood stakeholders to achieve neighborhood development goals, has extended into Prosper Lincoln 3.0’s Connections pillar, to better connect residents and neighborhood leaders for a vibrant and thriving community.  

There are several organizations that are actively working with local neighborhoods for this purpose, including Civic Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed, Lincoln Public Schools  Community Learning Centers, NeighborWorks Lincoln, Belmont Community Center, Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, Lincoln City Libraries, Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, and the Lincoln Neighborhood Alliance. 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 community/neighborhood-based, resident-led programs and projects to include but not be limited to:

  • Community/Neighborhood events that bring residents together to grow and strengthen relationships. Events should be free to attend and promoted broadly to the intended community. 

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

  • Development of leadership skills and roles of community residents.

  • Incorporation of community intent, resident voice, and/or neighbor engagement will be prioritized.   Comment end 

• Examples of previously funded projects include: 

• Creation of little free library/pantry

• Music festival

• Tree plantings

• Community gardening/flower beds

• Community art project

• Neighborhood festivals, skill sharing events, or workshops

• Grants may NOT be used for the following:

  • Private programs or events, including private religious celebrations

  • Partisan 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. 

• Community/Neighborhood organizations or 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. 

  • Local nonprofits with operating budgets of over $100,000 are not eligible.

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

• Applicant organizations may apply once every calendar year.  

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. In addition, recipients will be asked to complete a brief evaluation survey.  

Contact

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