Fondo partido de Vecindad (NMF)

Are you planning a community focused project? You may be eligible for a small match loan through the Neighborhood Match Fund (NMF)!
The NMF awards contracts to community members' neighborhood focused projects. The NMF program seeks to fund projects that:
  • Identify, develop and network residents
  • Build stronger connections among residents and in their neighborhoods
  • Address and promote social justice
  • Benefit the public

Check your eligibility

NMF contract recipients are:
  • Grand Rapids residents
  • Informal resident groups (e.g. block clubs)
  • Community-based grassroots organizations
NMF funded projects must be led by Grand Rapids residents from the community of project impact.  NMF contracts are between $200 and $2,500. The amount we awards depends on the amount requested, project scope, alignment with NMF objectives and NMF balance. Our committee review applications quarterly.

About NMF funds

When you're awarded NMF funds, you're contracted to match the contract. This means for every dollar we award, you must match with any combination of:
  • Volunteer labor
  • In-kind goods and services
  • Cash donations
For example, a NMF contract for $500 could be matched with:
  • $100 worth of volunteer labor (valued at $20/hour)
  • $300 of in-kind/donated materials (e.g. food, supplies)
  • $100 cash donation from a local business or from a grant

NMF projects should have a clear purpose focused on community.The project should align with one or more of the following:

  • Improve public peace, health or safety
  • Civic, artistic or cultural activities
  • Maintain public parks or recreational facilities
  • Advance historical interest in the City

All projects must:

  • Take place in Grand Rapids city limits
  • Align with the NMF purpose and objectives
  • Abide by City ordinances and policies

Projects aren't able to use funds for the following:

  • Anything that financially benefits City of Grand Rapids staff, City Commissioners or Appointed/Elected Officials
  • Staff salary/wage expenses
  • Lobbying efforts
  • Buying alcohol
  • Increasing the cost to the City for the maintenance of the project or for any other reason
  • Events with admission or other fees 

The fiduciary is the individual or organization that handles the project finances. They're the project finance manager. The fiduciary will need to register with the City as a vendor. Keep in mind that we're not able to send you checks until the fiduciary is registered.

If you aren't able to secure a fiduciary or prefer not to, don't worry! You can be the fiduciary for your NMF project. That means you'll be responsible for handling the NMF funds. You'll keep track of expenses and match contributions throughout the project. Once the project is done you'll report these amounts. You're responsible for making sure your match contributions are equal to or greater than your NMF contract amount.

You'll have to register with the City of Grand Rapids as a vendor. The process takes time, so make sure you start when you apply for the NMF. Click here to register as a vendor.

We partner with local nonprofits to serve as NMF fiduciaries. You can use these fiduciaries for free. Keep in mind that they serve other NMF projects and may be at capacity. They may choose to not provide services if your project doesn't align with their mission.
Here are the NMF fiduciary organizations:

 

Access of West Michigan

Christina Swiney

616-774-2175 ext.7

christina@accessofwestmichigan.org

 

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County

Bend Johnson

616-588-5237

bjohnson@habitatkent.org

 

LINC UP

Jackie Hernandez

(se habla español)

616-451-9140

jacklyn@lincrev.org

 

Westside Collaborative

Isabel García

(se habla español)

616-451-4215 ext.103

isabel@westsidegr.com

 

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

Kimberly Craycraft

616-855-9669

kcraycraft@grymca.org

Throughout the project, the financial manager (fiduciary) will need to track NMF contract expenses and match contributions. We'll ask you to report on these in the NMF Closing Report form.

Match contributions

Use these forms to track match volunteer hours:

NMF expenses 

Make sure to keep receipts to reference when reporting expenses. You don't need to enter individual amounts, but we'll ask for the total amount paid to each business/vendor.

Each NMF expense should fall into one of these expense types:

  • Fiduciary fee: If you hired a fiduciary, the amount you paid for them to manage project finances
  • Service: Amount paid to a business/vendor for contracted services (food, permit fees, event activity, etc.)
  • Supplies and materials: Amount paid for items purchased for the project

We'll ask for a basic description of each expense. These should show that the expense connects to the project and documentation.

Start taking photos early!

We'll ask you to submit at least 5 photos at the end of your project. This is a crucial part of documenting your journey! Your photos will be used to show what NMF projects look like. These can be photos of event activities, project before and after photos, group photos, etc.

 

You can only have one active NMF contract per applicant and project lead. All reports and paperwork is due before you're able to apply for a new NMF contract. 

Here are the NMF project team roles:

Applicant

An individual, informal group or nonprofit organization proposing the project. The applicant may also be the project lead/contract.

Project lead/contact

The Grand Rapids resident leading the project. This individual must be from the community that the project impacts. They're the main contact with NMF staff. They're responsible for completing the project and submitting the closing report.

Fiduciary

An individual or nonprofit organization located in Grand Rapids. The fiduciary helps with financial bookkeeping and reporting. The NMF check is written and sent to the fiduciary.