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1. What types of projects may be funded?

Public and Community Improvements: physical construction/improvement projects. Examples include but are not limited to: murals/public art, benches, park improvements/repairs, community clean-ups, tree planting, graffiti removal, community, school or service club project, signage, creek restoration and neighborhood gardens.

Community Practices: activities that create or enhance the sense of community among individuals within a regional area or within a group that shares a common interest. Examples include: neighborhood leadership development trainings, community leadership trainings, formation of a neighborhood association, etc.

2021 Focus Areas

All grant applications must align with City Council goals and priorities: 

City Council Goal #7: Foster neighborhood partnerships and strengthen cultural assets. 

General Community Building Project Ideas:

• Community gardens – creation or cleanup
• Community cleanup day
• Art projects
• Memorial projects (e.g. bench or plaque purchase and installation)
• Youth-led projects
• Neighborhood group development (e.g. neighborhood association creation, neighborhood communications creation, neighborhood leadership development, etc.)

Crises Response Priorities Project Ideas:

1. Economic Resiliency, including Childcare. Examples: COVID-19 response/recovery (e.g. food and/or clothing distribution, community gardens, school supply distribution, etc.)
2. Homelessness - programs may be funded if they align with City of Santa Rosa goals and services for homelessness. If doing a food or clothing distribution, you must partner with a homeless services agency.
3. Public Safety Priorities and Reform. Examples: Disaster preparedness (e.g. creation of go-bags/emergency kits, etc.)
4. Organizational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Examples: Art projects (e.g. mural creation, crosswalk or street murals; quilt making; yarn bombing, etc.); racial equity and social justice trainings; community conversations on race, etc.

2. Who may apply?

Nonprofits, neighborhood groups and/or associations, homeowner associations, service clubs, community groups and /or organizations, and schools may apply to fund a project in Santa Rosa. However, applicants do not have to have an established organization to apply for the funds. Any large or small group of neighbors or community members who want to improve where they live can apply for these grants. The funds may be used to improve a street, block, neighborhood, or community.

3. What expenses are eligible for reimbursement through the CIG Program Grant?

Eligible Grant Expenses include contractor fees, supplies, equipment rentals, permit and insurance fees or costs, other permits related to the project, project supplies and materials, tools, and/or food (see Appendix A for a sample budget).

Costs that are not reimbursable by CIG funds include:

• Costs incurred prior to grant award;
• Indirect costs, ongoing operational costs, or overhead business expenses like rent, mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, or office supplies;
• Ongoing maintenance, upkeep, landscaping and repairs;
• Fundraising;
• Staff salaries;
• Membership dues;
• New business seed money;
• Individual training or education; and
• Travel

4. What is a grant match and how much is required?

CIG funds must be matched by funds from other sources that meet or exceed your grant request. These may be actual funds or in-kind donations (e.g. donated supplies, volunteer hours, etc.).  All projects MUST demonstrate a 1:1 match. For example, a project requesting a $500 grant must have a minimum of $500 in matching funds, for a total project budget of $1,000. The maximum grant amount is $2,500. However, there is no maximum match funds amount. Please make sure to list all actual funds or in-kind donations going into your project.

Donated cash, labor, materials or equipment (or any combination) qualifies as matching funds. This includes volunteer hours. Materials should be valued at market rate, equipment should be based on actual rental rates, and volunteer labor should be valued at $22.14 per hour per person.  

5. What are eligible matching funds?

Donated cash, labor, materials or equipment (or any combination) qualifies as matching funds. This includes volunteer hours. Materials should be valued at market rate, equipment should be based on actual rental rates, and volunteer labor should be valued at $22.14 per hour per person.

6. What are the eligibility criteria for the grant application evaluation?

1. Community Building – the Community Improvement Grant Program is designed to support community building, strengthen neighborhoods, and build relationships among residents through public improvement projects and community events and practices throughout Santa Rosa.
2. Project Team – Volunteers and project partners are a significant component of this process. Applications should reference the partnering organizations, individuals, and associations who are involved in the project. If there are questions about possible partnerships, contact your CAB representative for information before completing this application. CAB webpage: www.srcity.org/CAB. 
3. Community Support – Projects must have clear neighborhood and community support. Projects should demonstrate this support and what value this project will add to the community. Support may be demonstrated through letters of support or petition.
4. Budget – The budget should be well thought out, reasonable, and realistic. Applicants are encouraged to explore other supplemental funding sources to show diverse support for the project.
5. Project Reach – Geographical sphere of influence or a social sphere of influence, description of how many people will benefit from your project. 
6. Environmental Consciousness – Projects should reflect environmental consciousness regarding materials, energy, and conservation.
7. Accessibility – Community Improvement Grants (CIG) can best serve the community by making each project funded through CIG as broadly accessible as possible. This means creating opportunities for people of all abilities and thinking expansively about how to be widely inclusive, welcoming, and collaborative. All projects funded by the CIG grant program need to meet these requirements.