CITYWIDE

CITYWIDE GRANTS

I Am Trenton Community Foundation was founded to put resources where they matter most — on the ground. What makes Trenton even better every day is the tireless commitment of people who care — people who teach their neighbors about flooding, throw festivals, help trauma victims heal, plant trees, clean their neighborhoods, teach kids robotics, install bike pumps and mini-libraries, lead yoga workshops, record oral histories, make films, and still find time to have fun with their friends. Our citywide grants support this sort of work, and provide a way for someone with a great idea to test it out.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday, July 9th at 11:59pm.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION QUESTIONS HERE

TIMELINE

– Applications will be released on June 4th.
– Technical workshops will be held at the Trenton Free Public Library (120 Academy Street, Trenton, NJ 08608) on Saturday, June 22nd at 10am and Wednesday, June 26th at 6pm. Attendance is required at one of these workshops in order to be eligible to apply.
– The application deadline is July 9th at 11:59 pm.
– We expect to notify applicants of whether their application was accepted or rejected by the final week of August.
– Projects are expected to run from September 7, 2019 to September 7, 2020. There will be an award event at which approved grantees will receive their checks, to provide everyone an opportunity to meet and mingle.

WORKSHOPS

A representative from the grant proposal must attend one of the mandatory workshops listed below. Workshops will be held at the Trenton Free Public Library (120 Academy Street, Trenton, NJ 08608):
– Saturday, June 22, 10:00 AM
– Wednesday, June 26, 6:00 PM

WHO CAN APPLY

In this grant cycle, we will accept and review proposals from individuals, groups, and organizations regardless of incorporation status. Please note that successful applicants whose projects are funded and who do not have 501(c)3 status may be required to secure a fiscal sponsor in order to receive their grant.

GRANT AWARDS

We do not put a cap on the amount you can apply for, but most I Am Trenton citywide grants have been in the range of $700-$1500, and rarely exceed $2500. We are working very hard to raise more resources so that we can increase this amount, and the neighborhood-focused grants in THDC and East Trenton have allowed for larger grants thanks to partner funding. At present, however, we encourage applicants to think low-cost and high-impact, where this approximate level of funding makes a real difference — a pilot project to test an approach, a resource that will increase your program or organizational capacity, a way to make an existing program more inclusive to an under-served community, etc. All grantees are required to sign a grant agreement before they can be funded, and to submit a progress report and final report with financials and receipts.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

Our main requirements are that projects have a community benefit and that they be for Trenton. In that regard, applicants are gently reminded that we are the I Am Trenton Community Foundation. Projects have to be Trenton focused, have a Trenton impact, and really be about Trenton, NJ. We get a lot of fantastic Trenton-focused proposals that we have to turn down due to limited resources, so if your project is not actually for Trenton, please don’t send it to us.

WHAT WE DO NOT FUND

There are a few types of projects that I Am Trenton Community Foundation cannot fund:
• Projects or organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
• Debt reduction or on-going operational support
• Capital campaigns or fundraising events
• Re-granting programs or scholarships
• Partisan political activities, lobbying, or efforts to influence an election
• Religious activities such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing. Religious organizations are welcome to apply for non-denominational activities that are open to all and do not require participation in religious activities or the profession of a specific religious belief.