Neighborhood Services

Neighborhood Social Event Grants

We believe that citizens are our most valuable resource and it is our goal to promote positive neighboring activities and neighborhood improvements by providing financial assistance through neighborhood grants.

How much funding is available?

Up to $400 is available to fund individual neighborhood events. The funding is available in two categories:

• Food - up to $150 per event to help defray the cost to purchase items that your neighbors can eat at the event
• Facilities and Fun - up to $250 per event to help defray costs such as: renting a tent, tables, chairs, or a pavillion, and for entertainment costs such as a band, facepainter, bounce house, or art supplies.

What types of activities are eligible?

Eligible activities may include:

• Block parties
• Potlucks
• Educational get-togethers
• Neighborhood clean-ups
• Ice cream socials

Ineligible activities include:

• Political campaigning
• Alcohol or marijuana purchases
• Purchasing paper products or bottled water
• Homeowner association business expenses
• Improvements to private property
• Purchasing lanscaping plants or materials

How are Applications Evaluated?

Grant applications are evaluated by the neighborhood grant committee using the following criteria and rating system:

Grant Terms and Conditions

• All grants must be utilized for projects benefiting the entire neighborhood; the application will require effort be shown to include all neighbors.
• Grants must be submitted by neighborhood residents or residential associations, such as HOAs.
• No more than $500 will be granted to a neighborhood in a calendar year. “Neighborhood” will be considered a 500 foot radius from grant recipient’s address for this requirement.
• Special event permits are required for all events involving street closure. Special event permits typically require six (6) weeks for approval. Forms are available at fcgov.com/police/events-permits.php or contact Police Services at (970) 221-6540.
• Signed permission is required if event is held on private property. Signatures will be collected after applications have been reviewed.
• Receipts and an evaluation must be submitted to Neighborhood Services within 2 weeks following program or event.
• Grant funds may only be used to pay for expenses listed in grant application and approved by grant committee.
• Events will not be considered for funding retroactively.
• Unless requested and approved prior to an event, grant funds will not be disbursed until after receipts, invoices, or other evidence of expenditures has been submitted
• Neighborhood Services must be contacted in advance if the date or location of a funded event is changed
• Late applications will not be considered.

Please note: Grant monies cannot be paid to a City of Fort Collins employee.

Award

Notification of awards will be by email unless requested otherwise. The notification will include a contract between the City and the Coordinator, which will require a return to Neighborhood Services. The contract must be received by Neighborhood Services before the application receives final approval.

Payment will be issued after projects and events have been completed, and receipts and evaluation have been submitted to Neighborhood Services.  Thought should be put into planning in order to allow time for checks to be written and administered to neighborhoods.  Checks may not arrive until six (6) weeks after receipts and the evaluation have been received.

Considerations for project enhancement

If your project or event is associated with conservation or environmental sustainability efforts, there may be other City programs that could assist with funding or supplies for your neighborhood. We recommend exploring those possibilities and potentially combining resources. Multiple service areas offer incentives, rebates, classes, or supplies for such efforts. The Utilities rebate program as well as the City's Environmental Services department may assist you in beginning your search.

Form W9

A Form W9 must be submitted to Neighborhood Services if your grant application receives preliminary approval. Applicants will need to complete and submit the form even if they have submitted one in the past. This is for City of Fort Collins tax purposes only. It is notnecessary to report this on a tax return as these funds are not considered income.  The Form W9 must be received by Neighborhood Services before the application receives final approval.

Please note:  the address on the W-9 and the entity (personal, HOA or other) that completes the W-9 is to whom the check will be written and the location to which the check will be mailed.  There will be no exceptions to this standard.  Previous W-9 forms will not be adequate for this requirement.