12 Promise Zone Mini Grants awarded, two more rounds expected this year

The first round of Promise Zone Mini Grants have been awarded, and 12 organizations serving Promise Zone residents will receive funds from the Promise Zone Achieving Capacity Together (ACT) program.

Early in 2015, the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia awarded $15,000 to the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) to launch a Promise Zone Mini-Grant initiative.

Organizations that received awards included civic associations looking to build capacity, nonprofits seeking to upgrade equipment, and business development programs, along with organizations that plan to increase free community meals, provide assistance to immigrant communities and support after school educational programs. The purpose of the grant program is to enable smaller organizations (501(c)3s or Registered Community Organizations, with a budget of less than $500,000) to achieve a variety of goals, including communicating with residents, providing services, and making neighborhood improvements. The award amount ranges between $500 and $2,500.

First round grantees include:

1. Belmont Civic Alliance
2. ICPIC New Africa Center
3. Lancaster Ave 21st Century Business Association
4. Mantua Civic Association
5. Mill Creek Advisory Council
6. Mill Creek Farm
7. The Men of Mill Creek
8. Metropolitan Baptist Church
9. Modar Patshala
10. Transfiguration Baptist Church
11. Scribe Video Center
12. Spiral Q

Applicants that were not awarded funds in the first round can apply for round two, and can contact promise.zone@phila.gov to get feedback on their application and ways that they can more closely align with Promise Zone priorities.

There are two more grant cycles planned through 2015. The next round of applications is due on September 4, 2015.

Image via Flickr User Kaitlin