The Small Sparks Fund provides awards up to $1,000 to support community members in becoming civically engaged. Projects can include neighborhood organizing, membership expansion or numerous other types of activities. All projects must demonstrate its capacity to build a stronger and healthier community, and must:

• Provide a public benefit and be free and open to all members of the public.
• Emphasize self-help, with project ideas initiated, planned and implemented by the neighbors and community members who will themselves be impacted by the project.
• Demonstrate community match.
• Occur within the Seattle city limits.

To see the latest round of Small Sparks Fund awards, click here. To search all NMF projects, click here .

Who Should Apply
The Small Sparks Fund is open to formal and informal neighborhood and grassroots community groups with annual organizational budgets of less than $25,000. (If a group does not have a tax identification number, it must use a fiscal sponsor for funding requests more than $600.)

When to Apply
Applications are accepted year-round and must be received by the Neighborhood Matching Fund office at least six weeks prior to the start of the project. Applicants are notified of award decision within two weeks of application submission.

How to Apply
Before applying, carefully review the application guidelines. To apply, use the Small Sparks Fund application form.

Questions?
For more information about the Small Sparks Fund, contact your Neighborhood District Coordinator or a Neighborhood Matching Fund project manager.