Neighborhood Matching Fund

In 1988, the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) was created to provide matching dollars for neighborhood improvement, organizing, or projects developed and implemented by community members. Central to NMF is the community match which requires awardees to match their award with contributions from the community whether as volunteer time, donated materials, donated professional services, or cash.  

Since NMF's creation, more than 5,000 community projects throughout Seattle have received over $64 million in funding and generated an additional $72 million from community match.

Who We Fund

Neighborhood groups, community organizations, informal groups, and business groups who want to do a project to build stronger community connections are encouraged to apply.

All applicant groups must be open and inclusive, actively engage diverse community members, and be significantly composed of people who live and/or work in Seattle.

What We Fund

We fund a variety of unique and creative community projects. To be eligible for funding, a project must:

• involve community members in creating and completing the project; 
• create community improvements;
• be free and open to all members of the public;
• be feasible and ready to begin within 1-2 months from the award date;
• demonstrate community match;
• occur within the Seattle city limits;
• not have received NMF funding within the last two years. (applies only to events)

Community Review

Fill out an application to become a community reviewer.

Informational Workshops

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is hosting three virtual workshops in 2025 to assist community organizations and neighborhood groups interested in getting funding for their ideas. We encourage you to join the meeting but if you are not able to make it we have a recording of the workshop available below and a Q&A that will be updated after every workshop.

RSVP for a workshop with this form.

January 14, 2025, 10-11:30am

• Click here to join the meeting
  Meeting ID: 211 477 738 868 
• Or call in (audio only)
  1 (206) 686-8357,,656954406#

January 25, 2025, 10-11:30am

• Click here to join the meeting
  Meeting ID:  211 286 762 789 
• Call in (audio only)
  1 (206) 686-8357,,218415138#

Febuary 12, 2025, 6-7:30pm

• Click here to join the meeting
  Meeting ID: 242 062 893 550 
• Or call in (audio only)
  1 (206) 686-8357,,440916058# 

Types of Funding