SPARC Neighborhood Community Fund

The Neighborhood Community Fund, administered by Adams County, Colorado, is a locally focused initiative aimed at empowering residents and grassroots organizations to improve their neighborhoods through inclusive, community-driven projects. Created as part of Adams County’s SPARC (Strengthening Partnerships and Community Resilience) program, the fund promotes civic participation, collaboration, and a sense of belonging within neighborhoods. This grant opportunity is rooted in the belief that when residents are given the tools and resources to enact change, they can create lasting improvements that benefit entire communities. This fund supports a variety of projects that align with one or more of the program’s priority areas: fostering connection and belonging, enhancing physical appearance, promoting sustainability and resiliency, and increasing community engagement and service. Project types are varied and include everything from block parties and clean-up days to more involved neighborhood beautification efforts, community gardens, and leadership development initiatives. The goal is to offer residents and neighborhood groups the means to design and implement creative, responsive solutions to local challenges and opportunities. Funding categories are clearly defined and tiered based on project scope. Community Events can receive up to $400, Neighborhood Experiences up to $800, Capacity Building and Organizing projects up to $1,000, and larger Neighborhood Projects can receive as much as $3,000. Applicants must demonstrate varying degrees of community support depending on the funding tier, such as partnership with an eligible nonprofit or HOA, volunteer commitment from local residents, or formal support from neighborhood associations. Applications are only eligible if events are scheduled to take place at least six weeks after submission and do not involve prohibited uses such as religious activities, private property improvements, or political campaigning. The submission process involves five stages: application submission, funding notification, disbursement of funds or materials, project implementation, and a post-project evaluation. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a review committee meeting on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Notification of funding decisions is sent within three business days following the meeting. Approved applicants must demonstrate project readiness through documentation such as event confirmations or invoices before funds or materials are released. Projects must be completed within six months of approval, and recipients must complete a post-project evaluation and submit photos and feedback within two weeks of project completion. Applications are evaluated on four core criteria: community impact, promotion of priority areas, demonstration of community support, and thorough project planning. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 3, with a minimum average score of 9 required for approval. Bonus points are awarded for projects located in unincorporated Adams County and for first-time applicants. Evaluation metrics emphasize local engagement, sustainable impact, and detailed planning including timelines, budgets, and site information. The program is currently closed for the 2025 cycle and is expected to reopen in early 2026. While no fixed date is provided, the county encourages interested parties to reach out to the SPARC Team via [email protected] for inquiries. As this is a recurring opportunity, potential applicants are advised to begin early planning and community coordination in anticipation of the next application window. All activities funded by the program must take place within Adams County, and applicants are encouraged to use the county’s address lookup tool to confirm eligibility.

Emphasize strong community support, alignment with priority areas, and readiness documentation (e.g., invoices or event confirmations) to improve application success.