Neighbors in Action Grant Program

Neighbors in Action (NIA) is a community-based grant initiative launched by the City of Rochester in September 2024. Built upon the legacy of the Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN) program introduced in 1996, NIA continues Rochester’s long-standing commitment to fostering grassroots engagement. NBN had gained national recognition for its innovative approach to civic and governmental partnerships. In January 2025, the City formalized partnerships with the Rochester Area Community Foundation and ESL Federal Credit Union to jointly fund and administer NIA, marking a new chapter in neighborhood-focused investment and support. NIA provides small grants—ranging from $250 to $10,000—to neighborhood associations, block clubs, and community-based organizations within the City of Rochester. These grants are designed to empower residents to implement locally led, community-driven projects that enhance neighborhood cohesion and address pressing local needs. Funding is restricted to initiatives that serve individuals residing in the City of Rochester, ensuring localized impact. The program welcomes applications from IRS-classified 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) public organizations. Groups without nonprofit status must secure a fiscal sponsor to be eligible. Eligible applicant types include neighborhood associations with broad mandates, community organizations such as tenant or faith-based groups focused on specific areas, and smaller, block-level clubs typically formed by residents of a single street or block. Projects eligible for funding include beautification and gardening efforts, public art and murals, neighborhood cleanups, youth engagement activities, and community events—though costs for security, permits, and signage are excluded from funding. The grant application for the 2026 round opened on January 12 and will remain available until February 20. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend an informational webinar scheduled for January 15 at 6 PM. Applications must be submitted through the Community Foundation’s grant portal. Award notifications are expected to be issued in March 2026. Support for applicants is provided through Rochester’s Neighborhood Service Centers, with designated contacts for each quadrant of the city. For additional assistance navigating the grant portal, inquiries can also be directed to the Rochester Area Community Foundation. The NIA initiative is expected to continue into future cycles, with new rounds announced via the City’s quarterly Grant Opportunities newsletter. This commitment to recurring community investment underscores the program’s objective to support sustainable neighborhood development led by residents themselves. Through NIA, the City of Rochester and its partners aim to nurture a vibrant civic fabric by investing directly in the vision and leadership of its residents. The program combines historical precedent with modern infrastructure to deliver responsive, hyper-local funding that strengthens community bonds and fosters collaborative problem-solving across the city.