What are Neighborhood Matching Grants?

The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) helps Asheville’s neighborhood-based organizations fund various improvement projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000. The program is designed  to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and create projects for the benefit of their communities.

The City of Asheville’s goal is to:

  • Build neighborhood capacity and increase civic participation
  • Empower neighborhoods to self-determine improvement projects
  • Create and strengthen partnerships between the City and community groups

Who can apply?

Neighborhood Matching Grant funds are available to any neighborhood organization in the City of Asheville that has registered with the City’s neighborhood organization registration program. If you’re not sure whether your neighborhood organization is registered, view the map on the Neighborhood Services web page. If your organization is not registered, reach out to neighborhoods@ashevillenc.gov for support in that process. If you have an idea for a project but aren’t connected to your neighborhood organization, we can help you get connected.

Generally speaking, groups that fall under any of the following organization types are eligible to register as a neighborhood organization and apply for a Neighborhood Matching Grant: 

  • Neighborhood associations
  • Homeowners associations
  • Neighborhood-based coalitions, defined as groups of nearby neighborhood organizations or neighborhood and business associations formally associated to enhance and support their area
  • Resident organizations/councils, including City of Asheville Housing Authority properties

 

 

What types of projects can be funded?

Asheville’s Neighborhood Matching Grants program supports a wide range of imaginative projects that produce shared benefits and improve a neighborhood’s quality of life. Any project that is submitted must meet the following criteria:

  • Projects must provide a public, neighborhood benefit.
  • Projects must have the ability to be completed in 12 months or less. 
  • Projects must occur within the neighborhood and be accessible to the public. Projects where something is permanently installed or affixed must occur only on public property or property owned by the neighborhood organization.
  • Projects must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws. 
  • Projects must demonstrate a 1:1 dollar match, which can be contributed using cash, volunteer hours, donated services, etc. A minimum of 50 percent of the match must be made in volunteer hours, which is calculated using the national volunteer hourly rate.
 

How can your neighborhood apply?

Applications for Neighborhood Matching Grants are now open on a rolling cycle. 

Apply Now

Match Requirements

Neighborhood organizations must provide a 100 percent match ($1.00 in matching funds for each $1.00 requested in funding). The match must be directly related to the project, and can be comprised of the following (note that 50 percent of the match must come from volunteer hours):

 

Matching Component

Definition

Details

Cash

Cash contributions or donations, proceeds from neighborhood fundraisers, etc.

  • Proof of available funds is required via bank statement, budget, etc. 

Volunteer Hours
(50% of match must come from volunteer hours)

Volunteer work from neighborhood residents is valued at $31.80 per hour as of April 2023 (this number will likely change in 2024)

  • Volunteer time can be submitted in summary form by the grantee
  • Up to 10 hours of related pre-application activities can be counted towards your match 

In-Kind donations of goods and services

Products, goods or professional services donated for the project that is being funded by the grant.

  • Must include the proper documentation from the vendor or company.