By Ann Fowler Wallace, TFN Director of Programs  

Today we announced the latest round of grant opportunities for Partners for Places, a joint effort by TFN and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), which pairs local governments with philanthropy to support sustainability projects across the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to the general grant program, Partners for Places Round 14 also includes dedicated funding to support green stormwater infrastructure projects that advance water-related sustainability goals. TFN and USDN are excited to partner with Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange, a practitioner network that supports communities seeking to grow green stormwater infrastructure programs, to support outreach efforts and participate in reviewing stormwater infrastructure project proposals.

Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents. Through these projects, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our urban areas more prosperous, livable, and vibrant. The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations.

The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations.

To date, Partners for Places has awarded nearly $7 million across North America in this successful matching grant program, leading to nearly $14 million in investments.

 

Lincoln, Neb., named a Partners for Places grantee in 2017, is using the grant to implement sustainability elements of a multi-year neighborhood planning process in a low-income neighborhood, such as improving walkability and pedestrian safety.

Creating a Successful Proposal

In 2018, Partners for Places adopted a 2018-2023 strategic plan. This RFP has been updated and designed to award projects that advance the vision, mission, theory of change, and goals of this new fund strategy. Please carefully review the newly created Proposal and Award Guidance document while preparing your proposal.

The application deadline for Round 14 is January 31, 2019 (by 11:59 p.m., any time zone).

Please visit the Partners for Places webpage for more information. Here you can view our promotional video, download the Request for Proposals (RFP), access our Proposal Form and Budget Form, and consult our new Proposal and Award Guidance document.

 

Additional Resources

Info Webinar

TFN will host a webinar to answer any questions about the grant program on Tuesday, December 11, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Please register for the webinar here. A recording of the webinar will be made available through our website for those of you unable to participate.

Meet the Newest Grantees!

We’re excited to announce the Round 13 grantees of the Partners for Places matching grant program: Six communities across the U.S. will receive more than a million dollars to fund sustainability efforts that will help them better withstand the impact of climate change, prepare for natural disasters and engage local voices in planning and decision-making.Read more about our newest grantees here.

 

Funder Investors

Partners for Places general grant program is supported by The JPB Foundation, Kendeda Fund, The Kresge Foundation, New York Community Trust, the Pisces Foundation, The Summit Foundation, and Surdna Foundation.

 

Selection Process

A selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors will make grant selection decisions on behalf of Partners for Places, and awards will be announced in May, 2019.

If the RFP and the Proposal and Award Guidance documents don’t answer all your questions, please contact Ashley Quintana at ashley@www.fundersnetwork.org for more information.

We look forward to hearing from you!