The City of Seattle has awarded Over $1.1 million to support 27 community-initiated projects through the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF). Twenty-seven community groups received awards averaging $41,597 and have pledged $1,034,436 to match their award through local cash donations, volunteer hours, donated materials, and in-kind professional services.
Beginning in 2024, the Department of Neighborhoods re-instituted a community review process. The five community review team members reviewed, evaluated, and provided recommendations for this round of Community Partnership grants. The Department of Neighborhoods is grateful for their commitment to Seattle and all of our communities.
The Neighborhood Matching Fund offers grants to organizations committed to fostering and building our community. It has two funds: the Community Partnership Fund, which is currently offered twice a year with awards of up to $50,000; and the Small Sparks Fund, which is offered on a rolling basis throughout most of the year with awards of up to $5,000.
Over its 35-year history, more than 5,000 projects have been funded in partnership with the NMF Program, and its investment in neighborhoods can be seen across the city.
“Our vision for One Seattle is about fostering unity and celebrating our diverse communities. These investments are crucial in turning that vision into reality by backing local projects, programs, and improvements,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “The organizations receiving these funds are pivotal in identifying and addressing the needs of Seattle communities, and I’m thrilled we can collaborate to create a more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant Seattle.”
Erin Goodman, Executive Director of SODO, shared her excitement about the positive impact of the grant on their community.
“The SODO community wants and deserves a greener industrial district. The SODO Green Space Plan envisions green infrastructure integrated into industrial spaces without disrupting freight or business operations for the benefit of the 50,000 people who come and work in SODO each day. Thanks to the Neighborhood Matching Fund, we will finally be able to put this plan into action and bring our community together to take the first steps towards building a park in SODO. We are excited to set the stage for a vibrant, more resilient future for the SODO neighborhood,” said Goodman.
The awarded projects encompass a wide range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the community, from cultural festivals to infrastructure improvements. Here is a list of the recipients and their projects:
- Festival Sundiata 2024 – $49,984 to host a celebration of African and African American culture and Black arts on August 23-25, 2024, at the Seattle Center, featuring performances, dance, history, food, local musicians, and a vendor marketplace. (Community Match: $86,350)
- Somali Independent Business Alliance – $50,000 for “Building Blocks to Success,” empowering 50 BIPOC businesses in Seattle through tailored technical assistance, marketing support, and comprehensive services. (Community Match: $27,300)
- Kids and Paper – $35,276 for “Pickle & Prosper,” introducing Pickleball to low-income, BIPOC kids aged 5 to 12 in Seattle to promote physical activity and academic achievement. (Community Match: $43,675)
- Northwest Share – $30,000 for the “Diwali – Lights of India festival,” showcasing Indian arts and culture through live music, dance performances, workshops, and various arts and crafts on November 2, 2024. (Community Match: $30,000)
- West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails – $8,630 for community outreach to promote awareness of the West Duwamish Greenbelt, including a visual exhibit, updated trail maps, and promotional materials. (Community Match: $6,090)
- Duwamish Tribal Services / Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center – $50,000 for improvements to the exterior of the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center to keep the community space safe for events and civic engagement. (Community Match: $25,000)
- Hillman City P-Patch – $16,302 to refurbish gravel pathways to ADA specifications, weed paths, purchase garden mix dirt, refinish signs, replace wood posts, and purchase hose nozzles. (Community Match: $8,190)
- Capoeira Life (fiscally sponsored by Shunpike) – $50,000 for Capoeira Life Youth Programs to provide free capoeira programs and events to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and underserved communities. (Community Match: $101,826)
- MALACARNE – $50,000 for “The sky is the same color everywhere – Dance Performance 2024” and accompanying dance and movement classes, free to the public. (Community Match: $25,000)
- Highland Park Improvement Club – $50,000 for Phase 2 of Highland Park Improvement, including demolition of the existing fire-damaged building and preparation for interim occupancy. (Community Match: $61,700)
- Seattle Flying Dragon Boat Club – $49,700 to host the 2024 Seattle Dragon Boat Festival on June 8, celebrating Asian culture with races, performances, food trucks, and vendors at Lake Union. (Community Match: $56,385)
- Estelita’s Library – $24,970 for the Black Panther Party Newspaper Community Archive, digitizing and teaching archiving through workshops, culminating in a Community Archive Launch Party. (Community Match: $30,050)
- Amigos De Seattle – $50,000 for “Cultures & Traditions of Guatemala,” a series of educational workshops about Guatemalan culture and history, featuring performances and food. (Community Match: $26,800)
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute – $50,000 for the first annual Seattle Black Nerd Fest, a free convention centering Black and brown community members interested in Afrofuturism, comic books, and more. (Community Match: $46,265)
- Juneau St Resilience Hub – $21,924 for the Juneau Street Resilience Hub – Block Party to engage neighbors and strengthen community relationships. (Community Match: $13,300)
- SODO BIA – $50,000 for the SODO Greenspace Plan In Action, leading the implementation of green space improvements and community engagement. (Community Match: $27,835)
- Friends of Discovery Park – $48,406 for Community Signage at Discovery Park to commemorate Fort Lawton civil rights events and the park’s 50th anniversary. (Community Match: $25,195)
- Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle – $49,740 for Community Center improvements to maintain a safe and functional space for community events and programs. (Community Match: $30,287)
- Lake City Pioneer Days Parade Association – $50,000 to host the Lake City Summer Festival on August 3, 2024, featuring food, music, and entertainment as an alternative to the Hydro races. (Community Match: $86,045)
- Tasveer – $50,000 to host “Yonix Speaks – 2024,” a storytelling event for the South Asian LGBTQI+ community at the Seattle Opera Center. (Community Match: $29,405)
- Artist Coalition for Equitable Development – $50,000 for “CommuniTEAS On The Block,” a series of free creative workshops led by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent artists. (Community Match: $65,075)
- Hillman City Neighborhood Association – $34,050 for the Hillman City Business District Improvement Project, creating murals and developing a community space. (Community Match: $28,334)
- Totem Star – $50,000 for Youth Artist Booking for Live Performance and Neighborhood Activations at King Street Station, providing performance opportunities for youth. (Community Match: $25,000)
- Friends of Little Saigon – $50,000 for “Saigon to Seattle – 50th Year Commemoration of the End of the Vietnam War,” an oral history project and arts program. (Community Match: $73,100)
- UpGarden P-Patch – $6,839 to address ADA accessibility issues at the UpGarden on the Seattle Center parking garage. (Community Match: $4,550)
- Shunpike – $50,000 to host the Artist of Color Expo and Symposium 2024, featuring art exhibits, live performances, and workshops. (Community Match: $25,000)
- U District Advocates – $47,560 for the U District Green Street Summer Activation, improving NE 42nd Street with seating, planters, and pedestrian-friendly features. (Community Match: $26,679)
Isaac Araya, Executive Director of the Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle, expressed gratitude for the support their organization received.
“Our organization is incredibly grateful for our recent Neighborhood Matching Fund award. It will help our organization improve our heavily used Community Center by addressing pressing issues like sorely needed interior and exterior painting, floor maintenance, and purchasing an air conditioner for our main office area,” says Araya. “This funding will keep our unique community space safe and in working order for community events, civic engagement activities, our Senior nutrition program, and our youth programs.”
For information about NMF, click here.