Look For:
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An agenda that is defined and governed by community residents. This is an essential ingredient, one that differentiates a grassroots group from a service provider.
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Organization members and leaders who display a clear sense of the community and the people their organization represents.
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Members who share a common vision.
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Members and leaders who reflect the demographic characteristics of the community.
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Clear, well-publicized opportunities for participation and leadership. Ideally, there should be a variety of opportunities for participation (though these may not be present at first).
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Energetic and persistent leaders who are accountable to the membership and can draw people together and develop organizational capacity.
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Basic rudiments of organizational structure (written records of meetings, elections, checking accounts) – although sometimes even these rudiments do not emerge for several months.
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Realistic plans that address important community concerns, develop the capacity of the organization itself, and reflect internal consensus.
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A record of accomplishments, however modest.
A few caveats to keep in mind when reviewing applications:
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A group with only one leader has an extra burden of proving that it’s legitimate and able to get important things done. Broadening its leadership base could be a priority.
- A collaborative effort among adjoining neighborhoods can be an excellent idea, but it must be supported by the individual neighborhoods.
- Staffing, if any, should be fully accountable to the community through a Board or Steering Committee.
- Attend a community meeting to see who shows up, who is in charge, how decisions are made, how conflict is handled, and how power is shared. Imagine in what ways a grant can help.
From “Supporting Low-Income Neighborhood Organizations: A Guide for Community Foundations” by Rainbow Research.
