Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund | Cleveland Foundation

About the Fund

The Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund will provide grants for community-driven, evidence-informed programming serving Cleveland residents that address the root causes of violence under the guidance of a nine-person advisory committee. Through a public Request for Proposals (RFP) process, this group will recommend grant funding to nonprofits and/or government agencies working to enhance safety across the city.

“This first-of-its-kind fund is a unique opportunity to not only address violence in the short term, but to look for longer term, holistic solutions,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “The members of the advisory committee understand the importance of this work and are committed to working together to move the city forward.”

The overarching goal of the Neighborhood Safety Fund is to support programs and organizations that target the root causes of violence, particularly among young people. The grants will align with the City’s multi-year comprehensive approach to violence prevention and will be made to eligible 501(c)3 organizations.

Advisory Committee Members

Community Appointees:

Habeebah Grimes, Mental health professional
Yvonne Pointer, Survivor and victim advocate
Tre’Vonte Roey, Hoops After Dark participant

Cleveland Mayoral Appointees:

Joyce Pan Huang, Director of City Planning
Sonya Pryor-Jones, Chief of Youth & Family Success
Angela Shute-Woodson, Director of Community Relations & Senior Advisor, Community and Government Affairs

Cleveland City Council Appointees:

Stephanie D. Howse-Jones, Ward 7 Councilwoman
Danny Kelly, Ward 11 Councilman
Richard A. Starr, Ward 5 Councilman

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Neighborhood Safety Fund (NSF)?

The CNSF is a donor-advised fund of the Cleveland Foundation, established through a partnership with the City of Cleveland. This fund, seeded with a $10 million investment in 2023, will perpetually invest in evidence-based interventions and solutions to reduce violence and promote safety across the City of Cleveland.

Am I eligible to apply?

Nonprofit organizations or partners with a healthy nonprofit fiscal agent are eligible to apply. Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund (CNSF) will not consider brand new programs or capital requests during this round.

Where do I direct questions about my application?

The CNSF has its own email address actively monitored by Cleveland Foundation staff. You can direct all questions to: NeighborhoodSafetyFund@clevefdn.org

How much can I ask for?

The range that the CNSF will consider ranges between $25,000 - $150,000.

What are the areas of focus for this round of grantmaking?

Violence Interruption and Reduction Services
Youth Diversion/Proactive Mentoring
Violence Prevention programming

I got funding in the last round, can I apply again?

Yes, we will consider applications from those who applied during the last round whether you secured funding or not.

What are the deadlines? When will the decisions be announced?

The application will open on April 24 and close on May 10.
Grant awards will be announced on or around May 27.

Apply now.

Who will review my application?

The advisory members of the Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund and Cleveland Foundation staff will collectively review the applications and make decisions regarding funding allocations.

Will there be an opportunity to apply again in future rounds?

Yes, the CNSF will make grants into community annually. Another round will open in 2025.