Partnership Engagement Fund

How to apply for funding through the Partnership Engagement Fund, application review process and forms.

Application process

The first step of the application process, the initial interest form, was due on Feb. 13, 2023.

The full application is due on March 17.

We have sent the application form in English, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong to applicants who submitted the interest form. You can also submit your application by audio or video recording in your preferred language.

Interested in applying next year?

The Partnership Engagement Fund will begin its fourth year of funding in 2024.

Sign up to get notified when applications open

About the fund

This program funds community organizations working with neighborhood organizations on projects that engage under-represented groups in local decision-making.

For details about the program, read the full program guidelines document.

2023 Partnership Engagement Fund guidelines

Directrices del Fondo para la Colaboración de Asociaciones

Tilmaamo ah Maalgelinta Hawlgalka Iskaashiga

Cov Lus Ntsuam Xyua Pob Nyiaj Ua Haujlwm Koomtes

Eligible organizations

Your organization must operate only for charitable or educational purposes. For-profits are not eligible to apply.
Your organization must partner with a recognized neighborhood organization.
- Look up recognized neighborhood organizations.
- If you don't have a partner yet, NCR can help connect you with one.

Eligible projects

Your project should help the City to meet its goal to have "socially connected, healthy and safe" communities.
Your project should focus on engaging communities. Social service programs or community events without a strong engagement piece are not eligible.
You can apply for funding for new projects or to expand existing programs. You cannot apply for general operations funding or funding to maintain an existing program.

Community reviewers needed

NCR is seeking community volunteers to review Partnership Engagement Fund project proposals. Note: if you are part of one of the organizations applying for funding, you are not eligible to serve on the proposal review panel.

Join the proposal review panel.

Review process

A panel of community members and City staff will review applications and make funding recommendations. The NCR director and City Council will make final funding decisions.

Help in other languages

NCR staff members are available to answer questions in Spanish, Somali and Hmong.

Español

Mariano Espinoza
Email Mariano
612-281-8629

Af Soomaali

Farhia Budul
Email Farhia
612-704-5811

Hmoob

Michael Yang
Email Michael
612-327-2830

Webinar

Watch this 15-minute webinar for some important information about the fund and how to apply.

Contracts

You have two options to receive funding from the Partnership Engagement Fund:

Sign up as a City vendor using eSupplier.
Use your partner neighborhood organization as a fiscal sponsor.

Become a City vendor

If you sign up as a City vendor, you will need to meet all of the legal and accounting requirements for a City contract.

Sign up as a City vendor using eSupplier.

Reach out to partners

Reach out to neighborhood organizations you would like to partner with for your project.

Look up contact information for neighborhood organizations.

Sample documents

You can see examples of past years' project budgets and scopes of services, a contract template and a project budget template here.

Request accessible format

If you need help with this information, please email 311, or call 311 or 612-673-3000.

Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.