Invest in Neighborhoods Inc. Invest in Neighborhoods Inc. In addition to monies available to communities through the Neighborhood Support Program administered by IIN, Invest provides program and operational funding to community councils through two additional programs.
The Merit Grant Program allows neighborhoods the opportunity to pursue creative, innovative projects that may be difficult to fully fund through other sources.
Grants, which have been made possible by donations from Cincinnati corporations, are awarded on a competitive basis, with proposals ranked on originality, need, completeness and impact on community. Past projects have included: beautification and landscaping for neighborhood parks; air conditioners for a senior center; summer programs for youth; entrepreneurial development support; renovation of a playground; and support for educational programming.
Proposals are traditionally solicited in the early spring. Projects must be submitted under the sponsorship of the 46 community councils who are members of Invest In Neighborhoods. After evaluation by a peer review committee, the winners are announced at Invest In Neighborhoods' annual meeting.
In early 1999, the organization established the Merit Grant Endowment to provide perpetual funding for the program. A development campaign is underway to grow the endowment. Please contact us for more information.
Invest serves as the administrator of a perpetual fund currently known as the Neighborhood Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Income generated from the fund is divided among member community councils on an annual basis, helping to fund operations not otherwise eligible for grants. Expenditures, however, must be for quailifed 501(c)3 activities.
The fund was established in 1985 with a contribution of $5440 from each of the participating neighborhoods and contributions from a number of Cincinnati corporations. By the late 1980s, the fund was capitalized to nearly $450,000 toward a goal of $1,000,000. In early 2004 it's value stood at almost $1 million. Since 1985, approximately $500,000 has been distributed to member communities.
