At Neighborhood Allies, we connect people to the resources they need to to revitalize their neighborhoods. We are a forward-thinking, solutions-oriented community developer that brings hope, fresh ideas, expertise, and resources to neighborhoods in transition. One of the major components of our work is direct grantmaking into communities. As we deploy our Complete Capital model, we continuously strive to improve upon and streamline our grantmaking processes to better ensure that they:

• Fill a useful niche in a region full of large foundations active in improving our neighborhoods
• Effectively build on the assets and talents that our community allies bring to the table
• Don’t lose the entrepreneurial, flexible, bold spirit in which our organization was launched

One of the ways we accomplish this is by cultivating a pipeline of promising projects and ideas to ensure that they align with our internal program priorities and also connect with the desired goals and measurable outcomes of our neighborhoods and targeted audiences.

Over the past year, we’ve worked with our partners on the ground to nurture and/or expand the following initiatives which were awarded funding by Neighborhood Allies in September 2016:

• $75,000 NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania: Fund My Future Program Expansion–In partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP), NeighborWorks will expand the college savings account program- Fund My Future (FMF) outside of the Propel Charter School System to serve youth and families living within the Bedford Dwellings community of the Hill District. FMF is an incentive-based program, encouraging family savings through monthly and annual raffles of gift cards and cash prizes. According to a 2013 report by the Assets and Education Initiative, children who have just $500 or less saved for college are three times more like to enroll in college. A savings account- particularly in a child’s name- is associated with better academic performance. Beverly Jewel Wall Lovelace (BJWL) Out-of-School Time Program is also a key partner and will provide staff time and resources to help with the implementation of this initiative. In addition to the FMF program, NeighborWorks’ existing financial education and counseling services will be made available to adults living in the Bedford Dwellings community. Within the first 12 months of the program, at least 64 youth are expected to participate in the FMF program and 65 adults are to be served through financial education coaching and workshops.

• $74,000 Hilltop Alliance: Expansion of the Property Stabilization Program–The Hilltop Alliance’s Property Stabilization Program (PSP) works directly with property owners to help them access available resources to fix problems before punitive fines are pursued through the city. Using in-house offerings such as their side yard grants and residential façade grants, while also leveraging third-party resources, the PSP has a 36.9% success rate, having resolved 107 code issues to date. Thus far, all PSP efforts are proactively focused where current strategic plans exist (Hilltop Housing Market Restoration Strategy-2013 and the Haberman Corridor Plan-2016) and reactive where issues are reported by residents. With this funding, the Hilltop Alliance will launch a one-year Property Stabilization Program Fellowship for a Hilltop resident whom Hilltop Alliance will hire, compensate and train in how to monitor, communicate and work with the program partners to resolve property maintenance and/or quality of life code violations in Allentown, Beltzhoover and Knoxville. This knowledge transfer and project management training will provide the resident with the skills necessary to continue the work (on a volunteer basis) through their own community involvement and/or work in the greater Pittsburgh community development system.

• $25,000 FOCUS Pittsburgh: Trauma-informed Community Development (TICD) Implementation Phase–In spring, 2015, we awarded $50,000 to FOCUS Pittsburgh to support the planning and pilot phase of the TICD Initiative. TICD is a comprehensive strategy that has been developed with the support and input of community members and stakeholders over the past two years. After completing the Consultative Workshop on the block of 2900 Webster Avenue in the Hill District this summer, a year-long H.O.P.E. Plan was created based on the input and feedback from block residents at that workshop. Through the H.O.P.E. Plan, Health & Well-being, Opportunity Making, Placemaking and Engaging Influencers, it is anticipated that people will begin to live healthier and be healthier – in all spheres physically, mentally/emotionally, relationally, socio-economically and spiritually. With this funding, FOCUS Pittsburgh will be able to provide the additional implementation support needed to complete the H.O.P.E. Plan throughout the next year. Additionally, this support will enable FOCUS Pittsburgh to expand this program to additional blocks within the Hill District that express interest.

• $25,000 The Mission Continues (TMC): Continued Support of the 2nd Platoon in Homewood–In June of 2015, we awarded TMC a $50,000 grant to launch a second platoon in one of our targeted neighborhoods. Through our assistance, TMC selected Homewood to start their second platoon. Over the last year, the 2nd Service Platoon has established an operation in Homewood where they are working to eliminate blight through partnerships with organizations such as Operation Better Block and Homewood Community Sports. The platoon is currently comprised of 32 veteran volunteers, 16 community members, and 22 external volunteers. Additionally, they have had nine service/support projects with over 500 volunteer hours worked. Projects range from community clean-up events, assisting homeowners with repairs to preparing Stargell Field for Opening Day. The platoon engaged community members and made repairs to five properties and recorded properties that may need additional support in the future. This project not only helped the community, but helped the veterans become more knowledgeable about the issues in Homewood and prepared them to become advocates for the neighborhood. Furthermore, the Pittsburgh 2nd Service Platoon has made greater connections to grant-makers, identified additional veterans who were able to connect to The Mission Continues and has become a lead collaborator on community impact projects.

For more information on our complete capital model, or grantmaking programs, visit our website or contact shad@neighborhoodallies.org.