Small Sparks Fund

Small Sparks Fund is a grant from the City of Seattle's Neighborhood Matching Fund that funds community improvement projects developed and implemented by Seattle residents. Established in 1988, the program has distributed over $64 million across more than 5,000 projects citywide.

Funded projects must involve community members in their creation and completion, create public improvements open to all, and be feasible to begin within 1–2 months of the award date. Applicants must demonstrate a community match through volunteer time, donated materials, professional services, or cash.

Eligible applicants include neighborhood groups, community organizations, informal groups, and business groups that are open and inclusive and operate within Seattle city limits. Awards are up to $5,000, with a rolling deadline through October 30, 2026.

Neighborhood Matching Fund - Neighborhoods | seattle. gov Neighborhood Matching Fund In 1988, the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) was created to provide matching dollars for neighborhood improvement, organizing, or projects developed and implemented by community members.

Central to NMF is the community match which requires awardees to match their award with contributions from the community whether as volunteer time, donated materials, donated professional services, or cash. Since NMF's creation, more than 5,000 community projects throughout Seattle have received over $64 million in funding and generated an additional $72 million from community match.

Neighborhood groups, community organizations, informal groups, and business groups who want to do a project to build stronger community connections are encouraged to apply. All applicant groups must be open and inclusive, actively engage diverse community members, and be significantly composed of people who live and/or work in Seattle. We fund a variety of unique and creative community projects.

To be eligible for funding, a project must: involve community members in creating and completing the project; create community improvements; be free and open to all members of the public; be feasible and ready to begin within 1-2 months from the award date; demonstrate community match; occur within the Seattle city limits; not have received NMF funding within the last two years.

(applies only to events) To ensure fair and informed decision-making, the CPF seeks community reviewers who possess knowledge and interest in community building, neighborhood enhancement, and equity. We will post information here when applications are open. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods hosted three virtual workshops in 2026 to assist community organizations and neighborhood groups interested in getting funding for their ideas.

If you didn't attend, watch the recording below. Questions and answers from the workshop are available as well. Community Partnership Fund Accepted on a rolling basis as long as budget is available or until October 30, 2026 at 5pm.

submitted at least six weeks prior to project start date. Jan. 6, 2026 - application open March 10, 2026, 5:00pm - application deadline July 7, 2026 - application open Sep.

8, 2026, 5:00pm - application deadline Within four weeks from award notification date Within six weeks from award notification date Quynh Pham, Acting Director 600 4th Avenue, 4th Floor, Seattle, WA , 98104 PO Box 94649, Seattle, WA, 98124-4649 Email: seattleneighborhoods@seattle.

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