At the time of its creation in 2002, Neighborhood Connections was the only known small-grants program administered by a private philanthropy that delegated total decision-making authority to ordinary citizens. An outgrowth of the Cleveland Foundation’s long-term commitment to physical revitalization and leadership development in Cleveland’s neighborhoods, Neighborhood Connections started with an initial fund of $1.35 million to be distributed over three years to grassroots groups judged to have the most compelling ideas for improving their particular sections of the city. The program was conceived in part to build on the successes of Cleveland’s neighborhood redevelopment movement, which had gained critical mass as the result of sustained private and public investment in the capacity of local community development corporations catalyzed by the Cleveland Foundation and the George Gund Foundation.

Neighborhood Connections aimed to expand the scope of revitalization activities by tapping into the aspirations and creativity of block clubs, ad hoc bands of neighbors and concerned individuals. A committee of representative neighborhood residents selected by the Cleveland Foundation from a community-wide pool of nominees determines which improvement projects should receive grants of $500 to $5,000. A required dollar-for-dollar match serves to build the capacity of the grantees and to encourage them to partner with more established organizations.

Now in its 11th year, Neighborhood Connections has provided $6.5 million to help realize 1,800 project proposals. By showing respect for the vision and capabilities of everyday folks, this innovative program has changed the way things get done in Cleveland.