New Sun Rising’s One Northside (ONS) Mini-Grants are back.

Story and photo by Alyse Horn-Pyatt

Sometimes a lot of funding is needed to get a project off the ground, and sometimes it isn’t. For those small-scale community projects, New Sun Rising’s One Northside (ONS) Mini-Grants are back. Created to support community members in their efforts to elevate their neighborhoods, Northsiders can apply to receive $1,000 in funding to support initiatives that strengthen connections, increase accessibility to resources, and activate significant places in their community.

Applications will be released on August 1, 2019, accepted on an ongoing basis, and reviewed bi-monthly. Deadlines to submit applications are 11:59 p.m. on: August 31, 2019; October 31, 2019; January 30, 2020; March 31, 2020; May 31, 2020; and July 31, 2020 based on the availability of funds.

One Northside Mini-Grants will be announced in September 2019, November 2019, March 2020, May 2020, and July 2020. Grant recipients may also receive additional support through New Sun Rising and the One Northside Mini-Grant Street Team to develop their project and secure additional resources. Applications are currently being accepted for those who would like to join the Street Team; they must be Northside residents and will support community members in their efforts to advance the ONS vision.

Members of the Street Team will receive a stipend of $1,500 and must be able to commit 60 hours in total, including training, throughout the months of August, September, October, November in 2019 and February 2020. They are expected to educate and support community members about ONS Mini-Grants and help submit applications. Individuals who are awarded mini-grants may be able to find additional funding through ioby. Pittsburghers specifically have raised over $500,000 for community programs.

Currently, the ioby One Northside Crowdfunding Challenge will double donations to Northside projects. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend Information Workshops to meet with New Sun Rising staff and the One Northside Mini-Grant Street Team to learn more about the application process. Check the schedule online at www.newsunrising.org/project/ignite-northside for workshop locations, dates, and times.

Contact New Sun Rising staff with your inquiry or other questions by phone (412) 407-9007 or email vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. Interested applicants are invited to attend the One Northside Community Project Support Slam Kickoff event from 6 to 8 p.m. on August 21 to honor past grantees and share information about ONS and ioby. Location is to be decided and updates will be posted on New Sun Rising’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

New Sun Rising is also seeking up to five community members to serve on the Mini-Grant Evaluation Committee, which will review applications virtually and meet six times over the coming year to discuss and approve them.

Send resumes or questions to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. The preferred method to submit mini-grant applications is online. Printed applications will be accepted at the Allegheny and Woods Run Carnegie Libraries during normal business hours and by postal mail. Individuals can also submit their application as attachments to vibrancyfunds@newsunrising.org. Postal mail submissions should be addressed to New Sun Rising, attn. One Northside Mini-Grant, P.O. Box 58005, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15209 and must be received by the grant deadline. All projects must end by August 1, 2020.