Northwest Fund winners announcement postponed

Monday was the deadline for The Northwest Fund (TNF) to announce the winners of its Neighborhood Change Agent Grant program. But TNF told NewsWorks that the announcement has been postponed.

TNF Director Slyvie Gallier Howard said the group needs more time to review the grant proposals of the 58 finalists. A new timetable for announcing the winners has been decided. “The end of March is our projected date,” she said.

At stake is more than $300,000 that will be disbursed to groups that focus on building safer communities in Germantown,
 Nicetown,
 Mt.
 Airy, 
Oak 
Lane,
 Chestnut 
Hill, 
Olney,
 East
 Falls,
 Roxborough
 and 
Logan.

The Fund also announced it will increase the amount it gives away. An additional $20,000 has been added to program. Howard said the money was taken out of funds initially budgeted for items such as design fees and website improvements.

“We just kind of decided that that’s not really that much of a priority,” she said. “It’s more important to just get the dollars on the street.”

Howard said TNF does not have a target number of recipients, but estimates that about 40 applicants will be awarded a piece of the available grant money.

Under the program, applicants can receive up to $20,000 for general operating costs like staff and rent, but no award can exceed 10 percent of the organization’s overall budget.

Organizations working in low-income communities will be given priority over those in wealthier neighborhoods.

TNF, an organization focused on crime prevention in Northwest Philadelphia, is awarding the grants to support local non-profits that encourage kids to stay in school, improve job opportunities and promote safer neighborhoods.