KNP Seedling Fund

Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners (KNP) has been awarded a generous grant to support community-based projects that respond to the needs of our neighbors. Whether you are part of an organization, or an individual, we welcome you to bring your idea or project forward.

Please review the Eligibility Requirements below to see if your project idea might be a good match for the Seedling Fund.

For those who feel that their project may not meet the qualifications of the Seedling Grant Funds Eligibility Guidelines, we strongly encourage you to explore other funding resources available through Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners!

If you’re interested in applying or learning more please email the KNP Partnership Coordinator, Mel Hamel, at MelH@KNPNH.org and she will help determine your appropriate next steps.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

WE ONLY FUND	WE PRIORITIZE	WE DON’T FUND
Community-based projects within the KNP service area: Andover, Bradford, Danbury, Newbury, New London, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Warner, Wilmot.	Projects from individuals or organizations that improve or increase connections in the region – between neighbors or amongst organizations and communities.	One-off projects with isolated or short-term benefits.
Ideas that contribute to a vital, resilient community and support the material (e.g., food, housing, transportation), relational (e.g., education, childcare), and/or spiritual (e.g. isolation, mental health) flourishing of our neighbors.	Projects that are replicable in other areas and/or have potential to be scaled up either over time or in different locations within our service area or beyond.	Professional development/training funds that don’t have a direct benefit on neighbors or cannot be easily tracked for community impact.
Projects that make a significant impact in KNP’s service area – in terms of either depth or breadth (e.g., degree of quality of life increase, geographic reach, number of individuals involved or served, or potential events convened.)	Projects that include an element of reciprocity either to KNP (e.g., increased awareness, volunteers, expanded network, etc.) or opportunity for those served to give back (e.g., become a volunteer, create a project, etc.)	Operational funds which don’t have specific ongoing benefits to neighbors (e.g., recurring business expenses such as utilities or salaries, standard office equipment, etc.)
Project requests with a standard maximum of $5000, with rare exceptions made for those with high community impact. Same individuals/organizations may qualify to apply up to 3 times in one calendar year (for a total of $15,000/year.)	Projects that: 1) have the potential to pursue additional funding aside from KNP for future phases (as applicable); or, 2) with compelling outcomes that might inspire future donors to contribute to their project or to the Seedlings fund.	Projects that benefit only one individual or organization, instead of many neighbors within a community (e.g., gas cards, household supplies.) Please see instead KNP’s Advocacy program.
	Projects that support the strategic goals of KNP within the region.	General fundraising activities or large campaigns that can not be attributed to a specific project.