Westwood Works is an asset–based community development organization that celebrates the Westwood community. We do this by building on strengths that exist and connecting people to create a vibrant future. Westwood Works advocates for a positive, collaborative, and meaningful approach to community building.
In a neighborhood 30,000 strong we have lots of neighbors with great ideas to make Westwood the best neighborhood to live, learn, work and play. Our neighbors have the ideas, Westwood Works mini-grants are our opportunity to provide community members with the resources to bring those ideas to life.
Mini-grants are small grant resources of no more than $1000 awarded to individuals, associations, and nonprofit organizations. Requests must focus on the Westwood neighborhood in one of the following focus areas:
Anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Westwood can apply. Applicants under 18 years old are eligible and encouraged to apply with the permission of their parents or guardian.
Employees and Members of the Westwood Works board of directors are not eligible to apply for a mini-grant.
Mini-grants may not be used to fund alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or vaping products, someone’s salary, firearms or ammunition, and capital expenditures such as building, plans, construction, or renovation.
Westwood Story Project (Kyle Reiser)
East Westwood is embarking on a story telling project at the Cincinnati History Museum, representing the stories of Westwood as they’ve been passed down through generations, including records and artifacts.
Gaga for All: Gaga for ALL!
Gaga is a fast-moving and high-energy game that keeps all children and adults active and engaged. Known as the “great equalizer” in playground sports, gaga requires no special athletic skill or ability and is enjoyed by children and adults of all ages.
Westwood Grows
This project will include three parts: the development of a team of existing gardeners who will share native plant seeds & knowledge, the construction of a small but mighty plant nursery space to store collected seeds and propagate seedlings, and a series of educational workshops for neighbors who are eager to expand their botanical knowledge.
Bounty Box
The Bounty Box starts with a cooking class, tasting the recipe, and leaving with a box that will include locally grown produce, eggs and meat.
Free Book Fair
A free book fair and school supplies for YMCA daycare and preschoolers to promote a love of reading.
9-12 Novels for Gamble Elementary
Since their library was eliminated, Gamble will use these funds to purchase class novels for the 9-12 year old communities.
You can apply for our mini grant program online or submit a hard copy. If you’d like to submit a hard copy, you’ll need to print both the application + report form (linked).
Mail It
Westwood Works
C/O John Eby
3315 Dartmouth Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45211
Drop It Off
Grant application opens! There will be an information meeting at the July 26th Westwood Works meeting. 7:00 PM @ Frond (3126 Harrison Ave)
Grant Applications due at 5:00 PM ET
Mini-grant review process begins and grant awards will be announced on 12/8.
Mini-grant awards will be presented at our Annual Meeting in January 2024 (actual date TBD). Grantees have until October 31, 2024 to implement their idea.
Applications should be for no less than $100 and no more than $1000. If your project costs more than $1000, you must verify that the other funds have been secured.
Yes! Applicants from both East Westwood and Westwood are eligible to apply.
Grantees have one year to implement their project. For example, if your idea works best in warmer weather, you can plan to complete it in Spring/Summer 2023.
The Westwood Works Mini-grant committee will meet and review each grant. They may ask you to provide more information to help them decide.
All applicants will be notified of their application status no later than 12/8/2023.
Grant application reviewers will include the board of directors of Westwood Works, community members, volunteers, and business owners from the Westwood neighborhood. Each reviewer will understand community needs and consider the unique assets of Westwood to evaluate all applications. They will be given instructions to ensure a just and fair review process.
Mini-grant applications will be reviewed by the appointed mini-grant application review committee. The committee shall consist of:
The review committee will be formed in the first week of November and will meet to review mini-grant applications in the second week of November.
Each proposal will be reviewed to ensure the application meets the minimum requirements. Incomplete applications or those that do not follow instructions will not be accepted. There is no guarantee that the submission of a proposal will result in funding at the requested level.
All applications will be scored based on the following Scoring Rubric. Please review your application to make sure you answer all the questions as thoroughly as possible.
Organization/Individual’s name will be blacked out of each proposal during the scoring process.
Reviewers will independently review and score each application using a rubric based on the RFP. The review team will discuss each application, determine final scores, and make funding recommendations. Following recommendations from the review team, potential grantees will be asked to prepare 5-10 minute presentations. The recommendations and scoring rubrics will be presented to the Board of Directors of Westwood Works for final review and approval.
The Westwood Works Board will notify each grantee in writing, by email or a phone call and invite
them to the Annual Meeting to receive their grant packet.
Individuals or organizations that are awarded a mini-grant must agree to the following:
We want to see the awesome things you’re bringing to life in Westwood! We will work with you to coordinate a site visit during the implementation of the funded project. All Grantees that are awarded a mini-grant must agree to the following: