Grassroots Open Space Program Funding Awards

Contact Information

Shani Fletcher

Shani.Fletcher@boston.gov

617-635-0466

The City of Boston acting by and through its Public Facilities Commission by the Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), Neighborhood Housing Development Division, is seeking proposals for its Grassroots Open Space Program Funding Awards.  The Grassroots Open Space Program makes land and funding available specifically for the development of open space projects such as community gardens, urban farms, food forests, and passive open space.  These awards are intended to assist nonprofit neighborhood initiatives with development of such projects, as well as capital improvements to existing open space projects, which are located on land that is not in DND’s inventory. 

Grassroots funds are awarded subject to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regulations.  These funds must be awarded to nonprofit organizations that have a current 501(c)(3) status.  

Proposals will be accepted as long as funding is available, or until June 30, 2021, whichever comes first, and awarded at DND’s discretion on a rolling basis to eligible organizations and projects.  When DND anticipates funding awards up to $100,000 depending on project size and scope in response to this RFP. 

The RFP package will be available on January 19, 2021, and can be downloaded by registering at https://boston.gov/dnd/rfps.  If you are unable to access, please contact the Development Officer.  Due to the ongoing health precautions that the City has taken due to COVID-19, completed RFP responses must be submitted electronically.  Please go to https://boston.gov/dnd/rfps for detailed instructions on how to submit RFP responses. 

Sheila Dillon, Chief and Director