OVERVIEW 

Neighborhood Opportunity Fund – ARPA (NOF-ARPA) was designed to strengthen small grassroots organizations serving Detroit residents, particularly organizations that historically faced barriers to accessing federal funding. Through a combination of microgrants and technical assistance, NOF-ARPA invested in organizations, strengthened organizational capacity, and supported programs addressing the needs of Detroit residents and communities impacted by COVID-19.

NOF-ARPA was built around two complementary investments:

1.  Technical Assistance -   Organizations received technical assistance focused on capacity building, leadership development, grant readiness, compliance, and organizational sustainability. Support was provided before and after grant awards to help organizations strengthen their operations and build capacity beyond the NOF-ARPA funding period. To receive and view helpful technical assistance videos and resources please visit the NOF ARPA Resource Hub.  
   
    
2. Microgrants: NOF-ARPA provided direct funding to grassroots organizations delivering public-service programs in Detroit communities. Grant funding supported organizations working across six priority areas: Education, Health, Recreation, Public Safety, Seniors, and Mobility & Accessibility.Grant awards ranged from $10,000.00 to $20,000.00.
    

The program intentionally prioritized grassroots and emerging organizations that were deeply connected to Detroit communities but often had limited access to traditional government funding opportunities.:

• grassroots and small nonprofit organizations;
• emerging nonprofits and organizations with limited previous access to federal or municipal funding;
• organizations serving Detroit residents with low to moderate incomes; and
• community-based organizations with established neighborhood presence and direct relationships with residents.

Together, the funding and technical assistance model created an entry point for grassroots organizations to access public funding while strengthening the organizational capacity needed to sustain their work.

NOF ARPA AT A GLANCE

From grassroots investment to organizational capacity building, NOF-ARPA supported organizations working across Detroit to strengthen people, neighborhoods, and communities. Explore the program's overall reach and impact below.

LEARN ABOUT THE NOF-ARPA MODEL

Watch this overview to learn how NOF-ARPA combined grant funding and technical assistance to support Detroit's grassroots nonprofit community.
 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

Technical assistance was a central component of NOF-ARPA. Organizations received support throughout the grant lifecycle, including pre-application information sessions, individual and group coaching, post-award training, compliance support, and organizational capacity building. 

For funded organizations, technical assistance extended beyond grant administration to help strengthen the systems, knowledge, leadership, and organizational practices needed for long-term sustainability.

 Post-Award Technical Assistance 
 

• Organizations who attended post-award technical assistance obtained help building their operational, programmatic, financial, and organizational capacity. 
   
• Technical assistance and training helped organizations discover their specific strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities through 1:1, small group sessions, and large group settings. 
   
• Organizations awarded funding received technical assistance to build their capacity and knowledge base to apply for other government, corporate, and philanthropic funding opportunities.
   
• SP Grace, (the NOF-ARPA third party administrator) focused on Nonprofit board development, community engagement, leadership development and much more! The technical assistance provided through NOF ARPA was well worth over $50,000 and was free for all beneficiaries. 

NOF-ARPA FUNDING ROUNDS 

NOF-ARPA expanded through multiple funding rounds, increasing the number of grassroots organizations receiving investment while extending the program's reach across Detroit communities.

ROUND ONE 

39 ORGANIZATIONS FUNDED  |   TOTAL OF $780,000  AWARDED.

DISTRICT 1

Sienna Literacy Center

O'Hair Park Community

DISTRICT 2

Detroit Horse Power

Liberian Association of Michigan

New Era Community Connection 

Sinai-Grace Guild CDC

Sistah's Reachin' Out

The Natural Momma Me Initiative

DISTRICT 3

Carrie Morris Arts Production/Detroit Puppet Co.

Conant Gardens Neighborhood Development

Grand Parents on the Move Inc, 

One New Humanity

RTTM Community Center

Emerging Training Industries

S&D PJ Housing

Alkebulan Village

Empower My Future

DISTRICT 4 

Camp Restore

New Beginnings Community Development

DISTRICT 5

Bailey Park Project

Bethel Community Transformation Center

Big Brothers Big Sisters- Southeast Michigan

Family Assistance for Renaissance Men (F.A.R.M.)

Stafford House

Detroit Power Detroit

Embassy Community Development Center

Friends of the Children-Detroit

Ladies Entrepreneur Empowerment Circle

Student Advocacy Center

The Black Bottom Group / Blast Detroit

DISTRICT 6

Clark Park Coalition

Avalon Healing Center

Citizen Robotics 

DISTRICT 7

Our Community Bridge 

Creative Movement Brazil

Premier Quality Health Center Inc. 

The Davas Foundation

The Larkin House

Detroit Association of Black Organizations

ROUND TWO 

DISTRICT 1

A Girl Like Me Inc

Abayomi Community Development Corporation

Center for Success Network

Chiquita Jackson Enterprise

NW Goldberg Cares

T.E.A (Teach, Empower, Achieve)

Support the Mode

DISTRICT 2

Amor Y Esperanza Inc

Canfield Consortium

Coleman A Young Foundation

Detroit Homeownership Center CDC

American Youth Football Inc (Detroit Predators)

Dominican Literacy Center

East Michigan Environmental Action Council Inc

Humanity Outreach Inc

Forigin Initiative

Victory in the Family Ministries

Elbow To Elbow Inc

DISTRICT 3

Enjoy Detroit

FREEDOM DREAMS

Luella Hannan Memorial Home

Michigan Veterans Foundation Inc

Neighborhood Building Urban Gardens

Women of Banglatown

Youth Community Agency

DISTRICT 4 

Childs Play Foundation Inc

Detroit Suzuki Academy of Music

Enrich Kids Now

Friends of Parkside

Gospel Tabernacle Inc

Urban Apostolic Network Church

Metro Food Rescue

DISTRICT 5

826 Michigan

All Things Women Inc

Carry the Word Ministries

Connections2Life Inc Nonprofit

Covenant House Michigan

Detroit Literacy Coalition

Friends of Detroit Rowing Inc

Healing Hearts Inc

Jays Foundation

Loris Hands Inc

Peace Detroit

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - Detroit Chapter

Temate Institute for Black Dance and Culture LLC

Urban Neighborhood Initiatives Inc

To Girls From Women / Motor City Jaguars

Villages Community Development Corporation

WJP Urban Farms

Women's Innovative Social Enterprise

Strategic Community Solutions Inc

DISTRICT 6

1 Michigan for the Global Majority Inc

Association for the Advancement of Deaf & Hard Off Hearing

Brothers of Kelly Park

Detroit Triple T Foundation

East Side Youth Sports Foundation

Equity Alliance of Michigan

Girl Power Mentoring Program

Saras House Place

Etiquette Series

Amour Women Foundation

Carol S House of Refuge

To Girls From Women

DISTRICT 7

Black Bottom Community CDC 

Nation Outside 

No Barriers 2 Success Inc.

Teacher Supporting Teachers Everywhere Inc

Fashion For Progression

Finm Solutions

Lewis Connection

New City Kids Inc

Walking in the Spirit of Excellence Foundation 

METRO DETROIT AREA 

(These organizations were headquartered outside of Detroit but programs specifically served Detroit residents Citywide with their NOF ARPA grant fund)

Akropolis Quintet Inc

AT BAT

Faith in Girls 

Northend Village Nonprofit

Central Detroit Christian CDC (fiduciary for Off Grid Detroit)

Perry Outreach Center

BASS Inc 

ROUND 2.5: EXTENDING THE OPPORTUNITY

Round 2.5 extended NOF-ARPA investment to 10 additional organizations that demonstrated strong potential but fell just below the original Round 2 funding threshold. With additional funding authorized by Detroit City Council, these organizations received NOF-ARPA investment and entered an accelerated implementation period.

- STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY-

Behind every award are organizations, programs, and people working to strengthen Detroit communities. Explore examples of how NOF-ARPA organizations put their funding into action. 

Sistah's Reachin Out (SRO) 

 Sistahs Reachin’ Out (SRO), the Career and College Access Center (CACAC) is a community resource that offers:

1. Expanded Broadband access via free HSI connectivity,
2. Open access to a fully equipped, 22-workstation computer lab and
3. Certified training in the use of digital technologies and devices (Microsoft Office, emailing, virtual meeting conferencing, cloud storage and social media)

Thier goal is to upskill both student and adult learners in our Detroit community toward equally preparing them to access transformative educational and employment opportunities. Take a look at one of their recent opportunities and collaborations with another City of Detroit department. 

EMERGING INDUSTRIES TRAINING INSTITUTE (EITI)  

EITI conducted intensive essential (soft) skill and financial literacy training for roughly 50 residents who live in District 3. Through intensive essential development, EITI educates residents on the following skills that assist in job attainment and retention: Communication strategies, dressing for success, interpersonal skill development, networking, self-awareness, goal setting, problem solving, teamwork, diversity and inclusion. Take a look a look at the video of their most recent training that was supported through the NOF ARPA grant fund.