2026 Applications
Applications will open at the end of April 2026.
Innovation Grants for Neighborhood Information, Transformation, and Enhancement!
The goal of the Neighborhood IGNITE Grant Program is to improve South Bend Neighborhoods through innovative projects that spark community engagement and development and are led by neighborhood residents!
Welcome to the City of South Bend IGNITE Grant! South Bend is proud of its historic and vibrant neighborhoods and the connections that they offer for residents. To support that vibrancy and connection, the City of South Bend’s Department of Community Investments and Engagement and Economic Empowerment(E3) Team is offering grants of up to a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $15,000 to neighborhood associations to create and expand ways for neighborhoods to engage, connect, and grow. The funds provide for small neighborhood-based projects with community-wide benefits.
Key 2026 Dates
| April 2026 | 2026 Applications are open |
| April – August 2026 | One-on-One meetings scheduled with IGNITE Project Manager |
| August 2026 | Grant applications are due. Specific due date coming soon. |
| January 2027 | 2026 awards announced |
Who Can Apply?
The program is administered by the City of South Bend’s Engagement and Economic Empowerment (EEE) team. The grant program is exclusively for neighborhood associations and the residents within the neighborhood. A neighborhood association must identify neighborhood boundaries. Then develop a committee of at least 5 neighborhood residents (with contact information).
Where can I host a project?
The project must be carried out within the declared boundaries of the neighborhood. Applicants are welcome and encouraged to partner with local organizations and businesses but the project itself must be for the residents of the applying neighborhood association and provide a clear community benefit.
Application
How Does the Funding Work?
As these grants offer funding up to $15,000, the applying neighborhood must have a tax identification number and a bank account, which requires that the association is at least recognized as a nonprofit by the State of Indiana. Organizations do not have to have 501c3 certification. Depending on the project, the city may pay vendors or suppliers directly.
Why is this being offered?
South Bend has a rich and proud history of neighborhoods. Investments in our neighborhoods and neighborhood associations are one of the best ways to facilitate community connection and provide the opportunity for residents to organize and advocate for themselves. The COVID-19 pandemic has made especially clear the importance of local action and we want to do everything we can to make South Bend neighborhoods places for every resident to live, grow, and thrive.
For more information, email eee@southbendin.gov
Categories for Funding
The Ignite Grant will support projects that fall into the following general categories:
- Beautification (wildflowers, gardens, tree planting)
- Public Space Enhancement (shared spaces, large capacity grills, park benches)
- Capacity Building and Training (Neighbor Works Training, Strategic Plans, Technical Assistance)
- Public Art (murals, sculptures, street paintings)
- Food Security (community gardens)
- Neighborhood Signage (neighborhood identification signs)
- Public Safety (sidewalk connections, lighting, informal signage)
- Health and Wellness (walking paths, outdoor exercise equipment, compost, bike racks / repair stations)
We are also open to other creative ideas generated by neighborhoods!
We Awarded Grants to 5 Neighborhoods in 2025!
- Near West Side Neighborhood Organization – Colfax Greenway Alley Water Project
- Miami Village – Covered Bus Shelter
- Near Northwest Neighborhood – NNN Street Tree Planning and Planting
- Woodlawn Neighborhood Association – Neighborhood Signage
- Twyckenham Hills – Pocket Park Phase 2