Introduction
The Neighbourhood Grants Committee (NGC) is the group of local volunteers who make decisions about how the grants are distributed in their community. In this module, you will find guides and templates for recruiting and orienting NGC members. You will find more resources connected to the NGC in Module 5: Grant Decision Making.
Sections 2.1 to 2.4
This PDF contains all the guides and foundational information to help you recruit and orient NGC members.
Download Module 2 Guides (pdf)2.1 Guide to NGC Recruitment and Orientation
2.2 Guide to NGC Structure and Responsibilities
2.3 Guide to NSG Decision-Making
2.4 Principles of Grassroots Grantmaking
2.5 NGC Recruiting: Resources & Templates
Click on the links below to download each template. You can tailor the template to suit your needs – any text in peach are suggested places for you to customize the content.
2.5.1 NGC Volunteer Posting Template (Word)
This template can be used to get the word out and find potential committee members.
Download NGC Volunteer Posting Template (Word)2.5.2 Guide to Interviewing and Selecting NGC Members (Word)
This guide includes what to keep in mind when selecting members for your Committee and sample interview questions.
Download Guide to Interviewing and Selecting NGC Members (Word)2.5.3 NGC Interview Notes Template (Word)
This template can be used for taking notes during interviews.
Download NGC Interview Notes Template (Word)2.5.4 Timeline Template for NGC (Word)
This template can be used to create an approximate timeline of the program to help new potential volunteers on the NGC understand the time commitment and schedule of activities they will be involved in if they join the Committee.
Download Timeline Template for NGC (Word)2.5.5 NGC Member Info Template (Word)
This template can be used to record each NGC member’s personal information all in one place for future reference.
Download NGC Member Info Template (Word)2.6 NGC Orientation Materials
Click on the links below to download each template package. Each package will download as a Zip file and will contain a number of templates for you to use. Any text in peach are suggested places for you to customize the content.
Download 2.6.1 For NGC Orientation Facilitator (zip)NGC Orientation Outline Template
This sample agenda can be used to design your annual NGC Orientation workshop.
Making an NSG Event Accessible and Inclusive Template
This template includes some ideas for how to make NSG events inclusive and accessible. Some of these suggestions may only be relevant to the larger events that happen in NSG later in the granting cycle, but some may be useful even for a small workshop such as the NGC Orientation.
Ways of Being Together Template
This template can be used to develop intentions for how the NGC members want to work together as a group. While the agreements (see below) are the larger expectations of Committee members, these are more about the process of the group itself.
NSG Definitions Template
This document lists common terms that can be useful in introducing the NSG program and creating common language with the Committee members.
Mapping Your Community
This document helps you get to know your town, city or region better through demographic and asset mapping. This can be useful in introducing Asset Based Community Development during the Orientation. You may even want to take some time to do the activities in this document during the Orientation.
NGC Agreements Template
This template can be used to design agreements that spell out the expectations for NGC members. Members will need to sign these before they officially join the Committee, which can be done at the NGC Orientation workshop.
Sample NSG Applications Template with Teaching Notes
This template includes short sample applications based on real past applications, that can be customized year to year using examples drawn from real applications in your area. During the Orientation, it can be useful to have the committee simulate a grant decision-making meeting by discussing these sample applications. This version includes the teaching notes so that you can ensure that all of the relevant points are discussed.
2.6.2 For NGC Orientation Attendees (zip)NGC Manual Template
This template can be customized each year and provided to the NGC members before or during the Orientation by email and/or as a physical handout. It includes information on the NSG program and how it works, the role and responsibility of the NGC, the Principles of Grassroots Grantmaking and other key concepts used to guide decision-making, the NSG granting guidelines and a list of resources for NGCs.
Greenest City NSG Template
This template includes information on the Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grants (GCNSG) program, a partnership between the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Foundation to help Vancouver become the greenest city in the world.
Timeline Template for NGC
This template can be used to create an approximate timeline of the program for NGC members. It can be used at the Orientation to help NGC members understand the time commitment and schedule of activities they will be involved in.
Starting with Yes Infographic
This infographic was designed for NGC members as a visual reminder of the “starting with yes” framework used to approve applications.
Grant Approval Checklist Template
This template provides a short checklist of the granting decision guidelines and can be used to go through the Sample NSG Applications during the NGC Orientation.
Sample NSG Applications Template
This version does not include the teaching notes and can be provided to the Committee members as a handout for when they discuss the Sample Applications.
NGC Orientation Feedback Form Template
This template can be used to design a form for NGC members to provide their feedback on the Orientation. They can do this on paper at the end of the Orientation, or this can be sent to them after by email or as a Survey Monkey form.