Coordinating NSG Toolkit
Full Coordinating NSG Toolkit
Welcome to the Coordinating Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) Toolkit! This Toolkit is filled with guides, templates and other resources to help you implement and coordinate the NSG program in your area. The Toolkit is organized into nine modules that follow the timeline of a granting cycle. You can either download the full Toolkit (which includes a helpful introduction on how to use this resource) or by individual modules.
Module 1: Getting Started
Whether you are new to NSG or just new to the Toolkit, this is the place to start! Module 1 offers a list of resources that provide a foundation for people who are involved in the coordination of NSG or any grassroots grantmaking program.
Module 2: NGC Recruitment and Orientation
In this module, you will find guides and templates for recruiting and orienting Neighbourhood Grants Committee (NGC) members. The NGC is the group of local volunteers who make decisions about how the grants are distributed in their community.
Module 3: Promotion and Branding Basics
Leading up to the opening of the grants through to the application deadline, the focus of NSG is primarily on promoting the grants and supporting people to apply. Module 3 includes information and resources to use in doing outreach to and building relationships with potential applicants in your community.
Module 4: Managing Applications
This module includes a guide to the online Grant Management System (GMS), which is used to manage applications both when they are in-progress and when they are submitted.
Module 5: Granting Decisions
In this module, you will find guides and templates to support the Neighbourhood Grants Committee through the process of making granting decisions and distributing your NSG funds.
Module 6: Project Leader Orientation and Cheque Issue
This module includes guides and templates for coordinating an event to orient Project Leaders to and connect them with other people involved in the program.
Module 7: Project Leader Resources
This module has a range of resources you can provide to Project Leaders to support them in organizing their NSG projects such as the Project Leader Manual.
Module 8: Wrap-Up and Evaluation
This module includes information on finishing your NSG granting cycle through project wrap-ups, the Wrap-Up Celebration event, and program evaluation.
Module 9: Learning Days/Summits
This module provides resources to help you plan and execute an NSG Learning Day, which are 1 to 2 day events that bring together Project Leaders, Committee Members, Coordinators, Partner Organizations, and Funders to share stories and skills, discuss best practices, attend presentations and workshops, and build relationships with one another.
NSG Partner and Coordinator Orientation Toolkit
Full NSG Partner and Coordinator Orientation Toolkit
This Toolkit includes resources for the facilitators of an NSG Orientation for new Coordinators and Partner Organization staff and board members. It features a Guide to Planning an Orientation Event, Ways to Make an Event Accessible and Inclusive, and a list of all the resources and handouts you’ll need to facilitate.
Orientation Agenda Template
For the Orientation Facilitator: This template is a suggested agenda for an NSG Orientation, based on a day and a half workshop.
Orientation Facilitator's Notes Template
For the Orientation Facilitator: This document provides a template to customize and use to guide the content of the session. It includes speaking notes, interactive activities (often with multiple options to choose from), and lists the corresponding PowerPoint slides and Toolkit documents that go with each section.
Section 1 PowerPoint - Program Overview
For the Orientation Facilitator: This Powerpoint provides an overview of the program and its background, including definitions, the history of NSG, Asset-Based Community Development, Grassroots Grantmaking, the Principles of Grassroots Grantmaking and so on.
Section 2 PowerPoint - Recruiting and Orienting the NGC and Promotions
For the Orientation Facilitator: This PowerPoint includes information on recruiting
and orienting the Neighbourhood Granting Committee (NGC) and
promoting the grants.
Section 3 PowerPoint - Granting Decisions, Applicant/Project Leader Support, Evaluation and Wrap-Up
For the Orientation Facilitator: This PowerPoint includes information on making granting decisions, orienting and supporting applicants and Project Leaders, wrapping up a granting cycle and evaluating an NSG program.
Sample NSG Applications Template with Teaching Notes
For the Orientation Facilitator: During the Orientation, you will ask participants to simulate an NSG granting decision-making meeting, using sample applications provided as a handout, all based on real past applications received in the program. This template includes teaching notes, so that you can ensure that the group has noticed the most important questions, concerns and strengths related to each sample application. One without teaching notes is available in the Handouts and Resources section to provide to the participants.
NSG Orientation Participant Feedback Form Template
For the Orientation Facilitator: This template can be adapted to create a feedback form for participants at an NSG Orientation.
NSG Orientation Organizers’ Debriefing Template
For the Orientation Facilitator: This document is a template for the organizers of an NSG Orientation to use to debrief after the workshop has taken place. It can be customized to capture successes, learnings and what you hope to add, change or address at future orientations.
1 - Resources to Send Out Before the Orientation
These resources are intended to be sent in the FIRST EMAIL to participants about 3-4 weeks before the Orientation. It includes: NSG Definitions, What is Grassroots Grantmaking?, Coordinator’s Guide to the Principles of Grassroots Grantmaking, and the Benefits of Neighbourliness.
2 - Resources to Send Out Before the Orientation
These resources are intended to be sent in the SECOND EMAIL to participants about 2-3 weeks before the Orientation. It includes: Mapping Your Community, A Guide to NSG Decision-Making, and List of Podcasts and Videos.
3 - Resources to Send Out Before the Orientation
These resources are intended to be sent in the THIRD EMAIL to participants about 1-2 weeks before the Orientation. It includes: How an NSG Program Works, NSG Coordination Checklist, and Guide to Knowledge Exchange and Skill Sharing.
Handouts for Use during the Orientation
These include a number of resources that you will need for activities during the Orientation and a few others you may want to consider printing to provide as handouts.