Partner Resources

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.

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:

• Guide to Planning an Orientation Event
• Making an Event Accessible and Inclusive
• Guide to Handouts & Resources for Orientation Facilitator
• A list links to all the resources and handouts you’ll need

Resources & Templates for Orientation Facilitator

Download all the resources and templates an Orientation Facilitator needs to successfully plan, facilitate, and evaluate an NSG Orientation event.

Handouts and Resources for Orientation Participants

As part of hosting an NSG Orientation, you may want to send participants some resources before and after the Orientation, as well as have handouts and activities ready for the event. This section offers you a list and suggested timeline of when to share this information.

Full Exploring and Initiating NSG Toolkit

This Toolkit is for anyone who is interested in exploring and setting up a partnership with an organization that is considering having NSG in their community. There are two sections in this Toolkit:

1. Exploring Potential NSG Partnerships: This will help you explore whether the potential partner has the right understanding and tools to support NSG in their community and help the potential partner understand their role in NSG.
2. Initiating New NSG Partnerships: Should the potential partner feel they are a fit for the program, this section includes the resources to formally begin the process of initiating the program.

Exploring Potential NSG Partnerships: Resources & Templates

In the first section of this Toolkit, there are a series of templates and resources to support potential partners in exploring NSG in their community, which includes helping organizations conduct an initial self-assessment, hosting a presentation to the boards and staff of these organizations, developing handouts you can tailor and send out during the presentation.

Initiating New NSG Partnerships: Resources & Templates

In the second section of this Toolkit, the resources and templates support partner organizations get started on initiating NSG in their community including preparing a Memorandum of Understanding, setting a timeline for their first year of the program, hiring a coordinator, and promoting NSG in the community.