Presented in partnership between the Detroit Parks Coalition, Detroit Pistons Foundation, and City of Detroit Parks & Recreation Division, the Pistons Neighbors Program brings fun and accessible recreational programming to parks throughout Detroit. Through the Neighbors Program, DPC will bring pop up programming and staff to your park, free of charge. Our host partners:

• Work with us to select appropriate and relevant programs for your park–from sports, exercise, and healthy food to reading and arts and culture.

• Help us understand what days and times your park would most benefit from additional programming.

• Promote all programming to your community. A stipend will be provided for this work. 

The 2024 Pistons Neighbors Program will take place from June 17 - August 16, 2024. All programming must occur during this time frame.

Applications for the Pistons Neighbors Program are due on March 1, 2024. Applicants will be notified of selection by April 12, 2024.

WHO MAY APPLY

• Applicants must be community-led organizations (for example, block clubs or CBOs) who care for and/or provide programs in a Detroit park. Parks must be open for public use. Applicants need not be 501c3 organizations, but may not be for-profit businesses.

  • If stewarding a City of Detroit park, applicants must apply to be part of the Adopt a Park program.

  • Organizations that provide programs that are not affiliated with a specific park should not use this form to apply. If you wish to provide programming as part of the Pistons Neighbors Program, contact us.

• All programming must be free and drop-in. Programming may be recreational, cultural, or environmental in nature. Religious or political programming is not eligible. All programs must take place onsite in the selected parks.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Selected parks will be spread out geographically throughout the city

• All parks must be open for public use. Applicant parks need not be owned or operated by the City of Detroit. However, a majority of the parks selected will represent city parks and highlight Detroit Pistons basketball courts (see map).

In partnership with the Kresge Foundation, the Detroit Parks Coalition will award grants of up to $20,000 for youth and family summer parks programming. Grants will be awarded to community organizations with a demonstrated connection to a neighborhood park and the capacity to manage their own programming and staffing. Funding will support outdoor youth and family programs that occur at least once per month in a neighborhood park. 10-20% of all program budgets must support organizational operations. 

Applications are due on March 1, 2024. Applicants will be notified of selection by April 12, 2024.

WHO MAY APPLY

• Applicants must be community-led organizations (for example, block clubs or CBOs) who care for and/or provide programs in a Detroit park. Parks must be open for public use. Applicants need not be 501c3 organizations, but may not be for-profit businesses.

  • If stewarding a City of Detroit park, applicants must apply to be part of the Adopt a Park program.

  • Organizations that provide programs that are not affiliated with a specific park should not use this form to apply. If you wish to provide programming as part of the Pistons Neighbors Program, contact us.

• Applicants must staff and insure their own parks programming.

• While we do not require any specific corporate form, all applicants must have a bank account under their organization’s name to recieve grant funding.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Selected parks will be spread out geographically throughout the city

• All parks must be open for public use. Applicant parks need not be owned or operated by the City of Detroit.

In partnership with the Detroit Public Library, DPC invites park stewards and community organizations to host youth storytelling and literacy events at their neighborhood park. Organizations should indicate the audience and theme for their event; DPL will coordinate with selected organizations directly to finalize planning. 

Applications are due on March 1, 2024. Applicants will be notified of selection by April 12, 2024.

WHO MAY APPLY

• Applicants must be community-led organizations (for example, block clubs or CBOs) who care for and/or provide programs in a Detroit park. Parks must be open for public use. Applicants need not be 501c3 organizations, but may not be for-profit businesses.

  • If stewarding a City of Detroit park, applicants must apply to be part of the Adopt a Park program.

  • Organizations that provide programs that are not affiliated with a specific park should not use this form to apply. If you wish to provide programming as part of the Pistons Neighbors Program, contact us.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Selected parks will be spread out geographically throughout the city

• All parks must be open for public use. Applicant parks need not be owned or operated by the City of Detroit.

CulturePop funds simple, engaging arts and culture activations in Detroit’s neighborhood parks. CulturePop features outdoor, engagement-driven arts and cultural programming and is presented in partnership with the Gilbert Family Foundation and the Detroit Parks Coalition. Arts organizations and parks organizations are paired throughout the program, with each receiving funding to present the work. For more information, visit the CultureSource website.

The Detroit Pistons Foundation and Detroit Parks Coalition developed the Let’s Play learning series to support Detroit organizations that engage their communities through programming, creative installations, sports leagues and more, with the goal of developing fun and healthy community programming for all ages. This micro grant program is intended as an extension of that support. Grants will range between $1,000 and $5,000. Applicants may use the grant funds towards programming and/or infrastructure. Apply online by May 22.

We’re bringing programming to the parks!

Presented in partnership between the Detroit Parks Coalition, Detroit Pistons Foundation, and City of Detroit Parks & Recreation Division, the Pistons Neighbors Program reflects our commitment to Detroit’s parks and the people who enjoy them. From July – September 2023, parks throughout Detroit will host drop-in activities for all ages, including sports clinics, live music, dance classes, and visual arts.

The Neighbors Program supports community-based organizations in programming in their local parks. Organizations may opt to have DPC and the Detroit Pistons Foundation operate the programming or, for more established organizations, operate the program themselves and receive reimbursement. Organizations may request 1-5 programs, each of which must occur weekly from 4th of July to Labor Day. Selected organizations will be responsible for marketing and evaluating the programs in their park; a stipend will be provided for this work.

Applications for the Pistons Neighbors Program are due on March 1, 2023.

HOW IT WORKS

February 1 – March 1: Community organizations apply to host the Pistons Neighbors Program.

• Applicants select the programming they would like to present in their park, as well as whether they prefer to have DPC operate the program or receive a stipend for operating the program.

  • A sample list of programs will be provided. Applicants may also select their own programs.

  • Applicants who staff their own programming must demonstrate a two-year history of program operations, proof of insurance, and an ability to comply with standard quality measures (i.e. background checks for all program staff).

• All programming must take place from July 5 – September 3, 2023.

March: A selection committee reviews all applications and selects programming for implementation.

April 1: All applicants are notified of decisions.

• Selected partners will be responsible for promoting the Neighbors Program in their park. A stipend will be provided for these efforts.

• Selected partners must complete a brief final report at the end of the program period.

April– May: Detroit Parks Coalition finalizes arrangements with all selected organizations and programmers.

May 1: Summer 2023 Pistons Neighbors Program is publicly announced. Promotion begins.

July – September: Programming takes place in parks citywide.

November 1: Final reports due to Detroit Parks Coalition.

WHO MAY APPLY

• Applicants must be community-led organizations (for example, block clubs or CBOs) who care for and/or provide programs in a Detroit park. Parks must be open for public use. Applicants need not be 501c3 organizations, but may not be for-profit businesses. Applicants who wish to operate their own park programs must demonstrate a two-year history of program operations, proof of insurance, and an ability to comply with standard quality measures (i.e. background checks for all program staff).

  • Organizations that provide programs that are not affiliated with a specific park should not use this form to apply. If you wish to provide programming as part of the Pistons Neighbors Program, contact us.

  • Individuals who are not affiliated with a community-based organization but would like to request programming for a neighborhood park should contact DPC directly.

• Programmers may be selected from an approved list or nominated by community-based organizations. All programming must be free and drop-in. Programming may be recreational, cultural, or environmental in nature. Religious or political programming is not eligible. All programs must take place onsite in the selected parks.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Selected parks will be spread out geographically throughout the city

• All parks must be open for public use. Applicant parks need not be owned or operated by the City of Detroit. However, a majority of the parks selected will represent city parks and highlight Detroit Pistons basketball courts (see map).

• Selected community organizations who steward public parks must apply to the City of Detroit’s Adopt a Park program.

The Nike Community Impact Fund helps local organizations bring the benefits of sport to their communities, giving kids an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of quality play and active lives, and creating stronger communities where sports and physical activity are a highly valued part of everyday life. Grants of $5000-$10,000 will support projects that promote sport or physical activity in the community. Read more and apply online.

To ensure that all can experience the social, economic, physical, and spiritual benefits of Detroit’s regional parks for decades to come, DPC has developed a regrant program for park organizations in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. Grant guidelines include: 

• Funding must benefit DPC members representing neighborhood parks: Chandler Park Conservancy, Clark Park Coalition, Friends of Patton Park, Friends of Rouge Park, People for Palmer Park, and Sidewalk Detroit. 

• Funding may be used for programming, capital improvements, or capacity building.

• All funding must be matched 2:1 by member organizations. In future years, DPC may provide some or all of the match. 

• Eligible DPC members may submit a request for up to $40,000. Organizations will select a program, project, and/or capacity building effort that best aligns with their needs and priorities.

Eligible DPC members may apply by contacting DPC.

Open date: October 1, 2022; Close date: January 15, 2023

Funding available: up to $4,000 for arts programs or projects

Categories: Programming

Description: Arts Projects Minigrants fund artistic and cultural projects through nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants may apply for up to $4,000 for a project taking place during the grant period. More details available here.