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How it works

Kingston Common Futures offers grants between $5,000-$50,000 for projects building solidarity and a stronger sense of community in Kingston with a focus on benefiting people and groups whose historic access to resources has been limited.

Our grants are issued after a multi-step process that aims to help applicants refine their work and connect to community resources and networks at each step.  

The funding process offers so much more than grants: it aspires to further weave our community together through engaged decision-making and active connection to people, institutions, and resources within Kingston. Although we will not be able to offer funding to every applicant, we hope to foster a process that supports each project’s development along the way. 

The Funding Process

1. Letter of Intent

Whether it’s an exciting new idea that serves the community, or is a project already underway that needs some extra funding, we want to hear about it! This is a simple first step in the application process. Applicants submit a short “Letter of Intent” outlining the project or idea they want funding for, with a brief description of the project, who is involved, and how much funding is being requested. Letters will be read by community members to determine if the proposal is eligible to apply for funding.

This is where the ideas and projects shared in the Letter of Intent phase get fleshed out. Applicants will have the opportunity to work with volunteer mentors and translators to complete their application, and even cross-pollinate with other applicants to share ideas and collaborate. Submitted applications will include a detailed project proposal, project budget, and timeline.

Community members gather to review all applications! Several trained volunteers will read each application, looking for projects that both align with Kingston Common Futures’ mission and are ready to get started! It’s also a time for community members to come together and connect while reviewing applications!

When all applications have been scored, the top 25 applicants will move on to the final round. For those who don’t move on to the final round, we’ll try our best to connect them with other relevant resources or support that may help further their ideas and ambitions.

In this final round, a group of volunteer community members will come together to serve as our jury to decide the projects to be funded. In this stage, each finalist will be interviewed, so that jury members can get to know the applicants better and to ask any questions they might have about the application.

Considering both the merit of each project and the mix of funded projects overall, the jury will deliberate together and make the final funding decisions. For jury members, this is an excellent opportunity to engage with fellow community members through active, democratic decision-making.

While paperwork is signed and funds are delivered to the selected projects, Kingston Common Futures will broadcast the great news of the people and projects getting funded!
This is where grantees can action their project ideas! Kingston Common Futures will be a resource to grantees throughout their journey: offering insight and support; collecting stories as projects progress; and measuring the impact that these projects, through this funding model, are having on the community.

Timing For Our First Funding Cycle

Early 2025
SPREAD THE WORD
  • Spreading the word to the Kingston community
  • Recruiting Mentors, Readers, and Selection Jury
Early 2025
Spring 2025
APPLY & REVIEW
  • Letter of Intent submission and review
  • Application development, support, submission and review
Spring 2025
Summer 2025
DECIDE & DISTRIBUTE
  • Selection Jury convenes
  • Application finalists interviewed
  • Grantees selected and awarded funding
Summer 2025
Fall 2025
MEASURE, LEARN, & GROW
  • Projects followed with advisory support from Kingston Common Futures
  • Impact measurement and learning to refine our next funding cycle
Fall 2025

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