City and Partners Announce Launch of Second Round of NIA Grants

Rochester, NY - Mayor Malik D. Evans, alongside partners from ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Area Community Foundation, today announced that applications are open for the second round of Neighbors In Action (NIA) grant funding.

To fund the grants, the City of Rochester is again partnering with ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Area Community Foundation, with each organization contributing $100,000 to support the initiative. Together, the partners will make $300,000 available in small grants of up to $10,000.

“Neighbors In Action is rooted in the principle of Nia — purpose,” Mayor Malik D. Evans said. “It reflects our shared commitment, alongside ESL Federal Credit Union and Rochester Area Community Foundation, to work with residents to achieve collective goals. When the City, our partners and our neighborhoods collaborate, we see real, community-driven progress that helps move Rochester forward.”

“NIA grants are small, but the momentum that is being generated is huge. When people can find resources and support for their ideas, more hands go up ready to join the work,” says Simeon Banister, president & CEO of Rochester Area Community Foundation. “Equally valuable for institutions like ours is the chance to learn directly from residents about their perspectives and priorities.” 

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with the City of Rochester and Rochester Area Community Foundation as we enter NIA’s second year,” said John Paul Perez, ESL vice president/director, community impact. “These shared investments help residents connect with one another and build strong communities that are strong, welcoming, and resilient.”

NIA is open to neighborhood associations, block clubs and other community organizations located within the City of Rochester. A wide range of projects are eligible for funding, including community beautification efforts such as gardens and public art, neighborhood events, youth and senior programs, environmental sustainability projects, and education- and health-focused initiatives.

Applications available online at racf.org/grant/NIA, must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Those interested in applying are also encouraged to visit the website to register for an informational webinar to be held on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.

As in the first round, staff from the City of Rochester, ESL Federal Credit Union, and Rochester Area Community Foundation will serve on the application review committee. Rochester Area Community Foundation will continue to hold and distribute the funds, and the City will support the program through its Neighborhood Service Centers to help coordinate NIA projects and strengthen neighborhood capacity.

Neighbors In Action is designed to empower residents to come together and take purposeful action to strengthen and improve their neighborhoods. The word “Nia” (pronounced NEE-uh) means “purpose” in Swahili and is a core principle of Kwanzaa, reflecting the program’s focus on collective goals, collaboration and community-driven progress.

In the first round of funding, more than 40 projects received grants. Supported initiatives included the distribution of emergency fire extinguishers to elderly residents, single mothers, and families in the Northeast; an arborist assessment of trees at the Lakeview Park Mall to improve their health and appearance in the Northwest; recruitment and training of block club captains in the Southeast; and services in the Southwest to support feral cats and help foster and rehome lost, stray, or abandoned animals.

For more information about Neighbors In Action, visit www.CityOfRochester.gov/NIA orracf.org/grant/NIA.