New grant program to expand opportunities for low-income Memphians

The Kresge Foundation is broadening its philanthropic efforts with the December launch of a new grant program and Memphis-only web portal for civic and nonprofit organizations that support low-income Memphians.
 
“The response in Memphis to Kresge’s grant making has been very robust, and Kresge has a lot of interest in Memphis,” said Carol Coletta, senior fellow with the Kresge’s American Cities Practice. “By offering up this Memphis-only portal, prospective grantees will have a quick and efficient way to get their ideas in front of Kresge.”
 
Through its Krege Memphis Funding Opportunity, Kresge will make investments in local organizations primarily working in arts and culture, community development, education, health or human services.  
 
Its four categories of approaches include supporting the articulation of community priorities to inform decision-making, determining plans for action at the community level, enhancing the capacity for transformative change at the community or city level and strengthening neighborhoods’ systems of opportunity.
 
The majority of the grants offered are expected to range from $25,000 to $150,000 for a timeframe of up to two years. Letters of inquiry for are due by January 31, and Kresge will determine which organizations will be invited to the full proposal phase by March 24.
 
“Kresge particularly favors grants that cross its program team areas like health and human services or health and arts & culture,” said Coletta. “Kresge is focused on creative placemaking.”
 
In September, Kresge, along with the JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, launched a new national initiative to foster civic engagement, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability with a $40 million investment in public spaces in four cities, including Memphis.
 
That placemaking could occur within areas like the Memphis Civic Commons Fourth Bluff project, which got underway recently thanks the $5 million investment made by the four national foundations in September. The revitalization project focuses on four blocks in the heart of Downtown deeded in perpetuity for public use by the city’s founders. Four key area assets will be renovated and activated, including the historic Cossitt Library, The Promenade at University of Memphis Law School, Memphis Park and Mississippi River Park.
 
Planned program elements include an ice skating rink, fire pits, games, running and biking paths, grilling stations, swings, art installations, outdoor recreation, a playground, flexible seating, music concerts, food, light installations, beer gardens, artistic crosswalks and retail at Downtown’s underutilized public spaces.
 
Kresge believes that demonstrated investments in public spaces can reverse recent trends of economic and social fragmentation.
 
The hope is that revitalizing and connecting public spaces such as parks, libraries, trails and community centers will create experiences and spaces where people of all backgrounds can exchange ideas and address common problems, while making cities more environmentally sustainable in the process.
 
Since 2013, Kresge has made investments in Memphis totaling more than $2.5 million to support efforts to spark economic and community development. The investments have resulted in work like food entrepreneurship in the Binghampton neighborhood and college attainment through the Memphis Talent Dividend.