Apply: 2026 Community Grant Application

CPC

Cleveland Community Police Commission

Community Grant Program Application

Violence Prevention · Restorative Justice · Mediation

Questions? CPC Staff Can Help (216) 505-5920
ljohnson4@clevelandohio.gov

About This Program 1 · Eligibility Screening 2 · Applicant & Governance 3 · Project Information 4 · Budget & Documents 5 · Compliance Certifications 6 · Reporting Commitments Review & Submit

The Cleveland Community Police Commission (CPC) is an independent civilian body created to ensure policing in Cleveland is constitutional, effective, and consistent with community values. Under City Charter § 115-5, the CPC receives a dedicated grantmaking budget — at least 0.5% of the amount budgeted for the Division of Police — to fund community-based violence-prevention, restorative-justice, and mediation programs that reduce the need for police activity.

The CPC will consider proposals that

Meet Charter § 115-5 criteria: violence prevention, restorative justice, or mediation, to reduce the need for police activity
Advance the CPC’s goals and mission
Are submitted by organizations based in Cleveland or that directly serve Cleveland residents
Are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, or grassroots organizations with a qualifying fiscal sponsor (or the alternative pathway in Part 1)
Demonstrate a track record of, or clear plans for, partnerships with existing programs or community stakeholders
Create no unresolved conflict of interest for the Commission or a Commissioner

The CPC will not fund

Individuals or groups without a fiscal agent, or for-profit / commercial organizations
Fundraising, endowments, annual appeals, membership drives, lobbying, or political candidates/campaigns
Law-enforcement functions, including police personnel, equipment, or operations
Religious worship, instruction, or proselytization (a faith-based organization’s secular programming may still qualify)
Capital construction or major capital improvements over $10,000 without prior Committee approval
Debt service, fines, penalties, or unrelated legal settlements; projects already completed; or organizations already funded in the same grant cycle

Two Grantee Categories

Every cycle, the CPC selects up to twenty (20) Grantees across two categories. You’ll choose one in Part 1.

Special Interest Group Grantee (up to 5 awards)

For organizations that reflect, are led by, or principally serve one of the community-representation categories tied to Charter § 115-5(c) — e.g., racial-minority, immigrant, or refugee communities; the LGBTQ+ community; individuals impacted by police violence or wrongful conviction; gun-violence survivors; and related groups.

Grassroots Organization Grantee (up to 15 awards)

For organizations with an annual operating budget of $1,000,000 or less, demonstrated roots in and accountability to the Cleveland neighborhood they serve, and limited history of large government or foundation grants (no single prior grant over $250,000).

Standard authority up to $50,000 per award (larger requests possible; longer approval process)

Grant Term: 2 years, disbursed in installments

Administrative/overhead costs capped at 15% of award

1-year wait to reapply after a Grant Term ends

A note on identity verification: Before any award is finalized, the CPC completes a Know-Your-Grantee review to ensure compliance with federal anti-money-laundering, anti-bribery, and anti-terrorism-financing laws on every selected organization. This application collects your officers’/directors’ names and roles for that purpose, but does not ask for dates of birth, government ID numbers, or bank account/routing numbers. If your organization is selected, CPC staff will request those specific details securely, separately from this form.

Part 1

Eligibility Screening

Has your organization received CPC funding before? *

Yes No

When did your organization receive funding? *

Program that was funded

Describe any relationships between your organization’s leadership and any CPC Commissioner or staff member *

Include board service, employment, family relationships, or other close ties. Write “None” if there are none — this is a standard conflict-of-interest disclosure, not a disqualifier.

Type of program your organization is requesting funds for *

Please describe

Is your organization based in the City of Cleveland, Ohio, or does it primarily serve Cleveland residents? *

Yes No

Programs that do not meet this requirement are not eligible for CPC funding.

Grantee Category

Choose the category that best fits your organization. CPC staff will confirm the controlling category during review if you could qualify under both.

Grantee category

Special Interest Group up to 5 Reflects a Charter § 115-5(c) community-representation category Grassroots Organization up to 15 Budget ≤ $1M, community-rooted, limited large-grant history

Which community-representation categories apply? *

Check every category that reflects your organization’s mission, leadership, or service population.

Applicant & Governance Information

Legal Organization Name *

“Doing Business As” name(s), if any

Employer Identification Number (EIN) *

Does your organization hold 501(c)(3) status? *

Yes No, we use a fiscal sponsor

Principal Headquarters Address *

Cleveland City Council Ward where headquarters or program is located *

If selected, your organization will coordinate with this Ward’s Council Member. Not sure? Look up your ward.

Project / Program Name *

Amount Requested *

The CPC can make grants up to $50,000 on its own authority; larger requests will take a longer approval process.

Contact Person for This Request *

Contact Phone *

Contact Email *

Team Members

List everyone who will work on this project, including the lead person. One person per line: Name, Address, Email, Phone, Role/skills they bring, and whether they live or work in Cleveland.

Team members

Governance Information — Officers, Directors & Beneficial Owners

List every current officer, director, and any individual who owns 25% or more of the organization or otherwise controls its management. One per line: Full Legal Name, Title/Role, Ownership % (if any). Do not include dates of birth or ID numbers — see the note in “About This Program” above.

Governance information

Part 3

Project Information

Applications are screened from November 2026 through January 2027, and finalists receive site visits in February 2027. Applicants are notified by email after the full Commission votes to approve the final list of grantees. The CPC does not make multi-year funding commitments beyond the initial two-year grant.

Project Description *

What is your plan, and how does it address violence prevention, restorative justice, or mediation? How will you implement it?

Type of Funding Requested *

Type of funding

Operations Project / Program Other

If Other, please explain

Target Audience Age *

Check every age range your program serves.

Target audience age

Children (0–12) Teens (13–18) Young Adults (19–35) Adults (36–64) Seniors (65+) All Ages

If a combination of ages, briefly describe

Location *

Where will your project take place? Be as specific as you can — entire city, region, ward, police district, or zip code.

Partnerships & Collaborations *

Describe the partnerships and collaborations involved in your project and how you will encourage and promote participation.

Project Start Date *

Project End Date *

Must fall within the two-year Grant Term if selected.

Community Impact *

Imagine 12 months from now and your initiative has been a success. What changed in your community? How will you measure it?

Part 4

Budget & Supporting Documents

Files selected below stay on your device — this form can’t upload them. After you generate your application at the end, attach each file you select here to the confirmation email before sending.

Itemized Budget *

Provide an itemized, detailed budget of how requested funds will be spent. Should add up to the amount requested; administrative/overhead costs may not exceed 15% of the award.

Reimbursement Grant — Hardship

This is a reimbursement grant: your organization covers costs upfront, then submits receipts for reimbursement. If your organization cannot cover costs upfront, request hardship consideration below.

Yes No

Please explain the hardship need *

IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter, or Letter from Your Fiscal Sponsor *

If you have a fiscal sponsor, this should be a signed letter on their letterhead agreeing to serve as your fiscal sponsor.

Letter of Support *

The completed and signed two-part Letter of Support form. You fill out Part One; a City of Cleveland resident, business owner, or recognized community leader in good standing in the ward you serve (usually your Ward Council Member’s office) fills out and signs Part Two. Your own board, staff, relatives, or funders cannot sign. If possible, include the signer’s business card or official contact card.

Fiscal Sponsorship Information

Applicants using a fiscal agent must submit a copy of the official contract with the fiscal agent outlining the responsibilities and obligations of both parties.

Fiscal Sponsor Contract *

Organization Name of Fiscal Sponsor *

Fiscal Sponsor EIN # *

Fiscal Sponsor City, State & ZIP *

Fiscal Sponsor Contact Name *

Fiscal Sponsor Contact Email *

Fiscal Sponsor Contact Phone *

Part 5

Compliance Certifications

Required under Section VII of the CPC Grant Program Policy. These questions help CPC staff complete the Know-Your-Grantee review before any award is finalized — answering “yes” to a screening question below does not disqualify your organization, but may lead to Enhanced Due Diligence.

Eligibility Certifications

Our organization is not debarred or suspended from receiving City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, or federal funds. Our organization has no outstanding, uncured material breach of a prior CPC grant agreement. Our organization — and none of its owners, officers, or directors — is currently under criminal investigation or indictment for an offense involving fraud, money laundering, bribery, or corruption. Our organization is not a current partner of the Commission. We understand grant funds may be used only for violence-prevention, restorative-justice, or mediation programming under Section III of the CPC Grant Program Policy, and not for law-enforcement funding, lobbying, political campaigns, religious worship or instruction, unapproved capital construction, debt/fines/settlements, or personal use. I certify, on behalf of the organization, compliance with applicable anti-money-laundering, anti-bribery, and anti-terrorism-financing laws.

Disclosures

Has your organization, or any current officer, director, or beneficial owner, ever been the subject of a government investigation, indictment, or sanction related to fraud, money laundering, bribery, or corruption? *

Yes No

Please explain *

Is your organization, or any officer, director, or beneficial owner, currently listed on — or a possible match to — the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list or another U.S. or U.N. sanctions list? *

Yes No

Please explain *

Does any officer, director, or beneficial owner hold, or recently hold, a prominent public office (a “Politically Exposed Person”)? *

Yes No

Please identify the individual and their position *

Does your organization bank outside the United States, or will any part of the funded program take place outside the United States? *

Yes No

Please explain *

Was your organization formed less than two (2) years ago? *

Yes No

Will your organization be able to receive grant payments by direct deposit (ACH)? *

Do not enter account or routing numbers here — banking details are verified securely after selection.

Yes No

Authorized Signature

Printed Name *

Title *

Date *

I certify that I am authorized to submit this application on behalf of the organization named above, and that the information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

Part 6

Reporting & Site-Visit Commitments

If selected, we commit to the CPC’s post-award monitoring requirements: quarterly programmatic reports; semi-annual financial reports; an annual independent financial review if our cumulative award exceeds $100,000; an in-person site visit from a CPC Commissioner once per quarter for the full two-year Grant Term; and coordination with our Ward Council Member, including attendance at least once per quarter at a Ward meeting.

Will you commit to completing a written report? *

An interim report is due six months after funds are disbursed. Report due 12 months after funds are disbursed. Please include how you will measure community impact in these reports.

Yes No

Final Step

Review & Submit

This page can’t upload files or send email on its own, so submitting takes three quick steps:

Generate your application below — this checks required fields and builds a plain-text copy.
Open the email — we’ll copy the text to your clipboard and open a pre-addressed email to ljohnson4@clevelandohio.gov. If the email body looks cut off, just paste (Ctrl/Cmd+V) — the full text is already on your clipboard.
Attach your files (listed below) and send.

Files to attach to your email

Application Summary

Cleveland Community Police Commission · Community Grant Program · Operations Committee Grant Program Policy (OPS-001)