Malden launches “Mini Grant” program to aid nonprofit organizations

 The City of Malden has launched a new “Mini Grant” program to aid nonprofit organizations as they continue to recover financially from the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant program, which is funded with the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) relief funds, is now open and authorizes a maximum grant of $10,000 to the city’s nonprofits. The deadline for the City of Malden to receive your application is June 30, 2023.

  The ARPA Sub-committee on Nonprofits, comprised of Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora, Library Director Dora St. Martin and resident Linda Zalk, has been charged with reviewing the applications and making recommendations to Mayor Gary Christenson. Decisions will be made by August 31, 2023. A larger grant of up to $250,000 (maximum allowable per grantee) will continue to be offered to those nonprofit organizations meeting greater criteria.

  “This much simpler application is designed for the smaller nonprofits servicing our community who do not have the bandwidth for the larger nonprofit grant application,” said St. Martin.

  Councillor Spadafora went on to say, “We are looking forward to a robust interest in this Mini Grant program.”

  The program criteria for this Mini Grant are as follows:

• Must be a recognized 501(c)(3) by IRS
• Must serve Malden residents
• Must be “in good standing” by Secretary of State (all filings current)
• Must spend funds over one fiscal year period ending prior to December 31, 2024
• Entity has not received a prior ARPA grant from City of Malden
• Preference to entities providing the following:

   1. Food security

   2. Homelessness help

   3. Behavioral health (mental health, substance use treatment, other)

   4. Preventing and responding to violence

   5. Demonstrated purpose is to Disproportionately Impacted communities:

•    Child Care serving low-income families
•    QCT (In Qualified Census Tract-3413.01/3413.02/3418)
•    Individuals receiving state assistance (SNAP, TANF, NSLP, SBP)

  To date, the City of Malden has authorized nonprofit funding to the Mystic Valley YMCA, Malden Babe Ruth, Malden Neighborhood Basketball, Food Drive, Creative Malden and the Chinese Culture Connection.

  “Our nonprofits were there with us during the despair of Covid-19 and continue to struggle financially.  We realize the impact that these funds are not only having on our nonprofits, but the residents they serve,” said Mayor Christenson.

  Please visit the CityofMalden.org Transparency Center and scroll down to “Non-Profit Support” and “Mini-Grant Application” to complete an application.