We award Neighborhood Planning Grants and Neighborhood Implementation Grants to support long-term, resident-driven neighborhood revitalization. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for children and families living in low-income communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware by concentrating resources on comprehensive, neighborhood-based economic and community development initiatives. See the counties we serve.
Neighborhood Planning Grants
Apply for a Neighborhood Planning Grant if you’re in the process of creating a comprehensive revitalization plan for a neighborhood. These grants support direct expenses that are essential to the planning process such as:
- Planning consultants and staff
- Outreach and neighborhood organizing functions
- Community meetings and advisory group development
Grant size
Grants range from $25,000 to $100,000.
Selection process
Grants are approved once each year through a competitive selection process. Grant funds are disbursed based on performance over a 12-to-24 month period.
Evaluation process
All planning grantees participate in robust evaluation processes designed to guide the plan development, enhance collaboration, and create a baseline for measuring the effectiveness of the plan's implementation.
Eligibility requirements
Prior to applying, you’ll be asked a few short questions to determine your organization’s eligibility. Please note: potential grantees must have a current 501(c)(3) status and a minimum of 3 years of audited financial statements.
Important dates
Application due dates:
- Phase I proposals due September 2, 2016
- Invite to phase II distributed October 7, 2016
- Phase II proposals due October 14, 2016
- Grant recipients notified January 26, 2017
Get started
- Preview the Neighborhood Planning Grant application
- See the checklist for a strong and complete neighborhood plan (PDF)
- View a sample Neighborhood Plan (PDF)
Apply
Apply Now
Review, edit, or continue an application
Preview the grant application (read-only)
Neighborhood Implementation Grants
Neighborhood Implementation Grants support comprehensive community development projects that target specific neighborhoods. The community development project must be based on a current resident-driven neighborhood plan and can be used for program costs only. It doesn’t provide funding for deficits, general operating costs, or bricks-and-mortar capital development.
Grant size
- Single grantees. Grants range from $100,000 to $750,000 and are disbursed over 5 years.
- Collaboratives. Grants range from $100,000 to $1.25 million, and are disbursed over 5 years. Learn more about applying as a collaborative (PDF).
Evaluation process
Our evaluation process includes:
- The systematic surveying of residents about the quality of life
- Surveying of the physical condition of neighborhood assets
- Quarterly reporting on agreed-upon milestones and deliverables
- Assessing the change in select neighborhood indicators
Eligibility requirements
A project should include the following:
- Grantees must have a current 501(c)(3) status and a minimum of 3 years of audited financial statements
- Prior to applying, a comprehensive neighborhood plan (completed or updated within the past 3 years) must be in place for the target area of the proposed project
- The plan should describe the milestones, deliverables, and outcomes of the planning process and how they will be measured and evaluated
The neighborhood plan should include:
- A neighborhood description that includes a map of the area and baseline data describing neighborhood conditions, such as Census data
- Concept and vision of the future of the neighborhood
- Description and prioritization of strategies to revitalize the neighborhood, and activities and costs to achieve this
- Timetable for implementing the plan
- Description of any official plans governing the neighborhood (such as a City Master Plan)
The resident-driven neighborhood plan must address all 4 of the goal categories:
- Children and families
- Economic development
- Affordable housing and housing counseling
- Neighborhood building
Important dates
Fall application dates:
- Proposals due October 21, 2016
- Grant recipients notified April 27, 2017
Get started
Prior to applying, all organizations must complete an eligibility quiz.
Review, edit, or continue an application
Preview the grant application (read-only)
Neighborhood Implementation Renewal Grants
Neighborhood Implementation Renewal Grants (NIRGs) are designed to help Regional Foundation Implementation Grantees continue momentum in their comprehensive neighborhood revitalization initiatives for sustainability and long-term impact. These grants are awarded on a highly competitive basis to implementation grantees who are close to completion of their initial implementation grant.
Grant size
Each Implementation Grantee is eligible for 1 renewal grant at up to $500,000 for a single grantee and $825,000 for a collaborative. The grant is disbursed over a 5 year period.
Evaluation process
Our evaluation process includes:
- A second systematic survey of residents about the quality of life
- Quarterly reporting on agreed-upon milestones and deliverables
- Assessing the change in select neighborhood indicators
Eligibility requirements
Potential grantees must have been a Wells Fargo Regional Foundation Neighborhood Implementation Grantee and are eligible to apply for Neighborhood Implementation Renewal Grants on the application dates posted, as long as they are within 6 months before or after the closing date of their current grant.
Important dates
Spring application dates:
- Proposals due April 8, 2016
- Grant recipients notified October 27, 2016
Summer application dates:
- Proposals due September 4, 2016
- Grant recipients notified January 29, 2017
Fall application dates:
- Proposals due October 21, 2016
- Grant recipients notified April 28, 2017
Get started
Review, edit, or continue an application
Preview the grant application (read-only)
Regional Community Development Corporation
The Regional Community Development Corporation (CDC), is a not-for-profit organization associated with Wells Fargo that seeks to improve the quality of life for low-income individuals and communities in New Jersey, Delaware, and Eastern Pennsylvania. The program makes investments, by invitation only, to nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses for select ventures that are designed to promote community- and economic-development opportunities for low-income individuals and communities.
Investment size
Investments range from $25,000 to $250,000, over 1 to 5 years.
Investment programs
- Indirect investments are loans that provide capital contributions to community development financial institutions
- Direct investments are pre-development loans for physical development projects in neighborhoods where the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation is already invested
Selection process
We consider investment opportunities by invitation only, based on the research and recommendation of CDC staff members. Investments are typically aligned with projects identified in neighborhoods funded by the our Regional Foundation.
Invitations require the approval of our investment review committee, which consists of CDC board members, Wells Fargo employees, and nonprofit-community leaders.
Questions?
Please contact kimberly.j.allen@wellsfargo.com if you would like more information on the Wells Fargo Regional CDC.
Our Board of Directors and staff
Board of Directors
- Roland Anglin, Ph.D. Faculty Fellow Director and Associate Research Professor, The Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies Rutgers University
- Austin J. Burke (Chair). Community Leader, Scranton Enterprise Center
- Fernando Chang-Muy, Esquire. Thomas O’Boyle Lecturer in Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School
- Peilin Chen. Director of Capital Budgets, City of Philadelphia
- Kevin Dow. SVP, Impact and Innovation, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
- Stacy Holland. Executive Director, The Lenfest Foundation
- Lucia Gibbons. Head of Eastern Business Banking, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
- Maria Matos. Executive Director, Latin American Community Center
- Greg Redden. Regional President, Greater Philadelphia and Delaware, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
- Mike Rizer, Esquire. Head of Community Relations, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
- John Thurber, Esquire. Vice President for Public Affairs, Thomas Edison University
- Robert Torres, Esquire (Vice Chair). Program Manager, Business Development, General Dynamics Information Technology
Staff
Denise McGregor Armbrister, Senior Vice President and Executive Director
Denise McGregor Armbrister has extensive banking and nonprofit experience specializing in healthcare, education, and government banking, with companies such as Wells Fargo and Chemical Bank. She holds a BA in mathematics and psychology from Wellesley College and a MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.
Kimberly Allen, Vice President and Senior Program Officer
Kimberly Allen oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking processes. She was instrumental in the founding of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and has been serving as a Program Officer since its inception. Kim holds a BA from University of Maryland in organizational psychology and dynamics and is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Philadelphia.
Lois W. Greco, Senior Vice President and Evaluation Officer
Lois W. Greco manages the Foundation’s portfolio of performance-based grants, with a focus on assisting grantees in the development and implementation of participatory evaluation plans, and incorporating lessons learned back into the Foundation's grant-making program. Lois has a background in both lending and development with nonprofit organizations, and earned a BA with Highest Honors in economics from Rutgers College.
Crystal Dundas, Communications and Program Officer
Crystal oversees the Foundation’s communications and media relations. She also serves as a Program Officer, reviewing grant proposals and making grant recommendations. Crystal holds a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Denise Langford-Motley, Executive Assistant
Denise Langford-Motley is an Executive Assistant for the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. She has extensive and continuous banking experience spanning almost 27 years.
Featured partnership
Parkside Strategic Implementation – Camden, N.J.
Through our Neighborhood Grant Program, Parkside Business & Communities in Partnership, Inc. (PBCIP) received $75,000 to develop a neighborhood plan, $750,000 for over 4 years of implementation, and $300,000 in renewal grants. Read more about the Parkside neighborhood, PBCIP, and Wells Fargo’s investment in this community.
