What We Fund

Investing in nonprofit organization capacity building, including management, financial, and technical assistance tools for organizations from SN52, or serving SN52 residents, will lead to a more effective local nonprofit ecosystem and improved services for residents.

Rockwell Fund will make grants that:

1. Support organizations and programs that offer guidance on grant applications, administration, record keeping, and programmatic and operational best-practices for nonprofit organizations.
2. Support data gathering, analysis, and research benefiting human service needs relevant to SN52 residents.
3. Support operational grants for emerging organizations based in, or operating within, SN52.

A community that works together to proactively develop and act on resilience plans will be able to mitigate flooding risks, enhance resilience and accelerate recovery.

Rockwell Fund will make grants that:

1. Support the creation, increase in capacity of, and preparedness of neighborhood and community-based resiliency centers.
2. Support flood mitigation and weatherization of homes prone to flooding in the area.
3. Support permaculture solutions to prevent or minimize flooding.
4. Support the education of SN52 residents to prepare, respond to, and recover from flooding events.
5. Support advocacy for public and private resources to enhance the ability of area homes, buildings and infrastructure and recover from wind and flood related events.

High quality housing that is safe, free from flood risks, well-maintained and accessible to people with diverse needs and incomes is key to a complete community.

Rockwell Fund will make grants that:

1. Support the creation and maintenance of owner-occupied housing affordable to SN52 residents earning below 80% AMI.
2. Support the creation of single family and multi-family rental properties affordable to SN52 residents earning below 80% AMI.
3. Support the utilization of community ownership models that offer longstanding affordability for SN52 residents.
4. Support the education and preparation of generational wealth transfer for SN52 residents.
5. Support programs to educate homeowners and renters on available services, financial assistance, real estate and title maintenance, mortgage financing and other related skills.
6. Support advocacy for the development and maintenance of affordable housing, rental assistance, protections and resources for renter support, and supportive housing services, including the establishment of a Homestead Preservation District.

Investing in a healthy food network and food assistance will expand access to fresh, nutritious foods by supporting the capacity, coordination, outreach, and partnerships among the nonprofit organizations growing, distributing, and ensuring access to fresh and nutritious food in SN52.

Rockwell Fund will make grants that: 

1. Support the growth and coordinated distribution of affordable healthy food through schools, churches, farms, community gardens, and farmers’ markets.
2. Support the expansion of local farmers and markets to become Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers where practicable.
3. Support healthy food access through resident awareness of food assistance programs, including enrollment and technical assistance for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
4. Support healthy food education through cooking and nutrition classes.
5. Support healthy food access through greater nonprofit collaboration and advocacy to reduce the number of residents living in food deserts. This includes supporting community driven initiatives or advocacy in pursuit of a commercial or nonprofit grocery store within SN52.

Providing greater access to health and wellness services, education, and monitoring will increase the overall lifespan and quality of life of SN52 residents.

Rockwell Fund will make grants that:

1. Support access to low-cost, high-quality health services for both preventative care and treating chronic conditions. This includes strengthening the local coordinated care for physical, sexual, reproductive, behavioral, and mental health.
2. Support improved maternal health outcomes from pregnancy through the postpartum period through local programming, education, and advocacy.
3. Support improved access to annual health insurance enrollment for SN52 residents and, without limitation, uninsured and underinsured families and individuals.
4. Support wellness, fitness, and healthy living programs, including the provision of culturally relevant events and education on health risks and services.
5. Support regular environmental monitoring and advocacy to address current and future environmental conditions adversely affecting the health of SN52 residents.

Investing in mobility, parks, and infrastructure will improve safety, connectivity, and quality of life in SN52 by enhancing pedestrian and transit infrastructure, expanding park access, and fostering community engagement.

Rockwell Fund will make grants that: 

1. Support the expansion of public amenities such as benches, transit shelters, lighting, and shaded areas to enhance public mobility and safety.
2. Support the development and expansion of parks, trails, and recreational spaces that enhance connection to existing infrastructure and services.
3. Support park programming for youth and adults, including sports leagues, fitness activities, and community events.
4. Support efforts to deter illegal dumping by funding clean-up and beautification projects at known dumping sites, including signage, barriers, landscaping, and public art.
5. Support advocacy to complete key mobility and infrastructure projects, including park development, safer railroad crossings, expanded public and pedestrian transit, and infrastructure complementary to preexisting sidewalk plans and funding.

A community that supports the systems of education for its residents throughout the education continuum will be better poised to participate in the workforce, be more civically engaged, and maintain community cohesion.

Rockwell Fund will make grants that: 

1. Support the licensure, accreditation, expansion of and technical assistance to home-based or other early childhood education centers in SN52.
2. Support the provision of academic enrichment in subjects including, but not limited to STEM, art, civic engagement and environmental justice, for students in the Kashmere Gardens HS feeder pattern.
3. Support the provision of wrap-around support including, but not limited to, mentoring, tutoring, and case management for students in the Kashmere HS feeder pattern.
4. Support for SN52 residents to complete high school equivalency programs.