City Awards 12 Neighborhood Micro-Grants

Fort Wayne's Sparked at Inspire program funds neighborhood association projects tied to the annual Inspire Neighborhoods Conference.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy

Screen-print poster illustration of a wooden block surrounded by a ring of brass tokens, with seedling forms growing from soil beyond the ring. — The City of Fort Wayne awarded 12 neighborhood association micro-grants of up to $1,500 each through its Sparked at Inspire program this fall. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The City of Fort Wayne awarded 12 neighborhood association micro-grants of up to $1,500 each through its Sparked at Inspire program during the fall session. The awards bring the program's total for 2026 to 23 grants, following 11 awarded in the spring.

Why it matters

The program is designed to help residents turn ideas from the annual Inspire Neighborhoods Conference into local action. Funding supports neighborhood-level projects that might otherwise lack resources.

The fall session awarded 12 micro-grants of up to $1,500 each, lifting the 2026 total to 23 after 11 spring grants. The source does not state the combined dollar value of the fall awards.

The players

Indiana Michigan Power Foundation

The philanthropic arm of Indiana Michigan Power, a utility serving northeastern Indiana, which partners with the city to fund the program.

Department of Neighborhoods, City of Fort Wayne

The city department that administers the Sparked at Inspire program and supports neighborhood associations across Fort Wayne.

The details

The grants were awarded by the City of Fort Wayne's Department of Neighborhoods in partnership with the Indiana Michigan Power Foundation. Recipients are neighborhood associations developing projects based on ideas shared at the fourth annual Inspire Neighborhoods Conference, held Sept. 11 at Electric Works.

Sept. 11: Fourth annual Inspire Neighborhoods Conference held at Electric Works.
Spring 2026: 11 Sparked at Inspire grants awarded.
Fall 2026: 12 Sparked at Inspire grants awarded.

Market Landscape

The Sparked at Inspire program is a municipal grant pathway that pairs city administration with a corporate utility foundation to fund neighborhood-driven projects. Its fall awards extend a 2026 cycle that has already distributed 23 micro-grants across the city's neighborhood associations.

Fort Wayne neighborhood associations can apply for micro-grants of up to $1,500 to fund projects such as legal support, marketing materials, and event supplies. Residents interested in neighborhood projects can engage through their local association.

The takeaway

Neighborhood associations that bring local ideas to the annual conference may be able to secure small grants to put them into action. Residents who want to shape their neighborhoods can connect with their association to pursue similar projects.