City of Phoenix · Office of Neighborhood Services

A Modern Grant Portal
for Phoenix Neighborhoods

A concept proposal for the Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program

Board Review · FY2025–26
Slide 1 of 10 — Background
The NBW Grant Program

The Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program has a 15-year track record of investing in community safety across Phoenix.

15
Years of the program
380+
Organizations funded
$2.1M
Awarded to date
$5,000
Max award per cycle
  • Funds security equipment, community events, safety training, signage, and neighborhood improvements
  • One application per registered block watch organization per grant cycle
  • $250,000 available this cycle — 47 applications already submitted
Slide 2 of 10 — The Challenge
The Program Deserves Better Infrastructure

👥 For Applicants

  • No clear single place to find requirements, deadlines, and forms
  • No self-service status tracking — applicants call to find out where they stand
  • Document submission via email creates version confusion
  • No history — repeat applicants start from scratch each cycle

🏛️ For Staff

  • Applications tracked in spreadsheets with no shared view
  • No structured review process — decisions lack a documented trail
  • Budget tracking done manually, prone to error
  • Completion report follow-up is reactive, not systematic
Slide 3 of 10 — The Concept
One Platform, Three Zones

A single purpose-built system serving two audiences — the community members who apply, and the city staff who manage the program.

🌐

Public Website

Program information, eligibility requirements, grant categories, key dates, and FAQs — publicly accessible, no account needed

📋

Applicant Portal

Secure login for block watch representatives to apply, track status, upload documents, and receive communications

⚙️

Admin Portal

City staff dashboard for reviewing applications, scoring, managing the cycle, tracking budget, and generating reports

  • Role-based access — one sign-in page routes applicants and staff to their respective portals
  • Built and deployed — you can visit it live at phoenix-grant.frontframe.co
Live Demo — Switch to Prototype Tab
🌐
The Public Website

Show the home page, How to Apply, Grant Categories, and Eligibility. Point out the key dates bar, the six-step process, and the dollar amounts by category.

⇥ Switch to phoenix-grant.frontframe.co

Return to this tab when done · press → to continue

Live Demo — Switch to Prototype Tab
📋
The Applicant Portal

Sign in as an applicant. Show the personalized dashboard with deadline alert. Walk through the 5-step application wizard. Show a funded application's complete status timeline.

⇥ Switch to phoenix-grant.frontframe.co

Return to this tab when done · press → to continue

Live Demo — Switch to Prototype Tab
⚙️
The Admin Portal

Sign in as staff. Show the admin dashboard with program-wide stats and budget. Show the applications queue with filters. Open an application for review and walk through the 100-point scoring rubric.

⇥ Switch to phoenix-grant.frontframe.co

Return to this tab when done · press → to continue

Slide 7 of 10 — End-to-End
The Application Lifecycle — Start to Finish

Every application has a complete, timestamped record from first submission through final completion report.

1
Apply
5-step online wizard
2
Submit
Confirmation + app number
3
Staff Review
Assigned reviewer, notes
4
Score
100-point rubric
5
Decision
Approve / Deny / Info
6
Award
Agreement + disbursement
7
Report
Completion + close
  • Applicants see every stage in real time — no need to call the office for status updates
  • Staff have a complete audit trail for every decision made across every cycle
  • Completion report tracking is automatic — overdue reports surface immediately
Slide 8 of 10 — Impact
What This Solves

For Community Members

Clear eligibility, a guided application, and real-time status tracking. No more calling the office to find out where their application stands.

For Program Staff

A single shared view of every application, reviewer assignments, budget, and deadlines. Decisions documented on a published rubric.

For the Committee

Real-time program data — applications received, budget committed, compliance status. Reports exportable on demand.

For the City

A professional digital presence that reflects the program's 15-year track record and commitment to neighborhood investment.

Accountability

Every decision has a documented record. Completion reports tracked automatically. Overdue items surface without manual follow-up.

Scalability

The system supports growth — more applications, more cycles, more staff — without adding spreadsheet complexity.

Slide 9 of 10 — Approach
Implementation Approach

🚀 Phase 1 — Public Site & Applicant Portal

  • Public website live for FY2026–27 cycle
  • Applicant self-service — apply, track, upload, message
  • Immediate reduction in applicant support calls
  • Built on the prototype already completed

📊 Phase 2 — Full Admin Portal

  • Staff review, scoring, and decision management
  • Budget tracking and cycle management
  • Automated completion report tracking
  • Exportable reports for program committee
  • The prototype shown today is built and publicly accessible — no vendor selection required to begin Phase 1
  • Phased rollout reduces risk and allows the program office to validate each stage before proceeding
Ready to Move Forward

Next Steps

1
Board approval of the concept and phased implementation approach
2
Program office designates a point of contact to validate content and workflow
3
Scope Phase 1 — public site and applicant portal — for budget and timeline
4
Target: live system for the FY2026–27 grant cycle
🔗 phoenix-grant.frontframe.co
Click to advance · ← → Space · N for notes · F for fullscreen
Speaker Notes