The Loom Network Blog
Plain-spoken playbooks for women organizing block associations, building rehabilitation-focused nonprofits, rehabbing vacant homes, and moving capital that's already in your community.
How U.S. Diaspora Groups Move Funds Across Borders Legally
U.S. diaspora groups are increasingly vital in supporting their home countries, not just through remittances but also by funding development projects, emergency aid, and community uplif…
Urban Tree Canopy Grants Your Block Can Apply For
The trees in our neighborhoods do more than just look nice. They cool our streets, improve air quality, manage stormwater, and can even increase property values. If your block associati…
Coalition-Building: When Two Block Associations Should Merge
You've built a strong block association, and your neighbors are engaged. But what if the next street over has a similar group, and you're both tackling the same issues? Sometimes, mergi…
Trauma-Informed Intake — A Practical Template
When dealing with individuals who have experienced significant trauma, standard intake processes can often re-traumatize them, creating barriers to care and trust. A trauma-informed app…
Tax Foreclosure Auctions — A Neighborhood Acquisition Playbook
Understanding how to navigate tax foreclosure auctions can be a powerful tool for neighborhood revitalization. These auctions offer opportunities to acquire vacant or abandoned properti…
Sweat-Equity Homeownership Models That Work
Building and owning a home often feels out of reach for many, especially in communities struggling with vacant properties and economic stagnation. But a few proven models turn sweat equ…
Restorative Justice Circles: When and How to Run Them
Restorative justice circles offer a powerful way to address harm, resolve conflicts, and build stronger communities without relying on punitive measures. Instead of asking \"What law was…
Rehabbing Vacant Homes With Funding That's Already in Your Community
Vacant homes are more than just eyesores; they’re often drains on community resources and missed opportunities for affordable housing. The good news is that many communities already hav…
Reentry Housing Models That Actually Lower Recidivism
Reintegrating into society after incarceration presents immense challenges, with stable housing often being the biggest hurdle. Without a safe, affordable place to live, individuals are…
Public Art Funding That Hires Neighborhood Artists
Using public art funding to hire local artists is a powerful way to beautify your neighborhood and boost its economy. It keeps money circulating within your community, offers opportunit…
Building a Peer Recovery Network From Scratch
Starting a peer recovery network in your community, especially when resources are scarce, requires a clear understanding of current needs, available funding mechanisms, and practical st…
How to Partner With Public Defenders Without Becoming One
Public defenders are on the front lines of the justice system, representing individuals who can't afford legal counsel. While their primary role is legal defense, their work often uncov…
Participatory Budgeting: How Your Block Can Claim a Slice
Have you ever wished your neighborhood had a say in how local public funds are spent? That's exactly what participatory budgeting (PB) aims to do. It’s a process where residents directl…
Writing a One-Page Block Association Pitch That Wins City Funding
Getting direct city funding for your block association can feel like pulling teeth. Most city programs are designed for larger nonprofits or government agencies. But with a well-crafted…
Designing a Nonprofit That Keeps People Out of the Punitive System
Starting a nonprofit to help folks avoid entanglement with the justice system is a powerful way to make a difference. It's a long game, not a quick fix, and it demands strategic plannin…
Naloxone Distribution Programs: A Legal and Logistical Guide
Opioid overdose deaths continue to devastate communities across the U.S. Amidst this crisis, naloxone (Narcan and other brands) stands as a life-saving medication that can reverse an op…
Mobile Clinics Funded by Hospital Community Benefit Dollars
Mobile medical clinics are increasingly vital for reaching underserved communities, offering everything from basic check-ups to specialized care. What many don’t realize is that a signi…
Mental Health First Aid Training Programs
It's a tough world out there, and mental health challenges are on the rise. We all know someone struggling, or maybe we're struggling ourselves. But what if you could offer immediate, p…
Mental Health Crisis Response Without Calling Police
While police are often the default responders in mental health crises, their presence can escalate situations, especially for those in crisis who may have negative past experiences with…
Measuring Outcomes Without Reducing People to Numbers
How do you prove your community programs work without turning the people you help into data points? It’s a challenge many nonprofits and community groups face, especially when applying …
Maternal Health Coalitions in Underserved Neighborhoods
Organizing around maternal health in underserved neighborhoods is not just about medical care; it's about building a supportive community from the ground up. This involves identifying l…
LIHTC for Small Nonprofits Without a Developer
You're a small nonprofit with big dreams of turning vacant lots into affordable housing using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). But without a developer on staff, LIHTC can feel…
Lien Negotiation Basics for Community Rehab Projects
Vacant housing often comes with a tangled web of outstanding debt in the form of liens. These legal claims against a property can significantly complicate rehabilitation efforts, making…
Land Banks: Buying Vacant Properties for $1
Staring at that boarded-up house on your block, wondering when it will finally get fixed up? Land banks might be your answer. These governmental or quasi-governmental entities are desig…
Insurance and Bonding for Volunteer Rehab Crews
Bringing vacant houses back to life is rewarding, but it comes with real risks. Volunteers face potential injuries, and construction work, even cosmetic, can damage property. Understand…
Mapping Hyperlocal Grants Most Block Captains Miss
When you're leading a block association, the term \"grant funding\" often conjures images of large, complex applications for city-wide initiatives. However, a significant amount of fundin…
HOME Investment Partnerships for First-Time Rehabbers
Thinking about tacking that dilapidated house on the corner? Or maybe you've spotted an abandoned building that could be a new community hub. Rehabilitating vacant properties isn't just…
Hiring People With Lived Experience the Right Way
Many nonprofits and government agencies are looking for ways to engage people who have experienced homelessness, addiction, or criminal justice involvement to help shape programs and de…
Harm Reduction Programs Funders Are Actively Backing in 2026
Harm reduction programs are at a fascinating crossroads for funding in 2026. With the opioid crisis continuing to impact communities nationwide, and a growing recognition of the need fo…
Free College Pipelines Your Community Can Build
Building pathways to higher education without the burden of crippling debt is a powerful way to uplift your community, especially for women and families. Many assume \"free college\" is a…
How to Form a Block Association That Gets Funded First
Forming a block association is a powerful first step toward community improvement, but securing funding can be a significant hurdle. This guide cuts through the noise and provides actio…
Fiscal Sponsorship vs 501(c)(3): Which Is Faster for a New Block Group?
You've energized your neighbors and formed a block association. Now you want to raise money for projects – maybe a community garden, block party, or security cameras. The question is, h…
Family Reunification Programs for Returning Citizens
The journey of returning citizens often involves immense challenges, and one of the most critical is rebuilding family ties broken by incarceration. Family reunification programs are de…
Employer Partnerships That Hire People With Records
Hiring people with records can significantly strengthen your community and your business. It tap into a motivated, often overlooked talent pool, leading to lower turnover and higher loy…
Drug Court Diversion: How Nonprofits Plug In
Drug courts offer an alternative to traditional incarceration for individuals facing certain drug-related charges. For many, this offers a chance at recovery and a re-entry into society…
Council Discretionary Funds — A Block Captain's Field Guide
So, your block association needs funding for that community garden, a new playground, or even just some better streetlights. You've heard whispers about \"council discretionary funds\"—mo…
Community Land Trusts: Setting One Up in 18 Months
Thinking about how to bring affordable housing to your community, keep it that way for generations, and build resident power? Community Land Trusts (CLTs) offer a solution by taking lan…
Community Composting Programs With Municipal Support
Community composting programs offer a practical way to manage organic waste, reduce landfill burdens, and create valuable soil amendments right in your neighborhood. When these initiati…
CDBG Funds: How Your Neighborhood Group Can Actually Access Them
Getting your hands on federal money to fix up vacant properties can feel like a game rigged against small community groups. But the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is s…
How to Recruit a Treasurer Who Will Actually Show Up
Finding a committed treasurer for your block association can feel like searching for a unicorn. It's a critical role – managing funds, tracking expenses, and keeping your group financia…
Running a Block Meeting That Doesn't Lose Half Its Attendees
Anyone who has ever tried to organize a community event knows the struggle: you get a dozen people energized, ready to make a difference, only to see half of them trickle out before the…
Insurance, Permits, and Liability: The Block Association Survival Kit
Running a block association, even informally, means dealing with risk. Whether it's organizing a block party, cleaning up a vacant lot, or setting up a community garden, you’re exposing…
Building a Block Census in a Weekend
A robust block association needs to know its community. Knowing your block means understanding who lives there, what their needs are, and what resources already exist. This isn't about …
How to Open a Bank Account for Your Block Association in 30 Days
You've organized your block, you've got a common cause, and maybe even a few dollars in pledges. But handling community funds out of someone's personal checking account is a fast track …
The Block Association Annual Calendar: What to File and When
Ever wondered what your block association should be doing throughout the year to stay compliant and effective? It's not just about planning the next block party. There are concrete step…
The 7 Documents Every Block Association Needs Before Asking for Money
It's exciting to get your block association off the ground, but before you start knocking on doors or applying for grants, there are some essential documents you need to have in order. …
Annual Reporting That Keeps Your Funding Pipeline Open
Securing grants and government funding is a big win for your block association. But keeping that pipeline open means proving you're using those funds effectively and responsibly. Annual…
Bail Funds 101: Setup, Compliance, and Sustainability
Starting a bail fund in your community can be a powerful way to directly combat the inequities of the cash bail system, keeping individuals out of overcrowded jails simply because they …
After-School Programs With Title I Funding
After-school programs can be a lifeline for working families and offer invaluable support for student learning and development. Leveraging federal Title I funding is a key strategy for …
Adult Literacy Programs That Pay for Themselves
Beyond the obvious benefits of improved reading and writing, adult literacy programs can directly translate into tangible economic gains for individuals and communities. We're talking a…