Applications are accepted from volunteer-led groups based primarily in low-income neighborhoods in all five boroughs of New York City. Groups may be long-standing, newly established or in the process of forming, and are not required to have non-profit or 501(c)(3) status. Groups without this status will need a fiscal conduit or a bank account if a grant is awarded.

Our grants are not for: individuals; for-profit projects; businesses; organizations with paid staff; religious, fraternal, and partisan organizations; groups with an annual budget of greater than $40,000; projects affiliated with staffed organizations. We also do not fund the following: rent, utilities, web hosting, web development, 501(c)(3) incorporation fees, salaries, speaker honorariums, and computer equipment.

Submitting an application is easy: Describe a project to strengthen your community and that can be carried out within ten months. Estimate how much it will realistically cost and request a grant amount that accurately reflects that cost.

We look for projects that are: are clear and thoughtful; address important community concerns; contribute to building stronger communities through neighbors working together; and result in concrete and sustainable improvements.

Recent awards have enabled neighbors to come together to make healthy food available in their communities, transform empty lots into community gardens, organize tenants to advocate for better housing conditions, and start school recycling programs.

Upon completion of a group’s project, we will request a simple final report. Groups will also be required to submit receipts for expenses associated with the project.

Applications are accepted once a year, and must be submitted on-line via our website, e-mailed, postmarked, or faxed by January 31st, 2012. Applicants will be notified of grant decisions at the beginning of April 2012.

In addition to grant funds, your group is also eligible for project planning assistance and skills-building workshops. We can work with core members of your group to design strategies around a particular project or campaign, as well as to develop mission statements, work plans, and effective ways to engage new members. Additionally, your group may access items from our Loan Library, including an amplifier and microphone system, camcorders, a DVD projector, and canopies. We can also refer you to other relevant resources. You do not have to be a grant recipient to receive these services.