Best Nassau County Grants for Nonprofits in New York

The M&T Charitable Foundation Grants provide essential support to a variety of organizations focused on enhancing community well-being. With a mission rooted in corporate responsibility, the foundation prioritizes partnerships with 501(c)(3) organizations in sectors such as arts, health, education, and human services. By investing in local initiatives, the foundation aims to create healthier communities and improve the quality of life for all stakeholders involved.

The Housing for Everyone Grant Competition, part of the 2026 Initiative, aims to support eviction prevention in low-to moderate-income communities. This 20th annual initiative recognizes the destabilizing impact of eviction and displacement on families, which leads to job loss, school disruptions, and health issues. By funding innovative organizations, the competition seeks to provide stability for renters, enabling them to stay in their homes and communities.

Public and charter middle schools expanding PLTW Gateway engineering and STEM programs in Nassau County, New York can use this grant for participation fees, required technology, equipment, supplies, and PLTW Core Training travel costs. Project Lead The Way and Burns & McDonnell support schools serving at least 40% free/reduced-price lunch students with awards of US $10,000.

Nonprofit and public-sector conservation organizations in Nassau County, New York can seek funding to restore and protect Long Island Sound’s health and living resources. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Long Island Sound Futures Fund awards US $50,000 - US $2,000,000 for projects in habitat and ecosystem restoration, water resource management, fisheries, and broader environmental stewardship.

Public and charter schools in Nassau County, New York serving at least 40% free or reduced-price lunch students can apply for Project Lead The Way’s US $40,000 PLTW Engineering New Program grant to launch and grow PLTW Engineering courses. Funding covers participation fees, required technology, equipment, supplies, and PLTW Core Training costs over two years.

Nonprofit and community organizations near Enbridge operations in Nassau County, New York can seek US $1,000 - US $10,000 for projects that enhance safe, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Enbridge supports efforts in community safety, youth development, social services, environmental education and conservation, and Indigenous culture through donations, sponsorships, and in-kind support.

The PLTW Computer Science program, supported by Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education in various communities by funding schools to implement PLTW courses. This partnership promotes student engagement with real-world challenges, preparing them for future careers in technology. With a total grant of $20,000, schools must offer multiple PLTW courses over two years, ensuring access to quality education for underserved populations.

Burns and McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned firm, partners with Project Lead The Way (PLTW) to enhance access to STEM education. By expanding PLTW Computer Science programs in local schools, they aim to engage students in real-world challenges and equip them with essential skills. Eligible schools must be located in specific counties and serve a majority of students from low-income backgrounds. This initiative supports the growth of STEM education, fostering a brighter future for communities through enhanced learning opportunities.

The PLTW Gateway program, in collaboration with Burns & McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by expanding access to Project Lead The Way initiatives in eligible communities. By providing grants for program expansion, the initiative encourages schools to implement new PLTW units and train teachers, empowering students with essential skills for future careers. This partnership seeks to inspire a new generation of learners through hands-on, real-world challenges, thereby fostering greater participation in STEM fields across various regions.

The Ed. Foundation

In 2001, community advocate Amy Bass assembled a group of volunteers to form an education foundation with the goal of making a difference in the experience of students in Port Washington. The following spring, the PWEF awarded its first grants, totaling $20,329, to fund 18 projects ranging from an oral history study at Schreiber to math literacy workshops at the elementary schools. Since then, hundreds of grants have been awarded in every school, at every grade level, in every subject area, totaling well over 2.5 million dollars. 

Our Mission: The Ed. Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)3 community-based organization. The purpose of the Foundation is to support initiatives that are beyond basic educational needs and to enhance and expand educational opportunities for all students in the Port Washington public school district. The Foundation actively seeks donations, grants and government funds in order to distribute funds to selected programs and resources.

The Ed. Foundation Grant

Our grants support innovative programs, classroom enhancements, and initiatives that enrich the educational experience for students across the district.

Our grant process is a full-year cycle. It begins in January with application distribution and culminates in October with the Grant Awards Ceremony. Prior to each grant season, The Ed. Foundation team meets with Interim Superintendent Dr. Chris Shields, school district administrators, and each building principal to develop grant focus areas such as technology, literacy, or science and math.

We attend staff meetings at all of the seven schools to explain the process and answer any questions that might arise. We receive applications from teachers, administrators, students, and other community members. The committee meets to evaluate the merits of each individual proposal.

The Committee reviews the requests using criteria such as number of students served, ties to curriculum, creativity of the project, budget and impact on the school, and students served. We also assess whether partial funding is an option, or whether support from other community organizations is a possibility.

The Affinity Legacy Community Grant Program aims to enhance health and well-being in underserved communities through funding for organizations focused on mental health, food insecurity, re-entry for formerly incarcerated individuals, and consumer health education. Eligible groups must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities operating within Affinity's 10-county service area. This initiative reflects a commitment to collaboration and compassion, ensuring vital support for those in need.

Emergency response organizations in Nassau County, New York can seek US $1,000 - US $10,000 for safety equipment, professional training, or safety education programs. With a mission to strengthen community safety, Enbridge provides support to fire departments, EMS and rescue services, emergency management organizations, 9-1-1 centers, ambulance services, and law enforcement near its operations.

Nonprofit and community organizations restoring habitat and conserving land in Nassau County, New York can apply for Hudson River Foundation’s Advancing Habitat Restoration with Community RFP. Grants of US $50,000 - US $100,000 support one- to two-year projects that enhance wildlife habitat at Hudson-Raritan Estuary or similar community-supported restoration sites while benefiting local residents.

Nassau County, New York 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on education, healthcare, or housing projects can access funding through Raymond J And Mary C Reisert Foundation, with awards of US $500 - US $15,000. Grants support one-year projects, with potential for multi-year funding based on ongoing evaluation and results reporting.

The Jean Griswold Foundation

The Jean Griswold Foundation (JGF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Caregivers through educational opportunities and scholarships. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Jean Griswold Foundation is to support Caregivers by providing educational scholarships* to enable them to further their training, enhance their careers, and better assist the clients they serve.

By offering educational scholarships*, our Foundation will not only make a positive impact on the Caregivers themselves, but also the clients they assist and the home healthcare agencies where they are employed, as well as help advance the overarching home-care industry.

Scholarships will be paid directly to the federally accredited educational institutions of the winning Scholars’ choosing.

Empowering Caregivers Through Education

The Jean Griswold Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships to deserving Caregivers who wish to further their education in a care-related field. Applicants do not have to be associated with Griswold in any way, and the funds will be paid directly to the institution where the caregiver will be receiving education.  

Our Winter 2026 Scholarship Application period is now open! Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm ET August 31, 2026. Join our email list to get the first notice of all Scholarship happenings.  

Where would we be without Caregivers? 

Their selflessness is astounding, yet they are often overlooked and underappreciated. 

The Jean Griswold Foundation is dedicated to supporting Caregivers, the backbone of the care industry. We provide educational scholarships so Care Professionals can further their training, enhance their skills, elevate their careers, and better assist the people they serve.

Nonprofits, municipalities, and community groups planning green infrastructure, community greening, or urban tree canopy projects in Nassau County, New York can seek funding to design or implement projects that reduce stormwater runoff and expand green space. Chesapeake Bay Trust’s G3 program offers up to US $175,000 across multiple project tracks, including planning, construction, and white papers.

The PLTW Gateway program, in partnership with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by supporting schools in eligible counties to implement PLTW Gateway units. With a total grant of $20,000, schools are encouraged to offer at least one unit per academic year, fostering real-world skills and engagement in STEM fields. This initiative seeks to increase access and participation in high-quality STEM learning experiences, ultimately preparing students for future careers.

The JGS Fellowship for Photography offers a $7,000 cash grant to photography artists residing in New York State, excluding New York City. This competitive fellowship supports five artists engaged in traditional and experimental photography. Funded by The Joy of Giving Something, the fellowship aims to assist artists in creating new works and exhibitions. Eligible applicants must be at least 25 years old and have lived in a qualifying region of New York State for at least 12 months.

The Huntington Arts Council Bi-Monthly Community Impact Micro Grant supports arts-centered programs in Nassau and Suffolk counties, promoting community engagement and cultural enrichment. This grant offers streamlined funding opportunities for individual artists and non-profit organizations to enhance local cultural life. By facilitating artistic initiatives, the council nurtures talent and fosters collaboration, ultimately contributing to the vibrancy of the Long Island arts scene. Eligible applicants can benefit from simplified processes to receive financial support for impactful projects.

501(c)(3) nonprofits serving low-income communities with affordable housing, economic development, financial health, or workforce readiness programs in Nassau County, New York can access funding through the Community Progress Makers Fund. Citi Foundation provides US $1,000,000 in unrestricted support over three years, plus technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities for selected organizations.

About The New York Community Trust:

As New York's largest community foundation, The New York Community Trust (The Trust) fosters and engages in enduring and innovative philanthropy, making grants that bring together the local knowledge and expertise of its team, nonprofits, and partners to help donors fulfill their vision for the causes they love. From education and the arts to health care and the environment, The Trust seeks to improve every aspect of the cultural and civic life of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester.

The Trust is a regional philanthropic leader. In addition to a distinguished competitive grantmaking program, The Trust hosts donor-advised funds that make grants throughout the United States as well as funder collaboratives that work on the leading edge of philanthropy to improve the lives of New Yorkers. In 2025, it made close to 11,000 grants totaling nearly $230 million.

Having celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2024, The Trust has catalyzed innovations in philanthropy ranging from establishing the first donor-advised fund in the 1930s to making landmark grants, including some of the first to fight AIDS, build the High Line, support immigrant communities in the region, and respond quickly in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The four broad priorities of this grantmaking program are to:

• Mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing legacy carbon from the atmosphere and oceans;
• Adapt and become more resilient to the consequences of a warming world;
• Protect public health from toxic chemicals and other environmental hazards; and
• Preserve and create ecological connectivity by supporting terrestrial and marine conservation corridors. 

Grants made pursuant to this request for proposals will be for national projects, i.e., projects working in the United States (including its territories). Grants will not exceed $150,000 per year for up to two years.

The Dance Workforce Resilience (DWR) Fund, established by Dance/NYC, provides one-time grants of $1,000 to support freelance dancers in the NYC area. With a total of $324,000 available, this fund aims to assist over 320 dancers who have completed contracted work between January 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. Eligibility includes being 18 or older and residing in the metropolitan NYC area. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 2026.

The Neighborhood Builders Program, supported by Bank of America, empowers 501(c)(3) nonprofits through a two-year leadership development initiative. Participants receive funding, training, and networking opportunities to enhance their impact in communities. Since its inception, the program has invested over $346 million, training more than 4,000 leaders. The initiative focuses on advancing social mobility and economic opportunities, ensuring affordable housing, and fostering resilient communities. This program is vital for nonprofits aiming to strengthen their leadership and community engagement.

Community Finance Initiative 

Advancing the financial resilience of low-income households across the U.S.

This model enables us to engage and support a broad range of organizations across the globe to tackle some of the most pressing social issues of our time.

The Citi Foundation’s 2026 Community Finance Initiative commits $35 million to support programming that bolsters the financial stability, strength and safety of low-income households in the U.S.

Focus Areas

The Foundation seeks to support organizations advancing low-income household financial resilience in the United States across three focus areas:

Stabilize: Programs that help low-income households to build financial skills and confidence to manage daily finances and navigate financial stress.

• Financial coaching on budgeting, credit, debt reduction and savings strategies.
• Digital tools offering personalized financial guidance and product navigation.
• Assistance with public benefits and social safety net programs.

Strengthen: Programs that help low-income households build and repair credit, as well as short- and long-term financial assets.

• Financial products or services for credit building and credit repair.
• Initiatives to increase savings, including emergency funds.
• Support for homeownership, including readiness, preservation and long-term stability (e.g., first-time buyer assistance, preventing displacement and support systems for aging in place resources).

Safeguard: Programs that protect low-income household financial security by preventing and addressing financial losses.

• Education and support for the safe and confident use of digital financial tools.
• Fraud and scam awareness, prevention and recovery initiatives, including protection from identity theft.
• Interventions to help households recover from major financial shocks (e.g., healthcare costs, extended family care, job transitions or natural disasters).

Funding Opportunity

The Foundation plans to award 70 $500,000 (USD) grants (to be disbursed over two years) totaling $35 million to community organizations working in select communities where Citi has a presence.

The grants will be restricted and are anticipated to be disbursed in two annual payments in 2026 and 2027. Proposed projects should be for a term of 24 months, starting no sooner than August 1, 2026 and ending no later than December 31, 2028.

The WE CARE Fund, established by the Nassau County Bar Association in 1988, is a charitable initiative dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable populations in Nassau County, including children and the elderly. With support from legal professionals and the community, the fund distributes grants semi-annually to organizations that address various needs, making it a recognized model for similar programs nationwide.

Stew's Cares Donation program encourages community support by providing donations via gift cards to local 501(c)(3) organizations. The Leonard family believes in giving back and has established a Wishing Well in stores to accumulate funds for charity. To apply for donations, organizations must submit requests in writing on official letterhead at least 60 days prior to their event. This initiative reflects Stew Leonard's commitment to supporting local communities and charities.

Nonprofit public charities providing community development, housing, financial education, or workforce programs in Nassau County, New York can access funding through the Santander Consumer USA Foundation’s charitable giving program. Grants of more than US $10,000 support affordable housing, small business development, job training, neighborhood revitalization, human services, and related efforts within Santander Bank’s operating footprint.