Search Through Arts Grants for Nonprofits in New York City, New York in the U.S.

About Us

The Achelis and Bodman Foundation was formally established on November 25, 2015, from the merger of The Achelis Foundation (established in 1940) and The Bodman Foundation (established in 1945).

Program Areas

In keeping with the broad purposes in its charter documents, the Foundation has chosen to spread its grants over six program areas. Most grants are made in New York City, reflecting its dynamic not-for-profit sector, large and persistent needs, and the staff's and Trustees' "local knowledge." The Foundation also makes grants in northern New Jersey in recognition of the Bodman family's ties to that state, with an emphasis on Newark and Monmouth County. Over 90% of grants fall into one of the following categories:

Arts and Culture

Cultural institutions are among New York City’s most valued resources. They attract visitors from around the world and are one reason why so many people choose to live here. They are also major employers and vital to the City’s economy. The arts were important to Miss Achelis and Mr. and Mrs. Bodman, and so the Foundation has continued to support this area, generally through operating grants to the City’s prominent cultural institutions. The Foundation is most likely to support organizations that promote and sustain traditional concepts of artistic excellence. 

Education

The failure of inner-city public education is a national tragedy with enormous consequences for the children in these schools and for society as a whole. The Foundation has long believed that accountability and competition can contribute to the improvement of urban public schools. Therefore, the Foundation has funded charter schools, voucher programs, scholarships to parochial schools, and research that examines the impact of competition and other factors on K-12 educational performance. The Foundation also has an interest in helping young people and adults to realize their dreams of a college education. Finally, the Foundation seeks to promote intellectual excellence and balance at American colleges and universities.

Employment

Chronic unemployment or underemployment is a harsh and demoralizing burden. The welfare reforms of the mid-1990s increased the need for effective job training and placement programs. Such programs are especially critical for ex-offenders, chronic substance abusers, those with low educational attainments, and those suffering from mental or physical disabilities. The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting programs that emphasize the private sector and entrepreneurship.

Health

It is difficult for small grantmakers to make a significant impact in a field as large and complex as healthcare. Therefore, the focus of the Foundation's grants has been on the health needs of poor children, the disabled, and other disadvantaged populations, as well as on basic biomedical research, where a small grant at a pivotal time in a scientist's research can have a disproportionate impact. The Foundation has also supported the work of policy experts evaluating reforms that would improve the healthcare system and make it more accessible and efficient.

Public Policy

Funding in this category covers a broad range of issues including: K-12 education (listed under ), healthcare, families and marriage, crime prevention, prisoner reentry, philanthropy, the environment, welfare reform, and faith and religion. In all areas, the Foundation's grantmaking is guided by a belief in the merits of economic and political liberty, free enterprise, and personal responsibility.

Youth and Families

The disparate needs of New York City's disadvantaged youth and families are served by hundreds, even thousands, of charitable institutions, ranging from established settlement houses to small neighborhood organizations to local houses of worship. The Foundation supports programs that boost academic achievement, provide positive recreational and educational activities for disadvantaged young people, promote good character and values, preserve families, and encourage responsible parenting. In addition, the Foundation has a special interest in programs that prevent criminal behavior, discourage pre-marital sexual activity among teens, and assist vulnerable populations, such as disconnected youth, children who have been in foster care or suffered abuse, the disabled, and the homebound elderly. The Foundation is particularly interested in funding smaller, neighborhood-based organizations that choose to rely on private support rather than government grants or contracts.

Double-R Foundation Grants

The Double-R Foundation is a private, grant-making foundation that focuses its efforts on the enrichment of life in New York City.

The Foundation supports volunteer-based organizations that provide services to New York City Residents.

What we Do

We seek to enhance volunteer's efforts by:

• Sponsoring specific projects
• Contributing to nonprofit organizations' long-term stability

In the past, Double-R Foundation has supported programs in the following areas:

• Arts in New York City, particularly by new and developing artists, composers, dancers and performers
• City planning programs and organizations that enhance New York City's humanity and harmony with the natural world, including development of outdoor space, promotion of the intelligent use of materials, and educating the public and government about short and long term design alternatives
• Job training programs that link volunteer executives with young entrepreneurs;
• Legal services for the underprivileged provided by attorneys pro bono;
• Art and music instruction in after-school programs;
• Health care and health research;
• Animal-related services;
• Homeless shelters and related programs
• Youth-oriented legal support services promoting alternatives to incarceration in adult prisons and court systems.

The Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) was established in 1948 as a nonprofit independent public service organization whose mission includes contributing to the public knowledge and appreciation of music, as well as making music a part of every child’s life experience. Headquartered in New York City, the tax-exempt MPTF, operating under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, evolved from a landmark collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and the major recording companies of the day. Today the MPTF is a vital organization that brings music to the public and supplements the income of musicians, all at no cost to those receiving this precious gift of music.Funded via a royalty stream from the signatory record labels, led by the three major labels, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and the Warner Music Group, the MPTF today presents thousands of live, admission-free musical programs annually in the United States and Canada. Under the terms of their agreement, the recording companies pay a royalty from the sale of sound recordings to the Fund. These funds are supplemented by co-sponsoring organizations and administered by a Trustee, who is independent of both the recording industry and the AFM.

Programs

The Music Performance Trust Fund brings free, live, professional music programs to communities through a variety of means including large-scale festivals and park concerts; educational activities, teacher training and assemblies in schools; intimate assisted living facility and senior center events; and more. Events are presented in partnership with a number of national and local arts and arts education providers. Our aim is to increase access to enriching, quality musical experiences for public school students, older adults, and those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend professional music performances. 

How to recieve MPTF Funding?

• Contact the musicians’ union serving your area.
• You can also find the union serving your area by going here. Click on ‘For Members’ then on ‘Find My Local’.
• The musicians’ union serves as our representatives.
  • They will guide you through our process and apply to us on your behalf.
• Policies vary from local to local.
  • The local representative will go over their policies and see if you are eligible for MPTF funding.  Once the local union determines you qualify for an MPTF grant, they apply to MPTF.
• All correspondence should be between you and the union representative/office.
  • Should a problem occur, you may contact MPTF  here.

The Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) was established in 1948 as a nonprofit independent public service organization whose mission includes contributing to the public knowledge and appreciation of music, as well as making music a part of every child’s life experience. Headquartered in New York City, the tax-exempt MPTF, operating under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, evolved from a landmark collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and the major recording companies of the day. Today the MPTF is a vital organization that brings music to the public and supplements the income of musicians, all at no cost to those receiving this precious gift of music.

Funded via a royalty stream from the signatory record labels, led by the three major labels, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and the Warner Music Group, the MPTF today presents thousands of live, admission-free musical programs annually in the United States and Canada. Under the terms of their agreement, the recording companies pay a royalty from the sale of sound recordings to the Fund. These funds are supplemented by co-sponsoring organizations and administered by a Trustee, who is independent of both the recording industry and the AFM.

Programs

The Music Performance Trust Fund brings free, live, professional music programs to communities through a variety of means including large-scale festivals and park concerts; educational activities, teacher training and assemblies in schools; intimate assisted living facility and senior center events; and more. Events are presented in partnership with a number of national and local arts and arts education providers. Our aim is to increase access to enriching, quality musical experiences for public school students, older adults, and those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend professional music performances. 

Music Family Scholarship Requirements

• Submit a headshot
• Personal essay of approximately 500-750 words

The prompt for this year is: Imagine you have been given a budget to organize a free event for your local community, to bring together as many people as possible. What features would you include in the event to foster a sense of unity? Write an essay detailing the event you would create, blending arts and culture, while explaining the impact it would have on the special needs of your community.

The Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) was established in 1948 as a nonprofit independent public service organization whose mission includes contributing to the public knowledge and appreciation of music, as well as making music a part of every child’s life experience. Headquartered in New York City, the tax-exempt MPTF, operating under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, evolved from a landmark collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and the major recording companies of the day. Today the MPTF is a vital organization that brings music to the public and supplements the income of musicians, all at no cost to those receiving this precious gift of music.

Funded via a royalty stream from the signatory record labels, led by the three major labels, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and the Warner Music Group, the MPTF today presents thousands of live, admission-free musical programs annually in the United States and Canada. Under the terms of their agreement, the recording companies pay a royalty from the sale of sound recordings to the Fund. These funds are supplemented by co-sponsoring organizations and administered by a Trustee, who is independent of both the recording industry and the AFM.

Programs

The Music Performance Trust Fund brings free, live, professional music programs to communities through a variety of means including large-scale festivals and park concerts; educational activities, teacher training and assemblies in schools; intimate assisted living facility and senior center events; and more. Events are presented in partnership with a number of national and local arts and arts education providers. Our aim is to increase access to enriching, quality musical experiences for public school students, older adults, and those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend professional music performances. 

Music's Future Scholarship Requirements:

• Obtain good academic standing, at least a 2.0 gpa
• Submit 1 letter of reference
• Resume
• Personal statement
• Prior semester transcript (either HS diploma or College Transcript) Unofficial is fine

The prompt for this year is: What is working and not working in music education in elementary/middle/high school? How would you change it? Note: You are scored on originality of your answers, not on a broad analysis.

Thriving Communities

We make grants to groups that protect and create affordable housing, promote equity in the arts, improve civic engagement, and protect our environment. We support agencies working on these issues at the neighborhood level, as well as government and nonprofit institutions developing strategies. We also support efforts to improve the functioning of nonprofits and government.

Focus Area: Civic Affairs

Program goals: to ensure a representative political process and improve the function of government by encouraging voting, holding state and local government accountable, and promoting civic literacy for children and new immigrants.

Grants are made to:

• Encourage voting through projects that:
• Support reform of election administration and voting infrastructure.
• Remove obstacles to voting, especially for low-propensity voters.
• Share nonpartisan information about candidates and elected officials.
• Make local and state government more accountable through projects that:
• Support efforts to make Albany work better for the citizens of the city and the state.
• Strengthen nonprofit civic groups.
• Provide citizens and advocates with information and skills needed to promote effective governance.
• Promote civic literacy in children and civic learning for our newest citizens through projects that:
• Encourage civic engagement among immigrants and their children.
• Enrich civic learning opportunities for children and youth.
• Focus on neighborhoods and constituencies with low levels of civic participation.

Our Program Areas

The Sills Family Foundation’s primary grants program intends to help children from low income families live up to their highest promise by concentrating on the following four areas:

Comprehensive Services to Families in Crisis- With a special focus on families impacted by incarceration

The Sills Family Foundation has a major focus on programs that support families impacted by the criminal justice system. We partner with programs that work to strengthen the parent/child bond during incarceration through facilitating transportation for prison visits, creating child-sensitive visiting areas in correctional facilities, providing parenting education classes to incarcerated parents, as well as supporting families through the re-entry period. This effort extends to addressing the inequities in the bail system, preventing juvenile detentions, and providing high quality legal services to low income populations.

In considering the rehabilitative opportunities so rarely provided to incarcerated individuals, the Foundation supports higher education and arts programming inside correctional facilities. The Foundation has begun to play a role in deepening policy makers and service providers’ capacity in this field. The Sills Family Foundation is proud to be a member of the NY Initiative for Children with Incarcerated Parents, as well as the New York Youth Justice Initiative.

Support to Underserved Communities- Through improved access to early education and reduction of neighborhood violence

Low income neighborhoods and schools experience a disproportionate amount of school suspensions, violence, arrests and damage to the community through involvement in the criminal justice system. We support programs that seek to intervene in this destructive cycle and help young people stay on the path to success.

Early education can make a world of difference in how a child goes on to succeed in school, work and life. This is especially true for children challenged by poverty, homelessness and other forms of trauma. Children who start kindergarten behind their peers may continue to face problems throughout school. Getting kids off to a good start is critical to their future.

We are committed to high-quality education experiences that help children live up to their highest potential. We want to improve chances for all children to succeed in life through access to education, early intervention and family supports such as mental health counseling and job skills classes for their parents.

Programs Supporting Immigrants, Refugees and Asylees

We believe all human beings have the right to pursue their dreams of building a better home for themselves and their families, and that newcomers to the US should have access to necessary legal, educational, and material needs.

Environmental Justice- With a focus on contaminants that harm the developing embryo, fetus and infant

Toxic chemicals are released into our environment every day. Children consume pollutants in their food, air and water, their toys, candy, even baby bottles. These hazards can cause serious health problems, ranging from asthma and cancer to brain impairment and behavioral problems. They take a greater toll on the most vulnerable: pregnant women, fetuses and children.

We want to protect families from lead, mercury and other toxic compounds. The foundation supports organizations that embrace the ideals of environmental justice and that protect against poor communities carrying a greater share of the toxic burden. We invest in programs that work to reduce pollutants in our air, water, food and homes so that the minds and bodies of our infants and children stay healthy and strong.

Arts and Culture- Arts education and other creative opportunities to support underserved populations

Arts and cultural activity can provide people of all ages important tools of self expression, can open paths to new forms of communication and can strengthen self esteem. We believe that high quality arts programming in schools, community centers and senior centers can be a powerful tool of social justice. The Foundation seeks to support culturally sensitive collaborations between teaching artists, educators and community leaders to bring the positive power of the arts to under-resourced schools and communities.

Funding Priorities

The Sills Family Foundation funds nonprofits that support early childhood education, environmental justice, arts and culture, and families in crisis, with a focus on families and communities impacted by the criminal justice justice system as well as refugees, migrants and asylees.

Funding Criteria

The organizations we invest in support families and communities to overcome obstacles created by poverty, racism and other forms of marginalization. The programs we support have passionate leaders, are community based and offer potential for systemic, sustained change, including the possibility of replication. We seek to fund organizations for whom our grantmaking capacity will make an impact.

Grant Making Budget

Most of our grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. The Foundation accepts applications for one-year grants only, with the possibility of renewal grants for extended periods. Many of our grants support general operating needs.

Thriving Communities

We make grants to groups that protect and create affordable housing, promote equity in the arts, improve civic engagement, and protect our environment. We support agencies working on these issues at the neighborhood level, as well as government and nonprofit institutions developing strategies. We also support efforts to improve the functioning of nonprofits and government.

Focus Area: Community Development

Program goal: to build and sustain strong communities and create economic opportunities for residents of low-income neighborhoods.

We support a mix of citywide and local community development activities as well as citywide technical assistance, policy research, and advocacy. 

Grants are made to:

• Preserve affordable housing in low-income neighborhoods.
• Promote strategies for job creation and linking low-income residents to jobs.
• Develop new sources of capital and innovative community development tools.
• Enhance the capacity of community development organizations to function effectively.
• Monitor and document the effects of community and economic development policies on poor communities.

Read the background paper that informed this grantmaking strategy here.

Thriving Communities

We make grants to groups that protect and create affordable housing, promote equity in the arts, improve civic engagement, and protect our environment. We support agencies working on these issues at the neighborhood level, as well as government and nonprofit institutions developing strategies. We also support efforts to improve the functioning of nonprofits and government.

New York City Environmental Grantmaking Program

Program goals: to become a climate-smart metropolis; create healthier, more livable communities; and protect urban ecologies.

Grants are made to:

• Become a climate-smart metropolis by:
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
• improving the energy efficiency of buildings and various industries;
• increasing the amount of electricity generated by renewable energy resources;
• supporting distributed (on-site) generation, establishing microgrids, and modernizing the grid; and
• encouraging climate resilience and adaptation to climate change particularly in vulnerable low-income communities.
• Create healthier, more livable communities by:
• preventing air pollution;
• reducing the risk of exposure to toxic substances especially for disadvantaged residents;
• reclaiming and redeveloping brownfields;
• creating, improving, and enhancing open space and improving access to the City’s waterfronts; and
• ensuring that environmental benefits and burdens are shared equitably.
• Protecting urban ecologies by:
• safeguarding the City’s critical watersheds;
• preventing pollution of the waterways: and
• preserving and enhancing wetlands, urban tree cover, and wildlife habitat.

Funding

Our grants usually range from $5,000 to $200,000; an average grant is around $90,000. Often, a grant from The Trust cannot fully support a project, so we want to know where the rest of the money will come from.

History of the Foundation

The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation was established in 1995 by Maria-Gaetana von Spreti Matisse, wife of the late art dealer and collector, Pierre Matisse. Following her death in 2001, Tana—as she was known to her friends—left the bulk of her estate to the Foundation. As a result, the most significant assets of the Foundation are the works from Tana and Pierre Matisse’s remarkable collection of art.

Pierre And Tana Matisse Foundation Arts and Arts Education Grants

Grants for Arts and Arts Education are awarded to organizations committed to making the arts a solid and significant part of the education process. Grantees have a history of providing arts education services to children and youth in local underserved public schools and community settings. They offer students the opportunity to explore the language of the arts through a variety of disciplines. Grants are also awarded to organizations and institutions that provide the public with valuable cultural experiences.

Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation Grant

Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., the Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation provides grants to a wide range of nonprofit organizations with a special emphasis on education, the visual arts, writing, and literature. The Foundation’s primary geographic focus is Pittsburgh, though a select number of contributions are made each year in other localities where the Foundation has established interests.

The Foundation’s principal program interests are in education, the visual arts, writing, and literature, however, grants are made in other areas such as the dramatic arts, human services, environmental protection, and parks on a limited basis. 

Wolf Kahn Foundation

The Wolf Kahn Foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the artistic achievements of Wolf Kahn (1927-2020) and to sharing them with audiences, scholars, and other artists towards a greater understanding of his work and his lasting contribution to American art of the Second Generation New York School.

Through its grants program and other initiatives, the Foundation supports artists and arts organizations that educate youth and the broader public and that advance artists’ careers through exhibitions, publications, and residencies.

Grants

The Wolf Kahn Foundation grant program continues Wolf Kahn’s commitment to fellow artists, the environment and its effect on creative work, and to the vitality of organizations that advance artists’ careers and educate youth and the public. Guided by our mission, the Foundation supports projects that reflect the practices that shaped Wolf Kahn’s life and work: observation, experimentation, and respect for the work of other artists.

Recent successful proposals include support for exhibitions, publications, residencies, and community or museum-based arts education programs, with an emphasis on projects that advance social justice or environmental awareness through the arts. General operating support for organizations whose programming aligns with these priorities and the Foundation’s mission will also be considered.

Grants are usually in the range of $5,000 to $15,000.

Mission

Founded in 1972, A.R.T./New York assists over 400 member theatres in managing their theatre companies effectively so they may realize their rich artistic visions and serve their diverse audiences well. Over nearly five decades, A.R.T./New York has earned a reputation as a leader in providing progressive services to our members—from shared office and rehearsal spaces to technical assistance programs for emerging theatres—which have made the organization an expert in the needs of the New York City nonprofit theatre community.

A.R.T./New York supports nonprofit theatre companies in New York City by providing four core programs: Funding, Training, Space, and Connections. 

Creative Opportunity Fund

The Creative Opportunity Fund provides general operating support grants of $2,000-$5,000 to small professional theatres with budgets under $500,000 working throughout New York State. Applicants to the Creative Opportunity Fund are NOT required to be members of A.R.T./New York. The Creative Opportunity Fund is a regrant of a New York State Council on the Arts program. A.R.T./New York regrants NYSCA funds, and all applicants and grantees will interact with A.R.T./New York as their grantmaker.

The grant aims to distribute flexible funding to support theatres throughout the state with capacity building and stabilization and to increase funding opportunities for theatres that have been left out of mainstream funding opportunities because of barriers associated with racial, economic, disability, and sexual identity and/or geographic location. Payments are made via electronic or paper check, depending on the grantee’s preference.  

The Venable Foundation envisions that its philanthropic investments provide essential resources to nonprofit organizations in communities across the country. Guided by the belief that everyone has the right to equitable employment opportunities, healthcare, housing, food, and a vibrant cultural community, Venable grantees ensure that economically disadvantaged people are given the tools they need to thrive.

The average size of a Venable Foundation grant is approximately $10,000. First-time awardees are usually on the smaller end of the spectrum. It is up to the organization to determine what it feels is an appropriate request.

Funding Priorities

Grant support is provided to assist with general operations and projects. Currently, the Venable Foundation’s funding priorities include:

• Human Services
• Legal Services
• Education
• Workforce Development
• Youth Impact
• Health
• Environment
• Arts and Culture

You can learn more about each of these funding priorities below:

Human Services – The Foundation has a strong track record of supporting a breadth of essential human services, including programs that impact people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, incarcerated and returning citizens, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, and those affected by domestic violence and housing insecurity.

Legal Services – We support the delivery of free or affordable legal services in our communities. Pro bono consulting and representation focus on a variety of issues, including domestic violence, housing, immigration, public benefits, and discrimination, among other areas. Legal service nonprofits providing “know your rights” training and other activities are also supported. The Foundation also supports training for youth and adults to ensure diversity and access to careers in the legal profession.

Education – The Foundation supports a wide array of early childhood, in-school, and out-of-school time initiatives that provide in-depth opportunities for learning and engagement to position children for success and level the playing field for economically disadvantaged youth.

Workforce Development – We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to pursue gainful employment. Thus, we support organizations with the goal of developing the workforce of today and tomorrow. Successful programs recruit and train individuals and place them in relevant jobs so that they can earn a sustainable living wage for themselves and their families. Skill development is focused on low-income, underemployed, and unemployed community members, and on preparing youth for careers after their schooling is complete.

Youth Impact – The Foundation invests in services that impact children in each of our communities. These initiatives ensure economically disadvantaged youth are healthy and safe and have opportunities to thrive.

Health – The Foundation is committed to improving wellness and increasing access to care for economically disadvantaged individuals in the region. Successful organizations and programs work to eliminate barriers to healthcare for all ages and provide accessible and no-stigma testing for a variety of diseases. We support pediatric to geriatric services that address a variety of health concerns.

Environment – We support organizations involved in the preservation of our natural resources and those that are addressing natural or man-made disasters in our target regions. Programs educate communities and work for change on a variety of environmental issues, from wildfires to pollution.

Arts and Culture – The Foundation supports initiatives in the arts that promote deeper public engagement and build up the creative economy, with an emphasis on low-income and underserved communities.

The Booth Ferris Foundation was established in 1957 under the wills of Willis H. Booth and his wife, Chancie Ferris Booth. Since that time, approximately $425 million has been contributed from the Foundation to worthy organizations for a variety of charitable purposes. 

Funding Interest: Arts & Culture

The Foundation supports arts and culture organizations, including parks and gardens, located in New York City and working directly to enhance the vibrancy and cultural richness of New York City. Arts and culture organizations eligible to apply include performing, presenting, arts education, intermediary, advocacy, public policy and capacity-building organizations.

Support is available for capacity building or capital projects. 

Priority organizations will meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate standards of artistic excellence
• Engage significant numbers and reach a diverse audience and constituency base
• Maintain an annual budget over $1 million for the last complete fiscal year
• Demonstrate a proven record of success in achieving measurable outcomes
• Maintain a strong track record of fiscal health including sound financial planning and robust funding from diverse sources.

Support is available for an organization’s own capacity building or for its capacity building activities on behalf of a group or network of nonprofits.

Guidelines for capacity building support:

The Foundation supports capacity building activities that build nonprofit infrastructure and sustainability, enabling organizations to achieve greater performance and impact. The Foundation supports activities to strengthen leadership and adaptive capacities, as well as management and technical capacities. Strong proposals will clearly articulate intended goals and a process for measuring capacity building outcomes.

Examples of capacity building activities supported by the Foundation include:

• Adaptive Capacity- Strategic planning, organizational assessment, needs assessment, strategic plan implementation, program evaluation, collaborations and mergers
• Leadership Capacity- Board development, professional leadership development and succession planning
• Management and Technical Capacity- Human resources management, financial management, fundraising, marketing/communications and technology

Guidelines for capital support:

• Capital campaigns and major capital improvement projects must have already met at least 50% of their fundraising goals in order to apply for support.
• Priority will be given to smaller-scale projects and discrete capital requests.

The Booth Ferris Foundation was established in 1957 under the wills of Willis H. Booth and his wife, Chancie Ferris Booth. Since that time, over $425 million has been contributed from the Foundation to worthy organizations for a variety of charitable purposes.

Funding Interest: Strengthening New York

The Foundation supports:

Organizations working directly to build vibrant communities and to promote equity for underserved populations in New York City. Support is available for capacity building. Priority organizations will demonstrate a record of strong outcomes in NYC and/or deep impact in the communities they serve.

• Organizations which build the capacity and infrastructure of New York City’s nonprofit sector and work to address issues of systemic inequity.
• Support is available for an organization’s own capacity building or for its capacity building activities on behalf of the field.
• Eligible organizations include:
• Organizations providing capacity building, management or technical assistance to nonprofits in New York City
• Organizations engaged in advocacy or public policy work on behalf of underserved communities in New York City, and
• Organizations supporting and working on behalf of membership agencies or a network of nonprofits
• Organizations working directly to build vibrant communities and to promote equity for underserved populations in New York City. Support is available for capacity building. Priority organizations will demonstrate a record of strong outcomes in NYC and/or deep impact in the communities they serve.

Capacity-Building Guidelines

The Foundation views capacity building as a one-time investment to help an organization increase efficiency and effectiveness. Typically, funds support new expenses, which may become ongoing depending on the project. Requests should cover expenses that an organization would otherwise need to dip into reserve funds or fundraise for. Capacity-building should support the nonprofit’s infrastructure and long-term sustainability, enabling greater performance and impact. Notably, the Foundation does not consider organizational growth or scale a requirement for a successful capacity-building project. The Foundation will consider up to three years of support for competitive projects.

Given that our capacity-building grants are short-term, organizations should demonstrate why the project is a priority now, how they are ready to achieve the project’s goals, and what capacity will be built upon successful completion. Strong proposals will clearly articulate intended goals, a process for measuring outcomes, and describe the capacity that will be built. Proposals resulting in new ongoing costs that must be absorbed into an organization’s budget, should indicate how the project will be sustained once Foundation funds expire.

Background

The Hyde and Watson Foundation was incorporated on January 14, 1983, through the consolidation of The Lillia Babbitt Hyde Foundation and The John Jay and Eliza Jane Watson Foundation.

The Foundation currently supports CAPITAL projects such as hard costs related to the construction or purchase of new facilities, building renovations and improvements, purchase of capital equipment and furnishings, and other one-time capital needs.

Broad fields of support include:

• Human Services & Society Benefit
• Education, K-12 & Early Childhood
• Health
• Arts, Culture & Humanities
• Environment & Animals

Our Mission

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Community Leader (All In Neighborhood) Grants

A Community Leaders Grant is a microgrant given out to New Yorkers by CitizensNYC. CitizensNYC awards microgrants of up to $5,000 to community-building projects carried out by resident-led groups to improve neighborhood life, strengthen local leadership, and scale community partnerships.

Selection Criteria

• Clarity
  • Are the descriptions of the project and its goals clear? Is the outreach strategy clear? Is the work plan adequately detailed, focused, realistic and clear? Does it support project goals?
• Quality of Life Impact
  • Is the project expected to improve quality of life issues identified by residents and community members?
    • Major Improvement
      • The impact of the project is anticipated to be lasting (longer than one year) and notice on a daily or almost daily basis.
      • For example: Transforming an abandoned, crime-ridden lot into a multi use community garden where residents begin growing produce and feel safe within the timeline of the project, or creating a new summer internship program for local youth to lead a community farmers market, where youth train new interns for the following year.
    • Moderate Improvement
      • The project is anticipated to either initiate or complete an effort that is anticipated to have a strong impact on the quality of life.
      • The impact is anticipated to last for several months or longer and is noticed on a weekly basis.
      • For example: Cleaning up an abandoned, crime-ridden lot in preparation for establishing a multi-use community garden, creating an athletic program that will last for a season or creating a new youth internship program that lasts for a year.
    • Minor Improvement
      • The project is anticipated to create a temporary (a few weeks or less) impact on the improvement to the quality of life issues identified by residents or community members.
      • For example: Making improvements to an established community garden, hosting a weekend job fair, or continuing an internship program that existed a previous year.
• Community Engagement
  • Is the project expected to build community engagement and capacity for the future?
    • Major Improvement
      • The community group will expand the number of members within the group who are representative of the community; the community group will strengthen its relationships to other organizations, community groups, city services, or public representative (i.e. co- facilitating workshops or engaging partners in ongoing work); the project involves a newly formed group that has an established organizational structure.
      • Alternatively, the project will establish an ongoing forum, space, or activity for community residents to interact around common interests such as history, art, culture, or physical activities.
    • Moderate Improvement
      • Forming a new community group that has an established organizational structure; expanding group membership; the group is strengthening relationships with other organizations, community groups, city services, or public representatives. (i.e. having a partner organization take part in a workshop series as a participant)
    • Minor Improvement
      • Bringing community members and residents together to participate in a one-time social or stewardship activity (i.e. learning/artistic/cultural event, clean-up or gardening event); making small steps towards building relationships with other organizations, community groups, city services, or public representatives (i.e. sending a newsletter to community groups to inform them of a workshop)
• Need
  • Does the proposal clearly convey that the project is warranted and needed in identified neighborhood or for a particular community (identity-based)?

The Jerome Foundation promotes a dynamic culture through support for artists, collectives and/or ensembles across all disciplines in the early stages of their vocational artistic lives to create new work and for nonprofit arts organizations that offer programs, services and activities for such artists, collectives and/or ensembles. We support artists and nonprofit arts organizations based in the state of Minnesota and the five boroughs of New York City.

Jerome Foundation Values

The Foundation’s core values, which we strive to model in our practice as grantmakers and to support in our grantees, are:

Diversity: We consciously embrace diversity in the broadest sense. We support a diverse range of artists and organizations, including but not limited to those of diverse cultures, races, sexual identities, genders, generations, aesthetics, points of view, physical abilities, and missions. We support a diverse range of artistic disciplines and forms, created in a variety of contexts and for different audiences.

Innovation/Risk: We support artists who and organizations that push the boundaries of their respective disciplines, and we applaud unconventional approaches to solving problems.

Humility: We work for artists (rather than the reverse) and believe that artists and organizations are the best authorities to define their needs and challenges—an essential humility reflective of Jerome Hill, our founder. The artists we support embrace their roles as part of a larger community of artists and citizens, and consciously work with a sense of purpose, whether aesthetic, social or both.

Arts Organization Grants

In alternating years, the Jerome Foundation offers two-year grants for ongoing programs in six discipline(s) for artists that meet Jerome’s eligibility requirements as defined below. Applications are reviewed by panels in Dance; Literature; Media, including film, video, and digital production and new media; Music; Theater; and Visual Arts. Organizations may apply with programs in multiple disciplines. 

A diverse range of programs will be supported in each artistic discipline. This includes both development (artistic or career development and/or technical assistance) and production programs (culminating in a full production/exhibition/publication/etc.). 

No organization (whether previously funded or not) may request more than 25% of a three-year average of its actual annual operating income, based on its three most recent completed fiscal years. In-kind contributions may not be used in calculating this average. For fuller explanation, see the FAQ.

Organizations may seek support for programs activities that serve a broad range of artists, including but not limited to Jerome-eligible artists (i.e., programs that serve both early career and mid-career artists, or include artists from beyond Minnesota or New York City).

However, Jerome grant funds may only be used to cover costs for eligible artists. At least 75% of awarded grant funds must support direct costs for the specific program(s), although an organization might choose to dedicate a higher percentage of the grant to such direct program costs. Up to 25% of the grant funds may be applied to support indirect administrative costs for Jerome-funded programs and/or for ongoing organizational costs connected to services and activities for early career artists.

NYSCA/GHHN Grants

The NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program is made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City. This statewide program now offers three opportunities for collecting institutions in New York State.

• Conservation Treatment
• Preservation Supplies
• Site Assessment 

Organizations may apply to all three opportunities in the same year. 

Preservation Supplies

The NYSCA/GHHN Preservation Supplies Grant is an opportunity under the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN) that provides funds to purchase collection management supplies for museums, historical, and cultural organizations in New York State. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City.

What We Fund

Applicants who have consulted with an appropriate professional (i.e., completed a MAP, CAP, NEA’s Small Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions, C2CNYS Circuit Rider, GHHN’s Collections Needs Assessment Program, etc.) or by knowledgeable staff may request funds to purchase collection management supplies and shipping. If an organization has limited experience in rehousing collections, they should work with a Site Assessment consultant to provide guidance in selecting appropriate supply materials.

Applicants may request funds up to $650 for general collections management needs. No match is required. Supplies may include, but are not limited to: storage boxes, acid-free tissue paper, artifact trays, dividers, UV filtering film, Tyvek sheeting, cotton tying tape, item ID tags, HEPA vacuums, dehumidifiers, polyester batting, Ethafoam, environmental monitors, etc. If you have questions about specific collection care supply items, please call us! 

Funding

• Maximum Award: $650
• Funding to purchase collections management supplies

NYSCA/GHHN Grants

The NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program is made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of The Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City. This statewide program now offers three opportunities for collecting institutions in New York State.

• Conservation Treatment
• Preservation Supplies
• Site Assessment 

Organizations may apply to all three opportunities in the same year. 

Site Assessment

The NYSCA/GHHN Site Assessment Grant is an opportunity under the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program, a partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN), that will provide support for half-day museum site assessments for museums, historical, and cultural organizations in New York State. Additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports projects from Long Island and New York City.

What We Fund

The grant will support professional services for a Site Assessment consultant who will come to their organization for a half-day site visit focusing on a collections-related topic. For your convenience, GHHN maintains a continually updated list of area consultants – you may find the list on our website. Inclusion on this list does not constitute GHHN’s endorsement of a consultant. You are free to choose a consultant from this list or your own consultant. We strongly suggest that you reach out to your selected consultant prior to applying. All applications must include a current consultant resume. We will not process your application unless a consultant resume has been received.

Scope of Consultancy: The consultant will discuss various areas of stewardship with the site including their specific collections issues, suggest and prioritize basic steps to improve care of their collections. These can include but are not limited to: storage solutions, policies and procedures, environmental controls, disaster preparedness planning, pest management and consultations on specific material types (3D objects only). Consultants must provide a written report with recommendations to be submitted to the site within 3 weeks of the visit.

Consultant support will not exceed $1,000 which includes the site assessment report and round-trip travel. Only travel within New York State borders will be supported. Any consultation fee above $1,000 is the responsibility of the applicant. No match is required.

Funding

• Maximum Award: $1,000
• For a half-day site visit by a collections consultant to discuss specific areas of stewardship, including identifying collections issues and prioritizing basic steps to improve the care of your collections, followed by a written report

Levitt Music Series Grants - VIBE

Levitt VIBE is a multi-year matching grant opportunity that brings the joy of free, live music to public spaces in city neighborhoods where access to arts experiences may be limited.

Geared to large cities with a population over 250,000, Levitt VIBE (Vibrant Inclusive Beats for Everyone) brings the free outdoor concerts to neighborhoods where there is limited access to arts programming and live music. Each Levitt VIBE concert series features a diverse lineup of acclaimed, emerging talent to seasoned, award-winning artists on the local, regional, and national circuits, ensuring access to high-caliber performances for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Levitt VIBE Music Series create a community destination, connecting people to each other and inspiring neighborhood pride of place. Levitt VIBE was launched as a two-year pilot program this past year with three city neighborhoods: the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago; the Near Southside neighborhood of Indianapolis; and the East Oakland neighborhood of Oakland, California. 

In addition to financial support, the Levitt Foundation provides grant recipients with valuable resources including best practices, program frameworks, toolkits, and trainings to deepen impact in their communities.

Funding

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to receive a three-year matching grant of up to $40K/year (up to $120K total) to bring 7-10 free concerts to your community each year!

Background

Furthermore grants assist nonfiction books having to do with art, architecture, and design; cultural history, the city, and related public issues; and conservation and preservation. We look for work that appeals to an informed general audience, gives evidence of high standards in editing, design, and production, and promises a reasonable shelf life.

Funds apply to such specific publication components as:

• writing,
• research,
• editing,
• indexing,
• design,
• illustration,
• photography, and
• printing and binding.

Please refer to FAQ for additional informations.

Mission

The mission of the Keith Haring Foundation is to sustain, expand, and protect the legacy of Keith Haring, his art, and his ideals. The Foundation supports not-for-profit organizations that assist children, as well as organizations involved in education, research and care related to AIDS.

Grants

The Keith Haring Foundation was established in 1989 by the late American artist Keith Haring to support US-based non-profit organizations that provide opportunities for young people and those directly impacted by HIV/AIDS. The Foundation is working to break cycles of persistent disparities in healthcare, academic advancement, and employment opportunities.

Areas of Focus

Youth

The Keith Haring Foundation will consider funding requests concentrating on New York City’s most vulnerable youth and adolescents, with the aim of helping them to become self-sufficient adults. Programs that provide long-term support and mentoring to young people are particularly invited to apply.

HIV/AIDS

The Keith Haring Foundation will consider funding requests from organizations that assist residents of NYC and the South-Eastern US who are living with HIV or at high risk of transmission. Priority will be given to serving the populations most vulnerable to HIV infection, poor health outcomes, and its attendant consequences.

Arts & Culture

The Keith Haring Foundation will consider funding requests from institutions that provide educational and cultural enrichment that directly enhances a deeper understanding of Haring’s life and work. Applicants should reflect upon the breadth of their programming and public outreach as it specifically relates to Haring’s legacy of social activism and cultural contribution, and to the historical context of his creative and philanthropic vision.

If your organization has been awarded a grant from the Keith Haring Foundation, please wait two full years before submitting a renewal request. If your organization has not been awarded a grant, please wait one full year before resubmitting.

The Center for Cooperative Media, a grant-funded program within the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University was founded in 2012 in response to the downsizing of New Jersey news organizations and the changes in the ownership of regional public media. These shifts in the news and information landscape hurt the volume of local news available in a state that has historically had limited news coverage, due to its proximity to the major metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia. With 564 municipalities packed into a densely populated state, New Jersey was—and is—ripe for innovation in local journalism.

The mission of the Center for Cooperative Media is to grow and strengthen local journalism and support an informed society in New Jersey and beyond. The Center coordinates statewide and regional reporting, connecting more than 300 local news and information providers through its flagship project, the NJ News Commons. We offer innovative professional development seminars, with training sessions on topics such as data and investigative journalism, fact-checking, OPRA, podcasting, video production, digital sales, and business planning, among many others. We also offer one-on-one coaching. The Center’s research agenda is focused on issues impacting local journalism, especially collaboration and sustainability questions.

About Civic Science Media

At its core, civic science media is created when journalists and other storytellers work intentionally with diverse community members and scientists to collaboratively address issues of shared interest. Civic science media serves as an important bridge between scientists or scientific organizations and the people most impacted by scientific discovery, and promotes a dynamic conversation between scientists, media, and the public. The goal is both to inform and support active participation in solving or addressing community-identified concerns related to science, including climate change, public health, and artificial intelligence.

Civic Science Media Project Funding

The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University is delighted to announce a funding opportunity for civic science media projects, thanks to support from the Rita Allen Foundation. The awards aim to accelerate civic science media collaborations across the United States with funding and coaching.

This is the second open call for pilot awards in support of projects that can bridge the gap between scientists, media, and communities, with a focus on increasing public participation in science, expanding public deliberation about emerging science and creating opportunities for science to be informed by diverse communities.

• The award builds on a global research project conducted in 2020 and 2021 by the Center that studied how and why journalists and civil society organizations around the world collaborate to achieve and increase impact. Led by Dr. Sarah Stonbely and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the research showed that journalists have become more willing to partner with civil society organizations in order to achieve tangible impact on issues such as corruption, governance, climate and environment, and human rights.
• With new openness among journalists and media makers to partner with civil society and community organizations, rapid advances in scientific discovery and debate, and increased polarization across communities, there is an urgent need to create a culture of civic science — where all people feel a sense of belonging in, and benefit from, the practice of science so they can inform meaningfully deliberation about society's most pressing problems.
• Rita Allen Foundation recently published the industry’s first in-depth analysis of civic science media, in a report that highlights a broad range of civic science media initiatives from across the country. The landscape scan showcases a range of civic science media projects and insights from leaders in this emergent field; potential award applicants should familiarize themselves with the paper.

The Award

A total of 10 awards up to $15,000 each are available. This opportunity is not meant to fund long-term, multi-year partnerships, but rather short-term pilots that:

• Foster ongoing, multidirectional dialogue between media organizations, scientists, and local communities.
• Include direct community participation in the scientific and/or media-creation process, ensuring that local concerns and perspectives substantially influence the conversation.
• Enhance science literacy by making complex scientific topics more accessible and engaging.

In addition to funding, participants will receive hands-on coaching, including regular check-ins, peer-to-peer meetings, and tailored support to align goals, address challenges, and ensure robust and impactful community engagement.

Priority areas include artificial intelligence, climate science, and neuroscience, which align with the broader goals of the Rita Allen Foundation’s overall civic science program.

The awards are intended to cover the cost of the applicant’s and co-collaborator’s time, project materials, equipment, and associated production/editing costs to complete the project. Audience participation incentives are also encouraged; applicants should ensure they are not being extractive when it comes to involving members of the public.

About 

Founded as Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, LMCC serves, connects, and makes space for artists and community.

Since 1973, LMCC has been the champion for independent artists in New York City and the cultural life force of Lower Manhattan.

We envision New York City as a place in which artists and community in dialogue are creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable society.

Creative Engagement Grants

Creative Engagement is an arts funding program that provides grants to individual artists and nonprofit organizations for projects and activities that offer Manhattan communities diverse artistic experiences. Each year, the program supports over 200 arts projects in Manhattan, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more. Through this grant program, LMCC will award over $500,000 for projects serving Manhattan communities from Inwood to the Battery, taking place between the specified date range.

Funding is provided for projects in the performing, literary, media, and visual arts, ranging from folk/traditional forms to contemporary and socially - engaged artistic practices. Supported activities include concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more. 

The Asian Cultural Council’s (ACC) Organization Grant program offers an opportunity for arts and culture organizations in Asia and the United States to pursue travel and activities that enable a deep cultural exchange experience for the organization, their staff, and other individuals and communities with whom they connect.

ACC’s Organization Grants support a range of activities that advance international dialogue, the sharing of practices and ideas, and the building of relationships across borders. Organization Grants may support travel to another country, territory, or region for their activities and/or hosting activity participants in the country, territory, or region where the organization is based. 

What do ACC’s Organization Grants offer? 

Exploration and Exchange 

ACC offers Organization Grantees funding to conduct cultural immersion, research, and to increase access to artistic communities or cultural resources in a specific country, territory, or region, and exchange knowledge with peers.  Such programming supports relationship-building across borders, encourages more global and nuanced perspectives among organization staff and activity participants, and can develop capacity and inspiration for future cultural exchange opportunities.

Individualized Support

ACC support services are intended to enhance the proposed plan of activity, increase access to artistic communities and cultural resources in the chosen destination(s), and deepen the cultural exchange experience. Support services may include:

• Advice and recommendations related to the logistical or substantive aspects of the Organization Grantee’s activities
• Introductions to ACC alumni and other arts professionals and institutions that are relevant to the Organization Grantee’s research and cultural exchange objectives  
• Invitations to local ACC events and gatherings, where possible

Please note that ACC does not have offices and staff throughout Asia; therefore, some support services, such as making specific connections, may be limited. (ACC has its headquarters in New York City and affiliate offices in Hong Kong SAR, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan ROC.) Please keep this possibly limited programmatic and logistical support in mind while developing your proposal. Proposals should be feasible, with or without additional guidance from ACC.