Best New York City Grants for Nonprofits in New York

The Youth Service Improvement Grants (YSIG) program, funded by the William T Grant Foundation Inc, aims to enhance the quality of direct services for youth aged 5 to 25 in New York City. It encourages nonprofit organizations to identify and address service gaps while fostering critical reflection on their practices. In addition to financial support, the program offers technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities, creating a collaborative environment for organizations to strengthen their impact on youth.

The Ross Wagner Foundation Scholarship offers significant financial support for students pursuing degrees in various engineering fields, including civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. With awards up to $25,000 annually, students can receive up to $100,000 over four years. Applicants must maintain a B average, work in engineering labs, and be enrolled in top-ranked engineering schools in the U.S. and Canada. This scholarship honors Ross Wagner's legacy, promoting excellence in engineering education.

The Conservancy Trail Grants, offered by the New York State Hudson River Valley Greenway, support recreational trail projects that align with the goals of the Greenway Trail Program. Eligible projects include trail construction, rehabilitation, education, and disaster recovery. This program emphasizes enhancing connections to the Empire State Trail, ensuring that funding fosters sustainable and accessible outdoor experiences for all.

The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program, funded by the EPA and Chesapeake Bay Trust, supports innovative green infrastructure projects enhancing community livability. With funding opportunities ranging from conceptual plans to full project implementation, this program aims to reduce stormwater runoff, improve urban green spaces, and boost local water health within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Eligible locations include parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as New York.

The JetBlue Foundation is dedicated to enhancing aviation-related education and STEM initiatives, aiming to inspire future aviation leaders. Offering grants up to $50,000, it supports educational organizations that focus on aviation technology, engineering, operations, and maintenance. The foundation prioritizes programs benefiting under-represented communities in aviation, including veterans, women, and diverse groups, ensuring a broader range of voices in the industry.

The van Ameringen Foundation is dedicated to enhancing mental health services for underserved communities in New York City and Philadelphia. It supports innovative programs focused on early intervention, advocacy, and accessibility. Grants range from $25,000 to $250,000, depending on the type of service provided. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations addressing mental health needs. The Foundation aims to foster systemic change and improve public understanding of mental health issues.

The New York Foundation Core Grants support community organizing, grassroots advocacy, and movement-building efforts in New York City. Grants of $47,500 per year are available for up to three years for established groups and five years for emerging ones. In addition to funding, grantees gain access to capacity-building resources, including legal services, workshops, and small responsive grants. The foundation prioritizes organizations led by marginalized communities and those addressing systemic injustices.

The Marion E. Kenworthy-Sarah H. Swift Foundation, established in 1962, focuses on enhancing the mental and emotional health of youth up to age 26 through grants for innovative programs in social work and psychiatry. They prioritize funding clinical mental health services within New York City's five boroughs, emphasizing operational support with a minimum grant of $25,000. The foundation values collaborative efforts between professions to improve mental health understanding and services for young people.

The Booth Ferris Foundation offers grants to arts and culture organizations in New York City, aiming to enhance the city's cultural vibrancy. The Foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate artistic excellence, engage diverse audiences, and maintain robust fiscal health with budgets over $1 million. Support is available for capacity building and capital projects, with an emphasis on sustainability and measurable outcomes. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities. The application deadline is February 1.

The Tiger Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in New York City, focusing on Education, Family Support, and Youth Workforce Justice. With no deadlines for Letters of Inquiry, the foundation seeks organizations with measurable outcomes, skilled leadership, and community engagement. Their Seed and Expansion Fund supports innovative early-stage organizations aiming to address unmet needs, ensuring effective services are accessible to low-income families and individuals across the city.

The Howard Gilman Foundation Grant aims to support New York City's vibrant performing arts organizations. By providing general operating support, the foundation fosters long-term partnerships with those that reflect the city's diverse cultural community. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) entities or fiscally sponsored, with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility in the arts. The foundation prioritizes organizations of color and those in underserved neighborhoods, ensuring a thriving arts ecosystem for all.

The Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Trust supports capacity-building for performing arts organizations in New York City. In 2024, theater organizations are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 annually, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and undertaking small-scale capital projects. Eligible applicants must be IRS-designated public charities with budgets under $1 million. This initiative fosters arts diversity, encouraging organizations to align their applications with the designated focus area each year.

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), aims to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of community football fields. With grants up to $250,000, this initiative addresses the critical lack of safe recreation spaces in low-income neighborhoods, ensuring children and adults have access to well-maintained facilities for gathering and exercise, ultimately fostering community health and well-being.

The Open Competitive Grants Program by The New York Community Trust aims to enhance civic engagement in New York City. It supports initiatives that promote voting, accountability in government, and civic literacy, particularly among children and immigrants. Eligible applicants include public charities that drive policy change and improve community services. The program explicitly excludes individual grants and funding for general operational costs or religious purposes. This initiative is essential for fostering an informed and participatory citizenry.

The Thriving Communities Grants program by The New York Community Trust focuses on community development initiatives. It supports non-profits that enhance affordable housing, promote job creation, and strengthen civic engagement in low-income neighborhoods. With ongoing proposals accepted, this grant aims to empower organizations dedicated to building equitable communities through innovative strategies and effective practices that foster economic opportunities and protect the environment.

The New York Community Trust offers Technical Assistance Grants aimed at enhancing the management capacity of nonprofits in New York City. This program supports public charities and organizations with a focus on skill development and technical assistance. Eligible applicants include nonprofits that promote policy change and build organizational capacity. Grants are typically awarded for one year, with an emphasis on fostering collaboration and service improvements within the nonprofit sector.

The Promising Futures Grants focus on enhancing job training and placement for young people in New York City. By building partnerships among nonprofits, businesses, and educational institutions, the program aims to create a robust workforce development system. It encourages innovative training solutions for those facing employment barriers, while also advocating for better jobs and fair wages. This initiative ultimately seeks to empower job seekers and improve overall economic opportunities in the community.

The Promising Futures Grants focus on advancing human justice by empowering young people through job training and educational support. The initiative aims to create a fairer civil and criminal justice system by enhancing advocacy, legal representation, and service delivery for underserved populations in New York. By funding innovative approaches and collaborative efforts, these grants seek to address critical issues such as homelessness and legal access, ensuring vulnerable communities receive the assistance they need to thrive.

The New York Community Trust's Education Grantmaking program aims to enhance opportunities for underserved students in NYC's public schools. It supports projects that promote systemic reforms, equity, and safe learning environments. Key areas include improving academic outcomes, increasing access to high-level coursework, and ensuring emotional and social support for students. Priority is given to initiatives that foster culturally inclusive curricula and advocate for policies benefiting all students, particularly those historically underserved. Grants typically cover one year and focus on impactful, scalable projects.

The Edward and Sally Van Lier Fellowship Program, funded by The New York Community Trust, provides grants to support historically underrepresented artists. It targets two development stages: young individuals aged 6-18 and young professionals aged 18-30. The program focuses on artistic training, mentorship, and opportunities for growth within New York City. Eligible organizations must facilitate artistic study and career development while ensuring recipients are not enrolled in degree-granting programs during funding.

The Community Progress Makers Fund, an initiative by the Citi Foundation, aims to empower local organizations by providing $50 million in unrestricted funding. This program, established in 2015, will support 50 selected community organizations over three years with grants of $1 million each, alongside technical assistance and opportunities for collaboration. The fund prioritizes organizations with strong community ties and a proven impact in areas such as affordable housing, economic development, financial health, and workforce readiness.

The Booth Ferris Foundation, established in 1957, focuses on improving K-12 education in New York City by providing capacity building support to organizations with annual budgets over $1 million. They fund charitable organizations exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) and do not consider proposals from private foundations or individuals. Key restrictions include a focus on local projects and a minimum of three years between grant awards.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

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.

JetBlue For Good is JetBlue's commitment to social impact, focusing on youth education, environmental sustainability, and community support. By partnering with various nonprofits, JetBlue inspires the next generation, promotes environmental awareness, and contributes to local communities through volunteerism and donations. The JetBlue Foundation specifically supports STEM and aviation education, enhancing opportunities for underrepresented communities. With over $2.5 million allocated in grants, JetBlue For Good reflects the airline's core mission of inspiring humanity and fostering positive change.

The New York City Good Neighbor Committee Grants support local organizations in NYC focusing on arts, education, and human services. This initiative aims to strengthen the Ford Foundation's ties with community-based organizations, providing them with unrestricted funding to address local needs. Eligible applicants must be based in New York City, possess 501(c)(3) status, and be accountable to the communities they serve. The program is designed to enhance the quality of life for marginalized individuals and foster community engagement.

The NYC Green Fund Grassroots Grant Program supports grassroots initiatives in NYC's parks and open spaces, promoting community engagement and environmental stewardship. It offers funding for projects focused on youth development, health and wellness, arts, and organizational capacity-building. Eligible applicants include community organizations with annual budgets under $175,000 that demonstrate a connection to the communities they serve. Grants can range from $1,000 to $40,000 for one- or two-year commitments, fostering equitable public green spaces across all five boroughs.