Best Community Development Grants in New York

Northern New York Community Foundation

Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.

Potsdam Community Fund

The Potsdam Community Fund is a permanent charitable resource dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout the Town and Village of Potsdam. Through annual grantmaking, the fund supports projects and programs that strengthen the community, address emerging needs and opportunities, and improve the lives of local residents. 

Northern New York Community Foundation

Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.

Micro-Grant Program

The Northern New York Community Foundation's Micro-Grant Program provides support to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for projects that align with the Foundation's mission and demonstrate clear community benefit.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc

Since its founding in 1869, Goldman Sachs has been a dominant force in the financial world. Built from the foundation of our renowned investment banking business, the firm has evolved its culture and expanded its offerings over time - but its commitment to client service and excellence endures.

The Goldman Sachs culture values teamwork, client service, and giving back to the communities we serve. It has been described as the foundation of the firm's success. Moreover, the people of Goldman Sachs have long valued their opportunity to give back through public service and volunteerism, humanitarian efforts, and programs that foster economic progress in communities around the world.

Goldman Sachs Community Development Grant

The Community Development Grants program aims to address critical funding gaps in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities across New York City, New Jersey, and Salt Lake City. The program provides financial support to high-impact organizations dedicated to advancing economic opportunity and community stability. 

The Change Makers Initiative

The Change Makers Initiative: Provides organizations with a one-time, general operating grant (e.g., for programmatic or staffing needs). Key themes in this cohort included:

• Access to Housing: Expediting access to affordable apartments for homeless New Yorkers with housing vouchers.
• Embracing AI: Leading AI adoption initiatives, ensuring LMI communities aren't left behind in the digital economy through literacy training and organizational transformation.
• Empowering Parents: Providing free, high-quality childcare, enabling parents to work towards financial autonomy and security.
• Building Financial Futures: Offering financial coaching and debt relief services that open doors to homeownership and economic stability.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc

Since its founding in 1869, Goldman Sachs has been a dominant force in the financial world. Built from the foundation of our renowned investment banking business, the firm has evolved its culture and expanded its offerings over time - but its commitment to client service and excellence endures.

The Goldman Sachs culture values teamwork, client service, and giving back to the communities we serve. It has been described as the foundation of the firm's success. Moreover, the people of Goldman Sachs have long valued their opportunity to give back through public service and volunteerism, humanitarian efforts, and programs that foster economic progress in communities around the world.

Goldman Sachs Community Development Grant

The Community Development Grants program aims to address critical funding gaps in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities across New York City, New Jersey, and Salt Lake City. The program provides financial support to high-impact organizations dedicated to advancing economic opportunity and community stability. 

The Equity Builders Initiative

The Equity Builders Initiative: This initiative provides multi-year, general operating funding over three years. It is designed to help organizations build capacity and sustainably deepen their impact. Awardees typically share a mission of creating upward mobility through quality affordable housing, small business development, neighborhood revitalization, and community services. Applications should align with one or more of the following pillars:

• Affordable housing for LMI communities, such as development/preservation of units, homeownership counseling, rental assistance, and eviction prevention
• Community services, such as workforce development, job training, financial health programs, and access to healthcare or early childhood education
• Meeting the needs of small businesses, such as technical assistance for businesses, access to capital, and business incubation
• Revitalizing or stabilizing LMI geographies, such as community improvements, community hubs, transit-oriented infrastructure, and disaster resilience 

Williams-Daniels Family Foundation

Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, The Williams-Daniels Family Foundation is an 501c3 non profit organization started by the late James P. Williams in 2015. The Williams-Daniels Family Foundation is dedicated to empowering individuals and strengthening communities through education, economic opportunity, and meaningful community engagement. Through charitable contributions, partnerships, and volunteer initiatives, the Foundation works to inspire growth, promote self-sufficiency, and cultivate a spirit of service and environmental responsibility. The Foundation fulfills its mission through the following core pillars:

• Education – Providing scholarships, mentorship, and educational support to aspiring students pursuing higher education.
• Economic Empowerment – Equipping individuals and families with resources for financial growth and career advancement through educational, employment encouragement, and financial literacy.
• Community Enrichment – Encouraging volunteerism, environmental awareness, and community involvement by providing programs, information, and outreach initiatives that strengthen and uplift the communities we serve.

Every year, The Williams-Daniels Family foundation honors people in the inner city community to recognize their dedication and hard work.  

J.P. Williams Empowerment Award

The J.P. Williams Empowerment Award honors an individual who has dedicated themselves to empowering others through education, mentorship, leadership, advocacy, or personal example. 

Recipients are catalysts for positive change, investing their time, knowledge, and resources to help others overcome barriers and achieve success. This award celebrates leaders whose influence extends beyond their own accomplishments by equipping others to thrive and lead with purpose.

T7 Social Impact GrantsThe T.D. Jakes Foundation (TDJF), in partnership with Wells Fargo, is proud to launch the Social Impact Grant Challenge, a transformative funding opportunity designed to identify, support, and amplify nonprofit organizations creating meaningful change in communities across the United States.

Designed around the T.D. Jakes Foundation's pillars of service (Educational Access & Workforce Readiness, financial inclusion, and community transformation and well-being), the Challenge seeks innovative nonprofit organizations that are addressing critical social issues through impactful, scalable, and sustainable solutions.

Finalists selected through this process will have the opportunity to showcase their organization through a live presentation at the inaugural Thriving Seven (T7) Summit, taking place November 12 –14 in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to competing for grant funding, finalists will gain national visibility for their work and connect with nonprofit leaders, funders, and changemakers from across the country.Grant Funding: A total of $1,500,000 in grant funding is anticipated to be awarded: 

• One (1) - $500,000 grant
• One (1) - $250,000 grant
• Two (2) - $100,000 grant
• Eleven (11) - $50,000 grant

Mission: A non-profit, charitable, Private Foundation established in 1959 by the Long family to support local charities, schools, education events and general community needs.

Grants

Our approach to grant requests focuses on fostering local neighborhood vitality and excellence. The John F. Long Foundation supports local non-profit organizations that promote this objective. The Foundation looks for groups who are working to help themselves, help their own communities, and help others like themselves through self-empowering, community organizing efforts. To be eligible for consideration, the grant request must meet the following criteria:

• Funds’ use must have measurable benefits
• Your organization must have good management, a solid financial background, well-established administration policies and Board of Directors
• The grant request must be precise and complete, providing necessary detail
• The Foundation Questionnaire is to be completed in its entirety
• The grant request amount and time frame must be clearly communicated, i.e. one-time grant, ongoing support, or special project
• If your request is for a particular event or program, providing a budget is always helpful
• Requests for grants of $1,000.00 or more, as well as groups we have not funded within the past two years, must: (i) Provide financial reports/statements for past and current fiscal year; (ii) Provide a list of past donors going back no more than two years.

About Rome Community FoundationThe concept of a Rome Community Foundation was developed to provide individuals and groups with a method for making charitable gifts or bequests of permanently endowed funds, giving the donor favorable tax treatment. Income generated from investment of the endowments is used at the discretion of the Foundation's Board of Directors for the benefit of the Rome area.

Mission

The mission of the Foundation is to assist in providing monetary resources for the present and future enrichment of the Rome area community.Rome Community Foundation GrantAs a general rule, the Foundation only funds capital project activities; however, it would consider start-up charitable initiatives that incur one-time costs. Grants can only be given for charitable projects and generally only to organizations certified as tax exempt under Internal Revenue regulations and have a tax-exempt certificate, or governmental organizations.Rome Community Foundation Board Members meet four times a year to review grant proposals for projects that benefit Rome area residents.

Columbia Bank Foundation

Since 1927, Columbia Bank has evolved alongside the communities and businesses we serve. What began as a single branch in Fair Lawn has grown into a regional bank serving New Jersey, Staten Island and Brooklyn. Throughout that growth, we have remained focused on providing the stability, convenience and service customers expect from a trusted financial partner. Today, we offer the strength and capabilities of a larger financial institution while continuing to provide the personal service and practical financial guidance that have long defined Columbia Bank.

Alongside Columbia Bank’s mission to serve the community, the Columbia Bank Foundation helps support local charitable causes and communities with grants on a sustained basis. Our goal is to make a difference in as many people’s lives as we can and to do our part to help make our communities better, stronger and safer.

Columbia Bank Foundation Micro Grants

The Columbia Bank Foundation is committed to serving the needs of its local communities. The Foundation actively seeks and focuses on innovative programs that provide a measurable impact in the communities that it serves.

Our Micro Grant Program allows organizations that meet one of our focus areas to apply for smaller grants under a streamlined application process. Applications under the Micro Grant Program will be accepted anytime throughout the year for $1,000 to $4,999. These are reviewed internally each month. Our Focus Areas:

• Housing Programs
• Community Investment and Economic Development Programs 
• Financial Literacy and Education 
• Health & Human Services
• Food Insecurity 
• Environmental Sustainability 
• The Arts

Delaney Family Foundation 

The Delaney Family Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support Wildlife and Land Conservation, Education, Healthcare and Community Betterment.

The Delaney Family Foundation was established in 2013. We make both program and operating grants and do not have geographical restrictions.  

Grant Information

Grants are awarded annually. The following criteria will be used in confirming that grant requests match the goals of The Delaney Family Foundation.

• Clarity of Purpose – the request should be clearly defined with a specific description of how goals/tasks will be achieved and how funds will be spent.
• Potential for Success – the organization must demonstrate that they have funding sources, manpower, and community support as well as the time to achieve their goals. Projects must be realistic.
• Leadership – stability in the organization is a requirement, as well as a well-deserved reputation for results.
• Site Visits – While not always possible, site visits by board members prior to gifting, during gifting or following may be considered.

 We may consider multi-year grants.

The National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L) program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to enhance library services across the nation. By supporting projects that promote adult reading, health and financial literacy, and effective use of new technologies, this initiative fosters community prosperity and builds partnerships among libraries, archives, and museums. The grants ensure that libraries can respond effectively to public needs and enhance their contributions to education and information access.

The Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aids Native Communities in enhancing library services. It empowers Tribal libraries to adapt to evolving information needs and serve as vital resource centers. By addressing the unique priorities of each community, this initiative fosters knowledge sharing and supports the overall wellness of Tribal members, ensuring they have access to essential information and resources.

The National Leadership Grants for Museums, offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, support innovative projects addressing critical needs in the museum sector. These grants aim to enhance museum services for the public by fostering the development and replication of effective practices, tools, and collaborations, particularly leveraging new technologies. Eligible projects can significantly advance the professional field, ensuring museums remain vital community resources.

Wind Creek Hospitality Community Support

Our communities are like family. That’s why Wind Creek is dedicated to giving back and helping others thrive in the places we call home (and beyond). We’re always looking for creative ways to lift up our neighborhoods and make life better for us all.

Sponsorships, Donations and Giveaways

Wind Creek Hospitality Community Relations actively builds partnerships with service organizations, non-profits, educational organizations and more. If you’d like to partner with us, please submit an application at least 90 days before your event or donation is needed.

About Boeing

A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

One of the largest employee-managed funds of its kind in the world, the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company has empowered employees to make a greater impact by pooling their tax-deductible donations for more than 60 years. Employee-led grantmaking committees at 20 Boeing sites provide combined employee donations to nonprofits in their communities through ECF grants.

Charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company.

Puget Sound Chapter

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Puget Sound is a pooled fund consisting of recurring payroll contributions from generous Boeing employees. It funds local nonprofits that help thousands of families and individuals in the Puget Sound region where Boeing employees live and work.

ECF focus areas

ECF makes grants to 501(c)(3) Health & Human Service nonprofits such as food banks, job-training programs, shelters, transitional housing, mental health services, and low-income medical clinics. ECF seeks the direct client benefit of each grant to ensure that our employees’ contributions directly help those in need.

ECF funding criteria

ECF has two distinct grant categories – Supporting Grants and Capital Campaign Grants.

ECF of Boeing Company: Puget Sound Chapter Supporting Grants

Consideration is given to nonprofits/agencies that are performing well and are seeking to upgrade, replace or modify elements of their infrastructure.

• Supporting grants cannot exceed $50,000. The requested amount cannot be more than 10% of an agency’s gross annual revenue.
• Supporting grants will be considered only for agencies benefiting residents in the Puget Sound Region.
• Supporting grants help agencies continue to effectively provide services through enhanced direct client benefit by aiding them in procuring and/or paying for items such as:
  • Equipment (ex. office, kitchen, industrial, furniture, etc.)
  • Vehicles used to support clients and/or transport food and/or goods (cost of vehicle and accommodations, tax, and licensing only; operating expenses, such as insurance, fuel, etc. is not allowed)
  • Phone systems
  • Cell phones for direct client use
  • Remodels and/or renovations (must hold at least a 10-year lease or own the building)
  • Purchase or construction of new buildings
  • Computers or tablets for direct client benefit and/or use
  • Software for direct client benefit and/or use (ex. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device)
  • Information Technology expenses, without which procured tools would not work
  • External improvements for client safety (i.e. security system, exterior lighting, improved ADA accessibility, new or refinished pavement or concrete)
• Supporting grants which are accepted must be spent as approved within nine (9) months.

About RWJF

At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we take bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. We take our responsibilities seriously, and pledge to work in ways that reflect our values.

Connecting Champions for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Health Professions

RWJF seeks to fund one lead organization or consortium to serve as a national network-weaver for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the health professions. The selected grantee will connect and support leaders, organizations, and institutions across the ecosystem, strengthening relationships, aligning strategy and communications, and facilitating shared learning and collective action. By building the connections and infrastructure needed for collaboration, the grantee will help advance belonging, accountability, and systems change across health professions education and healthcare institutions.

Achieving a healthcare system grounded in equity requires both a diverse health professions workforce and institutions committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). While diverse teams improve quality of care and health outcomes, RWJF has learned that increasing representation alone is insufficient without addressing structural and institutional barriers that shape belonging, leadership, advancement, and accountability. Structural racism and other forms of systemic inequity continue to limit opportunity across the health professions education and healthcare institutions.

Lasting change requires not only supporting diverse leaders, but also strengthening connections among educational institutions, healthcare organizations, professional associations, accrediting and credentialing bodies, students, advocates, community actors, and others within the health professions ecosystem, whose relationships, actions, practices, and mindsets shape health outcomes for the communities they serve. These relationships create the support, trust, shared learning, and coordinated action necessary to advance DEIB and build a more equitable healthcare system. 

The Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program aims to enhance the educational capabilities of HSIs through innovative teaching and community development initiatives. Funded projects will not only serve the Hispanic population but will benefit the entire student body, promoting inclusivity. This program encourages applications that integrate applied research with community outreach, fostering experiential learning opportunities for students. The initiative aspires to set benchmarks for educational excellence at regional and national levels.

Melton Foundation

The Melton Foundation is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the USA, and a leading proponent of Global Citizenship education and practice worldwide. Established nearly thirty years ago with the credence that collaborations across boundaries can forge sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, today, our programs reach millions of young leaders, having crystallized into a network of over 750 life-long Melton Fellows spread across 40+ countries. Our primary operations are in Chile, China, Germany, Ghana, India, and the United States of America, with legal subsidiaries in Bangalore, India; Jena, Germany; Temuco, Chile; and Accra, Ghana. 

Through our fellowship and collaborative programs we promote and enable global citizenship as a way for individuals and organizations to work together across boundaries of place and identity to solve challenges in an interconnected world.

Melton Foundation Action Grants

The Melton Foundation offers grants year-round to support Melton Fellows in developing skills, perspective and wider networks to further their capacity as global citizens and contribute towards building an equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world.

In almost 10 years of granting, more than 100 Fellows’ initiatives have been awarded with a Melton Foundation grant to

• Build awareness and/or further awareness raising around global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
• Develop individual and collective responsibility for sustained, collaborative action,
• Grow capacity to collaboratively drive and sustain social impact at the local and/or global level,
• Further the design, implementation and evaluation of collaborative actions that embody the spirit of global citizenship practice and further social impact, or
• Support coordinated social-impact efforts in a particular or across (emerging) Melton Foundation Hub regions to promote global citizenship practice (s) and the organization’s mission.

Department of Business and Economic Affairs

The Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) is the premier resource for businesses considering expansion in, or relocation to, New Hampshire, as well as people seeking a home in a place where they can balance their careers amid the natural beauty it offers.

Dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality of the state and promoting it as a destination for domestic and international visitors, BEA is comprised of the Division of Economic Development, Division of Planning & Community Development, and the Division of Travel and Tourism Development.

Within these divisions are programs that support BEA’s mission to keep the state’s economy strong and competitive, from international trade and government procurement to workforce development and municipal planning.

About NBRC

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a partnership between the federal government and the states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. The NBRC targets resources to promote economic growth strategies and projects in designated counties within its member states. 

Mission Statement: The mission of the Northern Border Regional Commission is to catalyze community vitality and economic prosperity in the northern border region with flexible funding and strategic support.

Forest Economy Grant Program

The Forest Economy Program, administered by the Northern Border Regional Commission, makes awards in the form of Grant Agreements. The program stimulates economic growth in the forest-based industries, including new technologies and viable business models, across the NBRC four-state region in alignment with state economic development plans and forest economy initiatives. 

NBRC's Forest Economy Program (FEP) is designed to support state-identified development plans for the regional forest economy and to assist in the industry’s evolution to include new technologies and viable business models.

Forest Economy Program Priorities  

Successful projects support a broad range of initiatives such as, but not limited to:

• Public infrastructure projects that directly support the forest industry;  
• Community development projects that support the diversified use of forest for economic activity;  
• Workforce training and development projects for the purpose of building the skills and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed for forest businesses, and;
• Marketing, communication and education projects that are paired with a public infrastructure, community development or workforce training or development project.  
• Basic research projects will not be considered. Preference will be given to applied research and demonstration projects that demonstrate a strong connection to industry.

The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants for Fiscal Year 2025 support revitalization efforts in severely distressed public housing and surrounding neighborhoods. This program encourages collaboration among local governments, housing agencies, and community partners to create comprehensive plans aimed at improving housing quality, promoting upward mobility for residents, and attracting long-term investment for neighborhood development. Successful applicants will implement their Transformation Plans, which were developed through prior Planning Grants to enhance the quality of life for residents.

Alliance for Social Trust: Trust in Practice Awards

Trust is the foundation of vibrant, resilient communities and healthy civic life. Across the country, local and national organizations are demonstrating the profound ways trust shapes our collective well-being—strengthening relationships between neighbors, cultivating confidence in institutions, and enabling people to work together to solve shared challenges. These efforts are often rooted in the knowledge and leadership of those closest to the work. 

The Trust in Practice Awards support non-profit organizations that are collaborating on new initiatives to build trust across local or virtual communities. Grantees will be part of a national network dedicated to fostering trust through the Alliance for Social Trust’s programs and storytelling platforms. Award recipients will also participate in the annual Trust in Practice Summit to celebrate the work of trust builders.

What We Do

We believe that Central New York has the human and social capital to build a vibrant community. Generational poverty and social inequality present a significant hindrance to realizing our full potential. We know from extensive research that there are strategies and investments that can make a difference. That’s why we have a local, place based approach to addressing systemic and structural inequity. We are authentic, strategic and collaborative, and we are embracing a future of prosperity and equity in our community. That’s why we focus our energy and resources on these key areas:

• Economic Development & Opportunity
  • In Cayuga and Onondaga Counties, the Allyn Family Foundation works to create, grow, and attract businesses that are community-owned, or that create good jobs for nearby residents.
  • We support residents in accessing economic opportunities and provide tools for personal and family financial stability.
• Vibrant Neigborhoods
  • The Allyn Family Foundation is committed to empowering neighborhood residents and community partners to transform their neighborhoods into safe, healthy, and vibrant places where families thrive.
  • We engage in this work to ensure that each person has access to decent, stable and affordable housing, as well as community-based cultural experiences that build community.
• Early Childhood Development
  • In Cayuga and Onondaga Counties, the Allyn Family Foundation is providing leadership and support for diverse community coalitions who are focused on designing community-wide approaches to improving early childhood systems and supports for vulnerable families.
• Women's Health
  • Along with many community partners, the Allyn Family Foundation is building a local movement to encourage and support young women and their partners to have complete information about all contraceptives and be able to choose the method that is right for them, without any cost or access barriers.
  • We are strongly committed to reproductive justice, woman-centered care, and changing social norms to empower young women.

Opportunity Fund

Organizations in Onondaga and Cayuga Counties that meet our stated mission of building a vibrant, equitable and prosperous community may submit a brief one-to-two-page summary of a proposed project or funding request.

About NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is a nationwide network of nearly 800 organizations and champions working for a Just Economy, where all Americans can build wealth and provide for their families with stability and dignity.

Our vision: To solve America’s historic racial and socio-economic wealth, income and opportunity divides. This vision is the foundation of the Just Economy Pledge.

Fellowship for Equitable Development

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition matches top-level graduate degree students with premiere community development organizations.

NCRC is looking for fellowship projects that move the needle on housing, small business development, and workforce development. Projects may directly result in community outcomes in these focus areas, or involve work with community members to create plans or project pipelines that will solve local issues in these areas.

The NCRC Fellowship cultivates the next generation of community development leaders and empowers them to tackle the issues of tomorrow. The community development sector will face significant challenges in the coming decades from climate change, widening wealth gaps, food insecurities, extreme housing shortages and other needs. These challenges will disproportionately impact low-wealth communities and communities of color. Therefore, it is NCRC’s intention and pledge to uphold the values of community empowerment in the fellowship program.

Interested students and host organizations must apply for this fellowship opportunity.

Program Benefits for Student Fellows Include:

• High-quality training and support from regional leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
• A $20,000 stipend for the eight-month, part-time (20-hours per week) fellowship
• The opportunity to meet with leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
• Academic credit, in accordance with the policies of the Fellows’ respective universities
• Complimentary admission to the NCRC annual Just Economy Conference

Program Benefits for Host Organizations Include:

• Fresh, innovative talent to help advance organizational mission
• The opportunity to help shape the next generation of community development leaders
• Participation in a fellowship program at little to no cost

The Process

1. NCRC Members Apply; 2. NCRC Selects Member Projects; 3. Students Apply To Selected Projects; 4. Top Student Candidates Interviewed; 5. NCRC & Member Select Student Fellow; 6. NCRC Onboards Member & Student 7. Fellowship Commences

Student Fellow Applications

Fellow applications will open for eligible students once host projects have been reviewed and finalists selected. Students will apply to be considered for a specific host project. Top student candidates will be interviewed by NCRC as well as the host organization.

Fellow Requirements

• Must provide documentation confirming active enrollment (i.e. Letter of Enrollment from Registrar or transcript)
• Must commit to fellowship for full Period of September 14, 2026-May 14, 2027 academic school year
• Must commit to a 20 hour/week fellowship
• Must commit to a schedule with at least one day per week in-office of host organization

About NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is a nationwide network of nearly 800 organizations and champions working for a Just Economy, where all Americans can build wealth and provide for their families with stability and dignity.

Our vision: To solve America’s historic racial and socio-economic wealth, income and opportunity divides. This vision is the foundation of the Just Economy Pledge.

Fellowship for Equitable Development

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition matches top-level graduate degree students with premiere community development organizations.

NCRC is looking for fellowship projects that move the needle on housing, small business development, and workforce development. Projects may directly result in community outcomes in these focus areas, or involve work with community members to create plans or project pipelines that will solve local issues in these areas.

The NCRC Fellowship cultivates the next generation of community development leaders and empowers them to tackle the issues of tomorrow. The community development sector will face significant challenges in the coming decades from climate change, widening wealth gaps, food insecurities, extreme housing shortages and other needs. These challenges will disproportionately impact low-wealth communities and communities of color. Therefore, it is NCRC’s intention and pledge to uphold the values of community empowerment in the fellowship program.

Interested students and host organizations must apply for this fellowship opportunity.

Program Benefits for Student Fellows Include:

• High-quality training and support from regional leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
• A $20,000 stipend for the eight-month, part-time (20-hours per week) fellowship
• The opportunity to meet with leaders in the nonprofit, government, planning and community development fields
• Academic credit, in accordance with the policies of the Fellows’ respective universities
• Complimentary admission to the NCRC annual Just Economy Conference

Program Benefits for Host Organizations Include:

• Fresh, innovative talent to help advance organizational mission
• The opportunity to help shape the next generation of community development leaders
• Participation in a fellowship program at little to no cost

The Process

1. NCRC Members Apply; 2. NCRC Selects Member Projects; 3. Students Apply To Selected Projects; 4. Top Student Candidates Interviewed; 5. NCRC & Member Select Student Fellow; 6. NCRC Onboards Member & Student 7. Fellowship Commences

Host Partnerships

Fellowship host partners must be NCRC members. If your organization would like to participate in the Fellowship but is not a member, you can join here and then apply.

Host Requirements

• A compelling project to provide a challenging assignment for fellows with real world application.
• Must commit to a schedule with at least one day per week in office for both fellow and host supervisor.

L’Oréal Paris Celebrates 20 Years of Women of Worth

For 20 years, L’Oréal Paris has honored women who uplift their communities through service. These non-profit leaders, our Women of Worth, each receive $25,000 to support their causes, mentorship from the L’Oréal Paris network and a national platform to share their stories.

The Justamere Foundation focuses on removing barriers to self-sufficiency by supporting innovative community programs. They prioritize four key areas: trade education, veterans resources, childhood literacy, and arts education. By providing grants and non-traditional scholarships, the foundation aims to empower individuals and create lasting change. Their mission is to connect underserved communities with essential resources, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Northern New York Community Foundation

Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

Community Fund Grant Program

This application serves several place-based Community Funds, including the Clifton-Fine Community Fund, George R. Davis Fund for Lowville, the Six Town Community Fund (Southern Jefferson County), and projects in Antwerp, Cape Vincent, the City of Watertown, Clayton, and Gouverneur.