Best Large Grants for Nonprofit Organizations in New York

The National Cooperative Drug/Device Discovery/Development Groups (NCDDG) program invites applications to foster innovative research in treating mental disorders and substance use issues. This initiative promotes collaboration between academia and industry, supporting diverse, multidisciplinary projects aimed at developing rational therapies and neurostimulation techniques. Applicants are encouraged to submit Letters of Intent 30 days before the proposal deadline to enhance project alignment with funding goals.

The Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, established in 1985, supports various charitable initiatives focusing on arts, culture, humanities, and education. It primarily benefits organizations in Memphis, Miami, and New York City. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) exempt organizations and seek project sponsorships. The foundation does not fund general operating costs or capital campaigns, and requests over $50,000 are generally discouraged. Proposals must be for projects commencing at least a year after submission.

The NE-AIPG Angelo Tagliacozzo Memorial Geological Scholarship (ATMGS) supports junior and senior undergraduate geology students in the NE Section, honoring Angelo Tagliacozzo's legacy. Established in 1986, the scholarship aims to encourage young geologists to pursue careers in geological sciences. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in accredited programs, on track for required credit hours, and can only receive the scholarship once. This initiative fosters early engagement with AIPG, emphasizing professional affiliation and support for the next generation of geologists.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal

HCR develops, preserves and protects affordable housing and invests in economically vibrant communities. We work with many private, public and nonprofit partners to create safe, healthy and affordable housing opportunities for all New Yorkers.

HCR is charged with carrying out Governor Hochul’s new $25 billion, five-year, comprehensive housing plan to increase housing supply by creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

Community Development Block Grant

The NYS Community Development Block Grant or CDBG Program is a unique source of federal funding for Cities, Town, Villages, and Counties to assist low- and moderate-income communities, households, and people.

CDBG funding assistance can include everything from drinking water and sanitary sewer projects to grants for home repair, senior and community center improvements to grants to small business for start-up and expansion.

The NYS CDBG program provides financial assistance to eligible cities, towns, and villages with populations under 50,000 and counties with an area population under 200,000, in order to develop viable communities by providing decent, affordable housing, and suitable living environments, as well as expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. 

Expert technical assistance is always available to help your community apply for and administer CDBG funds, and to help direct assistance to where it is needed most.

Eligible Activities

CDBG funding may be used for eligible activities as outlined below. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of eligible activities and applicants are encouraged to develop projects in response to local need that may not fit neatly in any one category. In these cases, applicants are encouraged to contact OCR for additional guidance prior to applying.

Funding is available for the following activities: 1) Public Facility; 2) Community Planning; 3) Economic Development - Stand-Alone Business Assistance; 4) Economic Development - Microenterprise Assistance; and 5) Imminent Threat.

Community Planning

CDBG Community Planning grants enable communities to conduct assessments and develop clearly articulated strategies for addressing local community development issues. The study, analysis and planning of any community planning activity should identify eligible projects for subsequent CBDG funding. There are two categories of planning grants:

• Community Needs Assessments
• Project Readiness Plans

About the New York State Education Department

The New York State Education Department is part of the University of the State of New York (USNY), one of the most complete, interconnected systems of educational services in the United States.

Our mission is to raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity of all the people in New York. Our vision is to provide leadership for a system that yields the best educated people in the world.

Conservation/Preservation Discretionary Grants

Purpose of Grant

To encourage the proper care and accessibility of research materials in the State, to promote the use and development of guidelines and standards for conservation/preservation work, and to support the growth of local and cooperative preservation programs. To provide modest financial support for projects that contribute to the preservation of significant research materials in libraries, archives, historical societies, and other agencies within the State of New York, whether by improving collection storage environments, reformatting or treating collections or other preservation activities described in these guidelines.

Description of Program

The New York State Discretionary Grant Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials was authorized under Education Law, Section 273.6(c) in 1984, expanded in 1986 and revised in Part O, Chapter 57, of the Laws of 2005. Its purpose is to encourage the proper care and accessibility of research materials in the State, to promote the use and development of guidelines and standards for conservation/preservation work, and to support the growth of local and cooperative preservation programs.

The Discretionary Grant Program provides modest financial support for projects that contribute to the preservation of significant research materials in libraries, archives, historical societies and other agencies within the State of New York, whether by improving collection storage environments, reformatting or treating collections or other preservation activities described in these guidelines.

The UNICO Foundation offers the Louise Torraco Memorial Scholarship for Science, providing two scholarships worth $2,500 each to U.S. citizens pursuing degrees in physical or life sciences. Eligible candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be enrolled full-time in accredited programs. This initiative reflects UNICO's commitment to supporting educational pursuits in scientific fields while fostering Italian American heritage and community service.

The HDR Foundation Grant Cycle supports community organizations aligned with HDR's values, focusing on education, healthy communities, and environmental stewardship. This employee-funded initiative emphasizes the importance of employee engagement in grant proposals, requiring a clear scope of work and completion within a year. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofits, educational institutions, and tribal governments, while grants are not provided for faith-based organizations or individual support.

The David M. Dolan Scholarship, offered by the International Association for Great Lakes Research, supports master's and Ph.D. students engaged in applied environmental statistics and modeling related to the Great Lakes. The scholarship provides a $3,000 award, complimentary conference registration, and IAGLR membership. Recipients must present their research at the annual IAGLR conference. Eligibility is limited to those whose research aligns with Dr. Dolan's work, and previous awardees are not eligible.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation offers CRCF General Grants aimed at enhancing community welfare through flexible funding for emerging needs and one-time costs. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations serving Southern Chautauqua County, with a focus on mission alignment and broad impact. This bi-monthly grant process facilitates support for program enhancements, capital improvements, and technology upgrades, ensuring that community needs are met effectively.

The Guglielmo Marconi Engineering Scholarship, offered by UNICO Foundation, provides $1,250 to students of Italian descent pursuing engineering degrees in various disciplines. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time in accredited programs, and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. This scholarship not only supports academic achievement but also promotes the heritage and contributions of the Italian American community, continuing UNICO's legacy of service and support.

The Bonnycastle Fellowship for Wetland and Waterfowl Research supports graduate students in advancing conservation efforts. Offered by Ducks Unlimited, this fellowship provides up to $17,000 annually for research and personal support. The fellowship emphasizes the importance of research originality, ecological contributions, and feasibility. It is open to all North American graduate students, with a preference for doctoral candidates. The award is renewable for PhD students up to two years, and once for Master's students, contingent on satisfactory progress.

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley 

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals through the establishment of charitable funds that support the needs of Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster counties. With over $100 million in assets, CFHV manages nearly 600 charitable funds and has distributed more than $777 million in grants and scholarships since January 2000. We lead initiatives to address urgent community needs such as food insecurity and educational challenges, offering both immediate relief and long-term support.

Thomas W. Haggerty Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship/donor advised fund established by Mrs. Ellen Haggerty in memory of her husband, Thomas, who was a social worker in Wappingers Central School District, income from this fund is used to provide scholarships to graduating seniors of John Jay High School and/or Roy C. Ketcham High School who have struggled to overcome personal, financial, family, or educational difficulties.

Type of Award

One-time scholarship payable to school.

Current High School

John Jay High School or Roy C. Ketcham High School

The Historic Preservation Grant Program, part of the Environmental Protection Fund, supports projects enhancing parks and historic sites in New York. This matching grant program aims to acquire, develop, and improve properties listed on state or national registers, ensuring long-term public benefits through preservation covenants and conservation easements. Applicants, including municipalities and nonprofits, are evaluated on criteria such as project significance, public awareness, and the ability to complete the project effectively, fostering stewardship of historic resources.

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley 

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals through the establishment of charitable funds that support the needs of Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster counties. With over $100 million in assets, CFHV manages nearly 600 charitable funds and has distributed more than $777 million in grants and scholarships since January 2000. We lead initiatives to address urgent community needs such as food insecurity and educational challenges, offering both immediate relief and long-term support.

Through Dylan’s Eyes (The Dylan Feller Memorial Scholarship)

The scholarship was established in 2018 by the Feller family to honor the memory of Dylan Feller who was an Eagle Scout with a passion for photography. The scholarship is available for graduating students interested in photography and graphic communications attending any Dutchess County High School or DC BOCES/CTI.

Type of Award

One-time scholarship payable to school.

Current High School

Any Dutchess County high school or DC BOCES/CTI

The Liu Shiming Art Foundation provides the Liu Shiming Artist Grants to support artists globally. Eligible applicants must have a degree in studio arts or have held a debut exhibition between 2015 and 2023. The foundation aims to promote understanding of Asian art and culture. Grants of $5,000 total will be awarded in two installments, with notification to successful applicants by December 2, 2025, and the first payment due by January 15, 2026.

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley 

Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals through the establishment of charitable funds that support the needs of Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster counties. With over $100 million in assets, CFHV manages nearly 600 charitable funds and has distributed more than $777 million in grants and scholarships since January 2000. We lead initiatives to address urgent community needs such as food insecurity and educational challenges, offering both immediate relief and long-term support.

Jay Lamando Scholarship

Established by family and friends to honor his personal challenges against diabetes this scholarship recognizes the impact of others can have on an individual life celebrating character, discipline, family and teamwork. The scholarship will be awarded to graduating seniors from John Jay and Roy C. Ketcham High Schools who play on an athletic team or are active in after school club(s)/activities and plan to attend an accredited college full time.

Type of Award

One-time scholarship payable to school.

Current High School

John Jay High School, Roy C. Ketcham High School

Pincus Family Foundation

PFF is driven by the values that our founders David and Gerry Pincus lived by: “to get involved, not just think about your own life, you are supposed to do things for other people.” Today, the second and third generation of Pincus Family members have added their ethos, while keeping the founders’ legacy alive.

Pincus Family Foundation Grant

Mission Alignment: We support our non-profit partners to develop and enhance programs that improve the lives of children, their families, and their communities.

PFF Funds Projects, Programs, & General Operating Support in Four Priority Areas

Creative & Performing Arts

The Pincus Family Foundation’s Creative and Performing Arts portfolio supports programs where young people use art as a tool to address the structural inequities they face. Five strategic priorities:

• Arts for Social Change Focus – Integrating artistic practice with community organizing, policy advocacy, and/or systemic change efforts
• Hyperlocal Community Integration – Deep community embedment with extensive local partnerships
• Teaching Artist Investment – Commitment to the professional development and well-being of teaching artists
• Cultural Responsiveness – Programming that incorporates community cultural wealth with community input
• Environmental Justice Integration – Authentic integration of environmental themes from community-identified priorities

Target Constituency: Organizations serving preK-12 youth from marginalized communities with arts for social change programming that connects them to the power of art to question and transform systems.

Education

High school readiness for many low-income students, largely is a result of poor preparation in middle school. PFF is funding programs/projects that support middle school engagement and focus on achievement filling a funding gap. 

Target Constituency: We support non-profit organizations serving middle school students who face gaps in comprehensive high school readiness. These organizations implement innovative programming that creates challenging yet nurturing environments—preparing students for achievement while inspiring them to become engaged, confident citizens ready to contribute to their communities.

Health & Wellness

Goal: Advance children’s health and well-being by supporting nonprofits that strengthen social conditions, empower youth, and build healthier environments in marginalized communities.

Target Constituency: Nonprofits whose work strengthens social determinants of health for children in marginalized communities.

Play & Recreation

Goal: Advance children’s social-emotional development and physical well-being by supporting nonprofits that create inclusive play-based programming, competitive sports opportunities, and outdoor recreational experiences in under-resourced communities.

Target Constituency: Non-profits whose work promotes access to quality recreational programming for children ages 6-18 in under-resourced communities.

For all grants, the organization’s mission and scope must align with the Foundation’s mission. For the latter, these grants can be either unrestricted or restricted to a particular program or project. The type of grant and what it is used for will dictate the goals and objectives to be met.

The Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants in New York provide essential funding to qualified organizations for local self-help housing projects. These grants enable very-low- and low-income families to construct their own homes with guidance and technical assistance. Eligible applicants include government and private non-profit organizations as well as federally recognized tribes. The program fosters community collaboration and provides families with the skills needed to manage their housing construction efforts effectively.

The Patterson Foundation offers Oral Health Grants to support programs that enhance access to dental care for underserved communities. Eligible 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations can apply for funding up to $35,000 for capacity expansion, $10,000 for personnel support, or $10,000 for program support. The foundation prioritizes projects led by volunteer dental professionals and requires follow-up reports for continued funding. Applications are accepted year-round through a two-step process.

The Occupational Safety and Health Training and Education (OSH T&E) Grant, offered by the New York State Department of Labor, provides approximately $5.9 million in funding for safety training programs across New York State. This initiative aims to enhance workplace safety by offering training on toxic substances and the prevention of occupational diseases and injuries. Projects funded under this program will occur between August 1, 2026, and July 31, 2027, promoting safer work environments.

The NRP Young Investigator Award is designed to support research on optimizing newborn care during delivery using Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) techniques. This grant encourages innovative projects addressing gaps in transitional physiology and resuscitation practices. Eligible applicants include researchers from Canadian and US institutions, particularly those in training or within four years of completing medical training. Awardees may receive up to $15,000 to enhance their skills and knowledge, ultimately improving neonatal outcomes.

Enterprise Community Partners

Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. Home is where life happens, where plans are made, and futures begin. It is the foundation for dignity, health, education, wealth, and community. Yet rents keep going up, paychecks don’t keep pace, and good homes in strong neighborhoods are increasingly out of reach.

The system doesn’t work. It must be changed, and it must be changed by us.

Enterprise has the breadth, scale, and expertise to do it. We support community development organizations on the ground. We aggregate and invest billions to improve housing and strengthen communities across the U.S. We advance housing policy at every level of government. We build and manage communities ourselves. Everything we do is informed by the residents we serve.

Together with our partners, we focus on the greatest need — the massive shortage of affordable rental homes — to achieve three goals:

• Increase the supply of affordable homes
• Advance racial equity after decades of systematic racism in housing
• Support residents and strengthen communities to be resilient to the unpredictable, and make upward mobility possible

Since 1982, we have invested $92.0 billion and created 1.1 million homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We do all this to make home and community places of pride, power, and belonging.

Legal Counsel in Administration of Blue Buffers Program

Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. ("Enterprise") was selected as a subrecipient of New York State Housing and Community Renewal to administer the Blue Buffers Program pursuant to a subaward. To fulfill its obligations, Enterprise formed a special purpose entity, Enterprise Assisted Properties, LLC (“EAP”).

Enterprise Assisted Properties ("EAP") has initiated a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) process to identify a legal representation panel which will be able to represent EAP in carrying out the New York State Blue Buffers Voluntary Risk Property Buyout Program.

Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Inc supports independent medical education to enhance healthcare professional competence and improve patient health outcomes. Their mission is to be a global leader in innovative medical education, focusing on evidence-based activities that address critical gaps in knowledge. By fostering excellence in healthcare, they aim to ensure measurable improvements in performance and patient outcomes across various disease areas.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is offering funding through the Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund to eligible not-for-profit shelters and humane societies. This grant supports capital projects that enhance the health and care of sheltered dogs and cats, such as construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities. Organizations can apply for funding for specific components of larger projects, ensuring better containment and welfare of animals.

The Mid Atlantic Tours Grants program supports presenters in the mid-Atlantic region who engage Roster Artists during their project periods. Eligible presenters can receive up to a 50% subsidy for artist compensation, which includes fees, housing, and travel. The application process is straightforward and non-competitive, but early engagement with the artist's tour manager is advised due to limited funding. This initiative fosters a diverse range of performances and community engagement.

The Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grant, offered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, supports projects that enhance traditional arts and cultures in the mid-Atlantic region. Non-profit organizations can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, with a required 1:1 match. Eligible activities include performances, workshops, and public art collaborations, particularly those engaging underrepresented communities. This initiative fosters artistic expression and cultural connection across diverse communities.

The Toy Foundation Program offers a unique opportunity for nonprofit organizations to apply for toy donations to support children in need. The application period runs from January to June, with approved applicants receiving toys by the end of the year. This initiative, part of the Toy Chest program, has positively impacted over 35 million children since 2003, promoting play as essential for emotional and educational development.