[New York Community Trust](https://thenytrust.org)

Rolling (submit anytime; decisions at five annual board meetings)

Typically $50 million distributed annually across programs; individual award sizes vary by project and focus area.

Supports NYC projects that address systemic policy or service challenges with clear, measurable outcomes and strong organizational capacity.

--- ## Description The New York Community Trust’s Ongoing Competitive Grants Program funds projects in New York City that address public policy or systemic service delivery challenges. The Trust prioritizes proposals that present compelling cases for change, offer clear action plans with measurable outcomes, and demonstrate organizational readiness. Funding is available for a wide range of focus areas, with the goal of improving policies, systems, or services for New Yorkers. Proposals are reviewed throughout the year, and decisions are made at five board meetings annually. --- ## Due Dates - Proposals may be submitted at any time (rolling submission). - Decisions are made at five annual board meetings: February, April, June, October, and December. - For planning purposes, applications received by: - Second Tuesday in February: Decision by end of October - Second Tuesday in May: Decision by end of December - Second Tuesday in September: Decision by end of March (following year) - Note: These are not strict deadlines; proposals are accepted year-round, but the review process is lengthy. --- ## Funding Amount - The Trust distributes approximately $50 million per year through its competitive grants program. - Individual grant amounts vary by project scope and focus area. - Multi-year grants are possible but rarely exceed three years. - Overhead for universities, hospitals, and academic medical centers is capped at 5% of the total project budget; other administrative costs must be itemized separately. --- ## Eligibility - Open to public charities or groups sponsored by one. - Projects must serve New York City (separate processes exist for Long Island, Westchester, and national/international environmental grants). - Board of directors must have at least four (preferably five) unrelated members; no more than one paid board member. - The Trust does not fund: - Individuals - General operating support/routine operational expenses - Capital/building campaigns, endowments, or equipment - Religious purposes --- ## Application Process - Review the [What We Fund & Eligibility](https://www.thenytrust.org/nonprofits/what-we-fund-apply-for-grant/) page to confirm fit. - Prepare and submit a single PDF (<25MB) including: - Cover letter on organization letterhead, signed by the staff head or designee - Narrative proposal (max 5 pages) addressing: - Organization background - Statement of the problem and proposed solution - Project goals, activities, expected outcomes, and measurement plan - For renewals: progress made and sustainability plan - Itemized project budget (full project costs, other funding/in-kind support) - Current annual operating budget (and prior year financials for arts/culture groups) - Board of directors list (with affiliations) - Submit via the [Grantseeker Portal](https://proposals.nycommunitytrust.org/). - For universities, hospitals, or academic medical centers: administrative overhead capped at 5%. --- ## Additional Information - The Trust favors projects that: - Advance systemic or sector-wide change - Demonstrate clear and realistic activities and outcomes - Include community input, especially for underserved populations - Show stable governance and financial health - Multi-year and renewal grants are possible but not guaranteed. - The Trust does not provide general operating support or fund ongoing/maintenance projects. --- ## External Links - [New York Community Trust Home](https://thenytrust.org) - [What We Fund & Eligibility](https://www.thenytrust.org/nonprofits/what-we-fund-apply-for-grant/) - [Apply via Grantseeker Portal](https://proposals.nycommunitytrust.org/) - [FAQ for Nonprofits](https://thenytrust.org/nonprofits/nonprofit-faqs/) - [Funding Areas in NYC](https://thenytrust.org/nonprofits/#tab-4-what-does-the-trust-fund-0) - [Sample Application Checklist & Guidelines (PDF)](https://grantseeker.thenytrust.org/Rfp/DownloadRfp/?id=97) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role/Region | Email | Phone | |-----------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------------| | General Inquiries | - | [info@thenytrust.org](mailto:info@thenytrust.org) | (212) 686-0010 | | Sheila R. Dinkins | Senior Manager, Grants & Scholarships | [sdinkins@thenytrust.org](mailto:sdinkins@thenytrust.org) | (212) 686-0010 x554 | | Liza Lagunoff | Program Staff (application questions) | [llagunoff@thenytrust.org](mailto:llagunoff@thenytrust.org) | - | For more contacts (e.g., Long Island, Westchester program staff), see the [Trust's Contact Page](https://thenytrust.org/contact/).

Proposals for The New York Community Trust—New York City’s Ongoing Competitive Grants Program

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