The New York Community Trust

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $203.9 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Up to 6 months
Grant Range: $5,000 - $200,000
Typical Grant Size: $15,000 - $25,000 (competitive program)
Geographic Focus: New York City (five boroughs), Long Island, Westchester County, National & International (environment only)

Contact Details

Main Office:
909 3rd Ave Fl 22, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 686-0010
Email: grants@thenytrust.org
Website: https://thenytrust.org

Grantseeker Portal: proposals.nycommunitytrust.org

Grant Inquiries:
For questions: llagunoff@thenytrust.org
The Trust hosts regular informational sessions for prospective applicants covering specific funding areas.

Overview

The New York Community Trust was established in 1924 as one of the nation's first community foundations and serves as New York's community foundation. With approximately $3.5 billion in assets (2024), the Trust administers over 2,200 charitable funds and has awarded more than $5.8 billion to nonprofits since its founding. In 2024, the Trust made $203.9 million in grants to 10,546 organizations.

The Trust distributes approximately $50 million annually through its competitive grants program, made possible primarily by funds set up through donor bequests and wills. Led by President Amy Freitag (appointed 2022, the fourth president in the organization's history), the Trust focuses on supporting projects that create systemic or sector-wide improvements rather than funding ongoing operations or individual institutions. As Freitag stated, "It is only through the power of collaboration and community that we can act at the scale demanded by the awesome challenges ahead." The Trust emphasizes "helping New York tackle its hardest problems," from pandemic recovery to housing and migration crises.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

New York City Competitive Grants (Rolling Applications)
Grant Range: Generally $5,000 - $200,000
Application Method: Online portal year-round

Long Island Competitive Grants (Cycle Deadlines)
Grant Range: Generally $15,000 - $25,000
Application Windows: First Tuesday in January (decisions by early April), first Tuesday in April (decisions by early August), first Tuesday in August (decisions by early December)
Recent grants: Over $3.1 million awarded in year-end grants; Long Island office awarded more than $523,000 to support 19 local nonprofits

Westchester Competitive Grants (Specified Timeframes)
Grant Range: Varies by program
Recent grants: Westchester office awarded $702,000 in grants

National & International Environment Program
Application Method: Letter of Interest (LOI) during three-week windows each fall (late September) and winter (late February)

Priority Areas

New York City - 16 Impact Areas:

Animal Welfare
Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation
Biomedical Research
Civic Affairs
Community Development
Education
Environment
Gender Equity
Health and Behavioral Health
Human Justice
Human Services
Jobs and Workforce Development
Older Adults and People with Disabilities
Technical Assistance
Youth Development

Focus on Systemic Change: The Trust prioritizes policy/systems change, organizational capacity building, and expanded/improved direct services that demonstrate "systemic or sector-wide improvement."

2024-2025 Grant Examples:

Older Adults: Six grants totaling more than $600,000 for dementia caregiver support, end-of-life doulas, and nursing home accountability
Mental Health: $100,000 to Community Access to open the city's first peer-led crisis respite center
Child Welfare: Grants totaling $700,000 for child welfare reform, family legal services, and keeping low-income families together
Food Access: Multiple grants supporting food pantries, food rescue programs, and healthy food distribution
Immigration: $300,000 for collaborative fund to keep low-income families together; grants of $200,000 for legal services and advocacy

Other Recent Funded Organizations (2024):

Generation Citizen: $210,000
Girl Scouts of the United States of America: $236,650
Ohel Children's Home and Family Services: $150,500
OnPoint NYC: $235,000
Save the Sound: $251,550

What They Don't Fund

Explicitly Excluded:

Capital and building campaigns
Endowments
Equipment
Individuals
Religious purposes
General operating support/routine operational expenses
Deficit financing
Conferences, events, exhibitions, performances
Individual public or private schools, or charter schools
Programs involving limited numbers of students or schools
Ongoing projects (focus on new initiatives and expansion)

Long Island Additional Exclusions:

Camps
Pre-school programs
Sponsorships
Summer programs
Religious activities

Governance and Leadership

President:
Amy Freitag (appointed 2022) - Previously served as Executive Director of the J.M. Kaplan Fund and Executive Director of New York Restoration Project. Holds A.B. from Smith College and Master's degrees in landscape architecture and historic preservation from University of Pennsylvania.

Board Chair:
Jamie Drake - Nationally recognized interior designer and public advocate, twelfth person to serve as board chair in the Trust's history

Recent Board Appointments (2024):

Mariana Campero - Senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, co-hosts CSIS Mexico Matters podcasts
Michael A. Marquez - President of Bessemer Trust (as of April 2025), formerly Bessemer's chief client officer and chief operating officer

Governance Structure:
The Trust has a unique governance structure where six of the twelve Distribution Committee members are nominated by civic authorities broadly representative of the public, including the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the President of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. The Trust has both a Distribution Committee (overseeing grantmaking policy) and an Investment Committee.

Key Quote from Leadership:
Amy Freitag: "I am deeply honored to serve as President of The New York Community Trust at a critical moment in our city's history... Here, I wake up every morning eager to help this legendary institution—and our community—grow and thrive."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Quiz:
Before applying, nonprofits must confirm eligibility through The Trust's online quiz.

Application Portal:
Submit proposals through the Grantseeker Portal at proposals.nycommunitytrust.org

Application Components:

Cover letter signed by paid staff head on organizational letterhead
Narrative proposal (maximum 5 pages) addressing:
- Agency background and credentials
- Problem statement
- Project goals, activities, and expected outcomes
- Progress on previous Trust funding (if applicable)
- Sustainability plan
Itemized project budget reflecting full costs (rounded to nearest thousand)
Current annual operating budget and completed fiscal year financials
Board roster (minimum 4 members, preferably 5; no more than one paid board member)

Important Application Notes:

The narrative should "make a compelling case for needed changes, how proposed activities will lead to desired change, and why your agency is prepared to carry out the project"
Universities, hospitals, and academic medical centers may allocate overhead not exceeding 5% of total project budget for grant administration
Organizations with budgets under $4 million: up to 25% grant flexibility permitted
No administrative caps for general organizations, but percentages assessed for appropriateness

Decision Timeline

NYC Competitive Program: Applicants are notified via email within a six-month timeframe

Long Island Program:

Applications received by first Tuesday in January: decisions by early April
Applications received by first Tuesday in April: decisions by early August
Applications received by first Tuesday in August: decisions by early December

Board Meetings: The Trust holds five board meetings each year in February, April, June, October, and December to review proposals and make grant recommendations. Program staff weigh many considerations and cannot promise that any proposal will be considered at a particular board meeting.

Process: Proposals are assigned to a program officer, and organizations receive an email notification that the proposal is under review. Trust staff meet weekly to review all new proposals.

Success Rates

The Trust does not publicly disclose application success rates or total number of applications received. However, in 2024, the Trust made grants to 10,546 organizations, suggesting a broad reach across the region.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust's FAQ page addresses the question "Can we apply again if our organization has been turned down before?" indicating that reapplication is possible. The Trust accepts proposals year-round for the NYC competitive program, and unsuccessful applicants are not barred from reapplying. The Trust also "renews grants" based on progress and contextual changes, suggesting openness to continued relationships with organizations.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Proposals Competitive:

Demonstrates Systemic Impact: The Trust explicitly states successful proposals demonstrate "systemic or sector-wide improvement" with clear, realistic activities and outcomes. They fund projects that address system-wide improvements rather than individual institutions or limited-scope programs.
Strong Organizational Qualification: Applications must show organizational qualification and field expertise. The Trust looks for stable governance and finances, demonstrated through board structure (minimum 4 members with preferably 5, no more than one paid) and financial statements.
Community Input: If targeting underserved populations, applications should demonstrate "input or representation from that community."
Project Focus, Not Ongoing Work: The Trust makes project-focused grants and rarely supports projects for more than three years. They fund new initiatives and expansion, not ongoing projects. This distinction is critical—frame proposals as time-limited projects with specific outcomes rather than continuation of existing programs.
Realistic and Clear: The Trust values proposals with "clear, realistic activities and outcomes." Avoid overpromising or vague goals.
Budget Appropriateness: While there are no strict administrative caps (except 5% for universities/fiscal sponsors), all budget percentages are assessed for appropriateness. Organizations under $4 million budgets have up to 25% grant flexibility.

Recent Funding Patterns Show:

Strong interest in projects supporting vulnerable populations: older adults, low-income families, immigrants, youth with developmental disabilities
Funding for collaborative efforts and funder collaboratives
Support for advocacy and policy change alongside direct services
Interest in innovative approaches (e.g., first peer-led crisis respite center)

Language and Terminology: The Trust frequently uses terms like "systemic change," "sector-wide improvement," "organizational capacity building," and "policy/systems change." Frame proposals using this language.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Frame as projects, not programs: The Trust explicitly does not fund ongoing operations. Position your work as a time-limited project (up to 3 years) with specific outcomes, even if building on existing work.
Think systems, not individuals: Demonstrate how your project will create broader systemic or sector-wide improvements rather than helping limited numbers of people or institutions. Individual schools, small-scale programs, and limited-scope work are explicitly excluded.
Geographic alignment is critical: Ensure your project serves NYC's five boroughs, Long Island, or Westchester (or national/international environment work). The Trust serves these specific regions.
Plan for a 6-month wait: With decision timelines up to six months and five board meetings per year, build this timeframe into your funding strategy.
Governance matters: The Trust examines board structure carefully. Ensure you have at least 4 board members (preferably 5) with no more than one paid board member before applying.
Build relationships through informational sessions: The Trust hosts regular informational sessions for prospective applicants. Attending these can help you understand current priorities and application expectations.
Budget realistically: With typical grants ranging $15,000-$25,000 for the competitive program (up to $200,000 possible), ensure your budget request aligns with typical award sizes and your organizational budget scale. Organizations under $4 million have more budget flexibility.

References

Date accessed: December 17, 2025