New York Women's Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8.5 million+ (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: New York City (5 boroughs), with some state and national reach

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.nywf.org
• Phone: 212-514-6993
• Email: hello@nywf.org
• Address: 39 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10006
• Grant Application: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=YWE5lJguFkG1lBZ3ggY1y222_QK7yxJKlqwXqGYi8_FUQ044MUVPRkZHSTEzN0VPVTUzNEQ2SEk5Ui4u

Overview

The New York Women's Foundation (NYWF), established 39 years ago, is one of the nation's leading foundations focused on gender justice and women's empowerment. With over $133 million raised and granted throughout its history, NYWF awarded more than $8.5 million to 125 community partners in 2024 alone, impacting over 500,000 people. The foundation pioneers trust-based, participatory grantmaking, emphasizing community-led solutions and focusing on organizations led by women (cis and trans), non-binary, and gender-expansive people. NYWF operates primarily in New York City's five boroughs while supporting state and national-level work that impacts NYC communities.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three core areas:

1. Economic and Environmental Justice - Supporting initiatives for pay equity, housing, childcare, workforce development, and green economy
2. Safety, Health & Bodily Autonomy - Funding organizations that ensure safety and health access
3. Civic Engagement, Democracy & Leadership - Supporting leadership development and civic participation

Grant Characteristics

• Multi-year unrestricted grants
• Over 95% of grants support low- to moderate-income communities facing gender, economic, and racial challenges
• Trust-based approach with streamlined applications and reporting
• Program-related investments (PRIs) for larger, ambitious projects
• Focus on organizations led by women and gender-expansive people

What They Fund

• Community-based organizations
• Social entrepreneurs and changemakers
• Organizations serving low- to moderate-income communities
• Groups addressing intersectional challenges of gender, race, and economic justice

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

• Co-Chairs: Mary Baglivo and Danielle Moss Cox
• Vice Chair: Lola C. West
• Treasurer: Donna Wilson
• Secretary: Narae Yun
• Honorary Chair: Abigail E. Disney
• Chair Emerita: Helen LaKelly Hunt

Senior Executives:

• President & CEO: Ana L. Oliveira (recognized on 2024 Latino Power List for "shaping New York's future")
• Senior Vice President, Programs & Strategic Learning: Camille Emeagwali
• Senior Vice President of Development: Nicole Souza-Siudzinski
• Senior Vice President, Stewardship and Legacy Giving: Madeline Lamour Holder

The leadership emphasizes "radical generosity" and believes that "when both individuals thrive and communities have ownership over collective resources, neighborhoods flourish and help build for future generations against the backdrop of a warming planet."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

NYWF maintains an online application portal accessible at: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=YWE5lJguFkG1lBZ3ggY1y222_QK7yxJKlqwXqGYi8_FUQ044MUVPRkZHSTEzN0VPVTUzNEQ2SEk5Ui4u

The foundation uses:

• Streamlined applications to reduce administrative burden
• Trust-based approach with simplified reporting requirements
• Commitment to transparency and mutual learning
• Participatory grantmaking that gives decision-making power to people directly impacted by funding

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Organizations interested in learning more about the application process should contact the foundation directly.

Success Rates

The foundation funded 125 community partners in 2024 from its total application pool, but specific success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Based on NYWF's stated approach and priorities:

• Community Leadership: Priority given to organizations led by women, trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive people
• Intersectional Approach: Projects addressing the intersection of gender, racial, and economic justice
• Community-Based Solutions: Grassroots organizations with deep community connections
• Impact on Low-Income Communities: Over 95% of grants support low- to moderate-income communities
• NYC Focus: Primary emphasis on organizations serving New York City's five boroughs
• Trust-Based Approach: Organizations comfortable with participatory decision-making and collaborative partnerships

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• NYWF pioneered trust-based philanthropy and values streamlined, non-burdensome applications
• The foundation strongly prioritizes organizations led by and serving women, trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive people
• Multi-year unrestricted funding is available, providing flexibility for organizational needs
• Focus applications on intersectional approaches addressing gender, racial, and economic justice simultaneously
• Demonstrate deep community connections and participatory approaches to problem-solving
• While primarily NYC-focused, state and national work is considered if it impacts NYC communities
• Consider Program-Related Investments (PRIs) for larger, more ambitious projects

References

• The New York Women's Foundation Official Website. https://www.nywf.org (Accessed January 2026)
• NYWF Grantmaking Page. https://www.nywf.org/grantmaking (Accessed January 2026)
• NYWF Leadership Page. https://www.nywf.org/leadership (Accessed January 2026)
• NYWF Contact Information. https://www.nywf.org/contact (Accessed January 2026)
• NYWF Media and News. https://www.nywf.org/news (Accessed January 2026)
• NYWF Impact Investing Information. https://www.nywf.org/impact (Accessed January 2026)
• NYWF Financial Documents. https://www.nywf.org/financials (Accessed January 2026)