← Back to US Funders Directory

New York Foundation

Grant Range
$5K - $0.2M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
2.5%

New York Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Information not publicly available
  • Success Rate: ~2-3% (5 new grants from hundreds of requests)
  • Decision Time: 4 months
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $237,500 (over 5 years)
  • Geographic Focus: New York City only

Contact Details

  • Website: https://nyf.org
  • Phone: (212) 594-8009
  • Email: info@nyf.org
  • Address: 150 W 30th St Ste 1401, New York, NY 10001
  • Application Portal: Grant Interface

Overview

The New York Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that champions community organizing and grassroots advocacy in New York City. With a mission centered on the belief that "the resilience and vitality of New Yorkers is the city's greatest resource," the foundation supports grassroots initiatives that build power to confront systemic barriers and inspire people to work toward a more just, equitable, and inclusive city. The foundation practices "transformative philanthropy," providing long-term, flexible resources while trusting grassroots organizations to define their own priorities without controlling their direction.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Core Grants: $47,500 per year - Multi-year general operating support (3 years for established groups, 5 years for emerging groups)
  • Small Grants: Up to $5,000 - Organizational development support
  • Strategic Opportunities Fund: Variable amounts - One-year grants for time-sensitive racial, economic, and gender justice campaigns
  • Community Organizing Field Support: Variable amounts - One-year grants to strengthen organizing capacity
  • Funder Collaborative Initiatives: Variable amounts - Pooled funding with multiple foundations

Priority Areas

  • Community organizing and grassroots advocacy
  • Racial, economic, gender, disability, and climate justice
  • Organizations led by Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ people, women, and people of color
  • Emerging organizations centering social justice
  • Civic engagement and nonpartisan electoral advocacy
  • Immigrant rights and environmental justice
  • Movements addressing systemic change

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct services
  • Individuals
  • Capital campaigns
  • Research studies
  • Conferences/events
  • Organizations outside NYC
  • Organizations not using community organizing approaches

Governance and Leadership

President: Rickke Mananzala

The foundation emphasizes trust-based philanthropy, with leadership stating: "We support community-led initiatives and trust grassroots organizations to lead the way because community organizing and social movements have been the driving force behind lasting change."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the Grant Interface online portal. The foundation provides comprehensive resources including application questions, slides, webinar recordings, and a portal guide. Only one grant cycle is offered in 2026, with applications due March 2nd.

Decision Timeline

  • March 2nd: Applications due
  • Within 2 weeks of deadline: Initial response to applicants
  • June: Board meeting for final decisions
  • July: Approved grants processed and funds disbursed

Success Rates

The foundation receives hundreds of requests per cycle but typically makes only around 5 new grants, indicating a highly competitive success rate of approximately 2-3%.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies was not specified in available materials.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding patterns and stated priorities:

  • Demonstrate grassroots leadership: Organizations must be authentically led by the communities they serve, particularly Black, Indigenous, people of color, trans/nonbinary people, and women
  • Focus on systemic change: Projects should address root causes rather than symptoms, using community organizing and advocacy rather than direct services
  • Show intersectional approach: Successful applicants often work at the intersection of multiple justice issues (racial, economic, gender, climate)
  • Emphasize power-building: Applications should clearly articulate how the work builds community power and advances social movements
  • Highlight emerging status: The foundation specifically prioritizes emerging organizations and overlooked constituencies
  • NYC-specific impact: All work must directly benefit New York City communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Extremely competitive with only ~5 new grants awarded from hundreds of applications
  • Strong preference for emerging organizations led by marginalized communities
  • Must use community organizing approach, not direct services
  • Multi-year funding available for successful applicants (up to 5 years for emerging groups)
  • Single annual application cycle with March deadline
  • Foundation practices trust-based philanthropy with flexible, general operating support
  • Complementary capacity building support available beyond financial grants

References

← Back to US Funders Directory