Grants are made only to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations.
The Foundation does not make grants to:
- Individuals
- Direct service programs outside of New York City
- Individual schools
- Short-term educational programs and workshops
- Mentoring programs
- After-school and summer programs
- Youth development programs
- Film projects
If you are unsure whether your program fits within our funding guidelines, or if you have any other questions, we encourage you to contact our offices.
The Foundation’s funding in the area of economic development is aimed at increasing the number of living wage jobs in New York City and ensuring low-income workers’ access to those jobs. Support is provided for initiatives that help individuals, families and communities to achieve and sustain economic self-sufficiency; for advocacy efforts to advance effective economic and workforce development policies; and for a range of job training programs, with an emphasis on those geared toward specific employment sectors.
In the area of education, the Foundation seeks to fund efforts to improve the public school system in New York City. Specifically, funding is provided for long-term in-school programs that incorporate the arts into standard curricula to enhance language development, literacy comprehension, and learning across a range of subject areas; and for efforts to increase access to English language literacy and appropriate special education services. The Foundation also supports comprehensive initiatives aimed at improving the overall quality of education for all students through policy reform and advocacy efforts.
The Foundation supports efforts to reduce barriers to effective and unrestricted civil legal assistance through direct legal representation and policy advocacy. Support is provided for programs offering legal representation on a range of issues including education, employment and foster care. Funding is also provided for innovative initiatives aimed at increasing the accessibility of legal services in underserved communities.
Funding in the criminal justice area is focused on programs working to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. These include advocacy for sentencing reforms and increased use of alternatives to incarceration, as well as efforts to improve the likelihood of successful reentry for those returning to their communities after release from prison or jail.
The Foundation supports organizations working to address a range of environmental issues through policy change, public education, and legal advocacy. For the most part, funding in this area is limited to organizations whose work is national in scope.
The Foundation supports domestic programs that seek to protect women’s reproductive rights and increase access to comprehensive reproductive health services. Funded initiatives include those working to achieve these goals through public education efforts, policy advocacy and legal advocacy.
In addition to the areas described above, the Foundation currently supports a small number of organizations working to increase the availability of affordable housing in New York City.