Other Resources

The Altman Foundation supports programs and institutions that enrich the quality of life in New York City.. The Foundation's four program areas are education, health, strengthening communities, and arts and culture. Several overarching values guide the Foundation's grantmaking:  access, system-wide improvement, prevention and early intervention, self-sufficiency, the provision of high-quality services, and a focus on vulnerable populations. Proposals are accepted throughout the year and reviewed six times per year. For more information visit www.altmanfoundation.org or call (212) 682-0970.

American Express supports hundreds of nonprofit organizations each year through its foundation and corporate giving activities around three program themes:  economic independence, cultural heritage and community service. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. For more information visit home3.americanexpress.com/corp/gb/submit.asp.

The Bank of America is committed to the economic strength and stability of the communities in which it operates. Their new Neighborhood Excellence Initiative is looking for organizations that focus on one of their three funding priorities in New York City: community development, education, and arts and culture. For more information visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation. 

The Ben & Jerry's Foundation offers competitive grants to not-for-profit grassroots organizations throughout the United States that facilitate progressive social change by addressing the underlying conditions of societal and environmental problems. Awards range from $1,000 - $15,000. The application process to the Ben & Jerry's Foundation begins with an initial letter of interest, and if invited, is followed by a full proposal. For more information visit www.benjerry.com/foundation.  

The Brecht Forum is a center for activist education. Through book talks, forums, films, poetry and spoken word, language classes, interactive workshops, concerts and hip hop ciphers, the Brecht Forum offers a place where activists and engaged academics address the issues facing society, while also crafting the tools to build the new society. Check out the schedule of events at www.brechtforum.org.

The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support environmental projects for children and youth. The Foundation offers small grants of $500 or less, as well as a limited number of grant awards ranging from $500 to $2,500 each. The objective is to encourage innovative programs that empower children and youth to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their communities. Deadlines for submitting grant applications are September 30 and December 31. For more information visit www.captainplanetfdn.org.

Common Counsel’s Grassroots Exchange Fund (GXF) awards grants averaging $300 to $800 to approximately 60 organizations per year to cover training, travel, or conference expenses. The GXF was established to encourage social change organizations to seek technical assistance from one another and to help build regional and national networks among organizations. GXF gives priority to small community-based organizations working on economic, environmental and social justice initiatives that give voice to the needs of low-income people, women, youth, and people of color. There is no set deadline for the GXF; applications are accepted year-round and decisions normally take about two weeks. For more information visit www.commoncounsel.org/Grassroots%20Exchange%20Fund.

Manhattan-based not-profits organizations interested in using cable television to expand their impact upon and reach into the local community can apply for a Community Media Grant, sponsored by Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), New York City's public access center. Grants can be used to cover the costs of hiring instructors in television/video production and/or purchasing equipment. Partnerships between media makers and nonprofits are encouraged. Completed programs created with support from MNN are cablecast on public access. Curatorial grants are also available for Manhattan-based media arts organizations and other nonprofits interested in curating public screenings and/or series programming on public access. MNN's grant application is a two-tier process. For more information or to download guidelines and application forms, please visit mnn.org/cm/grants.html or call (212) 757-2670, ext. 352.

Community Resource Exchange is offering their Start-Up Workshop Series this fall. This is a 3-part series offered twice a year as a public service to emerging and young nonprofits. There is no cost to attend and guests are welcome to participate in one, two or all three sessions. For more information visit www.crenyc.org/about/about_workshops.php#startup.

Draper Richards Foundation will award six fellowships to leaders and entrepreneurs who wish to establish their own nonprofit organizations to promote social causes. Prospective organizations should focus on areas with national or global interest, including, but not limited to health, youth and families, and education. Accepted fellows will receive funding of $100,000 for three years and strategic and organizational assistance in launching their nonprofit. Only organizations based in the U.S. and intend to create a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Applications are accepted at any time of the year and are reviewed when they are received. For more information visit www.draperrichards.org or email info@draperrichards.org.

The Edward Hazen Foundation seeks to assist young people, particularly youth of color and those disadvantaged by poverty in achieving their full potential as individuals and as active participants in a democratic society. The Foundation has a national grantmaking program focused on public school reform and youth leadership development. Hazen supports community-based and grassroots organizations that employ the tools of organizing and advocacy in their programs. Interested applicants must submit a letter of interest. For more information visit www.hazenfoundation.org.

The Fledgling Fund supports the creation and dissemination of innovative media projects that can play critical roles in igniting social change.  The Fund believes that film and other creative media can bear witness to the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals, families and communities around the world in ways that statistics cannot, can create a broader understanding of social problems and inspire concrete action.  The Fund considers media projects on a rolling basis.  Organizations with projects that wish to be considered for funding must submit an overview of the project using the online form as a first step in the application process.  The Fund will review and respond within 30 days of submission.  For more information, visit www.thefledglingfund.org/index.html.

The Foundation Center has a collection of introductory materials in Spanish for nonprofit grantseekers.  A selection of these titles may be borrowed through the library.  Los invitamos a inscribirse en las clases que ofrecemos en español y en nuestro programa de libros en circulación para así poder pedir prestados libros como los siguientes: Creando su departamento de desarrollo. Alexandria, VA: Association of Fundraising Professionals, 2002.  ¡Sí, todos podemos!  Una guía para recaudar fondos para tu grupo en palabras y dibujo.  Maryville, TN: Southern Empowerment Project, 2002.  Del dicho al hecho: Una guía para crear con éxito una organización sin fines de lucro.  NY, NY: Community Resource Exchange, 2004.  Guía para escribir propuestas.  NY, NY: Foundation Center, 2003.  For more information visit foundationcenter.org/newyork/.

The Fund for the City of New York's technology training program is built around three distinct levels of learning. As technology is now essential to the effective operations of nonprofits, it is critical that all staff possess a set of core skills in the dominant workplace applications: Word, Excel and Outlook. With staff trained in these applications, nonprofits will be able to be competitive and remain vital to their communities. The Fund offers fifty hands-on courses designed to get you and your organization running faster and smarter. In addition to the Fund's technology training program, the Fund is offering special technology seminars designed for Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.fcny.org or call (212) 925-6675.  

Independence Community Foundation is committed to the renewal and revitalization of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods of New York City, Nassau County and Essex, Bergen, Union, Hudson, and Middlesex counties in New Jersey. Its primary mission is to renew neighborhoods by promoting economic growth, educational attainment, and housing development. Independence Community Foundation requires the submission of a letter of inquiry prior to considering a grant proposal. The Foundation will accept letters of inquiry for six months every calendar year. The open periods for letters of inquiry are the first and third quarters - January 1 through March 30 and July 1 through September 30. For more information, call (718) 722-2300, visit www.icfny.org or email inquiries@icfny.org.

The mission of the Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation is to enhance the quality of life of New Yorkers, particularly the aging and disadvantaged.  Grants are disbursed mainly within the five boroughs of New York City, and primarily in fields of aging, arts-in-education, education and literacy, and social services.  The Foundation is committed to funding direct service organizations and those projects that will produce systemic change.  Letters of inquiry are due by February 1 and August 1 for the spring and fall board meetings respectively.  For more information call Jessica Keuskamp, Program Director at (212) 599-1931, visit www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/dreyfus/inquiry.html, or email jldreyfusfdtn@hotmail.com.

The J.M. Kaplan Fund supports work to enhance the common infrastructure of daily life in the five boroughs, preservation activities to engage new and diverse constituencies and local and citywide efforts to assure the well-being of recent immigrants.  Send a brief letter of inquiry to Angela Carabine, Grants Manager, J.M. Kaplan Fund, 261 Madison Ave, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10016.  Applicants will be notified within thirty days if they are to submit a full proposal.  For more information, visit www.jmkfund.org or email info@jmkfund.org.

The Jewish Fund for Justice (JFJ) provides support for non-profit organizations working to alleviate the root causes of poverty and the disenfranchisement of low-income people.  JFJ supports community-based organizing and advocacy that promotes leadership development and builds community self-sufficiency.  JFJ makes grants in the following areas:  assisting New Americans, economic justice, women in poverty, youth organizing, building community, investing in youth, and engaging Jews in social justice work.  JFJ does not accept unsolicited proposals. Groups that meet all the JFJ criteria can submit a two-page letter of inquiry.  For more information visit www.jfjustice.org. 

The Laura B. Vogler Foundation awards one-time non-renewable grants to organizations concerned with the health, well being and education of children, the disadvantaged and the elderly. Specific programs or projects, rather than general operating support or capital programs, are favored.  The deadlines for applications are March 1, July 1, and November 1 each year.  For more information visit www.foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/vogler/index.html. 

The New York City Lobbying Act requires individuals and organizations (including nonprofits) that lobby certain New York City government agencies and public entities, including New York City Council, the Mayor's Office, New York City agencies, local zoning boards and public officials on city procurement contracts, to register and report their lobbying activities to the New York City Clerk's Office if their expenditures and/or compensation for such activity exceeds $2,000 in a calendar year.  On June 13, 2006, Mayor Bloomberg signed into law three bills that amend the New York City Lobbying Act and New York City Campaign Finance Law in significant ways that impact nonprofits in New York City.  As part of their efforts to educate the nonprofit community on pertinent legal issues, Lawyers Alliance for New York has summarized the key changes in the law in a memorandum that is available for download from their website, www.lany.org (click on the "News" button that appears on the left).

M&T Bank contributes to nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life for its customers, its employees and its community.  Charitable contributions are made through the M&T Foundation, which was established in 1995 as the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank.  The Foundation contributes to various cultural, civic, health care, human service, education, and youth organizations.  In addition to making monetary contributions, M&T Bank provides in-kind donated services and encourages its employees to become involved in community organizations.  To qualify all organizations requesting $1,000 or more must complete and submit M&T Bank’s Charitable Contributions Guidelines to the local charitable contributions coordinator.  Applications for funding may be submitted throughout the entire year.  For more information, visit www.mandtbank.com/community/cc_mainpage.cfm or call Naima Muhammad at (212) 350-2523.

MTV and Youth Venture are offering Hope Venture Grants of up to $1,000 to support young people who want to launch a venture - an organization, club, or business - that will aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina. First priority will be given to proposals that support the creation of sustainable ventures that aid the citizens and communities who have lost so much from this disaster. A second priority will be proposals to start organizations solely for the purpose of raising and distributing funds for those in need. Hope Venture Grants will be offered every week for the next six months to groups of two or more young people (ages 13-20) with the most compelling venture ideas to assist the people and communities affected. For more information, visit, www.youthventure.org, e-mail ny@youthventure.org, or call (212) 278-8930. 

Nonprofit Coordinating Committee (NPCC) is pleased to offer free six-month memberships to 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, and Westchester County. This offer is for new members only. If your nonprofit is based in Manhattan, or if you are interested in NPCC’s grantmaker, corporate or individual memberships, please go to www.npccny.org/howto.htm. As an NPCC member, your nonprofit gains access to all of its programs and services as well as its workshops and roundtables. To receive a free six-month membership, visit www.npccny.org/6months.htm, complete the application form, and submit it. If you have questions or want more information about NPCC visit www.npccny.org/member.htm, contact Craig Weinrich at (212) 502-4191, extension 30 or email cweinrich@npccny.org.

NPower NY has developed and honed its expertise in delivering high-quality, low-cost technology solutions to the nonprofit sector.  NPower Basic, a new technology solution for small nonprofits, monitors and manages the technology environment remotely.  NPower Basic includes:  remote technology support; help desk phone service; daily backups of the organization’s critical data; Antivirus and Windows updates that are automatic; free software; and hardware purchasing with the assistance of an NPower NY Technology Advisor.  For more information visit www.npowerny.org/services/managedservices/ny-services-npowerbasic.htm.

The Open Society Institute has launched a new fellowship program to support outstanding idea entrepreneurs from around the world. The Open Society Fellowship will enable innovative professionals including journalists, activists, scholars, and practitioners to work on projects that inspire meaningful public debate, shape public policy, and generate intellectual ferment. The fellowship focuses on four areas:  National Security and the Open Society; Citizenship, Membership and Marginalization; Strategies and Tools for Advocacy and Citizen Engagement; and Understanding Authoritarianism. Fellows' projects may include books, articles, documentary films, online media, and efforts to seed new campaigns and organizations. For more information visit www.soros.org/initiatives/fellowship/focus_areas/guidelines.

The Organizing and Advocacy Fund of the Third Wave Foundation financially supports organizing and activism work that challenges sexism, racism, homophobia, economic injustice, and other forms of oppression. Grants are provided for both specific projects and general operating support. The Third Wave Foundation accepts proposals for projects which benefit, target, are devised by, and are led by women between the ages of 15 and 30, with an emphasis on low-income women, differently-abled women, women of color, and lesbian and bisexual women. For more information visit www.thirdwavefoundation.org, call (212) 675-0700, or email
info@thirdwavefoundation.org.

Overbrook Foundation supports projects that protect human and civil rights, advance the self-sufficiency and well being of individuals and their communities, and conserve the natural environment. The Foundation's domestic programs support policy development, advocacy, coalition building, research, legal and other strategies likely to impact large classes of people or shape issues important to the Foundation's mission. Strategic funding areas include human and civil rights, youth and the environment. Grant applications are accepted throughout the year. For more information visit www.overbrook.org or call (212) 661-8710.