The New York Community Trust awards more than $7.7 million to 39 nonprofits

The New York Community Trust has awarded more than $7.7 million in its latest round of annual grants to 39 nonprofits, addressing a wide range of needs across New York City from aiding migrants, supporting cancer patients, people with disabilities and the arts sector. As the city’s largest community foundation, the trust touts a history of connecting donors with institutions and high-impact nonprofits serving New York City, Westchester, and Long Island communities. This year’s grants reflect the trust’s commitment to the city’s social safety net, public policy and underserved populations. 

“Local nonprofits demonstrate a tireless commitment to bettering the lives of New Yorkers,” said Shawn Morehead, the trust’s vice president for grants. 

A total of $1.3 million in grants were awarded to the Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative, UnLocal, and Catholic Charities Community Services Archdiocese of New York – organizations dedicated to helping asylum-seekers, from legal support to immigration proceeding training. The Trust also directed more than $1.2 million in grants to organizations supporting cancer patients, including the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the New York Legal Assistance Group. The funding could be applied to financial aid and legal services, or food deliveries, while helping immigrant cancer patients find treatment. Nonprofit organizations serving Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises were among grantees, including Hot Bread Kitchen, which helps low-income women of color in the food industry, and New York University, as part of its expansion of mentoring programs for juvenile justice-involved girls. 

Providers serving homeless populations and individuals with disabilities were among grantees, including Care Coordination Fund, which received $450,000 to improve care for homeless New Yorkers who struggle with mental illness. A total of $575,000 went to nonprofits supporting individuals with disabilities, as well as $125,000 was awarded to INCLUDEnyc, an organization which assists families of young children with disabilities. Another $250,000 went to the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest for their advocacy of efficient and fair application processes for Access-A-Ride, the city’s public transportation program for people with disabilities. 

The trust also awarded $1 million in grants to nonprofits serving the city’s art and culture sector to empower artists with resources, promotion and citywide networks of cultural equity advocates, including the Brooklyn Arts Council, Latino Theater Company and Queens Theatre. Citizens Housing and Planning Council of New York, and the Preserving City Neighborhoods Housing Development Fund Corporation, received grants towards their efforts to improve and preserve affordable housing production. 

The Trust also awarded grants to various low-income youth development programs, including Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York and NPower. The latter received the funding to expand its free technology training program. Organizations that received grants to protect the environment and improve public transportation services included People-Oriented Cities, which received $90,000 to support a redesign of the city’s bus system, and the Riders Alliance, which was awarded $95,000 to improve bus lane service in the outer boroughs. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign also received $200,000 to implement congestion pricing and other mass transit reforms.

“We are proud to play a role in improving the quality of life for so many in our community through grants to help cancer patients access essential care, local artists find space to create, and much more,” said Morehead.