New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods

Through New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods, Citizens Committee awards grants of $500 to $3,000 to volunteer-led groups to work on community and school improvement projects throughout the city. We prioritize groups based in low income neighborhoods and Title I public schools.

In 2011, we awarded NYBN grants to 175 grassroots groups working on a range of issues that they identified as being important to their communities. The grants totaled more than $350,000.

Recent awards have enabled neighbors to come together to make healthy food available in their communities, transform empty lots into community gardens, organize tenants to advocate for better housing conditions, and start school recycling drives.

In addition to grants, we offer skills-building workshops and project planning assistance, to grantees and non-grantees alike. We're available to work with core members of your group to design strategies aound a particular project or campaign, as well as to develop mission statements, work plans and effective ways to engage new members.

The deadline to apply for 2012 has passed.  Please check back here for more information about 2012 grant winners.