Our Grant ProgramsBuilding New York From The Block Up
At CitizensNYC, a small grant can be the first step toward lasting change. Our two main funding programs—Community Leaders Grants and Neighborhood Business Grants—provide up to $5,000 for grassroots projects led by everyday New Yorkers. These microgrants support neighbors organizing food pantries, tenant associations hosting know-your-rights trainings, small businesses launching youth apprenticeships, and more. What they all have in common is a deep understanding of local needs—and the commitment to do something about them.
But our relationship with grantees doesn’t end when the funds are delivered. That first check is just the beginning.
When you receive a CitizensNYC grant, you become part of a citywide network of community leaders. We offer coaching, capacity-building workshops, networking opportunities, and access to resources that help you grow your project—and your impact.
For grantee partners ready to collaborate at a larger scale, we offer Collaborative Impact Grants, which support multi-group partnerships that build collective power across neighborhoods. And for those who’ve grown beyond our original eligibility—who’ve built something enduring and impactful—we offer Elliott Fellowships, which provide financial support and formal leadership roles within our network. These fellows lead trainings, mentor newer grantees, and help guide the next generation of neighborhood changemakers.
Community Leaders Grants
Our Community Leaders Grants offer up to $5,000 for projects that bring New Yorkers together to improve neighborhood life, strengthen local leadership, and scale community partnerships. Our grantee partners define their community priorities, and as a result we support a diverse range of projects in the areas of arts and culture, education and youth, environment and climate, health and wellness, economic development, and public safety.
These grants are about more than funding—they’re about trust. We believe the people closest to the issues are also closest to the solutions. Whether it’s launching a block clean-up, hosting a youth leadership program, or starting a mutual aid network, we’re here to help neighbors take action on what matters most to them.
Learn More & Apply
Neighborhood Business Grants
Our Neighborhood Business Grants offer up to $5,000 for initiatives local small businesses undertake to positively impact their community. We fund all kinds of community-minded businesses—from barbershops and bookstores to wellness studios, cafés, and childcare providers—who play a positive role in their neighborhood.
Whether they are just starting out, or growing their impact, we support businesses that are rooted in, and giving back to, their neighborhoods. These grants recognize that local businesses are more than just storefronts—they’re gathering places, support systems, and anchors of community care. When businesses thrive, neighborhoods do too.
Learn More & Apply
Collaborative Impact Grants
For leaders ready to expand their reach, our Collaborative Impact Grants offer up to $12,000 to support projects involving multiple grantee partners working together. These grants are designed to encourage deep collaboration across issues and sectors, bringing together grassroots organizers, local business owners, artists, educators, and more. By investing in these cross-sector partnerships, we help our grantees tackle complex challenges that no one group can solve alone.
This grant isn’t just about scaling up—it’s about building relationships and shared power. Collaborative Impact Grants are available exclusively to members of our existing CitizensNYC grantee network, and they reflect our belief that the strongest solutions come from working together. We’ve seen time and again that when local leaders join forces, the ripple effects are powerful and lasting.
Elliott Fellowships
Honoring the legacy of our co-founder Osborn Elliott, one-year Elliott Fellowships provide $15,000 in support to leaders who have outgrown our grant eligibility threshold but remain deeply rooted in grassroots work.
These changemakers have built credibility and trust in their communities, often evolving their initiatives into more formal organizations or citywide movements.
Fellows mentor new grantees, co-lead workshops, and provide strategic input to help shape CitizensNYC’s programming. In doing so, they help ensure that grassroots leadership in this city is not only sustained, but strengthened with every generation.
Get InspiredMeet our Grantee Partners
Learn more about the amazing organizations we support.
Darnell Benoit, Former Grantee Partner Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy ProjectI was just a teacher with an idea—I had no idea how to create and run a nonprofit. So, it was more than money. The staff was helpful and supported me in so many different ways. All of our firsts came from that first check. Our first space, hiring our first intern, buying our first computer.