Applications for the 2025 ABNY Foundation grant are now open!

The 2025 giving theme is Strengthening Economic Opportunity and Livability for New Yorkers. This theme will invest in the people, places, and industries of New York City through three priority areas:

• (1) Workforce Development
• (2) Safe Communities
• (3) Small Business Support

Funding Overview

Funds shall be distributed for the inclusive economic growth of New York City to support the financial and physical well-being of New Yorkers, their communities and the organizations that serve them.

Funding will provide operational and programmatic support of initiatives that are directly related to the above-stated theme.

Grant applications will be reviewed twice a year with application deadlines on March 31 and September 30, 2025.

Grant awards range from $5,000 to $10,000.

Eligibility

• Be a small or mid-size non-profit with 50 employees or less that provide direct services within the 5 boroughs of New York City.
• Grantees may only receive an award for a maximum of three consecutive years. Previous grantees with three consecutive awards must wait one-year before becoming eligible for a new grant award from the Foundation.
• Applying organizations must be designated under the 501(c) Section of the United States Internal Revenue Code or possess Fiscal Sponsorship from a registered 501(c)3 organization under the United States Internal Revenue Code. For profit organizations are not eligible for grants awards from The ABNY Foundation.

Priority Areas

Safe Communities

Programs that seek to reduce or prevent crimes and dangers within NYC’s public spaces (including the transit system, sidewalks, plazas, and parks) through direct outreach and service provision, and efforts directed at reducing recidivism.

Grants will prioritize:

• Community-based programs focusing on formerly incarcerated re-entry programs.
• Local-based programs or services that are implemented to enhance the real and perceived safety and vibrancy of the public realm and public spaces.
• Examples include support for violence interrupters, job placement for gang members, re-entry programs, street outreach efforts that connect high-need individuals with care or services and seek to reduce risks of violence in public spaces.
• Note: Community or cultural events that are not intended to directly address safety issues are not eligible for funding.

Supporting Small Business Districts

Programs that support small business and their neighborhood commercial districts serve to be conducive to success.

Grants will prioritize:

• Programs that support small businesses in commercial corridors and business districts with high retail and office vacancies.
• Programs that directly address issues or challenges that hinder small business districts from increasing foot traffic successful business operations.
• Examples include loan and grant application support, small business counseling and provision of technical assistance programs, commercial corridor revitalization efforts (e.g. programming that directly engage small businesses within their districts, street lighting or furniture enhancements).

Workforce Development

Programs that foster economic growth by creating quality jobs, reducing inequality and attracting, supporting and retaining talent that support a viable and diverse New York City workforce and connect more New Yorkers to growing job opportunities.

Grants will prioritize:

• Programs that create new career pathways for historically disconnected New Yorkers into growing industries, addressing persistent demographic disparities within key sectors of the city’s economy.
• Programs that provide short-term on-the-job training and education, financial stipends, industry-specific accreditation or certifications, and direct job placement.
• Examples include job training and placement assistance to unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers from communities with high unemployment rates; and training and job placement assistance that supports underrepresented New Yorkers’ entry into higher-earning industry sectors (e.g. Tech and STEM industries, Media production, etc.).

Application Deadlines

• Monday, March 31, 2025
• Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Applications are due by midnight on the above dates. 

Please contact the ABNY team at info@abny.org with any questions.

The ABNY Foundation is a registered 501 (c) 3 organization under the United States Internal Revenue Code.