Small nonprofit organizations serving young people across New York City have a new opportunity to strengthen their internal systems, improve organizational stability, and expand their ability to create positive outcomes for youth.

The Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants (YSCG) 2026 program is now accepting applications from eligible youth-serving nonprofit organizations in New York City. The initiative provides funding of up to $60,000 per organization to support projects designed to improve organizational infrastructure and long-term capacity.

The program focuses on helping small nonprofit organizations build stronger foundations so they can better serve young people between the ages of 5 and 25 and address inequalities affecting youth outcomes throughout New York City.

The application deadline is September 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST.

About the Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants Program

The Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants program supports nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to young people and need additional resources to strengthen their operational systems.

Rather than funding individual programs or direct service expansion, the grant focuses on improving the organization behind those services. The goal is to help youth-serving nonprofits become more stable, effective, and sustainable.

The program recognizes that many small nonprofits face challenges related to infrastructure, management, technology, fundraising, and organizational development. By investing in these areas, the program aims to help organizations improve their ability to support youth over the long term.

The long-term goal of YSCG is to build stronger youth-serving organizations that can contribute to reducing inequality in youth outcomes across New York City.

Grant Benefits and Funding Amount

Selected organizations will receive:

• $60,000 in grant funding
• Flexible support to address organizational capacity-building needs
• Three years of funding support beginning March 1
• Technical assistance and organizational development support throughout the grant period

The funding distribution includes:

1. First year: $30,000
   • Supports launching and implementing capacity-building activities.
2. Second year: $20,000
   • Supports continued development and implementation of organizational improvements.
3. Third year: $10,000
   • Requires the organization to secure an additional $10,000 in matching funds from new funding partners.

The program encourages nonprofit organizations to use the grant as a foundation for building relationships with additional supporters and expanding their financial sustainability.

Approximately three new Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants are expected to be awarded annually.

What Types of Projects Can the Grant Support?

Organizations may use funding to strengthen areas of their operations that have been identified through formal or informal assessments.

Examples of eligible capacity-building activities include:

• Financial management improvements
• Board recruitment and board development
• Human resources management
• Staff training and professional development
• Fundraising systems and strategies
• Strategic planning
• Information technology improvements
• Leadership development
• Communication systems
• Evaluation and measurement systems

Successful applications should clearly explain how improving these areas will strengthen the organization and ultimately improve services and outcomes for young people.

Additional Support Provided to Grant Recipients

Beyond financial support, selected organizations will participate in technical assistance activities designed to help them achieve their capacity-building goals.

The program partners with the Community Resource Exchange to provide:

• Free one-on-one organizational support
• Customized assistance based on each nonprofit’s needs
• Learning community meetings
• Peer-based learning opportunities
• Coaching and collaboration opportunities

These resources allow participating organizations to share experiences, discuss challenges, receive guidance, and develop sustainable solutions.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants, organizations must meet specific requirements.

Eligible applicants must:

1. Be a Youth-Serving Community-Based Nonprofit

Organizations must:

• Be based in one of New York City’s five boroughs.
• Provide direct services to young people.
• Not be a national or international organization.
• Have staff members who interact directly with youth during service delivery.

2. Serve Young People Ages 5–25

Applicants must serve youth within the required age range.

At least 80% of youth participating in services must be between ages 5 and 25.

3. Meet Nonprofit Status Requirements

Organizations must either:

• Have their own 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, or
• Operate under a fiscal sponsor that is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Organizations applying through fiscal sponsorship must provide confirmation of their sponsorship agreement and relevant documentation.

4. Meet Financial Requirements

The applying organization must:

• Have an operating budget between $250,000 and $1 million during the prior year (2024).
• Provide audited financial statements or certified financial statements.

Reducing Inequality Eligibility Criteria

The Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants program focuses on organizations addressing inequality in youth outcomes.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Serve Youth in High-Risk Community Districts

Organizations may qualify if they provide youth services in communities identified as having high levels of risk to child well-being.

Eligible districts include:

Bronx

• Community District 1 – Mott Haven
• Community District 2 – Hunts Point
• Community District 3 – Morrisania
• Community District 4 – Concourse/Highbridge
• Community District 5 – University Heights
• Community District 6 – East Tremont
• Community District 7 – Bedford Park
• Community District 9 – Union Port/Soundview

Brooklyn

• Community District 5 – East New York
• Community District 16 – Brownsville

Manhattan

• Community District 11 – East Harlem

Organizations do not need to have their headquarters located in these districts. However, the youth services being improved must currently operate in one of the identified areas.

Serve Specific Youth Populations

Organizations may also qualify if they have established programs specifically designed for:

• Mexican-descent youth
• LGBTQ+ youth

Programs must be intentionally designed for these populations rather than serving them incidentally.

Organizations That Are Not Eligible

The program does not support:

• Projects focused only on improving direct program delivery
• Capital construction projects
• Scholarships
• Endowments
• Lobbying activities
• Real estate purchases
• Awards to individuals
• Public or private schools
• National or international organizations
• Organizations primarily serving adults

Organizations previously funded through the Foundation’s Youth Service Grant programs must wait at least 18 months after the end of their award period before applying again.

Application Review Criteria

Applications are reviewed annually by a volunteer committee composed of Foundation staff members with expertise in areas such as finance, communications, and nonprofit management.

Applicants should ensure their proposals clearly explain:

Organizational Mission and Youth Services

Strong applications should describe:

• The organization’s mission
• Current youth programs
• How services create meaningful experiences and positive outcomes for young people

Capacity-Building Needs

Applicants should demonstrate:

• They have assessed their organizational challenges
• They understand the causes of those challenges
• They can explain how these challenges affect organizational effectiveness

Capacity-Building Plan

Applicants should provide:

• A clear plan for addressing identified challenges
• Specific goals and activities
• Key staff members or consultants involved
• A responsible person overseeing implementation
• Methods for measuring success
• A sustainability plan for maintaining improvements

Important Deadline

Application deadline: September 17, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM EST

Organizations interested in applying should begin preparing their application materials early, including financial documents, organizational information, and capacity-building plans.

How to Apply

Eligible organizations can access the application portal and required templates through the official program page.

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