2019 Grant Programs Announced

Foundation Releases $1.2 Million Grant Program

The Schenectady Foundation has released its grants program for 2019, including $1.2 million in competitive grants and scholarships.  Another $500,000 will be distributed through several of the Foundation’s on-going programs including the Thriving Neighborhoods Challenge, Schenectady Weekend Backpack Partnership, and the STEM Alliance.

Funding will be available through the following grant application programs:

Neighborhoods

Approximately $500,000 will be available for projects that have impact in Schenectady’s neighborhoods. Grant applications are sought that improve health, safety, housing, employment and the urban environment. By removing or preventing blight, making more and better green space, addressing health disparities, stimulating economic activity and strengthening families, we can continue to make steady progress on the important work of developing sustainable neighborhoods.

Call to Action for Youth

The Foundation continues its commitment to Schenectady’s youth, and intends to invest $250,000 for programs that address youth employment, mentoring and civic engagement.  The Foundation will prioritize proposals that are responsive to issues raised by Schenectady youth in last year’s Youth Summit. These include:

• Providing more “safe spaces” where youth can congregate and participate in enriched programming;
• Enhancing job readiness, and providing employment opportunities;
• Improving the number and quality of adult-youth mentoring relationships;
• Giving voice to youth in community organizations, social sector, government and educational institutions;
• Increasing access to supportive services and opportunities that lead to success in education and employment;

Open Grants

Up to $300,000 will be available in 2019 for "Open Grants" -- projects that fall outside the Neighborhoods and Call to Action for Youth focus areas. The Foundation seeks promising projects with the potential to catalyze change, achieve impact and reach measurable outcomes in the community.

Capacity Building

The Foundation anticipates release of a request for proposals in the fall of 2019 intended to significantly improve the governance, operations, effectiveness and sustainability of one or more institutions serving Schenectady.

Micro-Grants

The Foundation has a "Micro-Grants" program -- an abbreviated process for consideration of requests of $10,000 or less. Organizations might consider applying for a Micro-Grant for planning, research and development of future projects, or to get pilot projects off the ground in anticipation of being able to bring the program to scale in the future.

Interested applicants must be registered charities designated as 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations by the Internal Revenue Service.

See our webpage providing full details on the 2019 Grant Programs.

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The Schenectady Foundation is a public charity – a charitable trust established in 1963 to benefit the health and welfare of the people of Schenectady County, NY. Since inception the Foundation has distributed more than $23 million for community programs, organizations and scholarships. The Foundation’s current area of focus is revitalizing neighborhoods.