How To Apply For Neighborhood Support’s Downtown Fund
Ready to apply? Submit your project here.
The Downtown Fund supports New York City nonprofits in lower Manhattan in the areas of education, health, social capital, and economic assets with targeted investments ranging from $500 to $10,000.
Part of Trinity's Neighborhood Support program, the fund is just one way — in addition to in-kind donations and grants — that Trinity strives to strengthen child, family, and community well-being in the neighborhoods south of 14th Street.
“Our goal is to build communities where people feel safe, where they feel they belong, and where they have the resources to thrive,” said Vidia Cordero, Trinity’s deputy chief community impact officer. “We’re looking for projects that communities have long needed but lacked the resources to complete.”
To that end, the Downtown Fund seeks initiatives that support emotional well-being, provide educational enrichment, and alleviate financial burdens. Past efforts have supported everything from science enrichment programming to community-organized street festivals.
The Dorill Initiative, a grassroots arts education nonprofit dedicated to helping young people in lower Manhattan, used their Downtown Fund grant to organize an event that allowed their students to meet and learn from Misty Copeland, the first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre.
Another recipient, The Doula Program to Accompany and Comfort, trains volunteers to visit individuals facing the end of their lives without the support of family or friends. The Downtown Fund allowed the organization to extend its reach in lower Manhattan.
For UA3, which supports their Lower East Side community in myriad ways, Trinity support spurred the development of an access network that allows their food pantry clients to identify and share additional needs and be connected with services that can support those needs.
In addition to the monetary support, recipients said they have benefited greatly from the network Trinity offers.
“That’s probably the greatest gift, the ability to collaborate with a lot of other Lower East Side organizations and foundations,” said Don Hong, UA3’s president and CEO.
The Neighborhood Support team accepts applications for the Downtown Fund on a rolling basis. To qualify, the applying organization must be a 501(c)(3) based in lower Manhattan, below 14th Street. The nonprofit must be able to guarantee that the funds will go directly to individuals and communities in the targeted area. The Downtown Fund will not sponsor operations, overhead, facility management, or private individuals.
Ready to apply? Submit your project here.
Downtown Fund FAQs:
What kinds of projects do you fund?
Trinity’s Neighborhood Support team is open to receiving applications for a wide array of initiatives that uplift the well-being of individuals who live and work in lower Manhattan. In particular, the team is looking for projects that promote emotional well-being, support educational enrichment, alleviate family’s financial burdens, and encourage joy.
What will you not fund?
• Private individuals or groups. If you have a great idea for a community initiative, we encourage you to partner with a 501(c)(3) organization based in lower Manhattan.
• Organizations based outside of our target geographic area of lower Manhattan, below 14th Street.
• Organizations that cannot guarantee that the funds will go directly towards individuals and families in lower Manhattan.
• Capital projects, operations, overhead, and facilities improvement or repairs.
Is The Downtown Fund the same thing as Trinity’s Neighborhood Support Grants?
No. The Downtown Fund invests between $500 to $10,000 in local, community-based initiatives. Applications are open to any lower Manhattan nonprofit.
Neighborhood Support’s grantmaking program is by invitation only. Learn more here.
When are applications due?
Applications for the Downtown Fund are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
What if I have more questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to NeighborhoodsupportTeam@trinitywallstreet.org.
