Trinity Church Wall Street Announces Final Round of 2021 Grants, Bringing the Total for 2021 to $46 million
Includes Support for Access to Affordable Housing and Alternatives to Violence
NEW YORK, NY, December 16 – Trinity Church Wall Street has awarded more than $8.3 million in grants to nonprofits this month, which bring the total amount of grants distributed this year to $46 million. The latest round of grants will support organizations that work with the most vulnerable, from creating housing opportunities for the homeless to investing in community-led violence interruption programs.
“This year’s grantees are giving a voice to the voiceless and implementing innovative programing to help those most in need in their communities,” said the Rev. Phillip A. Jackson, Priest-in-charge of Trinity Church Wall Street. “These grants are a response to the needs of our time, which have been exacerbated by the global pandemic, and we are pleased to be able to assist the organizations that are doing this good work.”
Trinity’s $46 million in grants in support of organizations locally, nationally, and internationally is up from $33.6 million in 2020.
“2021 was another record year of grant-making for Trinity Church Wall Street,” said Neill Coleman, Executive Director of Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies. “We know the need is great and we are proud to support churches and nonprofits that are investing in direct services in their communities as well as those seeking to shift government policy and spending away from jails and shelters towards community investment and affordable housing.”
CUNY’s Borough of Manhattan Community College Foundation is receiving a $2 million grant, which will provide housing for homeless students enrolled at the school. A 2019 survey of CUNY students found that of the 22,000 surveyed, 55% reported experiencing housing insecurity, and 14% were homeless in the previous year.
This grant will provide stable housing for up to 50 students for three years, which will allow them to focus on their journey toward graduation with a higher success rate.
“We recognize the incredible challenges faced by those that do not have a stable and decent roof over their heads. The number of CUNY students who are housing unstable is alarming and finding housing for all of them requires a significant investment from the public and private sectors,” said Bea de la Torre, Managing Director for Housing & Homelessness at Trinity Church Wall Street. “Trinity is pleased to more immediately help several students enrolled at BMCC have stable housing so they can complete and excel in their studies.”
Trinity is also supporting the creation of housing for individuals with justice involvement by providing two capital grants. One of the grants is to The Fortune Society to convert a former hotel into supportive housing and the other is to the Osborne Association to complete the conversion of a former state prison in the Bronx into transitional housing, including services.
Trinity is actively funding models to reduce incidents of violence in New York City. The United Way of New York will use a $1 million grant from Trinity to support The Atlas Innovation Fund. The Atlas Initiative is a partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety, which is focused on enhancing community safety, increasing economic mobility, and strengthening the capacity of local organizations that are best positioned to prevent and respond to violence in the community. The Atlas Innovation Fund will enable these organizations to evaluate their practices and assess their impact.
Trinity is also providing a $750,000 grant to Common Justice to engage survivors in advancing restorative justice practices as a solution to violence that transform those who are harmed and cause harm.
"In New York City, we are fortunate that we know what works when it comes to public safety,” said Susan Shah, Managing Director for Racial Justice at Trinity Church Wall Street. “As a funder, we have the privilege of focusing our resources on solutions. I hope Trinity’s support will ensure New York City continues on a path of progress towards decarceration and justice.”
In addition to supporting its neighbors in New York City, Trinity is a global ministry with partners throughout the world.
Trinity is proud to work again with Episcopal Relief & Development, which was awarded a $400,000 grant for its Haiti Earthquake Recovery Project. The organization has extensive and deep-rooted experience in Haiti. Since 2001, it has responded to multiple emergencies, from hurricanes to civil unrest, including the 2010 earthquake.
Funding is also being provided to dioceses and churches internationally, and in New York City, to discern and use church property for mission-based projects and revenue growth. The projects range from co-working space in Brasilia and a guest house in Bujumbura to churches in The Bronx and Manhattan.
“These projects will support increased engagement by churches in serving the growing needs in their communities,” said the Rev. James Clark III, Managing Director for Mission Real Estate Development at Trinity.
The December grantees are:
Good Nation Foundation (for NYC Speaks) $250,000
Episcopal Relief & Development $400,000
BMCC Foundation $2,000,000
Enterprise Community Partners $680,000
Osborne Association $1,000,000
The Fortune Society $764,000
Common Justice $750,000
Envision Freedom $1,000,000
United Way of New York City $1,000,000
Bowery Residents’ Committee $50,000
The Dwelling Place of New York $50,000
New York Focus $178,000
Codrington Trust $25,000
Diocesis del Sureste de Mexico $15,000
Diocese Anglicana de Brasilia $60,000
Diocese of Bujumbura, Burundi $44,500
Episcopal Diocese of New York (Church of the Mediator, Bronx) $65,000
The Protestant Episcopal Church of Saint Peter $50,000
About Trinity Church Wall Street
Now in its fourth century, Trinity Church Wall Street is a growing and inclusive Episcopal parish of more than 1,200 members that seeks to serve and heal the world by building neighborhoods that live Gospel truths, generations of faithful leaders, and sustainable communities. The parish is guided by its core values: faith, integrity, inclusiveness, compassion, social justice, and stewardship. Members come from the five boroughs of New York City and surrounding areas to form a racially, ethnically, and economically diverse congregation. More than 20 worship services are offered every week online and at its historic sanctuaries, Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel, the cornerstones of the parish’s community life, worship, and mission, and online at trinitywallstreet.org.