The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting organizations and programs that apply gender, racial, economic and social justice lenses to their work and express an understanding and willingness to work towards eradicating the root causes of poverty. Proposals should demonstrate that, when developing programs and advocacy agendas, organizations explicitly take into account strategies to achieve equity and fairer policies for communities marginalized by gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, religion, and immigration or citizenship status.

The Foundation prioritizes underserved female populations of all ages and supports programs that are designed to address the critical needs of disadvantaged and/or marginalized populations, particularly women and girls of color; single female heads of households; pregnant and parenting teens; immigrant and undocumented women and girls; lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals; women and girls with disabilities; older women; homeless women; survivors of domestic violence; and women and girls involved in the criminal/juvenile justice systems.

The Foundation provides general operating and program-specific support to organizations whose constituencies are comprised of a majority of women and/or girls living at or below the poverty level. Organizations with operating budgets $2 million and below are eligible to apply for either general operating support or program–specific support. Organizations with operating budgets of more than $2 million are only eligible to apply for program–specific support and will need to demonstrate the strategic impact NYWF support will have on the work. The Foundation also encourages collaborations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and advocacy efforts and welcomes proposals for collaborative activities within its three focus areas.

• Are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or have a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)3;



• Are located within and serve the five boroughs of New York City;



• Have been in existence for at least six months;



• Are working towards gender, racial, economic and social justice;



• Emphasize community organizing and/or advocacy strategies in order to create meaningful institutional change in their communities;



• Are diverse and inclusive;



• Foster women’s leadership, that is, women have the ability to influence decision-making by serving as Executive Director, on the organization’s or program’s leadership team, and/ or on the board of directors or an advisory committee;



• Encourage the involvement of program participants and constituents in the decision-making process and in assuming leadership positions;



• Encourage communication and shared understanding with men and/or boys as a way to further gender equity;



• Are community-based, which may be defined by geography, shared interest and/or heritage;



• Have limited access to ongoing traditional funding sources, i.e. government, foundations, and individual donors.

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• campaigns to elect candidates to public office
• capital fund projects
• endowments
• feasibility studies
• fundraising events
• individuals
• needs assessments
• programs located outside the five boroughs of New York City
• programs that do not comply with federal, state, or local equal employment statutes
• programs to promote religious activities
• public or private schools, colleges or universities
• real estate purchases
• summer-only programs

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• Promoting and facilitating individual transformation for women and girls of all ages
• Changing policies and/or systems in order to promote and protect the rights of women and girls in long–term and sustainable ways
• Engaging and Mobilizing women and girls to be active participants in their personal and systemic change

• Address the needs of underserved communities facing intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse and trafficking by empowering them to build better lives of their choice;



• Strengthen and improve community and system responses to gender-based violence, including child sexual abuse;



• Educate and empower women and youth to build lives and communities free from violence.

• Emphasize healthy development for girls, young women and transgender youths (preschool to age 21) living at or below the poverty level.



• Instill young people with confidence and a strong sense of self by providing them with a safe space separate from other programming; continuity and structure; sense of group membership; and opportunities to develop competencies through participation in a range of activities specifically designed to develop skills needed for a healthy adult life.



• Prepare girls, young women and transgender youth for successful completion of high school; to pursue and complete higher education, and vocational training opportunities that help them achieve an economically secure future



• Offer job training, placement, case management, follow–up support and retention services for jobs in high–growth, high–demand sectors that pay significantly more than minimum wage. Job creation and training programs should provide strong linkages with potential employers and/or target specific industries;



• Enable women living at or below the poverty level to access quality adult basic education, English as a Second Language, and/or post–secondary education;



• Offer programs aimed at increasing assets, such as financial literacy, microenterprise financing, development and training, and access to savings accounts and fair banking services;



• Assist women living at or below the poverty level in identifying, obtaining and retaining government benefits and other subsidies for which they are eligible;



• Provide or have strong linkages with quality supportive services, such as: childcare, substance abuse treatment, transportation, housing, and physical and mental health support or other identified needs.



• Engage in policy, advocacy and/or organizing efforts designed to improve the ability of women living at or below the poverty level to obtain the education, skills, safe working conditions, and equitable wages necessary to attain economic security.

• Ensure access to high quality, comprehensive health care services and information – such as, reproductive, sexual, HIV/AIDS, mental, maternal, and primary health care – that are linguistically and culturally appropriate as well as medically and scientifically accurate;



• Ensure access to health insurance, benefits, and other subsidies for which individuals are eligible;



• Protect and promote human rights related to sexuality and reproduction within a social justice context;



• Protect and promote the right to clean indoor and outdoor environments in which to live, work, and play as well as to healthy, affordable food.

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