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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.

Grants will be made for general operating or program-specific support. Only organizations whose constituencies are comprised of or who serve a majority of women and/or girls are eligible to apply for general operating support. Grants will be awarded to organizations or programs that reflect the mission, strategic priorities and criteria of the Foundation. Because the Foundation prioritizes support of smaller organizations, proposals from organizations with operating budgets of more than $2 million cannot submit requests for general operating support; they are only eligible to apply for program-specific support, and will also need to demonstrate the strategic impact NYWF® support will have on the work.

As part of its grantmaking, the Foundation is committed to supporting the efforts of organizations to develop their administrative and programmatic infrastructure. Capacity-building initiatives may be included as part of an organization’s proposal for general or program support. The Foundation also encourages the collaboration of organizations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and advocacy efforts and welcomes proposals for collaborative activities within its five program 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;



• Are designed specifically for low-income women and girls while addressing critical needs of disadvantaged and/or marginalized populations, particularly women and girls of color; 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; ex-offenders; or other underserved populations;



• 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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• Employ concrete and effective strategies for addressing systemic change in order to protect and promote the rights of women and girls, including, but not limited to, housing, employment, education, and criminal justice and freedom;



• Encourage collaborations with other organizations, and enhance the leadership skills, knowledge, and responsibilities of their constituents to obtain equity and justice for their communities;



• Build power and influence of constituents/participants;



• Increase participation in public life, alter power relations and build community;



• Deliver concrete victories on issues of direct concern to their constituencies.

• 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 low-income women 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 low-income women in identifying, obtaining and retaining government benefits and other subsidies for which they are eligible;



• Engage in policy, advocacy and/or organizing efforts designed to improve the ability of low-income women 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, 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.

• Foster leadership development and critical thinking skills;



• Examine class, race and gender stereotypes;



• Encourage participants to engage their community toward positive social change.

• Address the needs of underserved communities facing domestic violence, sexual assault 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.

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1.	Submit the Proposal Summary Form online. If you are unable complete the Form online, please contact us at bgang@nywf.org
2.	Submit, in hard copy to the Foundation offices, an original and four copies (total of five) of the following documents:
	Copy of the completed online Proposal Summary Form; Proposal Checklist; Proposal Narrative; Budget Forms; and Required attachments.

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