The NYC Unity Project, the City’s LGBTQ+ interagency coordinating body, executes LGBTQ+ policy, programs, communication, internal engagement, strategic advising, and outreach at the Mayor’s Office. The NYC Unity Project is an integral part of the Mayor’s Office of Equity (MOE), which was established in 2022 to help foster a fairer, more equitable city through policy, practices, and programs across all City agencies and systems.
Historically, the LGBTQ+ community has been persecuted and underserved – this is particularly the case for the TGNCNB community. TGNCNB-led organizations are historically underfunded and under resourced, even though they serve as a critical lifeline for many TGNCNB New Yorkers.
About This Grant Opportunity
The NYC Unity Project, in partnership with the Office to Prevent Hate Crimes (OPHC), MOE, and Destination Tomorrow, is pleased to announce for the first time the availability of Capacity Building Innovation Grants (“NYC Unity Grants”) for Transgender, Gender Non Conforming, Non-Binary (TGNCNB)-serving organizations demonstrating strong TGNCNB leadership to serve their communities now and in the years ahead.
The purpose of this grant opportunity is to invest in the sustainability of TGNCNB- serving organizations by centering community identified needs, as well as equitable, effective, and efficient delivery of services.
Capacity building proposals should focus on efforts to build a sustainable organization (at an operational, programmatic, and/or financial level) that will allow it to achieve its mission more efficiently and effectively.
What are Capacity Building Initiatives?
Capacity building initiatives come in many forms, including but not limited to:
- Improving and/or expanding service delivery
- Communications and outreach strategy development
- Strategic planning
- Development strategy planning
- Volunteer recruitment and management
Please note, grant funding cannot be used for office furniture/equipment, general operating costs (such as rent, insurance, and/or utilities), and general administration.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an organization with a fiscal sponsor, based in NYC, and serving NYC TGNCNB residents.
- Must demonstrate strong TGNCNB leadership.
- Must demonstrate use of grant funding for capacity building projects.
- Must conclude funded projects by June 30, 2023.
- Must submit a final report, receipts, and invoices; Grantees may also be required to provide periodic reports on progress of funded project.
- NYC Unity Project will have the right to publicize all projects
Funding Criteria
- Demonstrates innovative capacity building initiative.
- Has potential for high impact in organization capacity building
- Can be continued or scaled for further impact.
- Can reach under-served populations, especially those with language barriers, and underreporting.
- Has established metrics for measuring success.
- Request for capacity building support is clearly connected to organizational mission and current needs.
- Communicates a plan for sustainability.
Application Process
All submissions must be submitted electronically by March 17, 2023. Applications will be reviewed and grantees announced in March. All projects must be concluded by June 30, 2023.
Updated February 16, 2023