The Schenectady Foundation's Emergent Needs Grant is part of its focused effort to support high-impact, community-driven projects that serve marginalized or underserved residents of Schenectady County, New York. The Foundation prioritizes applications that address urgent and evolving issues in the community through innovative and responsive approaches.
For the 2025 cycle, the Request for Proposals (RFP) was released on April 4, 2025. A Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is required and must be submitted by May 5, 2025. Full grant applications are due by June 2, 2025, and funding decisions are anticipated around June 27, 2025.
Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, or may apply through a fiscal sponsor. The Foundation does not fund individuals, private businesses, or endowment campaigns. While local government entities are typically ineligible, exceptions may be made after consultation with Foundation staff. Projects must primarily serve residents of Schenectady County and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability beyond the grant term.
Grants have no formal minimum or maximum, but typically range between $1,000 and $500,000, with an average award size around $90,000 over the past three years. Capital campaign and multi-year funding are available under specific conditions. The Foundation values applications that involve impacted communities in their design and can show measurable, community-level impact. Preference is also given to organizations that leverage other funding sources and have reasonable reserve levels.
Micro Grants are also available for smaller-scale initiatives, planning efforts, and pilot programs, generally ranging from $3,000 to $7,000, with a $10,000 maximum.
