GO Queens Grant

The GO Queens Grant is a general operating support initiative dedicated to bolstering Queens-based nonprofit organizations that focus on the performing arts. Administered by Flushing Town Hall and funded by the Howard Gilman Foundation, the program seeks to support small arts and culture organizations whose work enriches the cultural fabric of Queens and New York City. The Howard Gilman Foundation, the program's funder, honors the legacy of Howard Gilman by supporting vibrant and promising performing arts institutions across New York City. The GO Queens Grant represents a continuation of this commitment, offering unrestricted funding to foster resilience, growth, and creativity within the local arts sector. The grant provides twenty-five awards of $10,000 each to eligible organizations. These funds are unrestricted general operating support and may be used at the recipient's discretion for operational expenses such as staff salaries, rent, marketing, supplies, and other day-to-day needs. Additionally, the grant allows some use of funds for 2026 programming, further enhancing its flexibility for recipient organizations. The program explicitly aims to help small organizations recover from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and sustain their artistic contributions to the community. Eligibility for the grant is specifically limited to Queens-based nonprofit organizations or fiscally sponsored entities that center the performing arts as a core component of their mission. Applicants must have a valid mailing address in Queens, an annual operating budget under $250,000, and a history of at least one year of active programming. Organizations that received the GO Queens Grant in the prior year are ineligible to apply. Proof of nonprofit status is required, but organizations without this status may apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must meet specific administrative responsibilities, including submission of required documentation and disbursement of funds. The application window for the 2026 GO Queens Grant opened on September 3, 2025, and closed on December 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. First-time applicants were required to attend or view an information session prior to applying. Returning applicants from the past three years were not required to attend but were encouraged to do so. Applications were submitted via the Submittable platform and required several key components, including a narrative, documentation of nonprofit or fiscal sponsorship status, an annual operating budget, organizational overview, and promotional materials from recent programs. Organizations applying with a fiscal sponsor had additional documentation requirements, such as a letter of commitment. Applications were reviewed by a panel organized by Flushing Town Hall and composed of Queens community leaders, artists, and cultural professionals. Panelists evaluated submissions based on organizational merit, financial and managerial capacity, and community impact. The review considered each applicant’s alignment with their stated mission, program quality, fiscal soundness, and engagement with the Queens community. Final funding decisions were informed by scoring against these criteria, the availability of funds, and a comparative assessment of all applicants. Selected grantees will receive their award notifications in March 2026 and will be required to submit a final report documenting how the funds were used, including supporting receipts and invoices. Additionally, grantees will participate in one or two site visits during the year to share insights about their ongoing work and engage directly with Flushing Town Hall. These visits aim to foster deeper relationships and provide grantees with opportunities to express any support needs. Through this program, the GO Queens Grant continues to serve as a critical investment in the vibrancy and resilience of Queens' performing arts ecosystem.