Community Grants

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley administers the Community Grants program, designed to support a wide range of community-based nonprofit initiatives in Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster Counties, New York. The Foundations are known for their dedication to community advancement and collaboration, offering support that strengthens organizations serving diverse and underserved populations. The purpose of the Community Grants program is to fund effective and innovative projects across several sectors including human services, arts and culture, education and youth, health, the environment, and civic affairs. The program particularly emphasizes serving populations from historically marginalized or under-funded communities, defined by characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, age, health status, and physical or cognitive abilities. Community Grants are issued as General Operating Support (GOS) and may be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to: planning and implementation of programs, acquisition of technology, equipment or materials, strategic and succession planning, staff or board development, marketing and communications, capacity-building investments, and strengthening of management systems like financial or human resources tools. To be eligible, applicants must be tax-exempt nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status or have a fiscal sponsorship agreement with a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. Faith-based institutions are eligible only for non-religious community programs. Entities not eligible include individuals, political organizations, lobbying initiatives, endowments, schools (except for community-service programs), and for-profit entities. The grant amount that organizations can request ranges from $2,500 to $20,000, although the majority of awards typically fall between $2,500 and $7,500. For the 2024/2025 cycle, a total of $350,000 will be distributed across all three counties. Applications must be submitted through the Community Foundations’ Online Grants Portal. Each county has its own application form, and organizations that serve multiple counties may submit one application per county by demonstrating distinct impact in each. Applications open on July 1 and close on August 15. Late applications will not be accepted. Proposals are reviewed by advisory boards from each county, with final approval made by the Board of Trustees. Evaluation criteria include organizational feasibility, community need and opportunity, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. For inquiries, applicants can reach out to the Foundations at grants@communityfoundationshv.org or call (845) 452-3077.