The New York City Good Neighbor Committee, a program of the Ford Foundation, aims to strengthen the Foundation's local ties and support for organizations whose work aligns with its mission. This initiative also offers Ford staff who are not grantmakers an opportunity to engage directly with the Foundation's core work. The program emphasizes the Ford Foundation's values, advocating for effective grantmaking practices through flexible support, transparent and trusting relationships, and a commitment to minimizing administrative burdens on grantees. This approach reflects the Foundation's broader strategic priorities of fostering equitable and impactful community development by empowering local organizations.
Each year, the Good Neighbor Committee provides unrestricted funding to a select group of community-based organizations operating within New York City. The program focuses on three key areas: Arts and Culture, Education, and Human Services. Within these thematic areas, a primary focus is placed on initiatives that actively work to reduce barriers of inequality, create opportunities for marginalized communities, and enhance the overall quality of life and well-being for those most underserved in New York City. This includes, but is not limited to, communities of color, women, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people, and those of low socioeconomic status.
The target beneficiaries of this grant program are the marginalized and underserved populations within New York City, as identified across the three focus areas. The impact goals are centered on achieving tangible improvements in the lives of these individuals and communities by addressing systemic inequalities, fostering greater equity, and enhancing overall well-being. The program's theory of change posits that by providing flexible, unrestricted funding to community-led organizations working directly with these populations, significant progress can be made in creating opportunities and improving quality of life.
The expected outcomes and measurable results include a reduction in barriers to equality, increased access to opportunities, and an improved quality of life and well-being for the targeted communities. While specific metrics are not detailed, the emphasis on supporting initiatives that "reduce the barriers of inequality, create opportunity, and improve the overall quality of life and well-being" suggests a commitment to assessing progress in these areas. The grants typically range from $30,000 to $100,000, last one year, and are generally unrestricted, allowing grantees the flexibility to allocate funds where they are most needed to achieve these outcomes.
