Micro-Grant Program

The Northern New York Community Foundation’s Micro-Grant Program is designed to support the work of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. The Foundation, committed to enhancing the quality of life in Northern New York through the support of community projects and initiatives, administers this program to advance its mission through targeted funding. Only nonprofit entities physically located in and serving the aforementioned counties are eligible to apply. The Micro-Grant Program seeks to fund projects that offer clear community benefits and fall within key focus areas. These include bridge funding to initiate or complete community-based projects, catalyst funding to generate additional charitable contributions from the public, programs serving specific populations in need, and support for organizational development activities such as capacity building, governance improvements, and strategic planning. Funding is explicitly not intended for the operational expenses of existing programs, debt repayment, reimbursement for already completed or nearly completed projects, or event sponsorships. Religious organizations are generally excluded unless the proposed project has a demonstrable community benefit. Endowment support is also excluded, with limited exceptions for funds stewarded by the Foundation. Applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis, and funding amounts range from $250 to $2,500. A prior grant report must be submitted and approved before a new application will be considered. Importantly, applying for a micro-grant does not interfere with other grant requests or awards from the Foundation. The application requires specific details about the nonprofit’s mission, a comprehensive project summary including goals, budget details, and timeline. Applicants must also identify the specific counties their project will impact and detail the sources of funding being pursued or already secured. The application further requires a detailed explanation of expected outcomes and how the grant will be publicly acknowledged if awarded. Applicants are encouraged to prepare all necessary documentation, including project budgets and supporting media or publications that illustrate the organization’s impact or the context of the proposed project. These materials must be submitted digitally through the Foundation’s application portal. For questions or more information, applicants can contact Emily Pfeil (Philanthropy Associate) at emily@nnycf.org, Kraig Everard (Director of Philanthropy) at kraig@nnycf.org, or Max DelSignore (Vice President) at max@nnycf.org.

Ensure the proposed project clearly demonstrates community benefit; confirm geographic eligibility; prepare a specific and measurable outcomes section; submit required grant report if previously funded.