Brooklyn Org Spark Prize Grant

The Brooklyn Org Spark Prize is a significant initiative by the Brooklyn Community Foundation, offering over $600,000 annually to support nonprofits that demonstrate a commitment to equity and social justice. Each year, five organizations receive $100,000, while twenty finalists are awarded up to $5,000 in matching funds. This prize aims to empower Brooklyn-based groups that have been historically under-resourced, fostering transformative change in the community and beyond.

Brooklyn Community Foundation believes in providing long-term investment and support to organizations that are doing transformative work in Brooklyn, particularly groups that have been under-resourced by traditional channels of philanthropy.
The Spark Prize provides over $600,000 total each year to organizations with a strong track record of addressing critical challenges and opportunities in Brooklyn. We aim to celebrate Brooklyn-born organizations that demonstrate a commitment to equity and racial justice, creativity and impact, strong institutional values, and a dynamic vision for the future of their work in Brooklyn and beyond. The Prize is named for and informed by our mission to spark change for a fair and just Brooklyn.
Each year, five nonprofits are selected to receive the $100,000 prize by the Spark Prize Committee of distinguished Brooklynites through a competitive application process. Twenty finalists for the Spark Prize each receive up to $5,000 in matching funds through our #BrooklynGives on Giving Tuesday campaign—celebrated each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving—to encourage local donors to support to their work.
Organizations are asked to address three primary criteria in their applications:

• Born in Brooklyn: Organizations that have a deep history in Brooklyn and a continued commitment to serving the borough.
• Commitment to Equity: Organizations that address systemic challenges and advance racial and social justice for all Brooklynites.
• Vision for Future: Organizations that have a strong vision for the future of their work in Brooklyn and beyond.

Eligibility

To be eligible, organizations must meet each of the following requirements:Serve the people and communities of BrooklynBe in operation for longer than five (5) yearsCan show a minimum organizational budget of $250,000 for most recent fiscal yearHave a 501c3 determination letter or a memorandum of understanding (MOU) from a fiscal sponsorHave an active governing body (ie. Board of Trustees, Advisory Board, etc.)We encourage organizations that are not current Brooklyn Community Foundation grantees to apply, including those that applied for the Spark Prize in previous years (including finalists).Current Foundation grantees are also eligible to apply.

Ineligibility

Former winners are not eligible to apply.Please note that we do not fund the following: Individuals