Dyson Foundation Mini-Grant Program

The Dyson Foundation Mini-Grant Program supports Mid-Hudson Valley nonprofits in enhancing their administrative and programmatic capabilities. This funding initiative is designed for capacity-building projects that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, operational improvements, and professional development. Grants cover up to 80% of project costs, with a maximum of $15,000. Organizations can also apply for follow-up mini-implementation grants to put project recommendations into action, ensuring sustainable growth and effectiveness.

NOTE: Prior to submitting a Letter of Inquiry via the Grants Portal, organizations are encouraged to contact the Program Officer.
The Dyson Foundation’s mini-grant program funds Mid-Hudson Valley organizations interested in capacity building projects to improve administrative, governance, and/or programmatic functions. Mini-grants enable nonprofit board, staff, and volunteer leaders to develop new skills through consultant-led capacity-building activities, or through conferences, seminars, and other training opportunities.
Mini-grants are available for:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)Assessment, consulting, and policy developmentOperational enhancementsFiscal systems
• Human resources
• Organizational assessments
• Policies and procedures
• Program development and evaluationPlanningCommunications
• Resource development
• Strategic
• Succession
• TechnologyProfessional developmentExecutive coaching
• Conferences, seminars, and training
• Mini-implementation Grants

Following the completion of a mini-grant funded consultancy or training, grantees may apply for a follow-up mini-implementation grant of up to $3,000 to cover the costs of enacting the results or recommendations of the project (including continued consulting, marketing materials, web design, etc.).

Eligibility

Mini-grants will fund up to 80% of the total cost of a consultancy or training, with a maximum award of $15,000, and require a 20% match from the organization. Applicants may include overhead costs (up to 15% of the budget), but not staff time, on the project budget. Organizations are generally limited to one mini-grant per calendar year, which can be awarded concurrently with general operating or designated Dyson Foundation funding.Funding for Private/Independent Elementary and Secondary Schools Serving Children with Special Needs:The Foundation may consider capacity-building Mini-Grants to independent schools for children with special needs in our six-county Mid-Hudson Valley region through the Management Assistance Program (MAP) or the Strategic Restructuring Initiative, provided those schools meet the eligibility criteria for those programsThe Dyson Foundation makes grants to tax-exempt public charities described under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
The Dyson Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Hudson Valley (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties

Ineligibility

The Foundation will not consider funding to independent schools serving the general population.New and emerging organizations yet to establish formal programming or funder/community support are not eligible for mini-grant funding.
Organizations with operating budgets greater than $20 million are generally not eligible for mini-grant funding.Organizations serving the whole of New York State are not eligible for mini-grant funding.
Mini-Grants cannot be used for direct professional services (i.e. architectural design, grant writing, web design), training as required for organizational licensing or professional certification, or projects already in progress.We do not accept applications from:individuals
fiscal agents
organizations serving the whole of New York State, unless the Mid-Hudson Valley is a substantial focus area for the organization’s programs or services
government units such as fire districts or municipalities, except for projects exploring consolidation or merger
nonprofit fire and rescue squads
Rotary clubs and similar service clubsWe do not make grants for:galas, fundraising events, tickets, or sponsorships
general endowments
debt or deficit reductionIn addition, the Foundation will generally not consider management assistance mini-grant applications or general operating support requests from faith-based organizations.The Dyson Foundation’s policy on non-discrimination prevents us from awarding grant support to organizations that, in their constitution, bylaws, or practices, discriminate against a person or group because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief. Grantees, however, may target services to a particular population when the targeted groups require specialized programs to meet specific needs not shared by the general population.