Emergent Needs & "Open" Grants

The Schenectady Foundation's Emergent Needs & Open Grants program supports innovative projects aimed at enhancing community well-being in Schenectady County. With a focus on equitable access to healthy food, neighborhood revitalization, and emergent needs, the Foundation is investing $2 million in 2025 to catalyze transformative change. Grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations that serve marginalized populations and demonstrate a commitment to community engagement and impact.

Schenectady's Community Foundation
To date we have invested more than $32 million into our communities, and plan to commit about $2 million in grants and scholarships in 2025.
Schenectady Foundation Grants
The Schenectady Foundation plans to invest $2 million into charitable projects with the greatest potential to positively impact our community. Our priorities: Equitable Access to Healthy Food Initiative, Neighborhood Revitalization and Emergent Needs. Also included is our grants portfolio are Micro Grants, Scholarships and Community Event Sponsorships. New this year is funding for the Arts, and a Grassroots Fund to support community-based grassroots and neighborhood level initiatives.
The projected total investment in each funding area is as follows:

• Equitable Access to Healthy Food - $500,000
• Neighborhoods – $250,000
• Emergent Needs and "Open" Grants - $250,000
• Micro Grants, Sponsorships and Special Initiative Funds - $165,000
• Scholarships - $80,000
• Catalytic and Transformative

The Foundation’s role is as a catalyst for community change. Of particular interest are projects – large or small – where an injection of funding and engagement can more quickly and significantly deliver impact in our areas of focus.
The Schenectady Foundation believes in supporting projects with the potential to be transformative – leading to marked change in people, organizations, neighborhoods, and the broader community. The Foundation prioritizes its involvement in transformational projects and movements.
Impact Statements
The Schenectady Foundation’s impact statements describe to applicants how we plan to fulfill our mission to benefit the health and well-being of people who live and work in Schenectady County. The Foundation has created an impact statement for each area of focus, and encourages proposals that will help to drive Schenectady’s results closer and closer to the achievement of these impacts.
Equitable Access to Healthy Food:Schenectady County will be food-secure, ensuring that all residents have regular access to fresh, healthy food to nourish themselves and their families.Neighborhood Revitalization:Schenectady’s neighborhoods will thrive, becoming places where residents feel safe, supported and valued; encouraged and empowered to make changes in their community.Emergent Needs:Key organizations are supported as they collaborate to help Schenectady’s residents by responding to new or emergent needs.Micro Grants:Innovative projects will have access to seed money to help plan for new programs or innovations, and to engage more deeply in the community.

Eligibility

Applicants must be non-profit corporations registered with the New York State Office of Charities Registration and designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the IRS.Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may apply only if a qualified tax-exempt charity serves as a fiscal agent for the grant.Applicants must primarily serve Schenectady County residents, especially those focusing on marginalized or underserved populations.Applicant organizations must be in good standing with the IRS and the NYS Charities Bureau.Before submitting a new grant application, current grantees must have substantially completed their grants and submitted timely, informative progress reports demonstrating their impact.

Ineligibility

Individuals seeking grants or loans.Private businesses seeking grants or loans.Requests to fund endowments or quasi-endowmentsLocal governments (counties, cities, towns, or villages) are generally ineligible to receive grant funding from the Foundation. Interested applicants should first discuss their project with Foundation staff.