Micro Grants

Geographic Scope: Schenectady County, NY

Projected Funding: Included in Micro Grants, Sponsorships and Special Initiative Funds ($165,000)

Impact Statement

Organizations will have access to seed funding to plan, research, and pilot new initiatives that foster innovation and build stronger connections within the community.

Purpose

Micro Grants address requests of $10,000 or less and are often utilized for:

• Planning and research
• Development of future projects
• Getting pilot projects off the ground
• Seed funding for new initiatives

Key Requirements

• Applications must demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes
• Priority given to initiatives with potential for transformative impact
• Strong applications show client/beneficiary engagement in service design and delivery
• Two-step application process required (LOI then full application)

Contact

Sofia Pawlusik

• Phone: (518) 393-9500
• Email: spawlusik@schenectadyfoundation.org

Office Hours for Support

• Tuesdays: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Wednesdays: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Nonprofit corporations registered with the New York State Office of Charities Registration and designated 501(c)(3) by the IRS, serving Schenectady County.

Two-Step Application Process

1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Submission
   • Submit through Foundation's online grant portal
   • LOI provides general overview of proposed project and associated outcomes
   • Foundation responds to appropriate and complete LOIs within 10 days
   • Applicants may be asked to submit additional information or meet with Foundation staff
   • Approved LOIs grant access to full grant application
2. Full Grant Application
   • Submit through Foundation's online grant portal
   • Must meet all requirements for substance, accuracy, and completeness
   • Applicants will be invited to grant conference with Distribution Committee members
   • Notification of funding decision within approximately 2 weeks after conference
   • If approved, allow 2-3 weeks for fund processing and check issuance after grant agreement is signed

Required Materials

• Outcomes must be measurable or observable
• Demonstrate how clients/beneficiaries are engaged in service design and delivery
• Clear explanation of how funding will deliver meaningful impact

Resources

• Support videos available on Foundation's YouTube channel
• Outcomes Terms outline available to guide applicants
• Foundation staff available for guidance on outcomes development