NewYork-Presbyterian: The Community Fund Grant

The Community Fund by NewYork-Presbyterian aims to empower community-based organizations (CBOs) in New York City and Westchester. Launched in 2023, it addresses health disparities by funding programs targeting social determinants of health, such as social isolation, housing insecurity, and economic recovery. Grants range from $75,000 to $150,000 annually, with a maximum of $300,000 over two years, reflecting a commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved neighborhoods.

In 2023, NewYork-Presbyterian launched the Community Fund with the goal of empowering local community-based organizations, also known as CBOs. By providing targeted and scaled funding for programs that tackle social determinants of health, NewYork-Presbyterian is committed to supporting CBOs in bridging health disparities across New York City and Westchester.
This groundbreaking grant opportunity is a direct result of the 2022 - 2024 NewYork-Presbyterian Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive report that identifies the needs, assets, and priorities of the communities the hospital serves.

• Social Isolation, Housing Insecurity, and Unemployment/Economic Recovery.
• Funding
• The Community Fund offers grants ranging from $75,000 to $150,000 annually, extendable for up to two years, with a maximum award of $300,000.

Application Details

that applications for the 2024 Community Fund
are now open.
The deadline to apply is Sunday, June 23, 2024
at 11:59 PM.

Background Grant Funding
In 2022, NewYork-Presbyterian conducted a comprehensive Community The Community Fund (“the Fund”) will provide grants ranging from $75,000
Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to update our understanding of the to $150,000 per year. Applicants may apply for up to two years of funding for
health needs, assets, and priorities of the diverse communities we serve. a maximum award of $300,000. If an applicant chooses two years of funding,
This involved a detailed review of 70 health indicators, 1,200 community the total grant amount will be divided evenly over those two years. The largest
member surveys, 42 focus groups, 25 stakeholder interviews, and eight single-year award will be $150,000, and the smallest is $75,000.
This opportunity is available to CBOs across New An award under this program does not guarantee
York City and Westchester County that are actively future funding or renewal. NewYork-Presbyterian is
The assessment unveiled substantial challenges across a wide spectrum
addressing one of three critical SDOH: Social not obligated to distribute an equal number or amount
of health needs and SDOH—the social, economic, and environmental
Isolation, Housing Insecurity, or Unemployment/ of funding amongst the communities listed above.
conditions that affect health outcomes. It specifically identified several Economic Recovery.
high-priority neighborhoods in New York City and Westchester County that Special consideration will be given
are grappling with pronounced health disparities. The study also highlighted to programs or projects that benefit
residents from the following high-priority
the challenges many CBOs are under due to increased pressure to meet
communities:

• escalating service demands amidst a backdrop of diminishing funding
• Westchester
• assistance and revenue streams.
• White Plains, Westchester
• Peekskill, Westchester
• The insights gleaned from the CHNA were pivotal in the development of the
• Mt. Vernon, Westchester

Community Fund. This grant was designed to build impactful relationships
Ossining, Westchester
while supporting and empowering local CBOs to change the underlying Yonkers, Westchester
Through the
Community Fund, NewYork-Presbyterian aims to improve health outcomes
and increase equity in collaboration with community partners.
To view NewYork-Presbyterian’s 2022-2024 Community Health Needs
Assessment and Service Plan, visit nyp.org/about/community-affairs/
community-service-plans.

Focus Areas for Funding
This grant opportunity will concentrate exclusively on three critical SDOH
Isolation, Housing Insecurity, and Unemployment/Economic Recovery.
there is a pressing need for expanded intervention.
Economic Recovery
Opportunities to build connections Housing insecurity can contribute to
at any age are essential to individual health challenges, and has worsened
Economic and financial well-being
health and well-being. Addressing social as both rent costs and eviction rates
substantially impact access to the
isolation is also essential to creating have increased.
resources needed to live a healthy life.
healthy communities.

various demographics. Despite an increased need,
indoor hub spaces like community centers.
resources to address social isolation were limited.
the pandemic and other social support outlets,
youth or seniors.
Community arts programs that provide
access. For adolescents, forced social isolation opportunities for people to express themselves
was a negative factor in their overall well-being creatively, learn new skills, and connect with
and mental health. others who share their interests.
Opportunities to build connections at any age
are essential to individual health and well-being.
Addressing social isolation is also essential to
creating healthy communities.
Economic and financial well-being substantially The economic recovery from the pandemic has
impact access to the resources needed to been uneven. Some neighborhoods still have a
live a healthy life. The pandemic profoundly disproportionate number of vacant storefronts,
Housing Insecurity
affected the economy, with record job losses impacting economic development and job
and small business closures in New York City opportunities. Many workers, particularly low-
Many community residents struggle with the high Project Examples
and Westchester County. Those with the fewest wage workers and people of color, continue to face
Community Land Trusts help CBOs acquire and
financial resources available to them were higher unemployment rates, pointing to structural
hold land for the community’s benefit. They may
disproportionately impacted by the economic inequities in the economic recovery.
effects caused by the pandemic. No or reduced
County, where 53% and 50% of renters are “rent that are owned and democratically governed by Project Examples
income has been connected to several health-
burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their residents. »
related issues, such as chronic health conditions Workforce development programs provide
their income on rent.
»
Tenant support programs may provide legal (such as diabetes and heart disease), infectious training and education to help individuals
Community members consistently mentioned services, education, and advocacy for tenants; diseases (such as HIV and hepatitis C), maternal acquire the skills needed to secure stable,
housing insecurity during the CHNA process as a may help tenants enforce their rights; and can and infant morbidity and mortality, and poor high-paying jobs. These programs can lead to
challenge they faced due to economic hardship. help people navigate the complex housing market mental health. These health outcomes are due the creation of a more skilled workforce and
Housing insecurity can contribute to health in New York City and Westchester County. to insufficient access to resources that promote contribute to long-term economic growth.
Providing technical assistance, training, and
to poorer health for low-income populations limited access to quality health care, and higher
are often under-resourced but provide critical funding programs to help small businesses
because of the behaviors and living circumstances levels of chronic stress caused by economic
community services. These CBOs may provide start, grow, and thrive. These programs enable
they produce. Housing insecurity has worsened as instability. Community residents who participated
temporary housing, meals, counseling, small businesses to create jobs and stimulate
both rent costs and eviction rates have increased. in focus groups as part of NewYork-Presbyterian’s
and other services to people experiencing economic growth.
homelessness, helping them to stabilize their »
drug use and community violence to economic Adult education and literacy programs that help
lives and eventually find permanent housing.
challenges caused by the pandemic. improve job skills and increase employment
opportunities.

»
Applicants must demonstrate a clear commitment The applicant must certify that no conflict of The Community Fund aims to empower CBOs
to community impact and possess a track record of interest arises in accepting a grant with respect to by enhancing their operational capabilities and
effective program or project implementation. Through the members of the applicant’s Board of Directors, extending their impact within the communities
this grant, NewYork-Presbyterian seeks to partner senior managers, and entities that control or are they serve. Through this grant, eligible CBOs will
with organizations that are deeply embedded in under common control with the applicant receive funding that supports initiatives intended
their communities and poised to make a significant to increase their effectiveness, sustainability, and
difference through strategic interventions. Past or current recipients of NewYork-Presbyterian scope of services.
funding are eligible to apply, excluding current
To qualify for consideration for the Community Funds may be used for, but are not limited to:

• Community Fund grantees.
• Fund, applicants must adhere to the following: »
• New or existing work
• »
• Organizations must be a not-for-profit, »
• Training programs (both training of community
• Ineligible Projects or
• religious, or government agency with a
• members and/or staff training to build
• community service mission Organizations
• organizational capacity to serve a target need)
• »
• Organizations must have a minimum annual »
• The grant is intended for CBOs and will not consider: Legal assistance
• operational budget of $500,000
• » »
• » Applicants affiliated with another hospital Direct service Review Criteria
• The program or project must seek to address
• system, universities, or academic studies. »
• one of the following SDOH: Social Isolation, Capital expenses and equipment expenses Preference will be given to programs or projects
• »
• Housing Insecurity, or Unemployment/ A for-profit entity » Consultant costs for technical assistance or that present a tangible benefit for community

Economic Recovery enhancing staff capacity residents. NewYork-Presbyterian respects ideas
»
The applicant must have the infrastructure and is unlikely to fund strategic planning or data
partners, are grounded in community service,
capacity to monitor and report performance collection, or research disconnected from action. as it is rooted in the community and is not
metrics and the distribution of funds legislative in nature
benefit a large number of residents.
»
Direct assistance/aid (such as moving to encourage applicants to be innovative, even if the
stable housing, license application costs, and program or project represents an untested area of
business certification/registration costs) work for the organization.
»
Hiring of for-profit services, such as mold Factors considered in reviewing applications include:

• remediation, by the grantee organization »
• Demonstration of community need
• »
• Non-profits or public entities (such as schools »
• Clarity of program or project
• and libraries)
• »
• » Defined scope of work
• Faith-based or religious organizations and
• »
• houses of worship Scale of project or impact
• »
• Federally Qualified Health Centers or
• »
• Reach into the community being served
• community health clinics that are not under the »
• A budget commensurate with the scope of work
• aegis of another hospital system
• and duration
• »
• Subcontracts with a partner organization »
• A clear plan for evaluation
• 9

Application Process Resources
The Community Fund will utilize a two-step application process: (1) An open An information session about the Community Fund, including an open
call to applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and (2) an invitation-only Q&A, will be offered on June 13 , 2024, at 1 PM. Register here:

• submission of a full proposal. https://nyph.zoom.us/s/94110133928.
• Letter of Inquiry Full Proposals An FAQ sheet along with an expanded list of Project Examples can be
• found on the application webpage or by visiting the Community Fund
• Please complete the online application available After careful review, a select number of LOI
• here Community Fund Application or visit our applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. website for additional support.

website at nyp.org/capacity-building/community-fund. Full proposal timeline and details will be provided
Emailed submissions will not be accepted. at the time of notification. As part of NewYork-Presbyterian’s Capacity Building strategy, we offer
When completing the application, please note: The full proposals will be reviewed by a panel of Technical Assistance (TA), an inclusive educational and resource-building
» external reviewers comprised of representatives
One or more organizations may partner and opportunity. TA is open to all CBOs throughout New York City and Westchester
with expertise in areas related to the priority SDOH.
collaborate on an application but must select a
County. Learn more at nyp.org/capacity-building/technical-assistance.
single organization to be the lead applicant. Final selections will be announced and awarded
LOIs on behalf of their organization where they
are the lead applicant.
Applicants may select only one SDOH and one
community per submission.
grantmaking, community relations, population
health, and health justice.
Letters of Inquiry must be submitted on
or by Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 11:59 PM.

and Flushing, engaging 300 families and
impacting over 1,200 lives.
12 13

If you have questions regarding project guidelines, the application process,
or eligibility, including feedback on a program or project, please email
NYPCommunityFund@nyp.org.
including future grant and TA opportunities, please visit
nyp.org/community-affairs-newsletter.
NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the nation’s most A leader in medical education, NewYork-Presbyterian
comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare Hospital is the only academic medical center in the
systems, encompassing 10 hospitals across the nation affiliated with two world-class medical schools,
Greater New York area, nearly 200 primary and Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University
specialty care clinics and medical groups, and an Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. This
array of telemedicine services. collaboration means patients have access to the
specialties, latest innovations in care, and research
that is developing cures and saving lives.