Scherman Foundation: Strengthening New York Communities Grant

Scherman Foundation: Strengthening New York Communities Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Scherman Foundation Inc.
Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Summary

The Scherman Foundation focuses on empowering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities through economic, political, and cultural transformation. They prioritize organizations led by or accountable to these communities, fostering intersectional practices and movement-building efforts. Their funding aims to address systemic inequities in New York, particularly in housing, workers' rights, and cultural initiatives, promoting justice and community resilience. The Foundation's commitment to racial justice reflects in its strategic framework and grantmaking priorities.

Overview

NOTE: A new Letter of Intent is not required for current grantees. The Scherman Foundation accepts Letters of Intent for New Requests. Applicants will generally be advised by June if a LOI has been declined or will be invited to submit a full proposal for consideration. Please note that we primarily support current grantees and make a limited number of new grants each year. Our Mission The Scherman Foundation invests in the economic, political, and cultural transformation necessary for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to reclaim and build power. Our Strategic Framework We believe that investing in cultural, political, and economic transformation together advances justice to realize our vision. We support organizations working at the intersections of these transformation areas inside our strategic framework. This framework is the foundation of our more specific and evolving program priorities. Economic TransformationOur focus on economic transformation acknowledges that the root causes of economic inequity are linked to white supremacy and racial injustice and that the economic well being of BIPOC individuals and communities is critical for liberation.We support organizations that focus on:Strategies and models that provide BIPOC communities with greater access to capital, assets, and opportunitiesEconomic stability and security for BIPOC individuals and familiesAdvocating for more equitable economic systems through policy reform, institutional changes, and increased transparencyPolitical TransformationWe believe that those who have been excluded must lead the way in dismantling current political structures and creating new, inclusive, and reflective democratic processes.We support organizations that focus on:Work and priorities that are driven by BIPOC communitiesForging multi-racial coalitions working toward racial justiceReforming political structures and processes to make the political system more accessible and accountable to BIPOC communitiesIncreasing the participation of BIPOC communities in democratic processes and decision-making at all levelsCultural TransformationRecognizing the crucial role of culture in advancing justice, we support organizations that harness storytelling, expression, and artistic activism to drive systemic change.Our focus is on collaborative narrative change strategies, innovative storytelling frameworks, and equitable media accessibility.We support organizations that focus on:Public Narrative Change: Combating misinformation and harmful stereotypes through investments in journalism, local news outlets, and nonfiction narrativesArtistic Expression: Supporting the creativity and work of BIPOC artists and communities without imposing agendas or conditions and transforming the field to do the sameArtivism: Using art as a tool for organizing grassroots movements and collective action, including funding on-the-ground storytelling and public art projects General Criteria We consider the following general criteria in our grantmaking process. Organizations that are accountable to or directed by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities.While we prioritize BIPOC leadership, our main focus is on organizations where BIPOC communities have clear influence and decision-making power over the organization's strategy, direction, programmatic work, and finances.Organizations that are intersectional in their work and practices.Intersectionality recognizes that individuals hold multiple identities, shaping their experiences with power.We look for organizations that demonstrate a deep understanding of intersectionality in their mission, programs, and practices; center the voices and experiences of those most affected by multiple forms of oppression; and address the interconnectedness of racial justice with economic status, gender, LGBTQ+, and/or disability justice as well.Organizations that work with others to build movements toward racial justice.Movement-building is the long-term process of organizing and empowering individuals and organizations to collectively work towards systemic change and a shared vision.We look for organizations and coalitions that reflect key characteristics of movement building including an authentic mass base; grassroots leadership; a shared ideology or narrative; broad coalition-building; and strategy to create and sustain structural change beyond specific organizations or campaigns.The Foundation supports organizations focused on organizing and advocacy, while our Arts funding includes a wider range of approaches. Strengthening New York Communities Program New York is where the Scherman Foundation began. For much of its history, the Foundation made grants to challenge inequities and improve the conditions of New York City communities most in need. This focus on social justice remains at the core of our grantmaking today, with a clearer focus on racial justice as expressed in our new vision, mission, strategic framework, and program guidelines. New York remains an important part of our grantmaking, with its own distinct grants program. The Foundation is dedicated to challenging the inequities that still exist in New York and building the power of its communities to create a better and more just future for all. With our clearer focus on racial justice, our New York grantmaking recognizes that resourced BIPOC communities, including communities of immigrants—newly arrived and multi-generational—are powerful catalysts for economic, political, and cultural transformation for all. Funding Priorities Housing and Land Use A stable, decent home and a vibrant thriving neighborhood are elemental to the economic, political, and cultural transformations that the Foundation seeks. The Foundation will therefore continue to prioritize grassroots, movement-building organizations fighting for housing and land use justice in New York City and State. The current crisis in housing and land use is the result of long-term, intentional economic and racial discrimination and neglect. The solution is, therefore, not simply increased supply—more of the same— but qualitatively different housing and land use systems reflecting stability, autonomy, and joy. That systemic change is only achievable through the mobilization and grassroots movement-building leadership of those most deeply affected: low wealth, primarily BIPOC communities. The Foundation will fund groups based in specific neighborhoods as well as organizations and coalitions with city and state-wide reach. We support organizations that address the following issue areas separately or in combination: Tenant supports and protections for regulated apartments, including rent stabilized units, public housing, and those covered by Good Cause Eviction protections. This includes access to rent relief and expanded housing vouchers, and full implementation of the Right to Counsel in Housing CourtPreservation of affordable housing and neighborhoods through the strengthening of BIPOC residents’ and communities’ voices in decisions about their future. This includes increased access to capital and alternative land, housing, and business ownership models, including community land trust and social housing, that build BIPOC community power and economic stability. Promotion of equitable and inclusive development of affordable housing and communities through the shaping of policy and decisions on housing and land use, including zoning and planning Workers’ Rights and Justice New York has been and continues to be shaped by its BIPOC and immigrant communities, particularly by its low-wage workers from those communities. Their contributions fuel economic growth, strengthen social bonds, and anchor resilient neighborhoods. Therefore, we are committed to advancing worker rights and justice for BIPOC and immigrant communities in New York to better support workers and their families as they build greater economic stability and security for themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors. We support organizations that address the following issue areas separately or in combination: Protections for low-wage, informal workers, including, but not limited to, delivery and food industry workers, construction workers, domestic workers, and street vendorsSystemic access to fair wages, work opportunities, training, and language justice for BIPOC and immigrant communitiesA fairer, more accessible childcare system for workers, families, and providers, particularly one that supports low-wage, informal workers from BIPOC communities. We interpret workers’ rights and justice broadly and recognize that organizations may work on these and other related issues.  We also prioritize applicable organizations that apply a gender justice lens to their work, recognizing the disproportionate challenges faced by BIPOC and immigrant women in the workforce. Other Priorities As stated in our programmatic guidelines, the Foundation looks to support organizations that primarily use grassroots organizing and advocacy. However, we also consider grantees whose work incorporates or focuses on narrative and culture shift related to one of the above priorities. We also consider organizations that take an intersectional approach, contextualizing housing, land justice, worker justice, and immigrant justice issues within a broader framework that is responsive to the needs of those most impacted. This framework should align with the Foundation's other program priorities, which include environmental and climate justice and civic engagement. We offer limited support to capacity-building organizations that provide crucial assistance to organizing and advocacy groups within our priority areas. We expect to expand this portfolio to include at least one new priority.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) charitable status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status.GeographyAlthough much of our grantmaking to date has focused on New York City, we will be slowly expanding our grantmaking to other regions of New York State.We will continue to fund organizations working in New York City, as well as selected organizations, coalitions, and networks with statewide reach. We will also make a limited number of grants in Long Island.

Ineligibility

We do not consider:Grants to support specific events or productionsDirect service work unless embedded in a larger organizing and movement building strategyOrganizations primarily working outside of the U.S.