Supporting Environmentally Sustainable, Resilient, and Just Communities Across Downstate New York Grant

The New York Community Trust is seeking proposals for projects that address environmental and climate-related issues in Downstate New York. Focus areas include sustainable food systems, climate-resilient housing, and renewable energy-driven community development. Up to four grants of $300,000 over two years will be awarded to collaborative efforts benefiting Long Island, NYC, and the Lower Hudson Valley. The Trust emphasizes the importance of advocacy, research, and program development in these initiatives.

The Opportunity
This year, we request regional proposals for projects focused on one of three environmental and climate-related issues:
Sustainable food systems: producing, distributing, procuring, and disposing of food in ways that create jobs, meet nutritional needs, and provide food security for all without compromising the well-being of people or the planet now or in the future;Climate-resilient housing and land use planning: the planning, building, or rehabilitation of single and multifamily housing to protect against climate-related threats (including sea level rise, extreme weather events, and power interruption) while prioritizing safety, energy efficiency, a highly skilled workforce, and environmental sustainability; or Community development driven by renewable energy: green jobs, promoting local economic vitality by deploying solar, wind, and/or geothermal power, electric vehicles, and similar technologies to benefit communities.
The Trust expects to award up to four two-year grants of up to $300,000 for collaborative efforts that directly benefit Long Island, New York City, and the Lower Hudson Valley (Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, and Ulster counties). These efforts may include any combination of:
advocacy and lobbying in support of needed systemic change, including policy/legislation, financing practices, or market-based campaigns;practical research to inform policy and budget decisions; andplanning and program development (proposals for planning alone are unlikely to be competitive).
Grants will range from $150,000 to $300,000 over two years ($75,000 to $150,000 per year).