UMEZ Cultural Aid Fund
Funding Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- One-time opportunity
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Other requirements
- Previous UMEZ Cultural Investments grantees
- Organizations meeting current eligibility requirements
- Organizations impacted by COVID-19 governmental closures
Overview
Geographic Scope: Upper Manhattan (Central Harlem, West Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood)
Focus Areas:
- Arts and culture organizations
- Nonprofit cultural institutions
- Arts education organizations
Eligibility:
- Previous UMEZ Cultural Investments grantees
- Organizations meeting current eligibility requirements
- Organizations impacted by COVID-19 governmental closures
What They Fund:
- Operating needs during pandemic
- Transition of in-person programs to online programming
- Continued programming and organizational operations
- Staff retention and payroll support
Award Type:
- Flexible grants designed for organizational needs
- Invitation-only, application-based award process
Background:
- Established in response to COVID-19 pandemic
- Designed to support cultural organizations impacted by governmental closures
- Provided temporary emergency relief to arts sector in Upper Manhattan
- Example beneficiary: Harlem School of the Arts - supported transition of 200+ classes online, reaching 800+ students
Contact Information:
- Email: info@umez.org
- Phone: (212) 410-0030
- Address: 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
What Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 11
- Total given
- $735K
- Median grant
- $25K
- Range
- $15K–$354K
- By dollars: New York 100%. Top recipient cities: New York, NY.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 18% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Lower Manhattan Cultural Coumcil · New York, NY
Art engagement program
$354K
Apollo Theatre Foundation Inc · New York, NY
To support major capital components for apollo soundstage and the victoria theaters
$175K
Community Impact · New York, NY
Ercb grant
$25K
Community League of the Heights Inc · New York, NY
Ercb grant
$25K
New York Urban League Inc · New York, NY
Ercb grant
$25K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Arts
- Nonprofits
Categories
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