Brooklyn Org General Funding Application Clinic (March 2025)
For Next Rolling Funding Deadline: April 15
Zoom
11:00 AM–12:00 PM EDT
How to Apply for BKO Funding
Brooklyn Org provides multi-year, general operating support of up to $45,000 per year, for up to three years
Apply by April 4th: Neighborhood Collective Impact Projects
Brooklyn Org is accepting proposals for projects that address pressing local concerns and strengthen nonprofit collaboration, with up to $25,000 in funding per partnership. We especially encourage projects that uplift community engagement, local voices, and voter participation in the 2025 municipal election.
Apply by May 9th: 2026 Brooklyn Org Spark Prize
Each year, five nonprofits are selected to receive the $100,000 ‘no strings attached’ Brooklyn Org Spark Prize. The Prize is named for and informed by our mission to spark change for a fair and just Brooklyn.
Rolling Deadline: General Funding From Brooklyn Org
We fund organizations that advance racial justice and provide critical resources to BIPOC and other groups who have been historically disempowered and discriminated against across Brooklyn.
Our new strategic grantmaking process replaces our previous stand-alone grantmaking initiatives and portfolios (except for the Brooklyn Org Spark Prize, which maintain its own timeline and application process), in favor of a universal application that welcomes the full scope of racial justice work beyond any one priority issue or focus area.
All eligible Brooklyn-serving organizations are invited to apply for general operating support. Applications are accepted at any time; funding decisions are made twice per year (see timeline below). All organizations will receive notification of their status, and select organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal for review by our Community Advisory Council.
Current grantees will finish their grant portfolio cycle, and going forward, can apply through the new application.
Application Timeline
| Submissions Received | Invitation to Submit Full Proposal | Funds Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| October 1st through April 15th | June | December |
| April 16th through September 30th | December | May |
Stream Our Latest Application Workshop
After the initial application, select organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal and take part in a site visit. Grants are awarded in May and December.
We fund organizations that:
- Strengthen communities via quality direct services, programming, and training
- Connect to government-managed benefits or services via culturally- and linguistically- responsive case management
- Increase rights via advocacy, coalition-building, and base-building that position community members as leaders
As we review proposals, we give preference to organizations that:
- Respond to inequities based on race
- Understand how multiple systemic oppressions impact the lives of the people with whom they work
- Work at the community level
- Were created in direct response to a need in Brooklyn
- Emphasize systemic solutions for the issues they are working on (This is required of all organizations with budgets of over $2,000,000)
- Address trending concerns in Brooklyn informed by our community engagement work
Application Preview [PDF]
Please note: this document is a preview of our online application, which we are providing as a courtesy to grant seekers. We do not accept applications by email, mail, or phone call. To apply for a grant from Brooklyn Org, complete our online application.
Apply for a Grant from Brooklyn Org
Eligibility
- Be incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or be working under the auspices of an authorized fiscal sponsor
- Have a minimum annual budget of $100,000. Grant awards will not exceed 20% of the applying organization’s annual budget
- Have a regular physical presence in Brooklyn. All non-Brooklyn-based organizations must apply for support for their relevant Brooklyn-based work
Please note that we do not fund individuals or capital campaigns. We will consider funding programs working within and partnering with schools, prioritizing District 75 students. We do not fund schools or PTAs directly.
Organizations must take a pause from applying for Brooklyn Org funding for one year after two consecutive multi-year grants, excluding the Brooklyn Org Spark Prize. Former grantees eligible for funding after the pause must apply to the open RFP to be considered and will follow the general process of our grantmaking model.
Please submit only one application per review period: October 1st – April 15th and April 16th – September 30th. Multiple submissions will not be considered and the last one received will be reviewed. This does not include applications for the Brooklyn Org Spark Prize, which are reviewed through a separate process.
Questions
For any questions, please email programs@brooklyn.org. No phone calls, please.
Additional Nonprofit Resources
Explore additional nonprofit resources, including Capacity Building workshops and tools, here.