Community Grant Cycle

Thank you for applying! The Letter of Inquiry submission window is now closed.

At RTW Foundation, we are committed to building partnerships with local organizations to advance health equity in New York City. Organizations that address disparities in health access and quality of care for communities of color, low-income neighborhoods, recent immigrants, and other underserved populations are invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) for funding in the 2025 grant cycle.

Initiatives can include (but are not limited to) community-based health services, innovative ways to connect community members with no-/low-cost care options and health insurance, health equity measures within health systems, and action-oriented health equity research.

Community-based organizations across the five boroughs will be prioritized. If you have any questions about your eligibility or your proposed initiative, please reach out to our Director of Community Engagement, Sarah Garwood at [email protected] or [email protected].

The deadline to submit an LOI is Friday, July 11^th. Top proposals will be invited to complete a full application and site visit. All full applications will be reviewed by our Grant Review Committee and final decisions will be made by the Board of Directors.

Eligibility requirements:

This opportunity is open exclusively to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations based in the five boroughs of New York City. We prioritize small, local organizations with annual operating budgets of $5M or less, but all are welcome to apply.

Grant size:

First time grant partners are welcome to submit grant proposals for up to $50,000. For the first time, we are increasing the potential grant size for returning grant partners. Organizations that have received funding and completed initiatives in the past are welcome to submit proposals for up to $100,000. For both tiers, initiatives can cover up to a one-year timeline. Returning partners are eligible for up to three consecutive years of grant funding. If you have questions about your eligibility, please reach out.

Selection criteria:

• Organization & Leadership: We aim to work with established, community-based organizations with localized, inclusive, and diverse leadership.

• Community: RTW Foundation (RTWF) is committed to supporting projects that improve health access and quality of care for underserved communities across New York City.

• Mission: The organization and proposed initiative are well-aligned with RTWF’s values and mission—namely, collaboration, innovation, and filling unmet health-related needs among underserved communities.

• Project Plan: The project objectives and the plan to achieve them are clear.

• Roles: The roles and responsibilities are well defined. Key leaders are qualified to fulfill the planned roles. 

• Impact & Accountability: The expected results are clearly defined and there is a plan for how the partner will measure impact.

• Sustainability: Applicants convey how they plan to sustain the impact of the project after the grant timeframe.

• Budget: Each project should have a detailed, itemized budget to specify how grant funds would be used. A budget template will be provided to those invited to submit a full application.