Community Health Grant Cycle

The Letter of Inquiry submission window will open in July 2026.

At RTW Foundation, we are committed to building partnerships with local organizations to advance health equity in New York City. We work with organizations that address disparities in health access and quality of care for communities of color, low-income neighborhoods, recent immigrants, and other underserved populations. Initiatives we fund include (but are not limited to) community-based health services, care navigation, health benefits enrollment, appointment incentives and transportation, solutions to disparities in maternal mortality, health equity measures within health systems, and action-oriented health equity research.

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].

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 able to apply.

Grant size:

First time grant partners are welcome to submit grant proposals for up to $50,000. 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. Select returning partners with a history of demonstrated impact and high partnership engagement will be eligible to apply for multiyear grants by invitation only. 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.