Community Organizing Field Support

Community Organizing Field Support is sponsored by New York Foundation. One-year grants to strengthen organizing capacity for grassroots groups in New York City, fostering robust community-led movements for social change.

New York Foundation funds community organizing and grassroots advocacy led by and for people who live in NYC. Are you an emerging organization in NYC centering racial, economic, gender, disability, and climate justice, led by Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ people, women, and people of color? The New York Foundation is a steadfast supporter of community organizing, grassroots advocacy, and movement-building.

We believe that the resilience and vitality of New Yorkers is the city’s greatest resource, and we value the courage and experience of community groups and their leaders. In the ongoing struggle for racial, economic, gender, and climate justice, the Foundation supports grassroots initiatives that build power to confront systemic barriers and inspire people to work toward a more just, equitable, and inclusive city.

Our Equity-Centered Values Approach Our values are the compass that guide how we work. We believe that equity isn’t just one initiative or goal—it is the foundation of everything we do. These values shape our decisions, inform our relationships, and reflect our grounding in community, love, and liberation.

These principles not only define what we stand for but also motivate us to lead with integrity, compassion, and humility. Commitment to Justice and Well-Being: We want to contribute to creating a society where racial, economic, gender, and climate justice are realities, not aspirations.

We are dedicated to supporting leaders, organizations, and movements that challenge systemic oppression by centering the leadership of those most impacted by inequity. We believe that true justice and liberation requires the dismantling of systems that harm communities on the path to a world where all people can thrive with safety, dignity, and joy.

Community Leadership And Power: We support community-led initiatives and trust grassroots organizations to lead the way because community organizing and social movements have been the driving force behind lasting change. We recognize that the people closest to the challenges are best equipped to create meaningful solutions.

We support historically marginalized communities in building power to advance social change, ensuring they have the tools, resources, and autonomy to lead and win. We strive to be a champion in philanthropy for grassroots organizing as a leading strategy for change, advocating for its critical role and inspiring others in philanthropy to join us in resourcing these vital organizations and movements.

We are committed to building respectful and dependable relationships with the groups we support, our staff and board, and our peers in philanthropy. We lead with transparency and trust, recognizing that true collaboration comes from valuing the experiences and leadership of all involved. We provide long-term, flexible resources to grassroots organizations and we believe in how they define their priorities and lead their work.

Just as relationship-building is the backbone to effective organizing work, we believe these principles apply to us as funders too: listen, care, and be reliable by showing up in the hardest of moments by backing up words with actions. When movements experience periods of progress followed by backlash, we are committed to staying the course and standing firm in our support for those at the frontlines of justice.

Transformative Philanthropy: We believe philanthropy must be more than financial support—it must be an ongoing commitment to transformative change. We recognize the history of philanthropic influence diverting movements from their original goals. We understand our role is not to steer but to stand alongside, providing resources that allow movements to pursue their goals on their terms, free from external control or compromise.

Beyond our grantmaking, we are committed to aligning our endowment investments with our values, ensuring that our financial assets do not contribute to the problems the groups we support are working to solve. We believe philanthropy can be even more impactful by activating all our resources, tools, and influence to drive change.

How We Believe Change Happens We believe lasting change happens when marginalized people come together to build power in their communities as a part of broader movements for justice and equity. As a funder, we believe our role is to resource and trust grassroots groups organizing for transformative change.

For the New York Foundation, this looks like: Maggie Colgan (they/them) is a trans artist from the Peninsula who approaches the world outside of binary and with abundance. As Communications Manager, they bring together all the resources of the Foundation, from the expertise of its staff to the legacy and reputation of the institution, to increase support for its grantees and to move power out of philanthropy and into our communities.

They value communications beyond sharing information, as a vehicle to express and share yourself, to be seen, and to exist despite systemic erasure. Maggie has a B. A.

from Hampshire College, and has been with the Foundation since 2019. Photo of Maggie facing the camera with a broad smile on their face, arms crossed, in a black longsleeve that says "Private Energy," a blurred view of NYC skyscrapers behind them. Zabrina Collazo (she/they/siya) joined the New York Foundation in 2020.

In their role as program officer, they review grant applications, run the Summer Internship in Community Organizing, support the foundation's streamlining efforts, and participate in funder affinity groups such as Engage NY, GoVoteNYC, Justice Fund, and Neighborhoods First Fund. They have experience in grantmaking, and community and funder organizing.

She approaches her work with a lens informed by reproductive justice and anti-imperialism. They grew up in Queens and never left. Photo of Zabrina facing the camera with a bright smile and focused eyes, their shoulders back, in a black silk wrap blouse, and behind them is a blurred view of NYC skyscrapers.

Melissa Ellison joined the New York Foundation in 2002. Mrs. Ellison manages the foundation’s finances and human resources. She provides administrative support to the program staff and acts as a liaison to the foundation’s trustees.

Prior to her current position, Mrs. Ellison served as a program assistant and acting grants manager. Her other work experience includes positions as a financial assistant and education associate at St. Francis Xavier Action Youth Center.

She was awarded an internship at the Municipal Credit Union by the African-American Credit Union Coalition. Mrs. Ellison holds a bachelor of science in business management and finance from CUNY Brooklyn College. She is a Certified Not-for-Profit Accounting Professional.

Photo of Melissa facing the camera in a bright purple shirt and pearl necklace, smiling cheerfully, with a blurred view of NYC skyscrapers behind her. Edna Iriarte came to the New York Foundation in 2009. As part of the program team, she provides ongoing support for current grantees and evaluates applications for future grants.

She also leads the foundation’s capacity building programs, including field support grants to technical assistance providers, offerings to current grantees, and represents the foundation in the New York City Capacity Building Collaborative.

Edna has been working in philanthropy since 1994, at the Norman Foundation; at New World Foundation, where she played an important role launching the Phoenix Fund for Workers and Communities; at Jessie Smith Noyes, managing a portfolio of organizing groups protecting New York City’s environment and the health of its residents.

Edna also conducted research informing the creation of La Fuente, a labor and community partnership that promoted immigrants’ and workers’ rights. Edna earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University and a B.

A. in Spanish and Italian at Queens College of the City University of New York. The daughter of immigrant parents and originally from New York City’s Lower East Side, she lives with her compañero and her son in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Photo of Edna facing the camera, in a black button-up, smiling calmly and brightly, with a blurred view of NYC skyscrapers behind her. Rickke Mananzala (he/him) has spent more than 25 years working alongside grassroots leaders, community organizations, and movements advancing racial, economic, and gender justice.

He currently serves as President of the New York Foundation, which supports community organizing and advocacy to help build a more just and inclusive New York City.

Previously, he was Vice President of Programs at Borealis Philanthropy, helping bring funders together to support grassroots leaders and organizations building power for lasting social change in communities across the U.S. Rickke’s work in philanthropy is grounded in his roots as a community organizer.

He began as an organizer and later became Executive Director of FIERCE , a New York City organization led by LGBTQ youth of color that organized campaigns to reduce youth criminalization and build leadership and power among young people. He was also a New Voices Fellow at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project , where he worked to strengthen connections between legal advocacy and organizing led by transgender communities.

Throughout his career, Rickke has helped bridge the worlds of grassroots organizing and philanthropy. Rickke was a founding board member of the Right to the City Alliance, a national network of grassroots organizations working to advance housing justice, equitable development, and community control of land and resources in cities across the United States.

He has also served on the boards of Funders for LGBTQ Issues and the Third Wave Fund, helping shape grantmaking strategies that support feminist youth organizing. He currently serves on the boards of the Public Welfare Foundation and Philanthropy New York . Rickke holds a B.

A. in Political Science from Columbia University and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, with a focus on urban policy. Photo of Rickke facing the camera, in a soft grey longsleeve and thin, wire-frame glasses, smiling warmly with a blurred view of NYC skyscrapers behind him.

Isabel Rivera has been with the New York Foundation since 1994 and handles grants management and coordinates the foundation’s capacity building program. Mrs. Rivera served as the foundation’s program assistant prior to her current position. She is a member of the Grants Manager Network.

Prior to the New York Foundation, Mrs. Rivera worked at Columbia University Medical Center’s Dermatopathology Department. Mrs. Rivera holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hunter College. She lives in the Bronx with her husband and two sons.

Photo of Isabel facing the camera, in a black turtleneck, sunny smile on her face, and a blurred view of NYC skyscrapers behind her. Sena (she/her/ella) joined the New York Foundation in 2022 as the Operations Associate. In her role, she provides operational and administrative support to the NYF team.

With a background in nonprofits, Sena has experience in fundraising, office management, and community-based work. Sena received a B. A.

in Humanities and Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an M. P. A from the Austin W.

Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she currently lives in the Bronx. Photo of Sena facing the camera, in a caramel-colored blazer, her arms folded and a smart happy smile on her face, with a blurred view of NYC skyscrapers behind her.

Learn more about the organizations we support with our open multiple-year Core Grants, and our field-supporting internal grants: Strategic Opportunity, Nonpartisan c4 Civic Engagement, and Community Organizing Field Support. NYF Core Grants are $55,000 per year, for 3 to 5 years.

Community Resource Exchange: One-on-one support to build sustainable, mission-driven organizations Lawyers Alliance for New York: Probono legal services tailored to social change nonprofits Workshops: Monthly skills-building trainings combined with coaching In addition to funds, grants include access to capacity building resources: Small Grants: Responsive grants up to $10,000 for organizational development goals and unanticipated needs Summer Intern in Community Organizing: Funds to hire a youth intern, bringing on additional capacity while building the pipeline for organizing in New York City Caribbean Equality Project Recognizing the importance of funders coming together to mobilize more resources for community organizing, the New York Foundation serves as a member and fiscal sponsor for the following funder collaboratives and networks.

Engage New York builds philanthropic infrastructure across the state by connecting like-minded funders with shared values and agendas to build trust-based relationships, take part in action-based learning, and collaborate to advance systems change. The New York City Capacity Building Collaborative consists of social justice foundations that collectively pool resources to build the capacity of grassroots community-based organizations.

The Neighborhoods First Fund for Community-Based Planning (NFF) is a donor collaborative founded in 2015 to promote equitable, inclusive, and accountable development in New York City. YOCCF partners with young community and cultural leaders, artists, funders and narrative changemakers and provides relationships and resources to advance their vision for change, while building and scaling their power together.

To engage in learning and organizing amongst our peers in social justice philanthropy, NYF is a member of the following affinity groups and philanthropic-serving organizations. Thoughtful stewardship of our resources is key to advancing racial, economic, gender, and climate justice in New York City.

We are committed to openly sharing how we allocate funding, who receives it, how our investments align with our mission, and how we support grassroots organizing. Where New York’s Wins Begin Organizing shows what's possible when New Yorkers have the power to shape the city they call home. In 2025, NYF stood with the organizers keeping our people safe, our communities together, and our city livable.

In 2026, we're leveraging all our resources to do more. A City of Defiance and Collective Action Community-led movements are protecting what matters, holding the line, and reimagining what is possible. Welcome five new grantees and six new trustees to the Foundation.

No Shortcuts to Power: Supporting Organizers to Stay, Lead, and Win All Due Respect’s Executive Director Alicia Jay and New York Foundation President Rickke Mananzala reflect about the state of organizing and how funders can improve conditions and create sustainable movements. Thank you for joining us in our support of community organizing, grassroots advocacy, and movement-building in New York City!