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Micro Grants is a grant program from The Schenectady Foundation that funds small projects, planning activities, research, and pilot initiatives for nonprofits, community organizations, and local governments in Schenectady County, New York. Awards are up to $10,000, with most grants falling in the $3,000 to $7,000 range.
The program serves as seed funding for community-based organizations to plan new programs, conduct research, or launch pilot projects with potential for meaningful community impact. The Foundation prioritizes proposals with clear, measurable outcomes and evidence of direct engagement with program beneficiaries. As part of the Foundation's broader $1.
3 million 2026 grant portfolio, $50,000 in total is allocated to micro-grants. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, community organizations, and local governments in Schenectady County.
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The Schenectady Foundation - Grants Schenectady County Food Council One Schenectady Resident-Driven Community Change Neighborhood Revitalization Application Links & Templates Schenectady's Community Foundation The Schenectady Foundation was established in 1963 to benefit the people who live and work in Schenectady County, NY. To date we have invested more than $35 million into our communities, and plan to commit about $1.
3 million in grants and scholarships in 2026. The Schenectady Foundation plans to invest $1. 3 million into charitable projects with the greatest potential to positively impact our community.
Our priorities: Equitable Access to Healthy Food Initiative, Neighborhood Revitalization and Emergent Needs . Also included is our grants portfolio are Micro Grants, Scholarships and Community Event Sponsorships. New this year is funding for the Arts, and a Grassroots Fund to support community-based grassroots and neighborhood level initiatives.
The projected total investment in each funding area is as follows: Equitable Access to Healthy Food - $500,000 Neighborhood Revitalization – $270,000 Emergent Needs - $270,000 Micro Grants, Sponsorships and Special Initiative Funds - $165,000 Letter of Inquiry (LOI) due: May 1st Grant Application due: June 5th Approximate decision date: June 29th Equitable Access to Healthy Food Grants: Letters of Inquiry (LOI) due: September 4th Grant Applications due: October 9th Approximate decision date: October 28th Neighborhood Revitalization Grants: The Schenectady Foundation’s impact statements describe to applicants how we plan to fulfill our mission to benefit the health and well-being of people who live and work in Schenectady County.
The Foundation has created an impact statement for each area of focus, and encourages proposals that will help to drive Schenectady’s results closer and closer to the achievement of these impacts. Equitable Access to Healthy Food Impact Statement: Schenectady County will be food-secure, ensuring that all residents have consistent access to fresh, healthy, and nourshing food.
Neighborhood Revitalization Impact Statement: Schenectady’s neighborhoods will thrive, becoming places where residents feel safe, supported and valued. Impact Statement: Schenectady County residents are supported by projects that are responsive to new or emergent needs.
Impact Statement: Organizations will have access to seed funding to plan, research, and pilot new initiatives that foster innovation and build stronger connections within the community. The Foundation offers a “Micro Grant” program to address requests of $10,000 or less. Micro Grants are often utilized for planning, research, and development of future projects, or to get pilot projects off the ground.
While the maximum Micro Grant award is $10,000, the majority of them fall into the $3,000 - $7,000 range. The Foundation serves as a catalyst for community change, supporting projects—large or small—where targeted funding and engagement can deliver meaningful impact.
The Foundation prioritize initiatives with clear, measurable outcomes and those whom have the potential to be transformative for people, organizations, neighborhoods, and the broader community. While strengthening organizations and programs is an important aspect of the Foundation's work, we are increasingly placing emphasis on how applicants are engaging their clients and program beneficiaries in their work.
Grant applications are strengthened when they demonstrate that those who use services are listened to, and have influence on the design and delivery of those services. It is a core value and responsibility of The Schenectady Foundation to be a good steward of the funds gifted by donors. Given that there are numerous charitable entities within Schenectady County, the Foundation is highly selective in its funding decisions.
Most years, funding requests far exceed the available resources, and so the Foundation prioritizes grant requests that are most likely to have significant impacts within the strategic focus areas. Measurable or observable outcomes that can be achieved with our financial support are a high priority. The use of measurable outcomes may be new to some applicants.
Foundation staff is available to guide applicants through this process. We recommend that you review this outline of Outcomes Terms so that there is a common understanding of their meaning within the Foundation's application process. The Foundation has a two-step online grant process .
The first required submission is a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) form which provides a general overview of the proposed project and its associated outcomes. Upon approval of an LOI, applicants will be given access to the full grant application.
Please review The Schenectady Foundation’s Criteria and Eligibility prior to beginning an application, as the information contained therein is used to guide decisions by the Foundation’s Distribution Committee. Getting Started with Your Application Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) may be submitted through the Foundation’s grant portal at any time, once the RFP has been released.
The Foundation responds to appropriate and complete LOIs within 10 days of submission. During the review period, applicants may be asked to submit additional information or to meet with Foundation staff. LOIs that are approved will gain access to the full grant application process.
Grant applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online grant portal. Those submitted by the due dates – and that meet all requirements for substance, accuracy and completeness – will be forwarded to the Foundation’s Distribution Committee for consideration.
The Foundation’s practice is to meet with each applicant in a grant conference to ensure that all decision-makers understand the proposed projects, and have the opportunity to fully explore the potential of each one. Once grant conferences take place, applicants can reasonably expect to be notified of funding decisions within approximately 2 weeks.
Applicants will receive email and/or phone communications from Foundation staff to make them aware of final funding decisions. If a grant is approved, applicants should anticipate an additional 2–3 weeks for funds to be processed and the check to be issued after the grant agreement is signed and returned. If you have any questions regarding the grants process, please contact Sofia Pawlusik .
Click the link below to start your application: Explore the resources below to assist you with your grant application. From application guidance to orientation sessions, we’re here to support you throughout the process. Office Hours for Applicant Support Office hours are available twice a week to support applicants during the process.
Feel free to reach out during these times if you have questions or need guidance—whether by email, phone, or Zoom. No appointment needed, just send a quick message, and we can connect! These are designated times, but applicants are always welcome to reach out at any time.
Tuesdays: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Wednesdays: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Click Here for Foundant Application Assistance Support Series Videos: Here are several videos created to support you throughout the grant process. You can also find them on our Youtube Channel . The Schenectady Foundation was created by community leaders as a charitable trust to benefit the health and well-being of people who live and work in Schenectady County, NY.
William H. Milton, 3rd, a leader at Schenectady Trust Company, developed the idea for the Foundation. In 1963, with the bank's support, he engaged the community's leaders to establish The Schenectady Foundation.
Today, the Foundation is a catalyst for change through strategic initiatives and grant making, and convening community partners around the issues that matter most to Schenectady. The latest news & updates delivered to your inbox. info@schenectadyfoundation.
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Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Nonprofits, community organizations, and local governments in Schenectady County. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $10,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The Fund for Women & Girls Grant Program is sponsored by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC). The Fund for Women & Girls, an initiative of TFEC, makes grants to local nonprofit organizations in specific South Central PA counties. The grants support projects that advance the lives of women and girls by providing opportunities to address basic needs, develop economic self-sufficiency, and strengthen health and safety needs.
VGF grants will be used to develop and/or support community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers. CNCS seeks to fund effective approaches that expand volunteering, strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain skill-based volunteers, and develop strategies to use volunteers effectively to solve problems. Specifically, the VGF grants will support efforts that expand the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit, manage, support and retain individuals to serve in high quality volunteer assignments.Applicants that receive funding under this Notice may directly carry out the activities supported under the award, or may carry out the activities by making sub-grants to community-based entities, supporting volunteer generation at these entities.). Funding Opportunity Number: AC-05-25-21. Assistance Listing: 94.021. Funding Instrument: G. Category: O. Award Amount: $6.1M total program funding.