NYC Unity Grant Program

NYC Unity Grant Program is sponsored by NYC Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs & NYC Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice. This program invests directly in community-based nonprofits working to address systemic inequities and disparities impacting LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. It expressly prioritizes projects serving TGNCNBI individuals, LGBTQ+ people of color, and those facing economic vulnerability.

## NYC Unity Grant Program The Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs was established by Executive Order No. 14 of 2026 as New York City’s primary office for coordinating LGBTQIA+ initiatives across City government.

The Office works in partnership with City agencies, community organizations, and advocates to advance equity, expand access to services and resources, strengthen anti-discrimination protections, and promote the health, safety, and well-being of LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. The Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs is part of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ), the City’s centralized equity office.

MOERJ takes an intersectional approach and works with its offices, commissions, City agencies, and communities, to advance equitable policies, programs, and practices. In partnership with MOERJ, the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs administers the NYC Unity Grant Program, continuing the City’s investment in community-based organizations serving LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers.

## About the Grant Opportunity The NYC Unity Grant Program invests in community-based organizations working to address systemic inequality, inequities, and disparities impacting LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers, including vulnerable subgroups within the LGBTQIA+ community like Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Non-Binary, and Intersex New Yorkers; LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers surviving poverty; LGBTQIA+ Youth, Adolescents, and Elders; LGBTQIA+ People of Color; and LGBTQIA+ Immigrants.

Recognizing that disparities in education, employment, housing, and health cause and contribute to higher rates of poverty and economic instability, the NYC Unity Grant Program supports community-led solutions that expand opportunity, further equity, improve access to affirming LGBTQIA+ services, and strengthen the long-term health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers.

The 2026-2027 NYC Unity Grant Program supports projects across three priority areas: Education & Employment, Economic & Housing Stability, and Health & Well-Being.

Applicants may propose projects within the priority areas outlined and similar to those described below: **Education & Employment:** Projects that expand access to education, skills-based training, credentialing, internships, apprenticeships, and other pathways and initiatives that support educational opportunity and equity or prepare LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers for long-term employment and economic stability.

* Skills-based training, certifications, and credentialing * Internships and apprenticeships * Gender-affirming interview and workplace attire **Housing & Economic Stability:** Projects that support economic stability and/or increase access to safe and affirming housing through emergency aid, transitional, or permanent supportive housing, rental assistance, housing stabilization, and other services or initiatives that prevent or address economic and/or housing instability among LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers.

* Housing access, placement, and homelessness prevention * Emergency, transitional, or permanent supportive housing * Rental assistance and housing subsidies **Health & Well-Being:** Projects that promote the physical, mental, and behavioral health of LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers through community-based health services, mental health care, substance use prevention and harm reduction, older adult services, immigration-related supports, peer support, and other initiatives that improve overall well-being.

* Substance use prevention and harm reduction * Mental health services and peer support * Immigration-related services To be eligible for grant funding, applicants must: * Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a fiscal sponsor. * Be based in New York City and primarily serve LGBTQIA+ New York City residents.

* Propose a project that advances one or more of the Office's NYC Unity Grant Program priority areas: education and employment, housing and economic stability, or health and well-being for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. * Prioritize services for transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex (TGNCNBI) New Yorkers, LGBTQIA+ people of color, and/or other underserved and marginalized LGBTQIA+ communities.

* Demonstrate the organizational capacity to successfully implement the proposed project. * Commit to required orientation, check-ins, reporting, and financial documentation requirements. * Demonstrate a commitment to equitable, culturally responsive, and LGBTQIA+-affirming service delivery.

## Grant Funding Criteria Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria: * **Priority Alignment & Community Need:**The extent to which the proposed project aligns with the Office’s priority areas and responds to an identified need within LGBTQIA+ communities.

* **Target Population & Community Reach:**The organization’s ability to reach and meaningfully engage the LGBTQIA+ communities it proposes to serve, particularly TGNCNBI New Yorkers, LGBTQIA+ people of color, and other underserved LGBTQIA+ communities. * **Goals, Outcomes & Anticipated Impact:** The clarity of the project’s goals, anticipated outcomes, and expected benefit to participants and the broader community.

* **Organizational Capacity & Readiness:**The organization’s relevant experience and capacity to successfully implement the proposed project and manage grant funding. * **Outcomes Measurement:** Clear and appropriate methods for measuring project progress and success. * **Budget Alignment & Financial Feasibility:**A clear and reasonable budget aligned with the proposed project.

Organizations selected for funding will be expected to: * Participate in required orientation and project check-ins. * Be registered, or complete required registration, in the City of New York’s Payee Information Portal (PIP). * Doing Business Data Form and Certificate of Liability Insurance.

* Develop and submit a Project Work Plan and Final Budget outlining project goals, deliverables, timeline, anticipated community reach and outcomes, and use of grant funds. * Implement the approved project and complete required deliverables in accordance with the approved Project Work Plan and payment schedule.

* Submit required progress reports and supporting programmatic and financial documentation, including applicable invoices and receipts. * Use all grant funds for approved project expenses by **June 30, 2027**. * Submit a Final Report documenting project completion, deliverables, community reach, outcomes, impact, and use of grant funds.

* Coordinate with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs on applicable project communications and acknowledge support from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs and MOERJ on relevant promotional materials. * Participate in additional grant activities, such as a project debrief or site visit, as requested and applicable. * Comply with all other grant and City requirements communicated to awardees.

The Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs reserves the right to highlight and publicize funded projects and their impact. ## Grant Funding & Payment Selected organizations will receive grants of $20,000, distributed in four payments tied to completion and approval of required project deliverables and submission of financial and supporting documentation: * $6,700 (33. 33%) upon approval of the project Work Plan and Final Budget.

* $6,700 (33. 33%) upon completion and approval of the Mid-Project deliverable and required progress and financial documentation. * $6,600 (33.

33%) upon submission and approval of the Final Report and required financial documentation. All applications must be submitted by November 16, 2026, by 5:00 PM, using the 2026-2027 NYC Unity Grant Application Form. Applicants are encouraged to attend the Applicant Information Session on November 2, 2026, to learn more about the grant opportunity, application requirements, and timeline.

Register for the Applicant Information Session. Applicants can also access the NYC Unity Grants Budget Template, which must be completed and submitted as part of the application. Applications will be reviewed following the submission deadline, and selected grantees will be notified by December 11, 2026.

All funded projects must be completed by **June 30, 2027**. Due to the volume of applications received, the Office is unable to provide individual application status updates.