We support small businesses who are “doing well by doing good” in their neighborhood by making annual grant awards of up to $5,000.  These awards can provide funding to support the wide range of initiatives your business undertakes to positively impact your community, especially those that are custom-tailored to meet the local needs you see. 

We believe that small businesses are the backbone of our local communities. NYC businesses are more than just a place of commerce: they are often a gathering place where neighbors come to enjoy a sense of community.  Small businesses preserve and sustain local culture, serving as anchors and meeting places where community members make connections, share values, strengthen culture, and support local leaders.  As a small business leader, when you get involved in your local community, you both create enormous goodwill and set up your business for greater success.   

Applications are currently closed, and we will update this page with information on future grant opportunities. You can reference our evaluation criteria here, download a copy of the application here, and view sample narrative responses here.

If you submitted an application prior to the March 1 deadline, you will hear back on the grant decision in summer 2024. If you have any questions please contact: businessgrants@citizensnyc.org. 

The Neighborhood Business Grant program is made possible by our philanthropic partners, including the generous leadership support of the Wells Fargo Foundation and Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies.