Our Approach
As one of the nation’s oldest micro-funding organizations, CitizensNYC provides support to community leaders on the front lines of change in their own neighborhoods.
But we’re so much more than grantmakers. Most importantly, we are a communications platform for those whose voices are often drowned out—or who never got a chance to speak at all.
Because of that, we have the largest network of grassroots groups in New York City. Our philosophy is that our grantee partners know their community best.
As such, our strategic approach is the product of careful listening and an unwavering commitment to lifting up those voices. We are dedicated to ensuring that their challenges do not go unnoticed, that their needs do not go unmet, and their stories of resilience do not go untold.
Our Mission
To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.
We pursue strategies in each of these areas to ensure that no New Yorker is left behind:
Grantmaking
We believe the communities we serve don’t need to be told what to do to improve their neighborhoods – they simply need the tools to do it. We make direct cash grants to hundreds of New Yorkers each year who have ideas to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Our Community Leaders Grants support projects with grants of up to $3,000, and our Neighborhood Business Grants support local businesses with grants of up to $5,000.
Convening Grantee Partners
We bring together our grantee partners through in person and virtual programming to discuss their priorities, identify additional opportunities for support, and foster collaboration.
Partnerships
We strive to build relationships with New York City’s elected officials, government agencies, philanthropic partners, and like-minded organizations that can expand and support our network of grassroots leaders.
Thought Leadership & Amplifying Community Voice
Organizations often make assumptions about what people are experiencing on the ground. We believe in communities speaking for themselves. That’s why we regularly survey our extensive network of grassroots community groups to understand what their particular needs and challenges are, and seek out opportunities to provide platforms for our grantee partners to share their expertise and knowledge.