2024 NYC Green Fund: Wildfire Rapid Response Grant Guidelines and Application

Generous private support for the NYC Green Fund is provided by the Albert Giving Fund, Altman Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, The Charles H. Revson Foundation, Con Edison, Essex Avenue Foundation, The J.M. Kaplan Fund, The JPB Foundation, Klein Family Foundation, Leon Levy Foundation, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Libra Fund, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, The Monarch Foundation, The New York Community Trust, and The Thompson Family Foundation.

Vision

The NYC Green Fund is a pooled grant program intended to support an equitable and resilient network of parks and open spaces to benefit the well-being of all New Yorkers. 

Program Description

The NYC Green Fund Wildfire Rapid Response Grants will provide funding for organizations that steward natural areas on NYC Parkland that have experienced wildfires in fall 2024. Funding provided will support recovery from wildfires including site stabilization and native plantings. Funding from the NYC Green Fund is intended to offer a matching opportunity for fundraising efforts, but is not required. 

How to Apply

The application is available for submission here and may be previewed here. All applicants must be up to date with any grant reports due to City Parks Foundation. Applications and reports must be submitted through the City Parks Foundation’s online grants management system

Key Dates 

• Applications 

  • FIRST OPTION: In order to be considered to be notified of funding by the end of 2024, please submit your application by the first application deadline: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 12:00 PM (noon) ET. 

    • These applicants will be notified by the end of December 2024, and the grant period will commence upon signing the agreement.

    • Note, CPF offices will be closed from December 24, 2024 - January 1, 2025.  Payments may come through in early 2025. 

  • SECOND OPTION: We are also offering a second deadline to offer flexibility: Friday, January 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon) ET. 

    • These applicants will be notified by the end of February.  

    • Note, CPF offices will be closed from December 24, 2024 - January 1, 2025.

• Grant term and reporting 

  • The grant period for all grantees will conclude on December 31, 2025. Grant recipients are required to submit a final report within one month of the grant period completion. 

Application Eligibility and Funding Limits

Application is invite only to organizations documented here with demonstrated experience stewarding natural areas in NYC Parkland that have experienced wildfires impacting more than one acre or burned important ecological habitats during fall 2024. For any questions, please contact nycgreenfund@cityparksfoundation.org.  

Invited applicants may request one-year grants of up to $10,000 through this program. Note, partial funding may be awarded depending on the level of demand and total funding available. At this time, up to $50,000 total is available to grant to applicants. 

Applicants must be authorized to complete the work included in this application and obtain all permissions necessary prior to implementation.

The applicant or applicant’s fiscal sponsor must be exempt from federal taxation as a public charity as described in sections 509(a)(1), (2), (3), or (4) and Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Types of Expenses

Eligible expenses include direct expenses related to site stabilization and native planting in the impacted area, such as:

• Staffing costs including fringe benefits (full-time/part-time/ seasonal/ internships/ apprenticeships/ etc.)  

• Consultants, contractors, or professional fees 

• Materials, equipment, and supplies 

Non-eligible expenses include: 

• Programming that does not pertain to: 

  • Site stabilization

  • Native plantings  

• Electioneering

• Lobbying

• Litigation

Resources

We encourage all potential applicants to join the webinar and coordinate with NYC Parks’ Natural Resources Group and Natural Areas Conservancy to discuss restoration plans and responsibilities. Contact information, preliminary cost estimates per acre, and estimated area burned per acre are provided here.   

Review Process

City Parks Foundation vets applications for project eligibility, and then a grant review committee composed of staff and subject matter experts determines funding recommendations. 

Evaluation Criteria and Priorities

Funding decisions will be based on the following criteria and priorities:

• Strategic alignment: 

  • The project aligns with NYC Green Fund’s Wildfire Rapid Response Grants guidelines and intention.

• Feasibility: 

  • The intended outcomes of the proposal and reporting required for this grant are feasible considering the applicant’s resources, relationships, and experience.

• Budget: 

  • Applicants that have raised fewer funds to date to support wildfire recovery will be prioritized.

Grants Management

Grants will be made by City Parks Foundation (CPF), and all reporting information will be submitted to CPF. CPF manages the day-to-day administration of the NYC Green Fund, which is governed by a steering committee of funders. 

For more information 

For more information, visit CityParksFoundation.org or email NYCGreenFund@cityparksfoundation.org.