Making Life Better on Roosevelt Island - The New York Community Trust

March 4, 2022 | By The New York Community Trust

Making Life Better on Roosevelt Island

The Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund

We are excited to announce our new partnership with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) through the Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund in The New York Community Trust.

In January 2022, RIOC asked The Trust to administer its public purpose grants, which has helped Roosevelt Island nonprofits since 1989. These grants support nonprofits that provide direct services or benefits to the Roosevelt Island community. This place-based program is deeply aligned with our community foundation’s mission and purpose, and we are pleased to help.

About the Program

This year the Roosevelt Island Public Purpose Fund will award up to a total of $150,000 through one-year grants to nonprofits that provide important services on the Island—including educational opportunity, artistic and cultural enrichment, improved health, a better environment and more. All nonprofits currently operating regular, ongoing programming on Roosevelt Island are welcome to apply. Applicants can apply until noon on March 14 through our grant portal.

A review committee composed of five Roosevelt Island community members will evaluate each proposal and make grant recommendations. Trust staff will conduct a due diligence review for financial health and good governance practices for each prospective grantee before making a grant. These requirements have been set based on best practices and The Trust’s experience from awarding nearly $5 billion in grants since 1924. We often find that nonprofits are better equipped to secure grants from other funders as a result of successfully concluding The Trust’s review process.

We know that our due diligence requirements may be new to some. With RIOC, we planned ahead to provide additional support to help groups navigate our review process. That’s in part why we brought in Community Resource Exchange, one of the city’s best nonprofit technical assistance providers, which will lead a series of workshops for Roosevelt Island nonprofits to help them strengthen the management of their organizations. We hope every applicant will take advantage of these free workshops.

Additionally, we are readily available for one-on-one support and consultation as nonprofits prepare their applications. We are happy to advise nonprofits in adopting these best practices, including the option to use a fiscal sponsor if advantageous.

We are excited to give these grants to nonprofits making a difference on Roosevelt Island, and we know that some applicants will emerge stronger from the individualized services and assistance we are providing.