Access to affordable, safe and stable housing.
- 808K
- Community Members Reached
- 2K
- Small Businesses Served
- 30
- Grant Champions
Source: Data is self-reported by 2025 Grantees in January 2026.
What we do
Strengthen Communities
Affordable Housing Solutions
Essential Community Services
Social services, education, job training and community development.
Small Business Growth
Catalytic capital and philanthropic focus on economic development, particularly for under-resourced small businesses.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Activities that help attract new, or retain existing, businesses or residents.
Our Initiatives
Change Makers
The Change Makers Initiative is an annual funding opportunity that provides a one-time general operating grant to high-impact nonprofit organizations located in select counties in New York, New Jersey, and Utah.
Equity Builders
The Equity Builders Initiative provides multi-year, general operating grants to help organizations build capacity and sustainably deepen their impact within LMI communities in select counties across New York, New Jersey, and Utah.
Timeline
Phase 1
All eligible applicants must submit their application by July 24th, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST.
Phase 2
Award decisions will be finalized in Q4 2026, and awardees will be notified ahead of a public announcement.
Phase 3
Funding will be disbursed to awarded nonprofits by year-end 2026 for implementation throughout 2027.
Who Is Eligible?Eligible applicants must:
Be a domestic, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.Under section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code
Have a clear focus on community development.Addressing the needs of LMI areas or households
Operate primarily in specified regions:• New York: New York, Bronx, Kings, Richmond, or Queens counties
• New Jersey: Hudson or Essex counties
• Utah: Salt Lake, Summit, or Tooele counties
Assessment CriteriaApplications will be evaluated based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:
ImpactApplications should specify measurable outcomes in LMI communities and demonstrate a history of effectively meeting community needs.
Community EngagementApplications should demonstrate engagement with LMI communities throughout the design and implementation of programming and promote community-driven solutions.
InnovationApplications should demonstrate a differentiated approach and articulate how their model advances beyond existing solutions to deliver measurable impact for LMI communities.
You can find the 2026 Application Questions PDF here. For additional information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Please reach out to gs-cd-grants@gs.com for any additional questions.
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This support will make a real difference for Brooklyn’s low- and moderate-income communities through our LevelUp workforce program. This partnership allows us to continue to connect Brooklynites with pathways to employment and economic stability, and we are deeply grateful for the firm's continued belief in our work”
2025 Community Development Champions
Our Community Development Champions are experts with decades of experience and are dedicated to advancing economic opportunity and mobility. Their comprehensive programming focuses on addressing critical challenges faced by LMI individuals, including affordable housing, community services, small business development, and neighborhood revitalization.
The Change Makers Initiative: Driving Innovation and Impact
The Change Makers Initiative is a funding opportunity that provides a one-time general operating grant to high-impact nonprofit organizations located in New York, New Jersey, and Utah. Key themes in this cohort included:
- Access to Housing: Expediting access to affordable apartments for homeless New Yorkers with housing vouchers.
- Embracing AI: Leading AI adoption initiatives, ensuring LMI communities aren't left behind in the digital economy through literacy training and organizational transformation.
- Empowering Parents: Providing free, high-quality childcare, enabling parents to work towards financial autonomy and security.
- Building Financial Futures: Offering financial coaching and debt relief services that open doors to homeownership and economic stability.
The Equity Builders Initiative: Investing in Long-Term Success
The Equity Builders Initiative provides multi-year, general operating grants to help organizations build capacity and sustainably deepen their impact in the LMI communities they serve. Awardees share a common mission to create upward mobility through varied approaches including quality affordable housing, education, and interconnected services as a “one-stop-shop” for communities.
Community Development Grant ChampionsExplore More