What Guides Brooklyn Community Foundation’s Decision Making?

Brooklyn Community Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations that undertake activities, programs, or projects that support our mission “to improve the lives of people in Brooklyn.” We carefully consider the ways in which a grant request advances this mission.

Every grant request must be broadly consistent with the goals and description of one of Brooklyn Community Foundation's Field of Interest Funds. Grant seekers are asked to apply to one Fund that best fits with the objectives of the group's proposal.

How are Grants Reviewed? 

Letters of Inquiry are carefully reviewed by a designated member of Brooklyn Community Foundation's highly experienced program team with expertise in your field and a deep understanding of the Brooklyn landscape. Throughout both the Letter of Inquiry and complete proposal review process you will receive regular communications, including contact information for your request’s reviewer.

Our program team recommends which Letters of Inquiry will be accepted for further consideration to the president of Brooklyn Community Foundation. 

The final decision on grant award recommendations from the program team under $5,000 require the President's approval; grants between $5,001 and $50,000 require the approval of the President and Chair of the Board; grants over $50,000 require the approval of the Foundation’s full Board of Directors, who meet quarterly. As such, decisions on these requests may take longer then the eight weeks from receipt previously noted.

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