Today we are thrilled to announce the 20 finalists for our Spark Prize for Brooklyn nonprofits—the only award of its kind to honor local nonprofit changemakers! Each organization will not only advance in consideration for the prestigious $100,000 award, but will also be a beneficiary of our local giving campaign: #BrooklynGives on Giving Tuesday, November 28th.

A diverse committee of Brooklyn civic, business, and neighborhood leaders selected the 20 finalists from a highly competitive pool of 140 applicants in recognition of their social justice-oriented, values-driven service to the borough’s communities. In January, the five winners of this year’s Spark Prize will be awarded grants of $100,000 each.

“We created the Spark Prize and the #BrooklynGives campaign to showcase and support innovative and high-impact community-based organizations across Brooklyn, often operating under the radar right in our own backyards,” said Brooklyn Community Foundation President and CEO Cecilia Clarke “Congratulations to these 20 exemplary Brooklyn nonprofits—we are so proud to have you represent the excellence and impact our borough has to offer!”

Spark Prize Finalists / #BrooklynGives Beneficiaries

(in alphabetical order)

• After Hours Project
• Arab American Family Support Center
• Atlas:DIY
• Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger
• Black Women's Blueprint
• Brooklyn Community Housing and Services
• Cave Canem Foundation
• Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College
• Girls For Gender Equity
• Griot Circle
• Groundswell
• Grow Brooklyn
• El Puente
• exalt
• Participatory Budgeting Project
• Red Hook Initiative
• Red Hook Community Justice Center
• Southside United HDFC - Los Sures
• United Community Centers
• Weeksville Heritage Center

Celebrated on Giving Tuesday—the Tuesday after Thanksgiving— #BrooklynGives is the borough's first 24-hour giving day, an opportunity for residents and small businesses to come together to support nonprofit organizations that make our communities great.

To encourage your participation in #BrooklynGives, we're offering a $100,000 donation match! Last year, more than 900 donors helped to raise nearly $275,000 on #BrooklynGives day. This year, let's set a new record! 

We're proud to present #BrooklynGives in partnership with the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, with the generous support of lead sponsor TD Bank, and National Grid.

"The philanthropic spirit of One Brooklyn is at the core of our annual Spark Prize, which I am proud to present in partnership with Brooklyn Community Foundation and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Growing our local nonprofit organizations and expanding the impact of their work is critical to building safer communities where we can all raise healthy children and families. This year's diverse array of Spark Prize finalists do incredibly important work in every neighborhood across our borough, and I ask all who are able to support them through the upcoming #BrooklynGives campaign."

“Whether it’s through cultural contributions, feeding the hungry, or making sure women and minorities are treated equally—Brooklyn’s nonprofits help shape our community,” said Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Andrew Hoan. “Thank you to Brooklyn Community Foundation for their own contributions to the nonprofit community and for recognizing and rewarding so many others.”

"We are honored to be a part of this amazing event," said Peter Meyer, NYC Market President, TD Bank. "Our world is always changing and changing fast, so campaigns like #BrooklynGives that provide a platform to demonstrate innovative ways to improve our community are vital and extremely important."

“National Grid congratulates the Spark Prize finalists for the work they do to make Brooklyn a great place to live," said Ken Daly, President, National Grid New York. "We are pleased to partner with the Brooklyn Community Foundation to showcase organizations that are committed to uplifting Brooklyn communities.  We have been proud to serve the energy needs of Brooklyn for over a century and we support programs that make a lasting contribution to the communities we serve.”  

Additional Brooklyn businesses are encouraged to sign up to participate in the campaign at www.BrooklynGives.org.