On October 8th, Mayor Mamdani of New York City and City Council Speaker Manning jointly announced the expansion of the “Discretionary Grant Pilot Program,” eliminating 9 steps in the non-profit organization contract process to allow community non-profits to access city funding more quickly. It is expected that within 30 days of signing the grant agreement, organizations can receive 100% of the funds.
The city government stated that the expanded program may benefit up to 800 community non-profit organizations, with grants of up to $25,000. Eligible organizations primarily receive council member allocation grants for the 2027 fiscal year and have received no more than $25,000 in total from agencies under the Mayor’s Office.
These organizations provide services closely related to residents’ daily lives, including services for the elderly, public health, social services, veterans’ services, children and youth programs, housing services, and small business services.
Mayor Mamdani mentioned that non-profit organizations have long faced payment delays. These organizations play a crucial role in educating young people, serving the elderly, and providing community programs. The city government should allow them to access funds “quickly and effectively” to prevent service disruptions.
This reform has already distributed approximately $1 million to over 100 pilot organizations in the 2026 fiscal year. These non-profit organizations received funding on average within 3 months, a 300% increase in speed compared to the previous 12 months.
The city government stated that nearly 70% of council member allocation grants for funded organizations are delayed in traditional contracting backlogs, contributing significantly to delays in non-profit organizations receiving payments.
The new round of the program will confirm eligible organizations in the coming days, with grant agreements expected to be issued in November. Selected non-profit organizations have 30 days to sign back the agreements, and the funds are expected to be disbursed by the end of 2026 or early 2027.