Budget & Funding

Qualifying Organizations

At minimum, eligible organizations generally must:

• Be a nonprofit incorporated or registered to do business in New York State
• Have at least three years of operating history
• Provide audited financial statements for the previous three fiscal years
• Employ paid, full-time staff
• Demonstrate an operating budget sufficient to sustain the proposed project
• Have a history of receiving operating funds from the City of New York

Additional requirements apply depending on project type:

• Real Property projects: Operating contracts with the City totaling $50,000+ in the current fiscal year and prior two fiscal years
• Moveable Property projects: Operating contracts with the City totaling $25,000+ in the current fiscal year

Certain requirements may be waived for:

• Hospitals or health clinics
• Organizations receiving operating funding from DCLA
• Qualified affordable housing projects

This is not a comprehensive list. Applicants should refer to the NYC Capital Grants website. If applicant is a cultural organization, refer to DCLA’s website.

Projects may fall into one or more of the following categories:

Real Property

• Property acquisition
• New construction
• Renovation or reconstruction of existing buildings

Moveable Property

• Equipment or furniture not permanently attached or is minimally attached to real property
• Procurement of vehicles
• Initial outfitting of a newly occupied or recently renovated facility

Affordable Housing

• Construction or improvements to housing facilities using HPD-administered housing loan programs

Cultural Projects

• Projects sponsored by organizations receiving DCLA funding
• Note: Cultural organizations are exempt from some city funding requirements but must be receiving funding from DCLA

General Requirements (All Non-City Projects)

• Must be a capital asset under GAAP and City rules
• Must support Front Line Services, defined as services provided directly to the public (in-person or by phone)

Non-City Projects involving Moveable Property

• Non-attached items: $50,000 minimum City contribution per item/system (unless initial outfitting)
• Minimally attached items: $250,000 minimum City contribution per item/equipment system

For Non-City Projects involving Real Property:

• Project must have a minimum City contribution: $500,000
• City contribution must not exceed:
  • Up to 90% of project costs for the first $2 million
  • Up to 50% of costs above $2 million
• Of the remaining funding needed to fully finance the project (the non-City contribution), the lesser of 50% or $1 million of non-City funding must be in hand at the time of application for City funding in the form of cash, pledged funds, or commitment letters from lenders willing to accept a subordinate position.
• Applicant must own the any property being improved

Assuming that both the applicant organization and its proposed project are eligible, the following bullet points detail how organizations should proceed to apply for capital funding, and how the capital funding process works.

1. Define a clear project scope
2. Obtain detailed cost estimates or contractor quotes
3. Submit both required applications:
   • Manhattan Borough President’s online Capital Funding Application (available early January)
   • NYC CapGrants application (or DCLA portal for cultural organizations, if applicable)  usually due third week of February.
4. Once both are submitted, respond promptly to any follow-up requests submitted via the CapGrants portal
5. Funding decisions are announced after adoption of the NYC budget (late June)
6. Within 3 – 6 months after the passage of the NYC budget, the managing agency will contact capital applicants to begin development of a contract, referred to as a Funding Agreement.
7. Once the Funding Agreement is approved by the managing agency, OMB reviews and issues a Certificate to Proceed
8. Once Certificate to Proceed is issued and all approvals obtained, Funding Agreement is executed and sent to the City Comptroller for registration.

Project timelines typically range from 12–36 months from date of appropriation.

Important Reimbursement Notice

Capital funding for Non-City Projects is reimbursement-based only. Any expenses incurred prior to registration of the Funding Agreement are made at the organization’s risk and may not be reimbursed.

Project Guidelines

• Minimum project cost: $50,000
• Must permanently enhance the facility
• Equipment lifespan: at least three years
• Technology grants must be used to purchase networkable desktops, laptops, Smart Boards, and/or tablets that access the facilities’ local-area network (LAN) system, which is the computer network. iPads, Kindles, and other tablet computers are eligible for capital funding.

Examples of Eligible Projects

• Science labs and mobile science carts
• Auditorium and gymnasium improvements
• Playground refurbishments
• Technology upgrades
• Library enhancements

Examples of Ineligible Projects

• After-school programs
• Books and loose furniture
• Copiers, software, subscriptions
• Staffing or supplies
• Window air conditioners

Public School Application Process

• Develop a project scope
• Obtain a cost estimate from the School Construction Authority (SCA)
• Submit BOTH of the the Manhattan Borough President’s online Capital Funding Application
  1. Manhattan Borough President’s FY27 Preliminary Capital Funding Application, and
  2. Schools & NYC Agency application

• Respond to any follow-up inquiries
• Funding decisions announced after City budget adoption (usually late June)
• SCA reaches out to begin project planning within six months