Neighborhood School Grants

Two Trees and the Walentas Family Foundation

Two Trees and the Walentas Family Foundation are strongly committed to the cause of public education in New York City. The Neighborhood School Grants program was founded on the belief that vibrant and successful schools are a fundamental part of any thriving community—and that the community in turn plays a critical role in the success or failure of our schools. 2013 marked the inaugural cycle of this annual grant program to nurture and support innovative school-based projects in the neighborhoods where we live and work. 

At this time, all public schools located in Districts 13, 14, and 15 are eligible to apply for grants between $5,000 and $25,000. 

Funding Priorities

Two Trees and the Walentas Family Foundation believe that individual schools themselves know best how to assess their needs and how to address them given their unique capabilities and resources. 

We seek to support those projects that do the most to enrich students' learning experiences and help a school to achieve its central mission, but which are not supported by a school's existing budget allocation. We believe this can best be achieved through initiatives that draw on the creativity, vision, and energy of the entire school community—from students and their families, to faculty and staff, and even beyond to the neighborhood at large.

There is no restriction on the type of projects we will consider. However, we generally do not fund turn-key enrichment residencies or basic equipment purchases.

Past Grant Categories

Career and Vocational Training, Classroom Instruction Support, Curriculum Development, In-School Enrichment and Clubs, Field-Trips, Mentoring, Guidance, Advocacy, Professional Development, Project-based Learning, Race and Gender Equity, Restorative Justice, Transition to High School/Transition to College, Tutoring and Remediation.

 Proposal and Application Timeline

• The 2024-2025 application period opens March 1, with an extended deadline of Friday, May 3, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. 
• Recipients will be contacted in July 2024.
• Funds will be distributed in September 2024 for use during the 2024-2025 school year.

Questions?

For more information about the Neighborhood School Grants program, our funding priorities, or how to apply visit our FAQ. If your questions is not answered in the FAQ, please reach out via email schoolgrants@twotreesny.com