In a borough where the cost of everything is outsized, some of the most meaningful community work happens at a scale most people wouldn’t expect: $5,000 to $10,000 grants, quietly disbursed through the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, to organizations doing the block-by-block work that keeps neighborhoods functioning.
The program is called the Manhattan Community Award Program — MCAP — and if you have ever benefited from a local senior center, a neighborhood youth arts program, a composting initiative, or a community education project in Manhattan, there is a reasonable chance MCAP funding was somewhere in the chain.
What MCAP Is
MCAP is an initiative of the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, currently Borough President Mark Levine. It is designed specifically for small-scale, community-based projects — the kind that are too modest to attract major foundation funding but too important to go unfunded.
The grants range from $5,000 to $10,000 and are reimbursement-based, meaning organizations spend the money on eligible programming and then get reimbursed. Projects must be conducted within the geographic boundaries of Manhattan and must be completed by June 30 of the relevant fiscal year.
Priority areas for FY2026 include climate mitigation and resiliency, education, anti-gun violence initiatives, and composting and composting education. The program also supports arts organizations and programming for seniors and youth.
Who It’s For
MCAP is explicitly not for large organizations with major operating budgets. It is for community-based groups working at a neighborhood scale — the kind of organization that knows its block, knows its residents, and is often running on a shoestring. The reimbursement model means applicants need the capacity to front the costs, but the grant amounts are small enough that most established community groups can manage it.
That focus is intentional. Borough President Levine’s office has framed MCAP as a tool for reaching the gaps that larger government programs and big foundations tend to miss: the local composting collective, the block association running after-school programs, the senior center adding a health and wellness component.
The Bigger Picture
MCAP is part of a broader category of discretionary funding that New York City’s borough presidents and council members direct to local organizations. These programs often fly under the radar precisely because they are localized and not heavily promoted — but they represent tens of millions of dollars in support for community infrastructure across the five boroughs each year.
For Manhattan organizations, MCAP is worth knowing about. For residents, it is worth knowing because it explains where some of the community programming you rely on actually comes from — not from large institutional funders, but from small grants channeled through local government.
What You Need to Know
- MCAP (Manhattan Community Award Program) provides $5,000–$10,000 reimbursement-based grants to Manhattan community organizations
- Run by the Office of the Manhattan Borough President (currently Borough President Mark Levine)
- FY2026 priorities: climate resilience, education, anti-gun violence, composting, arts, seniors, and youth
- Only Manhattan-based organizations serving Manhattan residents are eligible
- All purchases must be completed by June 30 of the relevant fiscal year to qualify for reimbursement
- More information at manhattanbp.nyc.gov
Small grants like these are how many Manhattan neighborhood organizations survive and serve. If you are part of a community group wondering how to fund a local project, MCAP is one of the most accessible entry points in the borough. For more on how NYC’s local governance structures work — including community boards, council districts, and how funding decisions get made — see our guide to NYC City Council Districts and Community Boards. And for a full overview of navigating life in the city, our 2026 NYC Resident’s Guide is a useful reference.
