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BY SCOTT STIFFLER | The West Side Community Fund (WSCF)—a consortium of companies whose biannual grant program typically distributes $100,000 per cycle to community health centers, food pantries, non-profits, arts programs, and more—recently announced the dedication of their Spring 2026 cycle to initiatives benefitting underserved populations within the LGBTQIA+ communities of Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and Hell’s Kitchen.
“A select group of donors stepped forward to fund this grant cycle supporting one of Community Board 4’s most historically significant populations.” read the announcement, which noted applications are being accepted through March 27. Grant recipients will be announced, appropriately enough, during Pride Month (aka June). Funding will be distributed “at a variety of levels”—and although WSCF is mum on the grand total, they say there’s “a higher level of funding available this cycle,” allowing individual grants to range “from WSCF’s usual of $10,000 and below to upwards of $25,000.”
Priority will be given to projects addressing housing and people experiencing homelessness; healthcare access; food security; education and economic empowerment; community development; Arts and culture; and other programs addressing the needs of underserved populations within the LGBTQIA+ community.
The eligibility requirements note:
—An applicant’s proposed program or project must serve LGBTQIA+ populations and allies in the Manhattan Community Board 4 catchment area (btw. 14th & 59th Sts.—to the west of Eighth Ave. north of 26th St., and to the west of Sixth Ave. south of 26th St.).
—The grants cannot be used to support religious or partisan activities, nor programs that promote any form of discrimination.
Applications are being accepted through March 27, at westsidecommunityfund.org. Questions? Send an email to WSCF@hudsonguild.org.
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