Saturday, October 3, 2026
State funding totaling $30 million may go to help non-profit organizations across the state, including those in Freeport, Roosevelt, Baldwin, Hempstead, Lakeview, Uniondale, and West Hempstead. Distribution of these funds is expected to begin sometime next year.
The funding was discussed at what was described as a listening session attended by residents, nonprofit leaders and elected officials at the Roosevelt Library on July 24. The meeting was part of a statewide tour aimed at ensuring that the voices and needs of local communities guide how this civic investment will be allocated.
The money that will be distributed by five entities — Elm Core, LISC New York, the National Urban League, United Way of New York State, and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies — is intended to support community-based organizations in underserved area across the state. The organizations will work with the Department of State to allocate the funding to groups that apply. Over 400 organizations across New York have expressed interest in the money.
The initiative was spearheaded by the New
York State Black Legislative Task Force, which is chaired by Assemblywoman Chantel Jackson of the Bronx. The task force, which seeks to advance legislation and secure funding for Black communities, was formed in 2022, and was officially recognized by the Assembly this year.
“The Asian task force have been advocating for money for (the) last five years or so, and started out getting $10 million and moved up to $30 million, like, last year,” Jackson said, referring to the New York Assembly Asian Pacific American Task Force. “So we, as a task force, thought it would be a good idea for us, also, to start advocating for that funding, and it’s just a matter of us collectively talking to our leadership about the needs of socially disadvantaged groups and talking to the governor as well.”
“The Black task force received ($30 million), the Puerto Rican task force received ($30 million) and the Asian task force received ($30 million),” Jackson added. “So $90 million in total.”
Other key members of the Black Legislative Task Force include State Senators Kevin Parker, Lea Webb and Leroy Comrie; Assemblymen Khaleel Anderson, Noah Burroughs and Clyde Vanel; and Assemblywomen Latrice Walker, Monique Chandler-Waterman, Stephanie Zimmerman and Alicia Hyndman.
The collective goal is to address the unique challenges faced by communities that have been overlooked in state and federal funding decisions. The urgency of the funding is underscored by the scale of recent federal budget cuts.
“Although $30 million is a lot of money, it won’t backfill the amount of money that we’re losing from the federal government, which is in the trillions,” said Burroughs, who represents Baldwin, Freeport, Hempstead, Lakeview, Roosevelt and Uniondale.
Many local organizations rely heavily on federal funding, and the cuts have created urgent needs for capital improvements, equipment and program support, the elected officials said.
“I know (a) number of people wanted us to respond to the federal cuts that they received, and I said, this money will not be able to do that. It’s not even possible,” Jackson added. “So just to help facilitate what you already have going on.”
At the listening session, representatives of several nonprofits from across Long Island spoke about their grassroots advocacy and community-based work detailed how the money would benefit their work. Those groups included Rebound on the Road, led by former NBA player Jason Williams, which empowers formerly incarcerated people through commercial drivers’ license training and life coaching; Better Health Connects, which offers young people health screenings and career guidance; and the Women’s Opportunity Rehabilitation Center, in Hempstead, which supports, among others, women involved in the justice system and domestic violence survivors.
Community members also advocated for investment in gardens to address food insecurity in Wyandanch; summer youth programs; trauma-related mental health services; mentoring for middle school students; and improved ShotSpotter technology for crime detection.
The funding is structured to ensure both immediate support and accountability for recipient organizations.
“We as a task force have no bearings on who gets the funding,” Jackson said. “That is for the fiscal conduits to work out with the groups.”
Once a nonprofit applies and is approved by one of the fiscal conduits, it can receive up to 25 percent of its grant up front after submitting the necessary paperwork. The remaining 75 percent of the money is distributed on a reimbursement basis: An organization must first spend its own money on approved activities, and then submit receipts and documentation for reimbursement.
Organizations interested in receiving updates about the application process can email the Black Legislative Task Force’s executive director, Dorcia Williams, at williamsd@nyassembly.gov.
