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Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant (2026): Eligibility, Application Process, Funding Details & Expert Guide

July 9, 2026
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Emily Carter

What Is the Goldman Sachs Community Development Grant? (Quick Answer)

The Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant is a philanthropic initiative that provides one-time and multi-year unrestricted operating support to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities across selected counties in New York, New Jersey, and Utah. Organizations apply through two initiatives, Change Makers and Equity Builders, via Goldman Sachs’s official online portal.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Goldman Sachs Community Development Grant:

Understanding Goldman Sachs Community Grant

Nonprofit funding has never been more competitive. Federal budgets are tightening, foundation dollars are stretched across more applicants, and community development work in underserved communities depends increasingly on corporate philanthropy stepping in. That’s what makes programs like the Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant worth understanding closely.

Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s most recognized financial institutions, has built a dedicated grant program around a simple premise: strong communities are the foundation of economic growth. For nonprofit organizations working on affordable housing, workforce development, and small business support, this Goldman Sachs grant program represents a meaningful funding opportunity, but only for organizations that meet its specific eligibility requirements.

What Is the Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant?

The Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant is a corporate philanthropic initiative run through the firm’s Community Development Grants program. Goldman Sachs describes its underlying philosophy directly: the firm believes that strong communities are the foundation of economic growth and a prosperous society, and it built this program to provide funding support for nonprofits advancing economic opportunity and mobility in LMI communities.

The Goldman Sachs grant program supports nonprofit organizations working across four core areas:

This community investment strategy reflects a long-term goal of deepening Goldman Sachs’s charitable giving in the specific geographies where it operates.

Key Takeaway: This funding opportunity does not accept applications from organizations across the country. It’s a targeted community development grant limited to specific counties, and eligibility hinges on geography as much as mission alignment.

Why Community Development Grant Matters

For nonprofit organizations operating in high-cost, high-need urban and suburban areas, general operating grants are among the most valuable forms of funding support available. Unlike restricted project grants, this Goldman Sachs community grant lets recipients apply dollars where they’re needed most, including staffing, systems, technology, or reserves.

This matters because:

Economic opportunity work is chronically underfunded relative to need in LMI communities.
Workforce development and small business support programs often rely on flexible dollars to stay adaptive.
Affordable housing organizations face long timelines that benefit from multi-year funding.
Capacity building strengthens nonprofit organizations for the long run.
Social impact and community leadership get a visibility boost when a major financial institution publicly backs an organization's work.

Funding Priorities

Goldman Sachs organizes its community development funding around four pillars. Applications should map clearly to one or more of these funding priorities:

Pillar	Focus
Affordable Housing	Housing development/preservation, homeownership counseling, rental assistance, eviction prevention
Community Services	Workforce development, job training, financial health programs, healthcare and early childhood education access
Small Business Growth	Technical assistance, access to capital, business incubation for under-resourced small businesses
Neighborhood Revitalization	Community improvements, community hubs, transit-oriented infrastructure, disaster resilience

Standalone arts, fashion, sports, or general cultural programming is generally not eligible unless it’s a direct vehicle toward one of these community development focus areas.

Key Takeaway: Funding priorities favor organizations that can tie their programming to measurable economic mobility outcomes, not general community engagement alone.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible organizations must meet every requirement below. This is a narrow, geography-specific grant eligibility structure, so review it carefully before investing time in an application.

Eligibility Checklist

Domestic, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
Clear organizational focus on community development addressing LMI areas or households
Material presence (office, staff, or significant programming) in an eligible county
Eligible New York counties: New York, Bronx, Kings, Richmond, or Queens
Eligible New Jersey counties: Hudson or Essex
Eligible Utah counties: Salt Lake, Summit, or Tooele
U.S.-based organization only (international organizations are not eligible)

Organizations based elsewhere in New York, New Jersey, or Utah, but outside these specific counties, do not qualify, even with a strong mission fit.

Who Is NOT Eligible?

Based on official program materials, the following are documented exclusions:

If your organization’s eligibility isn’t clearly addressed above, always verify the latest information on the official Goldman Sachs website before applying.

Grant Amounts & Funding Options

The program operates through two distinct initiatives, each with a different funding structure:

Initiative	Type	Term	Typical Use
Change Makers	One-time general operating grant	1 year	Programmatic or staffing needs
Equity Builders	Multi-year general operating grant	3 years	Capacity building, sustained impact

Organizations submit one comprehensive application; Goldman Sachs’s internal review committee determines which initiative (one-time or multi-year) best aligns with the organization’s capacity and proposed impact.

Award amounts vary by initiative and organizational scope. Always verify current funding levels on the official Goldman Sachs website, since figures can change between cycles.

How to Apply

Step 1: Find the opportunity

Confirm the current cycle is open on the official Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions webpage. Grant research services can help identify relevant funding opportunities, eligibility requirements, and key application details.

Step 2: Review eligibility

Confirm 501(c)(3) status, mission alignment, and county-level presence.

Step 3: Gather documents

Assemble your IRS determination letter, Form 990, and financial statements.

Step 4: Prepare organizational information

Executive Director and contact details, mission summary, service areas.

Step 5: Write the proposal

Address the community challenge, your approach, and expected economic mobility impact. Grant proposal writing service can help structure your ideas, strengthen your narrative, and ensure the proposal clearly communicates your impact.

Step 6: Complete the online application

Submit organizational, programmatic, and financial details through the official portal.

Step 7: Submit before the deadline

Submit organizational, programmatic, and financial details through the official portal.

Step 8: Follow post-submission requirements

Respond promptly if Goldman Sachs requests clarification.

Application Checklist

How Professional Grant Writers Improve Success

Navigating a grant program with narrow geographic eligibility, defined focus areas, and multiple required documents takes real project management. Experienced grant writers help nonprofit organizations:

A professional grant writing company can’t guarantee an award, but it can materially improve the quality, clarity, and competitiveness of an application. If your team is stretched thin, grant writing services and grant proposal writing support can free up capacity while keeping the process compliant. For organizations weighing multiple options, grant research services can help identify additional corporate grants and foundation grants worth pursuing alongside this opportunity.

Required Documents

Document Checklist

Financial documentation is generally expected to be current, historically within 12 months of submission. For a detailed overview of eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and other key considerations, read our complete guide on Grant Requirements.

Document requirements may change annually, so always verify the latest information on the official Goldman Sachs website before applying.

Selection Criteria

Applications are generally evaluated on three criteria, weighted equally according to official program materials:

Criterion	What Reviewers Look For
Impact	Measurable outcomes in LMI communities and a documented history of meeting community needs
Community Engagement	Authentic engagement with LMI communities throughout program design and implementation
Innovation	A distinctive approach that builds on and enhances existing solutions

Avoid assuming a numeric scoring rubric exists beyond what’s published, Goldman Sachs has not disclosed a detailed point system.

Tips to Strengthen Your Application

Write a strong needs statement grounded in local data, not generic language.
Use SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) objectives.
Justify your budget line by line against your proposed outcomes.
Highlight community partnerships and co-design efforts with residents.
Build a real evaluation plan showing how you'll track impact measurement over time.
Address program sustainability beyond the grant period, especially for Equity Builders applicants.

Common Application Mistakes

For a deeper look at frequent grant writing errors and practical solutions, read our guide on Top Grant Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant vs. Other Corporate Grants

Program	Eligible Organizations	Funding Focus	Geographic Scope
Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant	501(c)(3) nonprofits in specific NY, NJ, UT counties	Affordable housing, community services, small business, revitalization	County-specific
Truist Foundation Grants	U.S. nonprofits, varies by program	Economic mobility, education, community development	Multi-state (verify current footprint)
State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Grants	501(c)(3) nonprofits	Education, community safety, economic development	National (verify current criteria)
Bank of America Charitable Grants	Nonprofits in BofA markets	Economic mobility, workforce development, housing	Market-specific
JPMorgan Chase Foundation Grants	Nonprofits, varies by initiative	Workforce development, small business, housing	Varies by program

Specific eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts for competitor programs change frequently, always verify current program details on each funder’s official website before comparing options or applying.

Conclusion

The Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant offers real, flexible funding support for nonprofit organizations doing measurable community development work in eligible counties of New York, New Jersey, and Utah. Whether your organization fits the one-time Change Makers initiative or the multi-year Equity Builders track, preparation matters as much as mission fit.

Confirm your eligibility early, gather documentation ahead of time, and build a proposal grounded in real data and community engagement. If you need help, our team supports community development grants, nonprofit grant writing, grant compliance, and grant management from research through submission.

Need Professional Grant Writing Support?

Grant Writing Company helps nonprofit organizations identify funding opportunities, research grant programs, prepare compelling proposals, strengthen applications, and improve funding readiness.

Contact grant experts today to prepare a stronger application, and explore our federal grant writing services for your organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Goldman Sachs Community Development Champions Grant?

It’s a Goldman Sachs philanthropic grant program offering one-time and multi-year general operating grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits advancing economic opportunity in LMI communities across specific counties of New York, New Jersey, and Utah.

Who is eligible to apply?

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations with a material presence in an eligible New York, New Jersey, or Utah county, and a clear focus on community development for LMI areas or households.

Is this grant legitimate?

Yes. It is an official Goldman Sachs corporate philanthropy program, administered through the firm’s Community Development Grants initiative.

What organizations qualify?

Domestic nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, operating primarily within the eligible counties, and addressing housing, community services, small business, or revitalization needs.

Is funding guaranteed if I apply?

No. Funding is competitive, and Goldman Sachs reserves the right to award partial funding or none at all based on organizational capacity and program alignment.

What projects receive funding?

Projects tied to affordable housing, essential community services, small business growth, or neighborhood revitalization in LMI communities.

Are multi-year grants available?

Yes, through the Equity Builders Initiative, which provides multi-year general operating support.

Is there a one-time grant option?

Yes, the Change Makers Initiative provides a one-time general operating grant.

How competitive is the program?

Past funding records indicate that only a small number of organizations receive grants each year, reflecting a highly competitive selection process. Always check current cycle details.

How long does the review process take?

Based on the published timeline, award decisions are typically finalized in the fourth quarter of the application year.

Note: This article is provided for informational purposes only. Grant details, eligibility requirements, and deadlines may change over time. Applicants should verify all information through official sources before applying.

Need Help?

Contact our grant writing experts today to get your right Professional Grant Writer

Author-Emily Carter

Senior Grant Strategist

Emily Carter is a Senior Grant Strategist with more than 20 years of experience helping nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations secure competitive grant funding. She specializes in developing funding strategies, evaluating grant opportunities, and creating winning proposals for government, corporate, and private foundation grant programs.

Her work focuses on aligning organizational goals with funder priorities, developing competitive grant strategies, and ensuring every proposal meets program objectives. By combining strategic planning with deep knowledge of grant funding, she helps organizations pursue high-value funding opportunities with confidence.

Reviewed By-Michelle Bennett

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