Operates the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), a family-friendly winter fundraising walk that raises funds for local organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship.
Blue Sea Philanthropy USA channels its giving through the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) grant program, which supports local organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship. The pattern in the recent grants is clear: this funder backs direct-service providers and emergency-response groups, especially warming centers, shelters, and housing-stability organizations. The largest recent grant in the list went to Micah Ecumenical Ministries Inc in Fredericksburg, Virginia, at $141,977 in 2025, following a $141,100 award to the same organization in 2024. Another major 2025 grant supported Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter in Winchester, Virginia, with $95,510, showing sustained attention to cold-weather emergency services. The foundation also funded Miriams House Inc in Lynchburg, Virginia, with $51,936 in 2025, and Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless Inc in Portsmouth, Virginia, with $38,922 in 2025. Across the recent grants, the foundation’s emphasis stays close to basic-needs work and local collaboration, with awards going to community organizations serving people who are unsheltered, at risk of cold exposure, or moving toward housing stability. The grants are spread across multiple states, but the common thread is practical support for organizations meeting immediate need.
Cold-weather emergency services are a central theme. Blue Sea Philanthropy USA gave $95,510 to Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter in 2025 and $40,451 to Carbondale Warming Center in 2025, both tied to sheltering people during cold conditions. Housing stability and transition support also appear in the grant list. Homewardbound of the Grand Valley received $28,138 in 2025, while Agate Housing and Services received $20,900 in 2025, indicating support for organizations working with people moving out of homelessness. The foundation also backs community-based homelessness services and local collaborations. In Pennsylvania, it gave $29,581 to Pottstown Beacon of Hope for the Pottstown Beacon of Hope Warming Center and $19,028 to YWCA Bucks County for Serving Bucks Together. In Illinois, it supported Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet with $23,786 in 2025 for general fund use.
Recent grants cluster in the mid five figures, with a typical size of $10,128 at the 25th percentile, $15,655 at the median, and $23,501 at the 75th percentile. That said, the list includes several much larger awards tied to key local partners. The same organizations can appear in consecutive years, such as Micah Ecumenical Ministries, Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter, Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless Inc, and YWCA of Bucks County, which suggests repeated support rather than one-off funding. Blue Sea Philanthropy USA operates through a named grant program, the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) Grant Program, and the program does not accept unsolicited applications.
$874K
$414K
$1.3M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $24K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$24K
Brian Carney
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Grantmaking is national, but Virginia appears most often in the recent list and accounts for 26% of grants given to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Virginia recipients include Fredericksburg, Winchester, Lynchburg, Portsmouth, Danville, and Hagerstown-area support in Maryland nearby. Outside Virginia, grants reached places such as Reading and Pottstown, Pennsylvania; Carbondale and La Salle, Illinois; Baraboo, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. All of the grants in the provided data went to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants point to organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship. Recipients include warming shelters, homeless-service providers, housing-stability organizations, and local community groups, often with general fund or program-specific support.
No. The active Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) Grant Program is listed as not accepting unsolicited applications.
The typical grant size is $10,128 at the 25th percentile, $15,655 at the median, and $23,501 at the 75th percentile. Some awards are much larger, including six-figure grants to established local partners.
The foundation gives nationally, but Virginia is the top state by grant count, and 26% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent awards also went to recipients in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Indiana, New York, and Michigan.
Yes. Several organizations appear in both 2024 and 2025, including Micah Ecumenical Ministries, Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter, Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless Inc, House of Hope, New Journey Community Outreach, Carbondale Warming Center, and YWCA of Bucks County.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Blue Sea Philanthropy Usa that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Charities seeking to run a Coldest Night of the Year event in their community. The page describes local charity partners serving neighbors facing hurt, hunger and homelessness.
Deadline: Applications for CNOY 2027 are open until November 15, 2026.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICAH ECUMENICAL MINISTRIES INC | FREDERICKSBRG, VA | $141,977 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| WINCHESTER AREA TEMPORARY THERMAL SHELTER | WINCHESTER, VA | $95,510 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MIRIAMS HOUSE INC | LYNCHBURG, VA | $51,936 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| RIVER VALLEY CHARITIES INC | HUDSON, WI | $43,696 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NEW JOURNEY COMMUNITY OUTREACH INC | READING, PA | $41,637 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CARBONDALE WARMING CENTER | CARBONDALE, IL | $40,451 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PORTSMOUTH VOLUNTEERS FOR THE HOMELESS INC | PORTSMOUTH, VA | $38,922 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| POTTSTOWN BEACON OF HOPE | POTTSTOWN, PA | $29,581 | 2025 | SPECIFIC PROGRAM-PBOH WARMING CENTER |
| HOMEWARDBOUND OF THE GRAND VALLEY | GRAND JCT, CO | $28,138 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ILLINOIS VALLEY PUBLIC ACTION TO DELIVER SHELTER - IV PADS | LA SALLE, IL | $24,803 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PATHWAY HOME OF SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN INC | BARABOO, WI | $24,557 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF JOLIET | CREST HILL, IL | $23,786 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CARLISLE CARES DBA COMMUNITY CARES | CARLISLE, PA | $23,603 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOUSE OF HOPE | DANVILLE, VA | $22,667 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| AGATE HOUSING AND SERVICES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,900 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| REACH OF WASHINGTON COUNTY | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $20,531 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YWCA BUCKS COUNTY | TREVOSE, PA | $19,028 | 2025 | SPECIFIC PROGRAM-SERVING BUCKS TOGETHER (SBT) |
| LOVE INC OF BOONE COUNTY | LEBANON, IN | $18,253 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| STONE CITY ALLIANCE FOR RECOVERY & HOPE INC DBA BEDFORD MEN'S WARMING SHEL | BEDFORD, IN | $16,176 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SHELTER OF FLINT INC | FLINT, MI | $15,752 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| B THE LIGHT MISSION | BARTLESVILLE, OK | $14,460 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ONE COLLECTIVE NFP | ELGIN, IL | $13,545 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE REFUGE INC | GREENWOOD, IN | $12,835 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| LOCKPORT CARES INC | LOCKPORT, NY | $12,413 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HELPING OVERCOME POVERTYS EXISTENCE INC DBA OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY | WYTHEVILLE, VA | $11,700 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| YWCA JAMESTOWN | JAMESTOWN, NY | $11,012 | 2025 | SPECIFIC PROGRAM-TRANSITIONS HOUSING |
| COMPASS HOUSE | BUFFALO, NY | $10,043 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| IM-POSSIBLE INC | DURANT, OK | $8,864 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| WAYFINDERS OHIO INC | MANSFIELD, OH | $8,498 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GATHERING PLACE MISSION | GEORGETOWN, KY | $6,752 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ROLLA MISSION | ROLLA, MO | $5,810 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GATHERING TREE | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $5,533 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SOUTH MICHIGAN FOOD BANK | BATTLE CREEK, MI | $5,494 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| LOAVES AND FISHES MINISTRIES | LANSING, MI | $5,044 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| Micah Ecumenical Ministries | Fredericksburg, VA | $141,100 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter | Winchester, VA | $55,116 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Miriam's House | Lynchburg, VA | $49,438 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless Inc | Portsmouth, VA | $32,768 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Lockport Cares | LOCKPORT, NY | $23,997 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Carbondale Warming Center | Carbondale, IL | $23,005 | 2024 | Assistance |
| New Journey Community Outreach | Reading, PA | $22,058 | 2024 | Assistance |
| RELIGIOUS EFFORT TO ASSIST & CARE FOR THE HOMELESS | Hagerstown, MD | $21,379 | 2024 | Assistance |
| House of Hope | Danville, VA | $20,318 | 2024 | Assistance |
| YWCA of Bucks County | Trevose, PA | $15,655 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Carlisle Cares dba Community CARES | Carlisle, PA | $15,069 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Agate Housing and Services | Minneapolis, MN | $13,000 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Shelter of Flint Inc | Flint, MI | $10,964 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Young Women's Christian Assn of Jamestown | Jamestown, NY | $10,523 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Bethlehem Haven of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $9,732 | 2024 | Assistance |
| Compass House | Buffalo, NY | $8,961 | 2024 | Assistance |
MIRIAMS HOUSE INC
$51,936GENERAL FUND
RIVER VALLEY CHARITIES INC
$43,696GENERAL FUND
NEW JOURNEY COMMUNITY OUTREACH INC
$41,637GENERAL FUND
CARBONDALE WARMING CENTER
$40,451GENERAL FUND
PORTSMOUTH VOLUNTEERS FOR THE HOMELESS INC
$38,922GENERAL FUND
POTTSTOWN BEACON OF HOPE
$29,581SPECIFIC PROGRAM-PBOH WARMING CENTER
ILLINOIS VALLEY PUBLIC ACTION TO DELIVER SHELTER - IV PADS
$24,803GENERAL FUND
PATHWAY HOME OF SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN INC
$24,557GENERAL FUND
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF JOLIET
$23,786GENERAL FUND
HOUSE OF HOPE
$22,667GENERAL FUND
LOVE INC OF BOONE COUNTY
$18,253GENERAL FUND
STONE CITY ALLIANCE FOR RECOVERY & HOPE INC DBA BEDFORD MEN'S WARMING SHEL
$16,176GENERAL FUND
SHELTER OF FLINT INC
$15,752GENERAL FUND
B THE LIGHT MISSION
$14,460GENERAL FUND
THE REFUGE INC
$12,835GENERAL FUND
LOCKPORT CARES INC
$12,413GENERAL FUND
HELPING OVERCOME POVERTYS EXISTENCE INC DBA OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY
$11,700GENERAL FUND
COMPASS HOUSE
$10,043GENERAL FUND
IM-POSSIBLE INC
$8,864GENERAL FUND
GATHERING PLACE MISSION
$6,752GENERAL FUND
ROLLA MISSION
$5,810GENERAL FUND
GATHERING TREE
$5,533GENERAL FUND
LOAVES AND FISHES MINISTRIES
$5,044GENERAL FUND
Miriam's House
$49,438Assistance
Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless Inc
$32,768Assistance
Lockport Cares
$23,997Assistance
Carbondale Warming Center
$23,005Assistance
New Journey Community Outreach
$22,058Assistance
House of Hope
$20,318Assistance
Shelter of Flint Inc
$10,964Assistance
Compass House
$8,961Assistance
