Ponce de Leon Foundation

About Ponce de Leon Foundation

Ponce De Leon Foundation’s grantmaking is built around neighborhoods served by Ponce Bank, with annual competitive RFP grants for 501(c)(3) organizations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Union City, NJ. The foundation’s recent awards show a steady pattern of local support for housing, education, health, and social services, alongside arts, youth, and senior-focused work. In 2024, it made multiple $25,000 awards to groups such as Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn CDC Inc for a Homeownership Preservation Initiative and Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service for expanded case management services. Those grants reflect a mix of direct service, housing stability, and community-based support that aligns with its stated mission. The foundation also backs organizations serving specific populations within those neighborhoods. Recent examples include New Settlement for a program for girls and young women, The Hope Program for digital literacy training for low-income jobseekers, and Act Now Foundation Dementia Resource Center for an Alzheimer’s care project. Taken together, the grants point to a funder that concentrates on practical services for local residents rather than broad, national initiatives.

What Ponce de Leon Foundation Funds

Affordable housing is one of the clearest themes in the portfolio. Recent support included $30,000 to Leap Inc Dba Brooklyn Workforce Innovations for affordable housing career training and $25,000 to New York City Housing Partnership for a homeownership counseling and education program. Housing preservation also appears through $25,000 to Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn CDC Inc for its Homeownership Preservation Initiative. Education and youth development are also prominent. The foundation gave $30,000 to Center for Supportive Schools for supporting youth development at the President Barack Obama Community School and $25,000 to Fresh Youth Initiatives Inc for Middle School Journeys: Mental Health and Wellness. It also supported Girls Incorporated of New York City with $25,000 for Project Accelerate. Other awards show attention to access and inclusion, including $25,000 to Part of the Solution for ESOL support and $15,000 to New York Lgbt Network Inc for a safe schools initiative LGBT anti-bullying program.

How Ponce de Leon Foundation Gives