To help meet the needs of nonprofits, our neighbors, and to target resources where they are needed most, OceanFirst Foundation offers General Operating/Flexible Support Grants. Please review the guidelines below before proceeding to the application portal.

2026 Special Grant Cycle Application Process – New York Only 

Who May Apply
We will consider requests for the special NY fall funding cycle from nonprofits (501c3) that can demonstrate alignment with one or more of the Funding Priorities for this cycle:

• Affordable Housing/Supporting Housing Solutions
• Financial Literacy/Asset Building
• Economic Development & Job Creation for Small Businesses/Access to Capital
• Workforce Readiness (Job Training & Skills Building/Job Creation/Career Counseling)
• Youth Leadership/Career Development
• Other Essential Community Services for LMI Households

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate a significant level of service and impact within one or more counties eligible for this grant cycle:

• Bronx
• Kings
• Nassau
• New York (Manhattan)
• Queens
• Suffolk
• Westchester

* Organizations from NY that were awarded a General Operating Support Grant in the 2025 grant cycle are not eligible to apply. Additional grant eligibility requirements may be found here.

Who Should Not Apply
Please do not apply if your organization is a public K-12 school. We periodically offer targeted grant opportunities to schools and share details when these grants are being offered. 

New Applicants
Inquires to the Foundation are welcomed. We highly recommend first-time applicants complete a screening call to verify priority alignment/eligiblity before submitting a request; email info@oceanfirstfdn.org to schedule. 

Grant Cycle
This special fall funding cycle is designed as a catch up round for NY nonprofits. Our regular 2-year grant cycle will resume in the first quarter of 2027. Applicants approved for a General Operating/Flexible Support Grant will receive their grant in one installment payable before December 31, 2026. 

Grant Application Deadline
Please plan ahead – the deadline to apply is August 7, 2026 (11:59 PM EST) and we will not consider requests submitted after the deadline.

Grant Awards
General Operating/Flexible Support Grants for this cycle are set at $7,500. Grants may be used to support administrative infrastructure, financial and organizational capacity, to help maintain programs and essential staff or for any other need. You have the power to decide how to meet your nonprofits unique needs. Your organization may submit only one request in one priority area. We expect to award up to 50 grants.

Funding Decisions
We consider factors including but not limited to: a request’s alignment with the Foundation’s stated priorities and geographic footprint; organizational capacity and good financial health; a track record of success in providing programs and services that have a positive impact on community needs and one or more of our priorities; a solid plan for measuring impact/success; demonstrated leadership within the communities served; and a willingness to partner with OceanFirst Foundation, beyond the grant, to support our neighbors. You do not need to be a customer of OceanFirst Bank to be considered and this is not a factor in our grant review.

Application Status
Organizations that submit an application will be notified of the decision on their request no later than October 1, 2026.  

Submit a Request – Click here to apply.