The New York State Black Legislative Task Force has secured $30 million in funding for more than 200 Black-led nonprofits and organizations working in underserved communities across the state, marking another major win for communities that have long faced systemic gaps in resources and investment.
The funding is included in the One House Budget for fiscal year 2026–2027 and is earmarked for organizations working across a wide range of critical areas, including crisis intervention, housing, economic development, workforce training, healthcare, education, and civic engagement.
A budget win amid ongoing delays
Final approval for the budget bills had been expected around April 1, but the timeline has stretched due to disagreements over climate law rollbacks and proposed tax increases on the wealthiest residents. Despite those delays, task force chair and Assemblymember Chantel Jackson has made clear the funding is non-negotiable and that leadership, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, has already committed to including it.
Jackson’s resolve reflects the broader stakes involved. For many of the nonprofits depending on this money, a delay or loss of funding could directly affect their ability to serve communities that are already stretched thin.
From a statewide tour to $30 million in commitments
This is only the second year the task force has pursued dedicated funding of this kind. In its first year, the group initially sought $50 million before landing on the current $30 million figure. Before making its case to lawmakers, the task force conducted a statewide listening tour, traveling to Long Island, Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, and Westchester to understand the specific needs of Black communities far beyond New York City.
That groundwork has paid off. Following the funding announcement, more than 1,127 organizations applied for grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000. Among the notable applicants in New York City are VIP Services and Figure Skating in Harlem, two organizations that represent the diversity of need and vision within the city’s Black communities.
How the money will reach the ground
Five organizations have been selected to handle the distribution of funds to local groups:
- Elmcor
- United Way of New York State
- Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
- Local Initiative Support Corporation
- New York Urban League
Arva Rice, CEO of the New York Urban League, credited the task force’s leadership for making what she described as a historic step forward for Black communities in the state. Rice pointed to the broader national climate where diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have faced increasing political opposition at the federal level as part of what makes this state-level investment so significant. She noted that when given real support, Black excellence has proven itself in every corner of New York.
Building toward something bigger
The task force’s ambitions don’t stop at this year’s budget cycle. Assemblymember Landon Dais has outlined a clear strategy: demonstrate measurable, tangible results from this funding, then use that proof to make the case for a larger allocation in the next fiscal year. The goal is not only to sustain this investment but to grow it, showing the governor and legislative leaders that the model works and deserves to be expanded.
Beyond the budget, the task force is also turning its attention to the upcoming Census count, a critical process that determines federal resource allocation for years to come. The group is also investing in financial literacy programming within Black and Brown communities at both the city and state levels work that advocates say is foundational to long-term economic empowerment.
Why this moment matters
For many of the nonprofits in line to receive funding, this represents a rare and meaningful lifeline. Federal funding cuts and the administrative complexity of grant applications have left many small organizations without the resources they need to keep their doors open, let alone grow. This initiative is designed specifically to reach those groups the ones doing essential work in their neighborhoods without the infrastructure that larger institutions enjoy.
The task force‘s success this year is as much about process as it is about dollars. By listening, organizing, and building relationships across the state, the group has laid a foundation that could reshape how New York invests in its Black communities for years to come.
