How many grants are given in a year and how big are the grants?
We will give up to three grant awards per year. All donations received (including corporate matches) will be distributed 60% / 30% / 10% to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively. The size of our annual grant pool ranges, depending on how much money our members donate and how much we can raise through corporate matching and other additional sources, such as donations from members’ family foundations.
What’s the process for getting my non-profit funded?
Members interested in pitching a non-profit (i.e., becoming a “Grant Champion”) should fill out the PYP Grant Request Form by Friday, February 28th, 2025. PYP members who are paid employees or paid consultants to a non-profit organization may not pitch that organization.
Up to four members can join together to pitch one non-profit as a team. If more than three Grant Request Forms are submitted, members will vote to select which three non-profits they want to have pitched to them.
If you are selected to be a Grant Champion, you will get to pitch to your fellow members on our first annual pitch night planned for Tuesday, March 25th 2025
What does “pitching” entail?
Pitches will be made by our Grant Champions to fellow PYP members at our annual Pitch Night, which we’re planning as an in-person event on March 25th, 2025. All pitches should be accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation (or other visual presentation), which will be displayed during your pitch. Your pitch should include details about the non-profit, the problem the non-profit seeks to solve, and if applicable, the project, program, or effort for which you are seeking funding. You may display and/or hand out written and/or audio visual materials that you or the non-profit have prepared.
All pitches must be 15 minutes or shorter. Representatives from the non-profit who are not PYP Westchester members are not allowed to be present at the pitch, though they may help provide information, resources, or materials for you to use in your pitch or handout to members.
How long does it take to get funding for my project?
Grant Request Forms are submitted in February and presentations are made at the end of March at Pitch Night. Voting takes place online approximately 2 weeks after Pitch Night. The time between pitching and voting allows the pitching member to field follow-up questions, host follow-up sessions, etc. The winning non-profit will receive their check approximately 2 weeks after voting. The entire process lasts approx 2 months
Are there limitations on grants?
All grantees must have 501(c)3 status and grant awards must be used to directly support the local Westchester County community.
How soon can I reapply?
Grant Champions, regardless of award place, may pitch any year. Non-profits may not be pitched more than once every 3 years.
Can any of this change?
Yes. We’ve set up this process based on what we think will work best; but if something isn’t working in practice, we’ll address it.
Questions?
Contact us at pitchyourpeerswestchester@gmail.com