The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, announced Amplify Fund grant recipients for New York City and nearby regions, totaling $3.8 million committed to 31 non-profit organizations focused on community organizing, environmental, and financial empowerment initiatives.

The Amplify Fund is a $25 million philanthropic investment as part of the merger between People’s United Bank and M&T Bank. Powered by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Amplify Fund is a one-time supplemental charitable program to provide further support in the legacy People's United communities throughout New England and New York, designed to benefit low- and moderate-income communities and underrepresented populations through a racial equity and justice lens.

Amplify Fund grant recipients were selected through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Phase one consisted of four RFPs, each with a different focus and available to specific geographic regions. Priority was given to applicants that most clearly articulated the needs to be addressed, the strategies to be employed in response to those needs, and a plan to demonstrate the effectiveness of those strategies.

The following New York City and regionally adjacent nonprofit organizations received grants in this first phase:

1.      Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation

2.      East Brooklyn Congregations

3.      ANHD

4.      Fifth Avenue Committee, Inc.

5.      Pratt Area Community Council, Inc.

6.      Chhaya

7.      Make the Road New York

8.      The Crenulated Company Ltd. DBA New Settlement

9.      Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition

10.  Asian Americans For Equality, Inc.

11.  UNHP

12.  CNYCN

13.  UHAB

14.  Good Old Lower East Side, Inc. (GOLES)

15.  We Stay/Nos Quedamos, Inc.

16.  Habitat For Humanity

17.  Right to Counsel NYC Coalition

18.  Flatbush Development Corporation

19.  MHANY

20.  Neighbors Together Corp.

21.  East New York CLT Inc.

22.  Red Hook Initiative

23.  Community Voices Heard, Inc.

24.  Center for Law and Human Values

25.  St Nicks Alliance

26.  BOC

27.  Accompany Capital

28.  Futures Ignite

29.  NY Renews Education Fund, a Project of the Tides Foundation

30.  Riverkeeper, Inc.

31.  Youth Ministries for Peace & Justice, Inc.

“M&T is proud to support New York residents in the distribution of grants to 31 impressive area organizations,” said Blair Ridder, M&T Bank’s Regional president for NYC. “We are deeply committed to investing in our local businesses and community partners that impress us with their ingenuity every day.”

One of the Amplify grant recipients, Riverkeeper, Inc., is a not-for-profit that protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science, and law.

“Working closely with the City of Peekskill to implement its Drinking Water Source Protection Program, we're helping to ensure that science guides decision-making about managing Peekskill Hollow Brook, a source of drinking water for 100,000 people in Peekskill,” said Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper, Inc. “We're engaging with educators, students, and the public to improve awareness of the brook as a critical resource for the region. We are so grateful for the critical support from the M&T Amplify Fund for making this project possible.” 

The Amplify Fund is designed to drive sustainable impact that is equitable, accessible, and responsive to local needs. Regional representatives of the bank will continue to meet with local leaders to help inform the strategic direction for the future of the Fund’s giving efforts in 2023 and beyond.