Love Your Block
Empowering residents across New York City to transform and revitalize their neighborhoods through community-led projects.
About Love Your Block
Love Your Block (LYB) provides hyper-local, volunteer-led groups across the five boroughs with funding and hands-on support to revitalize their neighborhoods. Groups receive a mini-grant of up to $3,000 to lead creative, community-driven projects that transform public spaces, mobilize volunteers, and strengthen neighborhood ties.
Over the six-month program period, NYC Service connects grantees to city agency services, offers capacity-building resources, and equips groups with the tools needed to sustain their projects.
Past LYB recipients have established community gardens, created neighborhood murals, organized block parties, and hosted workshops on health, safety, and community wellbeing.
Since 2009
400 Resident-led groups supported
11,500 Volunteers engaged
$400,000 Dollars invested
21+ Miles of public space revitalized
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a local 100% volunteer-led group with no paid staff
- Propose a creative project that revitalizes public space and engages the community
- Host at least one community activation (e.g., block party, volunteer series, or creation/enhancement of community space)
- Mobilize at least 15 volunteers over the six-month program period
- Participate in volunteer data tracking and financial record keeping
This program is meant for community groups that may otherwise not have access to funding or connections to city agencies. Some examples of eligible groups are:
- Block/Tenants Associations
- Mutual Aid Groups
- Grassroots Groups
- Resident-Led Groups
Expectations
- Grantees will carry out projects that involve revitalizing public community spaces in their neighborhood
- Over the six-month cycle of the program, projects should mobilize at least 15 volunteers
- Increase quality of life by building community engagement, enhancing civic participation, and improving public spaces
- Groups will join a like-minded cohort of locally led groups and gain a better understanding of city services and community organizing in New York City
Application Timeline
Application Opens: March 23, 2026
Deadline: April 7, 2026, or until positions are filled
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so earlier submissions are encouraged.
Finalists will be expected to complete one virtual interview and, if selected, will be notified of their award in mid-April. Once notified, a mandatory orientation session will be held.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information on Frequently Asked Questions, see our answer sheet here: 2026 Love Your Block Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions, please email communityprograms@nycservice.nyc.gov