Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Org and United Way of New York City today announced the launch of a new, multi-year energy equity initiative in partnership with the National Grid Foundation, alongside the first round of investments supporting Brooklyn nonprofits preparing residents for careers in the growing energy sector and supporting residents with home heating and efficiency upgrades.

Working with trusted, neighborhood-based organizations, Brooklyn Org and United Way of New York City will co-develop and implement strategies that reflect the lived experiences of residents most impacted by high energy costs, housing instability, and barriers to accessing assistance.

Brooklyn Org will lead the Brooklyn Energy Initiative, a 24-month boroughwide effort focused on expanding energy workforce pathways, supporting households facing high energy burdens, and increasing access to clear, trusted energy information. United Way of New York City will lead the Powering Possibility in Queens Fund, partnering with trusted community-based organizations already working with energy burdened households to provide relief on overdue bills and support access to broader supports.

As part of this work, Brooklyn Org today announced $400,000 in grants to be distributed to eight nonprofits through Future of Energy Workforce funding and $300,000 in grants to be distributed to six nonprofits through Future of Homes funding. The Future of Energy funding will be used to prepare young adults and early-career workers for STEM and energy-related careers. Grantees will provide technical training, green-skills development, job-readiness programming, and direct exposure to energy systems through Energy Hub Site Visits coordinated with the National Grid Foundation. The Future of Homes funding will be used to support residents facing high energy costs with emergency heating assistance, energy efficiency upgrades and education.

Through the Powering Possibility in Queens Fund, United Way of New York City announced $450,000 in grants to be distributed to seven local community-based partners. These partners will deliver direct financial assistance to roughly 500 households in Queens and provide energy navigation, education, and connections to relief programs for an additional 500+ households. The initiative will aim to develop community informed solutions to persistent barriers to accessing energy assistance.

The Brooklyn Org Future of Energy Workforce grantees are:

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (Bed-Stuy Restoration) — Expands economic opportunity in Central Brooklyn through workforce development, financial empowerment, and community-based programming, connecting residents to careers in growing industries including energy.

Green City Force Inc. — Engages young adults from public housing in service and training programs focused on sustainability, clean energy, and environmental justice, preparing them for careers in the green economy.

The HOPE Program — Provides comprehensive job training, career readiness, and employment placement services for New Yorkers facing barriers to work, with growing pathways into energy and infrastructure sectors.

Marcy Lab, Inc. — Trains low-income young adults for high-paying careers in tech through an alternative education model, with expanding opportunities tied to energy and infrastructure innovation.

Red Hook Initiative — Connects youth and young adults in Red Hook to education, employment, and leadership development opportunities, including pathways into emerging industries.

Resilience Education Training and Innovation Center (RETIC)— Delivers hands-on training in construction, environmental resilience, and green infrastructure, preparing participants for careers in climate and energy-related fields.

St. Nicks Alliance Corp. — Provides workforce development, housing, and community services across North Brooklyn, with programs that prepare residents for careers in construction, energy efficiency, and building operations.

Welder Underground — Offers hands-on welding and fabrication training to young adults, creating pathways into skilled trades that are critical to energy infrastructure and the green economy.

Bed-Stuy Restoration, which hosted the announcement, is among the selected organizations and will expand its workforce programming to connect Brooklyn residents to careers in the clean energy economy.

"Restoration is deeply grateful to be selected as a BKO Future of Energy grantee. Last year, we placed 500 clients in jobs spanning healthcare, loss prevention, and social services — but we know the need for family-sustaining careers in our communities runs deeper,” said Blondel A. Pinnock, President and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. This investment comes at a pivotal moment, allowing us to expand into the energy sector and open doors to careers that can allow families to live comfortably in New York City. We are committed to ensuring that the communities we serve are not just part of the energy transition but benefitting from and leading it."

The Brooklyn Org Future of Homes grantees are:

Bridge Street Development Corporation — Supports Central Brooklyn homeowners and renters with housing stability services, providing hands-on guidance to access energy efficiency programs, navigate rebates, and make informed home retrofit decisions.

Brooklyn Level Up, Inc. —  A community-rooted organization in Central and South Brooklyn that builds neighborhood resilience through energy education, resource navigation, and it's Powering the Block initiative, connecting residents to efficiency programs and training local “Energy Champions.”

Flatbush Development Corporation — Delivers housing counseling and community services across Flatbush, supporting homeowners and tenants with energy efficiency education, direct assistance, and connections to retrofit and utility assistance programs.

Grow Brooklyn, Inc. — Provides housing, legal, and financial support to low- and moderate-income residents, incorporating energy education and one-on-one guidance to help homeowners and tenants lower energy costs and access efficiency programs.

IMPACCT Brooklyn — A long-standing community development organization that integrates energy efficiency services into its homeownership and housing programs, helping residents reduce utility costs and navigate retrofit opportunities.

Pratt Center for Community Development — A leading research and advocacy organization that helps Brooklyn homeowners access energy efficiency and electrification upgrades while advancing equitable clean energy policies through its EnergyFit initiative.

“With the announcement of these workforce grantees, we are taking an important first step in turning vision into action by advancing the Brooklyn Energy Initiative’s two-year vision,” said Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, President and CEO of Brooklyn Org. “By investing in trusted community organizations, we are creating pathways to energy careers and helping households navigate rising energy costs, while continuing our partnership with the National Grid Foundation to build more equitable, community-driven solutions across Brooklyn.”

United Way of New York City’s grantees are:

Salvation Army Greater New York Division — A global nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid, social services, and disaster relief while operating as a Christian church dedicated to serving people in need.

Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens — A HUD-certified non-profit counseling agency with over 28 years of housing and advisory services for local residents of Queens. NHS of Queens’ mission is to preserve and revitalize underserved neighborhoods in Queens. Working in collaboration with government and businesses, they are led by local residents and guided by local needs.

Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty — America’s largest Jewish non-profit organization dedicated to fighting poverty by creating pathways from crisis to self-sufficiency for more than 325,000 clients each year through comprehensive social services, including affordable housing, crisis intervention, family violence services, benefits access, senior and Holocaust survivor services.

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens — A nonprofit, non-denominational organization dedicated to helping our neighbors in need with mercy and compassion for over 125 years. One of the country’s largest faith-based affordable housing providers and serving 500,000 people in Brooklyn and Queens as of 2025.

The Partnership to End Homelessness — A New York City-based nonprofit focused on preventing homelessness through "upstream" interventions. Providing rental assistance, eviction prevention, and crisis services to stabilize individuals and families, aiming to end homelessness before it begins.

The Bridge Fund of New York Inc. — Works to prevent homelessness for vulnerable, working poor individuals and families who are threatened with the loss of their housing, but often do not qualify for emergency government assistance.

Divine Truth Ministry Inc. — Serves food-insecure communities with counseling and outreach that uplift and improve lives.

"Fifty-six percent of New Yorkers can't meet their basic needs in a month, and utility bills are one of the fixed costs families cannot escape. When families fall behind on their energy bills, they stop heating their homes, stop running the air conditioning, and face real health risks as a result," said Grace Bonilla, President & CEO of United Way of New York City. "Families cannot be left to navigate these challenges alone. United Way of New York City is proud to provide real, concrete support to Queens families alongside the National Grid Foundation and our community partners."

“In partnership with Brooklyn Org and United Way of New York City, the National Grid Foundation is supporting programs which have been designed with and for the local communities that open pathways to energy careers and expand energy literacy for households across Brooklyn and Queens,” said Dr. Robert Simmons III, Executive Director of the National Grid Foundation. “This work reflects our commitment to energy equity and to community-led solutions.”

“Together with the National Grid Foundation, Brooklyn Org and United Way of New York City, we are opening doors to new careers and access to energy information and resources,” said Rev. Dr. Gary V. Simpson, Vice Chair of the National Grid Foundation Board. “Through our shared commitment, we are equipping our neighbors with the skills and knowledge to build sustainable lives and stronger communities.”

Across both boroughs, the initiative reflects a shared commitment to designing solutions with communities rather than for them, by bringing together local knowledge, trusted relationships, and technical expertise to address energy challenges more effectively.

National Grid Foundation is also supporting similar community-driven energy affordability efforts in Massachusetts, working with United Way partners and local nonprofits to co-develop outreach strategies that connect residents to available resources.

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Courtesy: Paul Frangipane

About Brooklyn Org

Brooklyn Org is a champion for Brooklyn bringing together community changemakers to be a new model for local philanthropy, built from the ground up, in pursuit of a more equitable and just borough. Since its founding in 2009, Brooklyn Org has moved over $150 million to nonprofits through its strategic grantmaking and Donor Advised Funds, while driving action to address urgent crises and long-term change in Brooklyn. Learn more at brooklyn.org.

About United Way of New York City

United Way of New York City works with a coalition of trusted partners to unite community power with citywide possibility, working at the intersection of government, private, and public partners to make a positive impact in our communities. We meet today’s most urgent needs while building transformative solutions for tomorrow by coordinating and aligning service providers, companies, local government, and New Yorkers to help families eliminate barriers and gain the agency to improve their lives for the better. Last year, United Way of New York City partnered with other organizations to deliver 15 million pounds of food, offer 5,000 free preventative health screenings, deliver 75,000 books to families in NYC, and offer mental health services to system-involved individuals and their families.  Our focus is to empower all New Yorkers to thrive with dignity. Learn more at unitedwaynyc.org.

About National Grid Foundation

National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life in local communities by supporting programs that address education, the environment and other local priorities. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families, and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, the Foundation has granted more than $43 million to local community organizations. The Foundation is an independent charitable arm of National Grid, helping advance the company’s Grid for Good social impact community engagement initiative, dedicated to making a positive difference in local communities through three guiding pillars – increasing access to affordable energy, developing the energy workforce and supporting community resilience.