Two Arms, One Mission
The Manhattan Chamber's charitable organizations work together to build a stronger, more resilient small business ecosystem—one through innovation and direct support, the other through emergency relief and grant-making.
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce operates two complementary 501(c)(3) charitable organizations: the Foundation, which tests innovative ideas and delivers programs that solve real problems for small businesses, and the Fund, which provides direct financial assistance through grants and serves as a rapid-response vehicle for emergency relief.
The Foundation
Innovation & Direct Support
Established in 1998, the Manhattan Chamber Foundation carries out responsive, innovative initiatives to advance the city's economy, especially for small businesses.
- Tests new ideas and pilots creative solutions
- Solves problems in real time with hands-on programs
- Delivers direct education and technical assistance
- Operates the Business Support Hub with Ask Hudson AI
- Runs accelerators, training programs, and research initiatives
- Partners with corporations and government to scale impact
The Fund
Emergency Relief & Grant-Making
Established in 1994, the Manhattan Chamber Fund provides direct financial grants to small businesses in need and serves as a rapid-response conduit for emergency relief.
- Gives out direct grants to small businesses facing crises
- Raising $250K in 2026 to launch Stabilization Grant in 2027
- Mobilizes quickly to distribute funds during emergencies
- Channels corporate donations to businesses in immediate need
- Works with Foundation's outreach team for on-the-ground deployment
- 30+ years of community impact, $2M+ donated
How They Work Together
The Foundation and Fund operate as complementary forces: the Foundation builds the infrastructure and programs that strengthen small businesses over time, while the Fund provides immediate relief when crises strike. Together, they create a comprehensive safety net.
The Foundation
Builds programs, tests solutions, provides training and technical assistance
The Fund
Deploys emergency capital, distributes grants, responds to immediate crises
Why This Model Works
Two organizations with distinct but complementary missions create a more resilient ecosystem for Manhattan's small businesses.
Rapid Response
The Fund can mobilize emergency capital in hours, not months, while the Foundation provides ongoing support.
Innovation Lab
The Foundation experiments with new approaches and scales what works, creating proven solutions.
On-the-Ground Network
The Foundation's outreach team identifies needs and helps the Fund distribute resources where they're needed most.
