New York City is our home, and we’re proud to be part of its many communities.

This Giving Tuesday, we’re highlighting organizations that make our city a better place to live. Some feed our neighbors. Others create opportunities for young people, care for our parks and waterways, or bring us together through art, culture, and history. Each plays an important role in making New York the place we love.

If you’re looking for a meaningful gift this holiday season, consider making a donation in someone’s honor, giving a membership to a museum or cultural institution, or volunteering your time. Here are some of the organizations we’d love for you to get to know.

Feeding New Yorkers

At Great Performances, we know the importance of a good meal. These organizations work every day to make sure more New Yorkers have access to nutritious food, companionship, and the support they need.

  • City Harvest – New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization saves nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it, free of charge, to New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.
  • Citymeals on Wheels -Delivers nourishing meals and companionship to homebound elderly New Yorkers, helping them remain connected to their communities and live with dignity.

Supporting Young People

Young people need opportunities to learn, grow, and find their place in the world. These organizations provide education, mentorship, advocacy, and supportive communities that help them build brighter futures.

  • BIGVISION NYC – Creates a welcoming, substance-free community where young adults in recovery can connect, build friendships, and enjoy social experiences that support their sobriety.

  • Drive Change – Uses the power of food and hospitality to create career opportunities for justice-involved young New Yorkers. Through culinary training, mentorship, and social support, participants gain the skills and confidence to build their futures.

  • Lawyers for Children – Provides free legal representation and social work services to children in foster care and other vulnerable young people, advocating for their rights, safety, and well-being.

  • The Sylvia Center – Founded in 2007 by Great Performances founder Liz Neumark, The Sylvia Center teaches young people cooking skills and nutrition knowledge, helping them build confidence, develop healthy habits, and become advocates for good food in their families and communities.

Strengthening Our Communities

Great Performances is proud to call the Bronx home. We believe strong communities are built by people who care for their neighbors, create opportunities, and work together to make their neighborhoods better places to live.

  • BronxWorks – Supports Bronx residents of all ages through food assistance, housing services, education, workforce development, and programs for children, families, and older adults. Its work helps people navigate challenges and build more stable futures.

  • Brooklyn.org – Invests in Brooklyn’s communities by supporting local nonprofits and initiatives that expand opportunity, strengthen neighborhoods, and help residents thrive.

  • Public Housing Community Fund – Works with the New York City Housing Authority to expand opportunities for public housing residents through programs focused on health, leadership, workforce development, and community spaces.

  • THE POINT Community Development Corporation – Rooted in Hunts Point in the South Bronx, THE POINT champions youth development, arts and culture, environmental justice, and community revitalization. Its programs celebrate the neighborhood’s creativity while helping residents shape its future.

Caring for Our City

New York is more than its buildings and busy streets. It’s our parks, rivers, public spaces, and neighborhoods. These organizations help protect, improve, and open up the places that connect us to our city and to one another.

  • Bronx River Alliance – Works to protect and restore the Bronx River and its surrounding green spaces, bringing communities together through environmental education, river stewardship, recreation, and efforts to expand public access.

  • GrowNYC – Helps create a greener, healthier New York through environmental education, food access programs, Greenmarkets, and initiatives that connect New Yorkers with fresh, locally grown food.

  • Open House New York (OHNY) – Opens doors to the buildings, spaces, and neighborhoods that shape our city. Through tours, programs, and its annual OHNY Weekend, the organization helps New Yorkers explore and appreciate the places around them.

Nurturing Arts, Culture & History

New York wouldn’t be New York without its extraordinary arts and cultural institutions. From theaters and museums to music venues and public gardens, these organizations help us experience the city in new ways, celebrate its history, and imagine its future. Many are also longtime partners and friends of Great Performances.

  • The Apollo – A legendary Harlem institution celebrating the contributions of Black artists to music, theater, dance, and culture. Through performances, educational programs, and artist development, The Apollo continues to nurture new generations of creative talent.

  • Asia Society – Connects people and cultures through exhibitions, performances, education, and conversations that deepen understanding between Asia and the rest of the world.

  • Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) – A home for adventurous artists and audiences, presenting innovative theater, dance, music, film, and opera while supporting creative expression and discovery.

  • Brooklyn Museum – Brings people together through art, exhibitions, and programs that spark curiosity, invite conversation, and encourage new ways of seeing the world.

  • Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts – Combines extraordinary musical performances with beautiful gardens and grounds, offering concerts, educational programs, and opportunities to discover and enjoy music.

  • Jazz at Lincoln Center – Celebrates jazz through performances, education, and advocacy, preserving its rich history while supporting the musicians and audiences who will shape its future.

  • Museum of the City of New York – Explores the people, places, and ideas that make New York City what it is. Through exhibitions, collections, and public programs, the museum connects New Yorkers with the city’s past, present, and future.

  • The New York Historical – Explores the stories, people, and events that have shaped New York and the nation through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections that bring history to life.

  • Poster House – The first museum in the United States dedicated to poster art, exploring how graphic design and visual communication have shaped culture, history, and public life.

  • Public Art Fund – Brings contemporary art into New York’s public spaces through free exhibitions that invite everyone to experience art beyond traditional museum walls.

  • Wave Hill – A public garden and cultural center in the Bronx that connects people with nature, art, and horticulture through beautiful landscapes, exhibitions, and educational programs.

A Little Giving Goes a Long Way

Giving Tuesday is a wonderful reminder that we all have something to give, whether it’s a financial contribution, a few hours of our time, or simply introducing someone to an organization doing important work.

We hope you’ll explore these organizations, discover a few new favorites, and find a way to support the people and places that make New York so special.

Originally published November 2020. Updated 10/31/2026