Acquis Foundation® Announces First Grant Recipients

The Acquis Foundation® has selected the recipients of its 2026 grant program, marking an important milestone in the Foundation's commitment to expanding opportunity in the communities where Acquis employees live and work.

Following its first Request for Proposals, which attracted over 120 submissions from nonprofit organizations across the New York area, the Foundation selected Brooklyn Debate League, Emma's Torch, and Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) to each receive a $25,000 unrestricted grant. The Foundation chose these organizations for their proven impact, strong alignment with the Foundation's focus areas, and ability to create lasting opportunities through education, workforce development, and diversity, opportunity, and inclusion.

Brooklyn Debate League partners with underserved New York City public schools to build and sustain competitive speech and debate programs, removing financial barriers that often limit participation. Through coaching, tournaments, school partnerships, and summer programming, students develop critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills that support long-term academic achievement and future career success. By expanding access to experiences that have historically been out of reach for many students, the organization creates more equitable pathways to educational and professional advancement.

Emma's Torch provides paid culinary training to refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking through a six-week program that combines classroom instruction, hands-on experience in its cafés, job placement support, and two years of alumni services. The program gives participants practical skills, industry experience, and ongoing support that lead to strong employment outcomes and increased earning potential, helping them build lasting careers as they settle into their communities.

Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) has helped women, primarily women of color from low-income communities, enter skilled construction and union trades careers since 1978. Through technical training, industry-recognized certifications, career coaching, childcare assistance, and apprenticeship placement, NEW prepares participants for stable, family-sustaining careers in high-demand industries. Its longstanding work continues to open access to professions where women have historically been underrepresented.

The Foundation's involvement extends beyond the grant itself. Throughout the grant period, the Acquis Foundation will connect with each organization quarterly to offer support and follow their progress.

This inaugural grant program is the first step in the Acquis Foundation's long-term commitment to investing in organizations that create lasting change. By supporting nonprofits that expand access to education, workforce training, and opportunity, the Foundation aims to help more individuals build stronger futures while strengthening the communities Acquis calls home.

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