— Good Neighbor Fund (GNF) today announced the launch of two new chapters in New York State, both going live this May: the Central New York Chapter, led by Caitlin Zubrowski, and the Capital Region Chapter, led by Richard Lin. The expansion reflects GNF’s continued effort to support under-resourced and under-represented founders with early belief, community, and access to micro-grants.
Founded in Buffalo as a nod to the city’s nickname, the City of Good Neighbors, GNF is a community-focused giving organization where Limited Partners pool their time, resources, and funds to back new ideas and early-stage founders, often from underrepresented groups. To date, GNF has supported more than 35 new founders and awarded $35,000 in microgrants.
Both new chapters are actively seeking founding Limited Partners to help identify and support promising local entrepreneurs. Through GNF, Limited Partners come together to back early-stage founders and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in their own communities.
Zubrowski will lead the Central New York Chapter. She currently serves as IEEE Entrepreneurship Director, where she leads global initiatives that expand access to education and community support for technology-driven entrepreneurs. She is a founding member and advisor of the New York Starters Coalition with Right to Start, founder of Rose Apple Press, and a Certified I-Corps Instructor with the National Science Foundation. “I’m excited to help bring Good Neighbor Fund to more entrepreneurs across Central New York,” said Caitlin Zubrowski. “There is so much talent here, and this chapter is about creating more ways for people to show up early with belief, support, and real momentum behind emerging founders and small business owners.”
Lin will lead the Capital Region Chapter. He is an entrepreneurship ecosystem builder focused on growing the Capital Region, New York State, and National entrepreneurship ecosystems. He is the Founder and CEO of Agora Media, a full-service media and event production studio supporting entrepreneurship organizations. After supporting entrepreneurs for the past decade, he started Max Q Center, an entrepreneurship center serving Capital Region entrepreneurs. Lin is also the New York State Advocate for Right to Start, a Board Member of Startup Champions Network, and an organizer of Startup Tech Valley, and 1 Million Cups. “The Capital Region is full of entrepreneurs who have tremendous potential. They just need a community to believe in them, a little bit of capital to get them going, and some support from their neighbors,” said Richard Lin. “Good Neighbor Fund creates a simple yet powerful way for local business leaders to come together and help entrepreneurs get started.”
“Good Neighbor Fund was built on the idea that a small amount of capital and a strong show of community support can make a massive difference for a founder at the earliest stage,” said Jason Bartz, co-founder of Good Neighbor Fund. “Launching these new chapters in Central New York and the Capital Region is an exciting next step in expanding that mission across New York State.”
The launch follows a significant technology investment in the Good Neighbor Fund platform, neighborhoodOS, which powers the application and grant review process for chapters nationwide. With that infrastructure now in place, GNF is set up to grow and expand to any number of new chapters, making it straightforward for anyone interested in starting a chapter in their own community to do so.
About Good Neighbor Fund: Good Neighbor Fund is a micro-grant program that gives $1,000 in belief capital to under-resourced founders with bold new business ideas. There is no pitch deck required and no equity taken; the focus is on the person behind the idea — their energy, their ambition, and their potential. Funding does not come from banks, venture capital firms, or large foundations, but from neighbors who chip in their own money, meet quarterly to review applications, and award micro-grants together.
Founding Limited Partners are now being invited to join both chapters ahead of their May launch.
Contact Info:
Name: Jason Bartz
Email: Send Email
Organization: Good Neighbor Fund
Website: https://www.goodneighbor.fund
Release ID: 89190301
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