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The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City

Annual Giving
$66.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

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The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $66 million (approximate annual spending)
  • Type: Public foundation/grantmaking public charity
  • Founded: 1994
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $20,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: New York City (five boroughs)
  • EIN: 13-3783906

Contact Details

Website: www.nyc.gov/site/fund/index.page

Address: 253 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10007

RFP Announcements: www.nyc.gov/site/fund/rfp/rfp.page

Email/Phone: Available through official website

Overview

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City was founded in 1994 (originally as Public-Private Initiatives Inc.) as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designed to strengthen public programs through private partnerships. The Fund serves as a unique intermediary that combines the extensive reach of city government with the entrepreneurial spirit and resources of the private sector. With approximately $66 million in annual spending and partnerships with 50 City agencies and offices, 300 institutional funders, and 100 community-based partners, the Mayor's Fund has become a critical vehicle for implementing innovative solutions to pressing urban challenges.

The organization has earned a 4/4 Star rating from Charity Navigator, with an impressive program expense ratio of 96.85%, demonstrating exceptional efficiency in directing resources toward impactful programs. The Fund's mission is to cultivate partnerships that create a stronger and more just city for all New Yorkers, with recent strategic focus on mental health services, workforce development for young people, and support for immigrant communities. In 2024, Kate Smith was appointed as Executive Director, reporting to Deputy Mayor Ana J. Almanzar.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Mayor's Fund operates through specific, time-limited initiatives rather than general operating support. Grants are typically awarded through competitive Request for Proposals (RFPs) tied to particular city priorities:

Young Men's Initiative (YMI) - Community Crisis Response

  • Grant amounts: Up to $20,000 per organization
  • Total program: $500,000 allocated to 25 community-based organizations
  • Focus: Summer programming with emphasis on mentoring, arts and culture, sports, youth empowerment, and experiential learning
  • Target population: NYC youth and young adults ages 14-25

Connections to Care

  • Total program: $30 million public-private partnership
  • Selected 14 community organizations citywide
  • Focus: Integrating mental health support into community-based organizations serving low-income populations
  • Requirements: Organizations with proven track records that did not currently provide mental health services
  • Program duration: Multi-year initiative (2015-2021) with matching fund requirements

Child Care Community Connection (C4)

  • Partnership with Robin Hood and NYC Administration for Children's Services
  • Focus: Supporting families in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx
  • Results: Processed childcare assistance applications for over 5,850 children
  • Community partners included: WHEDco, BronxWorks, Union Settlement

Technical Assistance Grants

  • Varies by program, typically consultant/service provider contracts
  • Example: 18-month pilot for mental health shelter technical assistance
  • Competitive RFP process

Asylum Seeker Relief Fund

  • Total raised: $5.8 million (2023)
  • Programs: ICARE (Immigrant Children Advocate's Relief Effort), Immigrant Navigator Network, Know Your Rights trainings
  • Focus: Legal aid, mentorship, and critical information for new arrivals

Priority Areas

  • Mental Health: Expanding access to mental health services, particularly for low-income and at-risk New Yorkers
  • Youth Development: Educational opportunities, workforce development, mentoring programs for young people, especially young men of color
  • Immigrant Support: Services for asylum seekers and immigrant communities including legal assistance, workforce support, housing
  • Health Equity: Initiatives focused on underserved neighborhoods, including 12 communities with high public housing concentration
  • Education & STEM: Programs like Exploring Futures and College Now for Careers
  • Child Care Access: Helping families access government-subsidized childcare
  • Arts & Culture: NYC Junior Ambassadors Program leveraging the United Nations
  • Sports & Recreation: NYC Soccer Initiative with mini-soccer pitches at DOE schools
  • Gender Equity: Women Forward NYC action plan (over $43 million investment)
  • Medical Debt Relief: Public-private partnership to eliminate medical debt for New Yorkers

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating support outside of specific RFP programs
  • Organizations not serving New York City residents
  • For-profit entities (must be 501(c)(3) or have fiscal sponsor)
  • Programs not aligned with current city priorities or active RFPs
  • Individual requests (focus is on organizational partnerships)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The Board comprises New York City leaders prominent within financial, commercial, professional, and business communities, as well as City government:

  • Ana J. Almanzar – Chair (Deputy Mayor)
  • Rob Speyer – Chairman, Board of Advisors
  • Bill Heinzen – Vice Chair
  • DeShanna Alexander – Secretary
  • Wendy Li – Treasurer
  • Kate R. Smith – President and Executive Director
  • Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez – Director
  • Dawn Pinnock – Director
  • Renee Campion – Director

Key Staff

  • Kate Smith – Executive Director (appointed December 2024 by Mayor Eric Adams)
  • Mahmud Ennin – Director of Finance and Operations
  • Brittany A. Cassell – Senior Manager of Development
  • Kate Montemagno – Development Manager
  • Cesaryna Pena – Programs and Policy Manager
  • Deniz Gonen – Programs Associate
  • Sean Kim – Programs Associate

According to recent leadership statements, the Fund's approach emphasizes "leveraging public-private partnerships to address critical city needs" and "creating innovative solutions that can be scaled across the five boroughs."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Competitive Request for Proposals (RFP)

The Mayor's Fund does not accept unsolicited general funding applications. Instead, organizations must apply through specific RFPs tied to particular initiatives and city priorities.

RFP Process:

  1. Monitor www.nyc.gov/site/fund/rfp/rfp.page for new opportunities
  2. RFP information and answers to questions are posted on the Fund's website
  3. Applications are submitted electronically through the specified portal
  4. Proposals are evaluated against specific criteria
  5. Maximum scores are awarded for each evaluation criterion

Eligibility Requirements (typical across programs):

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a fiscal sponsor
  • Must operate in or serve New York City residents
  • Must have proven track record in relevant program area
  • Some programs require matching funds from the applicant organization
  • Must demonstrate capacity to deliver services across diverse communities

Recent RFP Example: Technical Assistance grant RFP for mental health shelter services included detailed application requirements, eligibility criteria, and evaluation rubrics available through the Fund's website.

Decision Timeline

Timelines vary significantly by program:

  • RFP release to application deadline: Typically 4-8 weeks
  • Review and selection process: 2-4 months after deadline
  • Notification: Direct contact to selected organizations
  • Contract execution and fund disbursement: Variable, typically 1-2 months after selection

The Connections to Care program, as an example, released its RFP in September with selections announced several months later.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly disclosed. However, program examples indicate:

  • Connections to Care: 14 organizations selected from a citywide competitive pool
  • Young Men's Initiative Crisis Response: 25 organizations funded from applicant pool
  • Programs are highly competitive given the Fund's specific focus on proven community partners

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication is possible through subsequent RFPs. The Fund maintains ongoing relationships with community-based partners, with some organizations participating in multiple initiatives over time. Organizations that have successfully completed one program may have advantages in demonstrating capacity for future programs, though each RFP is independently competitive.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Mayor's Fund's documented programs and selection criteria, successful applicants demonstrate:

1. Proven Track Record The Fund explicitly seeks organizations with "proven success and commitment" to their program areas. Connections to Care selected organizations "known and trusted in their respective communities" with established service delivery models. Document your organization's history, outcomes, and community trust.

2. Strategic Partnership Capacity As stated in their mission, the Fund seeks to "combine the incomparable reach of government with the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector." Successful applicants demonstrate ability to:

  • Partner effectively with city agencies
  • Collaborate with mental health providers or other specialized partners
  • Work within complex multi-stakeholder environments
  • Leverage private sector approaches within public sector context

3. Commitment to Underserved Communities Programs consistently focus on "low-income and at-risk New Yorkers," "highest-need communities," and historically underserved populations. The Building Healthy Communities initiative specifically targeted "12 underserved neighborhoods with high numbers of public housing residents." Clearly articulate how your organization serves these populations.

4. Cultural Competency and Community Trust The Connections to Care program specifically sought organizations that "did not currently provide mental health services" but were "known and trusted in their respective communities." This suggests the Fund values:

  • Deep community roots and relationships
  • Cultural competency for diverse NYC populations
  • Ability to reach populations that might not access traditional services
  • Community-based credibility over specialized expertise alone

5. Capacity for Innovation and Scale The Fund's history with the Social Innovation Fund demonstrates interest in "scaling up successful anti-poverty pilot programs." Applications should show:

  • Innovative approaches to persistent challenges
  • Evidence-based or promising practices
  • Potential for replication across boroughs
  • Measurable outcomes and evaluation capacity

6. Matching Fund Availability Several programs required significant matching commitments. Connections to Care required CBOs to match grants received, with $10 million in matching funds from participating organizations. Be prepared to demonstrate fundraising capacity and matched resources.

7. Alignment with Current City Priorities Programs directly tie to mayoral initiatives (ThriveNYC, Women Forward NYC, Young Men's Initiative). Monitor city policy announcements and mayoral priorities to anticipate future RFP areas. Recent focus areas include: mental health, asylum seeker support, childcare access, workforce development, and gender equity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No general applications: Only apply through specific RFPs posted on their website. Check www.nyc.gov/site/fund/rfp/rfp.page regularly for opportunities.

  • Think partnerships, not just programs: The Fund is explicitly designed to create public-private partnerships. Frame your application around how you'll bridge sectors, not just deliver services.

  • Demonstrate community trust: Being "known and trusted" in your community appears as valuable as technical expertise. Emphasize your community relationships and cultural competency.

  • Prepare for matching requirements: Have fundraising capacity ready. Some programs required dollar-for-dollar matches from recipient organizations.

  • Focus on scale and innovation: The Fund seeks to "seed promising, evidence-based models" and "bring innovative solutions to scale." Position your work as potentially replicable across NYC.

  • Target underserved populations: Consistent emphasis on low-income New Yorkers, communities of color, immigrant populations, and high-need neighborhoods. Geographic diversity across five boroughs is valued.

  • Monitor city policy: The Fund operationalizes mayoral priorities. Follow NYC government announcements for clues about upcoming funding opportunities.

References

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