2020 Year in Review

Partnering for

Good

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City works in partnership with the business and philanthropic communities to advance initiatives that improve the lives of residents in all five boroughs. It seeks to seed promising, evidence-based models; evaluate the efficacy of new programs and policies; bring innovative solutions to scale; and respond to the emerging needs of the city by building public-private partnerships.

2020 Highlights

$77M

In grants and contributions received

9,635

Funding partners comprising organizations and grassroots supporters

100

Programs, projects, and initiatives

155

Community-based organizations engaged

Featured Stories

Ordinary New Yorkers stepped up during the pandemic—for themselves, for their families, and for their communities. Read the story of three New Yorkers who found meaning in serving others.

A Message From Our Leadership

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO

Making New York City the fairest big city in America—and transforming the lives of 8.6 million New Yorkers along the way—has been our calling every day now for seven years. It’s a challenge we have taken on with grit and energy, and I could not be prouder of how far we have come.

FIRST LADY CHIRLANE MCCRAY

Not in our wildest dreams could we have imagined the many-headed monster trials of 2020. Yet through a highly contagious viral pandemic, a wrenching economic crisis, and long-overdue reckoning with systemic racism and injustice, we have witnessed the best of New Yorkers.

ROB SPEYER, Chair, Board of Advisors

This year, New York City’s residents, businesses and government faced extraordinary challenges, far beyond what most of us have ever experienced. Yet, even in the face of unprecedented hardship, New Yorkers displayed the indomitable spirit, ingenuity, and energy for which we are known.

Partnerships in Action

The Mayor’s Fund partners with leaders in business, philanthropy, and communities across the five boroughs to support public programs that benefit New Yorkers from all walks of life. Read about some of these programs below.

Launched by the Mayor’s Fund in March, the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund raised by July 2020 more than $53.5 million, including $5.4 million in in-kind donations, to support equitable relief and recovery efforts for the communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Community Mural project, created by Arts in Medicine—a program of NYC Health + Hospitals and the Mayor’s Fund—leverages artists and community members to reimagine hospitals to promote greater neighborhood wellness.

For five years, Connections to Care (C2C) has been working to change that dynamic by exploring whether equipping trusted staff at social service agencies with mental health knowledge and skills could create new opportunities for New Yorkers to access mental health services.

The New York City Soccer Initiative (NYCSI) partners in October 2020 celebrated the installation of seven new mini-soccer pitches across the city—part of the 50-pitch, five-year project—with a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Nearly one million people in New York City live with a disability. Those living with disabilities and their families are some of the most underserved populations when it comes to receiving financial empowerment services. Having the ability to successfully manage your own finances is one of the keys to leading a fruitful life.

The Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) partnered with the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City in November to launch the first-ever “HeARTwork Against Hate” art contest for New York City youth.

When philanthropy comes together with government and community-based organizations, our collective ability to equitably distribute resources, support, and relief is unparalleled. That belief is embedded in the mission of Open Society Foundations (OSF).

Financials, Governance & Staff

Since its launch in 1994, the Mayor’s Fund has facilitated public-private partnerships to create a stronger and more equitable New York City.

Here you will find a financial summary of the Mayor’s Fund and a breakdown of programs supported during fiscal year 2020.

The Mayor’s Fund is chaired by First Lady Chirlane McCray and governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor. The Mayor’s Fund also has an Advisory Board of prominent civic and business leaders appointed by the Mayor to advise the Board of Directors.

The work of the Mayor’s Fund is made possible with the generous support of thousands of donors who provided support in 2020.