About

Our Mission

We strive to improve the quality of life for underserved communities everywhere.

Our Vision

We envision a world where civic innovation, community solutions, and excellence in public service are cultivated and celebrated.

Our Values

Celebration

We recognize dedication and excellence, internally and externally.

Excellence

We have high expectations for ourselves and our partners and are dedicated to delivering quality programs and services.

Timeliness

FCNY’s work often can’t wait. We get you what you need for your deadlines, full stop.

Empathy

We know that making change in your community isn’t always frictionless. We’re here to listen, understand, and help.

Diversity

Reflected in our staff, the organizations we work with, and the initiatives we support, the Fund is committed to fostering an environment of equity, inclusion and multiculturalism.

Dynamism

The Fund has been around for over 50 years, but its processes and offerings have evolved and adapted over time to address the changing needs of local communities and government agencies.

Scaling Our Model

Reflected in our staff, the organizations we work with, and the initiatives we support, the Fund is committed to fostering an environment of equity, inclusion and multiculturalism.

Fund for the City of New York

Founded by the Ford Foundation in 1968, the Fund for the City of New York has worked with local government agencies and organizations to use innovative solutions to solve New York City problems.

See Partner Projects

National Center for Civic Innovation

The work of the National Center for Civic Innovation includes initiatives that spring from work of FCNY that are applicable elsewhere as well as new initiatives that can be tested and operated throughout the country.

Learn More

International Institute for Community Solutions

Since the founding of the Fund for the City of New York in 1968, cities, states and community-based organizations in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, among others, have approached the Fund for assistance in helping them adopt and adapt many of the Fund’s initiatives, most of which were begun in New York City.

Learn More

Explore Over 50 Years of Innovation

Since its founding by the Ford Foundation in 1968, the Fund for the City of New York has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.

1968

Founding of the Fund for the City of New York

The Fund for the City of New York was established in 1968 with the mandate to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. For over five decades, and in partnership with government agencies, nonprofit institutions and foundations, the Fund has developed and facilitated innovations in policy, programs, and practices that advances and strengthens the functioning of and recognizes the excellence in government and nonprofit organizations in New York City and beyond.

 

1970

Sanitation Scorecard

The Fund began working with mainframe computers to create Sanitation Scorecard, the first systematic methodology that used direct observation to measure government services in the United States. Sanitation Scorecard remains a vital tool for New York City government and is currently managed by the Mayor’s Office of Operations.

Learn More

1973

Public Service Awards

In 1973, the Fund for the City of New York launched the Public Service Award program to recognize and bring to the public’s attention exceptional city employees. New York City government employs more than 300,000 people who work in almost 70 different departments, agencies, authorities, commissions, boards and offices. Winners come from all ranks, levels and agencies.

Sloan Public Service Awards

1976

Cash Flow Loan Program

Since its inception in 1976, our Cash Flow Loan Program has made over 17,000 loans totaling over $1.45 billion. In the last 10 years, loans were made to over 300 nonprofits per year. Our loan default rate is less than 0.4%.

 

Nonprofit Loan Financing

1985

Partnership with Sloan Foundation

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation begins supporting the Public Service Awards.  The Sloan Foundation will go on to support the Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics.

 

Sloan Public Service Awards

1990

Mary McCormick becomes President of the Fund

Mary McCormick came to the Fund in 1981 with the ambition to create programs to improve city government. After becoming President, she oversaw the creation of various projects such as the Center for Internet Innovation, the Center on Municipal Government Performance, and many more. She remained President of the Fund until 2020.

CUNY TV: One to One: Mary McCormick

1990

Partner Project Program

Too often, promising ideas fail to take root because the task of setting up administrative systems is time–consuming and difficult. The Fund created the Partner Project Program in the 1990’s to help nonprofits concentrate their energy and resources on program and fundraising.  The program provides financial management services, human resources functions, insurance coverage, and access to a team of operational experts.

Fiscal Sponsorship

1991

Founding of Youth Development Institute

Among the emerging partner projects (then called incubator projects) emerged the Youth Development Institute. YDI sought to create school-based community centers for children, youth, and their families where they could receive programming, professional development, and training.

Youth Development Institute

1992

Returnable Grant Fund

The Returnable Grant Fund (RGF) was created in 1992 in a collaboration among the Mayor’s Office, the Office of Management and Budget and the Fund for the City of New York so that a nonprofit could receive an advance on its contract prior to contract registration.

Fiscal Sponsorship

1993

PASE

PASE was started at the Fund in 1993. The goal was to support youth-serving professionals in NYC so that they could provide high-quality afterschool programming to young people and meet the needs of their communities.

Learn More About PASE

2001

Fast Company Magazine

Fast Company Magazine recognized Fund President Mary McCormick and named the Fund as one of the 16 “fastest” technology companies in the U.S. The article, which highlights Mary McCormick’s social entrepreneurship and rise to Find Presidency, focuses on multiple programs and projects the Fund was working on in the year 00’s–many of which, such as the Partner Project Program–are still running strong today.

Media Coverage: Fast Company

2002

NCCI & IICS

National Center for Civic Innovation and the International Institute for Community Solutions is created expanding the Find for the City of New York’s reach beyond just New York City.

Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics

The Fund for the City of New York Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science in New York City Public High Schools recognizes superb and innovative mathematics and science teachers who achieve exceptional results and inspire their students to pursue STEM majors in college and careers in STEM professions. The winners and their schools represent the diversity and complexity of the New York City school systems. They come from all 5 boroughs, represent the 8 different categories for high school admissions, ranging from those with a competitive test, to those whose students are chosen randomly by a computer, and come from schools of fewer than 400 students to schools with more than 3,000 students.

Sloan Teaching Awards
City Limits Honors Lisette Nieves

I thank Mary for her leadership in building an institution that has and will continue to make a positive impact on this great city. I look forward to continuing and expanding the important work of the Fund.

— Lisette Nieves, President of Fund for the City of New York

2020

Lisette Nieves becomes Fund President

After a 30-year presidency, Mary McCormick stepped down and passed the baton to public sector leader, Lisette Nieves.

01 / 14