New York Community Trust

The New York Community Trust is the community foundation for New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. Thanks to generous donors, the New York Community Trust distributes income from charitable funds to improve the quality of life in New York City and beyond. It is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the United States.

The Trust works with donors who are planning a deferred gift, writing a will, or giving today. Donors may set up four different types of funds at The Trust: field-of-interest, unrestricted, donor-advised, or designated.

The Trust is one of the largest private funders of New York City’s nonprofits. Its competitive grantmaking focuses on improving the lives of all New Yorkers, with an emphasis on promoting healthy lives, promising futures, and thriving communities.

In 2015, the New York Community Trust made grants totally $165 million from assets of $2.5 billion in more than 2,000 charitable funds.

The New York Community Trust was founded in 1924, making it one of the oldest community foundations in the United States. The first fund was established by Rosebel G. Schiff, who gave $1,000 to create the Theresa E. Bernholz Fund. Schiff asked that the prize go to a girl from P.S. 9 who “earned the highest respect of her teachers.” Girls from the school continue to receive the award today.

In 1931, with the help of William S. Barstow, the Trust established the nation’s first donor-advised fund. Throughout the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Trust focused all available discretionary funds on helping the unemployed. In 1957, the Trust installed the first of 309 “Landmarks of New York” plaques on architectural and historically important buildings all over the City.

The Westchester and Long Island Community Foundations were founded in 1975 and 1978, respectively.

A brief history of the Trust can be found on their website.

The New York Community Trust's competitive grantmaking serves New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and beyond, emphasizing the promotion of healthy lives, promising futures, and thriving communities.

The New York Community Trust makes grants to groups that help providers deliver efficient, cost-effective services to all New Yorkers. It supports projects that improve quality of care, strengthen health care providers, address costs and health disparities, and develop the skills and independence of people with special needs.

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