2020 was a year of extraordinary grassroots generosity, enabling us to distribute $12.7 million to nonprofits, breaking all Foundation records. The remarkable scale and urgency of this grantmaking to address overwhelming community need was made possible by over 3,000 donors, also a milestone for our institution.

This generosity fueled the Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund, the single largest community-funded effort in our history, through which we deployed $3.3M in just 16 weeks in the Spring of 2020. Phase 2 is currently underway. 

Donors to our Community Fund also provided essential support for nonprofits addressing the root causes of racial injustice in our borough—more than 75% of which are led by people of color:

• Invest in Youth: $2.41 million for transformational programs that position young people as community leaders
   
• Immigrant Rights Fund: $390,000 for critical legal aid, social services, and frontline advocacy for immigrants and their families
   
• Brooklyn Elders Fund: $405,000 to help older adults age in place, access benefits, and advocate for their rights
   
• Census 2020: $421,640 for community-based organizations to #MakeBrooklynCount in partnership with the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President 

And our Donor Advised Fund holders issued an incredible $5.2 million in grants in 2020, with nearly 50% going to Brooklyn-based organizations. 

Beyond our grantmaking, thousands of donors gave $1.4 million directly to local nonprofits through our #BrooklynGives campaign at BrooklynGives.org in response to COVID-19 and on Giving Tuesday. 

Become a Monthly Sustainer

Together, we can fuel even more community-led change! Join us as a monthly donor to sustain the incredible work of Brooklyn nonprofits supported through our Community Fund. Monthly donations provide a steady source of support for our investment in organizations fighting for social and racial justice.

Be part of this growing movement of grassroots investors in social change: 

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