Insights to Impact

The Latest from Brooklyn Community Foundation

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Insights to Impact

September 1, 2023
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

At this year's Brooklyn Changemakers Ball we are privileged to honor Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Gabriel Schwartz and Jolie Curtsinger Schwartz for their changemaking commitment to the people of Brooklyn. 

March 17, 2021

It is with a full heart that I write to share that I will be leaving the Foundation this summer to embark on a new personal and professional chapter.
 

March 17, 2021
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

Our VP of Programs and Partnerships Marcella Tillett joined WNET's MetroFocus for a critical conversation on vaccine access, hesitancy, and healthcare equity in communities of color. 

March 13, 2021
Jenny Walski
Vice President of Donor Engagement (She/Her/Hers)

A year ago today we launched our Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund, and you—our incredible frontline grantee partners, our donors, our neighbors—rallied to support our beloved borough.

March 12, 2021
Jenny Walski
Vice President of Donor Engagement (She/Her/Hers)

With your help our Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund has become the single largest community-funded effort in the Foundation’s history, but this work is far from over. You can help your Brooklyn neighbors by investing in a better future for our borough.

February 25, 2021
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

New grants from our Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund will support trusted community-based organizations to address inequities in access to information and health care services—including vaccines

 
February 10, 2021
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

We're proud to share the stories of our supporters who helped make this critical work possible. We spoke with Maria Buck about what inspired her to give to the Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund, and why she decided to become a monthly donor to Brooklyn Community Foundation. 

February 4, 2021

Brooklyn is home to the largest Black community in North America. Nearly 70 percent of the borough’s residents are non-white. For our staff at the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the events of the past year have revealed in the starkest terms that systemic racism is the greatest threat to the health and well-being of our communities.

February 3, 2021
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

 We spoke with social change strategist Dave Algoso about what inspired him and his wife, Annie Coombs, to give to the Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund, and why they decided to become monthly donors to the Fund. 

January 13, 2021

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.

January 7, 2021

In 13 days we start a new chapter of American history, led by courageous organizers and movement builders who have not given up on their belief in a better future for us all.

December 29, 2020

This moment demands a renewed commitment to a fair and just Brooklyn. Join us and deepen your investment in community-led change.

December 23, 2020

As part of our institutional commitment to racial justice, we are here to work with you to increase giving to Black-led and other people of color-led organizations working on the frontlines of the fight for social change.

December 21, 2020

As we look ahead to a new Presidency, we know that there is an incredible amount of work to be done. And we need to equip nonprofits with the funding and resources to get started on day one.

 

December 17, 2020

This week we are launching the next phase of the Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund, which begins with an ambitious community engagement process we’re calling Brooklyn Insights 2020.

 

December 14, 2020
Jenny Walski
Vice President of Donor Engagement (She/Her/Hers)

At Brooklyn Community Foundation, we firmly believe young people are fundamental to long-term transformation. 
 

December 2, 2020
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

So far, more than 2,800 donors have contributed over $625,000 to 95 organizations. Donations will be accepted through December 31st, so there's still time to give if you haven't yet!

November 30, 2020
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

With over 160 participating nonprofits, our platform is designed to make it as easy as possible to discover new organizations and support those you already care about.

November 23, 2020
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

In this conversation, our President and CEO Cecilia Clarkephilanthropist, social activist, and filmmaker Abigail E. Disney, and author of Decolonizing Wealth Edgar Villanueva discuss the changes that need to be made in order to repair the harm done in the name of philanthropy.

November 23, 2020
Jenny Walski
Vice President of Donor Engagement (She/Her/Hers)

As we enter the remaining weeks of 2020, this could be an important time to open a Donor Advised Fund with Brooklyn Community Foundation to maximize your giving to essential nonprofits in 2021 and beyond.
 

October 26, 2020

Learn more about the Brooklyn Restorative Justice Project directly from our partners involved in its implementation and analysis by watching our recent webinar, and read on for restorative justice resources for educators. 

October 22, 2020
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

Voting during a pandemic presents obvious challenges—the best way to face them is by preparing a voting plan. Decide how, when, and where you will vote in the upcoming election. There are several options available to you: absentee voting, voting early, or voting on Election Day. Continue reading to learn how to make a voting plan that's right for you, and to find out where you can vote in Brooklyn.

October 9, 2020
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and CNN and MSNBC Political Commentator Aisha C. Mills discuss the upcoming 2020 election, the 2020 U.S. census, and how we can achieve long-term structural change.

October 8, 2020

The project—which focused on a small cohort of Brooklyn secondary schools—aimed to implement restorative justice as an alternative to punitive discipline; with a goal to positively transform schools, repair harm, and promote the equitable treatment of Black students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ students citywide. 

September 23, 2020

With immense gratitude, we are announcing that Brooklyn Community Foundation Chairman Alan H. Fishman will step down from his position on Friday, September 25, 2020. The Board of Directors will officially welcome Nicole Gueron and Harsha Marti as its new Co-Chairs, and Alan will continue to serve the Foundation as esteemed Chairman Emeritus.

September 17, 2020
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

We are proud to award $493,216 in state funding in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adam to community-based organizations to help increase the 2020 Census count. 

August 31, 2020
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

In this second installment of our interview with Lola C. West, Managing Director of WestFuller Advisors and member of the Foundation’s Spark Prize Committee, we discussed Lola's giving philosophy and her work in community-based philanthropy.

August 28, 2020
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

Lola C. West, Managing Director of WestFuller Advisors and member of the Foundation’s Spark Prize Committee, shared with us about her love for Brooklyn, her history with the Foundation, and the significance of Black Philanthropy.

August 19, 2020
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

Katrena Perou, Executive Director of Inspiring Minds NYC and Donor Advised Fund holder with Brooklyn Community Foundation, spoke with us about her experiences as a nonprofit leader, challenges facing nonprofit leaders of color, and how she is making an impact on the borough both personally and professionally.

August 13, 2020
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

Katrena Perou, Executive Director of Inspiring Minds NYC and Donor Advised Fund holder with Brooklyn Community Foundation, spoke with us about her relationship to Brooklyn, as well as her giving philosophy.

July 29, 2020
Jenny Walski
Vice President of Donor Engagement (She/Her/Hers)

In the face of a crisis, it’s common to be overwhelmed and unsure of where to start, so below we’ve compiled a list of easy, actionable steps you can take to support our beloved borough for the long-term.

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