Insights to Impact

The Latest from Brooklyn Community Foundation

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Insights to Impact

May 11, 2023
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

In her monthly column, Brooklyn Community Foundation President & CEO highlights the power of local leaders, and shares updates on The Just Brooklyn Prize. 

May 25, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

In times of crisis we find strength in our neighbors—in local violence interrupters—who are leading the movement to grow public safety and communal healing.

May 18, 2022
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

In her monthly column, Brooklyn Community Foundation President and CEO Dr. Jocelynne Rainey shares reflections and stories of impact from our work across Brooklyn.

May 16, 2022
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

First, I want to acknowledge the precious lives lost on Saturday in Buffalo–our New York State brethren who were targeted solely on the basis of their skin color while they were trying to do the most essential of life’s routine–getting food for their families.

May 9, 2022
Melissa Pawlak
Donor Services Manager (She/Her/Hers)

This spring, grow your family’s philanthropy with the gift of giving: consider establishing a Donor Advised Fund as a way to connect with family members across locales and generations. 

May 5, 2022
Melissa Pawlak
Donor Services Manager (She/Her/Hers)

The College Opportunity Fund—a Donor Advised Fund at Brooklyn Community Foundation—was an early investor in NYC Kids RISE’s Queens pilot program, which set the groundwork for the citywide program.  

April 28, 2022
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

In her monthly column, Brooklyn Community Foundation President and CEO Dr. Jocelynne Rainey shares reflections and stories of impact from our work across Brooklyn.

April 28, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

We spoke with Isabel Hill to discuss her Donor Advised Fund at Brooklyn Community Foundation, and how her partnership with the Foundation has informed her giving.

April 11, 2022

Two years later, it’s still hard to believe the challenges we faced in the lead up to, and implementation of, the 2020 Census: decreased funding for the Census Bureau, the politically-motivated introduction of a citizenship question, the roll-out of a new online survey, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic, which had taken hold of New York City right as the 2020 Census launched.

April 7, 2022
Ximena Gallego
Communications Intern

Through our Community-led Social Change grants, we’re partnering with the Center for Law and Social Justice over five years as they dismantle and reimagine policies and systems that have prevented Black, Indigenous and other communities of color from thriving both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re excited to share a look at some of their recent work, and the impact of our partnership.

April 5, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

As her internship comes to a close, we're spotlighting our Communications Intern Ximena Gallego, who over the past several months has provided our team with support around digitial content development, website maintenance, and special Communciations projects.

March 31, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

Foundation President & CEO Dr. Jocelynne Rainey and Invest in Youth Advisory Council Member Daniel-José Cyan were recent guests on Fox 5 New York's Good Day Street Talk. 

March 29, 2022
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

The Fund supports nonprofits nationwide that work to dismantle barriers to building a successful small business by fostering equal opportunities to creative entrepreneurship. 

March 23, 2022

Together with the Office of the New York State Attorney General Leticia James, we are pleased to announce the 10 community-based organizations receiving $2.2 million in grants from our new Wellness and Recovery Fund for substance treatment programs, harm reduction services, and policy and systems change. 

 

March 17, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

We spoke with Mordecai (Mordy) Walfish, Chief Operating Officer at Leading Edge, about his commitment to supporting local, community-led work in the borough, and how his connection with Brooklyn Community Foundation has impacted his giving and community engagement. ​

March 14, 2022
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

In a new monthly blog, Brooklyn Community Foundation President and CEO Dr. Jocelynne Rainey shares reflections and stories of impact from our work across Brooklyn.

 
March 10, 2022
Jenny Walski
Vice President of Donor Engagement (She/Her/Hers)

Thank you to all who attended our 2022 Spark Breakfast hosted by the incomparable Ana Gasteyer!

February 21, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

We spoke with Tarik Ward, Director of Music Programs and Strategic Operations at The ELMA Philanthropies Services (U.S.) Inc., to discuss the intention and origins of his Donor Advised Fund at Brooklyn Community Foundation, the Stanford GSB Alumni for Black Lives Fund. 

February 15, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

In part two of our conversation with Kendall Christiansen and Tom Bettridge, we discuss issues that interest them in the aging space and how their fund will continue the original New York Congregational Nursing Center’s legacy in the borough and beyond.

February 15, 2022

Spectrum News NY1 recently covered the work of our Invest in Youth Fund, including our Invest in Youth Advisory Council who helped decide $2.5 million in grants in late 2021.

February 14, 2022
Jameela Syed
Communications Manager (She/Her/Hers)

We spoke with Kendall Christiansen and Tom Bettridge, two of the advisors of the Congregational Home Legacy Fund, an Endowed Field of Interest Fund at the Foundation, to tell us about their experience opening a fund with Brooklyn Community Foundation.

February 10, 2022
Elizabeth Park
Donor Engagement Associate (She/Her/Hers)
We’re excited to announce that actress, comedian, and singer Ana Gasteyer will be joining us to host the Spark Breakfast on March 8th! Don’t miss the opportunity to join us for this special event. Purchase your ticket today!
February 4, 2022
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

The new members, with strong ties to neighborhoods across Brooklyn, are leaders in the fields of impact investing, nonprofit management, politics, and social justice philanthropy. 

February 3, 2022
Jenny Walski
Vice President of Donor Engagement (She/Her/Hers)

Join us on Tuesday, March 8th as we celebrate our Spark Prize Winners and honor Clara Wu Tsai for her commitment to racial justice in Brooklyn.

January 24, 2022
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

A Message from Our President and CEO Dr. Jocelynne Rainey

January 19, 2022
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

An Interview with Meg Massey and Ben Wrobel, authors of Letting Go: How Philanthropists and Impact Investors Can Do More Good by Giving Up Control.

 
January 18, 2022
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

2021 continued the extraordinary generosity we have seen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This enabled us to distribute over $13 million to nonprofits from our Community Fund and Donor Advised Fund programs last year—a new grantmaking record for Brooklyn Community Foundation!
 

January 12, 2022
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff (She/Her/Hers)

We are pleased to announce the recipients of our 2022 Spark Prize, the only honor celebrating nonprofits advancing racial justice in the borough. 

December 31, 2021

We are so thankful for our phenomenal community of partners and supporters, and look forward to another year of working together to further racial justice and spark change in our beloved borough of Brooklyn. 

December 28, 2021
Elizabeth Park
Donor Engagement Associate (She/Her/Hers)

We're ready to support you—our generous donor and donor advisor community—as you plan your year-end giving. Read on for tips and guidance to help maximize your support for racial justice and your impact in Brooklyn, and key dates for giving within the 2021 tax deadline.

December 24, 2021
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey
President & CEO (She/Her/Hers)

There are deep-seated reasons why the vaccination numbers are much lower in certain neighborhoods, and those reasons explain why the broader, well-funded effort to increase vaccination rates — including ad blitzes and cash and cash-equivalent giveaways — has failed in pockets across the city.

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