Insights to Impact

In this conversation qw discuss the findings of our Brooklyn Insights 2020 community discussions, including community-led solutions to barriers of systemic inequity.

As the COVID-19 pandemic surpasses the one-year mark, we are announcing $541,000 in new grants from our Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund to address ongoing health, economic, and social challenges in communities of color. 

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.
 

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.
 

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.

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.