2
YOUR BROOKLYN, YOUR FOUNDATION Brooklyn is a special place—we know it and so does the world. Our diversity, history, neighborhoods, and culture are unmatched. With more than 2.6 million people, ours is a borough of immense resources but deep need. While one in five Brooklyn households has a median income of over $100,000 per year—twice as many as a decade before— nearly half of all Brooklynites lives in or near poverty. And that’s why Brooklyn Community Foundation exists: to match needs with resources so that everyone who calls Brooklyn ‘home’ can thrive.
3
4
A FOUNDATION GROWS IN BROOKLYN Born out of the legacy of Independence Community Bank, a Brooklyn institution for more than 150 years, the Foundation began in 1998 as a private grantmaker to local nonprofits. A decade later, we transitioned to become a public community foundation—the first devoted to a single New York City borough—with an endowment that ensures 100% of all contributions go directly back to Brooklyn. During our first five years as Brooklyn Community Foundation, in partnership with our generous donors we provided $25 million to more than 300 nonprofits, bolstering vital programs and services while also responding to urgent community needs and opportunities.
Working Together for a Fair and Just Brooklyn Today, we are on a mission to spark lasting social change, mobilizing people, capital, and expertise for a fair and just Brooklyn. You can play a part in this important work in a variety of ways—by supporting strategic grantmaking and special initiatives through our Community Fund as well as advancing critical nonprofit programs with a personal Donor Advised Fund. We are building assets to strengthen Brooklyn today and for generations to come.
Community foundations are tax-exempt public charities created and sustained by community members to address local needs over the long-term. The first community foundation was established a century ago in Cleveland, Ohio. Today there are more than 1,800 worldwide, distributing over $5 billion in grants each year.
OUR VALUES
CREATIVITY. We believe that the power of imagination is greater than the challenges we face. 5
OUR VALUES 6
RESPECT. We believe in every resident’s dignity and basic human rights, and honor diversity of race, gender, and background.
HOW WE WORK We collaborate with local leaders. We partner with nonprofits, residents, and advocates to identify and support proven models and accelerate bold new solutions.
We mobilize capital. We work with donors and manage resources to meet critical charitable goals and build a long-term asset base.
We leverage expertise. We call on a vast network of experts to build on best practices and advance the knowledge and resources necessary for the success of our work.
As we pursue a fair and just Brooklyn, we are positioning Racial Justice at the core of what we do. Working closely with our advisory committee of national and local experts, we are developing an institution-wide Racial Justice Lens. This tool will ensure that we consider race while we analyze problems, look for solutions, and define success in our grantmaking, governance, and advocacy initiatives.
OUR VALUES
COURAGE. We believe in fearlessly identifying the real barriers to change and we fight for solutions that help overcome injustice. 7
A TRUSTED PARTNER IN GIVING We rely on donors like you to help us spark lasting change. We offer a range of charitable options that maximize tax benefits to you and provide longterm philanthropic guidance on giving here in Brooklyn and wherever your interests lie. You can co-invest with us to address local needs or create a Donor Advised Fund to direct your personal giving through one simple channel.
DONOR ADVISED FU NDS Donor Advised Funds offer individuals, families, and institutions an immediate tax deduction and streamlined charitable giving, while allowing you to make grants over time at your own pace. Our program is informed by years of philanthropic leadership and local grantmaking experience. By opening a Donor Advised Fund with us, you can continue to support all of the charities you care about while helping usher in a new era of philanthropy in Brooklyn. We also offer many options for families seeking to establish a permanent philanthropic legacy in Brooklyn through bequests and endowment funds that can be passed on to future generations.
OUR VALUES 8
HONESTY. We are committed to being open and trustworthy in all we do and seek partners who share our values.
THE COMM U NIT Y FU ND Giving to our Community Fund enables you to support the Foundation’s vision for a fair and just Brooklyn. You can easily designate your gift to one of our specific programs and initiatives. The grantmaking strategy of our Community Fund is informed by the direct input of Brooklyn’s communities—developed through Brooklyn Insights, a groundbreaking community engagement project involving nearly 1,000 residents. Our community leadership and grantmaking efforts are focused in areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact:
Youth Invest in Youth: Creating a stronger future for Brooklyn by investing in its next generation with a focus on youth development and leadership, youth justice, and immigrant youth and families.
Neighborhoods Neighborhood Strength: Supporting key areas of concern identified by community stakeholders and experts in high-need, under-resourced neighborhoods.
Nonprofits Brooklyn Accelerator: Building the capacity of Brooklyn’s vibrant nonprofit sector and celebrating its innovation and impact.
We received the 2015 Impact Award from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in honor of Brooklyn Insights and our distinct community-led approach.
9
OUR VALUES 10
COLLABORATION. We believe in creating solutions together, harnessing the diversity of Brooklyn, and partnering with the community to spark change and produce results.
JOIN US
Brooklyn Community Foundation is here to help you increase the impact of your charitable giving—by creating your own fund or by co-investing with us through our Community Fund. It’s not just a better way to give; it’s a commitment to a stronger and brighter future for Brooklyn.
Contact our Donor Services Team today to discuss your giving at 718.480.7500 or development@bcfny.org.
Pictured at left, Brooklyn Community Foundation staff. All images in this brochure were captured by the Inspired Storytellers Collective. 11
WE SPARK CHANG E
1000 Dean Street, Suite 307, Brooklyn, NY 11238 w: BrooklynCommunityFoundation.org ph: 718-480-7500
Facebook.com/BklynFoundation @BklynFoundation Instagram.com/BklynFoundation