Community Needs Fund | New York Community Trust | New York NY
Menu

We are neighbors helping neighbors

The Community Needs Fund pools money from people like you to make a big impact on the critical needs of New Yorkers. Each year, we determine the most pressing issues facing our city and use this fund to address them. In 2021, we are helping communities tackle challenges that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. A gift to the Community Needs Fund is an easy and effective way to help dozens of organizations doing good locally. We welcome contributions of all sizes.

With your help, we can say “Yes!” to more projects making life better in New York.

Four Easy Ways to Give

  • By credit card: (at right).
  • Send a check: Make it out to Community Funds, Inc. Please write “Community Needs Fund” on the memo line. Mail it to P.O. Box 22472, New York, NY 10087.
  • Transfer your gift: If you have a donor-advised fund, you can transfer a gift from your fund. If you use MyNYCT, look for the “Community Needs Fund” tab.
  • Give from your IRA: Under the “charitable IRA rollover” provision, donors aged 70 and a half or older may direct contributions from an IRA to our Community Needs Fund, excluding it from taxable income (up to $100,000), and counting towards the required minimum distribution. As the provision excludes contributions to donor-advised funds or private foundations, this is a great way to take advantage of this tax benefit while supporting local nonprofits.

Don’t forget to check if your employer makes matching gifts! Some companies will double or triple your contribution, increasing the impact of your gift.

Two women in front of an independent bookstore
The owners of a bookstore in Harlem were assisted by Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a nonprofit that received a grant made possible by contributions to The Trust.
How your gift helps

The Trust draws upon its decades of experience and the expertise of its grantmaking staff to identify nonprofits responding to this unprecedented chapter in the city’s history. New Yorkers like you have helped:

BOOST OUR ECONOMY: A grant to Local Initiatives Support Corporation is helping retailers and other mom-and-pop shops in low-income neighborhoods open safely.

SUPPORT FOOD PANTRIES: A grant to Westside Campaign Against Hunger is increasing the collective purchasing power and efficiency of emergency food providers across the city.

IMPROVE REMOTE LEARNING: Jewish Child Care Association of NY is improving remote learning for children at risk of being placed in foster homes.