Brooklyn Community Foundation
Brooklyn Community Foundation, which operates as Brooklyn Org, is a public charity based in Brooklyn, New York. It describes itself as a platform and partner for local philanthropy, bringing together Brooklynites and other supporters to invest in nonprofits across the borough.
Brooklyn Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Brooklyn Community Foundation gave $4.7M across 93 grants in 2024 (avg $50K), mostly in New York. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,680,000
- -67.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 93
- -68.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $50,323
- +1.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $45,000
- Total assets
- $141,980,553
- +14.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (30 of 89, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Brooklyn Community Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 80 Hanson Place 5Th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (718) 480-7500
Website: https://brooklyncommunityfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Brooklyn Community Foundation
Brooklyn Org Spark Prize Grant
Brooklyn Community Foundation
Amount
US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Brooklyn Org: General Operating Support
Brooklyn Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Etsy Uplift Fund Grant
Brooklyn Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Brooklyn Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Vocal-NY ($143K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,134 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 915 grants of 1,134 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization focuses on Brooklyn. In filing year 2024, 96% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York State; smaller shares went to California, Georgia, Texas, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 93 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Brooklyn Community Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 30 of 89 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $45K first-time, $45K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.7M (2020) to $14.4M (2023). In 2024 it made 93 grants totaling $4.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Change Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Neighbors in Action a Project of Justice Innovation Inc New York, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Power of Two Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Sure We Can Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Youth Design Center Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
| After Hours Project Brooklyn, NY | Fiscal Sponsors | $72,500 |
| Brooklyn Community Housing Services Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $72,500 |
| Community Counseling and Mediation New York, NY | Fiscal Sponsors | $72,500 |
| Global Trauma Research Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $72,500 |
| Housing Solutions Brooklyn, NY | Fiscal Sponsors | $72,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Brooklyn Community Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $141,980,553 | $39,339,803 | $24,415,765 | $4,680,000 | 93 | $6,181,176 |
| 2023 | $124,159,466 | $8,708,861 | $23,057,208 | $14,429,941 | 292 | $-9,835,200 |
| 2022 | $115,930,588 | $36,110,800 | $15,582,657 | $11,083,462 | 316 | $15,372,245 |
| 2021 | $117,862,940 | $42,787,989 | $15,163,412 | $10,801,644 | 298 | $3,187,485 |
| 2020 | $75,120,745 | $7,566,977 | $8,033,672 | $3,720,918 | 135 | $121,142 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to “spark lasting social justice change, mobilizing people, capital, & expertise for a fair Brooklyn.” It says its work uses a racial justice lens and prioritizes BIPOC-led organizations embedded in Brooklyn’s lowest-income communities, including organizations working against poverty, inequality, systemic racism, and community disinvestment.
The 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Sure We Can says it supports vulnerable local residents through recycling, social inclusion, environmental awareness, and economic empowerment. Drive Change says it supports justice-involved young people through culinary and hospitality training, social support, and pathways to economic mobility. Youth Design Center says it works to close the racial wealth gap by training future STEAM professionals. Other recipients included organizations whose stated missions address homelessness, trauma, HIV/AIDS, housing, and services for underserved children, adults, and families.
Grantmaking
For filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 93 grants totaling $4,680,000. Awards ranged from $20,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $45,000. Separately, the organization reported that in FY24 its donor-advised fund program issued over $14 million in donor-directed grants, more than 60% of which went to Brooklyn nonprofits.
Other FY24 program investments described by the organization include $1,890,000 through its Invest in Youth portfolio to 43 youth-serving nonprofits, and $630,000 through the Brooklyn Elders Fund to 14 organizations supporting older adults in Brooklyn. The $2.2 million Wellness and Recovery Fund supports organizations serving people navigating substance use and addiction; the organization reported distributing funds to 10 local organizations in FY24 but did not state the amount distributed.
Among the largest grants listed for 2024 were $100,000 each to Drive Change, Neighbors in Action, Power of Two, Sure We Can, and Youth Design Center. Awards of $72,500 included grants to After Hours Project, Brooklyn Community Housing Services, Community Counseling and Mediation, Global Trauma Research, Housing Solutions, Lantern Community Services, and New York Therapeutic Communities-Stay’n Out.
The General Operating Support program offers multi-year support of up to $45,000 per year for up to three years. Applications are accepted at any time, with funding decisions made twice per year. Selected organizations are invited to submit a full proposal and participate in a site visit. The program supports organizations advancing racial justice and providing critical resources to historically disempowered and discriminated-against groups across Brooklyn.
The Spark Prize is a separate program. It provides five organizations with $100,000 each annually and offers up to $5,000 in matching funds to 20 finalists. It supports Brooklyn-based groups with a track record of addressing community challenges and opportunities and a commitment to equity and racial justice. The Etsy Uplift Fund supports nonprofits working to address barriers to entrepreneurship for creators, including gaps in digital education, access to capital, and benefits.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Nicole Gueron and Harsha Marti as co-chairs; Michael Gillespie as board chair and treasurer; Katherine Darrow as secretary; Hilary Jager as vice chair; Michelle Defossett and Mamie Kanfer Stewart as governance chairs; Vivian Liao Korich as advancement chair; Constance Sargent as program chair; and Thomas Bettridge as a board member.
Brooklyn Community Foundation is led by Jocelynne Rainey, CEO & President on every filing since 2023; 3 of 30 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jocelynne Rainey
CEO & President
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$275K (2023) → $285K (2024)
Constance Sargent
Program Chair
Director → Program Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mamie Kanfer Stewart
Governance Chair
Director → Governance Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Gillespie
Board Chair & Treasurer
Treasurer → Board Chair & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Defossett
Governance Chair
Director → Governance Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vivian Liao Korich
Advancement Chair
Director → Advancement Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sabrina Hargrave
Program Officer & Director of Programs
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $128K (2024)
Liane Stegmaier
Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications
Chief of Staff → Vice President of Communications, 2023
Vice President of Communications → Chief of Staff & Vice President of Communications, 2024
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$111K (2021) → $164K (2024)
Carley Roney
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harsha G. Marti
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Darrow
Secretary
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2021
Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Gueron
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noa Meyer
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Timoner
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Williams
Board Member
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susannah Taylor
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zul Jamal
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Stewart III
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andi Phillips
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carmencita Whonder
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Ley Jager
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawanna Kimbro
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lesleigh Irish-Underwood
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Bettridge
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shaheen Rushd
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Simons
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vishal Sheth
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lorena Kourousias
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Furchi
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Friedman
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Gabriel Schwartz (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Sarah Shannon (2021–2023) — Fmr COO & Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Former: Jennifer Walski (2023) — Vice President of Donor Engagement
- Former: Alan Fishman (2020–2022) — Chair Emeritus
- Former: Cecilia Clarke (2020–2022) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Constance Rogers Roosevelt (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Diane Steinberg (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Donald Elliott (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Emma Jordan-Simpson (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Hildy Simmons (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Malcolm Mackay (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Maria Fiorini Ramirez (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Richard W. Moore (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Robert Catell (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Rohit Desai (2020–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Vivian Liao-Korich (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jenny Walski (2021–2022) — Vice President of Donor Engagement
- Former: Marcella Tillet (2021–2022) — Former Vice President Programs
- Former: Ingrid Benedict (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Aisha Mills (2020) — Director
- Former: John Wright (2020) — Director
- Former: Rudolph Wynter (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $285K, to Jocelynne Rainey (CEO & President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Brooklyn Community Foundation
How much does Brooklyn Community Foundation give each year?
Brooklyn Community Foundation gave $4.7M across 93 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $14.4M across 292 grants.
What is Brooklyn Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Brooklyn Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $45,000, and its average grant was $50,323, across 93 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Brooklyn Community Foundation that year got $54K on average.
Where does Brooklyn Community Foundation give grants?
Brooklyn Community Foundation gives mostly in New York: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Brooklyn, NY (60 grants) and New York, NY (26 grants).
Does Brooklyn Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 72% of Brooklyn Community Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (67 of 93) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "DAF" (23 grants) and "Fiscal Sponsors" (3 grants).
Who are Brooklyn Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Brooklyn Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Vocal-NY ($142,500 across 2 grants), Fund for the City of New York Brooklyn Movement Center ($140,000 across 2 grants) and Drive Change Inc ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Brooklyn Community Foundation?
Brooklyn Community Foundation reported $142.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $39.3M.
What does Brooklyn Community Foundation fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to “spark lasting social justice change, mobilizing people, capital, & expertise for a fair Brooklyn.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Brooklyn Community Foundation?
Brooklyn Community Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check brooklyncommunityfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Brooklyn Community Foundation's EIN?
Brooklyn Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3422729. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 30, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brooklyn Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Brooklyn Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/brooklyn-community-foundation-morg_52b8eb3821f24ee687e236871aded203
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_113422729_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Brooklyn Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/brooklyn-community-foundation-morg_52b8eb3821f24ee687e236871aded203},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Brooklyn Community Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Brooklyn Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?