PNY Calls on de Blasio Administration to Ensure Support of Nonprofit Organizations
On Monday, March 16, 2020, Philanthropy New York sent a letter to Mayor de Blasio calling on the administration to take all necessary actions needed to ensure adequate and flexible funding, timely communications, and clear and unwavering support for the City's nonprofit sector. We delivered this statement to Mayor de Blasio's office Monday afternoon, March 16.
Dear Mayor de Blasio:
During this time of crisis and battling COVID-19, our nonprofit partners that are working on the front lines with populations most vulnerable to contracting the disease will be a critical linchpin in our City’s effort to combat this virus. Similarly, those serving the larger human service client population will also be critical to this city managing through its response. Indeed, all nonprofits will be dramatically impacted by the ramifications stemming from COVID-19.
Nonprofit organizations will face deep financial strain as staff are deployed above and beyond normal capacity while their resources remain flat or even decrease. Essential community services like meal delivery, mental health services, homeless and domestic violence shelters, senior care and food banks and pantries will all be disrupted. Despite the unwavering support of the philanthropic sector, charitable giving alone cannot fill these financial gaps. That said, private foundations and donors are already coming together to provide rapid response funding. It is the job of the Government first and foremost to ensure the safety and health of all New Yorkers by heeding the specific requests made by our nonprofit partners such as Good Shepherd Services, BRC, and their peers. We strongly support their specific requests -- and we know that other frontline nonprofits working with the city will be asking for flexibility in contracts and additional resources. We are also confident that these dedicated nonprofit providers will be sharing with you and your Deputy Mayors and Commissioners ideas and innovative solutions to ensure that they can do the critical work supporting NYC through this crisis.
In closing, the 288 members of Philanthropy New York urge you and your administration to take all necessary actions needed to ensure adequate and flexible funding, timely communications, and clear and unwavering support for our sister organizations in the City’s nonprofit sector.
Sincerely,
Ronna Brown, President
Philanthropy New York