Fund for the City of New York

What Fund for the City of New York does

Fund for the City of New York (FCNY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the Ford Foundation in 1968 to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers through civic innovation, nonprofit capacity building, and public-sector recognition programs. Its core financial product is the Cash Flow Loan Program, which since 1976 has issued over 17,600 interest-free bridge loans totaling more than $1.76 billion to NYC nonprofits awaiting committed funds, with sub-products including the Operating Loan Fund (2% service fee), Returnable Grant Fund (no fee, created 1992 with the Mayor's Office and OMB for unregistered City contracts), and Cultural Arts Capital Loan Fund (1.5% service fee). Complementing the loan franchise, the Partner Project Program provides fiscal sponsorship and administrative infrastructure to over 80 nonprofit projects, allowing them to operate under FCNY's 501(c)(3) status.

The organization's revenue is diversified across loan service fees, foundation grants (principally Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies), city government contracts (Mayor's Office for Nonprofit Services, Mayor's Office of Contract Services), and individual/corporate donations. Beyond financial services, FCNY operates the Sloan Public Service Awards (since 1973), the Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics (since 2009), the Community Planning Fellowship Program placing graduate students with NYC community boards, the NYC True Cost of Living research measure, the Center for Youth and the Future of Work, and the AI for Nonprofits Sprint — a training program run with OpenAI. Geographically, operations are anchored in NYC but extend nationally through the National Center for Civic Innovation affiliate and report activity in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Name

Fund for the City of New York

Legal name

Fund for the City of New York

Website

https://fcny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fund for the City of New York is a 1968-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides interest-free bridge loans, fiscal sponsorship, awards, and fellowships to NYC nonprofits and public servants, funded by foundation grants, government contracts, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Nonprofit loan financing
• Fiscal sponsorship services
• Bridge loan programs
• Civic innovation grants
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Service Fees: FCNY charges service fees on its loan programs including a 2% fee on Cash Flow Loans and 1.5% on Cultural Arts Capital Loans, generating revenue from nonprofit borrowers.
2. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations including the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies to support various programs and initiatives.
3. Government Contracts: Contracts and partnerships with city agencies including the Mayor's Office for Nonprofit Services and Mayor's Office of Contract Services.
4. Individual and Corporate Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals and corporations supporting the organization's mission and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Fund for the City of New York provides interest-free bridge loans to NYC nonprofits awaiting committed funds (Cash Flow Loan Program), comprehensive fiscal sponsorship and administrative support to nonprofit projects (Partner Project Program), awards recognizing public servants and STEM teachers (Sloan Public Service Awards and Sloan STEM Teaching Awards), and a Community Planning Fellowship placing graduate students with NYC community boards. The organization also produces the NYC True Cost of Living research measure and offers AI training for nonprofits.

Product overview

The Fund for the City of New York operates as a multi-program nonprofit organization founded in 1968 that offers financial services, awards programs, fellowships, and research initiatives. Its core offerings include the Cash Flow Loan Program (comprising the Operating Loan Fund, Returnable Grant Fund, and Cultural Arts Capital Loan Fund) providing interest-free bridge loans to NYC nonprofits; the Partner Project Program offering fiscal sponsorship and administrative support; the Sloan Public Service Awards and Sloan STEM Teaching Awards recognizing public servants and educators; the Community Planning Fellowship placing graduate students with community boards; the NYC True Cost of Living research initiative; and the AI for Nonprofits Sprint providing AI education. The National Center for Civic Innovation serves as an affiliate scaling programs nationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NYC True Cost of Living: A measure that defines the income working families need to meet their basic necessities without public or private assistance, previously known as the New York City Self-Sufficiency Standard.
• Center for Youth and the Future of Work

Products and services

• Cash Flow Loan Program Interest-free bridge loan program providing short-term financing to NYC nonprofits awaiting committed funds from government or private sources, enabling continued operations without service disruption. The program has issued over 17,600 loans totaling $1.76 billion since inception.
• Operating Loan Fund Bridge financing loan that carries no interest and no origination fee, with a one-time 2% service charge, typically processed within 3-5 business days. Targeted at NYC nonprofits awaiting committed funds.
• Returnable Grant Fund Cash advance loan against unregistered City contracts for nonprofits waiting for contract registration, with no interest or service fees. Created in 1992 in collaboration with the Mayor's Office.
• Cultural Arts Capital Loan Fund Bridge financing for small to mid-sized nonprofit cultural arts organizations with approved capital project expenses, carrying no interest with a one-time 1.5% service fee.
• Partner Project Program Fiscal sponsorship program providing comprehensive administrative and financial management support, insurance coverage, and access to operational experts for startup and established nonprofit organizations. Currently supports over 80 Partner Projects.
• Sloan Public Service Awards Annual awards program recognizing outstanding New York City public servants with $10,000 prizes, portraits, commemorative plaques, and video retrospectives, established in 1973. Over $10 million has been distributed to public servants over its 50-year history.
• Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics Annual awards recognizing seven exceptional NYC public high school science and mathematics teachers with grant funding for their school science or math departments, launched in 2009.
• Community Planning Fellowship Program Program placing graduate students in urban planning, architecture, urban design, historic preservation and public policy from seven NYC universities with community boards for two-semester hands-on planning experience.
• NYC True Cost of Living Research tool defining income needed for working families to meet basic necessities without public or private assistance, previously known as NYC Self-Sufficiency Standard, accounting for location, family composition, and all basic costs including healthcare, housing, childcare, and food.
• AI for Nonprofits Sprint Educational program offering AI training sessions for nonprofit staff, including Getting Started with AI workshops conducted with OpenAI experts.
• Center for Youth and the Future of Work Research and convening initiative focused on issues affecting youth employment and workforce development in New York City.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.76 billion in loans deployed to 17,600+ nonprofits since 1976
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mayor's Office for Nonprofit ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency partner providing referrals and collaborative programs for NYC nonprofits.
• Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency partner for contract management and nonprofit support initiatives.
• United Way of New York CitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the True Cost of Living report, collaborating on research and policy advocacy.
• Hispanic FederationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Hispanic Leadership Institute, supporting leadership development in the Hispanic community.
• NYU Steinhardt SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for educational programs and research initiatives.
• OpenAIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner for AI for Nonprofits Sprint events, helping nonprofits leverage artificial intelligence.
• Columbia UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the Communities Speak initiative, supporting community engagement research.
• Cafeteria CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner project under fiscal sponsorship, focused on environmental education and advocacy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nonprofit Finance Fund: Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) provides loans, asset management, and advisory services to nonprofits and social enterprises — the most direct peer to FCNY's Cash Flow Loan Program and fiscal sponsorship-style capacity work. Operates nationally with a significantly larger capital base.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is a major CDFI providing loans, grants, and capacity-building support to community development nonprofits, including in NYC. Directly comparable to FCNY's nonprofit bridge financing and Partner Project-style capacity building, but at national scale.
• United Way of New York City: United Way of NYC partners with FCNY on the NYC True Cost of Living report and serves overlapping audiences in the NYC nonprofit/civic space. Comparable as a NYC-based nonprofit intermediary funding and convening local organizations.
• New York Foundation: New York Foundation is a NYC-based grantmaker focused on community organizing, social justice, and capacity building for grassroots nonprofits — directly comparable to FCNY's fiscal sponsorship and grantmaking intermediary function.
• Hispanic Federation: Hispanic Federation is a partner of FCNY on the Hispanic Leadership Institute and serves as a NYC-based nonprofit intermediary providing grants, capacity building, and advocacy support to Hispanic-serving nonprofits — closely comparable in mission and intermediate function.

Broad incumbents

• Robin Hood Foundation: One of NYC's largest poverty-fighting foundations, funding and operating programs serving low-income New Yorkers. Comparable in NYC civic role and scale of philanthropic deployment, with a more grantmaking-focused model.
• Ford Foundation: FCNY's founding partner (1968) and one of the world's largest philanthropic foundations. Comparable in grantmaking scope and civic innovation focus, but operates globally with a vastly larger endowment and program portfolio.
• Open Society Foundations: A major global foundation funding civic engagement, justice, and nonprofit capacity. Comparable as a high-capacity grantmaking foundation with a civic innovation orientation, though at a much larger scale and with international focus.

Regional players

• Brooklyn Community Foundation: Brooklyn Community Foundation is a place-based NYC foundation supporting Brooklyn nonprofits through grants, loans, and capacity building. Comparable in scale, model, and NYC mission focus, but operates borough-specifically rather than citywide.

Others

• Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Candid provides data, research, and tools for the philanthropic and nonprofit sector — comparable to FCNY's NYC True Cost of Living research and capacity-building orientation, but as an information provider rather than a direct service/grantmaker.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FundforNYC
• Facebookfacebook.com/FundNYC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/69518663
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundnyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fund for the City of New York